After the incident with Pang Jixiu, Dou Shiying’s attention shifted entirely to the inner courtyard. He began to inquire about various household matters in meticulous detail. Unfortunately, with Dou Zhao overseeing everything and Wang Yingxue managing the household, he found it difficult to uncover anything he could involve himself in. Frustrated, he redirected all his energy toward the renovations of the eastern courtyard. What should have been completed by early summer dragged on into mid-summer, prompting Dou Qijun to frequently visit the western residence to discuss with his father the designs for painted beams and stone sculptures. Each time, they engaged in lively discussions, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Wang Yingxue couldn’t help but murmur, “Father mentioned that both the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Justice in Kyoto have vacancies. He has already written to his friends in those departments… Time is of the essence; shouldn’t you respond to him?”

Dou Shiying dismissed her concerns, sipping his chilled mung bean soup while studying the blueprints, and replied absentmindedly, “Whether it’s the Ministry of Works or the Ministry of Justice, it all goes through the Ministry of Personnel. You needn’t worry about this; I have my plans.”

Relying on his father-in-law was seen as living off others; depending on his cousin was expected.

Wang Yingxue didn’t press further. Even Dou Zhao believed her father had already discussed matters with Fifth Uncle and didn’t think much of it. Instead, she eagerly listened to her father and Dou Qijun discuss how to incorporate scenery and build rockeries, as if they were determined to transform the eastern courtyard into a Jiangnan-style garden.

Gao Sheng approached Dou Zhao, saying, “In just five months, we’ve already spent sixty thousand taels of silver.”

Dou Zhao asked, “Is the family in a tight spot because of this?”

“Not exactly,” Gao Sheng replied quietly, “but it is being spent rather quickly; we’ve already lost last year’s earnings.”

“Come back to me when he has exhausted the savings of the Xidou family,” Dou Zhao said nonchalantly. “You have to keep him busy with something, right?”

Gao Sheng forced a smile.

Dou Zhao watched Dou Qijun, who was playfully leaning against their father, and suddenly felt a pang of sadness. It had been nine years since her mother passed away, and her father had spent those years alone.

If only he had a son, would he act more prudently?

The thought crossed her mind, and Dou Xiao’s listless demeanor flashed in her mind, making her feel nauseated. She decided to leave the matter alone.

However, at the end of June, Fifth Uncle sent a letter asking why her father hadn’t gone to Kyoto to wait for a vacancy. He also mentioned that their grandfather had passed away, and her father should take responsibility for the family. In this world, many offered help when things were good, but few provided support in times of need. The Dou family should stick together more tightly, and her father shouldn’t abandon the hard work of the past ten years. He subtly inquired about her father’s heirs, suggesting that if Wang Yingxue couldn’t bear children, he could ask Fifth Aunt to help find a suitable concubine for Dou Shiying. This way, when a son eventually entered the government, her father could return home peacefully as an elder.

Her father was so shocked that he broke into a cold sweat and wrote back to Fifth Uncle that he wouldn’t trouble him with matters of taking a concubine, but he didn’t mention anything about waiting for a vacancy.

It was then that Dou Zhao realized her father’s decision not to go to Kyoto was entirely his own.

She decided to confront him, saying, “If you’re worried about Mother and Dou Ming, you could take them with you to Kyoto. I can bring Aunt Cui over to enjoy a few days of peace.”

Her father considered this seriously, replying, “You make a good point. Perhaps we should all go to Kyoto and let Aunt Cui help look after things at home.”

Living under the same roof with Wang Yingxue for three years was already Dou Zhao’s limit. The thought of continuing to be entangled with her was out of the question!

“If I go to Kyoto, the Pang family will likely have even more excuses to visit us, right?”

Dou Shiying was left speechless.

Seizing the opportunity, Dou Zhao inquired about the concubine matter, “…You should have someone to take care of your daily needs.”

As a father, Dou Shiying found it inappropriate to discuss such matters with his daughter.

His face flushed as he scolded Dou Zhao, “What nonsense are you talking about? Who told you these things?”

“Didn’t Fifth Uncle mention it in his letter?” Dou Zhao replied candidly, “The Xidou family can’t possibly be without a son, can they?”

All the resentment Dou Zhao had toward her father for being alone for nine years dissipated.

Dou Shiying, embarrassed, said, “You see, I don’t have time to keep an eye on the inner courtyard every day. If I were to take another person into the household, wouldn’t that be unfair to them? Besides, even if a legitimate son were born, who would raise him? Just look at Mingjie; what has she turned into!”

Dou Zhao fell silent.

At the end of April, the Jinshi graduates had their ceremony, and Sixth Uncle Dou Shiheng was appointed to the Ministry of Personnel, becoming a close aide to the emperor. The Second Madam was overjoyed and sponsored a lantern festival for the county during the Dragon Boat Festival, inviting all the notable figures from Zhen Ding County to their home for a performance. As a two-time successful candidate, Dou Shiying naturally had to attend.

He took the family to the eastern residence.

For some unknown reason, Dou Ming got into a fight with the eight-year-old daughter of the Lang family, pulling out a handful of her hair. No matter how Dou Shiying questioned Dou Ming afterward, she remained tight-lipped, like a closed clam, refusing to say a word. The Lang family’s daughter only cried, and Dou Shiying had no choice but to personally apologize, leaving him still in the dark about why Dou Ming had fought with the Lang family’s daughter.

Dou Zhao suspected that Wang Yingxue must know.

Not only did Wang Yingxue know, but most of the women in the eastern residence probably did as well.

