ATLAS TRANSLATES

The next morning after breakfast, Wang Zhibing bid farewell to Dou Duo: “…Father only instructed me to bring my sister back home. There are some matters he doesn’t know about yet, I need to speak with him first.”

During those years in the Northwest, Wang Zhibing not only attended to his father’s daily needs, fulfilling his duties as a son, but also helped his father organize books, copy official reports, and write letters to old friends, as his father couldn’t write for long periods due to torture in prison. He had grown accustomed to completing tasks his father gave him beautifully regardless of difficulties, without complaining or seeking praise.

The matter with Wang Yingxue was the same.

He thought that despite complications, he would ultimately be able to bring his sister back.

But now, things had strayed far from the original direction, and he no longer had the authority to make decisions.

Dou Duo smiled: “That’s appropriate.”

He personally escorted Wang Zhibing to the door.

Turning back, he overheard Wang Zhibing’s servant quietly reporting to him about someone’s arrival.

Wang Zhibing’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and he hurried away.

Dou Duo’s interest was piqued, and he quietly instructed Du An: “Go see what’s happening!”

Du An left immediately.

After about the time it takes to burn two incense sticks, he returned to report: “It was one of Master Wang’s attendants. From his accent, it seemed he was saying Master Wang is to take up an official post in Gansu, and Young Master Wang should leave immediately for Xi’an…”

Dou Duo suddenly stood up from his chair.

“Could it be that His Majesty is planning to open the horse market?” He frowned, looking toward Qixia Court.

At the same time, Second Madam also received the news.

She fingered the letter in her hand, pondered for a while, then called for her personal servant Liu Mama: “It’s boring staying at home all day, let’s visit Sixth Madam.”

Liu Mama quickly agreed with a smile. She helped Second Madam get ready, arranged for the maids and servants to attend her, helped her into a small bamboo sedan chair, and personally held a blue silk oil-paper umbrella as they went to visit Ji Shi.

Ji Shi was having a private conversation with Wang Mama: “…Opening the horse market has both advantages and disadvantages. Grand Secretary Zeng is newly promoted. Even if he has such plans, he should proceed gradually. Otherwise, one misstep could lead to total failure. It seems too hasty.”

She continued, “However, this move is clever. Everyone knows Master Wang is determined to open the horse market. Even if those below oppose it, thinking of Master Wang’s determination, they will likely reconsider and the situation might improve quickly.”

Hearing that Second Madam had arrived, both were surprised. They exchanged glances, and Ji Shi led Wang Mama to greet her with smiles.

Second Madam’s eyes swept around the room and she smiled: “Where is Shou Gu?”

Ji Shi’s eyelid twitched slightly, and she smiled: “Hui’er has already started learning the Analects, and Zhi’er has been reading with me for two days. He’s been in school for just a few days but has almost finished the Three Character Classic, much faster than other children his age at the clan school. I worry they might become too proud. It’s fine for now, but if this continues, they’ll only become arrogant and self-satisfied. I need to find a way to quietly temper their spirits.”

She linked arms with Second Madam and continued, “As for Shou Gu, I’m afraid I can’t attend to everything. But having accepted the responsibility, I must fulfill it faithfully. I noticed she used to practice writing with Seventh Uncle daily, so I found her a calligraphy copybook and kept her at home to practice. This follows the Western Residence’s rules and also prevents her from running around and getting hurt, which I wouldn’t be able to explain to Seventh Uncle.”

Second Madam nodded repeatedly, setting aside the matter of Dou Zhao and asking carefully about her two grandsons’ studies.

While helping Second Madam settle in the hall, Ji Shi told her about the boys’ progress at school. Second Madam was so pleased her eyes narrowed to slits, and she kept patting Ji Shi’s hand: “It’s all thanks to your good teaching, all thanks to your good teaching.” Then she sighed, “Among all the Dou family’s daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law, some might be more eloquent than you, some might be better at serving their husbands and children, but when it comes to educating children, if you claim to be second, no one would dare claim to be first!”

This praise made Ji Shi break out in a cold sweat. She had wanted to extract herself from this mess, but in just a few words, Madam had drawn her back in. Those who understood knew Madam was setting her up to eventually take in the children from the Western Residence to raise. Those who didn’t might think she was being arrogant due to her background as a descendant of a famous Jiangnan family, looking down on the other Dou family wives.

If both her sons passed the imperial examinations earlier than others, that would be fine, but if any other family’s son became a jinshi before Hui’er and Zhi’er, she would never hear the end of the mockery.

She couldn’t tell if her mother-in-law was elevating her status or putting her in a difficult position.

Fortunately, Second Madam didn’t dwell on this topic and said she wanted to see Dou Zhao, so they all went to the study.

Dou Zhao was sitting at the desk practicing calligraphy. Despite Tuo Niang and Cai Lan helping fan her, her small face was flushed, and her nose was covered in sweat.

Sensing people entering, she still finished her final stroke before looking up.

Seeing it was Second Madam, she smiled, handed her brush to the serving girl Haitang, let Tuo Niang help her down from the chair, and greeted Second Madam.

Second Madam chuckled and said to those around her: “Look at this little one, after just a few days with Sixth Madam, she’s become as proper as a little adult.”

