That night, Wang Zhi and Gao stayed at the Dou family's home.

  Dong Zhao didn't care about these things, she had been waiting for Tuo Niang to come back.

  Yu said that she would send the things over first thing tomorrow morning. Tuo Niang returned a bit late.

  Dou Zhao let out a sigh of relief and instructed Tuo Niang: "Pack up all the things we usually use, in a few days we might need to go stay with my sixth uncle at the East Manor for a while."

  "Why go to Liu Lao Ye's house?" Tuo Niang opened her mouth wide, "Is it because Wang Yi Niang is making a ruckus at home that's not like anything?"

  Even she knew about it, which means everyone in the Duan family, from top to bottom, had heard about it.

  Dong Zhaoxiu said: "No. It's Father who is going to Kyoto to take the imperial examination, and he's worried that I'll have no one to take care of me, so maybe he'll send us to live with Sixth Uncle for a few days."

  No matter what happens, Father will definitely go to Kyoto for the imperial examination.

  In the previous life, Aunt Ding's grandmother successfully estranged Suo and her maternal aunt. She lived peacefully in the Suo family, with Suo Shiying helping to support her until her death. In this life, she lost the power to manage the inner courtyard, and Suo also lost the care of his elders. Under the circumstances that Grandfather did not get along with Grandmother, Sixth Uncle's proposal was just right for Father to solve his difficulties, and she would probably be sent to Sixth Uncle's house to stay temporarily.

  Dong Zhaoye was willing to go to Liu Bo's house for a temporary stay.

  Liu's maternal grandmother, whose surname was Ji, was from Yixing County, Changzhou Prefecture, South Zhili. Her grandfather, Ji Nian, was the top scorer in the imperial examination in a ji-chou year. Her ancestors had also produced an imperial teacher and a grand councilor, making them one of the most prominent official families in Jiangnan that could be counted on one's fingers.

  The second lady was the one who had taken a fancy to Liu's family background at that time, relying on her uncle being an imperial censor and having given Ji Yun some convenience in the past, she put on a flattering face and asked for this marriage for Liu.

  Compared to the Ji family, the Dou family was far inferior in both reputation and wealth. Moreover, people from Jiangnan were generally more refined than those from the north. After Liu's mother married into the family, Second Madam felt a bit constrained in front of this daughter-in-law, as if she had a pearl by her side, and was somewhat cautious in her words and actions.

  Luckily, Liu Bo Mu was born into a good family and was dignified and calm. She didn't become arrogant because of her marriage to a lower-ranking husband. She was polite and courteous to both her mother-in-law and sister-in-laws. Moreover, after entering the household, she gave birth to two sons one after another, which made Liu Bo Mu the favorite of Er Tai Fu Ren.

  In her previous life, Du Shuang didn't have much contact with this sixth aunt.

  But before she got married, her father asked Sixth Aunt to tell her about bedroom matters.

  She still remembered that before Sixth Aunt left, she pulled her hand and whispered to her: "Remember, after you get married, the most important thing is to give birth to a son, secondly, to cater to your mother-in-law. As for your husband, as long as you keep your appearance fresh in front of him, it's fine..."

  This is the first time someone has lifted the veil of women's virtues and spoken so bluntly to her about the way of being a wife.

  Dòu Zhāo was extremely shocked.

  After being shocked, she couldn't help but carefully think about Liu Bo Mu's words, and the more she thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed, and the more reasonable it seemed, the more she followed suit.

  In her previous life, she was busy with her own affairs and had no time to pay attention to others. Now that she thinks about it, she can't help but be very curious about the relationship between Sixth Aunt and Sixth Uncle.

  In addition, she also had something to ask Sixth Aunt, and couldn't help but look forward to temporarily staying at Sixth Uncle's house.

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  The next day at noon, a large group of people came to the Pong family's house.

  Perhaps it was already decided to let the Ji family take care of Du Zhao for a while, or perhaps she felt that the atmosphere at home was not good, so in the afternoon, Du Shiying personally sent Du Zhao to the East House.

  The second aunt and sixth aunt were waiting at the gate to welcome the father-daughter pair.

  Dongfang Bubai couldn't help but size up Liu Bo Mu.

