The incident happened too suddenly, and Yu Daqing had to pawn some of his wife's jewelry to barely balance the accounts.

Dou Xiuchang arranged for the Dou Account Office to check the accounts, and when he found that the accounts were consistent, he asked Yu Daqing to sign the pledge. His aunt gave him a gift of 200 taels of silver, as well as some porcelain, screens and other gifts. She chose an auspicious day and set up a banquet to see off Yu Ma and her family.

In Zhending County, word spread that the seventh master of the Dou family was going to marry a new wife. The seventh grandmother's nanny was raised by Rong Rong, and the Dou family rewarded her with a lot of silver for her old age.

When Nanny Yu's carriage left the city gate, someone quietly measured the depth of the tracks left by the carriage.

Later, someone in the Dou family heard that Yu Ma's family encountered robbers on their way home. Not only were all their belongings robbed, but Yu Ma was frightened and died a few days later. Yu Daqing was also hacked and although he saved his life, he was left with a disability and could not take care of himself from then on...

When the aunt saw that the matter had been dealt with, she said goodbye to the women in the Dou Mansion: "... Shougu's uncle is still waiting for me to go back for the New Year. Shougu will be in your care now."

Both the Second Lady and several other ladies happily agreed.

After seeing off their aunt, the Dou family began to prepare for the New Year.

After Zhao Guqiu passed away, Dou Shibang and his wife took care of the New Year's affairs in the West Palace. This year, because of Dou Zhao's matter, they invited Dou Duo to come over to eat dumplings on the winter solstice, but Dou Duo declined on the grounds that it was freezing cold and he was not feeling well. Dou Shibang was a little unsure, so he asked the Second Lady for advice.

The Second Lady went to the West Mansion and said, "... Although we have received the consent letter, there is no ceremony. Wang is not in a legitimate position after all. I think we should let her help the Third Wife this year, so that she can learn how to host the Zhongfeng. Next year, we can celebrate the New Year separately!"

Dou Duo responded indifferently.

Wang Yingxue was called to the third wife to help.

She was naturally overjoyed, thinking that since this was her first time, she couldn't dress too shabby nor too extravagantly. She tied her hair neatly into a bun, wore a half-new scarlet Yu Tangchun jacket with floral patterns, and only wore a pair of gold earrings with a little oil on them. She dressed neatly, modestly and appropriately as she went to the East Palace.

The Third Wife was reconciling accounts with the housekeeper, and when she saw her come in, she just looked up and said, "You're here," and asked a maid to bring her an embroidered cushion: "You watch from the side first, and ask me if you don't understand anything." While she was speaking, the housekeeper and the respectable maid came and went, and the small room was filled with people coming and going.

Wang Yingxue lived in Kyoto for a period of time when she was young, and she also followed her mother to visit some wealthy families. Those families also celebrated the New Year like now. She did not think it was an offense, and said softly, "Third Madam, you take care of your own things, don't worry about me," and sat on the embroidered cushion, watching the Third Madam's instructions with her eyes and ears.

The mother in charge found something wrong with the account and argued with the third wife: "When the maternal uncle and wife of the Zhao family in the West Mansion came over, we had banquets one after another, and the expenses for tea and wine were also more than usual..."

When Wang Yingxue heard the word "Xifu", she immediately pricked up her ears.

"More than usual is normal," said the Third Madam, "but 30% more than usual, isn't that too much?" She flipped through the accounts, "Look, this is the expenses when the Sixth Master had his first imperial examination. Look at the expenses when the Zhao family's uncle and his wife came over..."

"It was still mid-autumn when Sixth Master came, but Uncle Zhao's wife didn't leave until after the winter solstice. After the winter solstice, the prices of chicken, duck, fish and meat all went up..."

"Before the winter solstice, don't the estates send us things?" The third wife was unmoved. "Why are you still going out to buy them?"

"The maternal uncle of the Zhao family has lived here since mid-autumn to early snow." The housekeeper's mother was so anxious that her mouth was bubbling. Seeing Wang Yingxue in half-new clothes and a strange face, she thought she was the daughter-in-law of one of the housekeepers. While talking to the third wife, she pointed at Wang Yingxue and said, "Go, pour me a cup of tea!"

"Me?" Wang Yingxue was stunned and looked at the third wife.

The third wife and the housekeeper were staring at each other like fighting chickens.

Wang Yingxue looked at the Third Wife's maids and old women, none of whom said anything, so she had to slowly get up and pour a cup of tea for the housekeeper.

But she was still angry, so she quietly asked the maid, "What does this housekeeper do?"

"You're talking about Madam Dou," the maid smiled, looking along her hand. "She's the wife of our steward Dou. She's the most honest person. She used to be a personal maid to the Madam. Even the masters in our house would treat her with some respect." Then she asked her curiously, "Which house are you from? Why have I never seen you before? Are you the new steward's wife?"

Wang Yingxue regretted that she was dressed too simply, so the next day she tied her hair into a bun, wore a large emerald flower, and a scallion green blouse with floral patterns, looking dazzling.

Everyone who came in to report something nodded at her with a smile and asked who the Third Madam was.

"It's Aunt Wang from the East Palace."

When those people looked at her again, there was a bit more curiosity, a bit more exploration, and even a hint of disdain. During the meal, the maids and old women looked at her in twos and threes. When she turned around, those people burst into ambiguous laughter.

