ATLAS TRANSLATES

That night, Wang Zhishao and Lady Gao stayed at the Dou family residence.

Dou Zhao wasn’t concerned about these matters; she was just waiting for Tuo Niang to return.

“Madam Yu said she’ll send the items over first thing tomorrow morning,” Tuo Niang came back a bit late.

Dou Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and instructed Tuo Niang: “Pack up our usual things. We might be staying at Sixth Uncle’s place in the East Mansion for a few days.”

“Why are we going to stay at Sixth Master’s house?” Tuo Niang’s mouth gaped open, “Is it because Concubine Wang is causing too much trouble at home?”

If even she knew about it, clearly everyone in the Dou household had heard.

Dou Zhao smiled and said, “No, it’s because Father needs to go to the capital for the provincial examinations. He’s worried there won’t be anyone to look after me, so he might send us to stay with Sixth Uncle for a while.”

No matter what happened, the examinations took priority, and Father would definitely go to the capital to take them.

In her previous life, Aunt Ding had successfully driven a wedge between Dou Zhao and her aunt, allowing her to stay comfortably in the Dou household where Dou Shengying helped care for her until her death. This time, she had lost her power to manage the inner household, and Dou Zhao no longer had the protection of her elders. With Grandfather’s disapproval of Grandmother, Sixth Uncle’s suggestion provided a perfect solution for Father’s predicament, and she was almost certain to be sent to stay at Sixth Uncle’s house.

Dou Zhao was willing to stay at Sixth Uncle’s house.

Sixth Aunt’s surname was Ji, and she was from Yixing County in Changzhou Prefecture of Southern Zhili. Her grandfather Ji Nian had been the top scholar in the Ji Chou year, and their family had produced an imperial tutor and a cabinet elder, making them one of the most prestigious official families in Jiangnan.

Second Madam had chosen Sixth Aunt precisely for her family background, using Second Great Uncle’s past favor to Ji Nian during his time as an imperial censor to shamelessly secure this marriage for Sixth Uncle.

Compared to the Ji family at that time, the Dou family was far inferior in both prestige and wealth. Moreover, the Jiangnan households were naturally more refined than those in the north. After Sixth Aunt married in, Second Madam felt somewhat intimidated by this daughter-in-law, being careful with her words and actions.

Fortunately, Sixth Aunt came from a noble family and was generous and calm. She didn’t act arrogant despite marrying beneath her status, and was respectful to both her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. Additionally, Sixth Aunt was already expecting when she married in and subsequently gave birth to two sons. Gradually, she became Second Madam’s favorite.

In her previous life, Dou Zhao hadn’t had much interaction with this Sixth Aunt.

However, before her marriage, Father had asked Sixth Aunt to tell her about matters of the inner chamber.

She still remembered Sixth Aunt holding her hand before leaving and quietly instructing her: “Remember, after you marry, the most important thing is to bear sons, then to please your mother-in-law. As for your husband, you just need to maintain your beauty in front of him…”

This was the first time someone had pulled back the veil of womanly virtues to speak so plainly about the way of being a wife.

Dou Zhao was quite shocked.

But after her shock subsided, she couldn’t help but carefully consider Sixth Aunt’s words, and the more she thought about them, the more sense they made, and the more she followed them in practice.

In her previous life, she had been too busy with her own affairs to pay attention to others. Now thinking back, she couldn’t help but be very curious about the relationship between Sixth Aunt and Sixth Uncle.

Plus, she had something to ask of Sixth Aunt, so she was somewhat looking forward to staying at Sixth Uncle’s house.

The next day at noon, a large group of people arrived from the Pang family.

Perhaps because it had been decided to let Lady Ji look after Dou Zhao for a while, or perhaps because he felt the atmosphere at home wasn’t good, in the afternoon, Dou Shengying personally escorted Dou Zhao to the East Mansion.

Second Aunt and Sixth Aunt welcomed them at the second gate.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but observe Sixth Aunt.

Lady Ji was only twenty-four or twenty-five years old at this time, fair and beautiful, with black hair arranged in a bun and secured with two gold-wrapped jade hairpins. She wore a lotus-colored summer jacket and white gauze skirt, with no other ornaments, appearing very elegant.

