Shu Jie was rebuffed by Dou Zhao, ridiculed by Dou Ming, and now scolded by Yi Jie. Feeling anxious and angry, she pushed away the maid beside her and ran out.

  Ran into Haitang head-on.

  "Shu Jie," she smiled brightly as Shu Jie made a courtesy, behind her the little maid was still holding a lantern of Four Beauties Welcoming Spring in crystal glass, "our fourth young lady said that the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea lanterns were sold out, only this Four Beauties Welcoming Spring lantern was left, you can play with it first, and next year, Fourth Young Lady will send someone to buy one early."

  Shu Jie felt slightly better in her heart.

  What happened in the mansion would eventually come to light.

  Wu Tang's sister-in-law asked Yi's younger sister: "Wanting Shu's sister to ask for a lamp from Shou's aunt, is it really Ming's sister's idea?"

  "Should be, right?" Dou Ming persuaded Shu Jie to ask for the lamp when Yi Jie was not present. She hesitated and said, "Shu Jie is indeed a bit foolish, but she's used to asking Fourth Aunt for things. If it were her own idea, there's nothing wrong with admitting it. There's no need to shift the blame to Fifth Aunt." As she spoke, she seemed to have just realized something and exclaimed, "Fifth Aunt has been different since returning from Kyoto. She always talks about how good Kyoto is, how good her husband's family is..."

  This made Yijie feel somewhat uncomfortable.

  Wu Tang's sister listened with a frown, instructing her daughter: "After all, she is an elder, you should be more respectful when you meet her in the future. Don't always drag her along, whether there's something to do or not. If you want to play, go find Shu Jie to play - you and Shu Jie are of the same generation."

  As she grew older, her temper became more and more stubborn. However, her father was the most incompetent one among those with the surname Chang. The sense of superiority that Du Ming occasionally revealed in front of her had long made her feel displeased. Her mother's reminder also made her realize that the little girl who was three years younger than herself was actually her aunt, and she should be showing respect to her as a junior. She felt somewhat embarrassed and listlessly responded with "I know".

  "Over there, Third Aunt was scolding Shu Jie: "Do you believe whatever others say? If someone told you to steal something from the mistress, would you do it too? Luckily, you met Shou Gu. If it were someone else, what would they say about you? You're still young and don't know how to behave properly, taking things without returning them. I thought that as you grew older, you'd become more sensible, but instead, you've become more and more reckless. When others don't give in to you, you even harbor resentment... All you know is how to cry! Now you're ashamed, where were you before?!" She also instructed the housekeeper in Shu Jie's room, "Take out the things she secretly took from Shou Gu and I'll personally return them."

  There are too many things and it's been too long. Even Shu Jie doesn't know which ones belong to her and which ones belong to Dou Zhao, so angry that San Tang Sao beats the bed: "How did I raise such a careless child like you!"

  Dù Qǐjùn's three brothers returned from school and were shocked. One comforted their mother, one asked his sister what had happened, and the youngest, Dù Qǐshùn, blinked his eyes and said: "Fourth Aunt isn't that kind of person, you don't have to be petty and return things..."

  Four pairs of eyes in the room stared at him.

  "He hastily said: 'Last time you went to Tianzhuang...'"

  Dòu Qǐtài took a step forward, covering his younger brother's mouth with one hand, while dragging him out with the other. He smiled and bowed to their mother and sister: "This matter can be big or small; if we make it big, it will ruin our sister's reputation; if we make it small, it will ruin the relationship between our family and Fourth Aunt. My brother and I will go invite Father back..."

  San Tang and Shu Jie were full of suspicion.

  Dòu Qǐjùn could only lightly cough and calmly say, "Fifth brother is right, it's better to discuss this matter with Father."

  The considerate and reliable eldest son said so, and San Tang's doubts were all dispelled.

