Chapter 309: Adding a Newborn

Dou Zhao naturally didn't know what had happened in the Jining Marquis's mansion. The Dou family knew that Dou Zhao and Dou Ming were not on good terms, so they naturally turned a blind eye to Dou Ming's absence and pretended not to know. Everyone was playing cards and chatting in a lively and noisy manner. As the sky gradually darkened, they stayed in Jing'an Temple Hutong for dinner.

Seeing that it was getting late, Song Mo came in, said hello to Dou Zhao, left a few guards behind, and stood up to say goodbye.

Dou Shiying and others personally sent Song Mo to the gate. Sixth aunt stayed to accompany Dou Zhao, and the others also dispersed.

Han's wet nurse couldn't help but complain: "You are about to give birth in a few days, and Madam has to accompany Fourth Aunt. Even if Fourth Aunt is the prince of the Duke's Mansion, she shouldn't be like this!"

"Stop talking nonsense!" Han scolded the nurse in a low voice, "Fourth Aunt was raised by Grandmother herself, just like Grandmother's biological daughter. Because of this, Seventh Uncle once wanted to make Twelfth Uncle the successor to Xidou. If I hear such words again, you will return to Huzhou immediately!"

The wet nurse nodded "yes".

Han was secretly amazed.

The mother-in-law is not a person who is confused. Even if she loves Dou Zhao very much, it is impossible for her to leave her to accompany Dou Zhao at this time.

What happened that she didn't know about?

Ji was talking to Dou Zhao anxiously and angrily about Dou Dechang: "...his grandmother suddenly fell ill, and his aunt had to rush back to her hometown to take care of her. I had to take care of Han and couldn't leave, so I asked him to escort his aunt back to Yixing, and to ask about his grandmother's condition on my behalf. Who knew that after he came back, he became absent-minded all day long. I was afraid that he had been stimulated in Yixing, so I called the servants and maids who had been with him to ask about it. Although the servants and maids knew nothing about the matter, they reported back to me almost as if they knew what happened. It was exactly the same, except that the words were reversed, or a few words were omitted or added. I became more and more suspicious, and quietly sent people to secretly monitor your twelfth brother's movements. Only then did I discover that he secretly sent a letter to Yixing every two days. I didn't dare to intercept those letters, so I sent a confidant to the dock in Yixing in advance to guard your twelfth brother's people..." When she said this, her face suddenly turned pale, and she was silent for a long time before she gritted her teeth and whispered, "Those letters were all sent to Ling Ze..."

If Dou Zhao had not lived two lives, he would definitely stand on the side of his sixth aunt and try to prevent the disaster from happening.

But she knew how loving these two were in their previous life, and she really couldn't do such a thing as hitting a couple with a stick.

"Sixth aunt, calm down first." She tried to smooth things over. "Maybe this matter is not as you think! Think about it, didn't cousin Ji write me a few letters every now and then!" As soon as she finished speaking, she knew that she had said the wrong thing. Looking at Ji, she was indeed embarrassed. But the words had already been spoken, and the more she explained, the more obvious it seemed, which would make people more embarrassed. Dou Zhao had to pretend that he had never known Ji Yong's thoughts, and continued, "Cousin Lingze is very smart, and she is quite accomplished in poetry, music, calligraphy and painting. Twelve brother is a lively and studious person. When they meet someone who can talk to them, they will naturally have endless things to say..."

Ji pointed at Dou Zhao's forehead and said, "You blockhead! If the two of them were innocent, why didn't Ling Ze accept your twelfth brother's letter? Why didn't he meet your twelfth brother's people? Why did your twelfth brother's people sneak around to find a place to stay instead of coming to your house to deliver the letter?" She asked "why" several times in one breath, and looked at Dou Zhao with confusion in her eyes, "Your twelfth brother, why are you so stupid?" Did my brother say something to you? Are you covering for your twelfth brother? Among all the brothers and sisters, your twelfth brother is the closest to you..." As she spoke, her expression became serious and she said sternly, "Shou aunt, you have always been well-behaved. Lingze is the aunt who returned from the Han family. She is not an ordinary cousin. If this matter gets out, I am afraid that Lingze will have no place to stand in the Ji family from now on, and your twelfth brother's reputation will be ruined and his future will be bleak!"

Dou Zhao couldn't help but exclaim "Oh no" inwardly.

I was so focused on persuading Sixth Aunt that I forgot to show my surprise.

"That's not true!" She hurriedly explained, "Although I have little experience, I know the seriousness of the matter. Twelve Brother didn't tell me anything, I guessed it myself." Then she turned Ji's gaze and said, "Then have you tried to see what Twelve Brother said to Cousin Lingze?"

Just as the saying goes, "children of your own family are good at everything", even a smart person like Ji Shi did not doubt Dou Zhao's rough explanation. He frowned and said, "Since I found out, how could I not open your twelfth brother's letter? But his letter is full of academic matters..."

Dou Zhao said hurriedly, "Then what do you have to worry about? It seems that even if Brother Twelve has some thoughts, Cousin Lingze knows it in her heart. In my opinion, you'd better let someone keep an eye on him. The two of them are thousands of miles apart, and after a long time, the feelings may fade. Besides, there is Cousin Lingze, she is not someone without opinions or rules."

Ji thought about it and felt that this made sense. She couldn't help but let out a long sigh, and her heartstrings, which had been tense for many days, finally relaxed a little.

"You don't know how I've been getting by these days! I wanted to discuss it with your sixth uncle, but it was me who sent your twelfth brother to Yixing, and Ling Ze is my niece... But if I don't talk to others, I'll be in turmoil and have no peace of mind... I have to help your twelfth brother find a wife as soon as possible."

