Song Yan and Zhao Zhangru were both not young anymore. Since both families had this intention, they naturally hoped to settle the marriage as soon as possible.
Song Yumin wrote back to his wife, saying that they could only discuss the wedding date after exchanging birth charts with the Zhao family. However, this year might be Song Yan’s last Spring Festival with the Song family. They would return to Quzhou before the Little New Year no matter what. He asked his wife to prepare for a good celebration.
As he wrote, a faint sadness welled up in his heart.
In stark contrast to Song Yumin’s mood was Zhao Zhangru.
Although the elders hadn’t said anything, Zhao Zhangru learned about her marriage from her maid. Since Song Yan was the nephew of Tutor Dou Xiaoxi and had lived with the Dou family for several years, Zhao Zhangru had no concerns about his character or appearance. She felt only relief and joy that she was “finally getting married.”
Her aunt thought that things in the capital were both good and inexpensive, with a wide selection. Since her daughter was getting married, she decided to take advantage of their time in the capital to buy some proper dowry items for Zhao Zhangru. She asked Dou Zhao to accompany her shopping.
Dou Zhao fully utilized her advantages from her previous life. She knew exactly which shop had the best combs and which had the most variety of fabrics. Whatever her aunt wanted, she could find.
Her aunt couldn’t help but laugh, “You’ve only been in the capital for a few days, yet you know everything so well!”
Dou Zhao giggled, delighted to run around shopping with her aunt every day.
Her uncle replied to the letter, expressing satisfaction with the marriage. He entrusted the engagement matters to Dou Shiheng and Ji Shi.
Everyone was surprised, while Dou Shiying felt quite awkward.
Song Mo, however, had a bright look in his eyes. He comforted Dou Shiying, “Since this engagement involves discussing both betrothal gifts and the wedding date, it’s bound to require some mediation. How could the son-in-law help his niece in this matter? Others might think we’re in a hurry to marry off our daughter! This is how it should be.”
Dou Shiying’s spirits were lifted upon hearing this. He nodded repeatedly, not even noticing that Song Mo had referred to marrying off a daughter rather than taking in a son-in-law. He was just glad to be the son-in-law. Happy to step back, he watched the proceedings from the sidelines.
Just as the Zhao and Song families exchanged birth charts, Dou Zhengchang’s eldest son, Qijin, celebrated his full month.
Dou Zhao made plans with her aunt and walked arm in arm with Zhao Zhangru through the hanging flower gate.
Everyone smiled when they saw Zhao Zhangru.
The usually lively and outgoing Zhao Zhangru blushed like the morning sun. Afraid of being teased, she no longer dared to act as freely as before. She stayed inside, helping Han Shi hold Qijin, which made everyone laugh again.
Zhao Zhangru found a chance to whisper to Dou Zhao, “I want to get married quickly! Once I’m married, let’s see who dares to laugh at me!”
Dou Zhao burst into laughter.
Zhao Zhangru pinched Dou Zhao hard twice before finally letting go.
The two cousins held hands as they went to the flower hall where the banquet was set.
Dou Ming arrived.
She wore a true red wide-sleeved jacket. Although she had made an effort to dress up, she still couldn’t hide her haggard appearance.
Sixth sister-in-law Guo Shi couldn’t help but ask with concern, “What’s wrong with you? Why do you look so unwell?”
After coughing up blood that day due to anger, she had been listless and without energy. She had consulted several doctors, who only prescribed some tonics for her to rest and recuperate. She hadn’t planned to come today, but Wei Tingzhen had gone to the Jining Marquis Manor early in the morning, insisting that they attend. When she said she wasn’t feeling well and suggested Wei Tingyu go alone, he refused, demanding they both attend. They had another argument over this, and if it weren’t for Wei Tingyu pleading with her, she wouldn’t have bothered to come at all!
She thought that by now, Wei Tingyu must have already struck up a conversation with Song Mo.
