Wang Qinghuai’s success today was due to his ability to seize opportunities.

Imagine a young man, not yet twenty, who had the courage and capability to accomplish such a feat. What might he achieve in a few years, when his actions become more sophisticated and his resolve stronger?

After understanding the key to this situation, Wang Qinghuai decided to use his wife’s previous role as Dou Zhao’s bridesmaid at Song Mo’s wedding to attend the Song family’s welcoming banquet.

Lady Wang was taken aback. “Is… is that appropriate?”

His wife had a gentle personality but lacked strong opinions or sharp wit. Fortunately, whether she understood or not, she always followed his lead, so Wang Qinghuai didn’t need to explain everything to her.

“What’s inappropriate about it?” he smiled. “Aren’t weddings and funerals all about lively gatherings? The Song family doesn’t have many relatives. Their grand hall will look rather empty with so few guests. When Lady Dou enters the family, we’ll go to liven things up. Would Yantang find us too noisy? Besides, Yantang has helped me close two big deals in the past couple of years, as you know. They were significant transactions, and we can’t afford to lose that connection. Although Lady Dou comes from a prestigious family, she’s still the daughter of an official who grew up in Zhending. She’s bound to be unfamiliar with the capital. If you spend more time with her now, it’ll be easier for me to maintain frequent contact with Yantang. I might even get a share in future business deals! In short, it’s all benefit and no harm.”

Lady Wang couldn’t help but laugh behind her sleeve. “When did the young master become such a merchant? Every word is about business! Just last night, you told me that if we associate with Lady Dou, we should be humble, and if we don’t, we shouldn’t interact at all. But in just one night, the young master has changed his mind. Not only are you sending me over, but you’re also going to join Song Yantang’s celebration…”

Wang Qinghuai and his wife had a good relationship, so he didn’t mind her occasional teasing. However, hearing her words, he couldn’t help but grumble inwardly: Who wants to put themselves out there for someone else’s sake? But wasn’t he in a position where he couldn’t afford to offend them, yet dared not avoid them?

He went to the storehouse to select an extremely valuable set of red-gemstone-inlaid gold headdresses as a welcoming gift for Dou Zhao.

Seeing this arrangement, Lady Wang didn’t dare to be careless. She wore a true red wide-sleeved jacket, styled her hair in a peony bun, adorned it with kingfisher feather pearl flowers, and wore five or six pairs of gold and silver enamel bracelets.

Wang Qinghuai frowned. “Are they coming to see you or the bride?”

“Oh!” Hearing this, Lady Wang hurriedly changed into a light green brocade jacket embroidered with ten auspicious patterns and wore a full set of pearl headdresses. Only after Wang Qinghuai nodded did they board the carriage and head straight for Duke Ying’s mansion.

At the main gate, they encountered Zhang Xuming and his wife.

Wang Qinghuai was startled but quickly put on a smile and went to greet them.

Zhang Xuming, clearly surprised to see Wang Qinghuai, foolishly asked, “Why are you here too?”

He was related to the Song family, while Wang Qinghuai had no connection whatsoever.

Wang Qinghuai smiled, “I just wanted to see Yantang’s bride.”

Zhang Xuming laughed heartily and walked with Wang Qinghuai towards the flower hall.

Lady Wang noticed Zhang’s wife’s poor complexion and concernedly exchanged pleasantries: “Were you tired yesterday?”

Zhang’s wife shook her head. Knowing that Lady Wang was discreet, she complained in a low voice: “As a peer, with my grandmother, parents, and elder brother and sister-in-law above me, I could have casually given Lady Dou a pair of gold hairpins or two jade flowers as a welcoming gift. But Jixian insisted that I give the new gold step-sway I had just acquired as a welcoming gift. He even angrily said, ‘Isn’t it just a new southern style? Can’t the silversmiths in the capital make it? Whatever it costs, I’ll pay you double!’ I’m still trembling with anger! Am I that stingy? I’m just afraid of overshadowing my grandmother, parents, and elder brother and sister-in-law!”

Lady Wang was shocked.

She had heard of that gold step-sway, said to be inlaid with various gemstones, not only valuable but also rare, the only one of its kind in the entire capital. A few days ago, when the Xuanning Marquis family was welcoming a bride, the wife of the Dongping Baron’s heir had half-jokingly asked Zhang’s wife to borrow that gold step-sway as a model, but Zhang’s wife had laughingly declined. Unexpectedly, it was now being forced out as a welcoming gift by Zhang.

She couldn’t help but think of the headdress in her own hands—in comparison, it didn’t seem so precious anymore.

“These are just matters of reciprocal courtesy. Now that you’ve given it, the bride will have to return the favor in the future,” Lady Wang, being a peacemaker, consoled Zhang’s wife. “Moreover, the bride’s dowry is generous. She might not even care for ordinary things. Isn’t Zhang just trying to save face?”

These words dispelled much of the resentment in Zhang’s wife’s heart.

When they entered the flower hall, they found that the Lü family relatives had already arrived. They had to go forward to pay their respects and introduce Lady Wang. Time flew by, and by the time she was teasing Lü Gui about how many red envelopes he had received yesterday, Song Yichun and Song Mo, who had gone to the ancestral hall early to pay respects, entered the flower hall.

Lady Lü hurriedly invited everyone to be seated.

