Dou Zhao went to class, and his grandmother welcomed Ji into the house with a smile.

Ji asked Hong Gu to find her some pots of flowers and plants suitable for the living room and guest rooms: "It doesn't matter if they are famous or not, as long as they look good!"

Hong Gu smiled and replied.

Ji pulled her grandmother to sit at the stone table under the grape trellis in the backyard.

"I came to see you." She told her grandmother about Mrs. Wu's visit. "... The Wu family is simple and has a small fortune. Lord Wu and Mrs. Wu are both real people. The most precious thing is that Wu Shan has good intentions for Shougu and has remained consistent over the years. Mrs. Wu also came to ask in person, which is quite sincere. I think this marriage is good. If you think it's good, I'm thinking about asking Shougu's aunt to come back to see her so that we can finalize the marriage."

When my grandmother knew the purpose of Ji's visit, her eyes narrowed into slits with laughter. When Ji asked her about it, she nodded repeatedly, "Of course, we should ask Shougu's aunt to come back and look at the child. Her aunt is a person with good vision and can't make mistakes when judging people." She added, "Wu Shan was raised by us. If Shougu marries him, she won't suffer any loss."

"That's what I thought, too." Ji smiled and said, "But don't tell Shougu yet. We don't know whether Shougu's uncle agrees or not."

"I know, I know." Grandmother said with a smile. Just then she saw Hong Gu instructing a few servants to bring in some pots of flowers. She said hurriedly, "If anyone asks, I'll say you're here to move some flowers and plants."

Ji smiled and said, "You and I are thinking the same thing."

Dou Zhao trusted his grandmother the most, so he naturally wouldn't place anyone beside her. When he heard that Ji had moved a few pots of flowers and trees, he asked foolishly, "Is it enough? If not, just let them move more."

Wu Shan, on the other hand, was always paying attention to his mother. He was overjoyed when he learned that Second Lady Yu had gone to the Second Madam's place. As soon as his mother returned to the guest room, he served tea and water, patted her legs and fanned her to flatter her, which made Wu Ya say, "If you are so attentive to her for no reason, you are either a traitor or a thief. What does my brother want from mother? Mother, you can't be so partial. Whatever my brother has, I want too!"

These words made Wu Shan burst into laughter.

Mrs. Wu was both amused and annoyed. She pointed a finger at the middle of her daughter's forehead and said, "What are you yelling about, kid? What do you mean you should have everything your brother has? You are so grown up, why do you always act like an ignorant child? When your sister-in-law comes to live with you, will you still talk to her like this?"

"Now that I have a sister-in-law, I will definitely not talk to my brother like this!" Wu Ya pouted and said, "Isn't there still no sister-in-law?" As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly widened her eyes, "Mom, is my brother going to marry a sister-in-law?" Then she shouted loudly, "No, no, if my brother marries a sister-in-law, it must be someone I like. Otherwise, what if she doesn't let me go back to my parents' home?"

"You're getting more and more outrageous!" Mrs. Wu slapped her daughter in pretended anger.

Wu Ya was so scared that she shrank her shoulders and hid behind Nanny Bi.

Everyone in the room burst into laughter.

However, Mrs. Yu, who was at the Second Lady's place, had a forced smile.

"...You all know best what happened back then." The Second Lady took her hand and sighed, "I'm afraid that our Dou family has no say in Shougu's marriage. If someone else came to propose marriage, I would definitely suspect that he came for Shougu's dowry. But since the one proposing marriage is the Wu family, let alone Mr. Wu's character, based on the friendship between our two families, this is also the best marriage, and I am happy to see it happen. But now, the Zhao family is guarding against us like a thief. If we still interfere in Shougu's marriage, I'm afraid that the time will come..." At this point, the Second Lady shook her head helplessly.

How could Second Madam Yu not know?

But that was half of Xidou's property.

It would be fine if Mrs. Wu didn't mention it, but now Mrs. Wu has clearly set her eyes on Dou Zhao, so she has to fight for him, right?

She was unwilling to give up, and said, "Then tell me, what should I do?" She threw the ball to the lady, and said with a distressed look, "I didn't know the seriousness of the matter before, and I have already promised Auntie... I have to make it perfect, right?"

The Second Lady looked at Second Lady Yu's seemingly innocent expression and became furious.

Don’t know what to do?

I guess he has made up his mind a long time ago?

I thought the Wu family was a pretty good family, but I didn't expect them to be such a hypocritical bunch!

If you want to marry Dou Zhao, you have to consider how powerful your Wu family is!

Now that one has made a move, I'm afraid the next few will have second thoughts.

We have to find ways to plan ahead and nip problems in the bud.

Now that I have fallen out with Second Madam Yu, if I startle the enemy, I will probably offend the other families. When they all gang up on me, I may not be able to suppress them.

Thinking of this, the Second Lady took a deep breath, and her smile became a little more gentle. She said, "Don't be anxious. This is a matter of family, but it has to be said that it can't be settled without a few rounds. What's more, Wan Yuan is in Kyoto, and Uncle Zhao is in the northwest, so there is no time to rush." ​​As she spoke, she paused, "Fortunately, Mr. Wu is not someone else. Your seventh uncle also knows him. I will write a letter to your seventh uncle first, and when he agrees, I will discuss it with Uncle Zhao. You are the daughter-in-law of the Dou family and the aunt of the Wu family. You should explain to Mrs. Wu and don't offend your relatives."

