Chapter 55 Entering the Door (Pink Ticket 270 Additional Chapter)
In the Xiaya Courtyard, a bright red wedding candle suddenly burst into flames.
"How outrageous! How outrageous!" She stood in the middle of the room, her face filled with anger. "Why does the East House always have to bully the West House? I am already a proper and legitimate wife, so why did she keep Ming's sister confined in her house?"
"Madam, please keep your voice down." Hu's nanny hastily reminded her, casting a glance around and seeing no one, before speaking in a low tone, "This is not the time to lose your temper yet - Seventh Master still needs Fifth Master's support. You've just been reinstated as the rightful wife and don't have any children by your side... Endure this temporary anger to avoid a lifetime of worry!"
"I knew it!" Wang Yingshuang's expression slightly relaxed, "If I didn't think so, I wouldn't have swallowed my anger today."
Auntie Hu let out a sigh of relief, smiling as she changed the subject: "Today is indeed your lucky day, and it's getting late. Seventh Master should be arriving soon. Why don't I help you remove your makeup and have another bowl of lotus seed soup..."
Wang Yingxue was furious.
Qiong Fang walked in with a box in her arms, smiling: "Seventh Auntie, this is the gift I received today. Where do you think it should be placed?"
Mentioning this, Wang Yingshuo was again furious.
The Dou family's concubine wore a brocade jacket with intricate embroidery, and the maids who served her were all dressed in fine silk fabrics. Even the second mistress and others wore only ordinary hairpins with gold and silver ornaments when they met, showing that they didn't take her seriously.
"It's not something good, can't you just come out with it?" Her voice was somewhat shrill.
Qiong Fang's flattery was met with a kick on the horse's leg, not only did she not get any reward, but also received a scolding.
Hutai hurriedly made eye contact with Qiongfang, smiling and comforting Wang Yingshu: "The Duan family isn't some newly rich household, the more high-society things are, the more low-key and reserved they should be. Don't underestimate these objects, who knows if each one has a history and is something to be cherished? It's just that we're busy today, let's put them away for now and take a closer look another day when we have time."
Since Zhao Guqiu's death, the West Wing no longer had a hostess for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Over the years, it has become chaotic, with everyone having their own thoughts and ideas. Adding to that, some days ago, Dou Shao divided half of the property, and those who were originally loyal to her began to wait and see. At this time, everyone in the mansion is watching Xiqingyuan, if she shows any unusual behavior, it will be exaggerated... It's better to take advantage of this situation to step down!
Wang Yingshu thought for a moment and softly said "en", intending to scold Qiongfang again. Suddenly, a little maid reported: "Gao Sheng has arrived!"
Everyone in the house was stunned.
"Please invite him in!"
Gao Sheng stood outside the inner room, his voice warm and respectful as he said: "Seventh Madame, Seventh Master says that it's too late today, so he'll rest in the main house. He asks you to retire early too. Tomorrow at noon, go pay respects to Old Master, and Third Madame will come over at noon. Don't be late." After finishing speaking, he bowed his hands and retreated.
Wang Yingshu's mouth was agape for a long time before she finally closed it, her face flushing bright red as tears welled up in her eyes: "What does he mean by this? He wants to make excuses, why say the timing is too late? It's only just past midnight... and he's still resting in the main house... isn't this making me a laughing stock?"
Hu's aunt also felt Wu Shiying's abnormality, and she hesitated: "Madam, do you want me to take a look?"
"No need!" Wang Yingshu bit her teeth and said, "I'll go ask him myself."
On the first day of entering the door, Dou Shiying was already in a different place, and she couldn't hold her head up in the Dou family from then on.
Hutai accompanied Wang Yingshuai hastily to the main house.
Dong Shiying had changed into casual clothes and was writing at her desk.
Seeing Wang Yingshuang, he was not surprised, but smiled faintly and said "You're here".
Looking at Du Shiying's handsome face under the lamp, all the questions she had thought of on the way suddenly disappeared. She felt a little uneasy and adjusted her sleeves, her voice also becoming softer: "Are you very tired today? Why are you alone in the main room writing?" As she spoke, she walked over, smelling the wine aroma emanating from Du Shiying's body. She smiled, "Seventh Master drank a lot of wine? How come there's so much wine smell on you? I'll have someone send a bowl of hangover soup for you." While speaking, she rolled up her sleeves to help him grind ink.
Dòu Shìyīng stopped her: "I have a high-ranking servant here, you can rest now, tomorrow will be busy for you." The voice was warmer than the evening wind blowing in from outside the window, but he lowered his head and continued writing with an undivided heart.
The refusal was so obvious that Wang Yingshuang blushed, but she had never been one to wait around. She thought for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward and hugged Dou Shiying's waist tightly.
"Ten thousand yuan..." Under her gaze, her eyes became so soft they seemed to be dripping with water.
Dou Shiying's body stiffened, and he slowly put down the pen in his hand. Gently yet firmly, he pried open the arms wrapped around him: "Yingxue, I've told you before... apart from status, everything else, I can't give to you... You also know that... Can't we just respect each other like guests?"
He turned around, his ink-like eyes quietly gazing at her, his expression was so serious.
Wang Yingshu was shocked.
She certainly knew... but she thought time would dilute everything... A thousand miles of longing, how can it be compared to having warm jade in one's bosom?
Dòu Shìyīng strode out with big steps.
The jade hairpin flowers in the Temple of the Dukes have bloomed, and their strong fragrance wafts through the air.
He suddenly remembered when he got married.
The weather is like this too.
Jade hairpin flowers bloom recklessly under the moonlight, like crystal and jade.
His wife and daughter shouted "ten thousand yuan" in unison, asking him "Am I pretty or not?"...
