By now, the Dou family’s relatives had all arrived. While it was bustling with activity outside, the bride’s room remained relatively quiet.

Dou Zhao leisurely finished her breakfast when Ji Yong came to visit.

He asked Dou Zhao, “Are you going to marry Song Mo?”

This time, Dou Zhao nodded seriously and said, “I think he’s not bad!”

Ji Yong immediately became irritated, glaring as he said, “I can’t be bothered with you anymore,” and stormed off, his sleeves flapping.

Dou Zhao smiled wryly.

At least Ji Yong hadn’t blindly lashed out at Song Mo.

Of course, she didn’t think Song Mo would be at a disadvantage, but she was still pleased that Ji Yong respected her decision.

Zhao Zhangru rushed in, asking, “Shou Gu, can I come to visit you in the future?” She seemed a bit melancholic.

Dou Zhao recalled when they were young, squatting together under a tree to watch ants.

“Of course!” She put her arm around her cousin’s shoulder, her eyes moist as she said, “Didn’t you say you wanted to explore Duke Ying’s mansion properly? I’ve heard that their back garden was built to resemble Jiangnan gardens, with water drawn from the Taiye Pool to create a lake. In summer, you can go boating; in winter, ice skating; and in spring and autumn, you can fish. Wouldn’t it be a shame if you didn’t see it for yourself?”

Zhao Zhangru laughed, “You’re teasing me again! In spring, the fish are only as big as mung beans. How could you catch them?” But tears still fell unbidden.

Dou Zhao’s heart ached, and she began to cry as well.

For a moment, the room was filled with the sisters’ sobs, finally creating an atmosphere befitting a bride’s departure.

After they finally stopped crying, Dou Zhao gave Zhao Zhangru two sets of unused pure gold hair ornaments.

Zhao Zhangru refused, saying, “You’re getting married. I should be adding to your dowry, not taking things from you.”

“Didn’t you embroider a horse-face skirt for me?” Dou Zhao insisted on giving them to her. “I want to give you something to remember me by.”

Soon, Dou Zhao would be someone else’s daughter-in-law, eating from another family’s bowl and following their rules. How could it be like living in her own home, where she could do as she pleased?

Thinking of this, Zhao Zhangru hugged the red lacquered box with gold inlay containing the hair ornaments and began to cry again.

“My dear child,” Dou Zhao’s aunt, who had come to say goodbye, couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. “The bride isn’t crying, but you’re crying endlessly! Those who know will understand you’re reluctant to part with your cousin; those who don’t might think you’re the one getting married! Stop crying now, let Su Juan help you wash your face, and go help your cousin entertain the guests cheerfully!”

After lunch, the hairdresser, face-washer, and other attendants arrived, leaving no opportunity for Zhao Zhangru to speak with Dou Zhao.

Zhao Zhangru’s tears turned to laughter as she muttered softly, “If only I could get married.”

Her mother didn’t hear clearly and chided, “What are you muttering about?”

“Nothing, nothing,” Zhao Zhangru replied, her face slightly flushed.

Dou Zhao, however, heard every word.

Her heart stirred.

She hadn’t realized her cousin was so eager to marry. Could she perhaps act as a matchmaker for her?

Never mind about past lives; she had changed many things since her rebirth, so what was one more?

As Su Juan helped Zhao Zhangru fix her hair and wash her face, she listened to her mother instructing Dou Zhao on what to pay attention to after entering her new home. The last time Dou Zhao was preparing to marry into the Wei family, her aunt had told her about the wedding night but hadn’t had time to share these tips on social etiquette. She had regretted her oversight, not expecting Dou Zhao would marry again, but now she could make up for it.

The Duke Ying’s household was full of intrigue. Song Yichun was no ordinary father-in-law, and Song Mo was no ordinary husband. Dou Zhao probably wouldn’t be able to use any of what her aunt was saying, but she still listened with a smile, nodding from time to time, appearing very obedient and attentive.

