ATLAS TRANSLATES

Tiny ants marched in neat lines, methodically carrying food into their burrow.

Zhao Zhangru excitedly waved at Dou Zhao: “Quick, quick!” She lowered her head and crumbled the white steamed bun in her hand onto the ground.

The ants immediately surrounded it, working together to move the crumbs under the old locust tree.

Dou Zhao walked over slowly and crouched beside Zhao Zhangru, gazing at her sweet innocent face, lost in thought for a moment.

She remembered her daughter Yin’er.

After her first miscarriage, both her mother-in-law and Wei Tingyu had criticized her. Wei Tingzhen had even said bluntly: “Your Dou family has been officials for generations, how come none of you know the proper rules?” She wanted to send a knowledgeable nanny from the Jing Duke’s mansion to take care of her during the month of confinement.

Wouldn’t that just spread her shame to the Jing Duke’s mansion!

Dou Zhao could only swallow this bitter pill, smiling as she told Wei Tingzhen it was her own carelessness, while her eyes kept glancing at Wei Tingyu, hoping he would step in to stop Wei Tingzhen. Who knew that heartless Wei Tingyu would keep nodding, strongly agreeing: “Sister is doing this for your own good!”

She was so angry at the time she couldn’t say a word.

They were newly married then, and she knew she was in the wrong this time, so her anger dissipated after two days.

To make up for her mother-in-law’s disappointment, she quickly became pregnant again and gave birth to her eldest son Wei’er the following January. Thirteen months later, she gave birth to her second son Rui’er. When Rui’er was three months old, she had another miscarriage… This damaged her health, and she became afraid of seeing Wei Tingyu, which was why she elevated Hu shi to the position of concubine.

Later, after she had established herself in the Wei family, there seemed to be a veil between her and her two sons that prevented them from being close. She felt an indescribable loneliness, which was why she risked giving birth to Yin’er.

Perhaps learning from her experience with her sons, after Yin’er was born, she nursed and raised her personally. The child became especially close to her, calling out “Mother” loudly whenever she couldn’t see her, melting Dou Zhao’s heart. Whenever she saw something good to eat, play with, or look at, she would think of getting it for Yin’er.

Without her protection now, who knew how her daughter was doing?

The thought flashed through her mind, and her eyes began to sting.

Then Dou Zhao was startled.

She had returned to the past now – where were Wei’er, Rui’er, and Yin’er?

Her heart suddenly felt as if a huge piece had been hollowed out.

She raised her head and through the half-covered window lattice, saw Uncle arguing heatedly with Third Uncle.

The Dou family was powerful – what use was it even if Uncle won the argument?

Back then, when Song Mo killed his father and brother, all the civil and military officials impeached him, but with the Emperor’s protection, he remained unharmed!

Song Mo had an elder cousin and two younger cousins who could legally inherit the title of Duke of Ying, but with one memorial, Song Mo had convinced the Emperor to strip away the title. Song Mo’s cousins were furious at the time, threatening to kill him, but when they actually faced him, they didn’t dare make a sound.

It would be good for Uncle to seek an official position in the Northwest.

The South was prosperous, with many people eyeing positions there. Those who could go were all well-connected, making the official circles complex – one wrong move could lead to disaster. Though the Northwest was poor, the people were simple and pure, which might not be a bad thing.

Thinking of this, Dou Zhao let out a soft sigh.

?????

Two days later, Uncle and Aunt took the three cousins back to Anxiang. Except for coming to pay respects to Mother on the seventh day, they didn’t interact with the Dou family. After the fifth seventh-day memorial service, Mother’s coffin was sent to the ancestral grave for burial.

Her memorial tablet would be enshrined in the Western Dou family’s small Buddhist shrine for three years, after which it would be placed in the Dou family’s ancestral hall in North Tower.

Outside, everything was calm – there were no negative rumors about Mother. Instead, even Dou Zhao heard about Uncle selling fields and land to raise money for seeking an official position in the capital.

She couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

This was the downside of living close by – any little movement could be known.

