Jiang Yan was anxiously pacing back and forth, thinking she needed to find a way to earn some money. However, living in a grand mansion surrounded by maids and servants, with drivers and guards when she went out, she rarely had time alone. Even if she wanted to make some knotwork or embroider handkerchiefs to sell at a shop like before, she couldn’t get the items out.
She gradually became depressed.
Yinghong noticed and was frightened, not daring to hide anything. She quickly reported to Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao immediately put aside her work to check on Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan hadn’t expected to alarm Dou Zhao and mumbled “I’m fine,” giving Yinghong a reproachful look.
Dou Zhao smiled, “Don’t look at her like that. She’s just being loyal, worried you might be upset.” She hugged Jiang Yan gently and asked, “What’s wrong? Is there something you can’t tell your sister-in-law?”
“It’s nothing!” Jiang Yan said bashfully. “It’s just getting colder, and I feel a bit drowsy.”
Dou Zhao felt her forehead – the temperature was normal. She asked Jiang Yan’s maid but found nothing unusual. She could only set aside her worries for now and instructed Yinghong to take good care of Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan smiled docilely as she saw Dou Zhao out.
Seeing Jiang Yan’s gentle demeanor, Dou Zhao sighed inwardly, feeling as if she had gained another daughter. Back in her room, she sent a message to Jiang Lizhu, asking her to visit Jiang Yan when free to chat and keep her company, preventing her from overthinking when lonely.
Jiang Lizhu not only had a mother-in-law but also a great-grandmother-in-law. The great-grandmother-in-law had long retired from household affairs, leaving the mother-in-law in charge. Both were kind-hearted women who pitied the Jiang family’s undeserved misfortune. They treated Jiang Lizhu, the new daughter-in-law, like their own daughter, being very gentle and caring. Jiang Lizhu, well-trained from childhood, was graceful and cheerful. Grateful that the Wu family didn’t look down on the fallen Jiang family, she was not only filial to her mother-in-law and great-grandmother-in-law but also very respectful. She and her husband Wu Zijie were in harmony, and the whole family lived happily together. Therefore, the Wu family encouraged her to accept Duke Ying’s invitations, thinking it good for her to visit relatives and chat with peers her age for companionship.
Upon receiving the message, she came to visit Jiang Yan.
However, just as she entered the Song family home, news of Song Mo’s promotion to Commander of the Jinwu Guard reached Duke Ying’s mansion.
Jiang Lizhu was both surprised and delighted. She smiled at Dou Zhao, “What perfect timing!”
Dou Zhao gave a wry smile and asked the servant who brought the news, “Is the Young Master still in the palace?”
“No,” the servant replied, unable to hide his joy. “He was taken by the Jinwu Guard men to the Zuixian Tower. They said they wanted to treat the Young Master to drinks!”
Dou Zhao dismissed the servant.
Jiang Lizhu asked curiously, “Sister-in-law doesn’t seem very happy?”
“Seeing willows by the road, I regret sending my husband to seek fame,” Dou Zhao tried to deflect. “I’m just worried your cousin is too young and might be led astray out there.”
Jiang Lizhu laughed, covering her mouth. “Sister-in-law has always been so confident. I didn’t expect you’d have worried too!”
“I’m just an ordinary person. How could I not worry?” Dou Zhao had just joked with her when the household stewards and matrons came to offer congratulations.
Seeing this, Jiang Lizhu excused herself and went to Biishui Pavilion.
Jiang Yan had just heard the news and was excited. Seeing Jiang Lizhu, she quickly asked if she knew about her brother’s promotion and consulted her: “What do you think I should send as a congratulatory gift?”
Jiang Lizhu smiled, “What doesn’t Cousin have? Anything you send will be fine, as long as it’s heartfelt.”
Jiang Yan thought for a moment and smiled, “Then I’ll embroider a ‘step-by-step promotion’ pouch for him. Embroidery is my specialty.”
Jiang Lizhu agreed it was a good idea. They leaned over the kang table together to draw designs. Then she took the opportunity to ask, “What’s been wrong with you these past few days? Cousin-in-law said you seemed distracted.”
“Don’t mention it,” Jiang Yan finally had someone to confide in and spilled everything out like beans from a bamboo tube. “You know about that day when I borrowed a hundred taels of silver from Lord Chen…” She told Jiang Lizhu everything that had happened since.
Jiang Lizhu couldn’t help laughing after hearing the story. “You’re worried about this? It’s just a few dozen taels of silver. How about I help you repay it first? You can pay me back when you have money later.”
Jiang Yan knew the Jiang family’s assets had been confiscated. She thought that even if Jiang Lizhu had any silver, it was probably her dowry savings. How could she touch that?
“No need,” Jiang Yan said embarrassedly. “Borrowing from you to repay Chen Jia would be robbing Peter to pay Paul. It would just drag you into this too.” Not wanting Jiang Lizhu to worry about her anymore, she smiled and changed the subject. “Now that Brother has been promoted, he’ll surely host banquets for relatives and colleagues. Do you think Brother’s banquet might be held on the same day as Yuan’er’s hundred-day celebration?”
“Probably not!” Jiang Lizhu guessed. “They could be back-to-back, perfect for two days of festivities.”
Jiang Yan nodded.
However, Song Mo decided to hold these two joyous events on the same day: “It’s both to celebrate my promotion to Commander of the Jinwu Guard and Yuan’er’s hundred days. We’ll kill two birds with one stone. It also prevents people from thinking we’re being too extravagant or high-profile.”