Dou Zhaoke didn't dare to say anything more. He asked about Dou Dechang's grandmother's illness and then changed the subject.

Fortunately, Ji's heart knot was somewhat relieved, and she felt much more energetic. In addition to her own son, she was still thinking about Dou Zhao. She was afraid that Dou Zhao would be wronged after marrying into the Duke of Ying's mansion. For a moment, she put Dou Dechang's matter aside and asked about Dou Zhao's married life.

Dou Zhao naturally said good things, and Song Mo really treated her very well. Compared with her previous life, this marriage in this life gave her more hope.

Ji smiled with relief after hearing this and made an appointment with her to go to Kaiyuan Temple on the tenth day of the tenth month to burn incense: "That is the temple of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. You should go and perform a ritual and ask the Bodhisattva to bless you to have a baby soon."

Dou Zhao blushed slightly and whispered, "Let's not do the ritual. If we still can't get it done by the end of the year, we can talk about it later."

"Okay!" Ji thought for a moment and said, "You are now a new bride, and your every move will attract attention. Going to Kaiyuan Temple to perform rituals will easily arouse suspicion. Leave this matter to me."

Dou Zhao's eyes were slightly wet.

Only a mother would consider everything for her children like this.

She nodded heavily, not wanting to disappoint Sixth Auntie's kindness, and said with a smile, "Then go and ask for a good fortune from Guanyin Bodhisattva for me!"

"You kid!" Ji shook her head with a smile.

The two of them went to the guest room where their aunt was staying and chatted for most of the night.

The next day, Dou Zhao urged Sixth Aunt to return to Maoer Hutong as soon as possible: "Eleventh Sister-in-law is going to give birth in the next few days. With you here, she will be more courageous."

"We live close to each other," said Sixth Aunt with a smile. "If she had a seizure, her family would have come to inform her."

Before she finished her words, the messenger from Maoer Hutong arrived.

It turned out that Han had just returned home yesterday and had an attack. She was afraid of disturbing her mother-in-law and Dou Zhao, so she didn't send anyone to report the news immediately. Fortunately, the family had been prepared, and the grandmother-in-law and the experienced nanny had been waiting for a long time. Despite this, Han was the first child, and the baby had not been born after a night. The grandmother-in-law and the nanny were calm and relaxed, which scared Dou Zhengchang so much that he quickly sent someone to Jing'an Temple Hutong to ask his mother.

Now, the people in Jing'an Temple Hutong could no longer sit still.

My aunt accompanied my sixth aunt to Maoer Hutong and left Zhao Zhangru to Dou Zhao.

The two sisters were restless at home.

"I really shouldn't have kept Sixth Aunt here," Dou Zhao blamed herself as childbirth is a close call. "Why didn't you say it at any other time?" she muttered softly.

Zhao Zhangru, facing the west, put her hands together and prayed: "I hope the birth goes smoothly, I hope the birth goes smoothly!"

At noon, news came from Maoer Hutong that Han had successfully given birth to a fat boy weighing seven kilograms.

There was cheering in Jing'an Temple Hutong.

Dou Zhao and Zhao Zhangru hurried to visit Han.

The child was plump and looked like a member of the Dou family. Dou Zhao held him in his arms and couldn't let go. Zhao Zhangru was anxious and turned around: "Give me a hug, give me a hug!"

Everybody laughed.

Han, who was leaning against the big pillow with a pale face, couldn't help but smile happily.

Aunt Ji sent someone to inform the people in Huaishu Hutong that Fifth Aunt and her family did not arrive, but Song Mo came with Dou Shiying.

Dou Zhao was shocked.

Song Mo explained with a smile: "I came here with my father-in-law."

Of course I know that you came here with your father, but the question is how did you come here together with your father?

Dou Zhao murmured in his heart.

Dou Shiying smiled and said to his daughter teasingly, "Come over and drink tea with me, Yantang."

This guy, can't he hold himself back a bit!

Dou Zhao glared at Song Mo.

Song Mo pretended not to see it and said "Congratulations" to Dou Zhengchang.

Dou Zhengchang was so happy that he had lost his mind. He kept returning the gifts and saying "congratulations" and "congratulations", which made everyone laugh again.

When Zhao Zhangru found out, he imitated Song Mo's tone and teased Dou Zhao: "I came here with my father-in-law."

"Even sugar-water eggs can't stop you from talking!" Dou Zhao pinched Zhao Zhangru's face.

Zhao Zhangru immediately hid behind his sixth aunt: "Look, look, Shougu is bullying me!"

Sixth Aunt smiled until her eyes curved into crescents. She followed their noise and said, "As long as I'm here, she won't dare to do anything to you!"

Zhao Zhangru hid behind his sixth aunt and made faces at Dou Zhao.

My aunt shook her head helplessly: "She is such a grown-up girl, but she is fine when she doesn't talk. But when she talks, it's like she has lost her mind. What shall we do in the future?"

Zhao Zhangru's expression suddenly dimmed, but he quickly put on a smile and chattered with his sixth aunt and Han.

Dou Zhao watched and almost burst into tears.

When Song Mo came to her to discuss what kind of baptism gift to give to the newborn baby, she couldn't help but tell Song Mo about this matter: "...I'm afraid that my previous coquettishness was just to reassure my aunt!"

Song Mo squeezed her hand and comforted her, "My grandmother used to say that every blade of grass has a drop of dew. She just hasn't had the chance yet."

"I hope so!" Dou Zhao sighed.

The sixth uncle gave the child the nickname "Qi Jin".

Dou Zhao simply stayed in Jing'an Temple Hutong for two more days, preparing to attend Qi Jin's third-day bathing ceremony before returning to the Duke of Ying's Mansion.