  Outside the door, Duan Qi Shun opened it and pulled away his brother's hand covering his mouth, discontentedly pouting: "I didn't say anything wrong. Last time you guys caused such a big mess, Fourth Aunt didn't utter a word, but instead helped you cover it up. Don't think I don't know..."

  "Do you know we're in big trouble and yet you're still shouting everywhere?" Dou Qitai gritted his teeth, "Are you afraid others won't know?"

  Dou Qishun was defeated.

  Dòu Qǐtài said: "Let's go, we'll go find Fourth Aunt."

  "Didn't you say go find Dad?" asked Du Qishun strangely, "What's the point of finding Fourth Aunt?"

  "You fool." Duan Qitai was so angry that he almost slapped his brother, "With this commotion, the people in the mansion probably all know now. If Fourth Aunt is willing to appear and speak up for her sister, these things would be considered a reward from Fourth Aunt to her sister...”

  He nodded his head in understanding and set off with his brother towards the Western Mansion without even taking a carriage, running quickly along the way.

  Dong Zhaoming listened and pondered for a long time.

  To say it, she also has fault in this matter.

  Every time she sees Shu Jie's eyes light up when she likes something, she thinks of her daughter Yin Jie and suddenly feels a soft spot in her heart. Thinking that it's just some small things, Shu Jie likes to take them away. But she didn't carefully think about how this matter would affect Shu Jie's reputation.

  "I'll go with you to the East House." Dou Zhao changed into a different set of clothes and followed the two brothers to the Third House.

  Third Aunt saw her and felt both ashamed and humiliated.

  Dong Zhao didn't wait for her to speak and smiled: "Third Aunt, aren't you asking me to return Shu Jie's things as well?"

  Dòu Qǐjùn and several others were stunned.

  "You only saw what I gave to Shu Jie, but you didn't see what Shu Jie gave me." She said with a long sigh, pretending to be regretful: "At the beginning of the year, Shu Jie also gave me a purse. I thought it was beautiful and wore it when I went to pay respects to Madame. When I came back, I don't know where I lost it, and until now, I still haven't found it. What can I use to repay Shu Jie?"

  San Tang's sister knew that Duan Zhao was helping her daughter out of trouble, and she shouted "Shou Gu" with a red eye circle.

  Dòu Zhāo took the opportunity to hold onto Sān Táng's arm, indicating to Dòu Qǐjùn and a few others to take Shū Jiě away, then sat down beside Sān Táng on the kang, saying sincerely: "Speaking of it, I also have some fault in this matter. If I hadn't spoiled Shū Jiě like that, she wouldn't have become so overbearing. But if you say that Shū Jiě has developed a bad habit because of this, I don't think so - why doesn't she take other people's things? She only takes my things. It can be seen that in her heart, there is still a distinction between close and distant relationships, knowing what is important and what is not."

  There is no parent who does not have a preference for one child over another.

  Dong Zhao's words were to the point, and San Tang heard them as if she had drunk a cup of hot tea on a cold winter's day. Her face showed gratitude: "I also think that Shu Jie is not intentional."

  After giving birth to Shu Jie'er, San Tang Sao gave birth to four more sons: Du Qiyuan, Du Qi'an, who sometimes took care of Shu Jie'er.

  Dong Zhao smiled and said: "It's good that this misunderstanding has been cleared up. Otherwise, I, as a maternal aunt, would also be to blame."

  Now that we've opened up, the atmosphere has improved.

  Dong Shao and his wife San Tang Sao had chatted for half a day before they finally bid farewell.

  However, afterwards she carefully asked about Shu Jie's monthly expenses and found out that it wasn't that she didn't have enough silver to use. Rather, as soon as she got her hands on the monthly allowance, she would give some to this person and some to that person, leaving her without any spare silver. Whenever she saw something good that she couldn't afford to buy, she could only take Duan Zhao's instead. Duan Zhao then taught her how to manage the maidservants, how to save money, and also told her how to increase income and reduce expenses, taking her on a tour of the fields. She told her how to manage the fields, and Shu Jie later became an expert in financial management. Of course, all this is a story for another time.

