Dou Ming began to go on a food strike by refusing to eat or drink.

Dou Shiying came to discuss with Dou Zhao: "What do you think we should do?"

Although the eldest daughter was young, the confident tone she spoke with always gave him immense confidence.

Dou Zhao didn't know how to treat Dou Ming better.

If he stayed with the Second Lady to learn the rules, he would inevitably get rid of those cold words; if he went to live in Wang's family in Kyoto, he would know that in his previous life, Dou Ming was led astray by Madam Xu and ended up hooking up with Wang Nan.

She said with a headache: "Why don't you ask your wife. She is Dou Ming's biological mother."

With Wang Yingxue around, no one can interfere. Even if it is for Dou Ming's good, due to the nature of mother and son, Dou Ming might still hold a grudge against her in the end.

Dou Shiying hesitated.

A little maid ran in breathlessly, but when she saw Dou Shiying, she tried to tiptoe back.

Dou Shiying shouted, "What's the matter?"

The little maid looked at Dou Zhao for help.

Dou Zhao couldn't think of what he had to hide from Dou Shiying, and nodded to the little maid.

The little maid murmured, "Mrs. Seven is packing her boxes and saying she's going to take Miss Five to Kyoto."

Dou Shiying was furious and left in a hurry.

Dou Zhao called Haitang in: "Bring the needlework I made a few days ago, and change my clothes, and let's go see Ninth Cousin's wife."

In February of this year, Dou Huanchang married the daughter of Huai'an Huang.

This marriage was arranged when Huang's great uncle was still alive. Huang's grandfather and great uncle were born in the same year. Huang has a cousin who is now the chief priest of the Dali Temple.

Huang was the same age as Dou Huanchang. She had a gentle appearance, a kind personality, and was good at needlework. She was deeply loved by the aunt, who praised her daughter-in-law in front of everyone in the Dou family more than once.

As both were daughters-in-law from Jiangnan, people could not help but compare her with Ji.

Ji is quiet and Huang is gentle, both of them exude the elegance of the Jiangnan water towns.

The second cousin's wife joked to herself, "When the sixth aunt and the ninth brother's wife look at us, we all become fire-burning women."

Ji and Huang naturally had to be humble, but they became very close because of this, and as a result, Huang became closer to Dou Zhao than anyone else.

A few days ago, news came out that Huang was pregnant.

Dou Zhao thought of hiding there for a while - his aunt was a widow, Huang was not even three months pregnant yet, and it was a quiet place where no one would disturb the main room.

Having someone to keep her company, and especially Dou Zhao, who was extremely sensible and considerate, Huang naturally welcomed him with open arms.

Dou Zhao stayed in the big house until the afternoon, and only returned to the west house after dinner.

As soon as I entered the door, I saw the stable boy squatting there hammering on the wheel.

Dou Zhao sighed secretly.

It seems that Dou Ming's father has agreed to go to Kyoto.

Based on her experience in her previous life, as long as Wang Xu met Dou Ming, she would let Dou Ming stay in the Wang family for a long time.

She returned to the main room and saw her father sitting there in a daze with a book in his hand, looking unhappy.

"I heard you went to Jixin's place." Dou Shiying greeted his daughter, "How was it? Did you gain anything?"

Jixin is the courtesy name of my ninth cousin Dou Huanchang.

"My ninth cousin taught me how to embroider a bird's eyes," Dou Zhao smiled as he went into the house, changed his clothes, washed up, and talked with his father on the kang near the window. "I think the technique is similar to painting. No wonder my sixth aunt's aunt is also good at embroidery and painting."

Dou Shiying felt much better after hearing this. He said to Dou Ming: "...Adults love the prosperous scenery of Kyoto, let alone children. Do you want to go to Kyoto with Dou Ming and live there for a few days?"

And then let her give the coming-of-age ceremony to the Wang family?

It’s better to forget it!

Dou Zhao smiled and said, "She can't bear to leave her grandmother, and I can't bear to leave my Aunt Cui."

