Dong Zhaodao dodged his aunt and ran hastily towards Third Aunt.

  Aunt was shocked.

  Third Aunt smiled and hugged Dou Zhao: "Aunt, the child is still young and doesn't understand anything. She can't leave the servants and maids who are always by her side. If she gets scared, it will be troublesome. I think it's better for her to stay in a place she's familiar with, don't you?" Her tone couldn't help but carry a hint of sarcasm.

  Her aunt's face turned red and white alternately, but in her heart she scolded the little maid at home until she was speechless.

  She didn't even tell her own mother the real reason she went with her husband, but somehow Zhan Ru told one of the little maids who played with her, and that maid told her cousin...and so on. It's unclear who informed the Duan family, but by the time she arrived, they had already set up their formation.

  They originally had no intention of taking Shou Gu away, but now the Duan family has invited several prominent women from large households in Zhending County to testify, and Shou Gu doesn't know what she's heard, but it seems she can't avoid it this time, and it's likely that things won't go as planned.

  Her eyes turned red, and her voice became choked: "Shougu, your aunt is here to take you home to play." She made one last effort, "Do you still remember Zhuangru sister? They're all at home waiting for you to go play!"

  Dong Zhao nodded, but hid in the arms of his third aunt, staring at his aunt with wide open eyes and stammering: "I want to play with my cousin... But Auntie Ding said that if I go with you, you will sell me to Lao Shangu..."

  The whole audience was in an uproar.

  "Aunt Ding's grandmother was even more flustered and argued: "I, I when did I say such a thing? Don't talk nonsense, child."

  Third Aunt's face looked terrible, but she still forced a smile: "Shougu, don't talk nonsense!"

  "The child speaks the truth. I said, Shougu is usually as close to me as a mother and daughter, why today she saw me and wanted to hide?" Aunt's face turned red with anger, "You are bullying an innocent child, be careful of retribution!"

  A woman laughed and persuaded: "It's all a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding! Just make it clear, just make it clear! Mrs. Zhao, you've come from afar, first go inside and rest for a while, have a cup of tea..."

  "What misunderstanding?" Auntie retorted bluntly, "Is there such a misunderstanding? Our family's old lady hasn't even been buried yet, and you're already driving a wedge between Shougu and her uncle. Are you eyeing some rich family's daughter to marry off to our family's master as a concubine, afraid that we Zhao family will ruin the good relationship between your two families?"

  This remark is quite reasonable.

  Several hostesses avoided him and no one dared to approach him.

  The aunt saw the situation and became even more majestic, coldly humming a sound, saying: "I also know that the Duan family is big and powerful, and if they stomp their feet, the entire county of Zhending will tremble. But you can't bully people like this!" It was impossible to quietly take Shougu away now that the Duan family was on guard. Even if they managed to leave Zhending County while the Duan family was off guard, they would still be caught halfway and forced to hand Shougu over to the Duan family's people. Since that was the case, it was better to make a big scene and give the Duan family a show of strength, so they wouldn't think the Zhao family was weak and could be bullied. The aunt had made up her mind and spoke even more sharply: "What are you talking about, saying we want to take Shougu to the countryside? Who knows where you heard that from? Shougu's father and grandfather are still alive, and although she has lost her mother, there is no reason for her to be raised by her uncle's family. You Duan family are also an official family, don't you know how to read books or hold office? Even I, a mere woman, know this, do you really not know? If you want to frame us, at least come up with a better excuse..."

  Dòu Zhāo listened with great admiration.

  What's wrong with you!

  Uncle values Auntie so much, it's indeed not without reason.

  Third Aunt had been scolded until her face turned purple, but now that things have come to this point, she couldn't back down either. After all, she represented the Duan family; if she backed down, wouldn't that be admitting to Mrs. Zhao's accusations?

  As the thought flashed through her mind, she glanced at Ding Yiniang's pale face.

