ATLAS TRANSLATES

Cai Shu smiled while helping Dou Zhao place the tracing paper over the calligraphy model, then took a fan and gently fanned her from the side.

“Sister Cai Shu,” Dou Zhao smiled, “The weather is so hot, you should go rest! Having Tuo Niang here is enough. With you here, I can’t write properly.”

Cai Shu smiled with pursed lips and said: “Alright then, I’ll wait outside the door. If you need anything, just call me.”

Dou Zhao nodded with a smile and softly instructed Tuo Niang: “Watch at the door, and cough once if anyone comes.”

Tuo Niang nodded and quietly walked to the study door, listening for any movement outside.

Dou Zhao took out a piece of paper and wrote a letter to her uncle: “…Second Madam says that if Wang Concubine is made the official wife, her father won’t compete with Fifth Uncle for party leadership. If you don’t write a letter of consent, they’ll let me grow up and file a complaint against Wang Concubine.”

It was just a few sentences, but lacking strength in her hands, it took her nearly two incense sticks’ worth of time to write, though the handwriting was still fairly neat.

After using fine sand to absorb the ink, Dou Zhao folded the paper into a small note, then beckoned to Tuo Niang and quietly asked: “Do you still remember the address that Mama Peng had you memorize?”

“Yes,” Tuo Niang whispered and recited it once.

Dou Zhao was quite pleased and handed the note to Tuo Niang: “Later, go ask Sixth Aunt for leave…”

She told Tuo Niang her plan.

Tuo Niang nodded repeatedly: “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely make a scene.” Then pointing at the small note, she reminded her, “Fourth Miss, sending one letter costs ten taels of silver. They count it as one letter whether you write a small note or ten pages. Why don’t you write more? It would be cheaper that way.”

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but smile, then said with feeling: “If Uncle still doesn’t understand what to do and just keeps antagonizing the Dou and Wang families, it won’t matter how much I write. Better to keep him out of it now, to avoid letting those smug, crafty people have their way.”

Tuo Niang didn’t understand.

“Just do as I instructed,” Dou Zhao smiled, “Don’t worry about the rest.”

Tuo Niang carefully hid the note close to her body, served Dou Zhao lunch, and as instructed, asked Madam Ji for leave: “Miss wants me to go back and get her usual orchid grass pillow.”

Madam Ji asked Cai Shu to call a carriage to accompany her.

“No need, no need,” Tuo Niang hurriedly said, “It’s just a short while, I can walk there.” She repeatedly declined.

Madam Ji grew suspicious.

But as she usually didn’t like to meddle, she smiled and nodded. However, looking up, she saw Dou Zhao writing with sweat all over her face.

Her small face was red from the heat, yet she still sat straight as instructed, serious and careful, showing not the slightest bit of laziness.

If it were Zhi Ge’er, he probably would have thrown himself into her arms and acted spoiled by now.

A motherless child is like a blade of grass. No matter how bitter or tired, they can only endure?

Changing her usual temperament, as soon as Tuo Niang turned around, she immediately called over a maid named Cai Wei and said softly: “Go see what this Su Xin is up to.”

Cai Wei left in response.

Madam Ji sat beside Dou Zhao watching her trace characters, occasionally telling her what to pay attention to.

After writing two large characters, Madam Ji had Cai Shu bring in mung bean soup: “Shou Gu, take a break. Cool down.”

Dou Zhao was also somewhat tired and was sitting there drinking mung bean soup with Madam Ji when Sixth Uncle returned.

Before Sixth Aunt could even greet him, Sixth Uncle said in a deep voice: “Everyone serving in the room, go stand in the outer courtyard.”

There was a rustling in the room, and in an instant only Dou Shi Heng, Madam Ji, and Dou Zhao remained.

This was when being a child had its advantages.

Sixth Uncle casually patted Dou Zhao’s head and spoke directly to Sixth Aunt: “The families have asked Scholar Zhou to intervene, wanting to return Seventh Brother’s betrothal cards. Mother and Young Uncle are still at a standoff in the room. Third Brother asked me to go check on the situation first. Don’t wait for me for dinner.”

So fast!

Dou Zhao was surprised.

Sixth Aunt was also shocked and asked: “Why did the families suddenly want to break off the engagement?”

“Wang family’s Second Madam Pang gathered her brothers to make trouble at the families’ house. Scholar Zhu couldn’t bear the embarrassment and closed his doors. As soon as Pang’s family left, he went to the prefecture overnight to invite Scholar Zhou over,” Sixth Uncle said, sighing, “Scholar Zhou and Scholar Zhu are good friends. It seems Scholar Zhu is determined to break off the engagement.”

“Then hurry over!” Sixth Aunt frowned, “If the engagement can be saved, that would be best. Otherwise, the Wang family will make more trouble.”

“I think so too,” Sixth Uncle said, “I’ve already sent the steward to find Master Pang. If he continues making trouble without understanding the consequences, he won’t be able to do business in North Zhili anymore.”

Sixth Aunt clearly agreed with Sixth Uncle’s idea and said: “Be careful, just don’t let anyone find any faults.” She gave Sixth Uncle a few more reminders before seeing him out.

Dou Zhao slowly drank her mung bean soup, watching as Sixth Aunt stood lost in thought in the courtyard for quite a while after seeing Sixth Uncle off before returning to the room.

“Shou Gu, would you like to go visiting with me?” Sixth Aunt asked her, but Cai Wei had returned.

“Sixth Madam,” she reported quietly, “Su Xin returned to the West Mansion and got into an argument with Yu Zan, the other senior maid by Fourth Miss’s side. From what I heard, she wanted to do a complete inventory of everything in Fourth Miss’s room. Yu Zan said she was meddling, and she called Yu Zan a thief. Then they started fighting… I didn’t dare stay longer and hurried back.”

