Despite her rebirth, Dou Zhao could only influence the people and events around her. What was meant to come would still arrive.
In mid-April, Dou Wenchang, who had been studying in the capital with Dou Shishu, returned with a family letter from him.
In the letter, Dou Shishu not only mentioned his imminent promotion to Vice Minister of Personnel but also brought up Wang Xingyi’s reinstatement. He delicately inquired about Dou Shiying’s marriage prospects, explaining that he and Wang Xingyi were classmates from the same imperial examination. With Cen Yifen’s forced retirement and Wang Xingyi’s exile, Dou Shishu’s own life in the capital had been difficult these past few years. He suggested that if Dou Shiying’s marriage hadn’t been arranged yet, it would be best to settle it soon.
Dou Shishu continued, noting that the Emperor was aging, his memory failing day by day. During a recent meeting with the cabinet, the Emperor had suddenly ordered a eunuch to summon Chen Dong, the Imperial Ceremony Supervisor who had passed away five or six years ago, to attend to the writing materials. Now, the youngest Grand Secretary of the Cabinet was Chen Jizhou from Songjiang. If he were to preside over next year’s metropolitan examination, Dou Shishu advised Dou Duo and Dou Shiqi to discuss early whether all eligible Dou family members should attempt the exam.
Upon receiving this letter, Dou Duo’s face changed drastically. He immediately wrote to Dou Shiqi, sending Dou Wenchang to rush to Fuzhou overnight. Meanwhile, he took Dou Shiying to East Dou.
Although Dou Zhao didn’t know the letter’s contents, she had been preoccupied with Wang Xingyi’s reinstatement. Her grandfather and father’s unusual behavior immediately put her on alert. She dismissed her maids, keeping only Tuo Niang by her side. “Go tell the second gate’s gatekeeper that if Grandfather and Father return, she should report to me immediately,” Dou Zhao instructed.
Tuo Niang relayed Dou Zhao’s message to the second gate and returned to do needlework by her bedside.
At the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), news came from the second gate.
Tuo Niang woke Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao dressed and went to Heshou Hall.
The two servants attending to her grandfather stood alertly at the door.
Seeing Dou Zhao, they exclaimed in unison, “Fourth Young Miss,” with surprise.
Hearing the commotion, her father walked out, his face full of astonishment. “Shou Gu, why are you still awake at this late hour?” His gaze, however, was stern as he glared at Tuo Niang.
Tuo Niang’s calves trembled as she mumbled, unsure of what to say.
Dou Zhao had already cheerfully thrown herself into her father’s arms. “Why didn’t you take me along when you and Grandfather went visiting?”
Her father chuckled helplessly and carried Dou Zhao into the room.
Grandfather sat gravely on the kang bed. Seeing them enter, his brows furrowed tightly. “If you could marry earlier, Shou Gu would have someone to look after her. Look at the state of our household now. It’s the middle of the night, and Shou Gu is wandering around the courtyard. How is this acting on principle? On one hand, you say you’ve grown up and understand your responsibilities, yet on the other, you still do irresponsible things.”
Her father could only respond with vague acknowledgments, at a loss for words.
Dou Zhao saw an opportunity in her grandfather’s words and her father’s attitude.
Her mood suddenly brightened like never before, and she decided to irritate her grandfather further. “Grandfather, I do have someone to look after me. Concubine Cui is my grandmother.”
Grandfather’s face turned ashen, his gaze cutting towards Dou Zhao like a knife’s edge. Yet Dou Zhao merely blinked her large eyes, smiling sweetly as she nibbled on her fingers, feigning innocence.
Trembling with anger, he berated her father, “This matter is not for you to decide. Tomorrow, your third sister-in-law will personally go to discuss the wedding date with the families. From now on, focus on your studies. Leave the inner household affairs to the Zhu family.” Then he added, “Who are the servants attending to Shou Gu? Dismiss them all.”
