ATLAS TRANSLATES

Shortly after aunt left, news arrived from Jiangnan, throwing the household into chaos.

First aunt fell ill from the shock and became bedridden. Third aunt took over the household management of East Dou residence. Third uncle took second cousin Dou Yuchang to Yangzhou to handle first uncle’s funeral arrangements. Fourth cousin Dou Rongchang assisted sixth uncle in managing household affairs. Grandfather seemed to have aged ten years, spending his days lying listlessly on the drunk’s chair in his study.

Both East and West Dou households were shrouded in gloom.

None of this affected Dou Zhao. She continued bringing whatever she liked into her room each day. Dou Shengying laughed at her: “Aren’t you going to visit your sister?”

“Concubine Wang doesn’t like me visiting my sister,” Dou Zhao pouted, appearing indifferent though her eyes held a hint of sadness.

Dou Shengying’s heart skipped a beat. He said nothing, only gently stroking Dou Zhao’s black hair while saying softly, “That’s fine, father will teach you how to write.”

Dou Zhao asked Dou Shengying, “When is grandmother coming?”

The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, and she hoped to speak with grandmother during the festival.

Dou Shengying frowned slightly and asked, “Who told you to call Lady Cui ‘grandmother’?”

Dou Zhao silently cursed herself.

Grandmother should have only been called “grandmother” after Dou Xiao’s birth. Having lived with grandmother since she could remember in her previous life, she had forgotten this detail.

She vaguely replied, “If not grandmother, then what should I call her?”

“You should call her Lady Aunt Cui!” Dou Shengying patiently instructed his daughter. “Your first uncle has passed away, and everyone is in low spirits. This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival won’t be as grand as usual. Lady Aunt Cui might stay at the manor for the festival.”

He then asked, “Why do you want to see Lady Aunt Cui?”

Dou Zhao replied, “They say Lady Aunt Cui knows how to farm!”

Dou Shengying burst out laughing: “That’s right, your Lady Aunt Cui is very good at tending to crops. Her manor has always had the best yields among all our family’s estates.” As he said this, his gaze became distant.

Perhaps this was the sorrow of being born to a concubine.

Dou Zhao stopped discussing this with her father and pulled him to the study to practice calligraphy.

That year’s Mid-Autumn Festival was simple, with everyone just sharing mooncakes. Compared to previous years of moon-viewing and lantern-watching, it was much quieter.

The maids whispered among themselves: “Who knows when this mourning period will end!”

By the end of September, first uncle’s coffin was transported back to Zhending County.

The Dou family donned mourning clothes, and half of Zhending County was dressed in white.

The county magistrate, along with sixth uncle and father, personally welcomed first uncle’s coffin at the city gate. Grandfather and second madame, being the elders, did not attend the funeral.

Dou Zhao met her ninth cousin Dou Huanchang, whose childhood name was “Lan’er.”

He was sixteen years old, frail and pale, trembling as he thanked the mourners before his father’s spirit tablet. When he turned around, he collapsed into grandfather’s arms, sobbing, “Father coughed up so much blood…”

Grandfather’s eyes immediately filled with tears as he held the boy’s shoulders, softly comforting him: “Good child, from now on you’ll study with your grand-uncle.”

Dou Huanchang nodded, his eyes full of reverence as he looked at grandfather.

Dou Zhao smirked coldly.

Grandfather had already led father astray, and now he was going to ruin first uncle too.

No wonder Dou Huanchang had failed the imperial examinations for nearly twenty years!

She persisted in practicing three hundred characters each day.

Dou Huanchang was very kind to Dou Zhao — they were the only two in the family wearing heavy mourning clothes.

He often brought Dou Zhao treats that first aunt made for him, and Dou Zhao’s attitude towards him gradually softened.

Soon it was the twelfth lunar month, and it was time for the first anniversary memorial service for Dou Zhao’s mother.

Father would remove his mourning clothes, but Dou Zhao still had to wear mourning attire for fifteen months.

Third aunt came to discuss with grandfather about finding father a new wife.

Since first uncle’s death, first aunt was no longer the family matriarch. By custom, second aunt should manage the household, but she was with second uncle at his post, needing to handle matters there before returning home with the children. For now, third aunt managed the household affairs.

Grandfather asked third aunt, “Do you have any good families in mind?”

Third aunt carefully replied: “First sister-in-law has a younger cousin who often visited our home when she was young. She has good character and appearance, and first sister-in-law approves. Then there’s the fifth miss of the Zhu scholar’s family in the east city, and the granddaughter of Official Chen from Nanlou village. Miss Zhu is gentle and has studied with her brothers for several years, having some knowledge of poetry, music, calligraphy, and painting. She should be able to converse well with seventh brother. As for Official Chen’s granddaughter, he was once the prefect of Songjiang. This particular miss is his third daughter. I haven’t met her, but she has a reputation for being virtuous. The other families are either of lower status or have daughters of concubine birth, which I don’t think we need to consider.”

Grandfather nodded, very appreciative of third aunt’s capabilities: “You’ve thought this through thoroughly. Wanyuan is of concubine birth, so we absolutely cannot marry another concubine’s daughter. Let’s settle on the Zhu scholar’s daughter! First nephew’s wife’s family is too close, which isn’t always a good thing. Official Chen always considers himself a scholar, acting somewhat pedantic — ladies raised in such households tend to be rather rigid.”

