“You’ve just returned home, and everything is still unfamiliar. Better to listen to your mother and take it slowly. For now, follow her and learn to manage the accounts.”
These words offered a compromise, but it was not the answer Dou Xueci wanted. Perhaps because the fury she felt at the time of her death had long since faded, and afterward, as a spirit, she had watched her grandmother daily eat vegetarian meals and chant scriptures, praying for her.
Dou Xueci realized, to her surprise, that she had grown a touch of delusion. “Then I shall follow Grandmother’s advice.”
Her eyes grew faintly cold, though everyone present showed joy on their faces.
Madam Zou, hearing this, was just about to take her hand again, when Dou Xueci said: “Elder Sister Mu He, please return to the palace. Her Majesty the Empress meant well, but I have no use for you now. If Her Majesty asks, tell her that my family believes I am still too young to manage household affairs, and so you were sent back.”
Madam Zou’s hands froze in midair.
“There’s no need to send her back. Since Her Majesty has given her, we should treat her well. Why spurn such kindness?”
Madam Zou was skilled at putting on a show; that flicker of panic was quickly hidden.
But Dou Xueci lifted her gaze. Though she was of lower rank, that single look made Madam Zou’s heart tremble. Her pulse pounded, and a sense of dread arose. This daughter, unseen for three years, had changed.
“It is not I who spurned Her Majesty’s kindness.” Dou Xueci looked around at everyone in the room. At that moment, not one dared meet her eyes.
“Elder Sister Mu He, please return and repeat my words to Her Majesty exactly.”
Mu He stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and prepared to leave.
“Wait.”
At that voice, Dou Xueci folded her hands neatly upon her lap, not even lifting her head, the very image of a noble young lady.
The old matriarch turned her head to glance at Dou Xueci, a dark light flickering in her eyes.
“Since this was Her Majesty’s intention, naturally, there is no reason for Miss Mu He to have come in vain. Let the Madam deliver the storeroom keys and the account books to Zhenhua Pavilion. From now on, household management will be entrusted to Xueci.”
Second, Young Madam Jin Yudian, with her fiery temper, was ready to object at once, but her mother-in-law, Madam Yao, restrained her.
Dou Xueci had invoked the Empress. If Mu He were truly sent back to the palace now, it would be a slap in the Empress’s face.
That lady in the palace had been raised by the Duke himself since childhood; the siblings were closest of kin. In recent years, because of Dou Xueci, she had grown distant from her two younger brothers of the second and third branches. If her face were disgraced over this matter, punishment would surely follow. Besides, household authority was not something that could be taken away simply by decree. Social ties, entrenched networks—who belonged to whom—could a young girl truly distinguish them all? Most likely, she would end up lifting a stone only to drop it on her own foot.
Madam Zou perhaps thought the same, for she quickly covered her unease with a broad smile: “Yes, we shall follow Mother’s word.”
Only the third branch’s Madam remained silent, like a quail, not speaking a word from beginning to end.
“One more thing.” The old matriarch suddenly added, “Since you are not yet familiar with the household, it would be best to select two people from the second and third branches to assist you.” Her gaze softened slightly as she looked quietly at Dou Xueci.
Obediently, she replied, “Grandmother speaks rightly. Your granddaughter will, of course, follow Grandmother’s guidance.”
This sight made Madam Zou increasingly uneasy. How could she not know her own daughter’s temperament? She had deliberately spoiled her into arrogance and willfulness, unable to bear the slightest grievance. In the past, she had even mingled with her father in the military camp, truly someone who would strike at the slightest provocation.
If not for her unchanged appearance, Madam Zou might have suspected that this well-mannered, composed girl—who spoke with subtle force and even feigned obedience—was not her daughter at all.
Dou Xueci sensed her mother’s gaze from above, yet remained utterly unmoved. In her past life, she had smashed the sedan chair Madam Zou sent to humiliate her upon her return to the capital, earning a reputation for arrogance and insolence. Because she knew her, Madam Zou had used such tricks countless times to drive her into madness.
Whenever such things happened, Madam Zou would put on a show of tears, looking both anxious and angry. Yet the very person who drove Dou Xueci to madness was none other than herself!
Later, after suffering many losses and to please her cousin Zou Yunjian, she forced herself to learn the manners of noble ladies, disciplining herself harshly for years.
“Xueci, have you decided whom to choose?” The old matriarch’s eyes seemed tinged with weariness. A maid at her side gently massaged her temples.
The servants of the second and third branches all grew alert, each staring at Dou Xueci, hoping she would call their names.
Even the usually aloof First Madam of the second branch, Zhao Lingxi—known for her cold temperament and devotion to Buddhist practice—looked at Dou Xueci several times.
Dou Xueci’s lips curved into the faintest smile. “Then I shall choose Second Sister-in-law, and Elder Sister Zhuyin.”
One was the second branch’s Second Madam, the other a concubine-born second young lady of the third branch.
Once the people were decided, Dou Xueci left. Passing by Zhuang Wanqing, she did not spare her a single glance. Yet precisely because of that, her noble and graceful figure cut Zhuang Wanqing to the quick. For all of this should have been hers!
Zhenhua Pavilion.
Dou Xueci quietly took her place at the head seat. Below knelt about twenty servants of Zhenhua Pavilion, none of them familiar faces. Most strikingly, her old nursemaid was absent.
In her previous life, upon seeing this scene on her first day back, she had smashed the teaware in fury, then stormed off to confront Madam Zou.
That quarrel ended with Madam Zou pretending to be overcome with anger, collapsing on the spot.
Later, word spread: on her first day home, Dou Xueci had first committed violence at the docks, then returned only to drive her mother into a faint.
Such a reputation was no different from that of a rat scurrying across the street.
“Leave.” Dou Xueci closed her eyes slightly, giving no lecture and no reward. For none of these people would she keep.
Several of the servants exchanged glances, uncertain whether they should go or stay.
After all, they had been given instructions—things should not have turned out this way.
“What are you standing around for? All of you, leave!” Liu Yun, holding back her anger, was fuming. All of her former sisters were gone; not a single one remained.
Once everyone had left, Liu Yun finally spoke: “Miss, I asked around earlier, but not one person knew where Nanny Wan had gone!”
“No matter. By now, she must already be outside the residence. Go and meet her.”
Liu Yun was stunned for a moment, then her eyes lit up with joy. She bowed to Dou Xueci and happily ran out.
That was Liu Yun’s virtue—she never asked too many questions, because she trusted Dou Xueci.
Yet even Liu Yun, after Dou Xueci’s death, was silenced—burned alive at the manor.
In no time, Liu Yun returned with several people.
Among them was Nanny Wan, followed by two other women.
“My girl! You… you’ve finally come back!” Nanny Wan entered with reddened eyes, clearly having cried on her way to the residence. She hurried forward, forgetting all decorum, and directly grasped Dou Xueci’s hand. Only after a moment did she realize she had lost her manners. She was about to bow, but Dou Xueci helped her up.
“Nanny, it was I who returned late, causing you to suffer so much on my account…”
Nanny Wan lowered her head, wiping away her tears, unwilling to let Dou Xueci see her cry.
Dou Xueci guided her to sit, then looked up at the two women who had come in behind.
Receiving her signal, they stepped forward to report: “Miss, be at ease. Fortunately, we returned in time. We summoned the best physician to set the bones. With proper care, Nanny’s son will surely stand again.”