ATLAS TRANSLATES

When Wang Yingxue’s family arrived, the Dou family was discussing her marriage arrangements with them. Feeling uninvolved, Dou Zhao crouched in the Yuji Pavilion in the back garden, which overlooked the entire western Dou residence, giving instructions to Tuo Niang: “…I have to go back. Did you remember everything I told you?”

Tuo Niang asked in confusion, “Where is Fourth Miss going?”

“Never mind that,” Dou Zhao said wistfully. “My wish has been fulfilled. Even if it was just a dream, it was worth it. I still have my responsibilities and duties. Being able to come here was already fortunate. Remember, never leave my mother’s side, and don’t let her do anything foolish. Living is always better than dying!”

Tuo Niang nodded solemnly, “Don’t worry, Fourth Miss. I’ll remember. I’ll keep an eye on Seventh Madame and never let her be alone.”

Dou Zhao nodded and reached out to pat Tuo Niang’s hair, only to realize that even though they were crouching side by side, Tuo Niang was still a shoulder taller than her.

She smiled awkwardly and went back to her room to sleep.

The sun set and the moon rose, stars shifted in the sky. When Dou Zhao opened her eyes, she still saw the same heavy black lacquered furniture and Chuncao’s eager smiling face.

“How can this be? How can this be?” Large beads of sweat appeared on her forehead as she grabbed her blanket and covered her head. “I need to sleep, I need to sleep…”

If she could just fall asleep, she could go back!

But she couldn’t fall asleep, and when she finally did, upon opening her eyes, she was still in the same room, still lying on the same warm kang bed.

Tuo Niang asked her, “Fourth Miss, what’s wrong? Please get up for dinner?”

“No, no, no!” Dou Zhao looked panicked. “I need to go back. I haven’t seen Brother Wei get married yet, I haven’t arranged Sister Yin’s marriage… I need to go back, I need to go back!”

The maids looked at each other in confusion. Xiangcao even screamed and ran out, “Fourth Miss is possessed! Fourth Miss is possessed!”

Her father, mother, and even her grandfather, supported by Aunt Ding, appeared in her room with grave expressions.

“Perhaps we should invite Daoist Master Xu from the Sanqing Temple to take a look?” Aunt Ding suggested softly.

Before she could finish speaking, she received a fierce glare from Grandfather, who was about to reprimand her but noticed his daughter-in-law Zhao’s eyes brighten. He swallowed his words.

Dou Shying knew his father despised such supernatural matters, but seeing his father’s silence as tacit approval, he exchanged glances with his wife and said quietly, “Should we invite Daoist Master Xu from Sanqing Temple to take a look?”

Zhao Guqiu held her daughter, who appeared dazed and somewhat foolish, feeling endless regret.

These days she had been too busy arguing with Dou Shying, neglecting her daughter’s daily care. If anything happened to her daughter… she dared not think further.

“We shouldn’t delay!” Mother said, “Let’s send someone to invite Daoist Master Xu from Sanqing Temple now.”

Grandfather didn’t object.

Father immediately called in Gaosheng and gave him instructions.

Mother stayed behind to keep Dou Zhao company.

Dou Zhao couldn’t sleep, repeatedly stroking her mother’s hand.

Warm, soft, smooth, elastic… these sensations couldn’t be imagined out of thin air.

And the sweetness of candy in her mouth, the crumbs of pastries on the kang!

Could it be that she had really returned to the past?

Returned to her childhood?

Then what did her previous life mean?

What about the pain of childbirth?

Dou Zhao felt completely lost and confused.

Daoist Master Xu caught a fox spirit at the Dou residence.

The Master of Fayuan Temple said she was haunted by a vengeful ghost and needed forty-nine days of religious ceremonies.

Master Falin from the Imperial Temple said she was cursed by someone with ill intentions and needed to light lanterns for eighty-one days to ward off misfortune.

Mother and Aunt Ding even secretly invited a spirit medium, Madam Peng, to perform rituals at home without Grandfather and Father knowing. Only then did Dou Zhao’s condition gradually improve.

