Wu Shiying's daughter's teacher, with the surname Jiang, named Li, and courtesy name Yougong, was a senior scholar over sixty years old who had served as a tutor in the Imperial Academy for fifteen years under He Wenda, Wu Shiying's mentor, but due to his advanced age and declining health, he requested to resign and return home.

  "...Dou Xiuzhuan said, it's a girl, and she doesn't need to study anything in particular, just knowing some general principles is enough." Jiang Yougong spoke politely, but with an air of arrogance, "And Dou Shilang also mentioned this matter, I'm embarrassed by my own face, although I know that my talents are shallow, I can only force myself to come here."

  The Dou family had three officials in the capital alone, so he could only match them with official positions.

  Dong Shibo repeatedly expressed his gratitude, and asked Du Fuzi to come out and accompany him. He personally arranged for Jiang Yougong to stay in the outer study of the West Dong, and assigned two small servants, two maids, and two rough-handed women to serve him. He invited Dong Zhao to come out and bid farewell to Jiang Yougong, and set a date for the start of classes, before returning to East Dong.

  The second lady asked her son: "What about this man?"

  Dou Shi Bang smiled wryly: "The learning is indeed top-notch, but this temper... I don't know if it can be kept?"

  The second lady frowned.

  Dòu Zhāo Zé is so angry he wants to scold someone.

  Why can't Father just stay put? This Jiang fellow is clearly here to placate her, not to actually do any work!

  Although he was already a well-behaved person, he still insisted on maintaining the strict separation between men and women. When teaching, he would set up a screen to separate himself from Du Zhao, and often mention how he had been at He Ge's old house. During lessons, he didn't care whether Du Zhao understood or not. He would sit there talking to himself, finish his lecture, and then leave, as if Du Zhao was a block of wood who couldn't comprehend no matter how well he taught, and wouldn't know even if he taught poorly. The lessons were thus very perfunctory. Moreover, apart from the one hundred taels of silver that Du Shiying had promised him for his tutoring, there were also two sets of clothes for each season.

  But she's just a girl after all.

  It just so happened that Du Qizhun was at home that day, and Jiang Yougong had Du Zhao teach "Mengzi - Teng Wen Gong Xia". Du Zhao called Cui Thirteen over and asked Du Qizhun to write a composition on the theme of "Zhou Gong combined Yi Di. Drive out fierce beasts, and the people are at peace." The next morning, he put it on Jiang Yougong's desk. At first, Jiang Yougong hastily glanced at it, then exclaimed, picked it up and read it carefully for a while, and asked Du Zhao: "Who wrote this?"

  Dong Zhao's expression didn't change as he calmly said, "It was just a student's prank."

  Jiang Yougong let out a snort and tossed the article aside, then began to lecture her on the virtues of being a concubine using the "Teng Wen Gong".

  Dong Zhaoyi didn't utter a word, went to school and came back every day, without wasting a single moment.

  Chen Quanshui heard that Duan's seventh brother had invited a Western teacher from Kyoto for his daughter, and couldn't help but laugh loudly. He wrote a letter to Duan Zhao, saying that he was honored by her high opinion of him, and decided to set out immediately to go to Zhen Ding County and take up residence in the Duan family's guest house.

  Dong Zhao had Chen Qu's waterway diverted to Tianzhuang.

  Chen Quanshui watched as the horse carriage whizzed past the city of Zhending and sped towards the suburban countryside, unable to conceal his surprise. He asked Zhao Liangbi, who had come to receive him: "Where are we going?"

  Zhao Liangbi smiled and said, "Of course it's Cui Auntie's estate! She had already made arrangements for this estate to be left to Fourth Miss, and Seventh Master has agreed. From now on, this estate belongs to Fourth Miss."

  Chen Qu's water is silent.

  No wonder Miss Dus said she asked him to make a vest for herself.

  Wasn't Miss Douruo Si aware that Master Douruo Qi would bring a Western-style chair back for her from Kyoto?

  He just wanted to make things a bit difficult for Du Zhao, let Du Zhao know that the Du family didn't necessarily have to listen to her. Promises also require strength!

  Now it seems that his teasing is simply not worth mentioning in front of Miss Duanmu.

  Why does Miss Duan want to find a Western-style teacher who teaches classics?

  Chen Qu Shui thought seriously for the first time about what Dòu Zhāo's purpose was in finding him.

