ATLAS TRANSLATES

Though reborn, Dou Zhao could only influence the people and events around her. What was meant to come would still arrive.

In mid-April, Dou Wenzhang, who had been studying in the capital with Dou Shizhu, brought back a family letter from him.

In the letter, Dou Shizhu not only mentioned his upcoming promotion to Deputy Minister of Personnel but also brought up Wang Xingyi’s reinstatement.

He tactfully inquired about Dou Shengying’s marriage prospects, explaining that he and Wang Xingyi were examination graduates of the same year.

Ben Yifen had been forced to resign, Wang Xingyi was exiled, and his own years in the capital had not been easy.

If Dou Shengying’s marriage hadn’t been arranged yet, it would be better to settle it soon.

He mentioned that the Emperor was aging, his memory failing day by day. During a recent cabinet meeting, he had suddenly called for Chen Dong, a palace eunuch who had passed away five or six years ago, to attend to the writing materials.

The youngest Grand Secretary of the Cabinet now was Chen Jizhou from Songjiang. If he would be presiding over next year’s metropolitan examination, Dou Duo and Dou Shiqi should discuss early whether to have all eligible Dou family members participate in the examination.

Dou Duo’s face changed dramatically upon receiving this letter. He immediately wrote to Dou Shiqi, having Dou Wenzhang rush to Fuzhou overnight, while he took Dou Shengying to East Dou Manor.

Although Dou Zhao didn’t know the letter’s contents, she had been concerned about Wang Xingyi’s reinstatement. Her grandfather and father’s unusual behavior immediately put her on alert. She dismissed her maids to rest, keeping only Tuo Niang: “Go tell the second gate’s matron that if grandfather and father return, she should report to me immediately.”

Tuo Niang delivered Dou Zhao’s message to the second gate and stayed by her bedside doing needlework.

At the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), news came from the second gate.

Tuo Niang woke Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao dressed and went to Heshou Hall.

Two quick-witted servants of her grandfather stood guard at the door.

Seeing Dou Zhao, they both called out in surprise, “Fourth Miss.”

Her father, hearing the commotion, walked out with a surprised expression: “Shou Gu, why aren’t you asleep at this late hour?” His gaze, however, was stern as he glared at Tuo Niang.

Tuo Niang’s legs trembled, mumbling incoherently, not knowing what to say.

Dou Zhao had already rushed into her father’s embrace with a smile: “Why didn’t you take me along when you and grandfather went visiting?”

Her father couldn’t help but laugh, carrying Dou Zhao into the room.

Grandfather sat at the head of the kang bed with a grave expression. Seeing them enter, his brows furrowed tightly as he said, “If you could marry earlier, Shou Gu would have someone to look after her. Look at what’s happening in our household now? It’s the middle of the night, and Shou Gu is still running around the courtyard. Your willfulness — besides easing your own conscience, what good does it do? On one hand, you say you’ve grown up and understand your responsibilities, yet on the other, you still do such irresponsible things.”

Father could only respond with repeated acknowledgments, unable to find the right words.

Dou Zhao saw an opportunity in grandfather’s words and father’s attitude.

Her mood suddenly became unprecedentedly bright, and she decided to irritate her grandfather: “Grandfather, I do have someone looking after me. Concubine Cui is my grandmother.”

Grandfather’s face turned ashen, his gaze cutting toward Dou Zhao like a knife’s edge.

Yet Dou Zhao just blinked her big eyes, smiling while nibbling on her fingers, appearing completely innocent.

He trembled with anger and berated her father: “This matter is not up to you. Tomorrow, your third sister-in-law will personally go to discuss the wedding date with various families. From now on, you focus on your studies, and leave the inner household matters to the Zhu family to manage.”

Then he added, “Who are the servants attending to Shou Gu? Dismiss them all.”

Father replied: “It’s Matron Yu taking care of Shou Gu. I promised this to my brother-in-law.” His tone was somewhat defiant.

Grandfather was speechless with anger and stormed out, sweeping aside the curtain.

Dou Zhao wanted to remind him: This is your study! If anyone should leave, it should be us — how come you’re the one storming off?

Father sighed and carried Dou Zhao out of Heshou Hall.

The April night wind still carried a slight chill. Moonlight spilled over the pavilions and towers, creating a serene painting-like scene.

Father’s steps grew slower and slower, finally stopping by the lotus pond.

“Shou Gu, do you know? Your Fifth Uncle sent a letter,” he murmured, “Your Fifth Uncle sent a letter home. Wang Xingyi, your Aunt Wang’s father, is being reinstated…”

Dou Zhao’s heart pounded wildly as she finally learned the contents of Dou Shizhu’s letter.

As expected of a future Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, how cold-hearted.

She drew in a sharp breath.

All along, she had thought that Fifth Uncle and Wang Xingyi, being examination graduates of the same year and sharing common interests, must have had a very close and solid relationship.

She believed Wang Yingxue’s greatest support in the Dou family was Dou Shizhu, but she had forgotten that Dou Shizhu was ultimately a member of the Dou family, and had forgotten the intricacies of political situations.

White jade hairpin flowers planted around the lotus pond glowed softly in the moonlight, releasing a rich fragrance.

Father sat down with her on the stone bench by the lotus pond.

“Shou Gu, how did everything come to this?” he stared blankly at the lotus leaves just barely breaking the water’s surface, saying, “I studied hard and took the examinations — wasn’t it all to bring glory to our ancestors, to make the Dou family more prosperous and distinguished, to let our family members live better than others? But now, your mother has hanged herself, I’ve fallen out with your uncle, I can’t even observe the three-year mourning period for your mother, and I might drag in the Zhu family’s fifth miss, even causing your sister to lose her mother… Not only have I failed to make those around me feel secure and comfortable, but because of me, their situations have become even more difficult. What was everything I did for? I’ve already failed your mother, I can’t fail the Zhu family’s fifth miss and Wang Yingxue too…”

Father’s melancholic gaze, like the faint moonlight, seemed both near and far.