Everyone laughed along.

A trace of helplessness flashed in Ji Shi’s eyes.

Dou Zhao looked at Second Madam with an ambiguous smile.

In her previous life, when her father had unknowingly married Wang Yingxue and the two families became in-laws, Fifth Uncle had become Wang Yingxue’s biggest supporter in the Dou family to gain Wang Xingyi’s support. She had become like an irritating grain of sand, and wanting to grow up peacefully, preferably without catching Wang Yingxue’s eye, she had been sent to live with her grandmother at the mountain villa.

In this life, Wang Yingxue had become her father’s concubine, and Fifth Uncle, to make Wang Xingyi submit, wanted to use her against Wang Yingxue. She had become the Dou family’s darling, and to keep control over her, Second Madam wanted to raise her in the Eastern Residence, keep her close by.

In the space of one life, death, and thought, her life had completely turned upside down!

It was laughably ironic…

In mid-July, her father and Sixth Uncle safely reached the capital and each sent back a letter reporting their safe arrival.

Meanwhile, in Ganquan County of Yan’an Prefecture, Zhao Si received a note from his niece Dou Zhao.

He angrily crumpled the note and threw it to the ground: “The Dou family goes too far! I want to see how they’ll arrange this marriage between the two families without my letter of consent!”

Madam Zhao entered quietly, saw the crumpled paper in the middle of the study, bent down to pick it up, slowly unfolded it, smoothed it out, and placed it on her husband’s desk.

“I just asked the messenger,” she poured Zhao Si some tea and said softly, “Dou Shiying has gone to the capital for the provincial examinations. He left Shou Gu in Sixth Madam’s care, and they were clerks from Ji Shi’s shop.”

“You mean?” Zhao Si’s gaze fell on the wrinkled note he had crumpled.

“Shou Gu is just a five-year-old child who can barely hold a brush,” Madam Zhao said. “How would she know what should and shouldn’t be said?”

Zhao Si’s eyes suddenly became bright and sharp: “You’re saying this letter was written by Sixth Madam using Shou Gu’s name?”

“We don’t know for sure yet,” Madam Zhao said carefully. “I just feel these few sentences carry deep meaning.”

Zhao Si calmed down and sat at his desk. He held up the note with its few short lines to the sunlight…

Wang Xingyi was of medium height, and the torture in prison and ten years of exile had given him early gray hair and made him appear haggard and old.

Now wearing coarse hemp clothing as he stood before the flower bed, if not for the bright intelligence in his eyes when they opened and closed, he would have looked like an elderly farmer in his dying years.

“Dou Duo,” he muttered, “he’s forcing me to… have Yingxue put to death!”

Wang Zhibing was shocked, breaking out in a cold sweat.

“Father,” he cried out, “You wouldn’t…”

Wang Xingyi glared fiercely at his son: “I, Wang Xingyi, may have failed to properly educate my daughter, but doesn’t the Dou family bear any responsibility? They say Yingxue caused Zhao Shi’s death – did Yingxue defy her? Did she put poison in her bowl? If they didn’t want Yingxue to enter their house, Zhao Shi could have simply refused. Could Yingxue have entered the Dou family without her agreement? Once she agreed to let Yingxue in, Zhao Shi should have maintained proper relations between wife and concubine – managing what needed to be managed, punishing what needed to be punished, rewarding what needed to be rewarded. Instead she put on such airs. Was she going to die every time Dou Wanyuan took a concubine? Who really caused Zhao Shi’s death – was it Dou Wanyuan or your sister? I think that’s still debatable. Don’t just believe everything you hear! She’s your sister, the one who helped feed you, clothe you, and care for your wife and children!”

Wang Zhibing was struck silent.

But Wang Xingyi was still furious and continued: “If Yingxue was wrong, then let her face the consequences. As her father, I won’t make excuses, and I can guarantee Yingxue won’t make excuses either. But if Dou Duo wants to pin Zhao Shi’s death on Yingxue, I absolutely won’t agree to that.”

Wang Zhibing couldn’t help but smile bitterly and said: “Father, that’s not what I meant. I just feel that Yingxue’s behavior is somewhat inappropriate…”

“Wenwei, I’ve failed you all!” Wang Xingyi called out his eldest son’s courtesy name, his expression suddenly dejected.

“You were clever and bright from a young age, yet today you still haven’t even earned a xiucai degree. Your brother grew up under others’ cold stares, becoming timid and weak, without a strong spirit. Your sister had to make a living in public from a young age – how could she compare to the pure-hearted young ladies raised in their parents’ palms? I know all this, I know all this,” he turned his face away, not wanting his son to see his wet eyes.

“A general’s success is built on countless bones. For my own sake, I’ve harmed you all!” He suddenly turned back, his gaze fierce as an eagle’s as he stared at Wang Zhibing. “If you’ve done wrong, I’m willing to compensate others a thousand or ten thousand times over. But if they want me to sacrifice you all for my own reputation, they’ll have to take my life first!”

His powerful voice echoed in the flower garden.

Wang Zhibing fell to his knees before his father with a thud, tears instantly blurring his vision: “Father, it’s not your fault. We’re the ones who’ve failed you, bringing shame to your name…”