Everyone in the family breathed a sigh of relief.

Mother abandoned household affairs to watch over her day and night. Fearing she might be lonely, Mother assigned four young maids of similar age to keep her company, invited goldsmiths to make jewelry at home, and had tailors make clothes for her. Dou Zhao’s room was bustling with activity, even more lively than during New Year’s.

Experiencing such indulgent pampering for the first time, Dou Zhao was nearly moved to tears.

Mother held her in her arms, gently patting her back: “Be good, Shou Gu. Where are you uncomfortable? Would you like Xiangcao to play with you?”

Since the series of incidents in Dou Zhao’s room, except for Tuo Niang who didn’t mind Dou Zhao’s supposed possession and cared for her day and night without rest, all other servants had been replaced, including the recently assigned Xiangcao.

Dou Zhao shook her head.

Mother thought for a moment, then poured out a box of pearls onto the warm kang: “Aren’t they beautiful? Would you like us to make a pearl dress for our Shou Gu?”

The round pearls rolled around on the kang, gleaming brilliantly.

Dou Zhao picked them up and let them fall, the pearls dropping like rain.

Even in her fifteen years as a marquise, she had never been so extravagant.

Mother smiled.

She took her to Fayuan Temple to fulfill a vow.

The Master of Fayuan Temple, seeing her bright eyes, urged Mother to donate funds to print a thousand copies of the Lotus Sutra for her recovery: “This will also bring blessings to Fourth Miss!”

Mother agreed without hesitation, saying, “Then let’s make it two thousand copies!”

The Master could hardly contain his joy, pressing his palms together in gratitude to Mother, and invited her to a meditation room to choose a blessed religious artifact.

Mother carried Dou Zhao there.

Dou Zhao chose an agate pendant with hidden white silk.

Mother was very pleased and accompanied by Master Fa, they went to view the Wild Goose Pagoda that had just begun construction at Fayuan Temple. She asked, “If I were to fund it entirely, could the Buddha bless Shou Gu with peace, prosperity, and longevity?”

“Of course, of course, of course!” The Master smiled broadly, showing all his teeth. “How could it not? This Wild Goose Pagoda was originally built to pray for blessings for virtuous people like Seventh Madame.”

Mother was led by the Master to a side room for tea and to discuss how to build the pagoda.

Dou Zhao stood under the corridor, gazing at the magnificent golden Buddha statue enshrined in the wide-open main hall, feeling an inexplicable surge of emotion.

She ran into the main hall, quietly kneeling on the prayer cushion.

“Buddha, if this is just a fleeting dream, I beg you, let me never wake from this dream!” She bowed devoutly to the ground. “If this is a past life come present, I beg you, let me peacefully serve my mother until her natural end!”

The Buddha smiled down at all beings, peaceful, serene, loving, and compassionate.

?????

After returning home, the maid Yuzhen came to report: “The Madame from the Wang family of Nanwa has come to visit Fourth Miss!”

Dou Zhao, still in her mother’s arms, was startled.

The Madame from the Wang family of Nanwa must be referring to Wang Yingxue’s sister-in-law!

Speaking of which, she was familiar with both of Wang Yingxue’s sisters-in-law, Madam Gao and Madam Pang.

Madam Gao’s father, Gao Yuanzheng, was skilled in calligraphy and had been colleagues with Wang Xingyi, later serving in the Hanlin Academy with her father Dou Shying and sixth uncle Dou Shiheng. Coming from a scholarly family, Madam Gao not only wrote beautiful characters but was also well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics. During the ten years her husband Wang Zhibing accompanied his father Wang Xingyi in exile to Xining, she managed the household, cared for her mother-in-law, and taught her eldest son Wang Nan his first lessons. Wang Nan became a xiucai at fifteen, a juren at nineteen, and passed the imperial examinations at twenty-one. When the women of official families spoke of the Wang family’s eldest daughter-in-law, they would all give a thumbs up and call her “virtuous and dignified.”