Her aunt was greatly satisfied and spoke for a full hour, drinking four or five cups of tea before reluctantly stopping.

Su Xin had already come in and out of the room three or four times.

Dou Zhao casually rose to help her aunt pour tea.

Su Xin hurriedly followed.

“What’s happened?” Dou Zhao asked quietly.

Su Xin urgently replied, “The master and mistress are arguing!”

Dou Zhao was stunned.

Yesterday afternoon, Wang Yingxue suddenly coughed up blood and fainted for some unknown reason. Nanny Hu hurried to inform Dou Shiying, but Dou Shishu was scolding Dou Shiying behind closed doors at the time. Gao Sheng naturally couldn’t let anyone interrupt, and fearing it would disrupt Dou Zhao’s joyous occasion, he took matters into his own hands and quietly brought in a doctor through the back door.

The doctor said it was due to anger attacking the heart. He prescribed some medicine, shaking his head and saying that a troubled heart needed emotional healing. If Wang Yingxue didn’t ease her mind, not only would it be difficult to recover, but she might also develop a chronic illness and become bedridden.

Gao Sheng became anxious upon hearing this.

How could he make decisions about such a significant matter?

He went to seek Dou Shiying’s instructions but found him engrossed in a game of chess with Dou Zhao.

Fearing to spoil Dou Shiying’s mood, Gao Sheng held back until they finished their game, had a late-night snack, and took a long walk in the back garden to aid digestion. Only after Dou Zhao returned to her room did Gao Sheng report the matter to Dou Shiying.

Dou Shiying hurried to check on Wang Yingxue.

Whether it was a maid or servant who had angered Wang Yingxue, or if she was upset that Dou Shiying hadn’t visited her while she was ill, Wang Yingxue was berating her attendants to vent her anger. Even Nanny Hu wasn’t spared.

Dou Shiying valued relationships greatly. The maids and servants who had been with him for a long time were generously rewarded when they married or were sent to work elsewhere. His good temper made him beloved by the servants, who eagerly helped him with anything, truly devoted to him. Moreover, these people were all carefully selected by Gao Sheng, so in Dou Shiying’s mind, the maids and servants in the household were all reliable and considerate.

Seeing Wang Yingxue scolding unreasonably, he was already somewhat displeased, but considering that tomorrow was Dou Zhao’s wedding day, he suppressed his displeasure and went in to inquire about her condition.

After Dou Shiying consoled her for a while, Wang Yingxue gradually calmed down, and only then did Dou Shiying return to his room to rest.

This morning, when Dou Zhao heard about this, she vaguely thought of those two boxes of banknotes.

If Wang Yingxue had learned that the two boxes of banknotes originally intended for Dou Ming had been given to her by her own hands, it would be no wonder if she coughed up blood in anger!

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but ask, “Why are they arguing now?”

Su Xin lowered her voice and said, “I heard from the mistress’s attendants that early this morning when the master went to visit the mistress, she complained in front of him. She said that Fifth Young Miss has been married to the Jining Marquis’s household for less than a month, and already the Marquis’s aunt is encouraging the Marquis’s mother to have Fifth Young Miss manage the household finances, but there’s no money in the accounts. She said Fifth Young Miss is now living in difficult circumstances and asked the master to think of a solution, saying they can’t let Fifth Young Miss use her dowry to subsidize the Wei family.

The master didn’t say anything at the time and went to attend to the guests. Just now, Seventh Madam suddenly cried out that her heart was hurting, demanding to call for a doctor and have the master come to hear her last words. Nanny Hu didn’t dare delay and found the master. When he came, the mistress brought up this matter again. The master then became angry, saying that today was your wedding day and she couldn’t just stay quiet. He also said that a married daughter is like spilled water, how could she instigate her daughter to be unfilial to her mother-in-law… When the mistress heard this, she became even more uncontrollable. Fifth Madam and others heard the commotion and have already rushed over.”

Dou Zhao sneered.

