ATLAS TRANSLATES

In the evening,

Ji shi and Bi shi were sitting in the corridor enjoying the cool air.

“Is this Seventh Master’s eldest daughter?” Bi shi smiled at Dou Zhao, her gaze showing more curiosity than when looking at Dou Ming. “She’s truly beautiful.”

“Madam Wu is too kind,” Dou Zhao responded gracefully with a smile, then asked casually, “Where’s Qi Qi?”

Madam Wu smiled, “She went to Grand Madam’s place with Ming’er and the others.”

Dou Zhao smiled, “Grand Madam always has delicious treats, no wonder we all think of going there.”

“Indeed, indeed.” Madam Wu chatted with Dou Zhao for a while. Seeing that she had fulfilled the proper etiquette but had no chance to speak with Ji shi, Dou Zhao took her leave.

Caishu saw her out.

She met Wu Shan face to face.

Dou Zhao smiled and greeted him, “Fourth Brother Wu, why are you alone?”

Wu Shan smiled, “They’re all at the waterside pavilion discussing Pang Jixiu’s farewell party.”

Dou Zhao asked curiously, “Farewell?”

Perhaps proving the saying “your opponents understand you best,” Dou Zhao knew more about the Pang family’s affairs than her own family’s.

In her past life, Pang Jixiu had also studied at the Dou family school. After obtaining his xiucai, he inherited the family business, sold off the pawnshops and medicine shops, and focused on restaurants. Using the Wang family’s influence, he expanded his restaurants to the capital, becoming a notable figure in Beijing’s business circles.

Why was he suddenly leaving the Dou family in this life?

Wu Shan gestured to his servants to move away.

Dou Zhao and his servants all stepped back.

Wu Shan then whispered, “Master Du said that Pang Jixiu is older but his foundation is too weak. With Hui’er, Zhi’er, and Fourth Brother all preparing for examinations these next two years, he can’t dedicate special attention to Pang Jixiu. This would delay Pang Jixiu’s studies, so he recommended him to study at Jingyun School in the prefecture. He also said that Pang Kunbai doesn’t study diligently, ranking last in monthly assessments, and should have a private tutor at home.”

Dou Zhao smiled slightly.

In her past life, she had thought of the Pang family as flexible and informal. But in this life, she found their thick skin and low bearing had reached shameless levels. It was best to avoid dealing with them if possible.

However, this meant the Pang family could no longer stay at the Dou family school even if they wanted to!

Clearly, the Pang family’s fuss over Wang Yingxue’s elevation to wife status had given the Dou family quite a headache.

She smiled and asked Wu Shan, “Aren’t you taking the examinations?”

Wu Shan was the same age as Dou Dechang.

Wu Shan rubbed his head, “I’m not as confident as Eleventh Brother.”

Remembering that Wu Shan had become a jinshi in her past life, Dou Zhao smiled, “You should be able to pass the county examination.”

Wu Shan’s face instantly turned red, mumbling, “You… you really think I can…” His eyes were full of hope, as if her saying he could pass meant he definitely would.

Dou Zhao felt embarrassed.

In her past life, she had no real impression of Wu Shan, and didn’t know which year he had become a jinshi, let alone about his county or prefecture examinations. If he didn’t pass in this life, wouldn’t she have given him false hope?

But having said it, she could only press on, “Eleventh Brother and Twelfth Brother both say you study well, so I think you can do it.” She hoped he would pass the county examination.

Wu Shan grinned at her, looking extremely happy.

For some reason, Dou Zhao suddenly felt she had said something wrong.

She quickly changed the subject, “When will Pang Jixiu go to Jingyun School?”

“After the Mid-Autumn Festival,” Wu Shan smiled. “We’re planning to hold his farewell party at Jingfu Spring…”

As they stood in the middle of the courtyard talking back and forth, Bi shi looked up and saw through the half-open window lattice her son who had returned. He was staring unblinkingly at Dou Zhao, saying something that made her smile slightly, and her son grinned back foolishly, showing none of his usual cleverness and quick wit.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she glanced sideways at Ji shi.

Ji shi was instructing a little maid: “…Take out the plum wine from summer, send a jar to Old Madam, send a jar to Shou Gu. Send the rest to the tea and wine department to use at the family feast during Mid-Autumn Festival…”

Bi shi breathed a sigh of relief, chatted briefly with Ji shi, then took her leave. Back in the guest room, she called over her son’s personal maid: “Is Fourth Young Master very familiar with Fourth Miss from the West Mansion?”

The maid was startled, then carefully replied, “Fourth Miss grew up with Sixth Madam. Fourth Young Master gets along well with Eleventh and Twelfth Young Masters and often visits Sixth Madam’s quarters to play with them, occasionally running into Fourth Miss. He’s more familiar with her than with other young ladies of the Dou family.”

Seeing the maid’s cautious manner, Bi shi grew more suspicious.

She questioned all the servants attending her son, and the matter of Xianglu came out too.

Bi shi was so angry she couldn’t speak for a long while, and supported by her personal elderly maid, she went to her son’s wing.

Before entering the courtyard, she heard her son’s clear voice reading.

Bi shi was surprised.

Although her son was clever, he had never been one to study diligently.

When she entered the courtyard, it was quiet with no one in sight.

Bi shi lightened her footsteps.

Her son’s reading stopped, and a servant’s voice was heard: “Fourth Young Master, please take a rest! It’s getting late, you usually retire by this time…”

“I’m taking the examinations with Eleventh Brother and the others in a couple of years,” Wu Shan smiled. “If they all pass and I don’t, Shou Gu might think I’m completely stupid.”

