The dispute in He Shou Tang is still ongoing.

  Dong Zhaohui rushed over and heard Sanbobo say: "...This matter was caused by Seventh Brother's concubine, it can be said to be 'good jealousy'. In this way, the Zhao family also has nothing to say. It is considered to have maintained the dignity of both families."

  She was so angry that she trembled with rage.

  The dead are more important!

  Even so, you shouldn't let your mother die with such a bad reputation just to shirk responsibility!

  Don't you know what "being jealous" means for a woman?

  A mother who was so proud, if she knew that after her death it would be like this, I don't know if she would still hang herself with such determination.

  No wonder those maids in my previous life would mention my mother with disdain when they were alone!

  It can be seen that no matter what happens, people will always find a way to survive.

  Only by living on can there be hope and a future.

  Tu Zhaolifted the curtain and entered.

  Unfortunately, the hall was empty and spacious, everyone's mood was heavy, and there were still people guarding outside, no one thought that someone would sneak in silently.

  Xiao Xiao Dong Zhao's arrival was like a leaf falling on the riverbank, without causing a single ripple.

  She clenched her fists and was about to speak when her father, who had been sitting alone in the distance, suddenly stood up with a "ding".

  "No! No!" he exclaimed loudly, his face flushed with excitement. "Gu Qiu is not that kind of person, you can't say such things about her! You can't let her die and still bear the infamy..." As he spoke, his expression suddenly turned somewhat despondent, and his voice dropped, "She... she was killed by me..."

  Dong Zhao took a deep breath and saw the second lady sitting at the top, her face sank, and she sternly shouted "Nonsense". The corners of her eyes and eyebrows became extremely cold and unbearable. "What time is it now? You still say such things? How old are you this year? Why don't you think carefully before speaking?! Are you looking forward to seeing the Zhao family and the Dong family tear their faces apart and fight? Was Gu Qiu killed by you? You'd better say, did you beat her? Scolded her? Or rebuked her in front of outsiders? Is her death not related to your concubine at all?"

  Father was speechless.

  "I, I..." for half a day, still couldn't say anything conclusive.

  Dòu Zhāo suddenly understood a little bit.

  If it weren't for Father taking a concubine, things wouldn't have turned out like this between Father and Mother. In the end, the Duan family still thinks that Wang Yinxue is to blame for this whole thing.

  If Father doesn't acknowledge it, this won't work. If he does, it will only prove Third Uncle's accusation of "being jealous" to be true!

  Is it because of this that uncle can't stand on reason, has a hard time speaking out, and in the end can only swallow this bitter fruit?

  Dong Zhao's expression was dazed and confused.

  The second wife's complexion slowly relaxed.

  She sighed and said, "Gu Yu was someone I watched grow up, she left at such a young age, shouldn't I feel heartache?" As she spoke, her eyes reddened, "But even if I do feel heartache, it's not like I can indulge in romantic feelings for her..."

  "However, it can't be said that way about Gu Yu!" The second lady had always been strict, and everyone in the house was afraid of her. Seeing her show weakness, Father didn't dare to argue back, but still resentfully said, "If this gets out, how will you let others view Gu Yu?"

  "This will not get out!" The second lady warned, her eyes scanning the room sternly, "The law is not spread to six ears. As long as we don't say anything, can the Zhao family still go around shouting? Zhao Rui has three daughters after all."

  "Indeed!" Third Uncle took over the conversation, advising Father, "Once this gets out, we'll lose face. You know Rui Fu's temper, he's the most sincere and serious when it comes to treating others. If he makes a fuss, your concubine matter will be exposed to everyone, and Seventh Brother and Sister-in-law will still be labeled as 'good at jealousy'. Why not calm down Rui Fu first, and after Seventh Brother and Sister-in-law's funeral, you can discuss things with your uncle in detail? It's better than doing something impulsive while angry and saying hurtful words!" After finishing, he gave Sixth Uncle a glance, hinting for him to advise Father as well.

  "Who would have thought that Sixth Uncle would say: 'Third Brother, don't look at me, I don't agree with this matter!'"

  The whole house was shocked.

  Including Dòu Zhāo.

  Sixth Uncle stood up and said, "I originally didn't get along with Seventh Brother's wife because I thought she was too pretentious. Whenever Seventh Brother neglected her, she would get upset, and he would go to great lengths to apologize to her. What kind of virtuous wife behaves like that? But now that she's dead, you're all being overly sentimental. A gentleman is open-minded and aboveboard. We've had a long-standing relationship with the Zhao family, so let's explain things clearly to Rui Fu and let him decide what to do. I believe Seventh Brother isn't a coward either." He nodded at Father as he spoke, implying that he supported him, "As long as we have a clear conscience, that's all that matters..." This made Father feel deeply grateful.

  Dong Zhao couldn't help but sigh.

  No wonder Father and Sixth Uncle were so close, Sixth Uncle was a straightforward and open-minded person, with the style of a Wei and Jin dynasty scholar. And Father and Sixth Uncle had the same reputation... Or perhaps, Father wasn't as bad as he thought!

  Her gaze fell on her father's body, and she couldn't help but re-examine the father whom she had never looked at straight in the eye in her past life.

  "Zhongzhí!" Third Uncle shouted Sixth Uncle's courtesy name, awkwardly arguing, "This is just a temporary measure..."

  "People are divided into three six nine classes, and things also have high and low nobility," Liu Bo said disapprovingly. "Even if it's a temporary measure, you shouldn't tarnish someone else's reputation like this..."

