TRBDM -Chapter 113 Flower Festival

“Second Miss Dou, my surname is Zhang. You can call me Nanny Zhang. I’ve been assigned by the Old Madam to serve you. From now on, you don’t need to worry about being bullied in the Marquis’ residence. With me here, no one can trouble you,” said Nanny Zhang.

Dou Shuxin responded softly, “Hello, Nanny Zhang.”

“Hello, Second Miss Dou,” Nanny Zhang replied.

Nanny Zhang was specially chosen by Wei Zhaorong for Dou Shuxin—bold yet careful, loyal to her mistress, and brave enough to act when needed. She was perfectly suited to protect the gentle-natured Dou Shuxin.

After Dou Shuxin returned home, Nanny Zhang stayed to serve Dou Shuyao.

For the future mistress of the Marquis’ household, having a capable aide by her side was essential.

Nanny Zhang was undoubtedly the best choice.

That evening, Wei Zhaorong hosted a banquet at Anhe Court in Dou Shuxin’s honor.

After all, Dou Shuxin was the future Empress, and Wei Zhaorong could not help but harbor personal feelings.

But gratitude and fondness made up most of it.

She was grateful that Dou Shuxin had saved the Marquis’ residence in her previous life and admired her clever and composed nature.

Dou Shuxin’s personality was somewhat similar to Xie Wanrou’s, but having grown up without a mother, she was even more resilient.

When the two met, they had a lot to talk about.

From qin music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, to tea arts, flower arranging, and embroidery, there was a sense of mutual appreciation as if they had met too late.

Dou Shuyao, by contrast, was quiet and uninterested in these things. Complex ledgers, household management, and business methods, however, fascinated her. She was talented in these areas, and learning came naturally.

Wei Zhaorong had long understood each of their temperaments. She cultivated and arranged everyone according to their preferences and abilities, ensuring that the Marquis’ household worked together as a united front, bringing honor to the family name.

If the main branch could have a child, it would be even more perfect.

Wei Zhaorong was confident that it wouldn’t be long before this wish came true.

After the meal, Xie Lan and Xie Yu didn’t rush to leave. Everyone gathered to drink tea and chat.

Dou Shuxin asked what books they had been reading recently.

Xie Yu eagerly said, “I’m reading Qilue.”

“Qilue? Isn’t that a rare book? How does Fourth Master have it?”

Xie Yu replied mysteriously, “Tenth Prince lent it to me. After Third Brother and I finish reading, we have to return it.”

At the mention of the Tenth Prince, Dou Shuxin’s heart skipped a beat.

Her breathing faltered slightly.

“How do you know the Tenth Prince?”

Xie Lan, fearing Xie Yu might speak without caution, answered first: “A few days ago, Fourth Brother and I were studying at the Imperial Academy, and that’s how we met the Tenth Prince.”

“I see.” Dou Shuxin lowered her head to sip her tea and didn’t speak further.

How is he… is he doing well?

Is he still the same, preferring to keep his feelings hidden in the darkness?

Many words hovered on Dou Shuxin’s tongue, circling there several times before she finally swallowed them silently.

The timing was wrong, the occasion inappropriate.

Perhaps the Tenth Prince had long forgotten her, leaving her alone trapped in that fleeting encounter.

After finishing tea, Xie Lan and Xie Yu rose to take their leave. With the Flower Festival approaching, several days had passed without reading, and they needed to catch up.

Seeing them work so diligently, Wei Zhaorong felt deeply gratified.

“Go ahead, but don’t study too late. Didn’t the Tenth Prince say that reading at night could damage your eyes?”

Xie Yu replied seriously, “Don’t worry, Mother. The candles in the Lan Courtyard are very bright and won’t hurt our eyes.”

Everyone laughed, and Wei Zhaorong waved her hand:

“Ha ha, very well, go on then.”

At Quyang Court, …

When Xie Sheng returned from the palace, he saw the bird’s nest supplements arranged in the room and asked, “Who sent these?”

