Dong Zhao smiled and let go of Dong Ming's hair, but poked his face.

  Wang Yingshu's heart rose to her throat as she hastily said, "Little sister is still young, can't bear the shame!" Her voice couldn't help but sound a bit shrill.

  Dong Zhao went to play with his younger sister's little hand.

  She must have done it on purpose!

  Wang Yingxue was furious.

  Rather than hurting children behind their backs and being scolded by adults for being "naughty", it's better to do things openly in front of everyone. With just one sentence "you don't understand", you can shift all the responsibility away...

  Zhao Gu's autumn birth is actually a child, clearly a demon!

  As soon as the thought flashed through her mind, Wang Yingshuo wanted to maintain her composure, but it was hard to conceal a hint of stiffness: "Shougu, you can't play with your sister's hand!"

  Dou Shiying felt a little displeased in her heart.

  Shou Gu just wanted to get close to her younger sister, and if she didn't understand things and was a bit rough with her hands and feet, the child would naturally cry uncomfortably. But at this time, the child was lying comfortably in the arms of the wet nurse, it can be seen that Shou Gu's movements were very careful.

  He felt that Wang Yingshuang attached too much importance to her own children and was somewhat harsh on Shougu.

  Third Aunt and Ding Yiniang also had the same feeling. However, neither of them was in a position to say anything - the former was only temporarily helping to preside over the West Wing's Zhongyu on behalf of Duan Yu, and it wasn't convenient for her to interfere with family matters; the latter's status was already established here, and it wasn't her turn to speak. But this didn't mean that neither of them had any ideas or stance. Especially Third Aunt, who after all was the legitimate wife. When facing the Zhao family, she naturally had to help the Duan family speak up. But behind closed doors, she looked down on Wang Yinxue, a concubine who relied on underhanded means to get in.

  She snorted inwardly and smiled brightly as she walked forward to hug Dou Zhao, quietly pulling him away from Dou Ming's side: "Silly child, you can't be naughty, or you might accidentally hurt your sister!"

  Going too far is as bad as not going far enough.

  Wang Yingshu is already tense enough today.

  After all, she is just a three-year-old child. If Wang Yingshuo were to be forced into a corner, it would not be worth it if she were to use force on her without regard for the consequences!

  Dong Zhao smiled and hugged San Bo Mu's neck.

  Third Aunt praised her with a "well-behaved" and said to Dou Shiying: "Aunt Wang has settled everything on this side, I'll go back first. If there's anything, just send someone to tell me."

  Wang Yingshu had a relapse last night at midnight. Third Aunt and Ding Nainai have been busy until now.

  Dong Shiying repeatedly thanked her and saw Third Aunt off at the door with Ding's wife.

  Wang Yingshu ordered her personal maid, Hu Mama: "From now on, do not allow Shou Gu to get close to Jie Er, and absolutely cannot let Shou Gu be alone with Jie Er."

  Hu's aunt was taken aback and hesitated, saying: "Isn't this not good? Fourth Miss is after all the legitimate eldest miss of the Duan manor, if she can get along with her sister, it would be for the best..."

  "You don't understand!" Wang Yingshuo said with a lingering fear, "That child... is somewhat eerie. You should also be more careful when you meet her in the future." Seeing that Hu Niangniang seemed unconcerned, she thought about how Hu Niangniang had helped with everything in her room and after some consideration, told Hu Niangniang what Duan Zhao had said: "You say she's just a three-year-old child, how does she know all these things?"

  "Perhaps it was someone who told her?"

  "Impossible!" Wang Yingshuai said, "Zhao Guqiu is no longer here, who else in the family would be so bored!"

  Thoughts returned to the past.

  She was jilted, but Zhao Guqiu is getting married.

  The family couldn't return the gift from Zhao's house, and my mother was too embarrassed to go, so she took ten taels of silver as a congratulatory gift. She thought it was too shabby, so she found two pieces of good satin fabric, one red and one yellow, from the betrothal gifts from Lei's family, and hastily embroidered two handkerchiefs to bring over.