It made Dou Zhao’s heart ache.

Father was so lonely that he could only share his thoughts with his young daughter in the dead of night.

She suddenly felt sympathy for her father.

—

As soon as father returned to the main room, he wrote a letter and had a servant call Gaosheng before dawn: “…Deliver this to the Zhu family in the east of the city before the Third Madam leaves.”

Although Gaosheng was surprised, he still followed father’s instructions and left.

At noon, Third Aunt returned from the Zhu family with a troubled expression.

“Young Uncle, the Zhu family says getting married before the Dragon Boat Festival is too rushed. Others might think their fifth miss is being married off for good fortune in the face of misfortune!”

Grandfather was displeased.

Only families who didn’t value their daughters-in-law would arrange such marriages for good fortune.

The Zhu family’s words were quite offensive.

Third Aunt shared the same feeling but sighed: “We can’t blame the Zhu family for being angry. We were the ones who said we’d wait three years, and now we’re the ones saying to marry before the Dragon Boat Festival. The Zhu family is also a prestigious household — forget about rushing to prepare the dowry, there isn’t even enough time to notify friends and relatives.”

“I understand. But we have no choice but to rush in this emergency,” Grandfather said, “I remember that Zhu Scholar has a sister married into the Chen family in neighboring Xinle County. Perhaps we could ask the Zhu family’s aunt to help mediate?”

“Then I’ll set out for Xinle after lunch,” Third Aunt immediately replied.

Grandfather said a few words of thanks and invited Third Aunt to stay for lunch.

“East and West Dou were originally one family. Seventh Uncle’s matter is like my own,” Third Aunt exchanged pleasantries, then said, “I’ll probably need to spend the night in Xinle, so I need to arrange things at home. Young Uncle, don’t stand on ceremony with me. Getting this matter settled is most important.”

Grandfather didn’t detain her further and had Qiufen escort Third Aunt out the second gate.

Afterward, no matter who Third Aunt brought to persuade the Zhu family, they firmly refused to budge.

Third Aunt was so anxious that she developed blisters on her lips and deeply regretted: “If we had known this would happen, we should have arranged the marriage with my sister-in-law’s young cousin. Now, even if we wanted to change partners, we’d need the Zhu family’s letter of annulment first, and we’d still probably run out of time.”

Grandfather directed his anger at father, making him kneel in the front courtyard with no shade from the scorching sun for an entire afternoon.

This caused father’s knees to become red and swollen, making it difficult for him to walk, and they had to call for a doctor.

At this time, Wang Yingxue’s elder brother Wang Zhibing suddenly came to visit.

Wang Zhibing was only in his early thirties, but perhaps due to the hardships of recent years, he looked as aged as someone in their forties.

He stood straight in the Wang family hall, as tall and unwavering as a green pine.

“My younger sister has suffered because of me, her brother, forcing her to work in business out in public. I didn’t know before, but now that I do, I’ve come to take my sister home,” he said firmly, “We haven’t accepted your betrothal gifts, and there are no financial entanglements. Write a letter releasing her from concubinage, and let our two families part ways here — each going our separate ways.”

Grandfather remained silent for a long while before having someone summon Wang Yingxue.

Wang Yingxue was both surprised and delighted to see her brother.

“Big Brother, why have you returned!” She instinctively grabbed Wang Zhibing’s arm, but her expression suddenly changed as she looked him up and down, “Did something happen to Father?” Before finishing her sentence, tears were already streaming down her face.

“No, no!” Wang Zhibing’s eyes also reddened as he hurriedly said, “Father has received an imperial order appointing him as the magistrate of Xintai County in Shandong. He wrote home, and that’s how we learned you had entered the Dou family. Father was filled with regret and self-reproach, even slapping himself three times, saying the family had brought you down. He told me to hurry back and bring you home.”

“What did you say?” Wang Yingxue stared blankly at Wang Zhibing, “Father… Father has been reinstated?”

“Yes!” Wang Zhibing nodded repeatedly, “Father has been reinstated, and in a few days, he’ll reunite with mother and you at his post. You won’t have to worry about what to eat and drink every day anymore… From now on, let your big brother worry about these things!”

“Big Brother!” Wang Yingxue grabbed Wang Zhibing’s sleeve and burst into tears.

Wang Zhibing turned away, unable to look at his sister’s face, waiting until she had soaked his sleeve with tears before his emotions settled.

“Stop crying, we can talk more when we get home,” Wang Zhibing said, looking toward Grandfather, “If Master Dou has no other instructions, we’ll take our leave now.”

They weren’t even planning to pack Wang Yingxue’s clothes.

Grandfather naturally couldn’t let Wang Yingxue leave like this and smiled, “Your father and our Yuanji were examination graduates of the same year — we’re not outsiders. Since you’re here, why not sit down for a cup of tea? Since your sister entered our household, we arranged servants and maids to attend to her, and added some items. I’ll have the servants pack everything up, and you can take both people and belongings with you. Your father has just been reinstated and has many matters to settle. Wang’s entry into our family was all a misunderstanding, but you can’t let her leave empty-handed. What would others say?”

“That won’t be necessary!” Wang Zhibing had just responded when his sister’s voice, sharp with emotion, cut in: “What did you say? You want me to go back with you, but what about Ming’er? She’s only three years old!”