Wang Yingxue felt embarrassed and annoyed, regretting that she was dressed so conspicuously, and spent the whole day feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles.

When they returned to Qixia Courtyard, Madam Hu told her, "The Second Madam sent Madam Liu to take Ming Jie'er over. She said that the New Year is coming soon and you need to learn how to be a housekeeper from the Third Madam. Ming Jie'er has no one to take care of her, so it's a good opportunity to take her over to keep her company with the Fourth Miss."

Dou Ming had never left Wang Yingxue since he was a child. Wang Yingxue felt as if her flesh had been cut off. Now it was not easy for her to go to the East Palace to bring him back. She complained to Madam Hu: "Why didn't you send someone to tell me? I could have brought Ming Jie back with me when I came back."

Matron Hu thought to herself, who knew that no one in the East Palace would inform you!

But I dared not say this and could only admit my mistake with great fear and trepidation.

Wang Yingxue was worried that Dou Ming had left her and was not used to it, so she made a lot of noise in the middle of the night; then she was worried that the people in the Second Lady's room were arrogant and did not take good care of Dou Ming; then she was worried that Dou Zhao bullied Dou Ming. She tossed and turned all night and did not sleep. The next morning, she washed up and went to Dou Duo's place.

"I went to the East Palace." She told Dou Duo where she was going respectfully, and then said with a casual smile, "The Second Madam took Ming Jie'er over, saying that she and Shou Gu would keep her company. What do you think, when should we bring Shou Gu and Ming Jie'er back?"

The Second Madam had informed Dou Duo about this matter. Dou Duo knew that the so-called "busy" was an excuse. The Second Madam looked down on Wang and was afraid that she would teach the children badly. But he didn't want to see these two girls - one took half of his family property, and the other was born out of adultery. They were both not good people! He felt upset when he saw them. He also thought that if Wang hadn't made such a fuss, he would have married her properly and given him a grandson. With a grandfather like Wang Xingyi, he would be able to go anywhere without hesitation, and he would be satisfied. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned... He was also annoyed when he saw Wang Yingxue, and said in a bad tone: "You should do your own thing first, and don't worry about it. The family is in such a mess, where do you let the two children stand?"

Wang Yingxue didn't get what she said but was scolded instead. Feeling very aggrieved, she went to the East Mansion biting her lip.

At noon, the third wife invited her to have lunch with them and asked her, "Is there anything you don't understand?"

She originally wanted to go to the Second Madam's place to see Dou Ming, but the Third Madam asked her to stay, so how could she refuse? She stood aside as a junior and served the Third Madam lunch. When the Third Madam asked her, she smiled and said, "I think the family affairs are all old routines. I'll look at the old accounts and I think it will be easier." Then she said humbly, "I don't know if what I said is right. Please correct me, Third Madam."

"After all, he comes from a family of officials," the Third Lady said with a smile, "He understands it at a glance and comprehends it immediately. Unlike me at that time, I didn't understand anything and couldn't remember anything after reading for a long time. Later, it was the Third Master who told me, and then I was able to find some clues..." He was very kind to her.

Wang Yingxue chatted with the Third Madam, and in the afternoon, she accompanied her to the warehouse to take inventory of the New Year's storage.

After finishing the work, it was already the hour of Hai.

Her maid Qiongfang came over and said, "The Second Madam has just put the key there."

Wang Yingxue returned to the West Mansion tiredly, and the next day she followed the Third Wife to several temples to offer incense money for the next year.

After being busy with this and that for a few days, she suddenly realized that she hadn't seen Dou Ming for seven or eight days, and no one told her what had happened to him. She became anxious, and vaguely felt that the people in the East Palace did it on purpose. She left the warehouse that had been half-counted and went to the Second Lady's place.

The maids and old women did not stop her, but welcomed her in with a smile.

Ji and Dou Zhao were both there.

Seeing her come in, Ji smiled and nodded, but Dou Zhao called her Aunt Wang affectionately.

Wang Yingxue stepped forward and saluted the Second Lady.

The Second Lady wore a sable-skin bunny quilt and leaned on the big pillow on the heated kang next to the window. In her hand was a box with lotus pattern and filigree enamel. She asked with a smile, "Why, where did the Third Brother rest?"

Not to mention that the Third Madam was extremely busy at the moment, even if the Third Madam had nothing to do and was resting at home, Wang Yingxue would not dare to say anything in front of the Second Madam!

"The Third Madam is very busy," she said hastily, "but I just thought I haven't seen Shougu and Mingjie for a few days, so I came to see them."

The Second Lady listened, nodded with satisfaction, and said, "The Wu family came to give New Year gifts. The Fifth Young Master and the Seventh Young Miss of the Wu family also came. I asked them to bring Sister Ming to visit."

The Wu family refers to Second Lady Yu’s maiden family.

Wang Yingxue felt relieved after hearing this.

Second Madam Yu was also born into a family of officials. Her grandfather had been a county magistrate, and her uncle Wu Songnian was now an editor in the Hanlin Academy. The fifth young master and seventh young lady of the Wu family referred to Wu Songnian’s eldest son Wu Shan and eldest daughter Wu Ya.

The thought flashed through her mind, and Wang Yingxue became suspicious again.

Wu Shan is seven years old this year, and Wu Ya is four years old, about the same age as Dou Zhao. Why did Ming Jie'er go but Dou Zhao didn't?