Several boys who came to play in the water last time took turns thanking Dou Zhao, including Pang Jixiu, but the elders of the Dou family did not appear, and Dou Zhao knew they were afraid of being blamed by their elders.

  Dòu Zhāo felt that this was also good.

  The incident occurred at Grandma's farm, and the Duan family had prejudices against Grandma, so they might shift the blame to her.

  She instructed Hong Gu: "If there are still people coming to swim, you go to the village and find a few people to guard by the river according to what I said. Better safe than sorry!"

  Hong Gu repeatedly responded with "yes".

  Dong Zhaohui went to see Tuo Niang and asked her grandmother to help her find a few maids to take back: "...... I don't have a reliable person on my side."

  The grandmother thought for a moment and called out four or five young girls of suitable age.

  Dòu Zhāo recognized Gān Lù and Sù Liǔ.

  At this time, there were two people, one named Er Ya and the other named Zhao Di.

  Dong Zhaoliu left the two of them behind, changed their names and personally taught them etiquette.

  Like the previous life, Ganluo was quick-witted and learned things very quickly. Suxue was calm and steady, doing everything with great care. In their past life, Suxue took charge of her own boxes, while Ganluo followed closely behind, attending to her personal needs.

  Dong Zhao nodded silently.

  In August, the Western Capital sent someone to escort Dou Zhao back.

  Dong Zhaohui urged her grandmother: "Why don't you come back with me? The Mid-Autumn Festival is just a few days away."

  "I'm not used to living here." Dou Zhao had lost count of how many times her grandmother had refused her, "Don't make me feel uneasy."

  Dong Zhao had to instruct Hong Gu again, not to let Grandma be alone. Don't let Grandma get up so early to water the vegetable garden, don't let Grandma go around the fields at noon... and so on, nagging for half a day before setting off.

  Hong Gu said to her grandmother: "Fourth Miss is sincere in wanting to show filial piety to you, and if you do this, it will make Fourth Miss sad."

  "Do you know something?" Cui said displeased, "Shou Gu is still living in the main house now. Where can I live if I go there?"

  Hong Gu was silent.

  Dong Zhao returned home, washed up, and went to pay his respects to his father.

  Dong Shiying lived in the study, while Dong Ming followed Wang Yingxue and lived in Qixia Courtyard.

  She was leaving when Dou Shiying was stooping to tidy up the chrysanthemums in the courtyard, Wang Yingshuai holding a tray with scissors and other things serving beside her, while Dou Ming lay on Dou Shiying's reclining chair under the eaves eating osmanthus cake.

  When she saw Du Zhao, she turned her face away and pretended not to have seen him.

  Dou Shiying smiled and beckoned her over: "Welcome back, Aunt Cui is doing well? Have you eaten?"

  Dou Zhao said, nodding towards Wang Yingxue. He called out "Madam", then glanced at the few chrysanthemum plants his father had carefully nurtured and smiled, "I didn't expect that these chrysanthemums of yours would all have buds, they should bloom by Mid-Autumn Festival, right?" As he spoke, he bent down to gently touch one of the plants, "Is this not a black chrysanthemum, the kind that blooms with black flowers?"

  "How did you recognize me?" Father asked in surprise.

  Dong Zhaonan couldn't help but laugh and pointed at the flower pot: "You're using a Yangcai porcelain pot with painted magnolia flowers to plant it."

  His father also smiled and took a handkerchief from the tray that Wang Yingxue was holding to wipe his hands, then followed Dou Zhao into the house: "Are there really only a few ginkgo trees planted in the East Cross Court?"

  Dòu Zhāo's great-grandfather built this house when Dòu Huànchéng and Dòu Yàochéng had just started their careers. He hoped that the family business would prosper, and his descendants would thrive, so he built over a dozen large and small courtyards. When the house was passed down to Dòu Duī, except for the central hall and main room, the western Crane Longevity Hall and the front study, Qīxiǎ Yuàn, etc., were still inhabited. The entire eastern wing was empty, and after decades of neglect, it had a musty smell despite being well-maintained. Dòu Shìyīng had nothing to do at home, so he thought about demolishing and rebuilding the eastern wing after the mourning period. However, Dòu Zhāo felt that when the time came, his father would go to Kyoto for official business. This matter was either left to Wáng Yìngxuě, who stayed behind, or it was possible that Wáng Yìngxuě followed him to Kyoto and left things to himself. Leaving it to himself, he really had no interest; leaving it to Wáng Yìngxuě, with her vision, it was unclear what kind of style she would create, so it was better to keep the original state unchanged. Therefore, he suggested that his father only repair the eastern wing and replant some flowers, grasses, and trees.

  Dou Shiying listened to Dou Zhao's idea and felt that his daughter seemed to have a talent for building, so he often pulled Dou Zhao to discuss the renovation of the East Wing. After writing and drawing for almost a year, there was still no sign of construction, which made Dou Zhao even more convinced that his decision to stop his father from rebuilding the East Wing was correct.

  As he passed by the corridor, Du Shiying stopped and shouted at Du Ming who was pretending to sleep: "Your sister is back!"

  Dong Ming had no choice but to open his eyes, fearing that Dong Zhao would see through him. He pretended to rub his eyes and made a sleepy expression, mumbling "Sister".

  Dong Zhaquan pretended not to see him and smiled: "I brought some fresh dates for you, Haitang will send them to your room later."

  Dou Ming reluctantly stood up, bent his knees and bowed to Dou Zhao in gratitude.

  Dou Shiying nodded in satisfaction and followed Dou Zhao into the study.

  Dong Ming jumped up and pulled Wang Yingxue, saying: "Mother, mother, you see Dong Zhao, what attitude is this? Seeing you neither salute nor ask for peace..."

