Grandfather passed away at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM) on the twelfth day of the eighth month.
Before his death, he had remained unconscious, leaving no final words.
Father was inconsolable, relying on people from East Dou Manor to help with the initial funeral preparations.
Dou Zhao stood quietly in the corridor, listening to her father’s cries and thinking about her grandmother.
Three years from now, Grandmother would also pass away.
Could she do something to extend Grandmother’s life by a couple of years?
Grandmother had collapsed suddenly in the backyard while watering melon vines… Her health had always been good, and no one had expected…
Wang Yingxue approached and spoke to Dou Zhao in a commanding tone: “Shou Gu, many people will come to pay their respects in the next few days. Your sister is too young to understand, so Mother can only rely on you. Please help oversee the kitchen affairs.”
For Grandfather’s funeral, relatives, friends, and neighbors would come to pay respects. Seeing Dou Zhao’s recent competent behavior, Wang Yingxue feared she might shine during the funeral and gain favor with the elders, making it harder to control her in the future.
Dou Zhao raised an eyebrow.
“Mother?” She scrutinized Wang Yingxue with a critical gaze. “Has Madam become confused with all the busyness? When did you change your surname to Zhao? Grandfather has just passed, and the mourning period hasn’t even been set, yet people are coming to pay respects? Madam, have you never managed a funeral before? If you truly don’t understand, why not ask Third Madam for help? Grandfather was a Jinshi graduate, and the Dou family has a respectable status in North Zhili. His old acquaintances might come to bid him farewell. If we make a laughingstock of ourselves, the Dou family can’t afford such embarrassment! As for kitchen matters, if the current kitchen manager can’t handle it, we should replace her.” She called for Haitang, “Go fetch Gaosheng.”
Since Wang Yingxue had become the official wife, Grandfather had stopped managing internal affairs, and Dou Zhao had lived in East Manor for years. The internal managers, even if not Wang Yingxue’s people, dared not offend her. Gaosheng was Father’s man, and in her previous life’s memory, he was loyal only to Father. As long as Father didn’t explicitly state otherwise, Gaosheng would respect Father’s daughter as he did Father, just as he respected Dou Ming.
Wang Yingxue’s face changed dramatically. She said in a low voice, “Shou Gu, I don’t know what the ladies in East Manor have been telling you, but you are still a member of West Manor…”
Dou Zhao interrupted her: “Madam, I think there are some things you need to consider carefully. Grandfather has just died; don’t think there’s no one above you now, that you can do whatever you want!”
Just then, Gaosheng arrived.
Dou Zhao stopped the conversation, having barely begun to relay Wang Yingxue’s words when Wang Yingxue hurriedly said, “I’ve been confused these past few days and spoke hastily. Shou Gu, please don’t take it to heart…”
One could only blame Wang Yingxue’s bad luck.
Dou Zhao was already troubled by her grandmother’s situation, and Wang Yingxue’s provocation, calling herself “Mother” to Dou Zhao’s face, made Dou Zhao determined to deal with her. Ignoring Wang Yingxue’s words, she finished speaking and said, “…Madam lacks experience in household management. If any embarrassment occurs at this time, West Manor might be gossiped about for a lifetime. You’re familiar with the household staff. If there’s no one capable of taking on this responsibility, we should outsource the banquets to restaurants outside. If we can’t find suitable ones in Zhending County, we’ll look in Zhending Prefecture. Others won’t think we lack capable people; they’ll only say we’re filial, wanting to send Grandfather off grandly.” She added, “At this time, it’s crucial to avoid internal chaos. You should be more accommodating. If there are any oversights, suppress them for now and address them after Grandfather’s affairs are settled.”
She didn’t know if Zhending had specialized shops for handling weddings and funerals, but when she was a marchioness in Beijing, there were many such shops, some quite large-scale.
Gaosheng guessed that Wang Yingxue wanted to put Dou Zhao in her place, but Dou Zhao’s suggestion was too tempting.
Not just in Zhending, but in all of North Zhili, no family had ever sent off an elder so grandly. The so-called posthumous glory was a measure of the children’s filial piety and capability. If this were done well, it would only benefit the Seventh Lord’s future career and reputation.
He immediately said, “I’ll go arrange this right away.” He turned decisively, not even glancing at Wang Yingxue.
Dou Zhao was satisfied with his response and said, “Manager Gao, please wait a moment.” She asked Wang Yingxue, “Madam, is there anything else you’re unsure about? Speak now, and Manager Gao and I will help you find solutions. If problems arise during the funeral, when we’re busy receiving mourners daily, we might be helpless to address them.”
Gaosheng stood respectfully, waiting for Wang Yingxue to speak.
Wang Yingxue was so angry her heart ached, her face alternating between red and white.
Dou Zhao just coldly smiled at her.
Wang Yingxue had to grit her teeth and say, “Nothing else.”
Dou Zhao smiled, “That’s good! Just make sure you don’t remember something else in a couple of days.” She turned and left with composure and grace.
Gaosheng, of course, had no reason to stay. He bowed to Wang Yingxue and left to find restaurants that could handle the banquets.
Wang Yingxue, leaning on Nanny Hu’s arm, kept saying, “I’m so angry, I could die!”
Nanny Hu, however, was worried about the Dou family’s servants.
Because the Seventh Lord hadn’t instructed to clear out the main room, the Seventh Madam and Fourth Miss still had some belongings there. The Old Master hadn’t said anything, so Madam couldn’t rashly move in. Moreover, with East Manor constantly suppressing West Manor, the servants lacked proper respect for Madam. They had just managed to subdue those people, and now with the Fourth Miss’s actions, would the servants become unruly again?
If only the Seventh Lord would say something!