She smiled and came forward to embrace Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao caught a faint scent of rose.

She recognized this fragrance.

It wasn’t an ordinary incense, but rose water from Arabia, costing fifty taels of silver per small bottle, comparable to gold in price, and only available at the largest merchants in the capital.

Second Aunt smiled and patted her head, saying to Dou Shengying: “Come with us to see the Grand Madam!”

Since his daughter would be troubling the women of the East Mansion to help look after her, Dou Shengying expressed his thanks repeatedly, and they all went to see Second Grand Madam.

The arrangements in Second Grand Madam’s room were simple, yet each item was classical and elegant, showing luxury in its understatement, reminiscent of a storehouse for antiques – lifeless and cold throughout.

This room matched Second Grand Madam perfectly.

Dou Zhao thought about her coldness and heartlessness toward her mother, silently criticizing.

After paying their respects, Second Madam grabbed some candy for Dou Zhao, then asked Dou Shengying: “I heard the Wang family is causing quite a scene?” Her casual tone carried a hint of severity.

Dou Shengying blushed and said quietly: “I will handle it soon.”

Second Grand Madam said: “You’re about to take the provincial examinations. I think it’s better to let your Second Sister-in-law handle the negotiations with the Wang family?”

It was a command, not a question.

Dou Shengying nodded embarrassedly.

Second Grand Madam gave a satisfied “mm” and turned to Dou Zhao with a loving smile: “Come here, Shou Gu, come to your Second Great Aunt! Let me see if you’ve grown taller?”

Dou Zhao thought Second Grand Madam was like a thousand-year-old demon – she had lived for another ten years after Grandfather’s death before passing away.

She had no desire to get close to Second Grand Madam. Hearing her call, she didn’t go over, but instead held Sixth Aunt’s hand and said loudly: “I’m already five years old this year, of course I’ve grown taller.”

Her clear, bright voice startled everyone before they burst into laughter.

Second Aunt joined in the fun: “Second Aunt, you miscalculated! You should have kept the candy in your hand before calling Shou Gu over. Now you have nothing in your hands, why would Shou Gu come to you?”

Everyone laughed again.

Second Aunt stood up and smiled at Dou Shengying: “You can rest assured leaving Shou Gu with Sixth Sister-in-law, we’ll all help look after her. It’s getting late, let me go back with you? Zhending is such a small place, when there’s trouble like this, it makes everyone lose face.”

Dou Shengying patted his daughter’s head, gave her a few instructions to “be good,” then returned to West Dou with Second Aunt.

Second Grand Madam carefully inquired about how Sixth Aunt would arrange for Dou Zhao before letting them leave.

Sixth Aunt took her to pay respects to First Aunt.

As a widow like Second Grand Madam, she lived in the courtyard next to Second Grand Madam’s.

In the silent mansion, green curtains and black lacquered furniture, pine shadows blocked the outside sunlight, and First Aunt’s haggard face was as white as snow.

Dou Zhao remembered how she used to be full of laughter and felt quite emotional.

First Aunt smiled and held Dou Zhao in her arms, having the maids bring in fruits and sweets to treat her: “Come visit First Aunt whenever you’d like.”

Dou Zhao smiled and agreed.

Sixth Aunt chatted briefly with First Aunt, then took Dou Zhao to bid farewell.

Stepping outside into the sunlight and hearing the noisy cicadas, Dou Zhao inexplicably felt relieved.

Sixth Aunt gently asked her: “Are you tired?”

Dou Zhao shook her head.

Sixth Aunt smiled and said: “Good, let’s go pay our respects to your Third Aunt.” She coaxed her, “After we’ve greeted your Third Aunt, we’ll go back for some ice-cold watermelon, okay?”

Dou Zhao smiled and nodded.

Third Aunt lived next door to Sixth Aunt. When they entered, Third Aunt was scolding her eldest son Dou Fanzhang, who had just reached adulthood: “…How can you compare to Qijun? He can answer the teacher’s questions, but you? You get stumped by the teacher’s questions…”

He was Third Aunt’s eldest son; before Dou Fanzhang, Third Aunt had given birth to three daughters.

