Dou Zhao went to class, and Grandmother welcomed Ji Shi into the room with a smile. Ji Shi asked Hong Gu to find some potted plants suitable for the hall and guest rooms: “It doesn’t matter if they’re rare or not, as long as they look nice!” Hong Gu agreed with a smile.
Ji Shi led Grandmother to sit at the stone table under the grape arbor in the backyard. “I’m here to discuss something with you,” she said, recounting how Mrs. Wu had approached her. “The Wu family is simple, with a modest estate. Mr. and Mrs. Wu are honest people, and most importantly, Wu Shan has been devoted to Shou Gu all these years. Mrs. Wu came personally, showing sincerity. I think this marriage proposal is good. If you agree, should we invite Shou Gu’s aunt to meet them, so we can settle the marriage?”
Grandmother’s eyes crinkled with a smile upon hearing Ji Shi’s intention. She nodded repeatedly, “Of course, we should invite Shou Gu’s aunt to see the child. She has a good eye and won’t make a mistake. Wu Shan grew up under our watch; Shou Gu won’t suffer if she marries him.”
“I think so too,” Ji Shi laughed. “But for now, don’t tell Shou Gu. We don’t know if her uncle will agree.”
“I understand,” Grandmother said with a smile. Just then, she saw Hong Gu directing some maids to bring in several pots of flowers and quickly added, “If anyone asks, I’ll say you came to move some plants.”
Ji Shi laughed, “You and I think alike.”
Dou Zhao trusted her grandmother completely and wouldn’t plant anyone around her. When she heard Ji Shi had taken some potted plants, she naively asked, “Is it enough? If not, let them bring more.”
Wu Shan, however, was always attentive to his mother. Knowing that Lady Yu had gone to see the Second Dowager, he was overjoyed. When his mother returned to the guest room, he served her tea, massaged her legs, and fanned her, making Wu Ya remark, “Being overly attentive without reason means you’re up to something. Brother, what are you trying to get from Mother? Mother, you can’t be too biased. Whatever Brother gets, I want to!”
Wu Shan laughed heartily at her words. Mrs. Wu, amused and exasperated, tapped her daughter’s forehead, “What nonsense are you spouting? What do you mean by wanting everything your brother has? You’re grown up now; you can’t act like a child. When your sister-in-law arrives, you can’t speak to her like this.”
“When I have a sister-in-law, I won’t talk to Brother like this!” Wu Ya pouted. “But since I don’t have one yet…” She suddenly widened her eyes, “Mother, is Brother getting married?” She then shouted, “No, no, if Brother marries, it must be someone I like. What if she doesn’t let me visit home?”
“You’re getting more and more outrageous!” Mrs. Wu pretended to be angry and tapped her daughter.
Wu Ya shrank back, hiding behind Nanny Bi, making everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, Lady Yu at the Second Dowager’s place was smiling reluctantly. “You know better than anyone what happened back then,” the Second Dowager sighed, holding her hand. “I’m afraid the Dou family can’t decide Shou Gu’s marriage. If someone else proposed, I’d suspect they were after Shou Gu’s dowry. But since it’s the Wu family, given our relationship and Mr. Wu’s character, it’s a great match. However, the Zhao family guards against us like we’re thieves. If we interfere in Shou Gu’s marriage, I’m afraid…”
Lady Yu understood all too well. But that was half of the Western Dou’s wealth. If Mrs. Wu hadn’t brought it up, it would be fine, but now that she had, Lady Yu felt compelled to fight for it. She didn’t want to give up and asked, “What should I do then?” She passed the responsibility to the Dowager, looking troubled. “I didn’t know better and already agreed with Aunt… I need to handle this properly, right?”
The Second Dowager looked at Lady Yu’s seemingly innocent expression, burning with anger. Not knowing what to do? She must have made up her mind long ago. The Wu family seemed decent, but they turned out to be hypocrites! If they want to marry Dou Zhao, they should see if the Wu family is worthy! If one family is interested, others might follow. It’s best to plan early and prevent any issues. If she fell out with Lady Yu now, it might alert others and offend several families, leading to a collective backlash that she might not be able to handle.
Thinking of this, the Second Dowager took a deep breath, her smile softening. “Don’t worry. A marriage proposal requires discussion. It can’t be settled in a few rounds. Besides, Wan Yuan is in the capital, and the Zhao family uncle is in the northwest, so there’s no rush.” She paused, “Fortunately, Mr. Wu is not an outsider. Your seventh uncle knows him. I’ll write to your seventh uncle first. Once he agrees, we can discuss it with the Zhao family’s uncle. You’re both a Dou family daughter-in-law and a Wu family aunt. Explain things to Mrs. Wu carefully; don’t offend the relatives.”
