Chapter 159: A Distant Visitor

Seeing Dou Zhao looking at her, Ji Ling nodded and smiled at Dou Zhao calmly, taking the opportunity to get a good look at Dou Zhao.

She was tall, wearing a half-new dark green silk jacket, and a goose-yellow skirt with cloud patterns embroidered on it. She stood there with a pine-like figure, her eyes shining like cold stars, dazzling and eye-catching, like a plum blossom blooming in the cold, rather than the delicate peach, pear, apricot or plum.

Few girls have such grace.

Ji Ling couldn't help but secretly praise him in his heart and developed a very good impression of Dou Zhao.

She knelt down to return the greeting and said with a smile, "Uninvited guest, excuse me, excuse me!"

What kind of courage does a woman have to disregard her reputation and life and go with a man who is one year younger than her? !

Although she knew that Dou Dechang had stopped his career in the Hanlin Academy because of her and she never regretted it, and although she knew that Ji Lingze and Dou Dechang lived a loving and happy life after marrying them, when she made that decision, she certainly could not predict what the future would be like.

Dou Zhao has always been very curious about his twelfth sister-in-law in his previous life, with whom he had only met a few times but had no chance to become close friends.

I never thought that I would meet her during my coming-of-age ceremony in this life.

She warmly welcomed her sixth aunt and Ji Lingze into her grandmother's room.

Grandmother held Ji Lingze's hand and kept praising her: "This girl is so beautiful!" She also asked her how old she was, how many brothers and sisters she had, and what she did for fun...

Ji then whispered to Dou Zhao, "You are of a high rank and don't have many close sisters. I brought Ling Ze with me. How about letting her be your sponsor for your coming-of-age ceremony?"

Sixth aunt treats her like her own daughter!

Dou Zhao naturally said yes.

Ji smiled and said, "Then I'll tell her tonight."

"Thank you, Sixth Aunt." Dou Zhao thanked her.

Ji patted her hands and said with emotion: "I have always been worried about whether you were doing well in Zhending. Now that we meet, I realize that I was too worried. Sometimes, girls should not be too strong. They should be soft when they should be." There was something she didn't say.

He clearly has a father, a mother and relatives, but he is just like the wild vegetables in the field growing on his own. It is so heartbreaking to see.

"Your Sixth Aunt's words make sense." I don't know when my grandmother had finished talking to Ji Lingze, and she continued with a smile, "The Wei family came to give you a coming-of-age gift, but you just said 'thank you' and sent them away. How could the Marquis feel good when he knew about this? How could you be so smart at ordinary times, but be so confused at the critical moment?"

Since we have already decided to cut ties with the Wei family, it would be better to cool down the relationship between the two families as soon as possible.

Dou Zhao smiled and said to his grandmother: "Got it!"

The grandmother couldn't see it at all, and shook her head helplessly: "You child!"

Ji Lingze was on the side, advising his grandmother: "My sister is young and thin-skinned. You don't have to be so demanding. Just wait for two years and everything will be fine."

Grandmother praised Ji Ling for being sensible.

Ji Ling listened with a smile on his face. The beauty of the lady from an important family was a delight to the eyes.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but think in his heart, no wonder Dou Dechang likes Shang Ji Lingze.

I wonder when Dou Dechang became interested in Shang Ji Ling Ze in his previous life?

There were no signs before they eloped.

Will they still like each other in this life?

Dou Zhao was a little stunned and couldn't help but say, "Cousin Ji, why didn't Twelve Brother and the others come back with you?" After saying that, he realized that he had said the wrong thing and couldn't help but look at the expressions of Sixth Aunt and Ji Lingze.

Neither of them showed any strangeness. Especially Ji Lingze, who smiled and said, "Your twelfth brother was originally going to come back, but your uncle heard that Jianming went to Kyoto and rented a house near Shuntianfu School to study hard, so he took your eleventh and twelfth brothers there and let them study there together."

Dou Zhao nodded quickly.

Ji Ling smiled and said, "I heard from my aunt a long time ago that there is a flower house here. Not only are the camellias in full bloom, but there are also rare species of cymbidiums and peonies. I wonder if I can go and take a look?"

Because the greenhouse belonged to Dou Zhao, my grandmother liked it most when people asked about it.

Upon hearing this, she smiled and narrowed her eyes. "This is what our Shou aunt raised for fun. Miss Ji doesn't deserve such praise. If Miss Ji is interested, just let Shou aunt accompany you." Then she called Dou Zhao, "You accompany Miss Ji for a walk. If you see what flowers Miss Ji likes, move some over."

Grandma started sending flowers again.

She wished that everyone who received the flowers would praise her.

Dou Zhao smiled and went to the greenhouse with Ji Ling.

It was the beginning of spring and the weather was still cold, but the greenhouse was lush and green with flowers and trees. A few early-blooming forsythia and peony flowers made the greenhouse look full of spring, which made people feel refreshed.

"Cousin Dou's flowers are really well planted." Ji Ling stood in front of a red dan that had just sprouted. "The Eighteen Scholars plant that my aunt gave to the old lady must have been planted by cousin Dou?"

"I raised it for fun, but I didn't expect it to survive." Dou Zhao said modestly.

Ji Ling laughed and said, "It turns out that there is a saying in this world that 'brine can make tofu stronger, and one thing can conquer another'."

Dou Zhao was stunned and didn't understand what she meant.