The servant tried to persuade him further.

He smiled, “I must do better than the Dou family members no matter what.”

Bi shi smiled silently as she listened, and quietly told her elderly maid, “Let’s go back!” She left her son’s courtyard with light steps, instructing her personal maid, “Don’t let Fourth Young Master know about today’s matters.”

The elderly maid repeatedly agreed.

Meanwhile, Ji shi was somewhat worried and asked Wang mama: “What did Madam Wu’s side say?”

Wang mama told Ji shi how Bi shi had questioned Wu Shan’s servants and ordered them not to spread the word.

Ji shi’s expression relaxed.

Wang mama smiled, “Could it be that you think the Wu family’s Fourth Young Master and our Fourth Miss…”

Ji shi smiled, “Though the Wu family isn’t particularly wealthy or noble, they’ve been scholars for generations and maintain good manners. Both Master Wu and Madam Wu are people of high moral character. Given Shou Gu’s difficult fate, if she could marry into their family, she would surely receive Master and Madam Wu’s protection. That would be more reassuring than marrying far away to the capital.”

Wang mama knew Ji shi was referring to the Wei family of Jining Marquis, so she smiled, “After Third Old Master passed away, the Wei family didn’t even send the traditional three sacrificial animals. That marriage arrangement probably won’t happen.”

“Better that it doesn’t,” Ji shi smiled. “They’ll regret it when Shou Gu gets married.”

Wang mama thought of Dou Zhao’s thick dowry book and burst out laughing.

The mistress and servant chatted intimately for a while.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Pang Jixiu suddenly came to visit Dou Zhao.

Dou Shiying frowned and asked Wang Yingxue, “What is he here for?”

Wang Yingxue was also puzzled and hurried to see what was happening.

She soon returned carrying a carved red lacquer box: “He says it’s to thank Shou Gu for saving his life before. He’s going to study at Jingyun School in the prefecture, so he brought a gift to thank Shou Gu.”

Dou Shiying opened the box. Inside was a gilded kaleidoscope, a Western toy worth a thousand taels.

Wang Yingxue’s eyes turned red as she looked at it, forcing a smile, “Should we call Shou Gu to ask about this?”

Dou Shiying thought for a moment and said, “I’ll go ask.”

He went to the main room personally.

Dou Zhao played with the kaleidoscope for a while, then quietly told her father about their swimming incident at the countryside manor, adding, “…I also received a ‘Lengxiang Hall’ painting album from Zhi’er and a Shoushan stone from Fourth Brother Wu, but Pang Jixiu’s gift is more precious.” She reminded her father, “Please don’t tell anyone about this. They worked hard to keep it from the adults. If it gets out from me, they might avoid me like the plague in the future.”

Dou Shiying chuckled and promised, “I won’t tell anyone else.” Then he asked, “Wasn’t Concubine Cui frightened that day?”

“Yes,” Dou Zhao smiled. “Boys forget pain once wounds heal. I’m worried they’ll go swimming there again next year. Should we find a way to invite Concubine Cui to stay at home for a few days?”

Dou Shiying said, “We should invite Concubine Cui to stay for a few days. Also, we should mention it to Grand Madam before next summer.” He teased, “If they only hear about it next year, they probably won’t think you told, right?”

Dou Zhao giggled.

Wang Yingxue stood in the corridor of the main room, her mind in turmoil like a boiling pot.

Pang Jixiu kept sending strange little gifts, each quite valuable.

Unsolicited favors must hide ulterior motives.

As time passed, Dou Zhao grew suspicious but couldn’t understand Pang Jixiu’s intentions. She became wary of him and stored his gifts in a separate trunk, instructing Suqian to keep the key safe: “Don’t lose a single item.”

Suqian didn’t dare be careless. She strung the trunk key on a red cord and wore it around her neck day and night.

In November, they held the final mourning ceremony for Grandfather, and a month later, they removed their mourning clothes, just in time for the New Year.

Both East and West Dou mansions were decorated with lanterns and colored banners. Firecrackers and drums created a lively atmosphere.

Wu Shan gave Dou Zhao a rabbit lantern, while Pang Jixiu sent a colored glass revolving lantern depicting the Eight Immortals crossing the sea.

The lantern spun with a whooshing sound, flashing brilliant colors.

Dou Ming was fascinated and encouraged Shu’er, “Don’t you say sister treats you the best? Borrow it from her to play for a few days.”

For the first time, Dou Zhao refused Shu’er, saying, “This was given by someone else, it wouldn’t be right to pass it on. If you like it, I can have someone buy you one.”

“Never mind, never mind. I just wanted to borrow it for a few days.” Shu’er returned to the East Mansion with a red face, reproaching Dou Ming for making her ask for the lantern, “You knew it was given to Fourth Aunt by someone else, yet you still made me ask.”

Dou Ming sneered, “Weren’t all those previous things given to her by others? She never said ‘it wouldn’t be right to pass it on’ then. She clearly just doesn’t want to give it to you. Why are you getting angry at me because you couldn’t get the lantern!”

Shu’er burst into tears with a “wah.”

Yi’er scolded her: “You’re always coveting Fourth Aunt’s things, taking them and not returning them. If Fourth Aunt didn’t consider herself an elder and avoided confronting you, who else would indulge you like this? You don’t reflect on your mistakes when you do wrong, and you start wailing when someone says a few words. No wonder Fifth Aunt looks down on you!”