ATLAS TRANSLATES

Mother was a proud person. Since she had already agreed to let Wang Yingxue enter the household, she wouldn’t make things difficult over small matters like the timing of her arrival.

When Dou Zhao’s “illness” improved somewhat, she invited the First and Third Aunts over to discuss Wang Yingxue’s entry into the family. Dou Zhao was sent to play jump rope in the courtyard with the little maids.

The four little maids were named Xuancao, Moli, Qiukui, and Haitang. Mother liked Tuo Niang’s honesty and named her Suxin, making a perfect pair with Yuzhen who used to serve by mother’s side and was now assigned to Dou Zhao’s quarters as her head maid.

Tuo Niang really liked this name, but “Tuo Niang” held special meaning for Dou Zhao. She still preferred to call her “Tuo Niang,” which led to the maids in Dou Zhao’s quarters sometimes calling her Suxin and sometimes Tuo Niang, causing quite a few amusing mix-ups. Fortunately, Tuo Niang didn’t mind and responded cheerfully no matter which name was used.

Dou Zhao wasn’t really a two-year-old child, so naturally she had little interest in games like jump rope.

She wanted to go to Grandfather’s study to find some books about supernatural phenomena — there were all sorts of strange things in the world. She had suddenly returned to her childhood, as if reborn, and surely there were others like her. She desperately wanted to find some clues in those historical records and miscellaneous notes.

Dou Zhao asked Tuo Niang to carry her to Grandfather’s study.

Tuo Niang immediately dropped the jump rope and carried her toward He Shou Hall.

As they passed the lotus pond, she saw Madam Yu standing by the Taihu rock garden talking to a middle-aged man wearing an official green lu silk robe.

The two were being secretive and suspicious.

Dou Zhao thought for a moment, then pointed at the lotus pond and said to Tuo Niang: “Let’s go over there!”

Tuo Niang, not suspecting anything, crossed the winding stone bridge to reach the Taihu rock garden.

Madam Yu and that man had already disappeared.

Dou Zhao left the lotus pond with lingering doubts, but ran into First and Third Aunts.

She got down and respectfully greeted First and Third Aunts.

First Aunt picked up Dou Zhao in one motion: “Shou Gu is becoming more and more lovable!”

“Indeed she is,” Third Aunt smiled and patted Dou Zhao’s head, “She looks exactly like Seventh Sister-in-law did when she was young.”

As they spoke, the smiles gradually faded from their faces.

“Ah!” First Aunt sighed regretfully, “With Wang Yingxue’s background, if she bears a son this time, no matter how virtuous Seventh Sister-in-law is, I’m afraid she’ll have to step aside!”

So they all knew about Wang Yingxue’s pregnancy.

Dou Zhao’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“Such is fate!” Third Aunt’s expression also showed some melancholy.

Perhaps feeling it wasn’t appropriate for two elders to sigh like this in front of a child, First Aunt forced a smile and said: “We’re just crying over stories we’ve heard, worrying about people from ancient times. Seventh Sister-in-law hasn’t encountered many difficulties before, but when she does, she naturally becomes more sensible. Look at how well she’s handling things now.”

Third Aunt nodded, kindly asked Tuo Niang a few questions, and learning that Dou Zhao was going to see Grandfather, instructed Tuo Niang to be careful not to slip and fall. Then she left through the second gate with First Aunt.

Dou Zhao suddenly lost interest in going to He Shou Hall. She instructed Tuo Niang: “Let’s go back to the main room.”

Tuo Niang silently followed her instructions, and they quickly returned to the main courtyard.

Dou Zhao ran into the inner chamber.

Mother was sitting on the heated kang by the window, talking with Madam Yu: “…Concubine Cui is the Seventh Master’s birth mother, and two hundred taels of silver as betrothal gifts won’t disgrace her. Whether the Wang family accepts it or not is their business, but whether we send it or not is our family’s affair. Having money or not, taking a wife makes for a better new year. Although she’s a concubine, she’s still a new addition to the family. Having her enter the household on the twenty-second of the twelfth month, just in time for Little New Year, will be good for visiting relatives and getting to know the family during Spring Festival. As for the new quarters, let’s set them up in Qixia Court…”

“Seventh Madam!” Madam Yu exclaimed in shock, not letting Mother finish, “How can that be! Qixia Court is right behind the Seventh Master’s study…”

Mother made a stopping gesture and said: “If they could get together even when separated by all of North Zhili, how would putting them under my nose keep them pure?”

Madam Yu was speechless.

“Besides, I’m tired of seeing their lovey-dovey behavior,” Mother muttered, “I’m letting go of Wang Yingxue, and I’m letting go of myself.”

Dou Zhao almost wanted to applaud Mother.

This was exactly right.

The world may be vast, but nothing is more important than oneself.

If you don’t care for yourself, why should others care for you?

If you don’t like Wang Yingxue, why pretend to be virtuous and make yourself miserable!

She herself only understood this principle after turning thirty.

Dou Zhao quietly said to Tuo Niang: “Later, follow Madam Yu and see where she goes and who she meets.”

Tuo Niang nodded.

Dou Zhao happily threw herself into Mother’s arms: “Mother, the winter plum blossoms in the back garden are blooming. Let’s go appreciate them.”

Mother chuckled, kissing Dou Zhao’s little face: “Mother has things to do. Let Tuo Niang accompany you to play!”

Dou Zhao just wanted to stay by Mother’s side.

Mother didn’t find her troublesome, attending to household matters while playing with her.

