ATLAS TRANSLATES

In private, Dou Zhao shook her head: “Who knows how many more messes I’ll have to clean up after her in the future!”

She helped Dou Zhao change into new clothes, then accompanied Dou Zhao and Dou Ming to visit the Second Madam.

When Second Madam saw Dou Ming, she merely said a flat “you’re here.”

Perhaps because she had been disciplined by Second Madam when she was young, Dou Ming behaved very obediently in front of Second Madam. She respectfully called her “Great-aunt” and asked if Second Madam’s back pain had improved. She mentioned bringing some medicinal patches from the capital that were supposedly very effective for back pain, managing to turn Second Madam’s cold expression into a smile.

Dou Zhao watched from the side and secretly pursed her lips.

Dou Ming was just like in her previous life – when she wanted to be liked, she could make even cats and dogs adore her. But when her temper flared, she would throw tantrums even in front of important people.

Second Madam held Dou Ming’s hand and asked what books she had studied these past few years, and how her needlework was coming along.

“I studied ‘Precepts for Women’, ‘Biographies of Exemplary Women’, and ‘Classic of Filial Piety’ with my maternal aunt,” Dou Ming said with a sweet smile. “I haven’t started learning needlework yet, but I enjoy playing the pipa. My aunt hired a teacher for me, who has come back to Zhending with me.”

She was clever enough not to mention her grandmother.

If she had dared to bring up Wang Xu Shi, Second Madam would likely have become angry on the spot.

Come to think of it, Second Madam had been the matriarch of the Dou family for so long that her jealousy had grown day by day. She couldn’t stand hearing other voices or tolerating other people.

As Dou Zhao was pondering this, she heard Second Madam say to her: “Shou Gu, your needlework is good. Now that Ming’er is back, you should give her proper guidance in needlework.” She went on to praise the choice of books and gave a long speech about the importance of feminine virtues. This made the shadow in Dou Ming’s eyes grow deeper, until a flash of impatience crossed her face. At that moment, Ji Yong arrived.

Seeing the Dou sisters, Ji Yong was somewhat surprised.

Seeing Ji Yong, the Dou sisters were also somewhat surprised.

Only Second Madam was visibly delighted, repeatedly beckoning to Ji Yong: “At this hour, why aren’t you resting in your room with Hui’er and Zhi’er? Why did you come to my place? Come, sit beside me.” She not only personally fanned him with a round fan but also urged the maids to quickly bring in a bowl of iced mung bean soup, treating him as warmly as if he were her own grandson. This made Dou Ming look askance, barely restraining herself from asking who he was.

Ji Yong was actually quite good at winning over elderly ladies.

When he returned from Mount Tai, he brought Second Madam a stone with patterns that at first glance looked like the God of Longevity leading a plum blossom deer. Second Madam was overjoyed and specially had someone make a stand from purple sandalwood to display the stone in her small Buddhist shrine.

Dou Zhao glanced in the direction of the small shrine. Second Madam had already pointed to Dou Ming and said: “Jian Ming, you haven’t met Ming’er yet, have you? This is our Old Seven’s second daughter, who has been living with Old Seven in the capital. She just returned today.” Then to Dou Ming she said, “This is your Sixth Aunt’s nephew from her maiden family. You should follow Shou Gu’s example and call him Cousin Ji!”

Ji Yong gracefully bowed to Dou Ming, elegant and modest, like a refined young gentleman.

Dou Ming curtsied, appearing somewhat surprised.

Ji Yong had come to say goodbye: “…Great-grandfather has a good friend in Baoding Prefecture. When I go out this time, Great-grandfather instructed me to pay him a visit.”

Second Madam quickly said: “Why not wait a few more days? These are the hottest days.” Her tone was full of concern.

“I plan to go to the capital with Hui’er and Zhi’er after the Mid-Autumn Festival,” he smiled. “I haven’t seen Uncle and Father for several years, and it would be good to visit Uncle-in-law together with Hui’er and Zhi’er.”

Dou Zhao had heard from the Ji family that they currently had six people in official positions. Besides Ji Yong’s uncle serving as Vice Minister in the Ministry of Works and his father as Right Director in the Court of State Ceremonial, several cousins and uncles were posted in various locations as prefects, surveillance commissioners, or administrative commissioners, all with promising careers. This should have been the Dou family’s greatest support, but because the Ji and Dou families had different political views, and Ji Yong’s uncle had ambitions for higher office, the two families had grown somewhat distant. However, having such equal in-laws still meant they held each other in high regard, and it didn’t affect their private interactions.

“It’s good to visit the capital,” Second Madam said with a smile, instructing her personal maid to bring some patchouli pills and other medicines for Ji Yong: “The weather is too hot, take these with you on the road.”

Ji Yong repeatedly expressed his thanks.

Still concerned, Second Madam held his hand and gave him various instructions for a long time.

When they were leaving, Dou Zhao noticed Dou Ming quietly asking Second Madam’s maid: “Cousin Ji seems to be very much liked by Great-aunt?”

“Of course,” the maid said with admiration. “Although Young Master Ji is young, he’s the top scholar from Southern Zhili! How could the Old Madam not like him?”

Dou Zhao noticed Dou Ming’s eyes flickered.

Whenever she wanted something, she would show that look in her eyes.

Living this life again, could Dou Ming’s target have shifted from Wang Nan to Ji Yong?

She had always believed that Dou Ming didn’t necessarily like Wang Nan much, but rather because Wang Nan was a widely praised talented young man with a promising future, most valued by the Wang family, yet he had fallen in love with the dignified Gao Mingzhu. She was simply unwilling to accept this.

