Dong Zhao shook his head secretly: "Who knows how many more rotten messes he'll have to clean up for her in the future!"

  .

  She helped Dou Zhao change his clothes and then accompanied Dou Zhao and Dou Ming to see the second lady.

  The second lady saw Du Ming and just said faintly, "He's here."

  Or it was because of the strict upbringing by the second madam when he was young, Duan Ming behaved very well in front of the second madam, respectfully calling her "grand aunt" and asking if her waist pain had improved. He brought a kind of ointment from Kyoto for the second madam this time, saying it was particularly effective for waist pain, and managed to make the cold-faced second madam smile all over her face.

  Dòu Zhāo glanced at him with a subtle expression of disdain.

  Dong Ming is still the same as in her previous life, as long as she likes it, she can make kittens and puppies like her, but if she gets angry, even the king of heaven will be noisy.

  The second lady pulled Du Ming's hand and asked her what books she had read in the past few years, and how was her needlework.

  "Following my aunt, I read 'Nu Jie', 'Lie Nu Zhuan' and 'Xiao Jing'." Du Ming smiled sweetly, "I haven't started learning needlework yet, but I like playing the pipa. My aunt invited a teacher to teach me, and this time she also followed me back to Zhen Ding."

  She was clever and didn't mention her great-grandmother.

  If she dares to mention Wang Xushi, Second Mistress might just turn against her on the spot.

  It turns out that Second Mistress Yu has been the matriarch of the Duan family for a long time, and her jealous heart has grown stronger day by day. She can't bear to hear other people's voices or tolerate others' presence.

  Dou Zhao was deep in thought. Then she heard the second lady of the house say to her, "Shou Gu, your needlework is good. Since Ming Jie has returned, you should guide her well on needlework." She then praised those few books for being well-chosen and spoke at length about the importance of women's virtues. The gloom in Dou Ming's eyes grew deeper and deeper until a hint of impatience flashed across her face, when Ji Yong arrived.

  Seeing Dòu's sisters, Jì Yǒng was somewhat surprised.

  Seeing Ji Yong, Dou Shi's sisters were also somewhat surprised.

  There was only Second Mistress Yu. Her face lit up with joy, and she beckoned to Ji Yong repeatedly: "At this time, you shouldn't be here, why aren't you resting in the house with Hui Ge'er and Zhi Ge'er? Come, come sit by my side." Not only did she personally fan Ji Yong with a round fan, but also urged the maid to quickly bring in a bowl of iced green bean soup, as if her own grandson had arrived, being extremely enthusiastic. It was unbearable for Du Ming, who forced himself not to ask who this person was.

  Ji Yong is actually quite good at winning over old ladies.

  He brought back a stone from Mount Tai for the second lady, and at first glance, the pattern on the stone looked like Shouxing leading a deer with plum blossoms. The second lady was overjoyed and specially had someone make a purple sandalwood frame to enshrine the stone in her own small Buddhist temple.

  Dong Zhaowang glanced in the direction of the small Buddhist temple, and Second Lady had already pointed to Dong Mingdao: "Ming, you haven't met your sister-in-law yet, have you? This is our family's seventh daughter, who has been following Seventh Brother in Kyoto. She just returned today." And then to Dong Mingdao, "This is the nephew of your sixth aunt's family, so just call him Ji Dage along with Shougu."

  Ji Yong gave Du Ming a big bow, elegant and humble, like a refined young nobleman.

  Dong Ming knelt down and bowed, looking somewhat surprised.

  Ji Yong said goodbye: “...... My great-grandfather had a good friend in Baoding Prefecture, this time out. My great-grandfather had instructed me to visit.”

  The second lady hastily said: "Why don't you go after a few more days? These days are the hottest." Her tone was full of concern.

  "I've made plans to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with Huai and Zhi in Kyoto." He smiled, "It's been a few years since I last saw Uncle and Father, and it just so happens that I can follow Huai and Zhi to visit my aunt."

