Although he was reborn, Dou Zhao could only influence some people and things around him. What was supposed to happen would still happen.

In mid-April, Dou Wenchang, who had been studying with Dou Shishu in Kyoto, brought back a letter from Dou Shishu.

In his letter, Dou Shishu not only mentioned that he was about to be promoted to the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, but also mentioned Wang Xingyi's reinstatement. He also asked about Dou Shiying's marriage in a very tactful way, saying that he and Wang Xingyi were in the same class, Zeng Yifen was forced to retire, Wang Xingyi was exiled, and his life in Beijing in the past few years was not easy. If Dou Shiying's marriage has not been settled yet, it is better to settle it as soon as possible. Now the emperor is old and his memory is getting worse. A few days ago, he met with the inner cabinet and suddenly ordered the young eunuch to summon Chen Dong, the eunuch who had passed away five or six years ago, to serve the pen and ink. The youngest grand scholar in the inner cabinet is Chen Jizhou from Songjiang. If he presides over the imperial examination next year, please ask Dou Duo and Dou Shiqi to discuss early whether to let all the children of the Dou family who are qualified to participate in the imperial examination try.

When Dou Duo received the letter, his face changed drastically. He immediately wrote a letter to Dou Shiqi, asking Dou Wenchang to rush to Fuzhou overnight, while he took Dou Shiying to Dongdou.

Although Dou Zhao didn't know the content of the letter, she was still thinking about Wang Xingyi's rebellion. The strange behavior of her grandfather and father immediately alerted her. She sent the maids around her to rest and only left Tuoniang behind: "Go and tell the maid at the second gate that if grandfather and father come back, ask her to report immediately."

Tuoniang went to the second gate to convey Dou Zhao's message, and then stayed by the bed to do needlework.

At the hour of Hai, news came from the second gate.

Tuoniang called Dou Zhao up.

Dou Zhao got dressed and went to Heshou Hall.

The two servants who served my grandfather were standing guard at the door.

Seeing Dou Zhao, they both called out "Fourth Miss" in surprise.

When the father heard the commotion, he came out with a look of astonishment on his face and said, "Shou Gu, it's so late, why haven't you slept yet?" He stared at Tuo Niang sternly.

Tuoniang's calves trembled and she mumbled for a long time, not knowing what to say.

Dou Zhao had already thrown himself into his father's arms with a smile: "You and Grandfather are going to visit, why don't you take me with you?"

The father laughed dumbly and carried Dou Zhao into the house.

Grandfather sat on the kang with a serious face. When he saw them come in, he frowned and said, "If you could get married earlier, there would be someone to take care of Shougu. Look at what has happened to the family now? In the middle of the night, Shougu is still making a fuss in the yard. You act on impulse like this, what else can you do except to make yourself feel at ease? On the one hand, you say that you have grown up and know your responsibilities, but on the other hand, you still do irresponsible things."

My father nodded in agreement and was somewhat speechless.

Dou Zhao saw a turning point from his grandfather's words and his father's attitude.

Her mood suddenly became brighter than ever before, and she decided to hate her grandfather: "Grandfather, I have someone to take care of me. Aunt Cui is my grandmother."

Grandfather's face turned ashen, and his eyes slashed at Dou Zhao like a knife, but Dou Zhao just blinked his big eyes, bit his fingers with a smile, and looked like he was ignorant of the world.

He was so angry that he was shaking all over, and he scolded his father: "This matter is not up to you. Tomorrow your third sister-in-law will go to the Zhu family to discuss the wedding date. From now on, you should study hard, and the affairs of the inner house will be left to the Zhu family." Then he said, "Who are the people serving Shougu? Send them all away."

My father said, "It is Nanny Yu who is taking care of Shougu. This is what I promised my uncle." His tone was a little stubborn.

My grandfather was speechless and left in anger, slamming the curtain.

Dou Zhao wanted to remind him: This is your study! If you want to leave, you should chase us away. Why did you get angry and run away first?

The father sighed and carried Dou Zhao out of Heshou Hall.

The night wind in April is still a little chilly, and the bright moonlight shines on the pavilions and towers, making it as quiet as a painting.

My father's steps became slower and slower, and finally he stopped beside the lotus pond.

"Shou Gu, do you know? Your fifth uncle sent a letter," he murmured, "your fifth uncle sent a letter home, Wang Xingyi, your aunt Wang's father, is going to be reinstated..."

Dou Zhao's heart was pounding as he understood the contents of Dou Shishu's letter.

As expected of the future Grand Scholar of the Cabinet, he has a very cruel heart.

She took a breath of cool air.

She had always thought that her fifth uncle and Wang Xingyi had a close and strong relationship as they were both classmates and had common interests. Wang Yingxue's biggest supporter in the Dou family was Dou Shishu. However, she forgot that Dou Shishu was a member of the Dou family after all, and she forgot the treacherous political situation.

The hosta flowers planted by the lotus pond are as white as jade, gleaming brightly in the moonlight and emitting a rich floral fragrance.

Her father sat side by side with her on the stone bench beside the lotus pond.

"Shougu, what's going on?" He stared blankly at the lotus leaves that had just begun to show their pointed corners in the lotus pond, and said, "I studied hard and passed the imperial examinations, wasn't it for the sake of bringing honor to our ancestors, for the sake of making the Dou family more prosperous and prominent, and for the sake of making the people of the Dou family live better than anyone else? But now, your mother has hanged herself, your uncle and I have fallen out, and I can't observe the three-year mourning period for your mother. The fifth lady of the Zhu family might also be dragged into this, and your sister might even lose her mother... Not only have I not allowed the people around me to live in peace and comfort, but because of me, I have made their situation even more difficult. What is the point of all this I have done? I have already let your mother down, and I can't let the fifth lady of the Zhu family down, and I can't let Wang Yingxue down..."

