ATLAS TRANSLATES

Dou Zhao smiled playfully as she let go of Dou Ming’s hair, but then poked her face.

Wang Yingxue’s heart leaped to her throat, and she hurriedly said, “Sister is still little, you can’t poke her face!” Her voice was unavoidably sharp.

Dou Zhao then went to play with her sister’s little hands.

She must be doing this on purpose!

Wang Yingxue was furious.

Rather than hurting the child behind everyone’s back and being scolded for being “naughty,” it was better to act in front of everyone, where a simple “doesn’t know better” could shift all responsibility away…

Zhao Guqiu hadn’t given birth to a child, but rather to a demon!

As this thought flashed through her mind, even though Wang Yingxue wanted to maintain her composure, her expression couldn’t hide a trace of stiffness: “Shou Gu, you can’t play with sister’s hands either!”

Dou Shiyeng felt somewhat displeased hearing this.

Shou Gu just wanted to be close to her sister, and if she was a bit rough because she didn’t know better, the child would naturally cry if uncomfortable. But right now, the child was lying comfortably in the wet nurse’s arms, showing that Shou Gu was being very careful.

He felt Wang Yingxue was being too protective of her own child and rather harsh toward Shou Gu.

Third Aunt and Aunt Ding felt the same way. However, neither could say anything—the former was only temporarily managing West Dou’s household affairs at Dou Tuo’s request, and such family matters weren’t convenient for her to interfere with; the latter’s status meant it wasn’t her place to speak.

But this didn’t mean they didn’t have their own thoughts and positions. Especially Third Aunt, who was after all the primary wife.

When facing the Zhao family, she naturally had to speak up for the Dou family. But behind closed doors, she extremely looked down upon concubines like Wang Yingxue who entered the family through underhanded means.

She coldly snorted in her heart while smilingly stepping forward to hold Dou Zhao, smoothly taking her away from Dou Ming’s side: “Silly child, you can’t be naughty, be careful not to hurt your sister!”

Too much is as bad as too little.

Wang Yingxue was already tense enough today.

After all, she was only a three-year-old child. If Wang Yingxue was pushed too far and acted rashly against her, it wouldn’t be worth it!

Dou Zhao smiled and wrapped her arms around Third Aunt’s neck.

Third Aunt praised her as “good” and said to Dou Shiyeng: “Now that Lady Wang is settled, I’ll head back first. If you need anything, just send someone to let me know.”

Wang Yingxue had gone into labor late last night, and Third Aunt and Aunt Ding had been busy until now.

Dou Shiyeng repeatedly expressed his thanks, accompanying Aunt Ding to see Third Aunt out.

Wang Yingxue instructed her personal servant Hu Nanny: “From now on, don’t let Shou Gu near Sister, and especially don’t let Shou Gu be alone with her.”

Hu Nanny was stunned and hesitantly said: “That doesn’t seem right? Fourth Miss is after all a proper legitimate daughter of the Dou family. If she could play with Sister, that would be the best…”

“You don’t understand!” Wang Yingxue said with lingering fear, “That child… there’s something wrong with her. You should also be more careful when you encounter her in the future.”

Seeing Hu Nanny’s skepticism, and thinking about how she helped manage everything in her quarters, she pondered briefly and told Hu Nanny about Dou Zhao’s words: “…how would a three-year-old child know about these things?”

Hu Nanny contemplated: “Perhaps someone told her?”

“Impossible!” Wang Yingxue said, “Zhao Guqiu is already gone, who else in the family would be so idle!”

Her thoughts drifted to the past.

Her engagement had been broken off, but Zhao Guqiu was getting married.

The family couldn’t return the Zhao family’s gifts, and her mother was too embarrassed to go, so she sent her with ten taels of silver as a wedding gift. She felt it was too shabby, so she took out two pieces of fine silk, one red and one yellow, from the Lei family’s betrothal gifts, and hurriedly embroidered two handkerchiefs to bring along.

Joy was evident in every corner of Zhao Guqiu’s eyes and brows, without a trace of the worry or reluctance typical of a bride-to-be.

Everyone teased Zhao Guqiu.

But Zhao Guqiu responded without any shyness: “I’ve been hoping every day to marry him, now that my wish is fulfilled, I really can’t feel sad!” This made everyone laugh heartily, while she felt both envy and curiosity.

When the Dou family came to receive the bride, she secretly went to watch the ceremony.

The tall chestnut horse carried the groom in red attire, his face like white jade, eyes like morning stars, his joy impossible to conceal as it rushed toward her, deeply etching itself in her heart.

Later, as her family’s situation became increasingly difficult, her brother’s marriage prospects remained uncertain, and those who came to propose to her were either widowers, unemployed wanderers, or disabled men… She remembered the scene of Zhao Guqiu’s wedding day, felt increasingly worthless, and her heart grew more desolate.

Until one day, when the town’s Examination Candidate He came to propose marriage for his foolish son who still wet the bed at over twenty years old, using the county magistrate as a matchmaker, she met Dou Shiyeng…

He was just as she had imagined – cultured, refined, and considerate.

Her heart couldn’t help but beat wildly.

Rather than marry someone who made her want to vomit at the sight of him, she might as well follow Dou Shiyeng.

At least Dou Shiyeng was talented and handsome, with a soft heart. Following him, she wouldn’t have to worry about being abandoned, and since Zhao Guqiu had been raised in her brother and sister-in-law’s loving care, she was inexperienced and not a scheming person. Moreover, the West Dou family had few descendants, and there was no experienced mother-in-law managing the inner courtyard. As long as she could bear a son and raise him well to achieve scholarly honors, with her background and upbringing, she could stand as an equal to Zhao Guqiu. At that time, what difference would there be between her and a proper madam?