This is exactly why Second Lady Yu came.

She thanked him cheerfully and went to reply to Mrs. Wu.

The Second Lady had a sullen face and called Dou Shibang over.

"Write a letter to the fifth son." She told Dou Shibang about the Wu family's proposal to marry Dou Zhao. "If he thinks this marriage is feasible, it won't be too late for us to discuss it with the seventh son."

Dou Shibang was not optimistic about the Wu family after hearing his mother's tone. He could not help but say, "I think Wu Shan is very knowledgeable despite his young age. He is reserved, smart and adaptable. He is a man who can accomplish great things..."

"What's the point?" The Second Lady said with a wry smile, "By the time he was able to help Yuanji, Yuanji and Wang Xingyi would have already decided the winner."

Dou Shibang remained silent.

The Second Lady ordered him, "Send a close friend to deliver the letter. If anyone asks, say the letter is for the Seventh Master in Kyoto. Put another envelope outside the envelope and write Wan Yuan's name on it."

Dou Shibang responded.

Just as the Second Lady had expected, Second Madam Yu sent someone to keep an eye on the letter sent to Kyoto. She was not relieved until she saw with her own eyes the five words "Written by Dou Wanyuan" written on the envelope.

Over there, Ji asked a clerk in Ji's shop to deliver a letter to Zhao Si.

As the parties involved, Dou Zhao and Wu Shan knew nothing about the twists and turns that had happened to them. Dou Zhao had been learning to play the qin with Song Weimin these days. Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zheng, and Yu, she recognized her head as big as a bowl. Wu Shan was very happy and rode a horse at full speed, smiling at everyone she saw. Taking advantage of the few days of leisure, she went to Baoding Prefecture with Dou Zhengde and others, and brought back a big red qin tassel with a wishful knot for Dou Zhao.

Song Yan, who was learning piano with Song Weimin together with Dou Zhao, twitched his lips slightly and turned away.

It was indeed a bit flashy, but Wu Shan didn't mind. In his arms, he held a large red silk-engraved purse with a small gold heart-shaped knot hairpin in it. It felt like a burning flame, making his chest hot.

That was what he wanted to give to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao held the big red zither tassel and looked at Wu Shan who was standing in front of her with a silly smile on her face. She then looked at Dou Dechang who had come with Wu Shan but was standing outside the waterside pavilion like a wooden stake. Her head was full of mist and she felt as if something had happened and everyone knew about it, but it was kept secret from her alone.

She handed the bright red zither tassel to Bie Suxin who was serving beside her, and said thank you to Wu Shan with a smile.

A servant came running over from a distance.

"Twelfth Master, Fourth Miss," he said, sweating profusely, "Sixth Madam wants you to return quickly. The cousin of the Ji family is here."

Everyone in the water pavilion was stunned.

"Who is the cousin of the Ji family?" Dou Dechang asked in bewilderment. "There are more than twenty people of the same generation as me in the Ji family!"

The servant wiped his sweat and said, "It's the sixteenth young master of the Ji family."

Dou Dechang was shocked: "What, Ji Yong is here? When did he come? Who did he come with?" He looked as if he had met his creditor.

Now it was Dou Zhao and Wu Shan's turn to be curious.

"What's wrong?" Wu Shan asked him, "Does this Ji Yong have any grudge against you?"

"No!" Dou Dechang grinned, as if he had a toothache, "I just heard of your name for a long time."

Dou Zhaoze asked, "Should I go too? Sixth Aunt wants me to go too?"

The servant nodded repeatedly: "That's what the Sixth Madam told us to do."

Dou Zhao looked at Dou Dechang.

Dou Dechang was hesitant and looked unwilling to go back.

Dou Zhao felt something was wrong and asked in awe, "What's going on?"

"It's okay, it's okay," Dou Dechang said, straightening his body, "Let's go quickly so as not to keep the guests waiting." That expression was like the reed that stabbed the King of Qin, carrying a sadness that would never return.

Wu Shan couldn't help but exchange glances with Dou Zhao: "I'll go with you guys."

Dou Zhao nodded, but Dou Dechang kept saying "No need" and said to Wu Shan, "You haven't paid your respects to your aunt since you came back. Go back and see your aunt first, and we'll meet again later."

Wu Shan glanced at Dou Zhao, pulled Dou Dechang aside, and whispered, "Tell me honestly, do you owe money to Ji Yong? I still have 400 taels of silver in my room. If you need it, take it first. If it's not enough, I'll think of a way."

"No, I really didn't!" Dou Dechang said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Since I won the last chicken fight against that bastard named He, I gave away the iron general I raised. You know this. I would never go back on my word. You should believe me."

Wu Shan was skeptical: "I believe you about the chicken fight. But why are you afraid of Ji Yong?"

Dou Dechang's expression changed slightly: "I'm not afraid of Ji Yong, I just don't like seeing this person."

Wu Shan was about to say something, but Dou Zhao, who was eavesdropping nearby, coughed lightly.

Even among close friends, everyone has secrets that they don't want to tell.

She smiled and said, "Twelve Brother, wait for me for a moment. I'll go change my clothes and go back home with you."

Dou Dechang nodded, but his brows were tightly furrowed into the shape of the Chinese character "川".