Dou Zhao still remembered the scene from her previous life of Wang Nan silently weeping over Gao Mingzhu’s coffin…

If Dou Ming shifted her attention because of Ji Yong’s appearance, it might not be a bad thing!

Compared to Wang Nan, Ji Yong was much more decisive.

Lost in thought, Dou Zhao parted ways with Dou Ming at the second gate, one going to the east wing and the other to the west wing. However, just as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw three or four household managers who had been assigned to the west wing surrounding Hong Gu and saying something. When they saw Dou Zhao enter, they exchanged glances and unanimously surrounded her.

“Fourth Young Miss, please let us manage affairs in the east wing!”

“Yes, Fourth Young Miss. We all want to work in the east wing, even if we’re not managing affairs, we’re willing to just be on duty!”

Dou Zhao coldly asked them: “Did the Fifth Young Miss show you her displeasure in front of others? Or did she punish you without reason?”

The household managers all lowered their heads.

“I don’t want to hear such talk again,” Dou Zhao reprimanded. “As long as you follow the rules, no one can make things difficult for you. But if you don’t follow the rules and are picky about your duties, it will be the same wherever you work.”

They responded fearfully with agreement.

Dou Zhao entered her grandmother’s room with her head held high.

Hong Gu seemed to want to say something but held back.

Dou Zhao said: “I know what you mean. But no matter what, she is also one of this family’s masters. If I want to deal with her, I’ll deal with her directly. I don’t need these people who curry favor with the powerful and bully the weak to demean her.” After a pause, she continued, “Moreover, this kind of behavior most easily corrupts the household’s atmosphere.”

She remembered how when she was managing the Jining Marquis’s household, it had taken great effort to correct this kind of atmosphere.

Hong Gu thought about it and realized she had a point.

She smiled somewhat embarrassedly: “I was overthinking it.”

Dou Zhao put her arm around Hong Gu’s shoulders: “You weren’t overthinking, your heart was just looking out for me.” These words brought tears to Hong Gu’s eyes.

They entered Grandmother’s inner room, laughing.

?????

Dou Ming only brought back about a dozen trunks. In her mind, once this storm had passed, her mother would naturally find a way to let her return. She didn’t need to bring so many things, so the furnishings in Qixia Court were all the old ones. There wasn’t much to sort out or organize, and Zhou Mama led people to arrange the courtyard in just half an hour.

After Dou Ming finished washing up, Zhou Mama saw that only the sun’s afterglow remained in the sky, and cool breezes were blowing under the corridor. She brought out a brocade stool and helped Dou Ming dry her hair under the corridor.

“The scenery at the Dou family is really beautiful,” she gently advised Dou Ming. “You have an entire wing to yourself, much more spacious than in the capital. How nice!”

In the capital, Dou Ming lived in the warm room behind Wang Xu Shi’s inner chamber.

“Living in the capital isn’t easy,” Dou Ming didn’t allow anyone to say anything negative about her maternal family. “Zhending is a countryside place, of course the grounds are larger and the courtyards more spacious.”

Zhou Mama went along with her words: “Yes! Just treat it as coming here for summer retreat. When you’re free, you can play the pipa with Wan Niang, read books, or just walk around. How carefree and comfortable!”

Wan Niang was Dou Ming’s pipa teacher.

This time Dou Ming didn’t object.

When Zhou Mama went to prepare her evening meal, she quietly instructed her personal maid Ji Hong: “Help me gather information about Cousin Ji.”

Ji Hong agreed with a smile.

Dou Zhao immediately received this news.

She told Su Lan: “Just keep an eye on her, don’t let her do anything foolish that would make people laugh.”

Su Lan nodded with a grin.

Dou Zhao then discussed with Song Yumin about spending half an hour every morning teaching Dou Ming the Analects.

When teaching at other households, one usually had to teach two or three, or even seven or eight students, teaching the younger ones first and then the older ones. At the Dou household, he only had to teach Dou Zhao, and there were no requirements regarding the imperial examinations, so he had been quite bored. Having another student would be a good way to pass the time.

“Then I’ll teach Fourth Young Miss first and then Fifth Young Miss every morning!” Song Yumin immediately agreed.

Dou Zhao knew he also spent an hour teaching Song Yan every day, so she asked: “Won’t it interfere with Song Yan’s studies?”

Song Yan had lost his parents early, and although he relied on charity for food, he studied diligently by the light of fireflies and snow reflection. Song Yumin pitied him for losing his parents at such a young age and admired his determination to study despite his poverty, which was why he kept him by his side.

“It’s fine,” Song Yumin smiled. “Teaching him in the afternoon works just as well.” At this point, he hesitated and said, “There is something I’d like to ask Fourth Young Miss…”

Dou Zhao quickly said: “I wouldn’t dare speak of asking. You are my teacher, if there’s anything you need, just tell me.”

Even so, Song Yumin thought for a moment before saying: “Song Yan is not young anymore, and he has been studying with me all along. I have some accomplishments in poetry, music, calligraphy, and painting, but as for the eight-legged essay for the imperial examinations…” He chuckled and said, “I myself couldn’t achieve success in the imperial examinations, let alone teach Song Yan—I was wondering if Song Yan could join the Dou family school as an additional student, could Fourth Young Miss help speak to Third Master about this?”

The Dou family school had always hoped to educate talented people from all over the world, and moreover, Song Yan was upright in character and conduct. This alone would be enough to gain Teacher Du’s approval.

“Each discipline has its specialty. Teacher Song enjoys poetry, music, calligraphy, and painting, so you simply haven’t focused on the imperial examination studies,” Dou Zhao complimented Song Yumin a few times and promised to speak with Third Uncle about this matter first thing tomorrow morning.