Dou Zhao asked, “What about the Prince of Liao?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Should we put our lives on hold just because the Prince of Liao hasn’t rebelled yet?” He reassured Dou Zhao, “Don’t worry. I won’t let you and the child suffer no matter what.”
It was precisely because she knew Song Mo would protect her and the child at any cost that she felt even more distressed!
Dou Zhao gently stroked Song Mo’s temple.
Song Mo raised an eyebrow flirtatiously and whispered in her ear, “Did you miss me?”
Dou Zhao’s face instantly flushed. She pinched Song Mo reproachfully.
Song Mo laughed heartily. Just as he was about to tease Dou Zhao more, the wet nurse came in carrying Yuan’er.
Seeing the couple sitting shoulder to shoulder, holding hands on the kang, she blushed and quickly lowered her eyes, hurriedly explaining, “It’s late. I was afraid Yuan’er might cry…”
Yuan’er always looked for Dou Zhao at night.
Dou Zhao quickly took her son.
Song Mo stroked Yuan’er’s head, chuckling, “You have perfect timing!”
Yuan’er grinned stupidly at his father.
Song Mo couldn’t help but laugh, calling him “silly boy.”
While Jiang Yan’s debt remained unsettled, matchmakers were practically wearing out the threshold of Duke Ying’s mansion, giving her another worry.
When Song Yichun heard about this, he sneered, “A good horse doesn’t wear two saddles, and a virtuous woman doesn’t marry twice. How dare they so blatantly try to find Jiang Yan a husband? Aren’t they afraid of being criticized?”
Song Han remained silent.
Miao Ansu, however, advised him: “Elder Brother has been promoted. We should be happy to congratulate him and his Sister-in-law. Filial piety is important, but you’ll rely on Elder Brother for your livelihood in the future. It’s better not to be so stubborn about some things.”
In her view, a smiling face disarms. If Song Han could humble himself to curry favor with Song Mo, Song Mo might soften and stop holding things against Song Han. Even if Song Han was adopted, he was still of the Song family bloodline. With the Song family not having many descendants, why should Song Mo insist on being mortal enemies with Song Han?
Hearing this, Song Han trembled with anger and gritted his teeth, “So you’ve written me off as inferior to Song Mo, thinking I’ll have to rely on him for my livelihood in the future?”
How could Miao Ansu dare to anger Song Han?
She hurriedly said, “That’s not what I meant. I’m saying a great man can be both humble and assertive. We can temporarily yield to Elder Brother and lay low for a while. When you’ve achieved merit and fame, it won’t be too late to stand as his equal.”
Song Han gave her a cold glance and stormed off.
Ji Hong bit her lip and asked, “Second Madam, what should we do?”
“What can we do? Nothing!” Miao Ansu said coldly. “If he won’t go, we’ll go! I was just trying to flatter him a bit. Did I expect him to achieve great things? Even if he could, with the Young Master ahead of him, it might take twenty or thirty years. We’re husband and wife, newlyweds at that. If he treats me like this now, can I expect him to win me a phoenix crown and cloudy skirt when I’m old and faded in twenty or thirty years? Who knows who’ll be sleeping beside him then? But do I have to suffer through his failures now? I’m not that foolish!”
Ji Hong didn’t dare say anything. She just agreed and accompanied Miao Ansu to Yizhi Hall.
Dou Zhao was having a private conversation with the Sixth Madam, who had come to congratulate Song Mo: “…I don’t know what kind of man this child wants to marry. So many matchmakers have come, but she hasn’t liked a single one. I’m afraid the past events have become a mental block, and she’s unwilling to live with a man. If that’s true, what can we do? She’s so well-behaved and obedient. Even if she stays at home her whole life, I won’t mind. But I fear the Young Master might not be able to accept it. Seeing her living alone, idling away her days, might deepen his hatred for the Duke and Song Han. One day, if he can’t control himself, he might do something improper.”
The Sixth Madam felt Dou Zhao’s reasoning made sense. She advised, “Then don’t rush to find her a husband. Take her out more often. As she meets more people and broadens her horizons, her outlook will change. The marriage issue might resolve itself naturally. If the Young Master asks, just say none of these families are suitable – no one’s perfect. If you want to find faults, you’ll surely find some!”
Dou Zhao laughed and gave a thumbs up: “As expected, the older ginger is spicier!”
The Sixth Madam laughed and pinched her cheek: “You dare to tease me!”
Dou Zhao laughed as she dodged.
The Sixth Madam’s expression turned serious, her smile fading. She glanced at Ganlu, who was serving nearby.
Dou Zhao quickly dismissed the maids and servants in the room and asked softly, “Sixth Aunt, what’s wrong?”
The Sixth Madam said solemnly, “Has your father discussed it with you? He’s formally proposing to your Fifth Uncle to adopt your Twelfth Brother as his heir!”
Dou Zhao was stunned. After a moment’s thought, she felt that if her father had made up his mind, she as his daughter shouldn’t oppose it. Moreover, Dou Dechang was upright yet witty, very much to her father’s liking. Having him as a companion in his later years might not be a bad thing.
She asked, “Sixth Aunt doesn’t agree?”
The Sixth Madam looked hesitant.
Dou Zhao held the Sixth Madam’s hand and said sincerely, “Twelfth Brother is already grown, and Sixth Uncle has always been close to Father. Even if he’s adopted, surely Father wouldn’t prevent Twelfth Brother from seeing Sixth Uncle? My sister Dou Ming and I are both married. Fathers can make decisions about family matters. What are you worried about?”