The thought made her feel like her heart was on fire. Her response to Guo Shi was inevitably stiff: “It’s nothing! I just caught a cold a few days ago.”
Guo Shi had always found Dou Ming’s temper difficult. Although she didn’t take offense, she didn’t want to face Dou Ming’s mood. After a few casual exchanges, she went over to Dou Zhao’s side.
Ji Yong’s great-aunt had a good impression of Dou Zhao and couldn’t help but feel some regret that Dou Zhao hadn’t married into the Ji family. As a result, she was very warm in her conversation with Dou Zhao.
The Ji family was the natal family of the Sixth Madam, and Ji Song was also a high-ranking official of the third rank. On such occasions, the Fifth Madam would certainly accompany them. Cai Shi was eloquent and sincere in her desire to curry favor with Dou Zhao. Everyone joined in the conversation, making it appear at first glance as if they were all gathered around Dou Zhao.
Dou Ming felt she couldn’t stay a moment longer. She glared at Dou Zhao resentfully.
Dou Zhao didn’t notice, but Zhao Zhangru, who was looking around due to boredom, did. She whispered to Dou Zhao, “Dou Ming is glaring at you. Did you two fight? She looks full of resentment!”
“When have you ever seen me argue with her?” Dou Zhao maintained a humble smile on her face, not even glancing at Dou Ming. She appeared to be listening attentively to Ji Yong’s great-aunt while whispering to Zhao Zhangru, “She always bristles like a fighting rooster when she sees me. How would I know what she’s angry about this time?” Yet her laughter became even more cheerful.
Dou Ming grew angrier at the sight, her eyes like daggers towards Dou Zhao.
Soon, everyone noticed Dou Ming’s unusual behavior.
Those who knew about the relationship between the Dou sisters shared knowing smiles, pretending not to see.
Han Shi was displeased.
Ever since the incident of the sisters’ switched marriages, she felt as if she had been betrayed by someone she trusted. She became more wary of Dou Ming. Actions that would have made her feel sorry for Dou Ming in the past now seemed like arrogance to her.
She frowned, blocking Dou Ming’s line of sight, and said, “Fifth Young Madam is here! Why don’t you go over and talk?” She introduced Dou Ming to Ji Yong’s great-aunt.
Ji Yong’s great-aunt, who rarely attended social gatherings, was unaware of the complexities of the situation. She chatted amiably with Dou Ming, which finally made Dou Ming feel a bit better.
The gifts given at the third-day ceremony were rewards for the midwife and those who assisted with the birth, so everyone was given silver ingots. However, the gifts for the full month and hundred-day celebrations were for the newborn, and thus more valuable.
At the banquet, Han Shi carried the child for all the ladies to see.
Dou Ming gave Qijin a pair of pure gold ruyi bracelets.
Dou Zhao not only gave Qijin a set of pure gold longevity locks weighing nineteen taels, but also two jade items specially blessed by the abbot of the Great Xiangguo Temple, two sets of clothes she had made herself, and a dark red carved silk cape.
Both Han Shi and Ji Shi were surprised by Dou Zhao’s generosity, repeatedly saying it was “too extravagant.”
Dou Zhao kissed Qijin’s cheek and said, “Well, I am Qijin’s aunt after all!”
Everyone laughed.
Dou Ming was so angry that her fingers holding the chopsticks turned white. She felt that Dou Zhao was deliberately shaming her. However, she didn’t realize that Dou Zhao had been raised by Ji Shi, and Qijin was Ji Shi’s eldest grandson. The difference in closeness naturally meant that Dou Zhao’s gift would be more valuable than others.
Zhao Zhangru pulled at Dou Zhao’s sleeve and whispered, “Look at Dou Ming!”
Dou Zhao couldn’t be bothered to look at her or say much about it. She just stayed close to Zhao Zhangru.
Song Mo noticed this and asked Dou Zhao with a smile, “You’re so fond of your third cousin, aren’t you?”
