ATLAS TRANSLATES

At this moment, Wu Shan’s intentions were laid bare, forcing Dou Zhao to face them solemnly.

After her rebirth, she would occasionally think about her future. Should she start anew? Or should she continue with her marriage to Wei Tingyu?

Marrying Wei Tingyu meant experiencing everything all over again. Though there would be no surprises, there would also be nothing to worry about.

Starting fresh, no matter how promising a new marriage might appear, would come with its own set of problems. Marrying someone else wouldn’t necessarily be better than being with Wei Tingyu.

The more she thought about it, the more tangled it became.

Until one day, half of the West Dou family’s assets were transferred to her name. Moreover, her uncle and the Dou family had agreed that after she turned thirty, she could freely manage this half of the property.

Suddenly, something stirred in her heart.

In her previous life, she had no choice but to marry. But in this life, she had her uncle to rely on, money to support herself, and the Dou family’s conflicts to leverage — why must she marry?

Wouldn’t it be better to live freely and unburdened, occasionally making up for the regrets of her past life?

In that instant, she seemed to see a new world opening up before her. Her entire being became energized, and her future seemed to become clear and visible.

She appreciated Wu Shan’s kindness but wouldn’t accept it.

However, now wasn’t the time for rejection.

Firstly, Wu Shan hadn’t made his intentions explicit, so there was nothing to reject. Secondly, the Wu family had strict rules, and their elders might not approve of Wu Shan marrying someone like her. It wasn’t clear whether Wu Shan would persist or give up when the time came. If she jumped to conclusions now, it might seem presumptuous and make her look foolish.

Since Wu Shan mentioned the revolving lantern that Pang Jixiu had given her, she might as well use this opportunity to send Pang Jixiu a message through Wu Shan. This would also prevent Pang Jixiu from buzzing around like a mosquito, constantly showing up whether there was business or not, which was incredibly annoying.

“Who said I liked revolving lanterns?” Dou Zhao smiled.

“But I heard,” Wu Shan looked at Dou Zhao’s eyes, which were particularly bright with honesty, becoming somewhat uncertain, “that you received a revolving lantern and wouldn’t even give it to Miss Shu when she asked for it…”

Dou Zhao laughed and said, “Actually, this is all your fault.”

Wu Shan was puzzled.

Dou Zhao explained, “Because of the swimming incident, Pang Jixiu keeps sending things every few days to thank me. This revolving lantern was one of his gifts. Though our families are related by marriage, we don’t share the same principles. How could I accept his things? I wanted to return them but didn’t know how. I can only keep what he sends until I find an opportunity to return them — if I gave his gifts to others, what would I return to him later?”

Hearing this, Wu Shan couldn’t help but break into a grin: “Fourth Sister makes sense.” Then he eagerly added, “How about I help you return it to Pang Jixiu?”

“How could I trouble you with that!” Dou Zhao hinted, “I should ask Bo Yan to help me return it to Pang Jixiu!”

She didn’t want Wu Shan to misunderstand that her rejection of Pang Jixiu had anything to do with him. She also feared Wu Shan might mess things up and damage her reputation, or worse, cause unnecessary drama. Bo Yan had a good reputation and had come of age this year, plus she had the impression of his competence from her previous life. She trusted him more than the thirteen-year-old Wu Shan to handle this matter.

However, Wu Shan seemed not to understand, quickly saying, “It’s no trouble at all, let me help you return it!”

Dou Zhao just smiled at him without speaking.

Wu Shan’s face immediately turned red, and he whispered like a mosquito, “Then, then I’ll go tell Bo Yan.” He appeared quite eager.

Seeing that he completely missed her rejection, Dou Zhao was even more determined not to let him get involved. Just as she was about to say something harsh to discourage him, Dou Dechang and Dou Qijun walked out together.

“I was wondering why you hadn’t returned,” Dou Dechang smiled, “so you ran into Fourth Sister.”

Dou Qijun, being older and recently engaged, had already grown suspicious when he couldn’t find the book he was looking for. Now seeing Wu Shan’s blushing face, he vaguely understood and glanced at Dou Zhao.

However, Dou Zhao maintained a perfectly calm expression, showing no signs of anything unusual.

This made him doubt his intuition.

Wu Shan, already feeling guilty, became even more flustered at Dou Dechang’s words. Trying to clear himself, he hurriedly said, “Fourth Sister asked us for help… that Pang Jixiu keeps using the swimming incident as an excuse to send her gifts, saying they’re thank-you gifts…” His words became increasingly jumbled.

Dou Zhengchang and Dou Qijun’s expressions immediately changed dramatically.

Especially Dou Qijun, who knew that one careless move in this matter could ruin Dou Zhao’s entire life, quickly said, “Fourth Uncle Wu, please stop there. Some things shouldn’t be spoken of carelessly.”

Wu Shan jolted to his senses, immediately realizing his thoughtless words, and didn’t dare look at Dou Zhao.

Dou Qijun had no time to notice these details and hurriedly said, “Twelfth Uncle, please watch the entrance.” Then he lowered his voice to ask Dou Zhao, “What exactly happened? Besides sending things, did he send anything else? Who delivered these things? Are these people trustworthy?”

Seeing that he immediately grasped the key points, Dou Zhao let out a long sigh of relief and explained everything to Dou Qijun, finally saying, “I never directly accepted anything, except for some small items. There wasn’t anything else. I just didn’t know how to tell others about this…”

“I understand,” Dou Qijun’s mind worked quickly. With a grim expression, he said, “That Pang Jixiu is related to your stepmother by marriage. Don’t worry about this matter anymore, just pretend you don’t know about it. I’ll handle it.”

