The relationships between people can be quite mysterious at times.
Dou Zhao believed she had seen through the ways of the world and maintained a cold demeanor. Ji Shi, being cautious and meticulous in her actions, also held a senior position as an elder. Entrusted by Dou Shiying to look after Dou Zhao, she felt compelled to maintain a proper distance. Although their relationship was good, it could hardly be called intimate. However, ever since Ji Shi received the pot of tea flowers known as the “Eighteen Scholars,” her attitude toward Dou Zhao shifted. The formality of an elder toward a younger was replaced by a newfound camaraderie based on shared interests.
After each lesson, Ji Shi would always keep Dou Zhao for a few words: “Where did you get these Eighteen Scholars?”
“Last time, when Father was repairing the East Courtyard, he sent someone to Jiangnan to buy flowers and plants. Someone offered these Eighteen Scholars for a hefty price. I thought they looked genuine, so I bought them.” In her previous life, she had been surrounded by people who enjoyed admiring flowers but none who liked to cultivate them. In this life, Dou Zhao was thrilled to find someone who shared her interest in gardening. “I also asked him to find me two Six-angled Red flowers, one Chi Dan, one Fen Dan, and one Tea Mei,” she added. “Does Sixth Aunt like Jian Lan? I asked him to help me find a few seedlings.”
“You can grow Jian Lan?” Ji Shi exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise. “How do you know how to grow Jian Lan?”
Realizing she had let something slip, Dou Zhao quickly replied, “I don’t know how to grow orchids. However, I saw a book on orchids in Father’s study and found it very interesting. I thought I’d try to grow a few Jian Lan based on the methods in that book to see if I could succeed.” She then laughed, “How would I know if I don’t try? Maybe I can cultivate Dou’s Jian Lan!”
In her previous life, she had loved Jian Lan, especially Su Xin Jian Lan, admiring its elegant and refined beauty. It was resilient and could thrive anywhere with a little care, often blooming for two or three seasons.
Ji Shi was eager to see the orchid book, but as the thought crossed her mind, she swallowed her words. Orchids were precious, and in families that had cultivated them for generations, the techniques were often considered family secrets, sometimes passed down only to male heirs. Who knew how the Xidou family had acquired their orchid book? Rather than shamelessly prying into Dou Zhao’s knowledge, it would be better to have Dou Zhao gift her a few orchids.
“I’ll be waiting for your Dou’s Jian Lan,” she said with a smile. “Just don’t forget to send a few to your Sixth Aunt when the time comes.”
Seeing that Ji Shi no longer pressed her about growing orchids, Dou Zhao sighed in relief and promised, “Of course, I will!”
Ji Shi accompanied her to see the two Jian Lan that were still in bloom. “How did you manage to keep them blooming until now?”
Dou Zhao, no longer daring to boast, replied with a smile, “I just tried keeping them in the warm room. I didn’t expect them to bloom for so long. I still don’t know why they’ve lasted this long. I’ve assigned a capable maid to take care of them daily and record the changes, so I should be able to find out.”
Ji Shi was greatly impressed. “I only knew you were diligent in your studies, but I didn’t realize you put so much effort into growing flowers as well.”
“Since it requires effort anyway, why not do my best?” Dou Zhao replied with a smile.
Ji Shi nodded repeatedly, her admiration evident.
Suddenly, a young maid rushed in, breathless. “Sixth Madam, Fourth Miss, Lady Huan Jiu has given birth!”
Both Dou Zhao and Ji Shi displayed expressions of surprise, asking in unison, “Did she have a girl or a boy? Was Lady Huan Jiu safe and sound?”
The young maid quickly replied, “Lady Huan Jiu has given birth to a son, and both mother and child are safe.”
They both clasped their hands together and murmured a prayer of gratitude.
Afterward, they found the situation amusing and exchanged smiles.
Ji Shi suggested that Dou Zhao gift a pot of Jian Lan to Huang Shi as a congratulatory present. “It’s the firstborn son of the main branch, and many relatives and friends will come to congratulate him. Perhaps someone from the Huang family in Huai’an will also come. There are many flower enthusiasts in Jiangnan.”
Dou Zhao was somewhat taken aback.
Ji Shi had always been low-key, but recently she had been unusually proactive, pushing Dou Zhao into the spotlight.
It wasn’t until she heard Haitang mutter before bed that “Fourth Miss’s winter clothes might need to be completely redone” that she realized.
She had reached the age for matchmaking.
In the end, she gifted several bolts of brocade as a congratulatory gift.
Ji Shi felt frustrated with Dou Zhao’s lack of ambition and reflected on her role in shaping her.
Old Madam Wang chuckled, “Fourth Miss is truly unperturbed by praise or blame; the Madam should be pleased.”
“Indeed!” Ji Shi replied dejectedly. “But the more she is like this, the more I’m reluctant to let her be overlooked.”
During the Double Ninth Festival banquet at the Dou residence, Ji Shi kept Dou Zhao by her side, occasionally asking her to serve tea or hand over a handkerchief to esteemed elders.
Dou Zhao understood Ji Shi’s intentions but, being naturally strong-willed, found it hard to engage in self-deprecating behavior. She could only accept the compliments from the elders about being “steady and gracious” and “intelligent and clever.” Compared to her, Yi Jie and Shu Jie seemed either too impetuous or too dull.
Second Madam remained silent, merely smiling.
Liu Mama quietly suggested, “Should we ask Sixth Madam to help check if the chrysanthemum arrangement is satisfactory? Sixth Madam is from Jiangnan and must have seen more than we have.”