He couldn't remember how he replied, only that his wife flung herself at him with a mixture of surprise and joy, like a ball of fire burning in his heart... By his ear was the silvery sound of her laughter: "They all say I'm shameless, but I just like you, I want to marry you!" The soft and silly voice was filled with unmistakable happiness and satisfaction.
The fragrance is so intense, like the collapse of a blooming flower, making one's heart tremble with fear.
He pulled his leg and ran out...
A loud clap of thunder, and the rain came pouring down... Duan Zhao was startled awake by the commotion around her. In a daze, she heard her grandmother instructing Hong Gu: "...check if the foal in the stable has been frightened? Are the kitchen windows closed? And also tidy up the straw in the woodshed, lest it gets wet from the rain."
Hongyu rubbed her sleepy eyes and got dressed, then went out.
Grandma turned around and saw Dou Zhao wriggling under the quilt, smiled and gently patted her: "Don't be afraid, Shou girl. Aunt Cui is here!"
Dou Zhao suddenly woke up.
She stared at the beam, feeling dazed for a moment.
The sound of "crackling and popping" came from outside, echoing throughout the courtyard.
Grandma was shocked. Liu Sihai, the long-term worker living in the west wing, had taken a wooden stick used to bolt the gate and walked to the front of the gate.
"Who is it?" he asked cautiously.
"It's Seventh Master." The person outside shouted, "Open the door quickly."
Liu Si Hai hastily dropped the wooden stick in his hand and pushed open the creaky door with a "creak".
Dòu Shìyīng and Gāo Shēng rushed in under the rain.
"What's wrong?" Grandmother Pi stood at the door of the main house, ignoring the heavy rain, and hastily came forward.
"It's okay, it's okay." Dou Shiying's clothes were already soaked through. Although the summer weather was sweltering, the rain at night still felt cool on his skin. His lips were a bit pale, "I'll go take a look at Shou Gu."
Her grandmother's eyes showed deep suspicion, but she didn't ask anything. She ordered the servant to boil water and told Hong Gu to go next door to the Lang family's house to borrow two sets of clean clothes.
When Father finished cleaning up, the rain grew heavier, the sky was gloomy and seemed to be unable to bear the weight, as if it would collapse at any moment.
Dong Zhaosat on the kang, drowsy and sleepy, his head nodding like a fishing float.
She was indifferent to her father's appearance.
It's the middle of the night, pouring rain, and you're out gallivanting around. If you're not careful, you'll catch a cold or worse, die from exhaustion. And then the people you visit will be running around like headless chickens trying to find you some dry clothes and hot tea... How childish and selfish can you be? You don't even consider other people's feelings. What kind of father are you supposed to be?
What's more important is that she felt no matter what kind of conflict her father and Wang Yingxue had, running out like this was too weak.
Her father, however, did not have such self-awareness. He smiled and rubbed Du Zhao's head, softly asking her: "Are you still used to living in the countryside?"
"It's just a habit!" Du Zhao turned her head away and shook off her father's hand. "Everyone has been treating me very well."
Dong Shiying glanced at the rough and simple furnishings in the house and felt that her eldest daughter was a bit heartless.
He stood in front of the kang for a long time in silence.
Dong Zhao wanted to sleep, but her father didn't make a sound. She had no choice but to say: "Father, aren't you going to sleep?"
Dòu Shìyīng didn't make a sound. After a while, he slowly sat down beside Dòu Zhāo and asked in a low voice: "You, do you still remember your mother?"
Dong Zhao's expression changed, and his face gradually returned to normal.
"I still remember your mother," he muttered, with a glint of moisture in the corners of his eyes. "The day she married me, she wore a peridot ring on her hand, set in gold and shaped like a begonia flower..."
Dou Zhao turned his face away, and sorrow slowly overflowed from the bottom of his heart... Father Tian left before dawn, Dou Zhao gazed at the rain-washed sky, which was as clear as water, and was stunned for a moment.
After being sentimental, people have more courage to face those unpleasant things in life!
She went back into the house to practice her calligraphy.
Zhao Liangbi carefully helped her clean up the study.
She said to Zhao Liangbi: "Let me give you a name?"
Zhao Qibai was both delighted and worried.
Luckily I don't have to call him Dog Leftovers anymore, but what worries me is that Suo Zhaoyu might suddenly get inspired and give him a name similar to Dog Leftovers... and it can't be changed later!
"What's a good jade?" Du Zhao wrote his name on the paper, "It means beautiful jade. I hope you can be as beautiful and humble as beautiful jade."
Zhao Liangbi was overjoyed and took the paper written with his name by Du Zhao everywhere to show off.
But in just one day's time, everyone in Tianzhuang Village knew that Gou Sheng was actually Zhao Liangbi.
The grandmother also praised the name and said that she would take her to the temple to play in a few days. Unfortunately, Father's holiday was over, he came to pick up Dou Zhao and told his mother: "If you have anything, you can let someone bring a message to Liu Ge, I will be in Kyoto at that time, he will take care of you and Shou Gu."
The grandmother nodded and didn't take it to heart.
She lived alone in Tianzhuang for over twenty years without any incident, and she believed that even if something happened to her later on, no one would find out about the Duan family.
Dong Zhao made a request to his father: "Cannot bring Zhao Liangbi back."
Father asked who Zhao Liangbi was?
The grandmother told his origin to the father.
His father heard that the name Zhao Liangbi was given by Duan Zhao, nodded: "Then take it back!"
Thus, Zhao Liangbi appeared at the Duan family ahead of schedule.
※
Sisters, I have to visit relatives this afternoon, and I'll try to update around 8 o'clock. If it's difficult, I'll definitely update before 12 o'clock... If you like this work, welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.