Mother is a proud person, since she has already agreed to let Wang Yingsnow enter the house, she will not make things difficult for Wang Yingsnow on such a small matter as the time of entering the house.

  Dai Ou's "illness" has improved a bit, and she invited Da Bomu and San Bomu to come over and discuss the matter of Wang Yingshu entering the household. Dai Ou was sent to the courtyard to play jump rope with the little maids.

  Four young maidservants were named Xiangcao, Molihua, Qiukui and Haitang. Mother liked Yu'niang's gentle nature, so she gave her the name Suhuan, which paired well with Yuzhen, who had previously served by Mother's side but was now assigned to Douding's quarters as a senior maidservant.

  Tuo Niang liked this name very much, but the name "Tuo Niang" had a special meaning for Dou Zhao. Dou Zhao still liked to call her "Tuo Niang", so that the maids in Dou Zhao's house would sometimes call her Su Xian and sometimes Tuo Niang, causing quite a few laughs. Fortunately, Tuo Niang didn't mind, no matter who called which name, she would always respond happily.

  Dong Zhao was not really a two-year-old kid and naturally had no interest in playing games like Baidu.

  She thought of going to her grandfather's study to find some books about describing strange and supernatural things - there is nothing strange in the world, she suddenly returned to her childhood, as if reborn, and must still have people like her, she eagerly wanted to find a clue from those historical records.

  Dong Zhaorong took Tuo Niang to her grandfather's study.

  Tuo Niang immediately dropped the Baisuo in her hand and carried her to He Shou Tang.

  As she walked past the lotus pond, she saw Yu Niang standing beside the Taihu stone rockery and talking to a middle-aged man wearing an official green satin robe.

  Two people hiding and covering each other up, their appearance is suspicious.

  Dong Zhaos sank into thought for a moment, then pointed at the lotus pond and said to Tuo Niang: "Let's go over there!"

  The girl didn't suspect anything and walked through the Nine-turn Stone Bridge to the Taihu Stone Hill.

  Yu's mother and the man were nowhere to be seen.

  Dou Zhao left the lotus pond with doubts and ran into his aunts.

  She got down and respectfully paid her respects to Big Aunt and Third Aunt.

  Great Aunt picked up Du Zhao in one scoop: "Shou girl is getting more and more likable!"

  "Who says it isn't." Third Aunt smiled and patted Dun Zhao's head, "Just like Seventh Brother and Sister when they were young."

  As they spoke, the smiles on their faces gradually faded away.

  "Alas!" Eldest Aunt sighed, "Wang Yingshu's birth is already a fact, if she gives birth to a boy this time, even if Seventh Brother and Sister are virtuous, they will probably have to give up their claim!"

  It turns out they all knew about Wang Yingshuang's pregnancy.

  Temple eyebrow corner slightly moved.

  "This is fate!" The expression on Third Aunt's face also seemed somewhat despondent.

  Or perhaps it was because the two elders felt that sighing in front of the children was a bit inappropriate, so Auntie forced a smile and said: "We're just moved to tears by what we've heard, worrying on behalf of people from the past. Seventh Brother and Sister are usually not met with any troubles, but when they do encounter some, they naturally become more sensible over time. Look at her now, isn't she handling things quite well?"

  Third Aunt nodded and asked Tuo Niang a few questions, knowing that Du Zhao was going to see his grandfather. She instructed Tuo Niang to be careful not to slip and fall, and left with Eldest Aunt through the second gate.

  Dongfang suddenly lost interest in going to He Shoutang. She instructed Tuan'niang: "We're going back to the main house."

  Tuo Niang silently did as she was told and the two quickly returned to the main courtyard.

  Dong Zhaorun rushed into the inner chamber.

