Dou Shiying had invited a tutor for his daughter, surnamed Jiang, named Li, courtesy name Yougong. He was an elderly man in his sixties, a former jinshi who had taught for fifteen years at the home of He Wenda, a cabinet minister and Dou Shiying’s mentor. Due to his declining health, he had requested to retire and return home, but Dou Shiying persuaded him to come to the Dou residence for three years.

“… Dou Xiuchuan said it’s just a girl, and it doesn’t matter what she learns, as long as she understands some basic principles,” Jiang Yougong said politely, though his tone carried an air of arrogance. “Moreover, with Dou Shilang’s recommendation, I couldn’t refuse, even though I know my abilities are limited. I had no choice but to come.”

With three officials in the Dou family, he had to refer to them by their titles.

Dou Shibang expressed his gratitude repeatedly, arranged for Master Du to accompany Jiang Yougong, and personally set him up in the outer study of the West Dou residence. He assigned two young servants, two maidservants, and two elderly women to assist him, and invited Dou Zhao to greet Jiang Yougong and finalize the start date for classes before returning to the East Dou residence.

“What’s this man like?” the Second Matriarch asked her son.

Dou Shibang smiled wryly. “His knowledge is top-notch, but his temperament… I’m not sure if he’ll stay long.”

The Second Matriarch frowned.

Dou Zhao, on the other hand, was furious.

Why couldn’t her father just stay put? This Jiang was not there to teach her; he was just going through the motions!

Despite being over sixty, he still adhered to the strict separation of genders, insisting on setting up a screen to separate himself from Dou Zhao during lessons. He often boasted about his time at He Ge Lao’s home, lecturing without regard for whether Dou Zhao could understand. He would lecture and then leave, as if Dou Zhao were a block of wood—no matter how well he spoke, she wouldn’t grasp it, and no matter how poorly he spoke, she wouldn’t know. Thus, the lessons were painfully inadequate. Yet, Dou Shiying had promised him a salary of one hundred taels of silver a year, plus two sets of seasonal clothing.

He was simply underestimating her because she was a girl.

On a day when Dou Qijun was home, Jiang Yougong was lecturing Dou Zhao on *Mencius: Teng Wengong II*. Dou Zhao called for Cui Shisan and asked Dou Qijun to write an essay based on the phrase “Zhou Gong united the barbarians, drove away fierce beasts, and the people lived in peace.” She placed it on Jiang Yougong’s desk the next morning. Jiang Yougong glanced at it hastily, then exclaimed, picking it up to read it carefully for a while. He asked Dou Zhao, “Who wrote this?”

Dou Zhao replied calmly, “It’s just a playful piece by a student.”

Jiang Yougong scoffed, tossing the essay aside, and then used *Teng Wengong* to lecture her on the duties of a concubine.

Dou Zhao remained silent, attending school diligently every day without wasting a moment.

When Chen Qu Shui heard that the Seventh Master of the Dou family had invited a tutor from the capital for his daughter, he couldn’t help but laugh heartily. He wrote a letter to Dou Zhao, expressing his gratitude for her regard and announcing that he would head to Zhen Ding County to teach at the Dou residence.

Dou Zhao arranged for Chen Qu Shui to stay at the estate.

As Chen Qu Shui watched the carriage navigate through Zhen Ding County toward the outskirts, he couldn’t hide his surprise and asked Zhao Liangbi, who had come to pick him up, “Where are we going?”

Zhao Liangbi smiled. “Naturally, we’re going to Cui Ainiang’s estate!” He added, fearing Chen Qu Shui might not understand, “Cui Ainiang has long since stated that this estate is to be left to the Fourth Miss. The Seventh Master has agreed, so this estate will belong to her in the future.”

Chen Qu Shui fell silent.

No wonder Dou Zhao said she wanted him to be her tutor.

Could it be that Dou Zhao already knew her father would invite a tutor from the capital for her?

