ATLAS TRANSLATES

The young man’s heart was like crystal – pure and transparent, offering his fearless sincerity and courage openly before Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao felt deeply moved, and suddenly found herself unable to meet his gaze directly.

She stood up, slightly turning her body to block that gaze, and smiled at Wu Ya: “Between sisters, there’s no need for such formality.” Then she kindly asked, “Do you prefer playing Go or Backgammon? Why don’t we play a game?”

Wu Ya let out a long breath.

She had been too rude earlier. With her brother’s close friends present, even if her brother’s words hadn’t moved her, she should have apologized to Dou Zhao just to save her brother’s face. She had always thought of Dou Zhao as someone who wouldn’t let things go easily, and she had prepared herself to endure any mockery or sarcasm without talking back. Unexpectedly, Dou Zhao had given her a graceful way out.

“I like playing Backgammon,” she smiled and nodded. Dou Pinzhu quickly called for servants to set up the game board, and sat nearby watching the game while resting her chin on her hand.

Wu Shan let out a relieved sigh, but suddenly someone slapped his shoulder heavily: “Well done! I underestimated you before.”

He turned around to see Dou Qijun standing behind him.

“I told you I would handle things properly,” Wu Shan smiled, his smile growing increasingly bright.

They returned to the Dou residence when the lanterns were being lit.

The large red lanterns hanging on bamboo poles outside the gate illuminated the surroundings brightly. The theater troupe on stage had changed, but the performance continued, with crowds of spectators blocking the main gate completely.

Dou Qijun and the others entered through the side gate.

Wu Shan escorted his sister to the guest room.

Madam Wu sat on a wooden couch covered with a cooling mat in front of the hall, waiting for them.

Seeing her two children return, she smiled and asked, “Did you have fun today?”

Wu Ya nodded happily: “I played chess in the pavilion on the back mountain, and Twelfth Brother even drew a portrait of me.” Then she had the maid bring the painting to show Madam Wu.

“Does it look like me?” she giggled while holding her mother’s arm.

In the painting, the young lady wore a light yellow summer dress with a white magnolia flower in her hair, standing gracefully beside a Taihu rock.

Wu Ya pointed at the Taihu rock and said, “This is the same rock behind Sixth Aunt’s room.”

“Yes!” Madam Wu nodded approvingly, “It’s painted beautifully.”

“Twelfth Brother said when he has free time in a few days, he’ll paint me in spring, autumn, and winter scenes too, making a complete set of four seasons…” Wu Ya chattered on. Wu Shan couldn’t get a private word with his mother even until he left the guest room.

He felt deeply frustrated.

Madam Wu frowned: “For the sake of the Dou family’s fourth young lady, you even scolded your own sister?”

Maid Bi quickly tried to mediate: “The Dou family’s young masters and ladies were all present, and the seventh young lady’s voice was indeed a bit loud. The fourth young master was just considering the bigger picture…”

Before she could finish speaking…

Maid Bi dared not say more and quietly retreated.

Madam Wu tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Although marriage was arranged by parents and matchmakers, which parent doesn’t hope for their children’s happiness and prosperity?

She thought about how her son had always liked to be around Dou Zhao since childhood, but only told her about it after becoming a top scholar. His persistence and patience were all for this day – he was determined to marry Dou Zhao! Then she thought about her own youth… and couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

Dou Zhao naturally didn’t know everything Wu Shan had done for her.

After returning home and washing off the dust, she went to pay respects to her grandmother.

Grandmother had already asked someone to make mung bean soup and cool it in the well. She quickly asked Hong Gu to pour a bowl for Dou Zhao, saying, “That ice is too cold and isn’t good to have too much. The well-cooled version is gentler.” Then she sat behind Dou Zhao, fanning her, and asked, “Did Wu family’s seventh young lady go too? Did you play backgammon together?”

Dou Zhao understood her grandmother’s intentions, but she had resolved not to marry.

The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

Not wanting to sadden her grandmother, she smiled and said, “We don’t get along well. She gets along better with Yi’er.”

Grandmother sighed, her disappointment evident.

Wu Shan’s face floated through Dou Zhao’s mind.

She shook her head, and the fleeting image quickly dispersed.

Dou Zhao lay on the cooling bed that gave off bamboo fragrance and quickly fell asleep.

Early the next morning, Madam Wu emerged from her inner chamber with dark circles under her eyes.

Wu Shan and Wu Ya, who came to pay their respects, were startled and anxiously called out “Mother.”

“It’s nothing,” Madam Wu rubbed her temples and said, “It was just too noisy outside.”

The opera had been performing for three days and three nights continuously.

Wu Shan obediently massaged his mother’s temples.

But his mother said: “No need. Go handle whatever business you have. Having A-Qi here with me is enough.”

Wu Shan well understood the principle of not rushing things. He smiled and agreed, gave Maid Bi a meaningful look, and left the hall.

Wu Ya happily threw herself into her mother’s embrace.

Madam Wu stroked her hair and smiled, “You go play with your friends too. Mother needs to rest a bit more.”

Wu Ya took her maid to find Dou Pinyi.

Madam Wu stood up and said to Maid Bi: “Come, let’s go visit Sixth Madam.”

Maid Bi was shocked: “You… what business do you have with Sixth Madam?”