She sighed inwardly but outwardly consoled Wang Yingxue, “Madam, we must consider the bigger picture.”
“I know,” Wang Yingxue nodded and asked, “Who from my family is coming to pay respects?”
She had sent word to her mother, Wang Xu Shi, when Dou Duo could no longer eat, hoping her natal family would send capable people to pay respects, which would help her establish a firmer footing in the Dou family.
Nanny Hu said softly, “The Old Madam said the Eldest Master and Eldest Madam will come.”
Wang Yingxue frowned, “Isn’t Second Sister-in-law coming?”
Only her second sister-in-law, Pang Yulou, would understand her intentions in such situations.
Nanny Hu asked, “Should I send a message to the Second Madam?”
Wang Yingxue had just said “Hurry,” when she saw an unfamiliar servant boy glancing around before quickly slipping into Dou Zhao’s resting chamber.
Her heart stirred, and she pointed at the servant boy, whispering to Nanny Hu, “Have someone clever keep an eye on that servant boy.”
Nanny Hu left to carry out the order.
Zhao Liangbi entered the side room and reported quietly, “Concubine Cui has learned of Old Master Dou’s passing. She will be coming over soon.”
Dou Zhao asked curiously, “Did someone from here inform Concubine Cui?”
“No,” Zhao Liangbi replied, “Concubine Cui said, whether she knows or not, now that she does know, she must come to offer incense…”
“That’s natural,” Dou Zhao said, “But how she comes and when she comes are matters of etiquette. She might not care, but others will see it differently. Tell Cui Thirteen to hold Concubine Cui back. When the Dou family sends someone to receive Concubine Cui, that’s when he should accompany her here. If the Dou family doesn’t send for her, she shouldn’t come.”
“Cui Thirteen said the same,” Zhao Liangbi looked troubled, “He said there are times when one must maintain a certain dignity, or people will look down on them. They might think that as soon as the Old Master passed away, Concubine Cui couldn’t wait to rush back… But Concubine Cui said she doesn’t care what others say, she must come.”
“Find a way to stop her,” Dou Zhao smiled, “Cui Thirteen will surely have a solution.”
Zhao Liangbi had no choice but to go relay the message to Cui Thirteen.
Everyone in the manor knew that Wang Yingxue’s attempt to trouble Dou Zhao had backfired, and the kitchen staff might be completely replaced by Dou Zhao.
For a time, the West Manor was in turmoil, with maids and servants trembling before Dou Zhao, even more respectful than they were to Wang Yingxue.
Dou Zhao ignored all this. Seeing it was noon, she went to the side room of Heshou Hall to serve Second Madam and the other elders lunch.
Early the next morning, Dou Shibang personally went to bring Grandmother back.
Concubine Ding held Grandmother’s hand, crying particularly sorrowfully.
Dou Zhao’s expression became somewhat strange.
In her previous life, when Grandfather passed away, Dou Xiao was already five years old. Third Uncle had brought them back from the farm, and when Concubine Ding saw Grandmother, although her eyes were red and swollen, she had only greeted Grandmother briefly before helping Wang Yingxue attend to guests.
She had prevented her mother’s first suicide attempt, and although she couldn’t prevent the second, it had caused significant changes in events.
Dou Xiao’s whereabouts were still unknown now.
Grandfather had never seen the birth of the legitimate eldest grandson he had longed for.
Grandmother was still Concubine Cui.
In her previous life, Concubine Ding had allied with her stepmother Wang Yingxue. In this life, Wang Yingxue, elevated from concubine to wife, was struggling herself, and Concubine Ding had played such a role in Dou Zhao’s affairs that as Father took charge, nothing good awaited her. She could only seek Grandmother’s sympathy and pity.
From this last point of view, Dou Zhao felt quite pleased with this change.
But could she find a way to extend Grandmother’s life?
Even if only for a few short months or years, to spend more time with Grandmother?
After paying respects to Grandfather and politely declining Concubine Ding, Dou Zhao arranged for Grandmother to stay in the guest room of West Dou Manor.
Grandmother held her hand, saying somewhat shamefully, “I thought if I came earlier, I could help you, but now it seems I’ll be lucky if I don’t burden you.”
Without their Grandfather as the father-in-law, and with his Grandmother as the concubine mother-in-law, Wang Yingxue would have to respect his Grandmother with the etiquette due to a stepmother, and wouldn’t be able to act as she pleased. Dou Zhao could easily persuade Grandmother to stay in West Dou Manor, or even use Grandmother to suppress Wang Yingxue.
But Dou Zhao didn’t want to involve Grandmother.
Grandmother had never wanted to be entangled with the Dou family throughout her life. Now in her twilight years, Dou Zhao hoped Grandmother could live as she wished.
“Why do you say that?” She wrung out a handkerchief to wipe Grandmother’s face.
Grandmother said somewhat embarrassedly, “Just like how you wanted me to wait for the Dou family to come receive me. I only thought that since your grandfather and I had your father together, I should come to pay my respects now that he’s passed… I didn’t consider much else.”
Dou Zhao smiled, “Then you probably don’t want to stay in the Dou family either?”
“This isn’t my place,” Grandmother smiled, “I wouldn’t be comfortable living here.”
“After Grandfather’s funeral, I’ll send you back to the farm,” Dou Zhao smiled, “However, you don’t have to always stay on the farm. If you miss me or Father, just have Cui Thirteen bring you over for a few days.”
“That sounds good,” Grandmother smiled, “But it’s better if you come stay with me for a few days!”
Dou Zhao gazed at Grandmother with a slight smile.
Father still had to observe three years of mourning. Would Grandmother forever remain just “Concubine Cui” because of this?
She felt a vague uneasiness in her heart.