ATLAS TRANSLATES

Back in the main room, Father asked Dou Zhao to write her name. In her previous life, Dou Zhao had studied “Biographies of Exemplary Women” and “Precepts for Women” with an old Confucian scholar invited by Grandfather. While she could manage account books, she wasn’t particularly scholarly.

Seeing Father’s elegant and beautiful small regular script, she felt quite envious.

Father chuckled, bent down to find some tracing paper from the bottom shelf of the treasure cabinet, laid it on the writing desk, and held Dou Zhao’s hand to teach her how to wield the brush.

Han Xiao came in to report: “Qiong Fang from Concubine Wang’s quarters came to ask when Seventh Master will go over for dinner?”

Father looked at the sunset’s afterglow outside the window and smiled, “Concubine Wang is in confinement, and Fifth Miss needs rest too. If I go over, they’ll have to set the table again, which is too much trouble… I won’t go over. I’ll have dinner here in the main room with Fourth Miss.”

Han Xiao smiled and withdrew.

Dou Zhao was somewhat surprised but didn’t dwell on it. After having dinner with Father, Han Xiao brought in a lamp, and they practiced writing for a while longer before Father retired to the inner chamber of the main room.

A few days later, Feng Bao Shan came to visit Father.

He was about twenty-four or twenty-five, with sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes. His black hair was tied with a white jade hairpin, and he wore a dark green Hangzhou silk robe with iris patterns, exuding elegance with a touch of nobility.

Was this the Feng Bao Shan that Mother had described as indulging in gambling, drinking, and visiting brothels?

Dou Zhao, who was tracing characters at the side desk, gaped in amazement before finally closing her mouth.

Feng Bao Shan had come to invite Father out: “…The lotuses at the Ying Cheng household are all in bloom. Since you’re in mourning, we won’t disturb others. Just you, me, and Ying Cheng, we can appreciate the flowers, chat, and you can get some fresh air, clear your mind.”

Father shook his head: “The weather is too hot, I don’t want to go out. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

“It’s not even June yet, what’s so hot?” Feng Bao Shan spoke, then suddenly seemed to realize something. His tone paused, and he looked at Father questioningly, “You… you’re not planning to observe a full year of mourning for Lady Zhao, are you?”

Father remained silent, lowering his eyelids.

“So it is true!” Feng Bao Shan jumped up most undignifiedly, his eyes as wide as brass bells.

After a while, he paced around the room angrily for several circles and said, “Fine, I won’t bother with you anymore. I’ll go find Zhong Zhi to play instead.” Then with a “bang,” he left, letting the bamboo curtain swing behind him.

Father wasn’t angry or upset, but called out to “Shou Gu” in his usual gentle voice, reminding her: “Don’t look around, practice your writing!”

Dou Zhao quickly lowered her head, carefully tracing the red characters.

For an entire month, Father didn’t step out of the house once, staying home to read and write articles, and teaching Dou Zhao to write.

Due to the mourning period for Mother, Dou Ming’s full-month celebration only had two tables set at home.

The Wang family sent some children’s clothes as full-month gifts but didn’t send anyone to offer congratulations. As for the maternal family, the Zhaos neither came to drink the full-month wine nor sent any full-month gifts.

The Dou family members felt somewhat awkward, while Wang Ying Xue was both angry and resentful, both ashamed and indignant.

When the cicadas were chirping everywhere, news came from the capital that Uncle Zhao Si had secured the position of County Magistrate of Ganquan County in Yan’an Prefecture.

In her previous life, Uncle had risen to become the Prefecture Governor of Qingyang, a fourth-rank official.

In this life, Uncle had still sought a post in the Northwest.

While Dou Zhao was happy for her uncle, she also felt somewhat disappointed deep down.

Grandfather commented on Uncle: “Unexpected that he had such capability. Though Ganquan County is poor, he’s going as the chief administrator right away. Even though he wasn’t selected as an Imperial Scholar, it’s still quite a high starting point.”

Third Uncle was even more uneasy: “Yuan Ji said the same thing.”