  Dong Zhao took a day off and waited for Chen Quanshui at the gate of his mansion in Tianzhuang.

  Chen Qu Shui did not see the adult and was somewhat surprised.

  Dong Zhao pretended he hadn't seen anything and smiled as he invited Chen Qu to a study that had already been prepared.

  A three-roomed house with blue bricks and tiles, one bright and two dark. On the east side is the inner room, behind which there is a warm pavilion; on the west side is the study, behind which there is a suite of rooms. In front of the door are planted a sea peach tree and an apricot tree, and behind the house is a patch of bamboo. The floor is paved with blue bricks, the windows are pasted with Korean paper, and on the black lacquer furniture are placed tea cups made of Qinghua porcelain, and in the Songbai porcelain flower vases are inserted two branches of large red peony flowers, one high and one low, which bring a refreshing air to the face.

  Chen Qu's eyes lit up instantly. As he picked up the teacup, he saw that the tea water was a bright yellow color, with a clear and elegant fragrance. When he took a sip, the flavor was rich and mellow, with a lingering aftertaste. It turned out to be this year's autumn harvest of Tieguanyin, and his joyful expression burst forth on his face as he loudly praised it, saying "Good tea!"

  Dòu Zhāo smiled faintly.

  A person without a hobby is impossible to associate with, because they lack deep feelings; a person without flaws is impossible to associate with, because they lack genuine energy.

  Chen Qu's life has been half smooth and half rough, yet he can still be moved by a single scene, a cup of tea, revealing his true nature.

  She lowered her head and took a sip of tea, letting the sweet and refreshing taste of Tieguanyin roll around in her chest, before smiling and saying: "I wonder what plans you have for the future, sir?"

  Chen Qu's eyebrows slightly raised, as if inquiring about her intention.

  Dong Xiang did not hide, and said frankly: "Long in the fragrant room without smelling its fragrance, long in the fishy shop without smelling its stench. Dongxiang Street lacks another host, I'm afraid it's not Mr. Chen's long-term residence, I'd like to invite Mr. to stay at our villa, ask for guidance and advice at any time, what do you think?"

  Chen Qu's eyes gleamed with a faint chill.

  Miss Dousi's words have deep meaning.

  When he just arrived at Dongxiang Street, he was encountered by a group of thugs who tried to extort him. If it weren't for Bie Jianyi's timely intervention, how could he have escaped unscathed?

  Chen Quanshui thought of Bie Zhengyi, who was about to reach the end of his life, and Bie's sisters, who were about to surrender to Dong Zhuo, and he secretly had some misgivings.

  He has long been resigned to his fate and now has no other desire but to live out the rest of his life in peace and stability.

  Moreover, he still has some concerns about the Bi sisters and hopes to repay Bi Zhen's care for him over the years.

  Chen Qu's eyes sank in thought for a long time, and then he asked Du Zhao seriously: "Women without talent are virtuous, I don't know why Miss Du insisted on inviting Mr. Zuoguan to lecture on classics at home?"

  Since some things have to be entrusted to Chen Qu Shui, it's better to be open and honest about others.

  This is Duan Zhao's principle of using people.

  "My affairs, Mr. Chen must have inquired about them clearly." She said with a sigh, "In the past, I was certain that since Wang had already become a concubine, the Duan family would not promote her to be the legitimate wife due to their reputation. But I was wrong. Zeng Yifen's restoration, Wang Xingyi's rise to power, and Fifth Uncle's ambition... Wang not only became the legitimate wife, but I also became a pawn in the struggle between the Wang and Duan families." As she spoke, she picked up her teacup and slowly took a sip, her voice becoming somewhat melancholic. "I often think that when I was young, I had no power to struggle, now that I've grown up, must I still continue living a life of 'being a fish on the chopping board'? Moreover, in at most ten years, the Wang and Duan families will have a clear winner and loser, what will become of me then?"

  In their past life, Wang Xingyi and Dou Shixiong only used nine years to distinguish between victory and defeat.

  In this life, although the situation has changed, who can guarantee that Su Shi will definitely change history and become a winner?

  In her past life, she was just a dispensable weed that was still resented by Wang Yingxue. In this life, she owns half of the Xi Duan family's property...