  Dou Zhao had heard from Ji Shi that there were six people in the Ji family who were currently serving as officials. Apart from Ji Yong's uncle, who was a servant in the Ministry of Works, his father was the Right Vice-Minister of the Department of State Affairs. There were also several paternal uncles and cousins who were appointed to various places, either as prefects or as inspectors or as governors, all with good prospects. This should have been the greatest help to the Dou family, but because the Ji and Dou families had different political views, Ji Yong's uncle also deliberately declared his intention to resign, and the two families did not get along very well. However, having such a powerful relative who was on an equal footing with them, they couldn't help but look at each other with some respect, which didn't affect the private interactions between the two families.

  "Why don't you go to Kyoto and take a look?" said Nita's wife with a smile, instructing her personal maid to fetch some medicinal pills such as menthol and ren dan for Ji Yong: "It's too hot outside, bring them along the way."

  Ji Yong thanked him in a string of words.

  The second lady was still worried and held his hand, instructing him this and that for half a day.

  When they returned, Du Zhao found that Du Ming quietly asked the maid beside the second lady: "Does it seem like Brother Ji is favored by our great-grandmother?"

  "Of course." The maid's face was full of envy, "You may think that Master Ji is young, but he is the champion scholar of Nan Zhili! How could Madame not like him?"

  Dong Zhao noticed that Dong Ming's eyes flickered.

  Whenever she wants something, she would give him such a look.

  Reborn in this life, would Duan Ming's target shift from Wang Nan to Ji Yong?

  She had always thought that Dunming didn't necessarily like Wang Nan, but because Wang Nan was a young and talented man admired by everyone, with a bright future ahead of him, and highly valued by the Wang family, he liked Gao Mingzhu, who had a noble and elegant temperament, she felt resentful.

  Dong Zhao still remembered the scene of Wang Nan silently weeping on Gao Mingzhu's coffin in his past life...

  If Duan Ming shifted his gaze because of Ji Yong's appearance, it might not be a bad thing!

  Compared with Wang Nan, Ji Yong has more ideas.

  Dong Zhao thought for a moment, then parted ways with Dong Ming at the second gate. One went to the East Cross House and the other went to the West Cross House. As soon as she stepped into the yard, she saw three or four stewardesses assigned to the West Cross House surrounding Hong Gu and saying something. Seeing Dong Zhao approaching, several people exchanged glances and surrounded her without warning.

  "Fourth Miss, why don't we let them handle things in the East Wing?"

  "Yes, Fourth Miss. We all thought of coming to Dong Kuo Yuan to do something, even if it's just being on duty."

  Dong Zhaoleng coldly asked them: "Did the Fifth Miss show her displeasure to you in front of others, or did she punish you without asking for an explanation?"

  Several of the serving women lowered their heads.

  "In that case, I don't want to hear it again," Dou Zhao said. "As long as you all follow the rules, no one will give you trouble. But if you don't follow the rules and are picky, you'll be the same wherever you go."

  A few people should be trembling with fear.

  Dòu Zhāo'áng stepped into his grandmother's house.

  Hong's sister wanted to speak but stopped herself.

  Dong Zhaodao said, "I understand what you mean. But no matter what, she is also one of the masters of this house. If I want to discipline her, I will do it myself, and there's no need for these people who fawn on those in power and bully those who are weak to humiliate her." She paused slightly before continuing, "And besides, this is the easiest way to corrupt the atmosphere at home."

  At first, when she was in charge of the household at Jin Ning Hou Fu, it wasn't easy for her to turn this atmosphere around.

  Hong Gu thought about it and also felt that this was the case.

  She smiled somewhat embarrassedly and said: "I was thinking too much."

  Dong Zhao wrapped his arm around Hong Gu's shoulder: "It's not that you're thinking wrongly, it's just that your heart is leaning towards me." One sentence made Hong Gu tear up.