Her father replied, “It’s Nanny Yu taking care of Shou Gu. I promised this to my brother-in-law.” His tone was somewhat defiant.
Grandfather was at a loss for words, storming out in anger.
Dou Zhao wanted to remind him: This is your study! If anyone should leave, it should be us. How come you’re the one running away in anger?
Her father sighed and carried Dou Zhao out of Heshou Hall.
The April night air still carried a slight chill. Moonlight bathed the pavilions and towers, creating a serene, picturesque scene.
Her father’s steps slowed gradually, finally stopping by the lotus pond.
“Shou Gu, do you know? Your Fifth Uncle sent a letter,” he murmured. “Your Fifth Uncle sent a letter to the family. Wang Xingyi, your Aunt Wang’s father, is to be reinstated…”
Dou Zhao’s heart raced. She now understood the contents of Dou Shishu’s letter.
As expected of a future Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, his heart was truly cold.
She drew a sharp breath.
All along, she had believed that Fifth Uncle and Wang Xingyi, being classmates and sharing common interests, must have had a close and solid relationship. She thought Wang Yingxue’s greatest support in the Dou family was Dou Shishu. Yet she had forgotten that Dou Shishu was always a member of the Dou family first, and she had overlooked the unpredictable nature of politics.
The jade hairpin flowers planted around the lotus pond were as white as jade, glowing softly in the moonlight and exuding a rich fragrance.
Her father sat down with her on a stone bench by the lotus pond.
“Shou Gu, what’s happening to us?” he asked, staring blankly at the barely emerging lotus leaves in the pond. “I’ve worked hard at my studies, striving for academic honors, all to bring glory to our ancestors and make the Dou family more prosperous and distinguished. I wanted everyone in our family to live better than others. But now, your mother has taken her own life, I’ve fallen out with your uncle, I can’t even properly observe the three-year mourning period for your mother, and I might drag the Zhu family’s fifth daughter into this mess, even causing your sister to lose her mother… Not only have I failed to provide comfort and ease to those around me, but because of me, their situations have become even more difficult. What was it all for? I’ve already let your mother down; I can’t disappoint the Zhu family’s fifth daughter and Wang Yingxue as well…”
Her father’s melancholic gaze, like the faint moonlight, seemed both near and far.
It caused Dou Zhao’s heartache.
Father was so lonely that he could only share his thoughts with his young daughter in the dead of night.
She suddenly felt sympathy for him.
Upon returning to the main room, her father wrote a letter. Before dawn, he summoned Gao Sheng: “…Deliver this to the Zhu family in the east of the city before the Third Madam leaves.”
Gao Sheng was surprised but followed her father’s instructions and left.
At noon, the Third Aunt returned from the Zhu family with a troubled expression.
“Young Uncle, the Zhu family says it’s too rushed to have the wedding before the Dragon Boat Festival. They worry others might think their fifth daughter is marrying to ward off ill fortune!”
Grandfather frowned.
Only families who didn’t value their daughters-in-law would arrange such hasty marriages for superstitious reasons.
The Zhu family’s words were quite offensive.
The third Aunt shared this sentiment but sighed, “We can’t blame the Zhu family for being angry. We were the ones who said we’d wait three years, and now we’re the ones rushing to have the wedding before the Dragon Boat Festival. The Zhu family is also a prominent household. Not only is it difficult to prepare the dowry in such a hurry, but there’s also not enough time to notify friends and relatives.”
“I understand. But we must act quickly given the circumstances,” Grandfather said. “I remember that Scholar Zhu has an elder sister married to the Chen family in neighboring Xinle County. Perhaps we could ask the Zhu family’s aunt to help mediate?”
“In that case, I’ll set out for Xinle after lunch,” Third Aunt promptly replied.
Grandfather expressed his gratitude and invited Third Aunt to stay for lunch.
