ATLAS TRANSLATES

The Du family held a prominent position in Zhending.

People seeking help came in droves, like fish crossing a river. However, a single tree cannot make a forest.

For the Du family to firmly establish roots and prosper in this place, they needed to network not only with local officials and wealthy gentry from surrounding areas but also deal with ruffians and idle gangs.

When ordinary matters came seeking help, as long as it didn’t harm the Du’s interests, they would help if they could. Even when they couldn’t help directly, they would provide some silver for emergencies.

This is how they earned their current reputation for benevolence and charity.

She was just a sheltered young lady. Why would this girl, if she had a grievance, come to her instead of seeking out Third Uncle who managed household affairs or Third Cousin who frequently conducted business outside?

Either this girl wasn’t telling the truth, or this was a matter the Du family found inconvenient to handle.

She instructed Haitang: “Ignore her. Let’s return home.”

Just because someone blocked her way, did she have to stop and confront them?

This was Haitang’s first time encountering such a situation. She was trembling with fear as she lifted the curtain and called out loudly to the cart driver, then moved closer to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but sigh quietly when she saw this.

All her old connections from her previous life had been reestablished. In a few years, Cui would help manage her fields, Zhao Liangbi would assist with business dealings. She could rest easy about external affairs, but as for internal matters… Ganlu and Sujuan couldn’t be truly close to her heart, and Haitang and the others weren’t capable enough. It seemed she would need to put in more effort.

Just as she was thinking this, she heard the girl blocking the cart say: “Fourth Young Miss, I kowtow to you, please save my father! I’ll set up an ancestral tablet for you, I’ll serve you like an ox or horse to repay you… They said if the Du family would just vouch that my father wasn’t collaborating with bandits, he could be released immediately… Please just say a word to Master Lu…” As she spoke, she burst into loud sobs.

Those cries were heartbreaking, moving anyone who heard them to pity.

Dou Zhao frowned and said to Haitang: “Tell her to stop crying. Take her to see Third Uncle.”

Haitang acknowledged and got down from the cart.

But the young girl clutched tightly to the cart shaft, refusing to let go. “I’ve already begged Third Master, but he said the evidence was conclusive… My father was clearly framed… It was all because of that fat Shan Jie, who wanted my sister as his concubine. When my sister refused, he falsely accused my father to force him to sell my sister to him… Fourth Young Miss, I’m not lying to you! If I’m lying, may heaven strike me with lightning and kill me! No, if I speak even one false word, may I never be reborn in my next life…”

To make such a vicious oath!

Dou Zhao was moved.

Regardless of whether this girl’s father was falsely accused or not, at least in this girl’s heart, her father was innocent.

How many children in this world, due to filial devotion, always believe their father to be an upright gentleman of high moral character, when in reality they are despicable villains who commit all manner of evil…

For some reason, she suddenly felt stifled. Taking a deep breath, she spoke gently to the girl blocked outside the cart curtain: “You say your father was framed, yet you also say my Third Uncle claims there is ‘conclusive evidence’ against your father. Who should I believe?”

The girl was startled, then quickly replied: “Fourth Young Miss, if I can find evidence, will you help vouch for my father?”

This girl was quite clever, quickly grasping the implications.

But unfortunately, since even Third Uncle said the evidence against her father was “conclusive,” this wouldn’t be easy to resolve!

Dou Zhao pondered: “Who is Shan Jie?”

“He’s the only son of Master Shan from Zhending Prefecture,” the girl hurriedly explained. “Master Shan used to be the Magistrate of Songjiang. Their family is very wealthy. My father runs a martial arts school. One of his students, Chen Xiaofeng, works as a guard at Master Shan’s house. Last year during my father’s birthday celebration, Chen Xiaofeng came to offer birthday wishes. Shan Jie had nothing better to do and came along. My father treated him to good food and wine, but he set his sights on my sister. How could my father agree to let my sister become someone’s concubine? Shan Jie felt he lost face. Just then, a household in Zhending was robbed. He falsely accused the robber of being my father’s friend, claiming my father had tipped off the robber and later arranged transport for his escape. My father knew he had offended Shan Jie, so he sold our ancestral property and gathered three thousand taels of silver to give to Shan Jie. But Shan Jie took the money and still wouldn’t drop the matter, insisting my father give my sister to him as a concubine. How could my father bear to let my sister be Shan Jie’s concubine? Even when he kowtowed and apologized in front of everyone, Shan Jie wouldn’t agree to speak up for my father…” The girl began crying again. “Fourth Young Miss, I really haven’t lied to you! If you don’t believe me, you can ask anyone in Zhending Prefecture, everyone knows about this matter… Neighbor Chen said that Master Lu used to be the magistrate of Zhending County, so the Du family must have some influence with him. That’s why I secretly came here, but I didn’t expect Third Master Du would refuse to help.” As she spoke, she knelt down again and started kowtowing to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao’s expression darkened slightly.

Since Master Shan had been the Magistrate of Songjiang, the Du family must have had dealings with him.

No wonder Third Uncle was unwilling to get involved.

Dou Zhao was beginning to believe the girl’s story.

In her two lifetimes, even though she had lived in the capital in her previous life and heard of many false accusations and wrongful cases, this was the first time she had encountered such a case of bullying and forcing someone to become a concubine.

As a woman herself, she was very angry about this.

Dou Zhao had Haitang help the girl up, and asked thoughtfully: “How did you find me?”