The eyes of the Song family’s relatives all fell on Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao wore a true red silk wide-sleeved robe typical for new brides. Her jet-black hair was styled in a peony bun, adorned with a gold phoenix step-sway. The eyes of the gold phoenix were made of rubies, and in its beak, it held a ruby the size of a bodhi seed. Three strands of soybean-sized rubies hung below the ruby, as dazzling as raging flames, making it difficult for people to look away. Yet, Dou Zhao’s eyes were even brighter and more radiant than the gold step-sway, forcefully overshadowing the brilliance of the rubies. It was impossible not to notice her snow-white skin, long eyebrows that extended to her temples, high straight nose, rosy lips, the bright moon-shaped earrings, the white jade rings on her fingers, and the jade chime at her waist…

Her posture was straight, with a hint of spirited grace in her brow. Her steps were steady yet light, her figure graceful yet elegant. Standing side by side with the beautiful Song Mo, they were like stars and moon shining together, their radiance equally matched.

Lady Lu Fuli couldn’t help but inwardly exclaim, whispering to Princess Ningde beside her, “This Lady Dou reminds me of Lady Jiang.”

Princess Ningde smiled, saying, “Back then, Lady Jiang didn’t have Lady Dou’s composure, and the Duke wasn’t as handsome as Yantang!”

The women sitting around them couldn’t help but laugh, with some praising, “They truly are a perfect match! It’s been many years since we’ve seen such a well-matched young couple!”

Old Lady Lu and Princess Ningde nodded with smiles.

The wives of Song Maochun and Song Fengchun exchanged glances.

They hadn’t expected the newly married Lady Dou to not only have a generous dowry but also be so beautiful. Now they could only hope she wouldn’t be too clever and capable!

Thinking of this, both of them sighed simultaneously.

Meanwhile, Dou Zhao only saw the hall full of people. She secretly wondered.

Wasn’t it said that the Song family didn’t have many relatives? Why were there so many people here?

Despite her thoughts, she still earnestly followed Lady Lü’s instructions. She and Song Mo first kowtowed to Song Yichun and offered tea, then kowtowed to the empty chair representing Lady Jiang beside Song Yichun. Song Yichun not only rewarded them with two red envelopes himself but also gave Dou Zhao a set of gold headdress ornaments on behalf of Lady Jiang, along with seven or eight pieces of pearl and jade accessories. Each piece was dazzling and exquisitely crafted, clearly not ordinary items.

Song Mo whispered, “Those are the Song family heirlooms.”

Dou Zhao smiled at him and followed Lady Lü to pay respects to the Song family relatives, matching the names in her mind with the people before her. She didn’t notice the fleeting coldness in Song Mo’s eyes.

The Song family had a few more items such as a rainbow gemstone necklace, a diamond ring with stones the size of soybeans, an emerald pendant the size of a pigeon egg, and other such rare treasures. These were the true heirlooms that even the Song family regarded as priceless. Yet his father hadn’t brought them out.

What exactly was he trying to do?

Song Mo’s heart was filled with anger, but when he looked up, he saw Dou Zhao’s smiling face.

Inexplicably, his heart calmed down.

It’s just a few pieces of jewelry, isn’t it? If the ancestors could acquire them, why couldn’t he?

Song Mo’s mood gradually settled, and he joined Dou Zhao in paying respects to the elders.

Dou Zhao, however, spotted Wang Qinghuai in the crowd.

She blinked, thinking she had seen wrong.

Why was he here?

In her previous life, she had never heard of any relationship between the Wang family and the Song family!

Could it be because of the Song family’s decline at that time?

As Dou Zhao was pondering this, Song Maochun brought a tall, thin boy before her.

“Tian’en, quickly pay your respects to your sister-in-law.”

Dou Zhao’s eyes widened.

Song Han!

Was this the Song Han who, in her previous life, had bled to death after Song Mo cut off his limbs?!

His features were five or six parts similar to Song Mo’s, especially the face shape and nose, which were as if cast from the same mold as Song Yichun’s. However, his gaze was shifty, his spirit seemed weak, and he looked as if he hadn’t fully woken up. Compared to the spirited Song Mo, one was on the ground while the other was in the sky. Without looking closely, one wouldn’t realize they were brothers.

She couldn’t help but glance back at Song Mo.

Song Mo was staring at Song Han.

His gaze carried a hint of sorrow, a touch of gloom, a bit of helplessness, and a trace of self-mockery.

Once inseparable brothers, now artificially separated by their father, growing further apart. Was there anything more painful in this world?

Dou Zhao gently squeezed Song Mo’s hand.

Song Mo’s expression softened a bit.

Song Han bowed to Dou Zhao, softly calling her “Sister-in-law.”

Dou Zhao gave Song Han the four treasures of the study she had prepared in advance.

Song Han quietly thanked her and hid behind Song Tongchun.

That timid appearance was nothing like the second young master of Duke Ying’s mansion should be.

Dou Zhao shook her head inwardly.

Then she saw a young noble, more delicate than a girl and difficult to distinguish as male or female, step forward.

“Brother Tianci!” He looked directly at Dou Zhao, seeming somewhat impolite. “This must be Sister-in-law?” He bowed to Dou Zhao, “I am Gu Yu.”

Dou Zhao inwardly sighed deeply.

How could she not recognize Gu Yu, the Baron of Yunyang from her previous life?

The Empress Dowager’s nephew, the Emperor’s cousin, and Song Mo’s steadfast ally who always stood by his side.

Even when Song Mo was despised by thousands, he still firmly stood by Song Mo’s side.

Today is Father’s Day, so why not give your dad a call to send your greetings?