In the carriage returning to Xifu, Dou Zhao seemed a little silent.

Suxin and Sulan both went back to Zhending Prefecture to hold an anniversary memorial service for their father, and with them was the more lively Ganlu.

She smiled and asked Dou Zhao, "Fourth Miss, what's wrong with you?"

"Oh, nothing." Dou Zhao said absentmindedly, "I was just thinking about some things in the past."

The fourth young lady is only a few years old now, is this still about the past?

What could have happened in the past?

Ganlu imitated the maid in Ji's room and smiled with pursed lips.

Dou Zhao didn't notice Ganlu's abnormality at all and was thinking about his own things.

In the previous life, Sixth Aunt came to Beijing when she was fourteen years old, and soon bought a two-story house in Maoer Hutong next to Jing'an Temple for Dou Zhengchang to marry.

Dou Zhengchang married the niece of his sixth aunt's sister-in-law. Her surname was Han and she came from a wealthy family in Jiangnan. Although she was not good at managing government affairs, she was very knowledgeable. Every time Dou Zhengchang wrote an artistic work, he would discuss it with his eleventh sister-in-law. Later, Dou Zhengchang became a famous master of artistic work. Any contemporary essay he commented on would immediately become popular in the north and south. The couple had similar ideals and were very loving.

Because of this, in order to take care of the daily life of my sixth uncle and Dou Zhengchang and his wife, my sixth aunt lived in Kyoto and never returned to Zhending until her rebirth.

Is she going to say goodbye to her sixth aunt now?

Thinking of this, her heart ached and tears almost fell from her eyes.

For several days, Dou Zhao was in a low mood.

Grandmother thought Dou Zhao was just tired, and told her to rest more: "... After all, there are only three of us celebrating the New Year, so it doesn't matter if we lack something."

Dou Zhao giggled and took the opportunity to be lazy, leaving things to Su Xin who had returned home, while she hid in the house to do needlework.

She would never return to Kyoto in this life. If her sixth aunt lived there, they would never have the chance to meet again. Her sixth aunt had taken care of her like a mother for many years. Now that she was leaving, she wanted to make some clothes for her sixth aunt to show her gratitude.

There were rumors in the family that she was not feeling well.

Dou Ming lingered in front of Dou Zhao's door for a long time, but finally turned around and left.

Dou Zhao shook his head lightly, feeling a little disappointed.

She has always believed that human nature is good, but it's a pity that Dou Ming has such bad luck.

First, she met Wang Yingxue, who used her to deal with his father, with a little more utilitarianism and a little less maternal kindness; then she met Wang Xu, who treated her like a pet, doted on her and didn't know how to take responsibility for her future; now she follows me - I am not good at educating children, and my three children in my previous life are proof of that... She has to bear her own suffering!

Upon hearing the news from the East Palace, Ji immediately rushed over.

Dou Zhao had no choice but to comfort her: "...It's just that the weather is cold, I want to sleep more!"

Seeing that she had a rosy face and was in high spirits, Ji knew that she was not just trying to please her. She smiled and chatted with her for a few words before going home.

Despite this, the Second Madam still sent Aunt Liu to visit, and the Second and Third Madams came in person. The Second and Third Cousins ​​brought along Sister Yi, Sister Shu, the First Madam's daughter-in-law Huang, Dou Fanchang's wife, Dou Huachang's wife, and Dou Qijun's wife Qi. It was so noisy and bustling that the inner room was so crowded that there was no place to stay.

Dou Zhao had no choice but to keep explaining that he was not seriously ill, he just felt tired occasionally, but Dou Shiheng still sent his steward to deliver the herbs.

If this continues, I'm afraid even Dou Xiuchang and Dou Yuchang will send people to visit him.

Dou Zhao had to "recover" as soon as possible.

The Bie sisters laughed in private. Su Lan said, "I know the emperor will have a hard time - if the emperor wants to be lazy and not attend court one day, not to mention the concubines in the harem, even the ministers in the inner cabinet will make the emperor restless."

Su Xin also joked with her: "It can be seen that this 'taking a break from the busy schedule' is not something that everyone can do."

Dou Zhao saw that the sisters were in a good mood, so he joked, "Dear Master Xiaoxiang, can Zhao Liangbi help you?"

When the Bie sisters went back, Zhao Liangbi took the chicken feather she had given him before as a token of authority and said something like "This is what the young lady had instructed you to do". The two Bie sisters were women, so they just needed to let him run errands for the outside affairs. Then he followed the Bie sisters to Zhending Prefecture.

Suxin and Sulan didn't know whether they didn't see what Zhao Liangbi was thinking or they didn't understand what Dou Zhao meant at all. They smiled and said, "How could we not help? We arranged the sacrifices, hosted the banquet, and entertained the guests. All thanks to Manager Zhao." This made Dou Zhao at a loss for words.

In the previous life, there were no Bie sisters, and Zhao Liangbi and Ganlu became husband and wife smoothly. They treated each other with respect, which made people envious. But in this life, Zhao Liangbi met Suxin.

What else is going to change?

Dou Zhao was a little confused, but also a little expectant.

Ji Yong sent his personal servant to bring her two fifty-year-old ginsengs: "Our young master said that if you slice the ginseng and put one slice in your mouth before going to bed every day, it can calm your mind and replenish your energy."

The Ji family is truly a century-old wealthy family. He just gave her this sacred item that others couldn’t buy even if they had money.

Dou Zhao sincerely thanked her: "Tell your young master to thank him for the ginseng. I'm fine now." Thinking that this was a life-saving herb, he did not refuse and asked Su Xin to take it. He also rewarded Zi Shang with two top-quality Fenghong.

Zi Shang thanked him respectfully.