Shen Zhizhi heard his voice and replied, “They’re from the Shen residence. Mother heard I wasn’t feeling well, so she had someone send them.”

The maid cast her a subtle glance, thinking to herself that it was clearly Second Miss Dou who had sent them, yet Second Madam claimed they were from the Shen family.

Not only had the Shen residence not sent the supplements, they hadn’t even sent a letter of condolence. So why was Second Madam so intent on maintaining the Shen family’s face?

“Can the Shen family even afford such expensive bird’s nest and lingzhi? I thought the Shen household, always living off old wealth, had long become an empty shell.”

Xie Sheng’s words were cold, full of implication.

When he looked at Shen Zhizhi, there was not a trace of warmth in his eyes.

Shen Zhizhi couldn’t meet his gaze and stiffly changed the subject. “Husband, I feel much better today. My stomach only hurts occasionally. Imperial Physician Xiao said that as long as I stay in bed for a month, the child will be safe.”

It was news that was uncertain whether it could truly be considered good.

“Mm, noted.”

Having said that, Xie Sheng left Shen Zhizhi’s bedroom. He had a guest room prepared and moved in there.

Xie Sheng was no fool. Once everything was settled, he quietly asked the servants who had sent the bird’s nest.

“Second Master, it was sent by Second Miss Dou.”

Xie Sheng said nothing further.

The last ounce of trust he had left for Shen Zhizhi had vanished.

“Good… very good…”

That night, once again, Xie Sheng didn’t sleep.

—

The day before the Flower Festival, the capital’s finest ready-made clothing shops delivered new outfits to each household.

The clothes had been prearranged by Wei Zhaorong, and even Dou Shuxin had thoughtfully prepared three sets.

The annual Flower Festival lasted three days, during which the young ladies, gentry wives, and sons of the capital would dress in their finest and participate.

Wei Zhaorong, Lin Juehui, and Madam Dong had already arranged to go to Mingtai Temple to listen to sermons by a renowned monk.

They regularly donated money to the temple for repairs and casting Buddha statues, and the temple’s abbot personally invited them to participate.

Xie Lan and Xie Yu had little experience attending the Flower Festival, so they obediently followed their eldest sister, Xie Wanrou.

Before leaving, Xie Lan brought enough silver and also arranged a pouch of small coins for Xie Yu.

“Fourth Brother, when we’re out, if you see something you like, just buy it. Also, we’re men—if the sisters see something they want, pay for it first. Don’t make them wait.”

The Flower Festival was lively. Streets were lined with all kinds of stalls. The trinkets weren’t valuable, but they could bring emotional delight.

That day, everyone wore new clothes and left the Xie residence in three carriages.

Wei Zhaorong’s carriage headed for the suburbs. Mingtai Temple was located on the famous Maple Leaf Mountain, outside the city.

At this season, the maple leaves had just sprouted tender buds. It wasn’t the fiery red of autumn, but the air was refreshing. All around were festival-goers in their finery, laughing and chatting.

The three ladies met at the foot of the mountain, complimented each other’s outfits, and didn’t miss the hairpins or bracelets.

Maple Leaf Mountain was rather tall. As the sermon time approached, the three didn’t linger but slowly climbed upwards.

Compared to the calm and refined atmosphere at the old madam’s gathering, the younger crowd in the city was far livelier.

Crowds pressed in from all sides; if one wasn’t careful, they could bump into passersby.

Xie Lan and Xie Yu saw performers juggling ahead and stood behind the crowd, watching for some time.

Xie Wanrou smiled softly at them from a short distance away.

The two Dou sisters stopped in front of a stall selling fresh flowers.

They carefully picked out a few blooms, planning to pin them in their hair.

When reaching for the money, Xie Yu, appearing out of nowhere, was the first to offer his small coins.

“Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Miss Dou, I’ll pay.”

Xie Yu smiled brightly, his peach-blossom eyes curved into crescents like moons.