No wonder Uncle would fail in her previous life!

The Dou family sent two thousand taels of silver over, but Uncle returned it without touching a single coin.

Third Uncle was worried: “Ruifu has come to hate our family. Several generations of friendship, just gone like this.” His tone was quite melancholic.

Grandfather disagreed: “In the grand scheme of things, what’s united will divide, and what’s divided will unite. No need for all this sighing.”

But Third Uncle still wanted to make amends. He sent people to try to buy Aunt’s dowry of one hundred mu of woodland at two taels above market price, but Aunt refused.

Dou Zhao privately commented to Tuo Niang: “Uncle and Aunt are too honest. If it were me, I’d sell the land but keep the grudge.”

Tuo Niang, making socks for Dou Zhao under the lamp, widened her eyes upon hearing this: “Wouldn’t that make one a scoundrel?”

Dou Zhao was startled, then laughed: “I guess I’m still a Dou at heart!”

Tuo Niang didn’t understand.

Dou Zhao didn’t explain to her, instead asking: “What has Concubine Wang been doing these days?”

She found Mother’s people, whom she accessed through Tuo Niang, quite useful.

“Same as before,” Tuo Niang said. “She stays in her room all day, retires early, and has her maid Qiongfang taste all her food and drink before she consumes anything.”

Dou Zhao responded with an “Oh.”

Xuancao ran in: “Sister Suxin, Sister Suxin, something’s happened at Qixia Court!”

Dou Zhao was still a small child, so the maids didn’t avoid speaking in front of her.

Tuo Niang wasn’t very interested, responding casually: “What happened?”

“Someone put a piece of musk in Concubine Wang’s inner chamber flower vase. If Nanny Hu hadn’t discovered it early, something terrible could have happened.”

Tuo Niang glanced at Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao sat with her big eyes wide open, listening with interest.

Tuo Niang had to say: “What terrible thing could happen? I heard people say musk is the best fragrance!”

“Nanny Hu said musk can cause miscarriage,” Xuancao said in a low voice. “Concubine Wang didn’t want people to talk about it, but Nanny Hu has such a loud voice, we all heard.”

“Oh!” Tuo Niang was already not talkative, and at this moment, she became even more reticent.

Xuancao leaned on the edge of the heated kang, still eager to continue: “Sister Suxin, do you think someone really wants to harm Concubine Wang? A while ago, Nanny Hu was also shouting about someone putting poison in Concubine Wang’s food, but when First Madam and Third Madam came to investigate personally, it was just yellow gentian powder. Now they’ve found musk… Who would harm Concubine Wang? Why would they want to harm her?”

“How would I know!” Tuo Niang said disinterestedly.

Xuancao was very disappointed. After saying a few more words, she ran off to gossip with Qiuwei and the others.

Tuo Niang looked at Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao said: “There’s too much drama around Concubine Wang. You should tell Dingxiang’s mother that Dingxiang is not young anymore and is engaged – it would be better to take her away early.”

Tuo Niang agreed, but couldn’t help looking at Dou Zhao with some suspicion.

“Ah!” Dou Zhao sighed inwardly.

Being young had its advantages and disadvantages.

Fortunately, she had Tuo Niang by her side. If it were someone else, they probably would have run away in fright long ago!

However, Wang Yingxue really could maintain her composure, enduring even this.

Should she frighten her some more?

As Dou Zhao was pondering this, the next morning news spread that Wang Yingxue had given birth to a daughter.

She looked at the blooming pomegranate flowers outside the window, nodding with satisfaction, and asked Tuo Niang: “What date is it today?”

“May 12th.”

In her previous life, Dou Ming’s birthday was July 3rd.

It seemed in this life, Dou Ming would have to celebrate his birthday on May 12th.

In her previous life, Dou Ming was premature.

In this life, how would Wang Yingxue explain Dou Ming’s birth?

Dou Zhao was looking forward to it.

She instructed Tuo Niang: “Get me some pretty clothes, I want to go see my sister.”

