After hearing Dou Zhao’s words, Shuangzhi looked at her with traces of fear in her eyes. Dou Zhao didn’t mind. As long as her mother and elders weren’t suspicious, the servants’ gossip would remain just gossip.
Dou Zhao instructed Tuo Niang to carry her back to her room. The western Dou household was simple in its affairs. Although the tense situation at Heshou Hall made the servants nervous, it hadn’t reached the point of panic.
When Shuangzhi mentioned that Tuo Niang and Xiangcao would be serving in Dou Zhao’s room, everyone’s attention quickly shifted to the two of them.
Some mockingly said, “That little minx Xiangcao finally got her way. Wonder whose strings she pulled?”
More people, however, greeted Tuo Niang, introducing themselves one after another: “I’m Yinxing,” “I’m Dingxiang.” Others asked, “Sister, which room were you serving in before? How did you suddenly get assigned to Fourth Miss’s room?”
Tuo Niang, unaccustomed to such enthusiasm, mumbled her responses.
When they heard she was a rough maid from the laundry room, everyone exchanged glances, unsure how to react. Seeing this, Tuo Niang became even more reserved.
“Alright,” Shuangzhi smiled, helping Tuo Niang out of the awkward situation. “Whatever you want to say can wait. Let’s help Tuo Niang get settled first.” Then she pondered, “There are still two beds in my room with Sister Hanxiao. We don’t know when Seventh Madam and the others will return today, but Fourth Miss can’t be left without attendants. I think Tuo Niang should sleep in our room for now, until we get Seventh Madam’s instructions.”
Tuo Niang breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone else came to their senses, some volunteering to help Tuo Niang pack her things, others offering to help make her bed.
Tuo Niang refused to leave Dou Zhao’s side: “Who will serve the Young Miss? I’ll wait until Xiangcao arrives.”
Dou Zhao smiled slightly.
Tuo Niang was stubborn about her principles.
When she married into the Jining Marquis’s household, her future was uncertain, so she hadn’t dared to bring Tuo Niang along. By the time she had established herself there and wanted to bring Tuo Niang over, Tuo Niang had passed away from illness.
Thinking of this, her eyes grew red, and she gently held Tuo Niang’s hand.
Tuo Niang looked at her solemnly and said earnestly, “Fourth Miss, don’t worry, I will stay by your side every step of the way.” She spoke as if everyone else was untrustworthy, causing the others in the room to darken their expressions and look at her unfavorably. But Tuo Niang remained oblivious, seriously standing guard by her side, unmoved.
Shuangzhi had no choice but to reluctantly instruct a maid to inform the laundry room and prepare Tuo Niang’s resting place.
Everyone dispersed to their tasks, and no one tried to make conversation with Tuo Niang anymore.
Dou Zhao and Tuo Niang sat in the inner chamber, staring at each other.
Soon, Xiangcao ran in: “Fourth Miss, Seventh Madam and Yu Mama have returned!”
But she didn’t mention father.
Dou Zhao’s heart sank, and she asked, “Father?”
Xiangcao wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, “Seventh Master, Old Master, Third Master, and Third Madam are still at Heshou Hall.”
Were they discussing taking a concubine? Or were they discussing how to get mother to agree?
Dou Zhao grew anxious. With Tuo Niang’s help, she got off the kang bed and ran outside.
Tuo Niang and Xiangcao followed closely behind her.
Mother walked in with a stern face, supported by Yu Mama, her expression blank.
“Mother, Mother!” Dou Zhao rushed over.
Mother’s expression softened slightly as she bent down to pick up Dou Zhao, kissing her little face before handing her to Hanxiao behind her: “Go play string games with Fourth Miss.”
Hanxiao hurriedly took Dou Zhao, but Dou Zhao wouldn’t let go of her mother’s clothes.
Mother suddenly became impatient: “Child, why won’t you listen? Mother has things to do, go play with Hanxiao.” Then, seeing Tuo Niang and Xiangcao, she pointed at them, “Or go play with these two.”
Dou Zhao knew her mother wasn’t in the mood to comfort her, so she obediently let Hanxiao carry her. When her mother and Yu Mama entered the inner chamber, she slipped down from Hanxiao’s arms and ran toward the inner chamber.
The guards didn’t dare stop her.
She entered the inner chamber smoothly.
Mother was crying, bent over the kang table: “…you saw it yourself, the person hasn’t even entered the house yet, and he’s already protecting her like this, afraid she might suffer even the slightest grievance. What else can I say? I might as well just agree and let that woman enter the household! I want to see what abilities she has, what tricks she’s using, how she’s bewitched him to the point where he’s willing to abandon his parents, wife, children, reputation, and principles!”
Yu Mama’s eyes flickered as she said softly, “About Master taking a concubine, it’s neither a major nor minor matter. Perhaps we should send someone to inform your brother…”
“No!” Before Yu Mama could finish, Mother suddenly raised her head and said urgently, “Brother is going to the capital for the spring examinations after the new year, and he’s currently in seclusion studying. If he learns that I’ve been married for just three years and Yuan is already taking a concubine, with my brother’s temperament, he definitely won’t let this go. We can’t let my matter interfere with my brother’s future.”
She repeatedly instructed Yu Mama, “You served my mother, and for other matters, I wouldn’t mind if you did things behind my back, as I know you mean well. But this matter is different. The Zhao family hasn’t produced a jinshi scholar1 in forty years. If you cause any trouble because of this, you’ll be forcing me to do wrong and make me the Zhao family’s eternal sinner!”
Yu Mama nodded, turning away to wipe tears from her eyes.
Is Uncle really that great?
Dou Zhao pouted, secretly thinking to her mother: You might as well go disturb him. He’s a jinshi from the Dingwei year. And as soon as he obtained his degree, he sought a post in the Northwest and took his whole family there, never returning to Zhending.