  Now there's nothing for it but to let her take the blame.

  After all, she's just a concubine, can't show her face in public, and it's reasonable for her to do such things.

  "Auntie," Third Aunt handed Du Zhao over to the maid behind her and bent her knees to apologize to her aunt, "It's all my fault, I'm so gullible. Please forgive me this once for the sake of our family ties." After finishing speaking, her expression turned stern as she ordered Nurse Ding: "Still not apologizing to Auntie?"

  Ding Yi's grandmother's face turned several shades paler.

  It was they who taught her to deceive Old Lady Duan, and it was also they who made her take the blame when things went wrong... But what could she say? Unless she didn't want to stay in the Duan family anymore.

  "Madam Zhao," she suppressed the humiliation in her heart, thought for a moment, and then knelt down in front of her aunt with tears in her eyes, "It's all my fault!" She kowtowed to her aunt, knocking her head on the ground.

  The aunt let out a long sigh.

  It was clear that Auntie Ding was just following orders in this matter, what could she say?

  Shou Gu is young and cannot protect herself. The two families of Zhao and Dou turned against each other, and the one who would be affected by this and bear the brunt of their anger could only be Shou Gu.

  She can't afford to offend him, so she has no choice but to swallow her pride and smooth things over.

  Despite this, she said to Third Aunt: "This woman is not a good thing, Shougu still doesn't understand, putting such a person by her side, it's really worrying. This matter may need to be discussed with the old master of the family. By Shougu's side, someone with rules and regulations should be placed to make people feel at ease!"

  This is to punish Ding's wife and grandmother.

  Third Aunt could only force a smile and say, "Yes, what the mistress said is right," then she added some flattery, "Look at us, we're just chatting away. The mistress will be following Master to his new post soon, and it's likely they won't return to Anxiang for three to five years. It's better to take advantage of this chance when several ladies are visiting our home, so I'll set up two tables in the flower hall, which can be considered a farewell dinner for Mistress Zhao." As she spoke, she walked forward and took her sister-in-law's arm, instructing the maid beside her, "Go tell Eldest Aunt that I'm hosting a farewell dinner for Third Aunt Zhao and invite her to join us."

  The maid hastily went off at the sound of her voice.

  Aunt smiled and said: "You came over so early in the morning, you really want a cup of tea."

  Several hostesses immediately picked up the conversation and laughed: "When will Mrs. Zhao set off? At that time, we can also join in the fun and see you off."

  "Just these two days!" Auntie smiled and said, "Why bother Mrs. Zheng to drag her feet..."

  A group of people chatted and laughed as they walked into the nearby flower hall.

  No one mentioned what had just happened again.

  Dou Zhaogazed out at the great hall from behind a maid's shoulder.

  A deserted hall, empty, spacious and cold.

  Ding's grandmother cowered on the ground, like a withered autumn leaf, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.

  Dòu Zhāo turned his head, his eyes calm and waveless.

  If you are used by others as a gun, you must have the awareness of hiding your bow after shooting all the birds!

  ※※※※※

  In the evening, Aunt stayed at Du's home.

  She invited Yu Niangniang to talk.

  Dong Zhaobu didn't need to guess what his aunt would say.

  Nothing but entrusting her to Yu's nanny.

  Unfortunately, when Mother married into the family, although she brought with her half of the Zhao family's wealth, it was insignificant compared to the Duan family.

  Silk fabrics move people's hearts.

  It's possible to win people over with a few words for a short time, and it might even work when there's no comparison. But if you're surrounded by the wealth and prestige of the Duan family for an extended period, people can't help but lose their minds.

  What happened in past life is the best evidence.

  She is not interested in knowing.

  Being able to find a good wife is already a blessing.

  Dou Zhaoan slept soundly and woke up early the next day. Before dawn, she had Tuo Niang carry her to the guest room where her aunt was resting.

  The aunt had not yet gotten out of bed when she heard that Duan Zhao had arrived and was quite surprised.

