Chapter 160 Gift

At night, Dou Zhao, who was only allowed to drink one cup of wine, slept together with his aunt and cousin Zhao Zhangru.

They told each other about their separation.

Although we often exchanged letters, being able to lie on the same bed like this and look at the face that I missed day and night was a pleasure that letters could never satisfy.

Soon, the sound of the third watch drum came to my ears.

Zhao Zhangru had fallen asleep with his head tilted.

Dou Zhaozheng was chatting enthusiastically, not feeling sleepy at all: "...So, the new Chief Secretary and my uncle are from the same department?"

"So you don't have to worry about us anymore." Her topics all revolved around her uncle. Her aunt naturally knew what she meant and said, "Not only that, when Lord Li participated in the Spring Examination, he lived in the same inn with your uncle. The two of them had similar personalities and often exchanged letters afterwards. This time when Lord Li took office, the first thing he did was to see your uncle. He also consulted with your uncle on many of the affairs under his jurisdiction. Your uncle was able to be promoted to the prefect of Qingyang Prefecture so smoothly, which also had a lot to do with Lord Li's recommendation."

During the years that Wang Yixing stayed in Shaanxi as the governor, the entire temple structure changed, not to mention Shaanxi. My uncle's career also underwent earth-shaking changes.

Dou Zhao's joy was beyond words. She smiled and said, "Aunt should visit Madam Li more often."

My aunt laughed and said, "Our Shougu has really grown into a big girl. She even knows this."

Dou Zhao smiled and asked about his three cousins.

"They are all very nice." The aunt said in general terms, and then asked about Dou Zhao's coming-of-age ceremony, "Who will put the hairpin on your head? Who will be the celebrant and sponsor?"

"The Second Madam was going to help me with the hairpin. The celebrant and the sponsor were originally planned to be Sister Shu, and then she would randomly pick one from among the relatives." Dou Zhao said with a smile, "At that time, I didn't expect that you and Sixth Aunt would come back. Sixth Aunt was afraid that I would not have a celebrant or sponsor, so she brought Cousin Ji over. Since you are here, why don't you help me with the hairpin?"

Compared with the second wife, Dou Zhao preferred his aunt to be the guest of honor. Moreover, since his aunt came from a long way, the Dou family would take the initiative to ask his aunt to wear the hairpin as long as Dou Zhao let them know about it out of respect for Dou Zhao's maternal family.

It turned out that it was the Second Lady who personally helped Dou Zhao to put on the hairpin!

My aunt was very surprised, but more than that, she was relieved.

Being able to have the highly respected Second Lady in Zhending help with the pin-pin insertion would improve Dou Zhao's status and position, which would only benefit Dou Zhao and not harm him.

She brought Zhao Zhangru back originally because she was worried that there would be no suitable celebrant or sponsor for Dou Zhao's coming-of-age ceremony. Now that everything was arranged, she felt relieved and did not even mention Zhao Zhangru.

"Let the Second Lady help you put on your hairpin!" said the aunt with a smile. "It's rare that she has such a heart. As for your Sixth Aunt, you should be filial to her. She treats you like her own daughter."

Dou Zhao nodded repeatedly.

The aunt had no more worries and urged Dou Zhao with a smile: "We plan to stay in Zhending for two months. If you have anything to say, there will be plenty of opportunities to talk. Now go to bed quickly, because the coming-of-age ceremony will be held tomorrow! It will be terrible if you are not in good spirits on such an important day." Then she tucked the quilt for her.

Dou Zhao was giggling like a child and couldn't fall asleep. But thinking that his aunt must be very tired after coming back from such a long distance, he stopped talking.

Soon, she heard her aunt's steady breathing.

In the quiet night, this usually deserted house suddenly became warm.

Dou Zhao curled his lips and closed his eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep. The next day, he woke up only after Su Xin pushed him.

She sat up hastily.