She had thought everything through, calculated everything carefully, but hadn’t expected Zhao Guqiu to be so unyielding!

What was even more unexpected was that after Zhao Guqiu’s death, strange things kept happening around her, making her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles every day, anxious and uneasy, to the point that her child was born prematurely, and her affair with Dou Shiyeng was exposed to everyone’s eyes like paper unable to wrap fire…

What should she do now?

Thinking of these things, Wang Yingxue felt as if a thousand needles were piercing her temples.

Who was that person?

Wang Yingxue’s mind suddenly flashed to Dou Zhao’s bright eyes that carried a hint of mockery.

Could it be Shou Gu?

No, it couldn’t be, it couldn’t be!

Wang Yingxue shook her head.

She was still only a three-year-old child… or perhaps, Zhao Guqiu was using that child to do things?

Impossible, impossible!

Wang Yingxue muttered to herself.

Father had once said that supernatural occurrences were just delusions of an unsettled mind.

Hu Nanny saw that Wang Yingxue looked frightened and unwell, and hurriedly asked: “My Lady, did you remember something? Do you know who wants to harm you?”

Wang Yingxue’s expression became alert.

Zhao Guqiu was already dead, how could she be scaring herself!

Thinking of this, she quickly collected herself and said: “Don’t say such things carelessly. Anyway, remember what I told you. Never let Shou Gu and Sister get mixed up together.”

Hu Nanny nodded uncertainly.

Dou Shiyeng returned.

Wang Yingxue put on a gentle smile: “Have Third Madam and Aunt Ding left?”

Dou Shiyeng made a sound of agreement and said: “Shou Gu is still young, she only knows to touch and hold what she likes, don’t make such a fuss about it in the future.”

“I…” Wang Yingxue started to speak but stopped.

Dou Shiyeng had never suffered any setbacks from childhood to adulthood; such people could only be handled gently.

“It was my fault for being too nervous.” She graciously admitted her mistake and had the wet nurse bring her daughter over, “Seventh Lord, look, doesn’t Sister’s eyebrows look like yours?”

Dou Shiyeng looked carefully and smiled: “They do look a bit similar.”

Wang Yingxue sighed, gently stroking her daughter’s sparse hair, and said with reddened eyes: “You don’t know how dangerous it was earlier… Sister almost didn’t make it! Thankfully Third Madam was here… Seventh Lord, please ask Old Master to give Sister a milk name? Let Sister share in Old Master’s blessings.”

Dou Shiyeng nodded, his tone gentle: “I understand. Don’t worry about these things, focus on resting and taking care of your health. Sister has people sent by Third Aunt, and there’s also Aunt Ding, nothing will go wrong!”

Wang Yingxue submissively nodded.

Dou Shiyeng stood up: “You’re tired too, rest now! I’m going back to the study.”

Wang Yingxue was slightly stunned: “You… won’t stay a bit longer?”

“I haven’t finished my studies, I’ll come see you again later.”

Wang Yingxue could only have Hu Nanny see Dou Shiyeng out.

Dou Shiyeng stood at the entrance of Qixia Court, not knowing where to go.

Seeing Wang Yingxue made him think about how Guqiu died.

He couldn’t act casually and joke with Wang Yingxue.

Then he might as well go to Father to ask for a milk name for his second daughter!

Dou Shiyeng went to Heshou Hall.

Dou Tuo was lying on the study room’s drunken old man chair, holding a book and spacing out.

After learning Dou Shiyeng’s purpose, he dipped his brush and wrote two large characters: “Let Shou Gu be named ‘Zhao’, and the little one be named ‘Ming’!” As he spoke, he sighed deeply.

Dou Shiyeng said nothing, having someone take the paper with “Ming” written on it to Qixia Court, while he took the paper with “Zhao” to the main house.

Dou Zhao wasn’t there.

Yuzhen said: “Fourth Miss went to the small Buddha hall.” Fearing Dou Shiyeng would blame her for not attending to Dou Zhao, she quickly explained, “Tuo Nanny is with Fourth Miss.”

Dou Shiyeng went to the small Buddha hall.

Dou Zhao was sitting alone on the high threshold of the small Buddha hall, resting her chin in her hands while gazing at her mother’s memorial tablet.

The setting sun cast her shadow long into the room.

Dou Shiyeng’s eyes stung, and his chest felt as if someone had punched it, both painful and stuffy.

“Shou Gu!” He sat down beside his daughter, “Why are you sitting here?”

Dou Shiyeng’s voice was as gentle as the spring breeze in March.

Dou Zhao turned her head and stared at her father: “I miss Mother!”

She hadn’t understood before why her mother would commit suicide.

When Mother saw Father and Wang Yingxue happily together, her feelings must have been similar to how she felt when hearing Wei Tingyu praise Dou Ming?

His daughter’s clear and pure eyes reflected his image.

Dou Shiyeng suddenly felt ashamed and somewhat unable to look directly at his daughter.

Since Father didn’t speak, Dou Zhao also had no interest in trying to amuse him.

She was feeling very depressed.

Seeing the newly born Dou Ming, she thought of Dou Xiao who would be born in a couple of years.

She had already tried her best to save her, but Mother still ended up hanging herself. Were the things in this world predetermined and impossible to change?

In her previous life, after Mother’s death, Father immediately remarried, then had children with Wang Yingxue. What had Mother’s death meant to him?

The wind blew gently, making the copper bells hanging under the small Buddha hall’s eaves chime softly, distant and peaceful.

Thinking of what this person beside her had done before, Dou Zhao couldn’t stay there another moment.

She stood up restlessly.

But then she heard her father’s low voice: “Shou Gu, I miss your mother too, very much… very much…”

Then she saw Father bury his face between his knees and cry silently.