No wonder Jiang Lizhu was hesitant to tell her directly.
Dou Zhao asked, “Should we tell Aunt the truth?”
Song Mo shook his head. “It’s better not to tell her. The fewer people who know about this, the safer it is.”
Dou Zhao nodded and changed the subject to the Double Ninth Festival. “Are you free that day?”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to accompany the Emperor to Rabbit Mountain,” Song Mo replied apologetically. “I’ll have Xia Lian and the others escort you.” He added, “Have you decided where you’re going?”
“To Fragrant Hills,” Dou Zhao said with a smile. “We’ll go a bit farther away.”
This would be Dou Zhao’s first time leaving the city since arriving in the capital.
Song Mo felt even more apologetic.
He took Dou Zhao’s hand and said, “Where else would you like to go? Next time I have a day off, we’ll go together.”
Dou Zhao knew he was currently engaged in a subtle power struggle with Song Yichun and couldn’t afford to be careless around the Emperor. He needed to make frequent appearances before His Majesty and didn’t have much time to spend with her. She chose a closer destination: “How about going to the Great Xiangguo Temple to burn incense? I’d like to offer some prayers for Yuan’er’s safety.”
“Alright!” Song Mo said gently, his gaze filled with warmth as he looked at Dou Zhao. “When the child is older, we’ll go to more distant places – Jiangnan, Guangdong… We’ll go see those barbarians.”
Dou Zhao smiled and held Song Mo’s hand.
Song Mo’s hand traveled up Dou Zhao’s arm…
Dou Zhao giggled, ticklish.
A small flame ignited in Song Mo’s eyes.
But someone came to spoil the mood. A young maid reported from outside the door: “Young Master, Madam, the Second Madam is here.”
Song Mo frowned and said harshly, “What is she doing here so late?”
The little maid shuddered and stammered, “The Second Madam said that with the Double Ninth Festival approaching, Uncle Miao’s family sent some flower cakes and osmanthus wine. She brought them over specially for the Young Master and Madam to try.”
Song Mo was irritated.
But his grudge was against Song Han, not the newly married Miao Ansu.
Dou Zhao smiled and said, “I’ll go see!”
Song Mo grumbled, “Go quickly and come back quickly. Don’t chatter with her. If there’s anything to discuss, it can wait until tomorrow.”
Dou Zhao suppressed a smile and went to the hall.
Miao Ansu wore a bright red embroidered jacket with ten auspicious patterns. She had gold hairpins in her hair and light makeup, looking stunningly beautiful.
She smiled and greeted Dou Zhao, warmly calling her “Elder Sister-in-law.” She said, “My family home is far from the capital. We left early in the morning and just arrived. I thought everything else could wait, but the flower cakes wouldn’t keep, so I brought them over directly. I hope I didn’t disturb Sister-in-law’s rest?”
Since they would be living under the same roof from now on, it was better to be straightforward.
Dou Zhao smiled and said, “We had just retired. If you’d come any later, you would have had to wait for me to get up and dress again.”
Miao Ansu was somewhat surprised by Dou Zhao’s frankness. She laughed behind her sleeve and said, “Sister-in-law is naturally beautiful. What need is there for you to dress up? It’s people like me who can’t be seen without proper grooming.”
She showed goodwill, and Dou Zhao also hoped they could get along harmoniously. However, this wasn’t the time for a chat. Dou Zhao smiled and said, “Sister-in-law shouldn’t be so modest. Didn’t you notice everyone’s stunned expressions when you were introduced to the family?”
Miao Ansu chuckled and said, “I heard you and Miss Jiang are going mountain climbing on the Double Ninth Festival. I wonder if I could join you?”
Dou Zhao asked casually, “Is Second Uncle going?”
Miao Ansu inquired, “Would it be inconvenient if he went?”
Dou Zhao replied, “The Young Master will be accompanying the Emperor to Rabbit Mountain that day.”
Although they were uncle and niece, they were close in age. By custom, Song Han and Dou Zhao should avoid each other.
Miao Ansu understood and smiled, “Then I’ll talk to my husband about it. I’ll go with Sister-in-law, and he can entertain himself.”
Dou Zhao smiled noncommittally.
The next morning, Miao Ansu came to report: “My husband said I should go with Sister-in-law.”
Dou Zhao asked her, “How many people will you bring? Will two carriages be enough?”
“There’s no need to go to such trouble,” Miao Ansu hurriedly said with a smile. “I can squeeze in with Sister-in-law.”
“That won’t do!” Dou Zhao laughed. “When you leave the manor, you represent the face of the Duke Ying’s household. How could we just squeeze you in with us? Don’t refuse. I’ll have them prepare two carriages for you – one for you and one for your maids and servants.”
Miao Ansu thanked her profusely.
A young maid came in to report: “The old master from Jing’an Temple Lane has arrived.”
So early? Why had Father come here instead of going to his office?
Surely he hadn’t come especially for the Double Ninth Festival outing?
Dou Zhao went to the small study in the outer courtyard to meet Dou Shiying.
Dou Shiying looked somewhat anxious and asked, “Is Yankang in the palace or at the Golden Tiger Guard office?”
He could have sent a servant to inquire about such a thing, yet the old man had come in person…
Dou Zhao felt uneasy and said, “He said he’d enter the palace at noon.”
Dou Shiying left in a hurry, without mentioning anything about the Double Ninth Festival.
Dou Zhao was puzzled. She had someone waiting at the entrance to inform Song Mo to come directly to her when he returned.
Song Mo rushed over, sweating profusely. She quickly asked, “Did Father find you?”