Tuo Niang called Yuzhen in to help Dou Zhao change into a moon-white silver-striped gauze summer dress, and accompanied her to Wang Yingxue’s place.

Third Aunt and Aunt Din had already arrived, along with a large group of people serving Wang Yingxue, making the room very crowded.

Dou Shiying was holding the baby and looking at it. When he saw Dou Zhao, his face, which had been showing signs of depression, revealed a rare smile: “Shou Gu, this is your sister!” Saying this, he crouched down to let her see the baby in his arms.

Wrinkled like a monkey – what was there to see!

Dou Zhao complained silently in her heart, but still smiled and moved closer: “Sister is so small!”

As she spoke, she glanced at Wang Yingxue.

Wang Yingxue was smiling, leaning against a large pillow, her face very pale from childbirth, but with a kind of delicate, fragile beauty.

Seeing Dou Zhao look over, she couldn’t help but grip the corner of her blanket tightly.

Since that day when Dou Zhao had spoken to her, she had been avoiding Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao smiled slightly and asked her father: “Can I hold my sister?”

“Sure!” Dou Shiying smiled and patted his eldest daughter’s head.

“No!” Wang Yingxue anxiously said, sitting up straight.

Everyone’s gaze fell on her.

“I mean, Shou Gu is still too young,” Wang Yingxue hurriedly explained, “I’m afraid she won’t be able to hold the baby steadily…”

“Then can I come see sister every day?” Dou Zhao interrupted Wang Yingxue’s words, tilting her little head and blinking her big eyes at Wang Yingxue.

“Doesn’t Shou Gu want to play jump rope with Xuancao and the others?” Wang Yingxue forced a smile, “If you come to see sister, you won’t be able to play!”

“Sister is much more interesting than jump rope!” Dou Zhao replied without hesitation, then looked up at her father beside her, “Father, can I come see sister?”

“Of course! Why not! You can come see your sister whenever you want!” Dou Shiying found his eldest daughter very well-behaved and pure. He handed the baby to the wet nurse and picked up Dou Zhao, “You’re a big sister now, you need to take good care of your little sister, understand?”

“I understand!” Dou Zhao said loudly, her eyes curved into crescents, smiling very sweetly.

Dou Shiying couldn’t help but praise his daughter: “Shou Gu is such a good girl!”

Dou Zhao smiled and looked at Wang Yingxue.

Wang Yingxue looked at Dou Zhao, who was smiling innocently, but her heart kept sinking.

That day when Dou Zhao spoke to her, her eyes and expression were not those of a three-year-old child, and sure enough, she had given birth to a daughter.

It was all too shocking, too strange!

Dou Zhao seemed like… like some kind of monster wearing a child’s skin… beneath that skin was something that devoured people… yet others noticed nothing amiss.

Wang Yingxue’s fingertips grew cold as she watched Dou Zhao quickly wriggle down from Dou Shiying’s arms and run to the wet nurse’s side, immediately grabbing her sister’s fine baby hair. While pulling, she said: “Father, look, sister doesn’t have as much hair as me!”

The wet nurse was caught off guard and very anxious, quietly pleading with Dou Zhao: “Fourth Young Miss, please let go!”

Dou Zhao ignored her and smiled at her father.

Dou Shiying walked over, carefully looked at his second daughter, then at Dou Zhao, and seriously said: “Yes, she doesn’t have as much as you!”

Dou Zhao grinned happily.

The wet nurse could only look to Wang Yingxue for help.

Wang Yingxue was already frightened stiff. After a long while, she forced a smile and gently said to Dou Zhao: “Sister is still small, we can’t pull her hair!”

Dou Zhao inwardly snorted.

Of course she knew the baby was too young to have her hair pulled.

At this time, Dou Ming still had no fighting power – it would be unfair to win against her, and she wouldn’t hurt Dou Ming.

She was just putting on a show to frighten Wang Yingxue.

Back then, Wang Yingxue had made her suffer in silence. Now, she would let Wang Yingxue taste the same feeling.