“What made you think of visiting Great-Aunt today?” Second Madame asked Dou Zhao with a warm smile. The senior maids on duty in Second Madame’s quarters were all serving either fruits, tea, or snacks, welcoming Dou Zhao with pleasant smiles. Dou Zhao nodded in greeting to the senior maids and told Second Madame about going…

After Dou Zhao left, Dou Xiuchang immediately went to see Dou Shibang to tell him about Dou Zhao’s plan to open a stationery shop. He said, “Though it’s not a huge sum and the capital is all Fourth Sister’s, with me just helping to manage it, she’s asking for ten thousand taels right away. I’m…

As soon as she heard that voice, Bie Sulan grabbed the kitchen knife from the chopping board and rushed out. “Junior sister, junior sister!” The brown-robed man called out anxiously to Bie Sulan, but he moved as lightly as a swallow, and no matter how Bie Sulan swung the knife, she couldn’t even touch the…

Chen Qushui deeply resonated with Dou Zhao’s words. At fifteen, he never imagined he would stop at just being a provincial graduate. At thirty-three, he never thought he couldn’t even be a good adviser. At fifty-six, he thought he would fade into obscurity and die alone in that cramped little house on East Alley Street.…

Dou Shiying hired a tutor named Jiang, given name Li, courtesy name Yugong, for his daughter. He was a sixty-year-old former scholar who had served as a tutor for fifteen years in the household of He Wendao – Dou Shiying’s teacher and a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. Due to his advanced age and declining…

“Stop arguing, both of you,” Bie Gangyi said hoarsely. “You’re both doing this for me… it’s not worth it…” He turned his gaze to Dou Zhao. “Fourth Miss, I know this puts you in a difficult position, but I have no one else to turn to… When their mother passed away, I promised her I…

Uncle Chen’s expression was hesitant. Bie Gangyi looked at him with dimmed eyes and called out “Uncle Chen” again with difficulty, his tone sincere and somewhat pleading. Upon hearing this, Uncle Chen let out a soft sigh and said gently to Dou Zhao, “Fourth Miss Dou, we’ve invited you here from so far away because…

“Bie Gangyi used to be a martial arts instructor in the capital before his wife passed away,” Zhao Liangbi explained gently. “He’s from Zhending Prefecture, and both his residence and family farmland are ancestral properties.” Even the most formidable people would behave properly and respectfully in their hometown. Without roots, one would be nothing more…

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…

The relationships between people can sometimes be quite mysterious. Dou Zhao considered herself someone who saw through worldly affairs and remained detached. Ji Shi was careful in both speech and action, meticulous in her dealings, and as an elder, she was entrusted by Dou Shying to take care of Dou Zhao. In front of Dou…