At this moment, Wu Shan's heart was laid bare, leaving Du Zhao no choice but to face it solemnly.

  After rebirth, she occasionally thought about her own future.

  Is it a new beginning? Or continue marrying Wei Tingyu?

  Marry Wei Tingyu and relive everything all over again. Although there's no surprise, there's also nothing to worry about.

  Re-starting, no matter how beautiful the marriage looks, there will be dissatisfaction here and there. Remarrying someone else doesn't necessarily mean it'll be better than being with Wei Tingyu.

  The more I think about it, the more confusing it becomes.

  One day, half of the Xi family's property was transferred to her name, and her uncle and the Duan family agreed that she could dispose of this half of the property at will after she turned thirty.

  She suddenly had an impulse in her heart.

  In her previous life, she had no way out if she didn't marry. In this life, she has an uncle to rely on, silver to support herself, and the contradictions of the Dugu family to take advantage of, why must she marry?

  Isn't it great to live a carefree life, unencumbered and at ease, occasionally making up for the regrets of past lives?

  In an instant, she seemed to see a new world, and her whole person was invigorated. Her future also seemed to become clear and visible.

  Wu Shan's kindness, she was grateful for, but would not accept.

  It's just not the time to refuse now.

  One is that Wu Shan did not make it clear, and the refusal had no starting point; the second is that the rules of the Wu family are very big, and the elders of the Wu family may not be willing to let Wu Shan marry such a woman into their home. Whether Wu Shan will give up or insist later is hard to say. By jumping out so early, one can't help but suspect that they are being overly sentimental, making people wonder if it's laughable.

  Since Wu Shan mentioned the horse lamp that Pang Jixiu sent to her, she might as well take this opportunity to pass a message to Pang Jixiu through Wu Shan. This way, it would also avoid having Pang Jixiu constantly buzzing around like a mosquito, coming over for no reason and making annoying noises.

  "Who said I like merry-go-rounds?" Dou Zhao laughed and said.

  "But I heard them say," Wu Shan looked at Dou Zhao's eyes, which were exceptionally bright and clear due to her calm demeanor, with some uncertainty, "You got a lantern, and even when Shu Jie asked you for it, you weren't willing to give it to her..."

  Dong Zhao burst out laughing and said: "To say it, it's all your fault."

  Wu Shan was surprised.

  Dong Zhaodao said, "Because of the flooding last time, Pang Jixiu has been sending me things every now and then to thank me. This lantern is one of them. Although our two families are related by marriage, we have different values and can't work together. How could I accept his gifts? If I wanted to return them, there's no place to return them to. So I just put away the things he sent, waiting for an opportunity to give them back to him - if I were to pass on the things he gave me to someone else, what would I use to repay him?"

  Wu Shan couldn't help but smile and said, "Fourth sister is right." Then he hastily added, "Why don't I help you return it to Pang Jixiu?"

  "What a bother!" Du Zhao hinted to him, "I'd better ask Bo Yan to help me return it to Pang Jixiu instead!"

  She didn't want Wu Shan to misunderstand that she refused Pang Jixiu because of him, and was also afraid that Wu Shan would mess things up, which would not only damage her reputation but also cause more trouble if it led to any rumors. After all, Bo Yan had a good reputation outside, and this year he had already reached the age of majority, with an impression of being capable from his past life. Compared to 13-year-old Wu Shan, she felt more at ease with him handling things.

  Wu Shan pretended not to understand and hastily said: "No trouble, no trouble, I'll help you return it!"

  Dòu Zhāo just gazed at him with a smile and remained silent.

  Wu Shandun's face suddenly turned bright red, and he said in a mosquito-like voice: "That, that I'll go tell Bo Yan about it." He actually looked like he couldn't wait.

  He didn't understand his refusal at all, and Du Zhao didn't want to drag him in either. Just as he was about to say a few harsh words to make him give up, Du Dechang and Du Qijun walked out side by side.

