Lady Ji only said that Yuzai was not suitable to serve by Dou Zhao’s side, and asked for another maid to be sent instead.

Madam Yu knew that Lady Ji was forcing her to deal with Yuzai.

The maids and servants in the West Mansion curried favor with her in hopes of gaining benefits. Now when one of them made a mistake, not only could she not protect them, but she had to personally punish those who had once flattered her.

Who would dare approach her in the future?

But if she pretended not to understand, would Sixth Madam feel that she had lost face and report this matter to Second Grand Madam?

Just thinking about Second Grand Madam made Madam Yu’s heart go cold.

Better to deal with the immediate crisis first.

Madam Yu gritted her teeth and took Yuzai back. In front of everyone, she gave her twenty solid strikes with a paddle, beating her until her skin split and flesh showed, barely breathing. Worried that the Old Master was already furious about something and anyone who got close would suffer his wrath, she feared Yuzai’s death might bring bad luck. So she both called a doctor to treat her and arranged for Yuzai to be married off to a family.

“The most important thing is to marry her far away,” she instructed the matchmaker. “We don’t need her redemption money, we’ll even provide ten taels of silver as dowry.”

Such a good deal made the matchmaker interested herself: “I have a distant relative, a porter who works in canal transport in Huai’an. His wife just died, and if this works out, there will be some tea leaves as a thank you gift. Though he is somewhat old and has two sons…”

Madam Yu didn’t care about any of that. As long as the person could be sent far away, she agreed to the marriage without asking another word: “I’ll go inform Seventh Master.”

The matchmaker sat there happily drinking tea while waiting.

Dou Shengying was in the Heshou Hall, but when Madam Yu rushed over, she was stopped outside.

“The Old Master is discussing matters with Seventh Master,” the servant boy told her quietly. “Orders are that no one is to disturb them.”

Madam Yu stood waiting in the courtyard.

In the study, Dou Duo, lying on the drunk’s chair, seemed to have aged ten years, looking tired and haggard.

“Wanyuan, this time you must return as a successful candidate in the provincial examinations!” His hand rested on his forehead, covering his eyes, his low voice revealing frustration and resentment. “The Dou family now is not the same as when your Great Uncle was in charge. If you want to protect the family business, you must make us proud. Do you understand?”

Dou Shengying stood straight there, not making a sound.

Dou Duo suddenly sat up and shouted irritably: “Did you hear me or not?”

“I heard,” Dou Shengying responded calmly, then asked: “What do you plan to do about the Wang family matter?”

Dou Duo gave a cold laugh and said sternly: “You don’t need to worry about this anymore. With me in West Dou, East Dou won’t be able to push us around! You just focus on taking the provincial examinations.” Then he called out loudly: “Who’s on duty outside?”

“It’s your servant Du An.”

“Go invite the eldest master of the Wang family here.”

Du An left to carry out the order.

Dou Duo turned back to his son who stood there quietly and said: “You go pack for your journey.”

Dou Shengying respectfully bowed to his father and left the Heshou Hall.

Madam Yu hurriedly went up to him and told him about the matter at the East Mansion, finally saying: “…Sixth Madam’s meaning is that such a person cannot be kept. For the sake of maintaining propriety, it’s best to marry her off far away.”

Afraid of causing more trouble, she brought up Lady Ji’s name.

Dou Shengying was startled, and after a while said: “Since it’s Sixth Madam’s wish, then do as she says!”

Having received her answer, Madam Yu hurriedly went back to inform the matchmaker. That very night, Yuzai was carried out on a door panel.

Meanwhile, Dou Shengying stood there for a long time before instructing Gaosheng behind him: “Go help me pack my things. I’m going to visit Sixth Uncle to see Shou Gu.”

Gaosheng quickly said: “Then please return early, tomorrow morning we still need to pay respects to the ancestors.”

Dou Shengying nodded and went to the East Mansion.

Dou Shengheng was packing books to take to the capital. The study was somewhat messy, and seeing Dou Shengying arrive, he went with him to sit in the hall.

“Shou Gu went with your Sixth Sister-in-law to visit Second Brother’s wife,” he poured Dou Shengying a cup of tea and said, “Looking at the time, they should be back soon.”

Dou Shengying quietly said “Thank you for troubling Sixth Sister-in-law” and held his teacup in silence for a long while.

Dou Shengheng smiled and said: “What’s wrong? Find it annoying at home?”

Dou Shengying smiled faintly and answered indirectly: “Sixth Brother, when the Zhu family wanted to break off the engagement, why did you speak up for them?”

Dou Shengheng was somewhat surprised and said half-jokingly, half-teasingly: “Your reputation is bad enough already. If the Zhu family broke off the engagement too, you probably wouldn’t be able to find any good daughter-in-law in the future.”

Dou Shengying thought about this for a moment, then suddenly broke into a smile, his features relaxing like a slowly opening scroll painting, with a natural, flowing casualness.

Dou Shengheng stared in surprise, but Dou Shengying had already raised his teacup and smiled, saying: “Sixth Brother, I drink to you.”

“Oh!” Dou Shengheng suppressed his strange feeling and laughed, “What’s this about now?”

“I just wanted to say ‘thank you’ to Sixth Brother!” Dou Shengying said with a smile on his lips but a serious and solemn look in his eyes that slightly surprised Dou Shengheng. Just as he was about to ask what had happened, laughter came from outside.

“Shou Gu is back,” Dou Shengheng said, and they both went out of the side room.

Large red lanterns cast a red glow over the courtyard. A group of maids and servants surrounded Lady Ji and Dou Zhao as they walked in. Lady Ji lowered her head and said something to Dou Zhao, who looked up at her and giggled, the small pure gold lilac pendants by her ears flickering like playful, lovely stars twinkling in the night sky.