Madam Wu looked at her with both amusement and annoyance, saying, “What are you afraid of? My own son has fallen for their daughter – am I going to argue with them about it? You all conspired to scheme against me, so why can’t I go test the waters with Sixth Madam? If the Dou family’s fourth young lady is already engaged and we still send a matchmaker, wouldn’t that make us a laughingstock!” She continued, “If only the Old Madam could decide Fourth Young Lady Dou’s marriage, then I wouldn’t have to deal with that Wang woman.”

Maid Bi was greatly alarmed hearing this and forgot everything else, repeatedly flattering Madam Wu: “This is because our Fourth Young Master knows that our Lady loves him most in the world, that’s why he dares to act this way. If it were someone else, how could our Fourth Young Master lower himself like this…”

“Alright, alright,” Madam Wu waved her hand to cut off Maid Bi’s words, smiling, “You don’t need to speak for him. He’s my own son, I know him well. How much did he give you?”

“You wrong me, My Lady,” Maid Bi could see that Madam Wu wasn’t really angry. She joked along, “How would this old servant dare? A harmonious family prospers in everything – I just don’t want any discord between you and Young Master. Let’s all live peacefully together…”

The two chatted as they went to see Lady Ji.

Lady Ji’s maids and elderly servants filled half the courtyard.

Madam Wu exclaimed “Oh!” and mumbled “What bad timing,” turning to leave, but was spotted by Cai Shu who was lifting the curtain to come out.

She quickly called out “Madam Wu” and smiled, “Our Lady just finished her business. Let me announce you?”

Madam Wu said thank you.

Cai Shu went in to announce her, and Lady Ji came out to welcome Madam Wu. All the maids and elderly servants in the courtyard dispersed.

Madam Wu naturally wouldn’t ask about what had happened with Lady Ji. After the maids served tea and snacks and they exchanged pleasantries, Madam Wu tactfully brought up her purpose: “…Yesterday while talking with Third Madam Xiu, I learned that Yi’er is already engaged. Fourth Young Lady is only a few months younger than Yi’er, right? Now that this niece is engaged, I wonder when we’ll be able to drink Fourth Young Lady’s wedding wine?”

Lady Ji, being who she was, immediately understood Madam Wu’s implied meaning.

Looking at the hint of expectation in Madam Wu’s eyes, she felt a surge of pride at having a daughter come of age.

The Wu family was well-known to them – how much better than marrying far away to the Jining Marquis’s manor!

However, Dou Zhao’s situation was special. No matter what Madam Wu had heard, there were some things that shouldn’t come from her mouth.

Lady Ji immediately had an idea.

She smiled and took a sip of tea, vaguely saying, “As you know, Shou Gu’s birth mother is no longer here, so her marriage matters might need her uncle’s input, that’s why it’s been delayed.”

Madam Wu got the confirmation she needed and felt greatly relieved. She picked up her teacup and repeatedly praised the “good tea,” chatted briefly with Lady Ji, then rose to bid farewell and went to visit Second Sister-in-law, Second Madam Yu.

“You want to marry Shou Gu as your daughter-in-law?” Second Madam Yu was shocked when she heard Madam Wu’s request to propose marriage for Wu Shan, her eyes widening.

Madam Wu showed slight displeasure.

Although Dou Zhao had her faults, since she had already spoken up to seek Dou Zhao for Wu Shan, as a daughter who had married out of the Wu family, Second Madam Yu shouldn’t have such an attitude.

When Second Madam Yu saw Madam Wu firmly nod her head, she suddenly felt at a loss.

How did her aunt suddenly take a liking to Dou Zhao?

Could it be that her aunt had heard some news while staying as a guest at the Dou family these past few days?

Although Second Old Madam had issued a gag order years ago for Dou Zhao’s safety, saying that if anything happened to Dou Zhao, whoever leaked the news would be held responsible and the Dou family wouldn’t care whether they lived or died, but with so many people in the Dou family and Dou Zhao being of marriageable age now, some news might have leaked…

As the thought flashed through her mind, she immediately rejected it.

Her aunt had always been proud and aloof – if she hadn’t encountered such a thing, that would be fine, but if she had encountered it, she would definitely stay far away, let alone ask her to propose marriage for her son.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but feel excited.

If Dou Zhao could marry into the Wu family, then the Wu family’s wealth would multiply. Although the Wu family wouldn’t take advantage of Dou Zhao, having such a wealthy relative would always be good, and it would bring honor to the daughters who had married out when they were in their husband’s families!

Second Madam Yu couldn’t help but smile and say: “I didn’t expect aunt would take a liking to Shou Gu?”

If Dou Zhao married into the Wu family, she would be the Wu family’s daughter-in-law. It was absolutely impossible to say that Wu Shan admired Dou Zhao – those who knew might say it was mutual affection, but those who didn’t might think they had been improper!

It would damage both Dou Zhao’s reputation and the Wu family’s face!

Madam Wu smiled and said: “These past few days as a guest at your home, I saw that although Shou Gu is young, she handles matters very steadily. You know Shan’er has a gentle nature, so I want to find someone who can manage him.”

This matter would likely still need Second Old Madam’s approval.

Second Madam Yu smiled and said: “Then let me ask Old Madam’s opinion first?”

Hearing this, Madam Wu said happily: “No need to tell Wang?”

Second Madam Yu smiled and said: “After all, Shou Gu is from the West Residence, it would be better for Old Madam to ask Seventh Uncle’s opinion.”

“That’s true!” Madam Wu smiled, “Then I’ll trouble you with this matter.”

“I’m also happy to add another layer of kinship!” Second Madam Yu smiled.

After seeing Madam Wu off, she went to see Second Old Madam.

Meanwhile, Lady Ji went to the West Residence.