“We’ve always been close since we were little,” Dou Zhao said as she helped straighten his collar. She asked softly, “Why did you come to the flower hall?”
Song Mo had been bothered by Wei Tingyu and, using the excuse of having drunk a bit too much, Dou Shiying quickly had his personal servant escort Song Mo to Dou Shiheng’s small study next to the flower hall to rest.
He wished that Dou Zhao would simply forget that Wei Tingyu existed, so how could he mention Wei Tingyu in front of her?
He only said that he felt a bit dizzy from drinking.
Dou Zhao quickly said, “Then go rest!”
Song Mo nodded with a smile and went to the small study with Dou Shiying’s servant.
Dou Zhao took a moment to go to the kitchen and instructed the stove women to make a bowl of sobering soup and send it to the small study.
The stove women dared not be negligent. They put down their conversation and immediately helped make a bowl of sobering soup to send over.
Song Mo drank the sobering soup and leaned against the moon-shaped window of the small study, gazing at the flower hall where he could only see indistinct figures.
After waiting for the banquet in the flower hall to disperse, he found Madam Zhao.
“Aunt, have you decided where to hold the wedding for my cousin?” he asked with concern. “If it’s back in Qingyang, it would take at least two months to travel. Moreover, I’ve calculated that Uncle will come to the capital for his official report early next spring. The round trip will also take quite some time. Why not take advantage of Uncle’s visit to the capital and hold the wedding here? We can join in the festivities and help out.
I heard that you sold all the ancestral properties in Xingxiang County for Shou Gu. Apart from Jiangnan, the income from fields and shops in the capital is higher than in other places. Have Uncle and Aunt considered acquiring some properties in the capital? If you don’t mind, I can keep an eye out for you. When the time comes, let my third cousin’s husband manage them, which would be good practice for him in handling affairs.”
For prefectures and counties more than two thousand li from the capital, officials would come to the capital once every three years.
Qingyang fell within this range.
Song Mo’s words were gentle and considerate, causing his aunt to nod inwardly. However, they had spent a considerable amount of money on Dou Zhao’s wedding recently, and now they were marrying off their daughter. Where would they find extra money to acquire properties in the capital?
Faced with Song Mo’s goodwill, she could only demur, “We’ll have to discuss this with her uncle.”
“You can look into it first, and discuss it with Uncle when he arrives,” Song Mo smiled. ” I have a colleague whose family has an urgent matter and needs to sell some of their ancestral property. I think their estate has many good fields, and the shops are in good locations. I thought Aunt might be able to get a bargain!”
“How could Aunt take advantage of your bargain?” His aunt could only secretly regret the missed opportunity. She smiled and said, “When Aunt wants to acquire property in the capital, I’ll come to you.”
Song Mo agreed with a smile.
In the evening, when he returned home, he told Dou Zhao about the matter: “…I originally thought that I could contribute half the money, and then Aunt could pay the other half to take over the estate and shops. It would also be a way to repay Uncle and Aunt for their help to you back then. But it seems Aunt doesn’t have much spare money. Uncle has been a county magistrate for several years and a prefect for a few years, could he not have even these savings?”
“How many people are like you?” Dou Zhao’s interest was immediately piqued when she heard this. “You see money-making opportunities in everything!” She discussed with Song Mo, “Why don’t we put up the money to acquire it first, and then slowly figure out a way later?”
“Alright!” Song Mo pondered that if the Zhao family had property in the capital, Zhao Zhangru and her husband could often stay in the capital, and Dou Zhao would have a companion in the future. “But how to get Aunt to accept it, you’ll have to figure that out! I’m afraid if I step forward, it might backfire.”
Dou Zhao agreed, and Song Mo sent people to acquire the estate and shops.
But how to explain this to her aunt?
Chen Qushui arrived in the capital with Duan Gongyi and others.
Sisters, it’s a bit later than expected. My apologies!