  Dong Zhaofang put down the teacup. The tea lid and cup lightly collided, producing a crisp and pleasant ceramic sound, which sounded particularly loud in this quiet study.

  "In the past, I only knew that the Duan family treated me poorly and that Wang Shi had a deep-seated grudge against me. But I never thought carefully about how things would become like this." Her voice was clear. "Now I finally see clearly, although the temple is far away, even a small ripple can turn into a huge wave, and in an instant, it can make me fall into disaster. In the past, I only focused on some people and things around me. Watching the wind and waves rise, I didn't know what relationship they had with me, let alone how to avoid them..."

  In her previous life, she didn't understand the relationship between the imperial court and the inner palace until she became Madame Hou. In this life, the grudges between the Wang and Dou families gave her a deeper understanding. As a woman confined to the boudoir, she was destined to rely on others to learn about everything that happened outside. This made her think of finding someone to be her eyes and observe for her. Chen Quanshui was undoubtedly the best candidate she could find at present.

  "With bronze as a mirror, one can correct their attire; with others as a mirror, one can know gains and losses; with history as a mirror, one can know the rise and fall..."

  "No, no, no." Du Zhao smiled and said, "I don't have such a big ambition. I just want to keep what I have now, not being peeped at, not being coveted, not being used, not being sold out, not being manipulated... that's all."

  Chen Qu Shui did not answer, and instead said quietly: "Isn't everything that Fourth Miss has today given by the Duan family?"

  "Mr. Chen may not know yet," Dou Zhao said with a smile, looking at Chen Quanshui, "Before Wang Shi was established, my uncle took the initiative to help me, and Xi Dou transferred half of the property under my name as dowry, which is currently managed by San Ge of Dong Dou's second house." She told Chen Quanshui about the agreement between the Zhao and Dou families.

  Sweat drops as big as beans fell from Chen Qu's forehead.

  He lived in Dongxiang Building, a gathering place for rascals and idlers, but had never heard any rumors about it.

  What does this mean?

  His eyes widened in horror.

  Some people don't want this thing to get out.

  Nobody knows who will benefit from this matter.

  "Miss Dòu," Chen Qūshuǐ, who considered himself a calm person, couldn't help but wipe his forehead with his hand at this time. "Your situation... is really... worrisome..."

  "It all depends on how you look at it and think about it." Du Zhao smiled lightly, "Good fortune is the basis of disaster, and disaster is where good fortune arrives. Good things can sometimes turn into bad things, and bad things can also become good things. With that wealth in hand, and cultivating a batch of capable people, I can sit on top of Yellow Crane Tower and watch the boats capsize, regardless of whether the Wang family or the Du family wins, they probably won't be able to do anything to me." She smiled at Chen Qu, "I'd rather say I want to invite Mr. Chen to be my teacher, teaching me how to avoid calamity and seek good fortune, living a comfortable and happy life."

  If Duo Zhao were a boy, Chen Qu Shui would have agreed without hesitation. But Duo Zhao is a girl...

  He hesitated: "I don't know if Miss Duan Si has been engaged or not?"

  Dong Zhaoxiang said: "I'm not prepared to get married!"

  Chen Qu's eyes widened in shock.

  Dong Zhaixiao smiled and said: "The Dong family is prosperous, I currently have eleven nephews, and there will be more in the future. Why do I need to get married?"

  If she marries, she will have children and become someone's wife and mother, relying only on her husband and son; if she doesn't marry, she will forever be the daughter of the Duan family, able to rely on everyone in the Duan family, with more options!

  "But...," Chen Qu Shui couldn't agree, "You can't be alone for your whole life, can you?"

  She has been married and had children, but so what.

  But these things, Dou Zhao couldn't explain to others, she could only say: "For now, this is the best way, right? What in the world remains unchanged? Let's talk about it after we've stood firm! Living with our heads held high and chests out is more important than getting married."

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  This chapter was written very unsmoothly, this is the third draft, and it's a bit late, I'm extremely sorry. Everyone can still see tomorrow morning's update!

  o(n_n)o~

  PS: This text structure is relatively large, and I set several political events as the background. Later, I found it too complicated and merged some of them while writing. Some were quickly checked out, but some might not have been discovered yet. There are some problems with the years, and if you have any questions, please leave a message in the comment section.

  Currently, the time of the palace change has been uniformly changed to the 20th year of Chengping, which may make it clearer.

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