He had only intended to tease Dou Zhao a little, to remind her that the Dou family was not necessarily hers to command, and that promises must be backed by strength!

Now, it seemed that his light-hearted banter was insignificant in front of the Fourth Miss of the Dou family.

Why would the Fourth Miss seek a tutor in classical texts?

For the first time, Chen Qu Shui seriously considered Dou Zhao’s intentions.

Dou Zhao took a day off to welcome Chen Qu Shui to the estate.

Chen Qu Shui was surprised not to see any adults around.

Dou Zhao pretended not to notice and cheerfully invited him into the study she had prepared.

The three-room structure was made of blue bricks and tiles, with one bright room and two dark ones. The eastern room was a private chamber with a warm alcove behind it; the western room was the study, with a suite behind it. In front of the house, there was a flowering crabapple and an apricot tree, while the back was lined with bamboo. The floor was paved with blue bricks, the windows were covered with Korean paper, and black lacquered furniture held blue-and-white porcelain teacups. A tall and short branch of bright red hibiscus flowers was arranged in a white porcelain vase, creating a refreshing atmosphere.

Chen Qu Shui’s eyes lit up. When he picked up the teacup, he noticed the tea was a brilliant yellow, fragrant, and elegant. Upon tasting it, he found it rich and mellow, with a lingering sweetness—it was Tieguanyin from this autumn. His joy was evident as he exclaimed, “What a good tea!”

Dou Zhao smiled slightly.

One cannot associate with those who lack quirks, for they have no deep feelings; nor with those who lack flaws, for they have no true essence.

Chen Qu Shui had faced many hardships in life, yet he could still be moved by a scene or a cup of tea, revealing his true nature.

She lowered her head to sip her tea, letting the fresh taste of Tieguanyin roll around in her mouth before smiling and asking, “What are your plans for the future, Mr. Chen?”

Chen Qu Shui raised an eyebrow, seemingly inquiring about her intentions.

Dou Zhao did not hide her thoughts and replied candidly, “One cannot remain in a fragrant room without noticing its scent, nor in a fish market without smelling its odor. With Master Bie gone from East Alley, I fear this may not be a suitable place for you to stay. I would like to invite you to live at the estate, where you can teach me at any time. What do you think?”

Chen Qu Shui’s expression grew serious.

The Fourth Miss’s words carried weight.

When he first arrived at East Alley, he encountered some trouble with local thugs. If it hadn’t been for Bie Gangyi’s intervention, he wouldn’t have escaped unscathed!

He thought of the ailing Bie Gangyi and the Bie sisters, who were about to seek refuge with Dou Zhao and felt a flicker of interest.

He had long accepted his fate and sought nothing more than to live out his remaining days in peace. Yet, he was also concerned about the Bie sisters and wanted to repay Bie Gangyi for his kindness over the years.

After a long moment of contemplation, Chen Qu Shui asked Dou Zhao earnestly, “It is said that a woman’s lack of talent is a virtue. I wonder why the Fourth Miss insists on inviting a tutor to teach classical texts at home?”

Since he had some matters to entrust to Chen Qu Shui, it was better to be open about certain things.

This was Dou Zhao’s principle in employing others.

“I believe you are already aware of my situation, Mr. Chen,” she said thoughtfully. “In the past, I was certain that since Wang Shi had become a concubine, the Dou family would never elevate her to the status of a wife for the sake of reputation.

Yet I was wrong. Zeng Yifen’s reinstatement, Wang Xingyi’s rise, and my uncle’s ambitions have turned Wang Shi not only into a legitimate wife but have also made me a pawn in the struggle between the Wang and Dou families.” She paused to sip her tea, her voice tinged with melancholy. “I often think that when I was young, I was powerless to resist. Now that I have grown up, must I continue to live as ‘the one on the chopping block while others wield the knife’? In ten years at most, the Wang and Dou families will determine the victor. Where will I go then?”

In her past life, Wang Xingyi and Dou Shishu had settled their rivalry in just nine years.