  Wang Yingshu turned her face away, her voice choked with sobs: "Who made me a substitute wife?" As she spoke, she wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand. When she turned back around, although there were no longer tears on her face, her eyes were still red and puffy. "Ming Jie, your father likes your sister's gentle and sensible nature the most. You should learn from your sister more in the future..."

  "She thinks she's so clever!" Dou Ming gritted his teeth, unsure whether he was saying that Dou Zhao thought she could learn to be obedient and sensible from him, or that Dou Zhao thought she had won their father's favor.

  Wang Yingshu sighed quietly.

  These years, no matter how hard she tried to please Du Shiying, Du Shiying was unmoved and only perfunctorily responded to her, but was very loving towards the two daughters. She really had no choice but to push Du Ming forward, hoping that Du Shiying would treat her a little better for Du Ming's sake.

  Dong Ming said harsh words, but when he really wanted to part ways with Dong Zhao, he had no way out.

  She heard the maidservants gossiping and knew that her mother wanted Du Zhao to take charge of the kitchen during her grandfather's funeral. As a result, with just one sentence from Du Zhao, everyone in the kitchen, from the manager to the vegetable picker, was driven out. Now, all the people in the kitchen follow Du Zhao's lead, and as long as she puts more food on which plate, the whole family will have to eat that dish the next day.

  Dong Zhao ran to San Tang Ge's place to ask for silver, saying that her mother's seasonal rewards were too meager. She wanted to use her own silver to reward the maids and servants around her, causing Second Madam to call Father over to ask questions. As a result, now whenever Mother receives silver from outside the inner courtyard, the first thing she does is settle the monthly allowance for the maids and servants in Dong Zhao's quarters. The maids and servants in Dong Zhao's quarters are all haughty and proud, not putting any other maids and servants in the mansion in their eyes. At Dong Zhao's word, the maids and servants in the mansion would run faster than anything, almost wagging their tails around her.

  She thought of this and got angry, shouting at the maid beside her: "I want to go find Yijie to play!"

  The people in the mansion naturally didn't dare stop her.

  She immediately got into her carriage and was sent to the East Mansion.

  Yi's sister was changing clothes in the house, several maidservants were surrounding her, Shu's sister was holding a wooden puppet and sitting on the kang full of clothes waiting for Yi's sister.

  Dong Ming entered. Yijie pulled Dong Ming and said: "How's this dress on me?"

  A moon-white silk cambric shirt, a light green horse-face skirt with embroidered cyan bamboo edges, and a small golden carnation on her ear.

  Dong Ming's eyes widened: "Dou Zhao also has such clothes and jewelry."

  Yi Jie's face suddenly turned bright red as she strongly argued: "When did she have such a dress, how come I don't know?"

  Shu Jie also said: "Wu Aunt was wrong. The crimson gold brocade was given to me by Si Gu Gu. Si Gu Gu's horse-face skirt is sky blue, embroidered with magnolia flowers."

  What's the difference? It's just a change of color and a different pattern.

  Yi Jie'er said: "Yes, yes, how could I wear the same clothes as Fourth Aunt?"

  Stunned and amazed.

  "Sister Shu said impatiently: 'Second sister, how much longer? I've been waiting for you for almost half an hour.'"

  "Alright. Alright." Yijie said, taking a final glance in the mirror before turning to Douming and asking, "Aqi is here, we're going to Liu Bomu's place, are you coming or not?"

  They all went, so she had no choice but to go too!

  Dong Ming said gloomily: "A Qi has arrived. What are you doing going to Liu Bo Mu's place?"

  "A Qi will go to Kyoto with Mrs. Wu after Mid-Autumn Festival." Yijie told Du Ming the whole story from beginning to end.

  Dong Ming listened with great enthusiasm and said: "Kyoto is so much fun. There are people everywhere..."

  Three little girls chattered and went to the Ji's place.

  Not only was Bi Zhi there, but Wu Shan and her sister Wu Ya were also present.

  They respectfully paid their respects to the Bi family and exchanged greetings with the Wu siblings.

  Bi Shi smiled and asked: "Who is this?"

  "She is Seventh Uncle's second daughter." said Ji Shi. "Her milk name was Ming Jie Er."

  "It turned out to be Ming's sister." Bi Shi smiled and nodded, letting the maid next to her reward Dou Ming with a jade plaque.

  Yi Jie'er, Shu Jie'er and Bi Shi met for the first time and also got such a jade plaque, so they didn't take it to heart.

  Dong Ming thought that Bi Shi liked her a lot, otherwise she wouldn't have given her things. So she smiled and said to Liu Bo Mu: "My sister is back too!"

  Sixth Aunt smiled gently: "I know. She just sent someone to deliver some fresh eggs and melons to me."

  The nasal passage is clear and the spirit is depressed.

  Dòu Zhāo seems like he's never made a mistake!

  Yi Jie'er took Wu Ya's hand: "Grandma Wu, I want to invite Seventh Aunt to play in the courtyard."

  Bi looked at Dou Ming, hesitating for a moment.

  Ji said hastily: "Ming's sister was originally raised in the house of the second lady, and later returned to keep vigil after the seventh return, and then took her back."

  Bi Shi laughed and said: "Don't run too far away, don't go digging around everywhere, be careful not to bump into anything."

  Yi's sister and several others responded in unison and ran out.

  Dòu Míng followed from a distance, thinking of Wū Yǎ's mother.

  She could sense Bi's presence because she didn't want Ou Ya and them to play together.

  But why?

  Mother said that she was raised by the second lady as a dependent, very pitiful. Why did Wu Ya's mother agree to let Wu Ya play with them together after hearing that she was being raised in the second lady's house?

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  Sisters and brothers, asking for pink votes...

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