“East and West Dou were originally one family. Seventh Uncle’s affairs are as important to me as my own,” Third Aunt said politely. “I’ll likely have to spend the night in Xinle, so I need to make arrangements at home. Young Uncle, please don’t stand on ceremony with me. Getting this matter settled is the most important thing now.”
Grandfather didn’t insist further and had Qiu Fen escort Third Aunt out of the second gate.
Afterward, regardless of whom the Third Aunt brought to persuade the Zhu family, they remained adamant in their refusal.
Third Aunt was so anxious that she developed blisters on her lips. She regretted deeply: “If I had known this would happen, we should have arranged the marriage with my sister-in-law’s younger cousin. Now, even if we wanted to change partners, we’d need a letter of annulment from the Zhu family, and we’d still be pressed for time.”
Grandfather redirected his anger toward Dou Zhao’s father, making him kneel in the front courtyard with no shade from the scorching sun for an entire afternoon. As a result, his knees became swollen and red, making it difficult for him to walk. They had to call for a doctor again.
At this moment, Wang Yingxue’s elder brother, Wang Zhibing, suddenly paid a visit.
Wang Zhibing was only in his early thirties, but the hardships of recent years had aged him to look like a man in his forties.
He stood straight in the main hall of the Wang family, as tall and unyielding as a green pine.
“My younger sister has suffered because of me, her brother, forcing her to engage in business to make a living. I didn’t know before, but now that I do, I’ve come to take my sister home,” he said firmly. “We haven’t accepted your family’s betrothal gifts, so there are no financial entanglements. Write a letter releasing her from concubinage, and let our two families part ways from here on. Each to their path.”
Grandfather remained silent for a long while before asking someone to summon Wang Yingxue.
Upon seeing her brother, Wang Yingxue was both surprised and delighted.
“Elder Brother, how did you come back?” she instinctively grabbed Wang Zhibing’s arm, but her expression suddenly changed as she looked him up and down. “Has something happened to Father?” Before finishing her sentence, tears were already streaming down her face.
“No, no!” Wang Zhibing’s eyes also reddened as he hurriedly explained, “Father has been appointed as the magistrate of Xintai County in Shandong. He wrote home and only then learned that you had entered the Dou household. Father was filled with regret and self-blame, even slapping himself three times, saying that our family had brought you down. He sent me back to bring you home.”
“What did you say?” Wang Yingxue stared blankly at Wang Zhibing. “Father… has been reinstated?”
“Yes!” Wang Zhibing nodded repeatedly. “Father has been reinstated. In a few days, he will take Mother and you to his new post for a family reunion. You won’t have to worry about what to eat or drink every day anymore… From now on, let your elder brother take care of these things!”
“Elder Brother!” Wang Yingxue clutched Wang Zhibing’s sleeve and burst into tears.
Wang Zhibing turned his head away, unable to bear the sight of his sister’s distress. Only when Wang Yingxue had soaked his sleeve with her tears did he calm down.
“Stop crying now. We can talk more when we get home,” Wang Zhibing said, turning to Grandfather. “If Master Dou has no further instructions, we’ll take our leave now.”
They weren’t even preparing to take Wang Yingxue’s change of clothes.
Naturally, Grandfather couldn’t let Wang Yingxue leave just like that. He smiled and said, “Your father and our Yuanji were classmates in the imperial examinations. We’re not strangers. Since you’re here, why not sit down for a cup of tea? When your sister entered our household, we arranged for servants to attend to her and added some items. I’ll have the servants pack everything up, and you can take both the people and the things with you. Your father has just been reinstated and must have a thousand matters to attend to. Everything needs to be sorted out one by one. Wang’s entry into our family was, after all, a twist of fate. You can’t let her leave empty-handed, can you? It wouldn’t sound good to others!”
“That won’t be necessary!” Wang Zhibing had just begun to refuse when his sister’s voice, high-pitched and almost shrill, cut in: “What did you say? You want me to go back with you? What about Ming’er? She’s only three years old!”