She had only seen Uncle once, on her own wedding day.
Mother has an uncle. When bidding farewell to relatives, out of respect for her mother, she had respectfully kowtowed three times to Uncle.
Uncle seemed very emotional, looking at her with an expression that gave her the impression of “our family’s daughter has grown up.”
She was overjoyed at the time, thinking that since Uncle was an official in the Northwest, the distance made communication difficult, and her stepmother only cared about her own brothers.
Uncle was a scholar, certainly proud, and unwilling to suffer this humiliation, which was why he never visited the Dou family.
The fact that Uncle rushed back from his post to see her off showed that he still cared about his niece. She even planned to take advantage of this reunion to properly show her filial respect to Uncle and ask him about her mother’s past.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she left, Uncle immediately returned to the Northwest, and after that, there was never another word from him.
If Uncle had been mindful of her stepmother before, what was he afraid of after she married into the Jining Marquis’s household?
Dou Zhao couldn’t understand it at all.
Later, Uncle’s eldest daughter, Cousin Zhao Biru, lived in the capital with her husband who held an official post there. She had visited her once, but Dou Zhao had dismissed her after just three cups of tea.
Could such a person be relied upon?
Dou Zhao was doubtful as she hid behind the floor screen’s curtain, deep in thought.
Since Mother agreed to Father taking a concubine, could it be that Stepmother was being elevated to primary wife?
But Stepmother always claimed she “entered the Dou family through proper matchmaking, carried in an eight-bearer sedan chair,” and no one ever contradicted her words!
Stepmother could dismiss Mother’s loyal servants and threaten or bribe the Dou family’s maids, but surely she couldn’t make all the official ladies in Zhending County join in the lie!
Could there have been another woman in between?
That couldn’t be right either. Stepmother entered the household already pregnant, and her sister Dou Ming was only two years and seven months younger than her…
The more Dou Zhao thought about it, the more confused she became.
Hanxiao walked in.
“Seventh Madam,” she said cautiously, “Third Madam has come.”
Mother quickly wiped away her tears, instructing her to “Please invite Third Sister-in-law to the room” while rising to greet her.
Third Aunt entered with a serious expression, escorted by two maids.
Seeing Mother, her eyes reddened as she took Mother’s hand and sat on the kang.
All the servants in the room tactfully withdrew.
Before Yu Mama could serve tea, Third Aunt said, “I know you’re heartbroken. I won’t try to comfort you; cry if you need to. But after you’re done crying, you need to gather your strength. Looking at how Seventh Uncle is acting, you still have tough battles ahead!”
“I know!” Mother said, tears falling again. Instead of complaining, she apologetically said to Third Aunt, “About Third Uncle, please help me say a few words to him. I was so angry that I said those things to Third Uncle. Please ask him to forgive me, considering my youth and inexperience!”
“Speaking like that makes me and your Third Brother seem like outsiders.”
Third Aunt also started crying, “When all is said and done, it’s your Third Brother’s fault! If he hadn’t been so rash, Seventh Uncle wouldn’t have caused such a scene…”
“What does this have to do with Third Uncle?” Mother interrupted Third Aunt’s words through her sobs, “They may be cousins, but Third Uncle treats Yuan like his own son. When Yuan went to him with problems, how could Third Uncle stand by and do nothing? When it comes down to it, it’s Yuan’s fault, he’s been bewitched… I just hate… We grew up together, our relationship should be better than other couples. If he wanted to take a concubine, why didn’t he discuss it with me first? When I disagreed, he knelt in the snow and wouldn’t get up… Grandfather was forty-two when he had him as his only son, what does he take me for? And where does this leave me? Just thinking about it breaks my heart…” She collapsed onto the kang table and began crying again.
“Don’t cry, don’t cry!” Third Aunt embraced Mother, “In life, everyone has their ups and downs. Seventh Uncle is still young, he’s bound to have his moments of confusion. I’m not afraid of you laughing at me, but look at your First Uncle – isn’t he supposed to be steady and reserved? When he first became a jinshi, didn’t he follow others in publishing books and taking concubines? First Aunt was so angry she cried at the time, but look a few years later – after that phase of frivolity passed, he realized home was best and devoted himself to life with First Aunt. First Aunt was almost forty when she had Lan’er… You see, sometimes you need to use gentleness to overcome strength, you can’t meet force with force!”
“I understand what Third Aunt is saying.” Mother listened, sat up straight, and wiped her tears, saying, “I have something to ask of Third Aunt.” She didn’t continue the previous topic.
Third Aunt was somewhat surprised and quickly said, “Tell me, tell me. As long as I can help.”
“Since that woman is going to enter our family, I should at least take a look at her!” Mother said, “I’d like to ask Third Aunt and First Aunt to accompany me then.”
This was actually a rule in wealthy households – even if a husband was allowed to take a concubine, the wife should first see the person. If she turned out to be some woman from the entertainment district or of questionable character, the wife could refuse her husband’s request without being considered “jealous.” Unlike those nouveau riche merchants who had no standards and would bring home anyone they fancied.
Third Aunt suddenly understood: “Good, good, good. I’ll go tell First Aunt right away.”
“Then I’ll trouble Third Aunt.” Mother said, standing up, “I’ll tell Yuan now, ask him to bring the person from the capital to Zhending.”
Third Aunt didn’t respond, just smiled and patted Mother’s hand, saying, “Seventh Sister-in-law has grown up!”
Her tone was half sighing, half approving.
- Also translated as “presented scholar”, or the one who passed the highest and most prestigious level of the imperial civil service examination system in imperial China. This often leads to influential government positions and is highly significant. ↩︎
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