  Two brothers of the same parents had a quarrel.

  "Alright!" The grandfather, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up. "All of you stop arguing. It's definite that the truth must be told to Rui Fu, but this matter of 'being jealous' is also a fact! This is how it's going to be settled."

  In the end, it still boils down to using mother's "jealousy" to shut uncle's mouth.

  Dòu Zhāo raised an eyebrow.

  After all, they were separated by a wall, and Sixth Uncle couldn't say anything more. Third Uncle also knew in his heart that this matter was not handled properly, and there wasn't a hint of joy on his face.

  "Dad..." Father anxiously called out to his father.

  Grandfather coldly grunted.

  A hurried footsteps came from outside, and Gao Tai raised the curtain and said: "Master Zhao's uncle has arrived!"

  The grandfather and the second lady exchanged a glance, and the second lady ordered the third uncle: "You and Zhongzheng accompany Yuan to welcome Zhao's uncle!"

  Third Uncle let out a soft sigh and followed Father out of the hall with Sixth Uncle.

  Dong Zhaoli thought for a moment and chased after him, but was discovered by Second Madam.

  "Shòu gū! How are you here?" She hastily ordered the maid who had been sent to the yard earlier, "Bring Fourth Miss over to me!"

  Dou Zhao was caught and held around the waist.

  "Let me go! Let me go!" She struggled free from the maids who didn't dare use much force on her and ran away in a flash.

  The gate of the Dou family's house opened, and Dou Zhao saw his aunt, who had been resting in the wing room, leading three female cousins into the courtyard, surrounding a man dressed in mourning clothes.

  Medium build, with more delicate eyebrows and eyes than a woman's.

  Although it had been over a decade, Du Zhao still recognized her uncle Zhao Si at a glance.

  Her eyes immediately became moist.

  If she hadn't been so stubborn and listened to her elder sister's words carefully, thinking it over thoroughly, she and her uncle's family wouldn't have remained strangers all along.

  Dòu Zhāo ran over quickly.

  Uncle took three steps forward in two strides and punched Father's face.

  His father was beaten until he was dazed, stumbled and fell to the ground, and didn't come back to his senses for a long time. His pale face immediately swelled up.

  "You scoundrel!" Uncle grabbed Father's collar and threw another punch, "You've been married for only three years and you're already taking a concubine. Do you still have any regard for Gu Qiu? For Shou Gu? You scoundrel!"

  His father's face took another punch.

  Dou Zhao shouted in surprise.

  Third uncle, sixth uncle, aunt, three female cousins all shouted and surrounded them. Some called "Rui Fu", some called "Dad", some pulled father, some pulled uncle. Third uncle stood between uncle and father, loudly saying "A gentleman uses his mouth but not his hands".

  The uncle sneered and pointed at his father: "What kind of gentleman is he? Can he understand when I scold him?" He stepped forward, wanting to beat his father again.

  His father pushed away his third uncle, who was blocking his way, and knelt down in front of his uncle: "Brother, it's all my fault, I'm the one who wronged Gu Qiu... Go ahead and hit me! I'd rather you hit me once..."

  Sixth Uncle's face turned black: "Dong Shiying, get up for me! Get up for me! A great man only kneels to heaven, earth, ruler, parents and teacher. What is the meaning of this?! He also shouted at the family servant beside him, "Still not closing the main gate for me?!"

  The family members rushed forward to close the door, not even daring to glance in this direction.

  "Are you trying to say that getting beaten up makes up for your mistakes? Du Shiying, I'm telling you, the door is not even...!" He kicked his father.

  His father knelt there and was kicked by his uncle.

  "Rui Fu, Rui Fu, don't be like this!" Third Uncle hurriedly restrained Fourth Uncle. "Seventh Brother and Sister's bodies are not yet cold, and you two start fighting? Isn't that a joke to others? Whatever it is, say it properly, it's not as if it can't be clarified..."

  Uncle ignored Third Uncle and asked Aunt: "Where's Shougu? Who is taking care of Shougu?"

  "Shu's aunt hurriedly said: 'Shou Gu is in the mourning hall, and the maid in her house is watching her!'"

  Uncle pulled his leg and went straight to the mourning hall.

  Dou Zhao's tears fell down with a patter.

  She stood up and shouted "Uncle".

  Zhao Si came over, and her eyes immediately turned red.

  "Shou Gu!" He held Dou Zhao tightly, "Let's go see your mother!"

  "Good!" Du Zhao nodded and hugged his uncle's neck, feeling an unprecedented sense of stability for the first time.

  Burn incense, pay respects, and express gratitude.

  The uncle and nephew solemnly completed the memorial ceremony.

  Zhao Si handed Du Zhao over to her aunt: "You watch her, at times like these everyone is busy and it's easy for something to go wrong. I'm going to go see my husband's family."

  His father's face was a mess of bruises and he stared blankly at his mother's coffin, while Third Uncle and Sixth Uncle looked rather uneasy.

  "I understand." Auntie took over Da Zhao and nodded clearly, saying "You go ahead with your business, I'll take care of Shou Gu."

  Uncle gently patted Du Zhao's head and turned around to leave the mourning hall.

  Auntie coaxed Du Zhao: "Come on, let's go eat Osmanthus cake!"

  ※

  Sisters, according to the actual situation, the update time has been changed to around 8 pm. Please inform each other.

  O(∩_∩)O~

  ※