I heard my aunt's calm and smiling voice: "No hurry, no hurry! It's still early! I told you to sleep a little longer, but Su Xin said that you should let her wake you up at dawn, so I can't wait."

"Is it morning yet?" Dou Zhao heaved a sigh of relief, only to find that Zhao Zhangru was still sleeping like a pig, and all this commotion did not wake her up.

"It's past three quarters past midnight." Su Xin said hurriedly, "In another half an hour, the Second Madam and her family will be here."

Dou Zhao calculated in his mind that there was still time, so he became even more relaxed.

She let the hired nanny help her dress up, while her aunt went to call Zhao Zhangru.

Zhao Zhangru screamed loudly. He put on his shoes and found that he was not wearing socks. After he put on his socks, he couldn't find his towel. He was so anxious that he kept shouting, "Shou Gu, lend me one of your towels." The servants in the room were so amused that they covered their mouths and laughed.

My aunt was both angry and amused, and she scolded, "Look at you, you are two years older than Shougu, but you don't have any of her stability. How can I marry you off with confidence if you are like this?!"

Zhao Zhangru's face flushed red.

Dou Zhao heard something behind these words, and while his aunt was in the bathroom, he quietly asked his third cousin, "Did I have wedding wine to drink again?"

Zhao Zhangru pushed Dou Zhao and said in a low voice with embarrassment: "Daddy wants to keep me at home..."

The memories of his previous life gradually became clearer in Dou Zhao's mind.

My uncle never took a concubine and only had three daughters. My eldest and second cousins ​​both married into scholarly families in the places where he was an official, and my eldest cousin's husband even passed the imperial examination. My third cousin was looking for a husband at home. But except for my eldest cousin, I had never seen the other two cousins ​​in my previous life, let alone had any friendship with them. She didn't know who my third cousin married.

She looked at Zhao Zhangru, who was pouting, and said with a smile, "Why? You don't want to stay at home?"

"What's the use of me being willing or not!" Zhao Zhangru muttered, "I can't let Daddy and Mommy be alone in their old age!"

Who is willing to be a good man with ambition?

Dou Zhao could understand Zhao Zhangru's feelings, but as she said, she didn't want to let her uncle and aunt be left alone in their old age.

For a moment, the atmosphere was a little depressing.

Zhao Zhangru hurriedly smiled and said, "Forget it, let's not talk about my business. Today is your good day."

However, nothing bad has been reported about my uncle's family, so they must be living a good life... Besides, there is still a long way to go, and Zhao Zhangru is not engaged yet.

Dou Zhao smiled, took Zhao Zhangru's arm and went to the hall.

Soon, the women from the East Palace and some ladies who were watching the ceremony arrived.

The Second Lady was dressed very formally in the formal dress of a third-rank lady, and she also put on some light powder and wore an emerald headpiece. She looked very energetic.

As soon as she entered the room, she took her aunt's hand and said with a smile, "Today I am here to put on the hairpin for Shougu. Let your daughter take care of it for Dou Zhao, and Miss Ji will be the sponsor." Then, without waiting for her aunt to refuse, she said, "I have made the decision on this matter, and none of you should say anything. You have come from thousands of miles away to celebrate Shougu's hairpin. This kindness is not only remembered by Shougu, but also by me."

Everything is changing.

In the past, the Second Lady had to suppress her aunt for the sake of the Dou family. Now, in order to suppress Wang Yingxue, she has to lift up her aunt.

Dou Zhao understood what was going on and was even more pleased to see this kind of scene, so he pulled his aunt's sleeve and begged her to agree.

Pang Jinlou's wife, who was treated as an ordinary guest and didn't even have a seat, looked very unhappy when she heard this.

Thinking that Dou Zhao had grown up all alone in the Dou family, the aunt couldn't bear to make her sad, so she quickly agreed.

There was peace in the hall.

At the auspicious moment, under the gaze of many female relatives, Zhao Zhangru stood in the west of the hall holding the red gold and ruby ​​hairpin that Dou Shiying had specially sent for Dou Zhao's coming-of-age ceremony, while Ji Ling assisted the Second Lady in inserting the hairpin into Dou Zhao's hair.

