The city of Zhen Ding was bustling with people, and as soon as the horse carriage entered the city gate, Duan Zhao heard someone shouting loudly: "Hurry up to Dong Duan to receive the reward money!"

  The grandmother was greatly surprised and repeatedly asked Hong Gu: "What reward did you receive?"

  Dong Zhao suddenly found it a bit strange, but after thinking for a moment, he understood and smiled when he saw his grandmother ask: "I guess Bo Yan passed the imperial examination. Elegant words and emotions first emerged."

  "Oh, is it?" The grandmother was delighted and urged Hong Girl, "Go ask quickly!"

  The horse carriage stopped, and Hong Gu casually pulled over a passerby to ask for directions.

  "The fifth young master of the Duan family has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, and the old lady has sent someone to reward him at the door. If you're late, there won't be anything left!" The speaker hastily said this and then ran off.

  "Oh dear, this is wonderful!" Grandma was overjoyed. "The Duan family will produce another high-ranking official!" She didn't hold any grudges against the family that had wronged her for so long.

  Dou Zhao tightly grasped his grandmother's hand which was wrapped in a cocoon.

  If it weren't for Grandma, the her from the previous life might have become a sharp-tongued and bitter person who only knew how to resent heaven and earth every day! How could she have possibly let go of the Dou family's various wrongdoings and gone on to live her own good days?

  Returning home, Dou Zhao prepared some writing materials as a gift and went to the East Mansion with Dou Ming.

  Duan Qijun's mother, Third Granny, wore a brand new dark blue satin jacket with auspicious cloud patterns and beamed with joy as she bustled around to greet the women who came to offer congratulations.

  Dong Ming snorted coldly.

  Dong Zhao told her: "If you don't want to come, then don't come, there are plenty of excuses. Since you've come, just be happy for me."

  Dong Ming's face was smiling, but her voice was venomous as she whispered to Dong Zhao's ear: "That night, I saw Ji Yong going to find you!" Her tone was full of malice and schadenfreude.

  Dong Zhao took two steps back and carefully examined the girl in front of him.

  "Dou Ming, you don't like me, and I don't like you either. There's no need for us to pretend otherwise. I think it's fine this way." She said in a low voice, "If you're willing, you can also spend every day staring at me, as long as I agree with something, you'll oppose it; as long as I oppose something, you'll agree with it. Even if it's just to make me unhappy and lower yourself to the ground. But I won't change anything because of you. Remember this! If you think Ji Yong coming to find me has damaged my reputation, you can stand at the west gate and shout about it. I guarantee I won't stop you."

  Dou Zhao-yi's Hunan skirt, embroidered with yellow persimmon patterns on a green background, was scattered on the floor of the corridor, her posture was extremely casual, but there was a kind of careless disdain that came suddenly, like a sharp sword that pierced Dou Ming's heart.

  "Don't be so smug!" she couldn't help but threaten Du Zhao, "One day, I'll make you cry and beg me!"

  Threats are based on strength.

  If the person who said this was Song Mo, she would probably shiver with fear.

  An idea flashed through her mind. Du Zhao was taken aback and lost his smile.

  If it were Song Mo, he definitely wouldn't say something so childish, would he?

  He will get it done directly. Elegant words and sentimental first releases make you cry and beg him.

  Her expression suddenly became somewhat dazed.

  It takes more than a month to travel from Kyoto to Liaodong even with fast horses and frequent changes of horses, so the commander-in-chief of Liaodong returns to Beijing to report his duties only once every three years. Since His Majesty has reprimanded Song Mo, it can be seen that he is still very gracious towards him. If suddenly remembering him and issuing an edict to summon him while he is not in Kyoto...it would truly be a headache!

  Dow Ming's face turned red with rage as he stood opposite Dow Zhao, his heart racing with anger.

  Dòu Zhāo actually underestimated her so much!

  Is she ridiculous? Can't even be bothered to entertain her a little bit at social gatherings?

  One day, one day, she will make Dou Zhaohou regret it!