So that’s what it was about.
Song Mo had a maid bring him a towel and went with her to the inner chamber to talk. “Your Fifth Uncle called your father, Sixth Uncle, and all the Dou clan members in the capital to Huaishu Lane last night. He told them to stay home and study, avoid making friends of unknown origins, and not get involved with any official factions. For any major or minor matters, they must first inform your Fifth Uncle, or face family punishment.”
“After the younger generation left, your Fifth Uncle kept your Sixth Uncle and your father behind. He discreetly told them about the Prince of Liao’s situation and asked them to help supervise the Dou clan members to prevent any trouble at this time.”
“Your father was very worried, fearing I might be involved. He came specially to warn me to be careful.”
Dou Zhao heaved a sigh of relief and patted her chest. “Thank goodness! Thank goodness!” Then she chided, “He gave me a fright, rushing over here in such a state!”
“You don’t know how fortunate you are!” Song Mo said with feeling. “If your father didn’t always have us in his heart, how could he have become so flustered? You should never say such things again!”
There was a hint of sadness in his tone.
Dou Zhao looked up in surprise and saw that Song Mo’s eyes were a little moist.
She fell silent.
Song Mo thought his words had made Dou Zhao uncomfortable and quickly smiled, saying, “I asked your father. He said he won’t go mountain climbing with you at the Double Ninth Festival. He wants us to send Yuan’er to his place, and he’ll look after him at home.”
Since the child was too young, Dou Zhao had decided to leave Yuan’er at home.
Dou Zhao laughed.
Now that Father had a grandson, he didn’t want to go anywhere.
She smiled and nodded.
Jiang Yan prayed, “May the Bodhisattva bless us with clear weather on the Double Ninth Festival!”
Dou Zhao smiled and patted her head.
The weather was good for the next two days. On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, the sky was clear and the air was crisp.
Dou Zhao first sent Yuan’er and his wet nurse to Jing’an Temple Lane, then met Jiang Lizhu at the gate of Jing’an Temple to go to Fragrant Hills together.
Sitting in the second carriage, Ji Hong lifted the curtain slightly and looked out. Seeing that Dou Zhao’s carriage was at least two zhang ahead of them, with guards either leading the way in front or bringing up the rear, and only four guards escorting on the sides, primarily focused on Dou Zhao’s carriage, she sighed with relief. She lowered the curtain and said resentfully, “It’s fine that Madam likes Miss Jiang and lets her ride in the same carriage. But that Mrs. Wu is just the wife of a minor official, yet Madam treats her with such favor, letting her share a carriage too… Madam, you are the proper daughter-in-law of the Duke Ying’s household. Isn’t this a slap in your face?”
“What do you know?” Miao Ansu scolded Ji Hong. “When the Dou family entered the household, Old Master Lu, Princess Ningde, and others all came. But when it was my turn, they were suddenly too old and frail to bear the excitement. Although my family’s status isn’t high and I don’t have as rich a dowry as the Dou family, this is still an imperial-decreed marriage. Once I entered the Song family, I became their daughter-in-law. If they don’t give me a face, they’re not giving a face to the Song family. Don’t you find that a bit strange?”
Ji Hong blushed and said, “Perhaps… perhaps the Lu family is just fawning over power? Seeing that the Second Young Master can’t inherit Duke Ying’s title, they don’t show respect?”
Miao Ansu waved her hand and pondered, “There must be some inside story we don’t know about… We can’t get any information from the Second Young Master’s maids and servants, so we’ll have to find out for ourselves!”
Getting closer to Dou Zhao might allow her to learn something.
Miao Ansu said to Ji Hong, “I’m going to take a nap. Remember to wake me when we’re near Fragrant Hills.”
Ji Hong responded with an embarrassed “Mm.”
But Miao Ansu felt as if something was stuck in her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Her period had come, and the wet nurse had cautiously asked Song Han if he wanted to arrange for a concubine. He had pointed to Ji Hong…
She had only just married into the family!
Even if he had taken a liking to Ji Hong, couldn’t he have waited a couple of months?
Song Mo was the heir apparent, yet even with Dou Shi pregnant and giving birth, he didn’t have any concubines in his household.
Born of the same mother, how could the two brothers be so different?
Miao Ansu closed her eyes dejectedly.
Sitting in the front carriage, Jiang Lizhu was somewhat troubled. She asked, “Are we going to take Miao Shi mountain climbing with us?”
“Fragrant Hills will be crowded. What’s wrong with that?” Dou Zhao smiled and said, “We can’t condemn Miao Shi just because we don’t like Song Han.”
“That may be true, but what woman doesn’t side with her husband instead of her elder brother and sister-in-law?” Jiang Lizhu said. “Knowing that everyone will eventually fall out, yet still pretending to get along with her now, it just feels uncomfortable to me.”
Dou Zhao smiled and said, “This is a good opportunity to let her hear some rumors. I’m sure she’ll keep her distance from us after that.”
“That would be best.” Jiang Lizhu felt this arrangement couldn’t be better. She brought up the rumors about Song Mo and Jiang Baisong with great distress, “Sister-in-law, what do you think I should do?”
Dou Zhao smiled and said, “Although you’re a daughter of the Jiang family, you’re more importantly a daughter-in-law of the Wu family. If there’s a conflict with the Wu family, you should prioritize them. If it doesn’t involve the Wu family, then consider the Jiang family first. Everyone else is secondary. I think Aunt will come up with a plan.”
“Everyone else is secondary!” Jiang Lizhu repeated Dou Zhao’s words softly, looking at her with admiration for the first time.