The golden phoenix on the boulevard was lifelike, and the sparkling rubies were dazzling, reflecting Dou Zhao, who was wearing a bright red robe with gold inlays and sapphire passionflower edging. He looked elegant and radiant, and his demeanor was completely different from his usual heroic appearance, which made the guests present look at him sideways and talk about him with their heads down.

"The fourth young lady of the Dou family has grown up!"

"She's so beautiful. She's definitely going to be the Marquis' wife!"

Ji Ling looked at Dou Zhao, who was generously and enthusiastically filtering wine for the elders at the banquet, and seemed to be hesitant to speak several times.

Zhao Zhangru whispered to her, "Shou Gu looks really pretty today, don't you think?"

Ji Ling nodded and said hesitantly, "Is she really engaged to Marquis Jining?"

"Of course." Zhao Zhang smiled like a flower. "My mother came this time, not only to congratulate Shougu on her coming of age, but also to see how Shougu's dowry is prepared. Didn't the Jining Marquis's Mansion send someone to say that Shougu must marry within a hundred days? My mother thinks that the Jining Mansion looks down on people, so Shougu's dowry should not be neglected..."

Ji Ling just said "hmm" and listened absentmindedly.

※※※※※

Two days later, all the guests who came to congratulate left. My aunt took Zhao Zhangru back to her parents' home. Ji came back for a rare visit and wanted to show her filial piety to the Second Lady. Only then did Dou Zhao have time to count the gift lists.

"Hey, Mr. Yan, Xu Qing, and Lu Ming all sent gifts!"

"Yes." Su Xin had counted the gift list before, and had a rough idea of ​​who gave what. "Not only did the three of them send gifts, but Tan Family Manor also sent a statue of the Buddha of Longevity as a gift."

"Ah!" Dou Zhao was very surprised and laughed, "I'm not celebrating my birthday." But she was also a little curious and told Su Xin, "Let's go and take a look."

Su Xin and Dou Zhao went to the warehouse where the gifts were kept.

There are too many gifts. We are adding them to the list.

Suxin and Ganlu, along with a few maids, searched for a long time before they found it.

The Longevity Buddha is only three feet tall, but it is carved from a whole piece of mutton-fat jade. It is flawless and has exquisite craftsmanship. It is obvious at first glance that it is worth a lot of money.

Dou Zhao smiled and said, "Now we have to send expensive gifts to Tanjiazhuang whenever there is any happy event."

"This respectability is rare." Su Xin said with a smile, "The Tan Family Manor is one of the most prestigious families in Lingbi County."

Dou Zhao nodded, but wondered why he didn't see Ji Yong's gift.

Given his personality, he shouldn't miss this excitement.

She went back and looked over the list again.

There is indeed no Ji Yong congratulations.

There is no Song Mo's either.

Instead, he saw a painting of "Fairy Mountain and Pavilions" by Zhao Boju that Wu Shan sent him.

It was sandwiched between the Ru kiln diamond-shaped brush washer given to her by Dou Dechang.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but sigh.

He told Suxin to keep the "Picture of Fairy Mountain and Pavilions" carefully at the bottom of the box.

A few days later, Sixth Aunt brought Ji Lingze to say goodbye: "...The engagement will be in September, and there are still a lot of things waiting for me at home." She also tried to persuade Dou Zhao to go to Kyoto with her through my grandmother, "...She will marry in Kyoto in the future, it would be better for her to go there early to get familiar with the situation." She also said to Dou Zhao, "When the time comes, live with me in Maoer Hutong. If anyone asks, just say I asked you to help. At most, I will go to Liuye Hutong to say hello. Can I force you to stay?"

Even if it was just a greeting, she didn't want to fight with the Wang family!

Dou Zhao smiled and shook his head.

She will go to Kyoto, but not now.