Mother was a proud woman. Having already agreed to let Wang Yingxue enter the family, she wouldn’t make things difficult over minor details like the timing of her arrival.
Once Dou Zhao’s “illness” had improved somewhat, Mother invited First Aunt and Third Aunt to discuss Wang Yingxue’s entry into the family. Dou Zhao was sent to play jump rope with the young maids in the courtyard.
The four young maids were named Xuancao, Moli, Qiukui, and Haitang. Mother liked Tuo Niang’s honest nature and gave her the name Suxin, which paired well with Yuzhen, who had previously served Mother and was now assigned to Dou Zhao’s room. They were the senior maids in Dou Zhao’s quarters.
Tuo Niang liked her new name, but “Tuo Niang” held a special meaning for Dou Zhao. She preferred to call her “Tuo Niang,” which led to some confusion among the maids who would sometimes call her Suxin and other times Tuo Niang. Fortunately, Tuo Niang didn’t mind and responded cheerfully to either name.
Dou Zhao wasn’t truly a two-year-old child, so naturally, she had little interest in games like jump rope.
She thought about going to Grandfather’s study to find some books on supernatural phenomena—there were countless mysteries in the world, and her sudden return to childhood as if reborn, surely meant there were others like her. She was eager to find even the slightest clue in those miscellaneous historical records.
Dou Zhao asked Tuo Niang to carry her to Grandfather’s study.
Tuo Niang immediately dropped the jump rope and carried her towards Heshou Hall.
As they passed the lotus pond, she saw Granny Yu standing by the Taihu rock garden, talking to a middle-aged man wearing an official green Luzhou robe.
The two were behaving suspiciously, speaking in hushed tones.
Dou Zhao pondered for a moment, then pointed at the lotus pond and said to Tuo Niang, “Let’s go over there!”
Tuo Niang, not suspecting anything, crossed the winding stone bridge to the Taihu rock garden.
Granny Yu and the man had vanished.
Dou Zhao left the lotus pond with lingering doubts, only to run into First Aunt and Third Aunt.
She got down and respectfully greeted First Aunt and Third Aunt.
First Aunt picked up Dou Zhao: “Shou Gu is becoming more and more lovable!”
“Indeed,” Third Aunt smiled, patting Dou Zhao’s head. “She looks just like Seventh Sister-in-law when she was young.”
As they spoke, the smiles on their faces gradually faded.
“Alas!” First Aunt sighed regretfully, “Wang Yingxue’s background is what it is. If she bears a son this time, no matter how virtuous Seventh Sister-in-law is, I’m afraid she’ll have to step aside.”
So they all knew about Wang Yingxue’s pregnancy.
Dou Zhao’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Such is fate!” Third Aunt’s expression also turned wistful.
Perhaps feeling it was inappropriate to sigh so heavily in front of a child, First Aunt forced a smile and said, “We’re just getting emotional over old stories, worrying about people from the past. Seventh Sister-in-law hasn’t faced many challenges before, but when she does, she’ll naturally become more sensible. Look at how well she’s handling things now.”
Third Aunt nodded, kindly asked Tuo Niang a few questions, and upon learning that Dou Zhao was going to see Grandfather, cautioned Tuo Niang to be careful not to slip and fall. Then she left with First Aunt through the second gate.
Dou Zhao suddenly lost interest in going to Heshou Hall. She instructed Tuo Niang, “Let’s go back to the main room.”
Tuo Niang silently followed her instructions, and they quickly returned to the main courtyard.
Dou Zhao ran into the inner room.
Mother was sitting on the warm kang by the window, talking to Granny Yu: “…Concubine Cui is Seventh Master’s birth mother and two hundred taels of silver for the betrothal gift isn’t too shabby. Whether the Wang family accepts it or not is their business, but sending it is our family’s affair. Rich or poor, taking a wife is better than celebrating the New Year alone. Although she’s a concubine, she’s still a new bride. Entering the family on the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month is perfect for the Minor New Year, and by Spring Festival, she can visit the various branches of the family to get acquainted with the relatives.” Mother took a sip of tea from her cup and continued, “As for the new room, let’s set it up in Qixia Courtyard…”
“Seventh Madam!” Granny Yu exclaimed in surprise, interrupting Mother, “How can that be? Qixia Courtyard is right behind Seventh Master’s study…”
Mother made a gesture to stop her and said, “They managed to get entangled even when separated by Zhili Province. Do you think keeping them under my nose will make them behave more properly?”
Granny Yu was at a loss for words.
“Besides, I’m tired of seeing their lovey-dovey act,” Mother murmured. “I’m letting go of Wang Yingxue, and I’m letting go of myself.”
Dou Zhao almost wanted to applaud her mother.
This was exactly right.
No matter how vast the world is, nothing is more important than oneself.
If you don’t care for yourself, why should others care for you?
Since she didn’t like Wang Yingxue, why pretend to be virtuous and make herself miserable?
It took her until she was over thirty to understand this principle.
Dou Zhao whispered to Tuo Niang, “Follow Granny Yu later and see where she goes and who she meets.”
Tuo Niang nodded.
Dou Zhao happily threw herself into her mother’s arms: “Mother, the winter plum blossoms in the back garden have bloomed. Let’s go appreciate them.”
Mother chuckled, kissing Dou Zhao’s little face: “Mother has some matters to attend to. Let Tuo Niang accompany you to play!”
Dou Zhao just wanted to stay by her mother’s side.
Mother didn’t mind her presence and continued to manage household affairs while playing with her.
Father suddenly came over, and despite the room full of servants, he proudly pulled out a golden hairpin inlaid with jade from his bosom.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” he asked Mother eagerly, “I had it specially made in Zhending Prefecture.”
The pin’s body gleamed golden, while the jade head was a lush green, shaped like a teardrop—like a tear on a beauty’s cheek.
“It’s beautiful!” Mother smiled, admiring the jade hairpin for a long while before instructing Granny Yu to put it away. “We’ll save it for Shou Gu’s dowry in the future.”
Father looked embarrassed: “This was meant for you… I can buy something else for Shou Gu later.”
Mother smiled, pressing her lips together: “What you buy for her later will be your gesture, but this is my gesture.”