This was precisely Lady Yu’s goal. She thanked her happily and went to report back to Mrs. Wu.
The Second Dowager, with a stern face, called Dou Shibang over. “Write a letter to the fifth uncle,” she told him about the Wu family’s proposal for Dou Zhao. “If he thinks it’s feasible, we can discuss it with the seventh uncle.”
Dou Shibang sensed his mother’s disapproval of the Wu family and said, “I think Wu Shan, though young, is knowledgeable, discreet, and adaptable. He could achieve great things…”
“But what use is that?” The Second Dowager smiled bitterly. “By the time he can help Yuanji, Yuanji and Wang Xingyi will have already settled their scores.”
Dou Shibang fell silent.
The Second Dowager instructed him, “Send someone trustworthy to deliver the letter. If anyone asks, say it’s for the seventh uncle in the capital. Put another envelope over it, addressed to Wan Yuan.”
Dou Shibang agreed.
As the Second Dowager expected, Lady Yu had someone watch the letter sent to the capital until she saw the envelope addressed to “Dou Wanyuan” and felt relieved.
Meanwhile, Ji Shi had a shop assistant send a letter to Zhao Si.
Unaware of the storm brewing around them, Dou Zhao and Wu Shan were oblivious. Dou Zhao had been learning to play the qin with Song Weimin, struggling with the notes. Wu Shan, in high spirits, smiled at everyone he met. He took advantage of his free days to visit Baoding Prefecture with Dou Zhengde and brought back a red qin tassel for Dou Zhao.
Song Yan, who was learning the qin with Dou Zhao, twitched his mouth and turned away. It was indeed a bit flashy, but Wu Shan didn’t mind. In his pocket, he carried a small gold hairpin with a heart-shaped knot, like a burning flame, warming his chest. That was what he truly wanted to give Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao held the red qin tassel, looking at the silly-smiling Wu Shan in front of her, then at Dou Dechang standing like a wooden post outside the pavilion. She felt something was happening that everyone knew about except her. She handed the red tassel to her maid, Bie Suxin, and thanked Wu Shan with a smile.
A servant ran over from afar. “Twelfth Young Master, Fourth Miss,” he panted, “Sixth Madam wants you to return quickly. The young master from the Ji family has arrived.”
Everyone in the pavilion was stunned.
“The young master from the Ji family, who?” Dou Dechang asked, bewildered. “There are over twenty of them in my generation!”
The servant wiped his sweat, “It’s the sixteenth young master from the Ji family.”
Dou Dechang was startled, “What, Ji Yong is here? When did he arrive? Who did he come with?” He looked as if he had encountered a creditor.
Now it was Dou Zhao and Wu Shan’s turn to be curious.
“What’s wrong?” Wu Shan asked, “Do you have a grudge against Ji Yong?”
“No!” Dou Dechang grimaced, “I’ve just heard of his reputation.”
Dou Zhao asked, “Do I need to go too? Did Sixth Aunt ask for me?”
The servant nodded repeatedly, “That’s what Sixth Madam instructed.”
Dou Zhao looked at Dou Dechang. Dou Dechang hesitated, reluctant to return. Sensing something amiss, Dou Zhao asked sternly, “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, nothing,” Dou Dechang said, straightening up, “Let’s go quickly, so we don’t keep the guest waiting.” His expression was like Jing Ke’s, filled with a sense of tragic determination.
Wu Shan exchanged a glance with Dou Zhao, “I’ll go with you.”
Dou Zhao nodded, but Dou Dechang quickly said, “No need,” and told Wu Shan, “You haven’t greeted Aunt since you returned. Go see her first, and we’ll meet later.”
Wu Shan glanced at Dou Zhao, then pulled Dou Dechang aside, whispering, “Be honest, do you owe Ji Yong money? I have four hundred taels of silver. If you need it, take it. If it’s not enough, I’ll find more.”
“No, really no!” Dou Dechang laughed, “Since I won that cockfight against that bastard He, I gave away my fighting rooster. You know this. I wouldn’t go back on my word. You should trust me.”
Wu Shan was skeptical, “I believe you about the cockfight. But why are you afraid of Ji Yong?”
Dou Dechang’s expression changed slightly, “I’m not afraid of Ji Yong. I just don’t like seeing him.”
Wu Shan wanted to say more, but Dou Zhao, who had been listening openly, coughed lightly. Even close friends have secrets they don’t want to share. She smiled, “Twelfth Brother, wait for me. I’ll change and go back with you.”
Dou Dechang nodded, but his brows furrowed deeply.