  Dong Zhaoyi ran in and crawled onto the kang with her hands and feet: "Aunt, aunt, I want to sleep with you!"

  Her aunt chuckled and carried her onto the kang, wrapping her in a quilt and holding her in her arms.

  My aunt's body has a fragrant jasmine scent.

  She said to her aunt: "Aunt, I'll write you a letter later, okay?"

  Aunt was shocked.

  Dong Zhao smiled and said: "I know that writing a letter is just putting what I want to say on paper, so Aunt will know what I've done."

  Her aunt hugged her tightly: "Shougu is so well-behaved! If your mother were alive, I don't know how happy she would be!" It was extremely sorrowful.

  Mrs. Peng then advised her aunt: "In front of the children, you can't say such things again."

  "Never mind, never mind." Aunt smiled and asked Peng Yatou to call Yu Chuan over.

  Dongfang understood immediately after a glance.

  "Yu Mei is not here." She said with a smile, "Aunt Ding wants to marry her off."

  Her aunt's expression turned stern and she asked in a warm voice, "Who does Aunt Ding want to marry her off to?"

  "I don't know!" Du Zhao shook his head indifferently.

  The aunt thought for a moment and said to Peng Yatou: "Then let's call her Tuo Niang!"

  Mrs. Peng nodded and called in Nanny Ma.

  Aunt Wang gave Ping'er twenty taels of silver, "If Fourth Miss has any trouble, you tell Yu'er's nurse, and if Yu'er's nurse can't handle it, you get someone to write a letter to me."

  Mrs. Peng handed a small piece of paper to Tuo Niang: "This is the address of Master and Mistress. I'll tell you how to read it later, memorize it."

  The girl nodded repeatedly and put away the small note, but refused to accept the twenty taels of silver.

  "Here, take it," said Aunt Xue. "I've instructed Yu Niang to give you five taels of silver every month from now on. This is for Fourth Miss's expenses. I know the Duan family will also provide a monthly allowance for Fourth Miss, but having some silver in hand makes one feel more secure. And if something urgent comes up, you'll need to spend money to hire someone to send us messages."

  The girl nodded and put the two silver ingots into her bosom.

  Dòu Zhāoyī was talking with her aunt in her aunt's arms.

  "I want to play with my cousin, but I don't want to go to Anxiang," she said in a worried tone. "Mother went to Nanhai to worship Buddha, what if she comes back and can't find Shougu? I need to wait for her at home. What if Father forgets about Mother? What if Yu Niangniang gives away Mother's beautiful clothes to someone else? When Mother comes back, there will be no one to play with her, and no clothes for her to wear..."

  Aunt was stunned.

  Then got excited.

  "It's all in vain that I've lived to such an old age, not even as good as a three-year-old child." Auntie held Dou Zhao's face and kissed him with a "smack", "Shou Gu is right, this is Shou Gu's home, the Dou family should take good care of Shou Gu. Why should we sneak around with you to the northwest and let others take over this house? Good child, we won't go to the northwest anymore. In two years, Auntie will come back to see you. If the Dou family dares to treat you badly in any way, I'll never forgive them."

  Dong Zhao couldn't help but smile and nodded his head.

  She never thought of going with her uncle's family to Ren Shang.

  This is her home, why should she retreat without a fight, and why should she let others have what should be hers?!

  She won't go.

  She wanted to leave because she was fed up with staying at Du's house and wanted a change of scene.

  But it wasn't like leaving the Duan family reluctantly.

  Dong Zhao came out of the guest room, and the morning glow filled the sky, dyeing the blue sky red.

  The immortal strokes my crown, and I receive eternal life as my hair is tied up.

  She stood under the eaves, quietly gazing at the sky.

  If such things can happen to her, what else is impossible!

  She wants to choose her life and never be chosen by life again.

  ※

  O(∩_∩)O~

  ※