Dou Shengying’s nose stung.

If Gu Qiu were still alive… how happy she would be!

He couldn’t help but crouch down and open his arms, calling out “Shou Gu” to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao looked up and saw Dou Shengying with his sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes.

She stood quietly beside Lady Ji and slowly called out “Father.”

The smile froze on Dou Shengying’s face, his arms seeming to bear a thousand-pound weight as they slowly dropped.

Lady Ji quickly pushed Dou Zhao and smiled, saying: “Your father is leaving tomorrow, he came specially to see you today.”

Dou Zhao pretended not to understand and curtsied to Dou Shengying, saying in a clear voice: “Have a safe journey, Father!”

Dou Shengying couldn’t help but smile.

Why was he taking issue with a child?

He smiled and stepped forward to pat his daughter’s head, saying: “Shou Gu, be good while staying with Sixth Aunt, understand?”

Dou Zhao smiled and nodded.

Dou Shengying bowed to Lady Ji: “I’ll have to trouble Sixth Sister-in-law to look after Shou Gu.”

Lady Ji hurriedly returned the bow: “Seventh Uncle is too polite. Shou Gu is well-behaved and sensible, we all like her very much.”

Dou Shengying smiled and took his leave.

Dou Shengheng moved to see him off.

But Dou Shengying stopped him: “Everyone needs to rise early tomorrow, no need to stand on ceremony.”

Dou Shengheng was a straightforward person. He smiled and waved to Dou Shengying: “Then we’ll see you tomorrow.”

Standing beside Lady Ji, they watched Dou Shengying leave.

Under the clear moon and fresh breeze, among the swaying branches, Dou Shengying’s figure looked lonely and desolate.

Dou Zhao turned her head away and pattered into the inner room…

Lady Gao stood on the steps of the east wing of Qixia Court. The heavy fragrance of jasmine flowers wafted over, and from the main room came Madam Pang’s coquettish laughter. It felt like needles stabbing her heart, so unbearable.

She immediately felt restless and couldn’t help but pace around the courtyard.

How did she end up being sisters-in-law with Madam Pang?

She had seen shameless people before, but never someone as shameless as Madam Pang. She had lost all face because of her.

She had always carried herself with dignity and propriety since childhood. No matter when, she had always been upright and fearless. When had she ever had to watch her step like now…

Lady Gao stood angrily in front of the corridor.

No matter what Wang Zhibing thought, she would return to Nanwa first thing tomorrow morning, then take their son to visit his father in the capital, never getting involved in this mess again.

If Wang Zhibing didn’t mind losing face, she certainly did!

Having made up her mind, she felt somewhat better, then saw a dark figure turn from the nearby grove.

She was startled. Looking closely, it was her husband Wang Zhibing.

He walked with his head down, stumbling, appearing absent-minded.

What had the Dou family’s Old Master said to him?

Lady Gao pondered, remembering how yesterday she had urged Wang Zhibing not to stay at the Dou family, saying they could stay anywhere for the night. Wang Zhibing hadn’t listened, and as a result, during breakfast today, the Dou family’s maids had looked at them as if they were poor relatives coming to beg. The anger had stayed stuck in her chest until the afternoon before gradually dissipating. Lady Gao didn’t want to pay attention to her husband.

She turned and went back to the side room.

Wang Zhibing looked at the dim yellow light spilling from the half-open door and couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

How could he not know that their staying here was improper? But if he didn’t stay here to keep Madam Pang in check, who knew what other outrageous things she might do?

He wondered who had acted as matchmaker for this marriage – they weren’t helping his family, they were harming them.

Yet his brother was weak and ineffective, completely under his wife’s thumb. As the elder brother-in-law, he couldn’t very well manage his sister-in-law over his brother’s head, could he?

Wang Zhibing entered the room with a splitting headache.

Lady Gao didn’t say a word to Wang Zhibing, silently preparing water for him to wash up.

Wang Zhibing knew that his family matters had caused his wife embarrassment and felt very apologetic. He pulled his wife’s sleeve and said mysteriously: “Do you know why the Dou Old Master called me over?”

Lady Gao responded perfunctorily: “What for?”

“The Dou Old Master asked me whether I wanted Father to be a virtuous minister remembered by history, or a short-lived upright minister?”

Lady Gao was shocked: “What else did the Dou family’s Old Master say to you?”

“He told me some things we didn’t know.” Wang Zhibing hesitated for a moment, then told Lady Gao about Zhao Guqiu’s death.

Lady Gao turned as white as snow, clutching her chest, her lips trembling. After a while, she shakily said: “Could, could there be a mistake?” But she suddenly remembered once when her mother-in-law said an old family friend’s daughter was getting married, and she had no money for a gift and didn’t want to go. It was only when she pawned her own gold hairpin that Wang Yingxue went to drink the wedding wine… Her heart had already half-believed it, and tears began falling uncontrollably: “What kind of sin is this!”

“I hadn’t expected this either.” Wang Zhibing’s eyes also reddened, “The Dou Old Master said if he hadn’t admired Father’s character, he would never have let Yingxue enter their family. He only meant to look after an old friend’s daughter, but never expected it would cause such trouble. The Old Master understands what Yingxue wants, but he also said that after the Zhao matter, the Zhao family would absolutely not agree to officially recognize Yingxue. You know too, without the Zhao family’s consent letter, even if the Dou family acknowledges Yingxue, it would be useless…”

For some reason, hearing these words made Lady Gao suddenly think of the phrase “diverting disaster eastward1.”

  1. This phrase means shifting blame or trouble onto someone else to protect yourself, like avoiding disaster by making it someone else’s problem. ↩︎

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