Ji Ling had already asked her how to grow flowers: "...Sister, this azalea is blooming really well. I have one at home too, but it's growing in a mess. If I prune it, it will easily produce adventitious buds. I wonder if sister has any tricks? I can learn from them and show off to the elders at home!"

Dou Zhao listened to her humorous words and put his confusion behind him - he couldn't figure it out anyway, and there was no point in thinking too much, he would know it when he should know it.

"There's no secret." She smiled and walked to the azalea with Ji Lingze, "It's just pruning in May or June every year after the flowering period."

Ji Ling nodded continuously.

As the two were talking, a little maid ran in excitedly: "Fourth Miss, Fourth Miss, my aunt is here with my third cousin!"

Dou Zhao was slightly surprised and asked in disbelief, "What did you say?"

The little maid said eloquently, "It's my aunt who lives far away in the northwest who has brought my third cousin back to attend my young lady's coming-of-age ceremony! She's talking to Aunt Cui right now!"

"Ah!" Dou Zhao's heart was pounding, he was so happy that he almost lost control. He hurriedly took two steps forward then remembered that he was still with Ji Lingze, and hurriedly turned back.

Fortunately, Ji Lingze was also smart and considerate. He hurriedly said, "Since such a distinguished guest has come from afar, let's go and greet him." He took Dou Zhao's arm and walked out.

Dou Zhao didn't bother to be polite with her. He quickly walked out of the greenhouse and went to his grandmother's place.

My aunt recognized her at once. Before she could stand still, she rushed forward and hugged her with tears in her eyes: "Shou Gu, you are Shou Gu!"

"Yes!" As soon as Dou Zhao uttered the word, tears started to fall.

They haven't seen each other for ten years.

The two hugged each other and cried bitterly.

The people around were also quietly wiping their tears, but Zhao Zhangru ran up to pull his mother and Dou Zhao together and said, "It's obviously a happy thing, why are you crying here?!" Although he said this, his tears were no less than Dou Zhao's.

Dou Zhao burst into laughter, tears still streaming down his face, and called Zhao Zhangru, "Third cousin!"

The little girl has grown into a big girl, with a slim figure and beautiful appearance. If he met her on the street, Dou Zhao would definitely not recognize her. But his aunt has not changed much, on the contrary, she looks much younger because her complexion is more vigorous than before.

Zhao Zhangru pretended to be disgusted and threw a handkerchief to Dou Zhao: "Why don't you wipe your tears quickly! Fortunately, you didn't put on any makeup, otherwise it would be all ruined!"

That naughty look and cheerful tone are just like when he was a child.

Time seems to have gone back to the past.

She dragged herself to watch the ants move.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but pull Zhao Zhangru's hand.

Zhao Zhangru laughed.

Grandmother smiled and asked them to sit down and talk.

The maids changed the tea and snacks.

Dou Zhao had a thousand things to say but didn't know where to start, so he just held Zhao Zhangru's hand tightly.

Ji smiled and said, "Shou Gu, I have good news for you - your uncle has been promoted to the prefect of Qingyang!"

"Really!" Dou Zhao looked at his aunt in surprise.

My aunt nodded gently and said humbly, "Your uncle is a diligent official and was promoted to Qingyang this time."

Dou Zhao couldn't help but feel happy in his heart.

In his previous life, my uncle was promoted to the prefect of Qingyang when he was over 50 years old, and he never got any further advancement after that.

But in this life it happened ten years earlier.

And it was right after Wang Xingyi was transferred to Yunnan for inspection.

It can be seen that without Wang Xingyi's suppression, my uncle was finally able to come to the fore.

In this life, things finally changed.

"Aunt," Dou Zhao said with a smile, "We should celebrate uncle's promotion."

"What is there to celebrate?" My aunt, who always keeps a low profile, smiled and said, "You are not afraid of being laughed at."

"I just want to wish my uncle a more successful career." Dou Zhao said with a smile, "Just invite everyone in the family to have a meal and drink." Then he told the maid to prepare the table and fetch two jars of the best Jinhua wine.

It's just a promotion to the fourth rank.

Ji Ling did not quite understand Dou Zhao's excitement.

Zhao Zhangru jumped out: "I'll go and help!"

"Zhangru!" My aunt's face turned stern.

Grandmother stepped in to smooth things over: "It's rare that Shou-gu has such an interest. It's all for the happiness of her uncle. Just let them do as they please."

The Ji family members all smiled tolerantly.

Zhao Zhangru, who was very outgoing, pulled Ji Lingze, whom she had just met, and said, "Cousin Ji should go with us." She whispered to Ji Lingze, "Shou Gu has a lot of good things. We must eat and drink and take some today!" Ji Lingze, who was always very dignified, couldn't help laughing. He laughed and chatted with Zhao Zhangru and Dou Zhao as they left Aunt Cui's yard.

When I met Su Xin on the road, she said worriedly, "You told me to only accept gifts from my family members, but the managers of the farms and shops were sincere in what they said..."

Dou Zhao was not an inflexible person. He would inevitably disappoint the village heads and managers by rudely rejecting the gifts.

She thought for a moment and said, "Just accept all the gifts, see how much they are worth, and then give everyone a similar amount of money as a reward."

That's good.

It not only saves other people's face, but also demonstrates the Dou family's style.

Su Xin responded happily and left.

Zhao Zhangru and Ji Lingze whispered: "See? I was right, wasn't I?"

"Indeed." Ji Ling nodded with a smile, but lowered his head thoughtfully, and absent-mindedly followed them to Dou Zhao's main room.