The fifth daughter of the Zhu family eventually married the fifteenth son of the Lang family.

When Dou Ming and the Lang family’s daughter disagreed, the latter jumped up and insulted Dou Zhao, calling her a “bastard raised by a concubine.”

Hearing this, Dou Shiying couldn’t help but regret, “Had I known you were so sensible, I should have entrusted your sister to you. But now it’s too late; you’re already twelve, and in two or three years, you’ll be getting married…”

Dou Zhao felt a cold sweat break out, realizing how inconvenient it was for the family to be without a male heir. She laughed, “If you give me a brother now, I’ll help you take care of him, but don’t expect me to look after my sister!”

Dou Shiying chuckled awkwardly.

Dou Qijun came to find his father.

Dou Zhao wondered, “Hey, where are Eldest Brother and Second Brother?”

Dou Qijun chuckled, “They’re all preparing for the upcoming exams next year, each one studying hard at home!”

Dou Zhao laughed heartily.

Dou Qijun and Dou Shiying went to the eastern courtyard.

Wang Yingxue received a letter from her mother, Xu Shi, expressing how much she missed Dou Ming after not seeing her for several years and wanting to take Dou Ming to Kyoto to stay for a while.

She went to discuss this with Dou Shiying.

Meanwhile, Dou Qijun ran to the study to talk to Dou Zhao.

“We’re planning to visit the Pang family in a few days,” he said, winking at Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao was taken aback and quickly asked, “What are you going there for?”

Dou Qijun laughed heartily, “Guess!”

When she was anxious, Dou Zhao hated guessing games. Without thinking, she replied, “I can’t guess.”

Dou Qijun looked a bit disappointed and said, “Pang Jixiu is getting married.”

Dou Zhao was taken aback.

Dou Qijun grinned mischievously, “Pang Jixiu wanted to find a wife, right? We thought it would be too difficult for him to do it alone, so we got the family’s brothers and sisters to help him find someone. And wouldn’t you know it, he laid eyes on someone right away, and the engagement was settled in less than three months…”

Dou Zhao immediately sensed there was a story behind this and laughed, “Quick, tell me! Otherwise, next time you come, there won’t be any chilled mung bean soup for you!”

Seeing no one around, Dou Qijun leaned in and whispered with a grin, “The Chen family in Lingbi County has been in the business for generations, with five sons and one daughter, all strong and trained in martial arts from a young age. The Chen girl, over twenty and still unmarried, didn’t expect that when Pang Jixiu went to their shop to buy snacks, he secretly held her hand. Knowing Pang Jixiu was still single, she immediately took a liking to him. Not only did she let him hold her hand, but she also sent a matchmaker to propose to the Pang family, saying she’d rather marry Pang Jixiu than live with a coward for the rest of her life… They say the Pang family is a bunch of rascals, but the Chen family is quite bold, straddling both the black and white worlds. The Chen family made it clear that if Pang Jixiu didn’t marry, he’d have to pay with his hands as an apology, and then they’d let it go…”

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but burst into laughter, asking Dou Qijun, “Who was it that touched the Chen girl?”

“Of course, it was Kou Ge’er,” Dou Qijun declared with righteous indignation. “Do you think we’d ruin the Chen girl’s reputation?”

Kou Ge’er was the five-year-old son of Seventh Uncle Dou Fanchang.

Dou Zhao laughed uncontrollably.

She realized that the Chen girl had taken the opportunity to latch onto Pang Jixiu.

She asked Dou Qijun, “Who are ‘you guys’?”

Dou Qijun looked around but didn’t answer.

Dou Zhao didn’t press further, thinking about the Pang family’s shamelessness and feeling that this marriage was quite fitting.

At dinner, she shared the news with Dou Shiying.

Both Dou Shiying and Wang Yingxue were surprised.

“We should also send a gift when the time comes,” Dou Shiying remarked.

Dou Zhao nodded with a smile.

Suddenly, Dou Ming, who had been sitting quietly, shouted at Dou Shiying, “When are we going to Kyoto?”

Dou Shiying frowned slightly and gently replied, “Don’t talk while eating.”

Dou Ming became agitated, slamming her chopsticks onto the table, and shouted, “I want to go to my grandmother’s house in Kyoto! I don’t want to stay here! I don’t want to be in Zhen Ding…” Tears streamed down her face as she spoke.

Wang Yingxue turned her face away, her eyes also brimming with tears.

Dou Shiying trembled with anger, finally scolding Dou Ming sternly, “Don’t forget, you’re a Dou, not a Wang! This is your home. If you don’t stay in your own home, where do you want to go?”

Wang Yingxue hesitated, wanting to say something.

Dou Ming pushed her bowl away and stomped off.

Dou Shiying glared at Wang Yingxue and said, “Starting tomorrow, let her learn the rules from the Second Madam. We’ve never had a daughter in the Dou family who fights with others! If she doesn’t correct these rough habits, she’s not allowed to go anywhere!”

Wang Yingxue’s expression changed dramatically. “Seventh Master, you’re being unreasonable. My mother just misses Mingjie and wants to take her to stay for a few days. The way you’re saying it makes it seem like our Wang family is competing with the Dou family for daughters… Your father has arranged everything for you, and you’re indifferent. What have we Wang family done to offend you? Why do you have to treat me and Mingjie like this…” With that, she shot Dou Shiying a resentful glare and turned to leave the hall.

Only Dou Shiying and Dou Zhao remained in the hall.

Dou Shiying slumped into the armchair.

Dou Zhao, however, sat upright, elegantly continuing to eat her meal as if nothing had happened.