Her father had grown up reading the classics. The Dou family had daughters who married out and daughters-in-law who married in. How they treated other people’s daughters was how they should treat their married-out daughters. How could he tolerate his married daughter doing something that violated filial piety?

Whether in her past life or this one, Wang Yingxue always seemed restless. She had schemed to marry her father but never truly understood his temperament, leading to an unsatisfactory life.

However, this was none of her concern.

Wang Yingxue’s affairs were for her biological daughter, Dou Ming, to worry about.

She instructed Su Xin, “Tell our people not to go poking around in the back courtyard. Be careful not to let Father discover it, or he might ask me to handle this matter.” The last sentence carried a hint of mockery in her tone.

Su Xin, however, felt this wasn’t impossible.

She repeatedly answered “Yes” and withdrew.

But how could her aunt not notice them whispering for so long?

After Su Xin left, she asked what had happened.

Dou Zhao didn’t hide anything from her aunt and told her the news she had heard.

Her aunt couldn’t help but say sarcastically, “If she can’t even sort herself out, how can she raise her daughter well?” She then stopped discussing the matter and asked about Sixth Aunt, “Has she gone to mediate as well? Why hasn’t she come over yet at this time?”

Dou Zhao, recalling the conversation she overheard last night, wondered if Sixth Uncle’s family had decided not to attend her wedding to avoid suspicion.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, she saw Su Lan rush in: “Fourth Young Miss, Fourth Young Miss, Sixth Madam has arrived. Twelfth Young Master has sprained his ankle and can’t carry you to the sedan chair!” She looked very dejected.

Her aunt and Zhao Zhangru were shocked and exclaimed in unison, “Sprained his ankle? How bad is it? Is it serious?”

“I don’t know,” Su Lan said sheepishly. She had been so anxious upon hearing that Dou Dechang couldn’t carry Dou Zhao to the sedan that she had rushed over without asking for details. “Twelfth Young Master is using a crutch!”

Dou Zhao quickly stood up and said, “I’ll go take a look!”

Her aunt and Zhao Zhangru each responded, saying, “Let’s go together!”

The group went to the reception hall.

The Dou family’s relatives and friends were surrounding Sixth Madam and Dou Dechang, inquiring about his injury.

Seeing Dou Zhao, Sixth Madam’s eyes dimmed slightly, and she took Dou Zhao’s hand with a guilty sigh.

Dou Dechang, on the other hand, looked somewhat uncomfortable and turned his face away.

Dou Zhao noticed that Dou Dechang wasn’t wearing any splints and felt relieved.

Her aunt then asked about Dou Dechang’s injury.

Sixth Madam vaguely said that he had accidentally injured himself while bathing.

Dou Zhao, without a word, suddenly kicked Dou Dechang’s injured foot.

“What are you doing?” Dou Dechang jumped up and quickly retreated several steps, his movements agile.

Dou Zhao looked at Dou Dechang with a half-smile, then glanced at his supposedly injured foot.

Dou Dechang suddenly realized that in his panic, he had retreated several steps without using his crutch.

His face immediately turned crimson.

“You child!” Sixth Madam, witnessing this scene, looked at Dou Zhao and sighed with complex emotions, not knowing what to say.

Dou Zhao took Sixth Madam’s arm and said with a smile, “I don’t care about all those messy affairs. You’re like a mother to me, and Eleventh Brother and Twelfth Brother have treated me like their own sister. Whether it’s food or other things, they’ve always put me first. Now that I’m getting married, Eleventh Brother needs to take care of his wife, so I won’t force him, but Twelfth Brother must personally carry me out!”

These words brought tears to the eyes of the Sixth Madam, her aunt, and others.

Dou Dechang, even more moved, tossed aside his crutch and said boldly, “I said I didn’t need this useless thing. It only made Fourth Sister laugh at me.” Then, patting his shoulder, he said to Dou Zhao, “Don’t worry, brother will make sure to carry you steadily to the bridal sedan!”

These words made Dou Zhao’s eyes sting with emotion.