  Ji Shi was only twenty-four or five years old at that time, with a fair and beautiful complexion, her black hair tied up in a bun, adorned with two gold-inlaid jade hairpins, wearing a lotus-colored summer shirt, white gauze skirt, and no other ornaments on her body, extremely simple and elegant.

  She smiled and went forward to hug Du Zhao.

  Dong Zhaoyi caught a whiff of the faint scent of jasmine flowers.

  She recognizes this scent.

  It's not ordinary incense, but the rose dew of Da Shi, fifty taels of silver for a small bottle, more expensive than gold, and only available in a few large shops in Kyoto.

  The second aunt smiled and patted her head, saying to Dou Shiying: "You come with us to see the old lady too!"

  The daughter was going to trouble the ladies of the East Mansion to take care of her, Du Shiying thanked them again and again, and they went to the second lady's place.

  The furnishings in the second lady's house are very simple, but each piece is elegant and understated, exuding luxury in a low-key manner, reminiscent of an antique storage room, without any signs of life, with a chilliness permeating every corner.

  This house and Second Mistress are quite well-matched.

  Dou Zhaoming thought of her mother's coldness and heartlessness, and secretly scolded in her heart.

  After the courtesy, the two madams handed a handful of sugar to Du Zhao, and then asked Du Shiying: "I heard that the Wang family is making some noise?" A few points of severity were revealed in the casual tone.

  Dong Shiying's face turned red and she said in a low voice: "I'll take care of it soon."

  The second lady said: "You are about to go and take the imperial examination, I think this matter should be handled by your second sister-in-law to negotiate with the Wang family?"

  It's an order, not a question.

  Dou Shiying nodded solemnly.

  The second lady nodded in satisfaction, looked at Dou Zhao and put on a loving smile: "Come, Shou girl, come to the second grandmother! Let the second grandmother see if you have grown taller?"

  Dong Zhao thought that Er Tai Furen was like a thousand-year-old old demon. After Grandfather's death, it took another ten years for her to pass away.

  She unintentionally drew close to the second lady, and when she heard the second lady's call, she didn't go over, but instead pulled on Sixth Aunt's hand and said loudly: "I'm already five years old this year, I've naturally grown taller."

  The sound was crisp and loud, leaving everyone stunned and then bursting into laughter.

  "Second Aunt, you've miscalculated! You should have held the sugar in your hand before calling Shougu over. Now that you don't have anything in your hand, why would Shougu run to you?"

  Everyone burst out laughing again.

  Second Aunt stood up and smiled at Yuwen Sheng: "You can rest assured that we will take care of Shougu with Sixth Brother's wife. It's getting late, let's go back and take a look? If things get out of hand like this, everyone will lose face."

  Dòu Shìyīng patted his daughter's head, reminded her a few words of "listen" and so on, then returned to Xīdòu with the second aunt.

  The second lady then inquired in detail about how Liu Bo Mu arranged for Du Zhao, and only then did she let them leave.

  Sixth aunt took her to pay respects to eldest aunt.

  As a widow like the second lady, she lived in the courtyard next to the second lady's.

  A quiet and unassuming house, with blue curtains, black lacquered furniture, the sunlight outside was blocked by the shade of the trees, and my aunt's pale face was as white as snow.

  Dou Zhaohui thought of her former smiling face and couldn't help but sigh.

  The great aunt smiled and held Du Zhao in her arms, letting the maid bring in melons, fruits, and sweets to entertain Du Zhao: "Come visit Great Aunt whenever you have nothing to do."

  Dong Zhaoli smiled and nodded in response.

  Liu Bo Mu and Da Bo Mu chatted for a few sentences before taking Du Zhao to bid farewell to Da Bo Mu.

  As soon as she stepped out of the door, basking in the sunshine outside and listening to the cacophony of cicadas, Du Zhao inexplicably felt a sense of relief.

  Sixth Aunt asked her gently: "Are you tired?"

  Dong Zhao shook his head.

  "Alright, let's go and pay our respects to your Third Aunt," said Sixth Aunt with a smile. She then coaxed her, "After we've paid our respects to your Third Aunt, we'll head back home to enjoy some chilled watermelon, how does that sound?"

  Dong Zhao smiled and nodded.

  Third Aunt and Sixth Aunt lived next door to each other. As they entered, Third Aunt was scolding Seventh Brother-in-law Du Fan Chang, who had just passed his 18th birthday: "......Can you compare with Qi Jun? He can ask questions to Mr. Dao, but you are being asked by Mr. Dao..."