  "I was wondering why you didn't come back," said Dou Dechang with a smile. "It turns out you ran into Fourth Sister."

  Dou Qijun is a bit older. He has just gotten engaged, and earlier he couldn't find the book he was looking for, which had already raised his suspicions. Now, seeing Wu Shan's face red and ears flushed, he vaguely understands, and can't help but glance at Dou Zhao.

  Dong Zhao's face was calm and peaceful, without any unusual expression.

  He was momentarily skeptical of his own feelings.

  Wu Shanben was already nervous, and after being spoken to by Duan Dechang like that, he became even more flustered. He hastily explained: "Fourth Sister has something to ask of us... That Pang Jixiu often uses the excuse of last time's swimming incident to send things to Fourth Sister, saying it's a thank you gift..." Some words were spoken out of turn.

  Dong Zhengchang and Dong Qijun's faces changed drastically at once.

  Especially Du Qijun, who knew that this matter could ruin Du Zhao's life with just one careless word, hastily said: "Uncle Wu, stop talking quickly, some words can't be spoken casually."

  Wu Shan suddenly came to his senses and regretted speaking without thinking, not daring to look at Du Zhao.

  "Where's Dou Qijun? Tell him to keep an eye on things at the door," he said hastily. Then, in a low voice, he asked Dou Zhao, "What exactly is going on? Besides delivering goods, did he deliver anything else? Who were the people who brought these things in? Are they reliable?"

  Dong Zhao saw that he had hit the nail on the head as soon as he opened his mouth, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. He told Dong Qijun about what had happened one by one, and finally said: "I didn't take it directly, except for some small things, there's nothing else. It's just that I don't dare to tell others about this matter..."

  "I know." Dou Qijun's mind turned quickly, his face darkening as he said, "That Pang Jixiu, and your stepmother are relatives by marriage. Don't get involved in this matter anymore, just pretend you don't know, I'll take care of it."

  Dòu Zhāo certainly did not tolerate Páng Jìxiū for this reason.

  She just didn't understand Pong Jixiu's intention for a moment.

  It was Wu Shan's appearance that reminded her.

  Some things require not only memories from past lives but also trust in one's current intuition.

  Dòu Zhāo nodded repeatedly.

  Dou Qijun sent Dou Dechang and Wu Shanxian back, and went to see Dou Shiying himself.

  About half an hour later, Dun Shiying and Dun Qijun went to the main house with a stern face, asking Dun Zhao: "Where is it?"

  Dong Zhaorong opened the trunk made of white silk.

  Dòu Shìyīng took a glance and called two young servants to come in, carrying boxes and trunks as they followed Dòu Qǐjùn out.

  Only Suo and two maids were left in the house, staring at each other in dismay.

  Dong Shiying was so angry that she spun around in circles inside the house for a long time before finally questioning her: "Why didn't you tell me?"

  "I don't want to make a scene and be laughed at."

  Dou Shiying's eyes were slightly red, she flung her sleeve and walked out of the door.

  Dong Zhao shouted "Father": "Are you going to find your wife to talk about this? If it's what your wife said, things have come to this. Why not let me marry Pang Jixiu..."

  "He ate bear heart and leopard gall!" Du Shiying burst into rage.

  Dong Zhaoleng sneered: "The Pang family may not have eaten bear hearts and leopard gall, but they dare to make a scene without shame."

  The nasal passage is slightly congested.

  Dong Zhaodao said, "This matter, let Bohan take care of it, I believe he can handle it well." Then he said, "When are you going to Kyoto? I want to bring Aunt Cui over to keep me company before you go to Kyoto."

  Dou Shiying was shocked.

  Dong Fu said, "There's a Wu Shan in the East Mansion. I'm not convenient to stay at Liu Bo Mu's place anymore; this side is managed by the mistress, who knows what kind of despicable means the Pang family will use, the people in the countryside are simple and honest, they don't even pick up things on the road, there isn't even a gatekeeper, it's not safe..."