  "Mother was sitting on the heated kang by the window, chatting with Yu Niangniang: "...Cui Niangniang is the birth mother of Seventh Master, and a betrothal gift of 200 taels of silver is not humiliating to her. As for whether the Wang family wants it or not, that's their business; but whether we send it or not is our family's affair. Having money or not, marrying a daughter-in-law is better than celebrating the New Year alone. Although she's a concubine, after all, she's still a new person. If she enters the house on the 22nd of the twelfth month, just in time for the Little New Year, and by the Spring Festival, it will be good to go around and get acquainted with the relatives in each house." As she spoke, Mother picked up her tea cup and took a sip, continuing, "The new room will be set up in Qixia Temple..."

  "Seventh Granny!" Yu's mother was startled, and before she could finish speaking, she blurted out, "How can this be? The Qixia Temple is right behind Seventh Master's study..."

  Her mother made a gesture to stop, saying: "They can get together from all over the North China Plain, how can they be clean and upright under my eyes?"

  Yu Yu's words stuck in her throat.

  "Besides, I'm too lazy to see their affectionate appearance." Mother murmured, "I let go of Wang Yingsnow, and also let go of myself."

  Dou Zhao was about to applaud his mother.

  That's right.

  The world may be vast, but it is no bigger than oneself.

  If you don't care about yourself, why should others care about you?

  Since you don't want to see Wang Yingshuai, why bother humiliating yourself by pretending to be virtuous!

  She also didn't understand this truth until she was over thirty years old.

  Dou Zhaolowly said to Tuo Niang: "You follow Yu Niang later and see where she goes, what kind of people she meets?"

  The girl nodded.

  Dou Zhao excitedly rushed into his mother's arms: "Mother dear, the plum blossoms in our backyard are blooming. Let's go and admire them."

  Mother smiled and kissed Suo Zha's small face: "Mom has something to do, let Nuo Nuo accompany you to play!"

  Dou Zhao just wants to stay by his mother's side.

  Her mother didn't mind her being a nuisance either, busying herself with household chores while teasing her at the same time.

  Father suddenly came over, regardless of the maidservants serving in the room, and took out a crimson gold-inlaid jade hairpin from his bosom like offering treasure.

  "Does it look good?" He smiled at his mother, "I had it made especially in Zhengding Prefecture."

  A golden light shines on her body, a green glow surrounds her hair, like a teardrop on the cheek of a beauty.

  "Beautiful!" Her mother smiled and fiddled with the jade hairpin for a long time, instructing Yu Niang to put it away, "It will be used as dowry for Shou Gu in the future."

  "Father grumbled: 'This is for you... Shou Gu's, I'll buy her another one later.'"

  Mother smiled and said: "In the future, you will be responsible for her dowry, this is my heart's desire."

  "It's still not yours." His father muttered under his breath, hesitating to continue.

  "Are you here to ask about Wang Yinxue's marriage? I've already given instructions earlier..." Then she repeated what she had said to Yu Niangniang to Father.

  The father uttered an "oh" and didn't seem very interested, but at the same time he seemed to have a lot to say and didn't know how to say it.

  For a moment, he was speechless.

  After a while, Father got up restlessly and muttered: "Since you have something on your mind, I'll leave first."

  "Then I won't see you off," said Mother with a smile as she stood up. She then called out to Huanxiu, "See Seventh Master off!" and sat back down, lowering her head to work on the abacus.

  Father stood for a while, seeing mother still didn't lift her head, eyes slightly dim, and walked out with his head down.

  Yu's wife shouted "Qi Nainai".

  Her mother's eyes didn't move, saying: "The New Year is approaching, and it's not easy to invite people. The furnishings in the new house, you still need to pay more attention, help urge the several managers in the outer courtyard."

  "Yes!" Yu's nanny reluctantly responded and backed down.

  Mother lost her abacus, smiled and hugged Dou Zhao: "Let's go, we're going to admire the plum blossoms."

  Dong Zhaoying smiled brightly.

  Time is the best medicine, no matter how painful the wound, it will slowly heal with time.