  He is the eldest son of Third Aunt, before Du Fan Chang, Third Aunt gave birth to three daughters.

  When Ji Shi and Dou Zhao arrived, this matter naturally could no longer be discussed.

  Du Fengchang smiled awkwardly and greeted Ji Shi and Du Zhao before walking away with a huff.

  Third Aunt stroked her forehead and ordered the maid to bring tea, then complained to Sixth Aunt: "I don't know which god I've offended. After great difficulty, I finally gave birth to two sons. The older one is twenty years old but still doesn't understand things, every day he just knows how to play. The younger one is clever, but he just doesn't like reading books. When you ask him to read a book, it's as if you're asking for his life..."

  In Duan Zhao's memory, the two sons of Third Uncle were really not outstanding in their studies.

  After Dou Huachang passed the imperial examination and became a Xiucai, he continued to study and take the imperial examinations, but failed. When Dou Huachang was over thirty years old, he switched careers and started an antique business. Dou Zhao also introduced several heavyweight clients to Dou Huachang.

  Sixth Aunt comforted Third Aunt: "He's still young and hasn't settled down yet, he'll be fine once he gets married."

  Dòu Fánchāng has become engaged to his cousin and they will get married next March.

  Third Aunt sighed: "I hope so!"

  The Sixth Aunt took Du Zhao and bid farewell.

  Third Aunt saw them off at the door and looked up to see Third Uncle hurrying over with a look of urgency on his face.

  "Shougu has arrived!" He smiled from afar, bowed his hands to Liu Bomu and shouted "Liu Dimui", saying: "I have an urgent matter to see my mother, you all come over for dinner tonight? Consider it a welcome feast for Shougu!"

  "Really, really! Come over and have dinner with us!"

  Dongtou originally lived together in two houses, except for festivals and sacrifices, each household ate separately.

  They invited Dou Zhao, and Ji Shi didn't decline, smiling in response, then carried Dou Zhao back to the house.

  The wet nurse of the Ji family, Wang, had already settled down Du Zhao's things and maidservant. Seeing that Du Zhao's face was sunburned, she called out to Nuo Niang together to serve Du Zhao in washing her with warm water, then helped Du Zhao apply ice powder, changed into a white gauze shirt, wore a silver necklace and silver cuff, only then did she lead her to meet Madam Ji.

  Ji's family also took a bath and changed clothes. Two maids were fanning her, one on the left and one on the right.

  She pulled Dou Zhao's hand and looked her up and down, smiling and nodding: "This is what a young lady should look like!" She casually picked up a fan and began to fan Dou Zhao while instructing Wang Nai Nai: "Today we're going to Third Uncle's place for dinner. If Sixth Master makes it back in time, have him go to Third Uncle's place too. If he can't make it back, you all just prepare dinner for Sixth Master alone."

  Dong Zhao guessed that Liu Beifu must have gone to her home with Father.

  The queen smiled and nodded in agreement.

  A peach-eyed and apricot-cheeked maid walked in.

  As soon as Wang's wife saw her, she immediately took all the maids serving in the house away.

  The maid took the fan from Liu Bo Mu's hand and helped Du Zhao fan herself, saying in a low voice to Liu Bo Mu: "Third Master received a letter from Fifth Master, saying that Chen Ji Zhou was forced to resign, and Zeng Ge Lao recommended He Wen Dao He Ge Lao to preside over this exam. Fifth Master is highly valued by Zeng Ge Cai as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. When Old Madam heard about it, she immediately sent someone to deliver a letter to the old master in the Western Mansion. I came just as the messenger was leaving."

  Sixth Aunt nodded and said "uh-huh".

  The maid went to lift the curtain, and Wang's nurse and several serving maids walked in one after another. Everyone continued doing what they were originally doing. If it weren't for that maid still fanning Su Zao, Su Zao would have thought she was just dreaming!

  The sixth aunt is indeed a master who keeps a low profile.

  Sweat dripping down his face.

  Can't help but think of what I heard earlier.

  Zeng Yifen drove away Chen Jizhun, and Wu Bobo got Zeng Yifen's heavy equipment, this is a good thing! Why did Er Tai Furen hastily call Grandfather over as soon as she heard?

  She was at her wit's end.

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