Seeing Lady Ji and Dou Zhao enter, the scolding naturally came to an end.

Dou Fanzhang awkwardly smiled and greeted Lady Ji and Dou Zhao before leaving dejectedly.

Third Aunt rubbed her forehead and ordered the maids to serve tea and snacks, then complained to Sixth Aunt: “I don’t know which deity we’ve offended. I finally had two sons after such difficulty – the elder is already twenty but still doesn’t know better, only knows how to play around. The younger one is clever, but he just hates studying, acts like we’re asking for his life when we tell him to study…”

In Dou Zhao’s memory, Third Uncle’s two sons indeed never amounted to much in their studies.

After passing the entry-level examination, Dou Fanzhang kept studying and taking the imperial examinations, failing each time. Dou Huazhang switched to dealing in antiques after turning thirty, and Dou Zhao had even introduced several important clients to him.

Sixth Aunt consoled Third Aunt: “He’s still young and unsettled. He’ll be better after he gets married.”

Dou Fanzhang was engaged to his cousin, with the wedding set for March next year.

Third Aunt sighed: “I hope so!”

Sixth Aunt took Dou Zhao to say goodbye.

Third Aunt saw them to the door, and looking up, saw Third Uncle hurriedly walking over.

“Shou Gu has come!” he smiled from afar, cupped his hands to Sixth Aunt and called out “Sixth Sister-in-law,” saying, “I have urgent business with Mother. Come over for dinner tonight? Consider it a welcome dinner for Shou Gu!”

Third Aunt quickly added: “Yes, yes! Come to our place for dinner!”

The East Dou originally had the second branch living together, but except for seasonal festivals and sacrificial ceremonies, each family usually ate separately.

They were inviting Dou Zhao, so Lady Ji didn’t stand on ceremony, smiling and agreeing before taking Dou Zhao back to their rooms.

Lady Ji’s wet nurse Wang had already settled Dou Zhao’s belongings and maids. Seeing Dou Zhao’s face red from the sun, she called Tuo Niang to help give Dou Zhao a warm bath, then helped her apply ice powder, change into a white gauze jacket, and put on a silver necklace and silver bracelet before taking her to see Lady Ji.

Lady Ji had also bathed and changed clothes, with two maids fanning her from both sides.

She held Dou Zhao’s hand and looked her up and down, nodding with a smile, then held Dou Zhao on the kang: “Now this looks like a proper young lady!” She casually took a fan and started fanning Dou Zhao while instructing Madam Wang: “We’re dining at Third Brother’s place today. If the Sixth Master makes it back in time, tell him to go to Third Brother’s place. If he can’t make it back, prepare dinner separately for him.”

Dou Zhao guessed that Sixth Uncle must have gone to her home with Father.

Madam Wang smiled and agreed.

A maid with peach-like eyes and apricot cheeks walked in.

As soon as Madam Wang saw her, she immediately led all the serving maids out.

That maid took over the fan from Sixth Aunt and fanned Dou Zhao while quietly telling Sixth Aunt: “Third Master received a letter from Fifth Master saying that Chen Jizhou was forced to retire, and Elder Zeng recommended Elder He Wendao to oversee this imperial examination. Fifth Master was highly regarded by Elder Zeng during his position as Vice Minister of Personnel. When Grand Madam heard this, she immediately had someone send a message to the Old Master in the West Mansion. When I came over, the messenger had just left.”

Sixth Aunt made a sound of acknowledgment.

The maid went to lift the curtain, and Madam Wang and several serving maids filed back in, returning to their previous tasks. If it weren’t for that maid still fanning Dou Zhao, she would have thought she had been dreaming!

Sixth Aunt was indeed someone who kept her depths well hidden.

Dou Zhao felt embarrassed.

She couldn’t help but think about what she had just heard.

Zeng Yifen had forced Chen Jizhou to leave, and Fifth Uncle was highly regarded by Zeng Yifen – this was good news! Why did Second Grand Madam urgently summon Grandfather as soon as she heard?

She pondered this but couldn’t figure it out.