Of course, this wasn’t the reason why Dou Zhao had been tolerating Pang Jixiu.

She just hadn’t figured out Pang Jixiu’s intentions yet.

It was Wu Shan’s appearance that reminded her.

Some things required not only memories from her previous life but also trust in her current intuition.

Dou Zhao nodded repeatedly.

Dou Qijun sent Dou Dechang and Wu Shan back first, then went to see Dou Shiying.

About half an hour later, Dou Shiying, with an ashen face, came with Dou Qijun to the main room and asked Dou Zhao, “Where are the things?”

Dou Zhao had Su Juan open the trunk.

Dou Shiying took one look, called two servants to come in, and left with Dou Qijun carrying the trunk.

Only Dou Zhao and two bewildered maids remained in the room.

Dou Shiying was so angry he paced back and forth in the room for a long while before finally questioning her, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Dou Zhao said, “I didn’t want to cause a scene and let people laugh at us.”

Dou Shiying’s eyes reddened slightly, and he flicked his sleeve, heading towards the door.

Dou Zhao called out “Father”: “You’re planning to discuss this with Madam, aren’t you? If Madam says that since things have come to this point, I might as well marry Pang Jixiu…”

“He must be out of his mind!” Dou Shiying exploded in rage.

Dou Zhao sneered, “The Pang family might not be that bold, but they’re shameless enough to make trouble.”

Dou Shiying paused slightly.

Dou Zhao said, “Let Bo Yan handle this matter. I trust he can handle it well.” Then she added, “When are you going to the capital? I’d like to invite Aunt Cui to stay with me before you leave.”

Dou Shiying was stunned.

Dou Zhao explained, “There’s Wu Shan at the East Mansion. I can’t stay with Sixth Aunt anymore. Here, with Madam in charge, who knows what dirty tricks the Pang family might try? The farm estate is simple-minded, things left on the road aren’t even picked up, and there isn’t even a guard — it’s even less safe…”

“No need,” before she could finish, her father interrupted with veins bulging on his forehead. “You stay properly at home, and I’d like to see who dares to touch even a hair on your head.” With that, he stormed off.

Dou Zhao was very doubtful of her father’s ability to handle matters. She decided that regardless of whether her father agreed or not, if he went to the capital, she would use this incident as an excuse to have grandmother move in for a while. This might help grandmother escape her fate. As for Pang Jixiu, if he still dared to have designs on her, she had ways to deal with him.

Soon after, Dou Ming was brought to the main room by two elderly maids.

As soon as Dou Ming’s feet touched the ground, she lifted her skirts and tried to run outside.

With one look from Dou Zhao, the maids blocked her.

She bared her teeth and clawed at Dou Zhao, “It’s all your fault! It’s all your fault! You’re the one who provoked Father and Mother to fight!”

The elderly maids who brought Dou Ming immediately held her back.

Compared to Wang Yingxue and Dou Ming, the servants of the household cared more about Dou Zhao’s feelings.

Dou Zhao instructed Hai Tang: “Have her copy ‘The Precepts for Women’ ten times. She can eat when she’s finished.”

Hai Tang acknowledged, and the two elderly maids carried the shouting Dou Ming to the back warm room — Dou Zhao had ordered that Wang Yingxue and Dou Ming were not allowed in her study.

Dou Zhao casually picked up a book and began reading, leaning against the large window cushion.

Half an hour later, Dou Shiying walked in with an unhappy expression.

Seeing Dou Zhao reading, he asked, “Where’s Ming’er?”

“She’s copying books in the warm room,” Dou Zhao stood up and poured tea for her father.

Dou Shiying drank a few sips of hot tea, his expression softening slightly. He went to check on Dou Ming.

Dou Ming was crying while copying ‘The Precepts for Women’, with Hai Tang holding fruits and two elderly maids attending to her.

Dou Shiying quietly retreated from the warm room and pulled Dou Zhao aside: “Come, let’s go see where we should plant those two ginkgo trees?”

Dou Zhao accompanied Dou Shiying to the east wing courtyard.

In the evening, Wang Yingxue served dinner to Dou Shiying and his daughter with a stiff smile.

Dou Ming, who was only released after completing ten copies of ‘The Precepts for Women’, immediately threw herself into Wang Yingxue’s arms upon seeing her. While calling out “Mother” through tears, she secretly watched Dou Shiying and Dou Zhao’s expressions.

Dou Shiying remained expressionless, while Dou Zhao acted as if she didn’t see anything.

Dou Ming’s heart sank continuously, and she wisely swallowed her complaints.

Wang Yingxue hugged her daughter briefly and, with a forced smile, quietly instructed Dou Ming to sit properly, then helped her with a bowl of noodles with shredded meat.

Dou Shiying was determined not to speak with Wang Yingxue.

After dinner, he played Go with Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao had no interest in getting involved in the conflict between him and Wang Yingxue. After one game, she started yawning: “Let Gaosheng play with you, I’m going to bed.” She covered her mouth and made her unclear farewell, returning to her room.

While Hai Tang helped her prepare for bed, she whispered, “The Seventh Master asked the Seventh Madam if she knew about Pang Jixiu sending you the lantern, and when the Seventh Madam said she knew, the Seventh Master scolded her severely. The Seventh Madam was very upset and said the gifts were for you, how could she stop them? The Seventh Master then accused the Seventh Madam of colluding with the Pang family, which made the Seventh Madam cry. The Fifth Miss heard the commotion and ran over, so the Seventh Master had two rough-working maids bring the Fifth Miss here…”

“Alright, I understand,” Dou Zhao responded uninterestedly as she got into bed.

Such matters were indeed better left to Dou Qijun to handle.