Second Madam was displeased, but since Ji Shi was her daughter-in-law, she didn’t want her closest servant to lose face in front of Liu Mama.
“This is Shou Gu’s expertise,” Second Madam said, glancing at Liu Mama. “If there’s blame, it should be directed at those who failed to teach Yi Jie and Shu Jie properly.”
Liu Mama quickly lowered her head in agreement.
Second Madam took the arm of her third sister-in-law and headed to the banquet hall.
Usually, it was the Sixth Aunt who assisted the Second Madam.
Seeing Ji Shi’s calm expression, Dou Zhao sighed inwardly.
If she had previously been unaware of Second Madam’s intentions, witnessing the tension between Second Madam and Ji Shi today gave her some insight.
The Wang family could not interfere in her marriage, and the Zhao family was far away, making it impossible for her to be married off to the northwest. After all, her father was a man, and her marriage would likely still require the help of the Eastern Dou family. Second Madam did not want her to overshadow Yi Jie and Shu Jie, nor did she want her to appear eager to marry.
Thinking of the half of the Xidou family’s property recorded in her name, she understood Second Madam’s considerations well—rather than offend the persistent matchmakers, it would be better to quietly marry her off to someone beneficial to the Dou family or keep her in the Dou family, providing for her comfortably while persuading her to share her property with the Dou family’s children.
Fortunately, while the Second Madam had her schemes, Dou Zhao also had her means of navigating the situation, ensuring Ji Shi wouldn’t be caught in the middle.
After the guests departed, Dou Zhao approached Second Madam for assistance: “…I want to be knowledgeable like Sixth Aunt and Sixth Aunt agrees. Therefore, I wrote a letter to Father, asking for his permission to continue my studies and hire a tutor to teach me at home. Father hasn’t replied yet, and I’m afraid the Madam might intervene…”
Second Madam glanced at Ji Shi, who looked momentarily taken aback and smiled, “You’re still young, and it’s the perfect time for studying. Don’t worry; I’ll take charge of this matter. Wang Shi won’t say anything.”
Dou Zhao happily thanked the Second Madam.
Ji Shi sighed and gently patted her hand, personally seeing her off to the carriage.
Second Madam, wishing to keep things low-key, had already instructed Dou Shibang to quietly find a tutor for Dou Zhao without waiting for Dou Shiying’s reply: “…He must not be someone from near Zhen Ding; his knowledge must be good enough to keep Shou Gu interested in learning.”
Dou Shibang was puzzled. “Shou Gu doesn’t need to take the imperial examination.”
Second Madam replied, “If we spend money, we can’t hire someone uneducated, can we? What would others think of the Dou family’s reputation? What about the family’s scholarly reputation?”
But surely, they shouldn’t hire someone with an unknown background.
Dou Shibang grumbled internally but didn’t dare to ask further, respectfully agreeing, “Yes,” and enlisted a few reliable stewards to help find a tutor for Dou Zhao.
Despite this, Dou Zhao’s outstanding appearance and graceful demeanor still spread her reputation.
Soon, families began to come forward with marriage proposals.
Second Madam rejected all of them, citing “She’s too young; at least wait until she’s of marriageable age.”
Grandmother listened with some concern and privately said to Hong Gu, “Isn’t it too late to wait until she’s of marriageable age? Suitable young men might already be engaged.”
Hong Gu reassured Grandmother, “With Shou Gu’s beauty and capability, she won’t have trouble finding a good match. If not in Zhen Ding, surely there are prospects in the capital?”
“That’s true,” Grandmother felt relieved.
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.
It seemed no one mentioned Wei Tingyu.
If only she could find a way to retrieve the token from her uncle… then her marriage to the Wei family would be completely off the table.
Dou Zhao thought of her children.
They seemed forever frozen in her memory, still looking like they were fourteen or fifteen years old.
Her mood suddenly plummeted.
On her way to school with Ji Shi, Dou Zhao leaned dejectedly against the large welcoming pillow in the carriage.
As the carriage moved smoothly, it suddenly came to a halt with a shout. Dou Zhao, Haitang, and Qiukui stumbled and fell into a heap. Outside, a girl’s clear yet trembling voice called out, “Miss Dou, please save my father!”
Dou Zhao’s heart trembled at the word “save.”
If it was a matter of “saving,” it must be dangerous.
What danger could a law-abiding citizen face?
Unfamiliar with the girl and unwilling to get involved, she instructed Haitang, “Tell the driver to hurry up; we can’t delay our studies.”
Haitang quickly relayed Dou Zhao’s words to the driver.
The driver raised his whip to urge the horses forward.
But the girl blocking the carriage spread her arms wide, standing in the middle of the alley.
The driver had no choice but to softly persuade her, “Our young lady hasn’t reached marriageable age; her family must decide her matters. If you have grievances, just go to the yamen and beat the drum; what can our young lady do to help you?”
The girl stubbornly stood her ground.
The maid accompanying them jumped down to pull the girl away.
But the girl wouldn’t budge.
The maid’s face turned red with frustration as she called for help.
Both the driver and another maid got down from the carriage.
The girl shouted toward Dou Zhao’s carriage, “Fourth Miss, I beg you! My father is innocent; they say we are colluding with bandits, but my father doesn’t even know such a person! When my father’s friends come to visit, I serve them tea and wine; I know all my father’s friends. Fourth Miss, I beg you!” As she spoke, she began to bow her head to Dou Zhao, knocking her forehead on the ground, refusing to get up despite the three adults trying to pull her away.