Dou Shiying laughed, thought for a while, and asked her tentatively: "Would you be scared if you and Aunt Cui were at home?"

Dou Zhao immediately became happy.

It seems that my father is going to Kyoto with Wang Yingxue and Dou Ming.

Perhaps because she no longer had any resentment, her mentality was now very peaceful, unlike in her previous life, when she would be furious and mad at seeing her father with Wang Yingxue, Dou Ming, and Dou Xiao.

At this moment, she only has her grandmother in her heart.

"So, you agree that I can bring Aunt Cui back to live with us for a while?" Dou Zhao asked his father with a smile.

"When did I disagree?" Dou Shiying said with a smile, and then his expression began to become a little frustrated. "I just feel that without Aunt Cui, the Pang family would not dare to come to our house anyway."

Is that why you took the risk and didn't go to Kyoto to wait for the vacancy?

Dou Zhao felt both amused and confused.

Fortunately, the matter had been resolved. She didn't want to argue with her father on this topic and asked him when he would leave.

"The day after tomorrow!" Dou Shiying said with a smile, "We'll go pick up your Aunt Cui tomorrow."

Dou Zhao smiled and nodded repeatedly, discussing with his father: "Didn't the East Courtyard just get renovated? Why not let Aunt Cui live in Qingshuangxuan in the East Courtyard? There are lush trees there, and it's the coolest place."

"Let's go," the father stood up excitedly, "let's go take a look."

The two of them did not even have dinner. Instead, they toured Qingshuangxuan together, figuring out which was the inner room, which was the banquet room, where to put the boxes and cages, where the maids slept... After arranging everything one by one, they returned to the main room and harnessed the carriage to go to the farm early the next morning.

Aunt Hu, who was packing up boxes with Wang Yingxue, was a little worried: "It's easier to invite a deity than to send him away. You see, this matter..."

Wang Yingxue immediately became restless after hearing this.

She knew that Zhao Guqiu's death was a knot in Dou Shiying's heart, but the dead are gone, and the living must continue to live their lives. She thought that after a long time, if she was more submissive, the knot would naturally be untied.

Who knew that things would go against one's wishes.

So many years have passed, and not only has Dou Shiying not forgotten Zhao Guqiu, but he has also gradually distanced himself from him and they are no longer as close as before.

Opportunities always come to those who are prepared.

Just like Dou Ming's sadness.

In Zhending, in the Dou family, Dou Ming's status as legitimate and illegitimate child was unclear, and she would always be a concubine who was promoted to the main wife.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but grit her teeth.

She and Dou Shiying had to start over.

Kyoto was a place where people from other provinces flocked to, and no one knew anyone's background. When they went to Kyoto, Dou Shiying became an official, and with relatives like Dou Shishu and Wang, they could settle down in Kyoto and never return to Zhending, and Dou Ming could grow up happily in Kyoto and marry a clean man.

"Now is not the time to worry about these things." Wang Yingxue whispered to Madam Hu, "Seventh Master is in his prime. Even if we return to Zhending, it will be at least ten years later. Can Aunt Cui still live to see that time?"

Wang Yingxue was still not completely sure whether she could stay in Kyoto for a long time, so she didn't dare to say it for sure.

Madam Hu thought about it and laughed, "I am worried too much."

"No," Wang Yingxue shook Madam Hu's hand and said sincerely, "If you hadn't been by my side all these years, I wouldn't have been able to make it."

"Madam, you are embarrassing me." Madam Hu said in a timid tone.

As the master and servant were talking, they were both a little excited. Madam Hu helped Wang Yingxue into the inner room, where they saw Dou Ming sitting on the big kang by the window with a big pillow in his arms and a dull look in his eyes. The maids and old women who were packing things in the room were coming and going, but she ignored them.

Wang Yingxue's heart skipped a beat, and she rushed forward to hug her daughter: "Ming Jie'er, Ming Jie'er!"

Dou Ming turned around, and the light gradually returned to his eyes.