  Third Sister-in-law went to Third Madame's place.

  She wants to clear her daughter's name.

  After telling the whole story, she sighed: "...... It was originally Douming's fault, but Shougu didn't blame her for a single word, and instead took all the blame on herself. After all, she is the biological daughter of Seventh Aunt, with the blood of Anxiang Zhao flowing through her veins."

  The second lady didn't say a word, and after San Tang's sister left, she cursed, "You reap what you sow."

  But Wu Shan knew about this matter after the Lantern Festival had passed.

  He tossed and turned on the bed for several nights, unable to bear it any longer. He pulled Du Dechang: "Will you accompany me to Xifu to borrow this book from Seventh Uncle?"

  Dòu Déchāng was still very confused, and finally became infatuated with antiques, running to antique shops with Dòu Qǐjùn every day.

  "What book? Don't we have it at home?"

  Wu Shan deceived him: "A book about collecting gold and stone, I don't remember the name, it wasn't found in your house, I want to go to Seventh Uncle's place to take a look."

  Dòu Déchāng immediately came to his senses: "Call Bóyàn up, we'll go together."

  Dòu Qǐjùn was capped this year. His fifth uncle gave him the courtesy name "Bóyàn".

  Wu Shan was overjoyed and the three of them went to Xifeng's residence.

  Yu Shiying was directing the repair of the East Wing, when he heard that Wu Shan had come to borrow a book. He washed his hands and face, changed into another suit of clothes, and went to the library, where he found Wu Shan with Du Dechang and Du Qijun.

  "What book has Hakugen been reading these days?"

  Du Qijun failed in the provincial examination last year.

  "Re-reading the Annotations of the Four Books." He spoke seriously and was still very respectful in front of Duan Shiying.

  Dòu Shìyīng nodded and said: "Don't always stare at the 'Four Books Annotation', you should also read more of 'Spring and Autumn' and 'Historical Records'."

  Dòu Qǐjùn smiled and said: "Fifth Uncle also said so, and asked me if I wanted to go take a look at the Imperial Academy."

  "Oh," said Du Shiying with a smile, "then what did you say?"

  "I've heard that Kyoto is a place where dragons and tigers lie hidden, I'd also like to go and experience it for myself."

  Two men talked about their careers, Du Dechang listened with relish, but Wu Shan's eyes rolled around, and he didn't even see a maid's shadow. After much difficulty, Du Shiying finished asking questions and let them go to the study room. Du Dechang and Du Qijun again pestered him to ask what book it was, so he had to help find the book by making excuses, busy for almost half an hour, but couldn't shake off these two guys, Wu Shan gradually became somewhat anxious and impatient.

  Suddenly, outside the study came Du Zhao's clear voice: "Didn't say Father went back to the study? Where did he run off to again?"

  Wu Shanpeng felt refreshed all over and didn't even notice that Du Dechang and Du Qijun were by his side, he hastily walked out.

  "Fourth sister!" Staring at Dou Zhao without blinking, "How did you get here?"

  "Ah, it's Wu Si Ge," facing a boy about the same age as her son, and also being close family friends, Duan Zhao found it difficult to always be on guard against the strict rules of separation between men and women. She smiled and asked, "What brings you here?"

  "I've come to borrow this book," Wu Shan said, waving the book in his hand. He had intended to phrase it more tactfully, but the opportunity slipped away all too quickly, and he had to seize the moment. "I didn't know you liked lanterns; otherwise I would have given you a set of lanterns."

  Dou Zhao was taken aback, seeing Wu Xian's pitch-black eyes that shone with an exceptionally serious gaze.

  ※

  Sisters and brothers, yesterday at home was chaotic, hastily wrote the article, the result is very rough, this morning got up really can't read it down, revised sixty-two chapters and some minor errors, please everyone start reading from chapter sixty-two.

  o(n_n)o~

  ※