  Mom, I will always be with you.

  Ease your loneliness, soothe your wounds.

  Dou Zhao gazed at her mother's pale face and made a silent vow in her heart, then smiled and took her mother's hand, skipping and jumping to the backyard.

  ※※※※※

  At night, Tuo Niang told Du Zhao: "Yu Niang has not gone anywhere, and the ones she met were all the managers and madams of the mansion."

  Who is that man?

  Dòu Zhāo bit her finger thoughtfully.

  The next day early in the morning, her aunt brought her elder cousin Zhao Bier to Dugu's house to give New Year's gifts.

  "It's freezing outside," Mother hastily welcomed Aunt and elder female cousin into the inner chamber, personally helping Aunt onto the heated bed and taking the hot tea from the maid's hands to respectfully offer it to Aunt. "You could have just sent someone to run an errand, why did you come yourself!"

  Her aunt, who was in her thirties, wore a blue silk jacket with gold trim and a pair of crimson gold hairpins with jade gourds, she had an average height, plump figure, fair skin, and when she smiled, her eyebrows and eyes curved, looking very kind.

  She beckoned to Du Zhao in Tuan Niang's arms and said: "Come, sit here with your aunt."

  Mother carried Duan Zhao onto the kang.

  Zhao Bihua then bent her knees and gave a blessing to her mother.

  Her mother hugged Zhao Bihua: "Sister is a few inches taller again, almost catching up with me."

  "Aunt scolded: 'Only growing taller but not wiser, what's the use!'"

  Zhao Bìrú smiled shyly.

  At this time, Zhao Biyu was only eleven years old, with long hands and legs, skin as white as snow, and a hint of elegance and beauty that would be evident in her adulthood.

  Her mother took her onto the kang, and everyone sat around the low table eating snacks and chatting.

  “……Your elder brother has failed the imperial examination twice in a row, this time he made an all-out effort to get on the golden list, and even when I talk to him, he doesn't respond.” Aunt smiled and said, “I was bored at home, so I brought Bi Ru here to visit you.” Then she asked, “Have you been well these days?”

  Mother glossed over it: "It's just like before. Busy every day, don't even know what I'm busy with."

  Her aunt smiled but didn't say anything, took a sip of tea and said to Zhao Birl: "Since you're here, go play with your cousin over there!"

  Zhao Bihua nodded slightly and said "yes", then obediently got down from the kang.

  Mother was slightly stunned.

  "My aunt said: 'I have something to say to you.' Her face showed a few degrees of solemnity."

  The mother responded with a "yes", and tears could already be seen in her eyes.

  Dou Zhaohui thought of Yu Niangniang by the lotus pond and the man in the official green satin robe.

  She shook off Zhao Birl's hand and ran towards the gate in a flash.

  Outside the gate, a man wearing an official green velvet robe was talking to one of the Dou family's stewards. Behind him was a flatbed carriage loaded with all sorts of things, and servants were busily moving the items from the carriage into the house.

  It turned out that person was the manager of the Zhao family.

  Dong Zhaorou ran back to the second gate and met Zhao Bailing who was chasing after her, sweating profusely.

  "What are you doing?" She covered her stomach and panted heavily, "How can you run faster than a rabbit?"

  Dong Zhaohui thought of her first meeting with him.

  She elegantly held the tea cup, smiling warmly yet nobly at her: "After your aunt passed away, Father and Mother originally wanted to bring you home to be with us sisters, but you didn't want to. In front of the Duan family's people, you bit Mother's ear and refused to speak, shouting 'I won't go to your house.' Mother had no choice but to return in a huff..."

  She felt at the time that Zhao Biyu's words were like a fan in autumn, making people feel uncomfortable and out of place.

  But now... she was somewhat uncertain.

  ※

  No omissions, just wrote in a skipping manner, didn't expect everyone to feel uncomfortable...... ⊙﹏⊙b sweat......

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