She had only told her to make a scene and use the opportunity to tell Madam Ji about Yu Zan stealing things, but unexpectedly Yu Zan had such a strong reaction that they even got into a fight.

However, Tuo Niang was strong, and Yu Zan was no match for her. Besides, since Tuo Niang was accompanying her to the East Mansion, even if Mama Yu found out, she wouldn’t dare keep Tuo Niang in the West Mansion, let alone punish her. Otherwise, the matter of Yu Zan stealing things from her room to curry favor with Da Qing’s wife would be exposed.

When servants bully their masters, the ladies of the East Mansion couldn’t just let it go – they would need to make an example of this. It wouldn’t just be a matter of a few strokes of the paddle and being driven out of the mansion.

Dou Zhao wasn’t worried.

Madam Ji understood what was happening as soon as she heard it.

Her face changed dramatically and she said: “Don’t say anything about this matter. As soon as Su Xin returns, come report to me immediately.”

Cai Wei withdrew with acknowledgment.

Madam Ji acted as if nothing had happened and took out a copy of the “Three Character Classic” and began teaching her to recite it.

When the sun was setting, Tuo Niang returned, pretending to carry an orchid grass pillow.

Madam Ji asked her directly: “You fought with Yu Zan, what did Mama Yu say?”

Tuo Niang mumbled for a while, appearing not to know what to say.

Madam Ji didn’t pursue it further, but pondered: “I can’t interfere in this matter, but you can write to Shou Gu’s aunt and have her ask any of our mansion’s ladies to help manage this. I think none of our people would stand by and watch Shou Gu being bullied like this. As for Yu Zan, tomorrow morning just tell Mama Yu that Fourth Miss is used to her own maids, and these days I need help packing luggage for Sixth Master. I have my own plans.”

Seeing things unfold exactly as Dou Zhao had predicted, Tuo Niang was truly delighted and couldn’t help but break into a grin.

Madam Ji smiled along and said: “You are honest and loyal, I like that. If you continue to serve Shou Gu well, good days will come for you.”

Tuo Niang felt her current life was already very good, but receiving Sixth Madam’s praise was still something to be happy about.

She nodded repeatedly, smiling even more brightly.

Seeing the sun had set and thinking Dou Zhao had been confined inside all day, Madam Ji took her hand for a walk in the courtyard, casually pointing out and explaining the various flowers and plants to Dou Zhao.

Second Sister-in-law, Third Sister-in-law, and Fifth Sister-in-law came together to see Dou Zhao.

As Madam Ji was instructing the maids to set out fruits, Dou Zheng Chang and Dou De Chang returned from school, and the fair, tall, and thin Dou Huan Chang and the sunny Dou Qi Jun also came along.

“We’ve come to see Fourth Sister (Fourth Aunt).”

Madam Ji praised them both well.

Third Sister-in-law’s face beamed with pride as she held her son, grinning from ear to ear.

Dou Huan Chang smiled gently as he greeted Dou Zhao: “Fourth Sister, are you comfortable here? Is the East Mansion fun?”

Dou Zhao had no interest in building relationships with them and just smiled shyly in pretense.

The younger generation of the East Mansion all ate dinner at the sixth house.

That evening, Sixth Uncle didn’t return, but Grandfather rushed back.

The next day at noon, news came that the Zhu family and Dou family had dissolved their engagement.

Dou Zhao didn’t feel it was a pity.

A woman who thought a man was good simply because he was willing to observe three years of mourning for his wife showed very limited insight.

She snorted softly and quickly put the matter out of her mind, not thinking about the deeper reasons – in her heart, her mother was a woman as pure as water and as fierce as fire. In this world, no woman could be more genuine and pure than her mother, nor could anyone take her place.

Dou Zhao asked about Tuo Niang’s whereabouts.

Cai Lan smiled and told her: “Su Xin went to Zhending Prefecture with Steward Wang, they’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.”

According to Dou Zhao’s deduction, after learning of this matter, Madam Ji would definitely help her quietly. To avoid attracting attention from the Dou family, she would most likely ask Ji family’s shops in Zhending Prefecture to help send the letter, and Steward Wang was Madam Ji’s personal attendant.

The corners of her mouth curved upward.

Yu Zan nervously carried a bundle as she followed Cai Wei in.

Dou Zhao was tracing characters, and Madam Ji sat beside her, as if not hearing the announcement, not even lifting her eyelids. While fanning Dou Zhao, she softly praised Dou Zhao’s good handwriting, leaving Yu Zan standing there for nearly half an hour. Only after Dou Zhao finished tracing did Madam Ji personally help Dou Zhao clean her hands and feed her several spoonfuls of lotus seed soup brought by the maids before saying: “Are you Yu Zan who serves Fourth Miss?” As if only now noticing her.

Yu Zan’s legs trembled as she stood, sweating through her clothes, yet not daring to move at all. Hearing Madam Ji’s question, she hurriedly said: “In response to Sixth Madam, this servant is indeed Yu Zan.” Her attitude was extremely respectful.

But Madam Ji merely said casually “You may go,” then with a full smile scooped up some lotus seed soup and brought it to Dou Zhao’s lips, patiently and gently coaxing: “Our Shou Gu is so good, almost finishing a whole bowl of lotus seed soup!”

Since when had the ladies of the East Mansion become so close to Seventh Master’s family?

Seventh Madam was gone, yet they still treasured Fourth Miss like a precious jewel.

Yu Zan watched, bewildered for a while.

A maid had already come forward and gently tugged at her sleeve: “Hurry and withdraw.”

She came to her senses and hurriedly left the inner room, hearing someone’s low mockery: “Didn’t she say she served the former Seventh Madam? How come she seems so slow-witted to me? Could she have snuck in under false pretenses?”