In this life, although circumstances had changed, who could guarantee that Dou Shishu would alter history and emerge victorious?

In her previous life, she had been a mere pawn, envied by Wang Yingxue. In this life, she possessed half of the West Dou family’s wealth…

Dou Zhao set down her teacup, the lid, and cup clinking together, producing a clear, pleasant sound that echoed in the quiet study.

“In the past, I only knew that the Dou family treated me poorly and that I had a deep-seated enmity with Wang Shi. But I never considered how things had come to this point,” she said, her voice bright. “Now I see clearly that although the court seems distant, even a small disturbance can turn into a tempest, plunging me into disaster in an instant. I used to focus solely on the people and events around me, watching the waves rise without understanding how they related to me, let alone how to avoid them…”

In her previous life, she had only begun to grasp the relationship between the court and the inner household after becoming a marquise. In this life, the enmity between the Wang and Dou families had given her deeper insight. Restricted by her status as a young lady, she could only learn about the outside world through others, which sparked her desire to find someone to act as her eyes and observe for her. Chen Qu Shui was undoubtedly the best candidate she could find at the moment.

Chen Qu Shui suddenly understood. “Using bronze as a mirror can correct one’s attire; using people as a mirror can reveal gains and losses; using history as a mirror can show rise and fall…”

“No, no, no,” Dou Zhao laughed. “I don’t have such grand ambitions. I just want to keep what I have now—unseen, unenvied, unexploited, unbetrayed, and unmanipulated… that’s all.”

Chen Qu Shui was puzzled and said subtly, “But everything you have now was given to you by the Dou family, wasn’t it?”

“Mr. Chen may not know,” Dou Zhao replied with a smile, “Before Wang Shi was elevated, my uncle made a decision on my behalf, and the West Dou family transferred half of its assets to my name as a dowry. Currently, my third cousin from the East Dou family is managing it for me.” She explained the agreement between the Zhao and Dou families to Chen Qu Shui.

Sweat beads formed on Chen Qu Shui’s forehead.

He lived in the East Alley building, a gathering place for ruffians, yet he had never heard a whisper of this.

What did this imply?

His eyes widened in shock.

Someone did not want this information to leak.

Who would benefit from keeping this a secret?

“Fourth Miss Dou,” Chen Qu Shui, who prided himself on being calm, couldn’t help but wipe his forehead, “Your situation… is truly… concerning…”

“It depends on how you see it,” Dou Zhao replied nonchalantly, smiling lightly. “Fortune and misfortune are intertwined; good things can sometimes turn bad, and bad things can sometimes turn good. Holding onto that wealth and nurturing a group of capable people, we can watch the boats capsize from the Yellow Crane Tower. Whether the Wang family or the Dou family wins, they probably won’t be able to do anything to me, right?” She smiled brightly at Chen Qu Shui. “Rather than just wanting you to be my tutor, I’d prefer to have you as my teacher, guiding me on how to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune, so I can live a comfortable and carefree life.”

If Dou Zhao were a boy, Chen Qu Shui would have agreed without hesitation. But Dou Zhao was a girl…

He hesitated. “I wonder if the Fourth Miss is engaged yet?”

Dou Zhao laughed. “I’m not planning to marry!”

Chen Qu Shui was taken aback.

Dou Zhao continued, “The Dou family is thriving; I already have eleven nephews, and there will be even more in the future. Why would I need to marry?”

If she married, she would bear children and become someone’s wife and mother, relying solely on her husband and sons. If she remained unmarried, she would always be a daughter of the Dou family, able to rely on everyone in the family, with greater choices!

“But…” Chen Qu Shui couldn’t agree. “You can’t be alone forever, can you?”

She had already been married and had children; it was nothing new.

But Dou Zhao couldn’t explain this to anyone. She could only say, “For now, this is the best option, isn’t it? Nothing in this world is unchanging. Let’s establish our footing first! Living with our heads held high is far more important than marrying.”