  A few people giggled and entered Grandma's inner room.

  ※※※※※

  Dong Ming only brought back a dozen or so boxes. In her opinion, once this storm passes, her mother will naturally think of a way to let her return. She didn't need to bring that many things, so the furnishings and such in Qixia Courtyard were all from before, with nothing good to collect or tidy up, and Zhou Mama led people to finish arranging the courtyard in less than half an hour.

  After Douming finished washing up, Zhou Mama saw that the sun's afterglow was left in the sky, and the cool breeze under the eaves was blowing gently. She moved a stool over and helped Douming wipe his hair under the eaves.

  "The view of the Dou's house is really beautiful." She tactfully persuaded Dou Ming, "You live alone in a cross courtyard, which is more spacious than when you were in Kyoto. How great!"

  In Kyoto, Dou Ming lived in a warm pavilion behind the inner chamber of Wang Xu's residence.

  "Kyoto is a big place, it's not easy to change." Du Ming wouldn't allow anyone to say anything bad about her husband's family. "Zhending is a rural area, naturally the courtyard is wider."

  "Yes! You can just think of it as a summer retreat, idling away with no worries and playing the pipa with Wan Niang, reading books, or taking strolls wherever you please. How carefree and at ease!"

  Wan Niang is the teacher who taught Duan Ming how to play the pipa.

  This tone is not refuted.

  When the nanny went to prepare dinner for her, she quietly instructed her personal maid Qihong: "You help me find out about Cousin Ji's situation."

  Ji Hong smiled and replied.

  Dong Zhao immediately received the news.

  She said to Su Lan: "Just pay attention to her and don't let her do anything ridiculous that will make people laugh."

  Su Lan smiled and nodded.

  Dou Zhao then discussed with Song Yuemin and afterwards every morning set aside half an hour to teach Dou Ming the Analects.

  When living in someone else's house as a tutor, one usually has to teach two or three students. Sometimes even seven or eight students, teaching the younger ones first and then the older ones. In the Duan household, he only had to teach Duan Zhao alone, and there were no strict requirements for his work, so he was getting bored early on. Being able to add another student would be just right to pass the time.

  "Then I'll tell Miss Fourth every morning and then tell Miss Fifth!" Song Yuemin immediately agreed.

  Dong Zhao knew that he still taught Song Yan a lesson every day for an hour and said, "Will it delay Song Yan's studies?"

  Song Yan's parents died early, although he had to eat at many different homes, he studied hard by the light of the fireflies and snow, with a single-minded devotion to learning. Song Min felt sorry for him because he was so young when his parents passed away, and also valued his family background which was poor but not lacking in ambition, so he took him under his wing.

  "It's nothing." Song Yuemin smiled and said, "I also taught him a lesson this afternoon." He hesitated as he spoke, "There is one thing, I'd like to ask Miss Si for a favor..."

  Dong Zhaobing said: "I dare not presume, you are my teacher, whatever it is, just give the order."

  Although so, Song still thought for a moment before saying: "Song Yan is not young anymore, and has been following me to study. I have made some achievements in poetry, zither, calligraphy and painting, but this imperial examination...". He chuckled and said, "I myself didn't get the top honors, let alone Song Yan - I want to ask Song Yan to attend classes at the Du family's school, do you think Fourth Miss can help me persuade Third Master?"

  The Dou family's school originally hoped to recruit talented people from all over the world and teach them, let alone Song Yan being a person of good character, just this point is enough to make Du Fu's husband agree.

  "There are specialized fields in every profession. Mr. Song likes poetry, zither, calligraphy and painting, so he didn't put his mind to the imperial examination." Du Zhaoguang complimented Song Yuemin for a few sentences and promised to go talk to Third Uncle about this matter early tomorrow morning.

  ※

  To all book lovers out there, I want to remind you: pink tickets, pink tickets... every single one is important...~~~~~

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