The girl replied nervously: “When Third Master Du wouldn’t help me, I had to ask around about who might be able to speak to him. Someone mentioned you, saying you’re not only elegant and beautiful, but also steady and generous, and most willing to help others. Not only does the Old Madam of the Du family love you like a precious pearl, but all the other madams are very fond of you too, so I thought to ask for your help…” she mumbled.

Dou Zhao frowned.

Was this really describing her?

She felt she was cold-hearted – if that oil bottle hadn’t fallen right in front of her blocking her path, she wouldn’t have even helped pick it up…

However, since Third Uncle was unwilling to step forward, this matter must have some impact on the Du family. She couldn’t just take this on herself based on a surge of righteous indignation.

“You should know that even if you find me, I may not be able to help you,” Dou Zhao said, lifting the cart curtain to reveal a face still bearing traces of childish youth.

The girl standing beside Haitang appeared to be only twelve or thirteen years old, with dark skin, thick eyebrows and large eyes. She had a sturdy build and wore a clove-colored lined jacket made of fine cotton. At first glance, she looked like a boy.

What did her sister look like, Dou Zhao wondered fleetingly.

The girl had already jumped up: “You… you’re so young?”

The respectful “you” had changed to a casual one.

Dou Zhao instead became curious: “Didn’t you inquire clearly about me before coming to find me?”

The girl sheepishly replied: “When I heard them speak of you so respectfully, I thought you must have already come of age…” Then her spirit lifted as she said, “Fourth Young Miss, if you can’t intervene directly, could you ask the Du family elders to speak to Third Master Du on my father’s behalf? I can go see Third Master Du again.” Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she quickly added, “This time when I go see Third Master Du, I won’t go empty-handed. Instead, I’ll have a lawyer write up the evidence you mentioned and bring it to Third Master Du. When he sees it, he might change his mind!”

At such a young age, it was remarkable how quick-witted she was, immediately thinking of another approach when one failed, and seizing every opportunity.

Dou Zhao secretly praised her.

This reminded her of when she first arrived at the Jining Marquis’s mansion. Seeing that spring had only brought two rains, she suspected there would be a drought in the capital. Knowing that Marquis Xuanning Guo Haiqing’s brother-in-law worked in the Canal Transport Governor’s office, she visited Madam Guo several times and convinced her to jointly invest in grain trading. They made a huge profit, which gave her the leverage to prevent Wei Tingzhen from interfering in the Jining household affairs.

She felt some sympathy for this young girl.

“What’s your father’s name?” she asked the girl. “Where is your family’s martial arts school? What’s it called?”

“My father’s surname is Bie, given name Dayong, courtesy name Gangyi,” the girl replied. “The martial arts school is in our home, on East Lane Street in the east part of the city. It’s called the Bie Family Martial Arts School – you’ll find it if you just ask around when you enter the city.” She added, “My name is Sulan.”

Dou Zhao pointed at Haitang: “You can find her when the time comes.”

When Bie Sulan heard this, her face lit up with joy, her small eyes curving like crescent moons. She quickly took Haitang’s hand, sweetly calling her “sister” and asking her name.

Her joy was evident not just to Dou Zhao, but even to the servant women following the cart.

Bie Sulan respectfully kowtowed three times to Dou Zhao: “Fourth Young Miss, I will never forget your great kindness for the rest of my life.”

Dou Zhao smiled slightly at her, then returned to the West Mansion and summoned Zhao Liangbi, saying: “Go to Zhending Prefecture and inquire about the Bie Family Martial Arts School matter. Report back to me as quickly as possible.”

Zhao Liangbi acknowledged and withdrew.

Dou Zhao went to Sixth Aunt’s place as if nothing had happened, but unexpectedly encountered Wu Shan there.

He smiled and explained: “There were some things in the teacher’s lecture I didn’t quite understand, so I’ve been pondering them at home these past few days. Fourth Sister, why are you coming so late today?”

She had specifically chosen the time when he would be at school to visit Sixth Aunt, to avoid him.

“I ran into something,” Dou Zhao smiled and said, “Fourth Brother Wu will be taking the examinations next year, I wonder how your preparations are going?”

“Not bad!” Wu Shan smiled, appearing very confident.

After exchanging a few more casual words, Wu Shan returned to the east wing room.

She had lunch at Ji shi’s place and took an afternoon nap, then Ji shi and Dou Zhao returned to West Du together.

The original orchid seedlings Dou Zhao had ordered arrived, and she had been busy handling them these past few days.

Ji shi helped her, carefully planting the sun-softened orchid roots in pots.

Grandmother watched from the side, occasionally getting water for them to wash their hands.

Everyone chatted and laughed, then went to look at the few thriving camellia plants. It wasn’t until dark that Ji shi finally took her leave.

Zhao Liangbi, who had been waiting outside all this time, finally came in to report to Dou Zhao: “…Shan Jie has said that as long as Bie Gangyi is willing to sell his daughter to him as a concubine, he will immediately step forward to vouch for Bie Gangyi. But Bie Gangyi refuses no matter what, and I heard he’s been beaten until he can barely breathe. I specially changed clothes to go see him in prison, and the rumors are true. I think if no one vouches for him, he only has a few days left.”

A flash of anger appeared in Dou Zhao’s eyes as she asked: “Does Bie Gangyi actually have anything to do with that case?”