  "It's fine." Before she could finish, her father had already interrupted her, his forehead bulging with anger. "You just stay at home and take care of yourself, I'll see who dares to touch you." With that, he turned and left.

  Dòu Zhāo had serious doubts about her father's ability to handle things, and decided that regardless of whether he agreed or not, if he went to Kyoto, she would use this as an excuse to have her grandmother move in for a while, perhaps allowing her grandmother to escape disaster. As for Páng Jìxiū, if he dared to try anything with her again, she had her own ways of dealing with him.

  Before long, Dou Ming was escorted by two women to the main house.

  Dong Ming suddenly picked up her skirt and ran out.

  Dong Zhao gave her a glance, but she was stopped by one of her servant girls.

  She bared her teeth and pounced on Duan Zhao: "It's all you, it's all you! You're the one who stirred up discord between Father and Mother!"

  The old woman who had come with Dong Ming immediately blocked Dong Ming's way.

  Compared with Wang Yingxue and Dou Ming, the maidservants at home care more about Dou Zhao's feelings.

  Dong Zhaohui ordered Hai Tang: "Let her copy 'Nu Jie' ten times, when she finishes copying, let her out to eat."

  It must have been the two old women who, under Du Ming's loud protests, carried him to the warm pavilion at the back - Du Zhao had given orders that Wang Yuxue and Du Ming were not allowed into her study.

  Dong Zhaosu casually picked up a book and leaned against the window sill to read.

  Half a time later, Dou Shiying walked in with an unpleasant face.

  He saw Du Zhao reading and asked: "Where is Ming's sister?"

  "In the warm pavilion copying books." Dou Zhao stood up and poured his father a cup of tea.

  Du Shiying took two sips of hot tea and his expression slightly cleared up. He went to see Du Ming.

  Douming was crying while copying "Nu Jie", and Haitang was serving her with melons and fruits, accompanied by two old women.

  Dou Shiying quietly exited the warm pavilion and pulled Dou Zhao: "Let's go, let's take a look at where those two silver papyrus trees are planted."

  Dòu Zhāo accompanied Dòu Shìyīng to the East Cross Hall.

  At night, Wang Yingxue served Dou Shiying and her father dinner with a stiff smile.

  After copying "Nu Jie" ten times, Dou Mingyi was finally released and saw Wang Yingxue. He immediately rushed into his mother's arms, calling out "mother" with tears in his eyes while secretly glancing at Dou Shiying and Dou Zhao's expressions.

  Du Shiying's face was expressionless, and Du Zhao seemed to be looking at nothing.

  Dongming's heart sank continuously, and he wisely swallowed his words of accusation.

  Wang Yingshu hugged her daughter and smiled reluctantly, whispering to Du Ming to sit still, helping her serve a bowl of meat noodle soup.

  Dong Shiying made up her mind and didn't want to talk to Wang Yingxue anymore.

  After dinner, he played Go with Dou Zhao.

  Dòu Zhāo Cái didn't want to get involved in the entanglement between him and Wáng Yìng Xuě, so he put down a piece and started yawning: "Let Gāo Shēng keep you company, I'm going to sleep." She covered her mouth and retreated vaguely, returning to the house.

  "Seventh Master asked Seventh Madame if she knew about the lanterns that Pang Jishu sent to you, and Seventh Madame said she did. Then Seventh Master scolded her severely, and Seventh Madame felt very wronged, saying that the things were meant for you, how could she dare to intercept them? Seventh Master then accused Seventh Madame of being in cahoots with the Pangs, which made Seventh Madame cry. Fifth Miss heard the commotion and ran over, so Seventh Master had two rough servant women bring her here to you..."

  "Alright, I know." Du Zhao responded unenthusiastically and got onto the bed.

  After all, it's still more reassuring to leave this matter to Du Qijun.

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  Today's network can't be connected, so I had to ask a friend to help post it. I don't even know what time it will be sent out...~~~~~

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