Wang Yingxue pleaded and asked her to speak: "Do you want to go and see what else you want to take to Kyoto..."

"I don't want anything!" Dou Ming's voice was very high-pitched and sharp. "My grandmother would buy it for me. I don't want anything!"

Wang Yingxue's eyes became moist. She hugged her daughter and was unable to utter a word for a long time.

※※※※※

Grandmother invited Dou Shiying to sit in the main hall, made him a cup of tea, and asked in confusion, "You want to take me to live in the city for a few days?"

Dou Shiying was a little embarrassed, and told his grandmother about Pang Jixiu and Wu Shan in a subtle and tactful way.

Grandmother laughed and said, "A daughter in one family is sought after by hundreds of families. Our Shougu is beautiful and kind, and you will have a headache in the future." Then she told Honggu to pack up the things very quickly. The matter went so smoothly that Dou Shiying and Dou Zhao were stunned for a moment. Dou Zhao was even more impressed in his heart. Grandmother could laugh at Pang Jixiu's intentions. I wonder if she is innocent? Or has she seen through the world?

Returning to Zhending, it was only after the hour of You.

Wang Yingxue greeted her grandmother, Dou Shiying and Dou Zhao at the second gate.

Dou Shiying asked, "Where is Ming Jie'er?"

Wang Yingxue said hurriedly, "She feels a little uncomfortable, as if she had a heat stroke. I gave her some Huoxiang Zhengqi Dew and she just rested. I want to ask a doctor to see her later."

After hearing this, my grandmother went to see Dou Ming.

Wang Yingxue said hurriedly: "It's hot, you must have been tired from the journey, you should rest for a while, otherwise you will get sick from the heat."

Grandma thought about it, smiled, stopped insisting, and followed Dou Zhao to Qingshuangxuan.

There are vines climbing on the walls of the refreshing courtyard, thick moss growing beside the steps, and unknown small flowers blooming beside the stones, creating a wild and interesting atmosphere.

My grandmother likes it very much.

At night, Dou Zhao moved in and lived with his grandmother.

Haitang whispered to her, "Seventh Master is scolding the Madam and Fifth Miss."

They can make as much noise as they want, as long as it doesn't disturb her life.

"Don't tell grandma." Dou Zhao instructed Haitang.

Haitang nodded.

Dou Zhao called out to Ganlu loudly, asking her to cut the watermelon stuck in the well.

※※※※※

The next day, my father bid farewell to my grandmother and the second lady, returned to the North Building to worship his ancestors, and took Wang Yingxue and Dou Ming to Kyoto.

In the evening, the second lady invited my grandmother to have dinner.

Grandmother asked Dou Zhao what he meant: "Do you think I should go or not?"

In her previous life, her grandmother was like a mountain standing in front of her, but in this life, it was her turn to protect her grandmother from wind and rain. Dou Zhao found it very new, and at the same time, she also felt a sense of pressure and pride in shouldering a great responsibility.

"I'll go with you." Dou Zhao said with a smile, "You always have to say hello to your family members. If you like them, visit them more often. If you don't like them, come less often. Hengjian and I will live in two different places."

The grandmother thought this made sense, so she went over with Dou Zhao to have dinner.

Only my aunt was present at the dinner. After dinner, we ate fruits and talked about old times before leaving.

My grandmother liked it very much and lived peacefully in Qingshuangxuan. Every morning she would walk around the rockery seven or eight times until she was sweating profusely.

Dou Zhao was terrified and walked with his grandmother every day.

At first, she walked one circle for every two her grandmother walked. Gradually, she could walk one circle for every one her grandmother walked. At first, she felt sore all over, and it was difficult to lift her arms and legs. Gradually, she felt refreshed and her movements became lighter and more agile.

Grandma nodded as she watched: "Look at this little face, so rosy, so energetic!"

Dou Zhao pursed his lips and smiled.

In the autumn, she found that the horse-faced skirts she had made in the spring had hung up, revealing her goose-yellow silk shoes.