Third aunt rose with a smile: “Then I’ll speak with the Zhu family. Who do you think should go for the matchmaking?”

Since Lady Ding had embarrassed herself in the main hall, she had claimed illness and remained in seclusion. Qiufen, who used to serve Lady Ding, now attended to grandfather.

Grandfather seemed troubled and after thinking for a while, said, “You can make the arrangements as you see fit.”

Third aunt left with a bright smile.

Dou Zhao heard this news while practicing calligraphy at her rosewood desk.

This household would soon welcome a new mistress, and she would have to move out of the main quarters.

From now on, her mother’s presence in her life would grow increasingly faint.

Thinking of this made her feel lost.

She wondered where father would place her?

She should tell Tuo Niang and the others to start packing when she returns.

The West Dou residence currently lacked a mistress to manage the household. Once the marriage was arranged, Miss Zhu would likely marry in soon.

Dou Zhao put down her brush and gently massaged her sore wrist.

However, father went to grandfather with a furrowed brow.

“I don’t want to remarry,” he stared directly at grandfather, his expression full of determination. “I want to observe three years of mourning for Guqiu.”

“Preposterous!” Grandfather flew into a rage. “How old are you, and still so ignorant! You’re the family’s only son. Instead of thinking about continuing the family line, you want to act like those frivolous youngsters mourning their wives… Do you even understand what responsibility and duty mean?”

Grandfather’s beard quivered with anger. “This is not up for discussion! I’ll have your third sister-in-law arrange the date with the Zhu family soon. You just wait for the wedding!”

Dou Zhao, who was eavesdropping at the door, nearly fell over.

Next May, Wang Xingyi would be reinstated.

The Wang family would still need to maintain their position in official circles and would never let their daughter become a concubine.

If father remarried before next May, the Wang family would either leave Dou Ming with the Dou family and have Wang Xingxue return home; or send Wang Xingxue a white silk cord, forcing her to hang herself; or send her to a temple to live out her days as a nun.

If father didn’t remarry before next May…

In her previous life, Wang Xingyi had always felt he had failed his wife and children.

After achieving success, he remained faithful to his old wife and never took other women.

He was especially protective of his children, trying his best to fulfill all their requests. Particularly Wang Xingxue, who had not only been rejected by her fiancé but had also helped maintain the family’s livelihood, delaying her own marriage.

As a result, he doted on Dou Ming and Dou Xiao even more than his own grandchildren.

If she guessed correctly, Wang Xingyi would definitely find a way to have the Dou family make Wang Xingxue the official wife.

Then wouldn’t Wang Xingxue become her stepmother again!

No, no!

This absolutely cannot happen!

Father must remarry before next May.

Make Wang Xingxue leave!

But father’s attitude was unwavering: “Father, if you’re not afraid of offending the Zhu family, go ahead and set the date. I won’t appear at the ceremony anyway, and even if Miss Zhu marries in, I won’t pay any attention to her.”

“You dare defy me!” Grandfather’s face turned purple-red, and he smashed his teacup on the ground with a “bang.” “Go ahead and don’t show up, we’ll see if the Zhu family’s daughter can even enter our doors!”

“Father!” Father suddenly knelt before grandfather, choking with emotion, “I’ll listen to you about everything else in the future, just grant me this one request! I know I’m the family’s only son, and you had me when you were past forty, hoping to see grandchildren and continue the family line. Just let me be willful this one last time! From now on, I’ll follow all the rules, study hard, pass the examinations, bring glory to the Dou family, and continue our lineage. Father, please agree to this one request!”

Father kept knocking his head on the ground.

The sound pierced Dou Zhao’s heart, causing her momentary weakness.

Why now?

Why not mourn for mother earlier or later, why choose the time just before Wang Xingyi’s reinstatement!

In her previous life, hadn’t he rushed to marry Wang Xingxue before mother’s hundred days were even complete? Why try to be honorable this time?

If only he had known this would happen!

Now that she had arranged everything, father had to interfere!

What was this all about?

Dou Zhao felt anxious and angry.

She heard grandfather’s hesitant voice: “You’ve already mourned her for a year… that should be considered dutiful enough…”

“Father, father,” father continued kowtowing, his voice growing louder, “I only ask this one thing of you, just this one thing!”

Dou Duo looked at his son’s bruised forehead and sighed deeply: “If you want to mourn, then mourn! But you must pass next year’s provincial examination…”

“Thank you, father, thank you, father!” Father’s face lit up with joy.

Dou Zhao’s face felt ice cold, and when she touched it, her hand came away wet.

?????

A few days later, the Zhu family sent word to third aunt saying that Miss Zhu thought father was a man who valued loyalty and righteousness, and was willing to wait three years.

Grandfather was overjoyed. He personally selected several pieces of jade-panel paper, two ink stones, and a box of lake brushes from the storehouse to send to Scholar Zhu, praising third aunt for her good judgment of character.

Third aunt smiled slightly and asked father, “Are the eight characters compatible or not?”

Father remained silent, but his tense expression relaxed.

Third aunt took the birth date card with father’s eight characters to the Zhu family.