  Dong Ming's hand clenched into a fist, her fingernails digging painfully into her palm.

  ※※※※※

  The backyard of Dongtou. The lotus flowers have withered, the osmanthus flowers still fragrant, and the begonia flowers are budding. One scene passes and another scene appears.

  The ladies all sat down in the flower hall, congratulating each other on having given birth to a son, and now Qi Shi was pregnant again.

  Qī shì's face was red as she thanked him repeatedly. Her younger sister, Little Qī shì, who was married to the nephew of Wǔ niángniang, sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Wǔ niángniang, her eyes shining with joy, clearly delighted for her elder sister.

  Qidongge's eldest son, Ke'er, peeked out from outside the flower hall.

  Dòu Zhāo quietly beckoned him over.

  She was close to her third uncle in her previous life, and also familiar with the two cousins of the third uncle's family, Du Fan Chang and Du Hua Chang. Qiao Ge Er grew up under her care, so she naturally felt a sense of closeness.

  Kong Ge'er excitedly stuck his face against the lattice window of the flower hall and ran to Du Zhao's side.

  "Fourth Auntie," he said in a childish tone, "An Yuan Ge asked me to find him an incense stick..."

  Dòu Zhāo Yī listened and immediately understood what was going on.

  Outside the door, firecrackers were constantly being set off. The children were mischievous and often picked up unexploded firecrackers to play with after lighting them with incense sticks. Because the fuse of the firecrackers was shorter than usual, it was common for children to get their hands blown off or hurt in other ways, which was particularly dangerous. Adults usually didn't let children play with these. The name An Yuan sounded familiar, but he definitely wasn't a child from the Duan family, probably a child of a relative of the Duan family. They must have seen that Ke Ge Er was young and a child of the Duan family, so they encouraged him to ask the adults for incense sticks.

  "What's so fun about those discarded firecrackers on the ground?" She coaxed Gege, "Tomorrow Fourth Aunt will buy you a big bunch of firecrackers. Today there are fresh autumn pears, Fourth Aunt will peel one for you to eat, and later let Su Lan accompany you to the woods to watch birds, okay?"

  Kang Er's saliva immediately flowed down.

  He sat obediently on a small stool at the foot of Du Zhao's bed eating pears.

  Xiao Qi looked and asked in a low voice: "Did Fourth Aunt say anything about others?"

  To show her affection, she followed her sister in addressing everyone in the Duan household.

  Her younger uncle has reached the age of marriage proposal.

  Wu Nainai couldn't help but burst out laughing and said, "You're a step too late, our fourth sister is going to be the wife of the Marquis!"

  A family with a daughter is sought after by hundreds of families, let alone that Du Zhao has already been betrothed. She doesn't mind if someone takes a liking to Du Zhao; on the contrary, she thinks it's an honor for Du Zhao - once a girl gets married, she'll be like a pearl turning into a fish eye, dazzling only for these few years. Therefore, her voice was particularly loud, and everyone in the flower hall could hear it.

  Xiao Qi's words were well-timed and tactful, avoiding embarrassment, and being a clever person, he chimed in with congratulations.

  Dong Zhao was never a hypocrite, smiling but saying nothing, and freely following their discussions. The crowd became even more unscrupulous.

  "We four sisters are also blessed. If it weren't for the fact that Fourth Sister was betrothed to the Duke of Jingning in Kyoto since childhood, she would probably have married into the Grand Secretary's household." Second Madam had been nursing a grievance ever since her failed attempt at matchmaking for the Wu family, and now that she had the opportunity to clear Duan Zhao's name in front of all their relatives, she naturally spared no effort. Her voice was not one whit softer than Fifth Madam's: "In the beginning, when the He family heard that Fourth Sister had already been betrothed, they regretted it for a long time."

  The third aunt's sister-in-law carefully examined Du Zhao and nodded, saying: "Fourth Miss's earlobes are big and full, she is a lucky one."