Dou Zhao asked him whether Ji Yong would spend the New Year at the Dou family or return to Yixing.

"Originally, our old lady wanted our young master to spend the New Year with the two old masters in Kyoto, but our young master said Kyoto was not fun, so he followed his cousin to Zhending." Zishang was eloquent and spoke clearly, "Wait until spring to return to Kyoto with our aunt."

Then I'll wait until the Chinese New Year to give him a return gift.

But this person has everything he needs, so I don’t know what to give him.

Dou Zhao was in a dilemma, Ji Yong sent someone to ask Dou Zhao to come over and help write Spring Festival couplets: "... I was just idle and wanted to help. I don't know how, this and that said they were busy, and all 500 pairs of Spring Festival couplets were thrown to me! Now that you are well, come and help! Otherwise, how long will it take to finish writing these Spring Festival couplets!"

This is the responsibility of the Dou family members. What does it have to do with her?

Even if she can't write it, it's not her turn to take the lead.

But thinking of the two ginsengs, Dou Zhao decided to go after all.

Just as he was about to leave, Gao Xing came to report: "Mr. He will leave for Anyang tomorrow."

Dou Zhao asked him, "How much silver did the East Palace send Cheng Yi?"

"Five hundred taels."

"So much!" Dou Zhao was very surprised. She looked at the Dou family's account book and found that the largest expenditure of Cheng Yi was no more than three hundred taels. When she was the marquis's wife, it was even less, only two hundred taels.

It seems that the Dou family is trying their best to curry favor with the He family!

She told Gao Xing: "Then we should also send 500 taels of Cheng Yi according to the East Palace."

Gao Xing happily asked someone to carry the silver and followed Dou Zhao to the East Palace.

He went to the guest room to send Cheng Yi to He Yu, while Dou Zhao went to Ji's place.

He Yu was reading in his inner room when he heard the man from Dou Shiying's family outside the hall who came to deliver Cheng Yi to him repeatedly address the steward beside him as "the fourth young lady". He couldn't help but feel strange in his heart and couldn't help but leave the inner room and ask the man, "Is the fourth young lady in charge of the banquet in your house?"

"Of course!" Gao Xing has always been proud of Dou Zhao, and said respectfully, "The Seventh Master and the Seventh Madam are in Kyoto, and all the family affairs are decided by our Fourth Miss. Our Fourth Miss is very capable! The food, clothing and daily expenses of the people in the mansion, the family's shopping, and the social activities of each room, which one can do without our Fourth Miss? Usually, she also has to study and write with the teacher. Look, the cousin of the Ji family couldn't finish writing the Spring Festival couplets, and specially invited our Fourth Miss to help." Finally, he sighed, "Otherwise, why would our Seventh Master send the Fifth Miss back to our Fourth Miss to discipline her?"

He Yu was stunned when he heard this, and said, "What's the matter with writing Spring Festival couplets?" There was an urgency in his tone that he himself did not realize.

Gao Xing hurriedly recounted this tradition of the Dou family, and repeatedly emphasized: "...anyone of any age, as long as they can write well, can help write."

He Yu said "Oh", and asked his personal servant to reward Gao Xing with two top-quality Fenghong. He returned to his inner room and was in a daze for a long time. Then he ordered his personal servant: "Change my clothes. I should also go and say goodbye to Master Ji."

The servant hurriedly responded respectfully, changed He Yu's clothes into a bright red silk gown, pinned a gold hairpin on his head, and helped He Yu hang sachets, purses and other items around his waist.

He Yu suddenly thought of Ji Yong.

That guy must be wearing a cloth robe again.

He ordered the servant: "Don't use the gold hairpin, use the bronze hairpin."

The servant hurriedly helped him put the hairpin on again. He nodded with satisfaction and then went to the courtyard where Ji Yong was staying.

Ji Yong is not at home.

His followers told He Yu: "Our young master is with my aunt."

He Yu laughed.

How did I come up with the idea that Dou Zhao was here with Ji Yong?

He went to Ji's place again.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw Ji Yong complaining to Dou Zhao: "...Who made this broken rule? Our Ji family has been established for a hundred years and there has never been such a thing! Can writing Spring Festival couplets make us get along with our neighbors? I think it would be better to reward them with a few copper coins during the New Year so that they will be grateful and cry..."

Rewarding with copper coins is something that the Shangjia family does, okay!

Dou Zhao said unhappily, "Every family has its own rules. Has anyone in our family ever said anything bad about your Ji family?"

Ji Yong said nothing.

Dou Zhaoyou was still not satisfied and looked at him in confusion: "Are you really the Ji family's child? Could it be that I gave birth to the wrong child?"

Ji Yong was so angry that she jumped up and down: "If you want to help, then help. If you don't want to help, then leave. How can a girl talk so much?"

Are you saying that she is gossiping?

This is one of the seven grounds for divorce.

Dou Zhao naturally would not let him get away with it, and said: "Are you showing off in front of our Dou family again? Otherwise, why do we all have things to do at the same time? Our Dou family sends so many Spring Festival couplets to our neighbors every year, but I have never heard of anyone not being able to finish writing them. This shows that no matter how smart or capable this person is, he cannot offend the public..."

"Dou Zhao!" Ji Yong gritted her teeth and stuffed a pen into her hand. "Are you going to write or not?"

"No!" Dou Zhao threw the pen on the desk decisively.

There was a sound of footsteps coming closer and closer.

The two of them looked in the direction of the sound at the same time, and not only saw He Yu, who looked like a rich young man, smiling and nodding at them, but also saw Song Yan who was hurrying over.

"Fourth Miss," he said timidly, wiping the sweat from his forehead, "Is it appropriate for me to help Ji Ju write Spring Festival couplets?"