  Zhao Guqiu's eyes and eyebrows were filled with joy that couldn't be hidden, without a single bit of worry or reluctance about her upcoming marriage.

  Everyone teased Zhao Guqiu.

  Zhao Guqiu said without any shame: "I've been looking forward to marrying him every day, now that my wish has come true, I really can't be sad!" Everyone laughed so hard they were doubled over, and she felt a mix of admiration and curiosity.

  When the Duan family came to receive their relatives, she quietly ran to attend the ceremony.

  A tall and majestic sorrel horse carried a groom in red attire, with a face as white as jade and eyes like morning stars. His joyful expression rushed forth and deeply imprinted itself on her heart.

  Later, the days at home became increasingly difficult. Her brother's marriage had not been settled, and those who came to propose to her were either widowers who had lost their wives, idle rascals, or men with physical disabilities... She thought of Zhao Guqiu getting married and felt even more unworthy, her heart growing increasingly desolate.

  Until one day, He Juren from the town asked County Zun to be the matchmaker and propose to her for his idiot son who still wet his bed at over twenty years old. However, she met Dou Shiying...

  He and she are as gentle and considerate as they imagined.

  Her heart began racing wildly.

  It's better for her to follow Dou Shiying than to marry a man who makes her want to vomit just by looking at him.

  At least Duan Shiying is a talented and kind-hearted person, she followed him, no need to worry about being abandoned. Zhao Qiugu was raised by his brother and sister-in-law, young and inexperienced, not a sinister and ruthless person. Moreover, the Western Duan family has a single heir, and there is no old mother-in-law in the inner courtyard to manage, as long as she can give birth to a male heir, raise him well, and strive for a good name, with her background and upbringing, she can be on an equal footing with Zhao Qiugu, what's the difference between her and that legitimate wife?

  Everything was thought out, everything was calculated, but never expected Zhao Guqiu to be so tough!

  What she didn't expect was that after Zhao Guqiu's death, strange things happened around her one after another, making her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles every day, so anxious that the child was born prematurely, and her affair with Dou Shiying was exposed to everyone's eyes like a fire that couldn't be wrapped in paper...

  What's next?

  At this thought, Wang Yingshu felt as if a thousand needles were pricking her temples.

  Who is that person anyway?

  Wang Yingxue's mind suddenly flashed with Du Zhao's bright but slightly sarcastic eyes.

  Could it be Shou Gu?

  No way, no way!

  Wang Yingshuai shook her head.

  She was just a three-year-old child... or did Zhao Guqiu instruct that child to do it?

  No way, no way!

  Wang Ying murmured to herself.

  My father once said that all supernatural and paranormal phenomena are just illusions created by an unstable mind.

  Auntie Hu thought Wang Yingxue looked like she had been frightened, and it wasn't a good look on her. She hastily said: "Lady, did you think of something? Do you know who wants to harm you?"

  Wang Yingxue's expression turned cold.

  Zhao Guqiu is already dead, how can she scare herself!

  She hastily composed herself and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Anyway, remember what I told you. Never let Shougu and Jie'er get together."

  Auntie Hu nodded in puzzlement.

  Dong Shiying returned with a broken arm.

  Wang Yingshu put on a gentle smile: "Has Third Madam and Ding's wife left?"

  Dong Shiying murmured, "Mm-hmm", and said: "Shougu is still young, she only knows that when she likes something, she wants to touch it and hug it. You shouldn't be so surprised in the future."

  "I..." Wang Yingshuo wanted to speak but hesitated.

  Dou Shiying has never experienced any setbacks since he was a child, such people can only follow the crowd.

  "It's me who is too tense." She generously admitted her mistake, and let the wet nurse bring over their daughter. "Seventh Master, look, does our daughter's eyebrows resemble yours?"

  Dòu Shìyīng looked carefully and smiled: "It does look a bit like it."

