Madam Six hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
Dou Zhao asked, “Are you worried about gossip from the East Dou branch?”
Madam Six had been virtuous her entire life. Now in her old age, she feared being seen as greedy and heartless due to her son’s adoption. The thought must pain her deeply.
Unexpectedly, Madam Six shook her head and said softly, “Even if your Twelfth Brother is adopted into the West Dou branch, isn’t he still a descendant of the Dou family? The elders see further and deeper, they may not object. I just feel your father is still young and may have his children in the future. The best solution would be for your father to take a concubine or a maidservant…” Her voice trailed off.
Dou Zhao understood Madam Six’s meaning.
Since Dou Ming’s fallout with her father, he had been disappointed and barely kept in touch with Dou Ming. Now, only she could speak to her father.
If Dou Dechang was adopted and her father passed away without leaving a will, by law, Dou Dechang would inherit half of the West Dou branch’s property. The remaining half would be split between Dou Zhao and Dou Ming. The East Dou branch would naturally be pleased with this outcome.
However, the Sixth Uncle and Aunt still hoped her father could have his heir.
But her birth mother had committed suicide because her father took a concubine. Sixth Aunt wanted her to persuade her father but couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Dou Zhao appreciated Sixth Aunt’s good intentions. She thought about how her mother had been gone for so many years, and her father had been alone all this time. If he could let go of the past and start anew, it might not be a bad thing.
She smiled and said, “I’ll ask father what he thinks.”
Madam Six sighed in relief, gently patting her hand. “If you can let go of the past, I can rest easy.”
Although Dou Zhao knew this was the right thing to do, she still felt a bit dejected. When she met Miao Ansu, her mind was elsewhere.
Miao Ansu secretly wondered what had happened. After several failed attempts to probe, she was about to try again when Dou Zhao’s eldest sister-in-law Madam Wen, sixth sister-in-law Madam Guo, and tenth sister-in-law Madam Cai arrived to offer congratulations.
Seeing Madam Ji, and Madam Six, they all came forward to pay their respects and then teased Dou Zhao, demanding she treat them to a bird’s nest soup feast.
Dou Zhao smiled and agreed. Soon after, Lady An, wife of the Marquis of Yan’an’s heir, and Third Madam Feng from Duke Jing’s household arrived together.
Madam Cai, always sociable, especially since she had met Lady An and Madam Feng before, joked during greetings, “I didn’t expect you two to come together.”
Lady An smiled without responding.
Madam Feng explained, “We met on the way here.”
Before she finished speaking, a young maid entered to announce that three ladies from the Lu family had arrived together.
Everyone went to greet them warmly.
The room soon filled with laughter and chatter.
Miao Ansu had to keep her curiosity to herself.
That night, Dou Zhao tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Song Mo held her in his arms, kissing her forehead. “Let’s go to the temple another day to offer incense for your mother. We’ll pray that she no longer worries about worldly affairs and can peacefully reincarnate, hopefully into a life of prosperity and happiness.”
The warmth of his embrace eased the inexplicable sadness in Dou Zhao’s heart.
She chuckled, “Perhaps Mother has already reincarnated!”
“Indeed,” Song Mo seized the opportunity to counsel her, “So while we’re still struggling in this world, let’s not make things difficult for ourselves.”
Dou Zhao remained silent.
Suddenly, Song Mo bit her chest.
Dou Zhao was startled.
With only a thin layer of clothing between them, she felt a sharp pain in her chest.
“Have you gone mad?” she asked, pushing him away in mild anger.
“Let’s do something to cheer you up,” Song Mo said nonchalantly, raising an eyebrow and grinning mischievously as his hand slipped inside her clothes.
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “Your hand is so cold, take it out quickly.”
“Really?” Song Mo nibbled her ear, “That’s good, help me warm it up…”
Soon, the room filled with sounds that would make one blush…
The next day when Dou Zhao woke up, Song Mo had already left for the office. She stretched her slightly sore body, feeling much better.
She instructed Duan Gongyi to offer incense at the Great Xiangguo Temple tomorrow.
After marrying into Duke Ying’s household, Dou Zhao lit a perpetual lamp for her mother at the Great Xiangguo Temple.
Duan Gongyi quickly arranged everything.
Song Mo suggested she wait a couple of days: “I’ll have time after these busy days.”
With Shao Wenji suddenly thrown into the imperial prison without any work handover, Song Mo had to ask people from the Ministry of War and Ministry of Personnel to witness the inventory of the Imperial Guard’s belongings. He also had to prevent the exposure of the Imperial Guard’s small private fund, keeping him extremely busy.
“I’m just going to offer incense, not sightseeing,” Dou Zhao smiled. “You rarely get to rest, I want to save your days off for us to go out together.”
Song Mo was touched by her words.
He repeatedly instructed Jiang Yan to take good care of Dou Zhao and asked Xia Lian to accompany her to the Great Xiangguo Temple.
Jiang Yan nodded repeatedly, extremely nervous, constantly asking, “Sister-in-law, did you bring a cloak?” “Sister-in-law, did you pack salted green plums for the road?” “Sister-in-law, are we going by carriage or sedan chair?” She was acting like a little housekeeper.
Dou Zhao couldn’t stop laughing. She pulled Jiang Yan to sit beside her and said, “The nannies will arrange these things. You just need to come with me to relax. That’s what your brother meant too.”
Jiang Yan smiled sheepishly.
The two went to offer incense at the Great Xiangguo Temple.