Yuan Ji was Dou Zhao’s Fifth Uncle Dou Shi Shu, who had sent this news from the capital.

Just as the third generation watches the fourth generation eat and the fifth generation watches their writings, all the glory of several generations of the Dou family’s careful cultivation was concentrated on Dou Shi Shu.

He entered school at thirteen, became a Provincial Graduate at sixteen, passed the Metropolitan Examination at twenty-two, served as an Imperial Scholar in the Ministry of Personnel, and then worked his way up from Junior Compiler. Before Dou Zhao fell ill, he had already become Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall and Minister of Personnel.

He was the first person in the Dou family to enter the Cabinet as a Grand Secretary.

Along with the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion and Minister of Rites Wang Xing Yi, and the Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion and Minister of Justice Chen Rong, they were all from North Zhili Province and were jokingly called the “Northern Half.”

Grandfather smiled faintly, his smile carrying a hint of arrogance: “Only those who pass the Metropolitan Examination can enter the Hanlin Academy, and only those from the Hanlin Academy can enter the Cabinet. Yuan Ji is your full brother, what do you have to fear?”

Third Uncle wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled bitterly: “It’s just that I’m less educated, so I feel somewhat insecure in front of Metropolitan Graduates.”

Grandfather laughed heartily.

Meanwhile, Dou Zhao instructed Tuo Niang to take inventory of the things in her room.

By the looks of it, Aunt would be coming to take her away soon.

Based on her experience from her previous life, things would be exposed quickly, and there would definitely be some complications then. It was better to prepare in advance.

Father laughed at her: “Shou Gu knows how to hide things at such a young age.”

Dou Zhao took the opportunity to hug the jade brush washer from Father’s desk to her chest: “This is mine too.”

After all, when the new stepmother arrived, all these public items would be re-registered and inventoried to distinguish them from Mother’s dowry. It was better to take the things she liked and keep them, blurring the lines and making them her own.

Father couldn’t stop laughing and pointed to two jade vessels on his treasure cabinet: “Do you like these?”

“Yes!” Dou Zhao nodded repeatedly.

Father made a grand gesture: “Take them and hide them away too!”

Dou Zhao smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons, and pointed to the brocade box on Father’s kang table: “I want that red stone too!”

Inside were two pieces of fine chicken blood stone, vibrant in color, naturally forming patterns of mountains and misty peaks. Dou Zhao liked them very much and was thinking of finding a famous artisan to help carve them into seals.

Father pinched Dou Zhao’s nose: “You clever little thing, those are Father’s private collection. What do you want them for? When you get married, I’ll personally carve a leisure seal to give to your husband as part of your dowry. There are also several good inkstones that I’ll give to you then.”

Dou Zhao giggled, but her heart was drumming: Would she still have to marry Wei Ting Yu? He wasn’t a scholar, and those fine inkstones would probably just end up stored away in his warehouse.

Just as she was thinking, a loud commotion came from outside.

Father paid no attention to it and carried Dou Zhao to the grand chair in front of the writing desk to practice writing: “I’ve already given instructions to make you a set of rosewood desk and chair according to your size, to be placed next to Father’s. Then you can sit in the chair to practice writing.”

Before he finished speaking, Han Xiao ran in with a panicked expression: “Seventh Master, Aunt has arrived!”

Father was startled and said, “Aunt has arrived, what’s there to panic about?”

But Dou Zhao had a vague guess in her heart.

Things had finally been exposed.

Who had leaked the information? And who had warned the Dou family?

“Aunt says she wants to take Fourth Miss to stay for a few days. The Master wouldn’t agree and had Aunt Ding speak with Aunt. After just a few words, Third Madam rushed over and wouldn’t let Aunt take Fourth Miss back, saying that Fourth Miss is a Dou family girl, and even without a mother, she still has her father and grandfather. There’s no reason for her to rely on others and be raised by her uncle.”

Han Xiao looked terrified — when the Dou and Zhao families fell out, the maids that came as part of the dowry would suffer the most.