  Wang Yingshu sighed, gently stroking her daughter's sparse hair, and said with red eyes: "You don't know how dangerous it was just now... my sister almost didn't make it! Fortunately, there is Third Aunt... Seventh Uncle, please ask Old Master to give my sister a milk name. Let my sister also benefit from Old Master's good fortune."

  Dong Shiying nodded and said in a gentle tone, "I know. Don't worry about these things, just focus on resting and taking care of your body. On my sister's side, not only are there people sent by Third Aunt, but also Ding Niang, nothing will happen!"

  Wang Yingshuo nodded gently.

  Dong Shiying stood up: "You're also tired, take a rest first! I'll go back to the study."

  "Sir, won't you stay here for a little while longer?"

  "I still have homework to finish, I'll come see you later."

  Wang Yingxue had no choice but to let Hu Niangniang send Dou Shiyin out of the door.

  Dòu Shìyīng stood at the entrance of Qīxiá Yuàn, unsure where to go.

  Whenever he sees Wang Yingshuang, he thinks of how Gu Qiu died.

  He couldn't casually chat and laugh with Wang Yingxue anymore.

  Let's go to father's place and give a milk name for the second daughter!

  Dong Shiying went to Heshoutang.

  Dong Dong lay on the drunkard's chair in the study, holding a scroll and staring blankly.

  He knew the intention of Dou Shiying, so he dipped his pen and wrote two big characters: "For a girl named 'Zhao', take the name 'Ming' for a younger one!" He said, taking a deep breath.

  Dong Shiying didn't say a word, and had someone send the rice paper with the character "ming" written on it to Qixia Courtyard. He himself took the rice paper with the character "zhao" written on it to the main house.

  Dong Zhao is not here.

  Yu Zan said: "Fourth Miss has gone to the Small Buddha Hall." Afraid that Du Shiying would blame her for not serving by Du Zhao's side, she hastily explained, "Tuo Niang is following Fourth Miss."

  Dòu Shìyīng went to the Small Buddha Hall.

  Dong Zhaosat alone on the high threshold of a small Buddhist temple, leaning against his cheeks and looking at his mother's memorial tablet.

  The sunset cast her shadow inside the house, stretching it out very long.

  Du Shiying's eyes were dim, and her chest felt like it had been punched by someone, both painful and suffocating.

  "Shòu gū!" He sat down beside his daughter, "What are you doing sitting here?"

  Dòu Shìyīng's voice is as gentle as a spring breeze in March.

  Dou Zhao turned his head and stared at his father: "I miss Mother!"

  She didn't understand why her mother wanted to commit suicide before.

  When Mother saw Father and Wang Yingxue getting along so well, her feelings must have been the same as when she heard Wei Tingyu praising Du Ming.

  His shadow was reflected in his daughter's clear and calm eyes.

  Dòu Shìyīng suddenly felt ashamed and didn't dare look directly at his daughter.

  Since Father didn't say anything, Du Zhao also lost interest in amusing his relatives with colorful clothes.

  Her mood was very depressed.

  As soon as she saw the newborn Dou Ming, she thought of Dou Xiao who would be born in two years.

  I had tried my best to save her, but in the end, my mother still hanged herself. Is it that the things of this world are already predetermined and cannot be changed?

  In his previous life, his mother passed away and his father remarried immediately. Afterwards, he had children with Wang Yingxue. What was his mother's death to him?

  A gentle breeze blew by, and the copper wind chimes hanging under the eaves of the small Buddhist temple rang out softly, distant and serene.

  Dong Zhaoli thought of what this person beside him had done before and couldn't stay for a moment.

  She stood up irritably.

  By her ear, however, came her father's low voice: "Shougu, I miss your mother too, very much...very much..."

  Then she saw her father bury his face in his knees and cry silently.

  ※

  Is this year's Laba Festival, have you sisters eaten Laba porridge?

  O(∩_∩)O~

  ※