Madam Pang’s maiden name was Yulou, originally the daughter of a town merchant. She was exceptionally beautiful and excellent at needlework and household management. Her father was reluctant to marry her off carelessly. Seeing that Wang Zhibiao was over twenty and still unmarried, and admiring Wang Xingyi’s integrity while coveting the Wang family’s scholarly status, he prepared a dowry of five hundred taels of silver and actively sought the marriage alliance with the Wang family.

Pang Yulou had initially looked down on Wang Zhibiao, who though handsome was clumsy in his actions. It wasn’t until Wang Xingyi was restored to his position that she settled down to life with Wang Zhibiao, wrapping him around her finger so completely that he dared not go against her wishes, placing her opinions above those of his father and elder brother.

Previously, it was thanks to her that Dou Zhao had learned of Wang Yingxue’s plans and was able to spoil her brother Dou Xiao’s marriage arrangements.

Calculating the time, Madam Pang should already be married to Wang Zhibiao by now.

But she wondered whether it was Madam Gao or Madam Pang who had come?

Dou Zhao suddenly missed Madam Pang.

If it was her, with her greed, she might be able to put on a good show for Wang Yingxue.

Dou Zhao smiled, pressing her lips together, only to see Yuzhen leading in the dignified and graceful Madam Gao.

She immediately felt disappointed.

Madam Gao had already curtsied to Zhao Guqiu: “Seventh Madame, is Fourth Miss feeling better?”

She looked concernedly at Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao lowered her eyes.

Mother said coldly, “Thank you for your concern, First Madam Wang. Shou Gu is already better.” Then she ordered a maid to bring an embroidered stool for Madam Gao.

Madam Gao expressed her thanks and sat straight-backed on the stool, speaking softly: “I’ve been away for some time, and with the New Year approaching, there are both elderly and young ones at home, and my sister-in-law has just married in, leaving many matters waiting for me. I’m thinking of returning in a few days. Regarding Yingxue’s matter, I stand by what I said before – since our family isn’t providing a dowry, your family need not prepare a betrothal gift. Madame, just set a date and let us know. Though the journey is long, we brothers and sisters-in-law will come to send her off no matter what. Please prepare two additional tables for the feast at that time.”

Her words were forceful and righteous.

Dou Zhao was stunned.

How could Madam Gao, known for her virtue, be so stern regarding Wang Yingxue’s matter?

Mother smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, merely saying “Then I won’t see First Madam Wang out,” her perfunctory attitude obvious.

Madam Gao’s expression changed slightly, her chest rising and falling, and after a while she calmed down and said pointedly: “Seventh Madame, why must women make things difficult for other women! I know my sister-in-law well, she’s not someone who doesn’t know propriety and shame. If you harbor resentment, you might as well ask Dou Wanyuan – my sister-in-law was also forced by circumstances.” After saying this, she turned and left with a gloomy expression.

Once there was no one else in the room, Mother immediately revealed her true nature, furiously exclaiming: “What does she mean by that? Is she suggesting that Wang Yingxue’s current situation is somehow Dou Wanyuan’s fault?”

Dou Zhao nearly burst out laughing.

What do you understand? What do you really know?

If you truly understood, why didn’t you agree to let Dou Ming become your daughter-in-law fifteen years later?

If Dou Ming’s marriage hadn’t suddenly fallen through, how would Wang Yingxue have set her sights on Wei Tingyu?

Who knows what Wang Yingxue had told Madam Gao to make her stand up for her so righteously?

Dou Zhao thought of her brother Dou Xiao, who was five years younger than her and two years younger than Dou Ming.

Clearly, her understanding of this stepmother wasn’t deep enough!

Dou Zhao’s lips curled slightly.

Before, she had been able to make Wang Yingxue lose face even when she knew nothing. Now that she knew what would happen in the future and held all the cards, how could she possibly fear her?

Thinking of this, Dou Zhao felt a warmth in her heart.