Father suddenly came over, ignoring the servant women in the room, and proudly pulled out a red gold hairpin inlaid with jade from his bosom.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” he looked at Mother hopefully, “I specially had it made in Zhending Prefecture.”

The pin’s body gleamed golden, while the head was a deep green teardrop shape, like a beauty’s tear on her cheek.

“It’s beautiful!” Mother smiled and played with the jade pin for a long while before instructing Madam Yu to put it away, “Save it for Shou Gu’s dowry later.”

Father was embarrassed: “This was meant for you… I can buy another one for Shou Gu later.”

Mother smiled with pursed lips: “Your future purchases for her will be your intention, but this is my intention.”

“What’s mine is yours anyway,” Father muttered under his breath, seeming to have more to say.

Mother smiled and said: “You’re here to ask about Wang Yingxue’s entry into the household, right? I just gave instructions about it…” Then she repeated to Father what she had told Madam Yu.

Father made a sound of acknowledgment, not seeming particularly interested, yet appeared to have many things he didn’t know how to express.

There was a moment of silence.

After a while, Father stood up uneasily and mumbled: “Since you’re busy, I’ll leave first.”

Mother smiled and stood up: “Then I won’t see you out.” She called to Hanxiao, “See the Seventh Master out!” Then sat down and lowered her head to work on the abacus.

Father stood there for a moment, seeing that Mother never looked up, his eyes dimmed slightly, and he walked out with his head down.

Madam Yu called out “Seventh Madam.”

Mother didn’t even twitch an eye corner, saying: “With the New Year approaching, it might be difficult to find people. You’ll need to put more effort into the new room’s furnishings, help push the stewards in the outer courtyard.”

“Yes!” Madam Yu responded helplessly and withdrew.

Mother threw down the abacus and smiled, hugging Dou Zhao: “Come, let’s go appreciate the plum blossoms.”

Dou Zhao smiled sweetly.

Time is the best medicine; no matter how painful the wound, it will gradually scab over and heal with time.

Mother, I will always stay by your side.

To ease your loneliness, to comfort your wounds.

Dou Zhao looked at Mother’s jade-like face and secretly made a vow in her heart, then happily held Mother’s hand as they skipped to the back garden.

?????

That evening, Tuo Niang told Dou Zhao: “Madam Yu didn’t go anywhere, she only met with the household stewards and their wives.”

Who was that man then?

Dou Zhao pondered, biting her finger.

The next morning, her maternal aunt brought her eldest cousin Zhao Biru to deliver New Year’s gifts to the Dou family.

“In such cold weather,” Mother hurriedly welcomed her aunt and eldest cousin into the inner chamber, personally helping her aunt onto the kang, taking the hot tea from the maid and respectfully offering it to her aunt, “You could have just sent a steward, why did you come personally!”

Her maternal aunt was in her early thirties, wearing a sapphire blue wide-sleeved jacket with golden patterns and a pair of red gold jade gourd hairpins, of medium height with a slightly plump figure, fair skin, and when she smiled her eyes curved kindly, very gentle.

She clapped her hands at Dou Zhao in Tuo Niang’s arms: “Come, sit with your aunt.”

Mother placed Dou Zhao on the kang.

Zhao Biru bent her knees and curtsied to Mother.

Mother hugged Zhao Biru: “Big Sister has grown taller again, almost as tall as me now.”

Maternal Aunt complained: “What use is growing taller without growing wiser!”

Zhao Biru smiled shyly.

At this time, Zhao Biru was only eleven years old, with long limbs and snow-white skin, already showing hints of her future grace and charm.

Mother led her onto the kang, and everyone sat around the kang table eating snacks and chatting.

“…Your eldest brother has failed the spring imperial examinations twice in a row, this time he’s determined to get his name on the golden list, he won’t even talk to me,” Maternal Aunt smiled and said, “I was bored at home, so I brought Biru to visit you.” Then she asked, “How have you been these days?”

Mother put up a facade: “Same as before. Busy running around every day, though I don’t know what I’m busy with.”

Maternal Aunt smiled without speaking, took a sip of tea, and said to Zhao Biru: “Since we’re here, go play with your cousin in the other room!”

Zhao Biru softly responded “Yes,” and obediently got down from the kang.

Mother was slightly startled.

Maternal Aunt said: “I have something to tell you.” Her face showed some gravity.

Mother responded with a “Yes,” her eyes already showing signs of tears.

Dou Zhao thought of Madam Yu and the man in the official green lu silk robe by the lotus pond.

After leaving the inner chamber, she shook off Zhao Biru’s hand and ran like the wind toward the main gate.

Outside the main gate, the man wearing the official green lu silk robe was talking with one of the Dou family’s stewards. Behind him was a flatbed cart loaded full of items, with servants streaming back and forth carrying things into the house.

So that man was the Zhao family’s steward.

Dou Zhao pattered back to the second gate, where she met Zhao Biru who was chasing her, out of breath.

“What, what were you trying to do?” she covered her stomach, panting heavily, “How can you run faster than a rabbit?”

Dou Zhao thought of their first meeting.

She had elegantly held a teacup, smiling warmly yet dignifiedly as she looked at her: “After Aunt passed away, Father and Mother originally wanted to bring you to live with us, to keep us sisters company, but you refused. You not only bit Mother in front of the Dou family people but also shouted ‘I won’t go to your house,’ so Mother had to return home dejected…”

At that time, she felt Zhao Biru’s words were like an autumn fan, inexplicably irritating and out of place.

But now… she wasn’t so sure anymore.