  "That's for sure!" The relationship between San Nainai and Dou Zhao was not ordinary, of course, they had to hold Dou Zhao in high esteem. She smiled and said, "You don't know, when the old Duke of Jining passed away, their family sent someone over, saying that they wanted to welcome her within a hundred days, which made our Madame so angry that she shouted about wanting to call off the engagement. Who knew that before the words had even fallen, the Duke of Jining sent his wet nurse over, offering gifts and apologies, saying it was because there was no one in charge at home, not because they wanted to slight Fourth Sister. Then on the Ghost Festival, they sent lotus lanterns; on Mid-Autumn Festival, they sent glutinous rice cakes; on Double Ninth Festival, they sent chrysanthemums... Not a single festival passed without them sending something. I think it's true that they really want to hurry up and welcome Fourth Sister back home."

  Everyone covered their mouths and smiled, with a hint of envy in their expressions.

  Dòu Zhāo couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh.

  In this life and the next, Wei Tingyu's favorite color has always been hers.

  She thought of this and was somewhat perplexed again.

  What else can men like if they don't like women's colors?

  Can't he be your bosom friend?

  Although it is said that way, and I also understand in my heart, but thinking about a proper husband and wife life, in the end, they will still be separated because of fading love, what's the point?

  After all, I still underestimated her.

  Suddenly felt a bit dull, looked up and saw Ji Yong sitting alone by the lotus pond.

  He wore a cyan-colored changshan, sitting dully on the bluestone bench, the autumn sun shining through the almost withered osmanthus tree branches onto his body, forming a mysterious and unpredictable patchwork of light and shadow, making him look cold and despondent, seemingly so far away.

  Ji Yong, it's never been this quiet before!

  What happened?

  Dong Zhao couldn't help but make some guesses in his heart.

  But Dou Ming, who was sitting next to her, had a burning feeling in his heart.

  She bit her lip tightly, afraid of saying something she shouldn't say.

  Isn't it just marrying a marquis, why does everyone have to fawn over her like this?

  That Lord Hou is nothing more than a mere idle talker, can he help the young masters of the Dugu family get an official position? Or can he help Fifth Uncle speak up in the Imperial Court?

  These women know nothing but needlework every day and have no insight at all!

  Besides, she hasn't even married into their family yet.

  Maybe one day something unexpected will happen and this marriage will fall through?

  Dong Ming's eyes flashed with a hint of mockery, and then he saw Liu Mama inviting everyone to move to the second lady's place, saying that the second lady was hosting a banquet in her own courtyard - the cost of this banquet was the second lady's own silver.

  Everyone congratulated San Nainai and Qi Shi again.

  Third Granny and Madame Qi beamed with joy, over the moon with delight.

  It's not about the money, but rather that the second lady took out her own silver to celebrate her nephew, reflecting her joy and affection.

  A group of people chatted and laughed as they went towards the second lady's place.

  At that moment, Dou Ming noticed that Dou Zhao had gradually fallen behind everyone else. When they turned the corner at the Wisteria Trellis, Dou Zhao suddenly disappeared.

  Dong Ming sneered inwardly and stopped to pick a few branches of purple wisteria flowers. Seeing that the crowd had already walked far away, she hurried towards the flower hall.

  On her way, she saw Ji Yong and Dou Zhao standing by the lotus pond.

  "How come you're sitting here?" Dou Zhao teased Ji Yong, "Is it because our family has produced a young jinshi, so Brother Ji can't be as carefree and unrivaled as before, and feels a bit downhearted?"

  If it were any other day, Ji Yong would have immediately jumped up and retorted with a venomous tongue, leaving her completely defenseless. But today, Ji Yong merely looked up at her and said in a listless tone, "I'm calculating the accounts."

  ※

  Update on March 26th!

  PS: I saw many caring comments in the comment section, thank you everyone. I know that staying up late for a long time is not good for my body, but this month I promised to increase updates, so I'll try to overcome it somehow. No matter how much debt I owe, I won't lower the quality because of the quantity. It's precisely because I want to ensure both quality and quantity that I'm writing a bit slowly during this period, please don't worry about it.

  o(n_n)o~

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