My father’s melancholy gaze, like the faint moonlight, seems very close and yet very far away.

It made Dou Zhao feel sad.

The father is so lonely that he can only tell his ignorant daughter about his thoughts in the dead of night.

She suddenly felt a little sympathy for her father.

※※※※※

My father returned to the main room and wrote a letter. Before daybreak, he asked the servant to call Gao Sheng in: "...Hurry and deliver it to the families in the east of the city before the third wife leaves."

Gao Sheng was very surprised, but he still went out as his father instructed.

At noon, my third aunt came back from her homes with a troubled look on her face.

"Uncle, the people in the family said that getting married before the Dragon Boat Festival is too hasty. When others heard it, they thought that their fifth daughter was going to get married to celebrate the good fortune!"

Grandfather was not expecting it.

Only those who don't take their daughter-in-law seriously would do such a thing to entertain their children.

What you said is too unpleasant to hear.

Third Aunt also felt the same way, but sighed, "It's no wonder that you are angry. We were the ones who said to wait three years, and we were the ones who said to hurry up and get married on Dragon Boat Festival. You are a wealthy family, let alone rushing to prepare the dowry, even notifying relatives and friends would probably be too late."

"I know that, too. But we have to do this in an emergency." Grandfather said, "I remember that Zhu Ju's sister married into the Chen family in the neighboring Xinle County. How about asking the aunt of the Zhu family to come forward and help?"

"Then I'll set off for Xinle after lunch." Third aunt said immediately without any hesitation.

My grandfather said a few words of thanks and invited my third aunt to have lunch with him.

"The East and West Dou were originally one family. Uncle Seven's business is the same as my own business." Third Aunt said politely, "I'm afraid I'll have to stay in Xinle tonight. I still have to make arrangements for family matters. Uncle, don't be polite to me. The most important thing is to get this matter done."

Grandfather did not want her to stay any longer and asked Qiufen to send her third aunt out the second door.

After that, no matter who Third Aunt moved to and asked the other families to make the decision, the other families would insist on their decision and would not give in.

Third Aunt was so anxious that blisters appeared on her mouth. She regretted it very much: "If I had known this would happen, I should have married my eldest sister-in-law's younger cousin. Now even if I want to change the person, I have to get the letters of withdrawal from all the families. I'm afraid it's too late."

My grandfather was angry with my father, so he made my father kneel in the treeless front yard for an entire afternoon on a hot day. My father's knees became red and swollen, and he had difficulty walking, so he went to see a doctor.

At this time, Wang Yingxue's elder brother Wang Zhibing suddenly came to visit.

Wang Zhibing is only in his early thirties this year, but perhaps because of the hardships he has experienced in recent years, he looks as old as a man in his forties.

He stood upright in the Wang family's hall, as tall and resolute as a green pine tree.

"My little sister has been dragged down by me as her brother, so she has come out to do some business. I didn't know it before, but now that I know, I have come to take my little sister back." He said in a firm tone, "We will not take your betrothal gifts, and there will be no financial disputes. You write a letter of acceptance, and from now on, our two families will be on the same page."

My grandfather was silent for a long time and asked someone to invite Wang Yingxue.

Wang Yingxue was surprised and happy when she saw her brother.

"Brother, why are you back!" She couldn't help but grab Wang Zhibing's arm, and then her face suddenly changed, and she looked Wang Zhibing up and down, "Is something wrong with father?" Before she finished her words, tears were already falling.

"No, no!" Wang Zhibing's eyes also turned red, and he said hurriedly, "Dad was appointed as the magistrate of Xintai County in Shandong Province by imperial decree. He wrote home and found out that you had entered the Dou Mansion. Dad was filled with regret and hatred, and even slapped himself three times, saying that it was my family who had implicated you, and asked me to hurry back and take you home."

"What did you say?" Wang Yingxue stared at Wang Zhibing blankly, "Dad, Dad, has he been reinstated?"

"Yes!" Wang Zhibing nodded repeatedly, "Dad has been reinstated. He will take mom and you to his new post in a few days. You don't have to worry about what to eat and drink every day at home... From now on, let big brother worry about these things!"

"Brother!" Wang Yingxue grabbed Wang Zhibing's sleeve and burst into tears.

Wang Zhibing turned his head away, not daring to look at his sister's expression. Only when Wang Yingxue's tears soaked his sleeves did he calm down.

"Don't cry. If you have anything to say, we can talk about it when we get home." Wang Zhibing said, looking at his grandfather. "If Mr. Dou doesn't have any other instructions, we'll take our leave now."

He didn't even prepare some spare clothes for Wang Yingxue.

Grandfather naturally couldn't let Wang Yingxue go like this, so he smiled and said, "Your father and my Yuanji are from the same family, so he is not an outsider. Since you are here, why don't you sit down and have a cup of tea. When your sister comes in, there will be a nanny and a maid to serve her in the house, and some things have been added. I will ask the nanny and the maid to pack up, and you can take her and the things away when the time comes. Your father has just been reinstated, and there are so many things to deal with, so we have to sort them out one by one. It was all a coincidence that Wang was able to enter our house. You can't let her leave empty-handed, right? It won't sound good to others!"

"No need!" Wang Zhibing just responded when he heard his sister's high-pitched and somewhat shrill voice: "What did you say? Let me go back with you, but what about Ming Jie'er? She's only three years old!"