Ji Yong’s words were spoken in front of all the maids who came to change his bedding, so they quickly reached Dou Ming’s ears.
She sneered, shut herself in her room, and instructed Zhou Mama and Ji Hong: “From now on, everything sent to me must be thoroughly examined. Make sure there’s nothing inappropriate before handing it to me. I don’t believe he can take my life if I don’t go out or eat and drink carelessly.”
Zhou Mama and Ji Hong, who had been worried about Dou Ming confronting Ji Yong directly, were relieved to see her taking precautions. All food, clothing, and daily necessities would pass through their hands before reaching Dou Ming. Within half a month, they found a needle in Dou Ming’s autumn clothes, laxatives in her food, a snake in her room, and two rats.
Dou Ming scoffed disdainfully, “Is that all?”
Su Lan was extremely disappointed: “He acts like he’s so clever, but these are just petty tricks!”
Su Xin scolded her sister harshly: “What more do you want? I think Young Master Ji is quite restrained! This harmless mischief will give the Fifth Miss some trouble, but that’s all. If something serious were to happen, the Fourth Miss, as her sister, would also be held responsible.”
“That’s why it would be better to send the Fifth Miss back to Beijing,” Su Lan said without restraint, as they were alone in their room. “I just don’t like how the Fifth Miss always treats the Fourth Miss like an enemy.”
“Family matters are hard to judge,” Su Xin sighed. “We should just follow the Fourth Miss’s instructions.”
Su Lan nodded: “What else can we do? We can’t rely on Young Master Ji!”
Indeed, Ji Yong had become somewhat unreliable.
After passing the provincial examination, Dou Qijun decided to continue his efforts and participate in the next year’s spring imperial examination.
Most of the Dou family’s jinshi was serving as officials elsewhere, and the only one at home claimed his knowledge was too shallow to guide Dou Qijun in essay writing, not wanting to hinder his career. Knowing that Jiangnan had a stronger literary tradition than the north and that Ji Yong was the top scholar from Nanzhili two years his senior, Dou Qijun brought his essays to seek Ji Yong’s advice.
Ji Yong was incredibly intelligent, with an unparalleled talent for recognizing patterns. With just a few words, he gave Dou Qijun a sense of enlightenment. Unlike the pedantic old scholars, Ji Yong was forthcoming with his knowledge, answering all of Dou Qijun’s questions thoroughly. Dou Qijun benefited greatly from this. At first, he would visit every few days, then daily, and eventually, he simply moved into the room next to Ji Yong’s…
Ji Yong no longer had time to tease Dou Ming!
This was an outcome everyone was happy to see.
The Western Dou mansion gradually returned to its former tranquility, and Dou Ming began practicing the pipa with Wan Niang daily.
As the Beginning of Winter approached and the family prepared for the seasonal sacrifices, Ji Hong quietly informed Dou Ming: “Shang’er, the servant of the Second Young Master, has come secretly with urgent news for you. Fearing that the Fourth Miss might see him, I’ve hidden him in the woodshed for now.”
Dou Ming was startled.
For the past two years, Wang Tan had been the one to send her news from Beijing. This time, he had sent his servant…
She abandoned her pipa practice and urged Ji Hong to bring Shang’er in.
Shang’er, who appeared to be only eleven or twelve, had delicate features and wore a coarse lilac-colored cloth garment, dressed like a country boy. Before Dou Ming could speak, he fell to his knees, crying: “Miss, please save our Second Young Master!”
The nine sons of the dragon each have their characteristics.
Wang Tan took after Pang Yulou, with a lively temperament. For a child, being lively wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the problem was that he had an older brother, Wang Nan, who was mature beyond his years. This made Wang Tan’s liveliness seem more like mischief, for which he was often scolded by his mother and grandmother.
Hearing Shang’er’s words, Dou Ming asked without thinking: “What trouble has he gotten into now?”
Wiping his tears, Shang’er said: “The master asked a colleague to write a recommendation letter for the Eldest Young Master to study at the Imperial Academy. The Second Young Master didn’t know how important the letter was and accidentally soiled it… Miss,” he began crying again, “the Second Young Master didn’t mean to… But the Old Madam is making him kneel in the ancestral hall and wants to send him to the master… No one can persuade her… Miss, please save our Second Young Master… I’ve heard that Yunnan is full of barbarians, and they even eat people…”
“Serves him right!” Dou Ming scolded. “Who told him to be so careless!”
“Miss!” Shang’er stared at Dou Ming, dumbfounded, not daring to cry anymore.
Dou Ming wasn’t truly angry with her cousin. Seeing his reaction, she said: “Even if I wanted to plead for him, I can’t—I’m in Zhending, and he’s in Beijing!”
Shang’er blinked and said: “Yu Er brought me here.”
Yu Er was originally a ruffian from Lingbi County who had ingratiated himself with Pang Xilou and then Pang Yulou, who brought him to Beijing.
Since Yu Er had brought Shang’er, it must have been her second aunt’s idea!
However, going to Beijing…
The thought flashed through Dou Ming’s mind, and she was momentarily stunned.
Going to Beijing!
She had dreamed of going to Beijing!
There, she had her loving grandfather, Wang Tan who always doted on her, and her beautiful mother…
Dou Ming couldn’t contain her excitement.
At worst, she’d be scolded by her father, and she might even be able to stay in Beijing!
Dou Ming couldn’t help but ask loudly: “What’s your plan?”
Shang’er replied: “Daci Temple is a nunnery. When Miss goes there to offer incense, our carriage will be waiting on the small road behind the temple.”
Dou Ming was increasingly convinced that this was Madam Pang’s idea.
She thought for a moment and said: “Alright, it’s settled then. I’ll go to Daci Temple to offer incense the day after tomorrow.”
Shang’er left, overjoyed.
Dou Ming told Ji Hong about the plan.
Ji Hong was worried: “If the Fourth Miss finds out…”
“So what if she does?” Dou Ming challenged. “Father entrusted me to her care, after all.”
Ji Hong remained silent.
Dou Ming quietly instructed her: “Don’t tell Zhou Mama about this… Dou Zhao will surely send some guards to follow us. You help cover for me, and I’ll come back for you after I return to Beijing.”
Ji Hong was surprised: “You don’t want me to accompany you?”
“It’s only a three or four-day journey to Beijing. With Shang’er serving me and Yu Er accompanying us, there’s nothing to worry about,” Dou Ming said dismissively. “If too many people go, Dou Zhao will surely notice quickly.”