According to custom, Zhao Gu Qiu’s dowry would be left to Dou Zhao, and since Dou Zhao was a Dou family daughter, she would naturally be raised by the Dou family.

Dou Zhao was too young to manage the household or make decisions.

If they stayed with the Dou family, the Dous wouldn’t treat them well; if they wanted to return to the Zhao family, they’d need the Dou family’s permission.

“Third Madam also said that Fourth Miss will need to marry in the future — would it be more prestigious to be known as the Zhao family’s cousin or the Dou family’s legitimate daughter? If the Zhao family truly had Fourth Miss’s interests at heart, they wouldn’t have come up with such a foolish idea. Aunt shouldn’t let the rift between the Zhao and Dou families cloud her judgment and hurt her niece’s reputation just to spite the Dou family!”

She paused, then continued, “First Madam had received word early that the Zhao family was preparing to move everyone to their official post, with everything packed and ready to leave as soon as they got Fourth Miss. But Aunt firmly denied this. The Master said that Fourth Miss absolutely cannot go to An Xiang with Aunt…”

Dou Shi Ying furrowed his brows and interrupted Han Xiao, instructing Tuo Niang: “Watch Fourth Miss here.” Then he said to Han Xiao: “Take me to see!”

Han Xiao responded nervously and accompanied Dou Shi Ying out.

Dou Zhao sat quietly in the grand chair, waiting for someone to come find her.

Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, dust motes dancing in the air.

Women’s soft voices floated like gentle breezes.

Footsteps drew closer.

The bamboo curtain was lifted.

A woman wearing a light green lined jacket walked in with light steps.

She called out to Dou Zhao softly: “Shou Gu, your aunt is here. Let me help you freshen up and get dressed, then we can go see your aunt, alright?”

Dou Zhao stared at her steadily and called out “Aunt Ding” with a self-mocking smile.

“Yes!” She responded with a bright smile, calling to Yu Zan and Tuo Niang, “Have the young maids bring in water, I’ll help Fourth Miss freshen up and change clothes to receive guests.”

Yu Zan quickly passed on Aunt Ding’s instructions.

Aunt Ding helped Dou Zhao wash her face, sometimes directing Tuo Niang to fetch this, sometimes telling Yu Zan to bring that, keeping both maids running around busily.

She asked Dou Zhao softly: “Does Shou Gu miss her mother?”

Dou Zhao smiled: “Yes!”

Aunt Ding asked: “Do you want to see your mother?”

“Yes!” Dou Zhao said loudly.

“Our Shou Gu is so good!” Aunt Ding kissed Dou Zhao’s cheek and carried her toward the hall.

Her maids surrounded her and Dou Zhao, keeping Yu Zan and Tuo Niang far away.

Past that towering locust tree was the hall.

Aunt Ding said softly: “Shou Gu, your aunt has come to take you away. You must not go with her, or she’ll sell you to a remote mountain village. Then you’ll never see your mother again, never eat osmanthus pastries again, and never see Tuo Niang, Yu Zan, your grandfather, or your father again.”

Dou Zhao nodded.

Aunt Ding was somewhat surprised.

She hadn’t expected Shou Gu to be so easily persuaded!

She smiled and stroked Dou Zhao’s hair: “Good girl, after you meet your aunt, Aunt Ding will take you to find your mother, alright?”

“Alright!” Dou Zhao agreed.

Aunt Ding turned past the large locust tree and entered the hall.

Like two armies facing off, Aunt and Nanny Peng stood in the middle of the hall, while Third Aunt and several unfamiliar women stood below the central hall.

Hearing movement, both sides turned to look.

Third Aunt smiled and beckoned to Dou Zhao: “Come, Shou Gu, come to Third Aunt!”

Aunt’s smile was somewhat forced. She called out softly to Dou Zhao: “Shou Gu, let Aunt hold you!”

Aunt Ding put Dou Zhao down, while whispering in her ear: “If you’re sold to a remote mountain village, you’ll be beaten every day. Quickly go to your Third Aunt!”