Song Mo patted Gu Yu’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
Gu Yu squirmed and continued tossing fish food silently.
Song Mo chuckled. “How old are you, acting like a child? What’s the matter? You haven’t said a word since arriving. Did you quarrel with your family?”
Gu Yu sneered, “I’m not married, so aren’t I still a child?”
Song Mo was stunned, then laughed again. His smile was full of helplessness and a hint of indulgence. Gu Yu’s eyes reddened as he turned away.
Song Mo smiled and began to walk away. “Alright, we’ll talk when you’re ready.”
Gu Yu threw all the fish food into the lake with a splash. “Since you got married, you don’t care about me anymore!” His tone resembled that of a wronged young wife.
Shen Qing, Song Han, and the others looked over at the commotion. Song Han, in particular, gazed at Gu Yu with a peculiar glint in his eyes.
Song Mo was both amused and exasperated. He walked back, saying, “How have I stopped caring about you? I haven’t even seen you these past days. How can I care for you if I can’t find you?”
Gu Yu felt even more aggrieved hearing this.
A few days ago, he had gone to Huai’an to settle the river engineering expenses. Only then did he remember Wang Qinghuai’s request to investigate who had ambushed Wei Tingyu? After returning to the capital, he spent two days on this matter and discovered Ji Yong and He Yu. Not only that, he also found out that He Yu, nominally Dou Shiying’s junior, had once caused a commotion at home, wanting to marry Dou Zhao. Most perplexingly, Minister He had agreed…
Now that Wei Tingyu had abandoned Dou Zhao to marry Dou Ming, He Yu was instigating Ji Yong to settle scores with Wei Tingyu, clearly unable to let go of old feelings.
If he told Brother Tianci, Tianci would surely distance himself from the Dou family. Uncle Song already treated Tianci coldly, and Tian’en didn’t dare associate with him either. Wouldn’t Tianci become lonely again, without anyone to care for him? But if he didn’t tell Tianci, there was He Yu coveting his sister-in-law while Tianci remained in the dark. Moreover, he was keeping this secret from Tianci… The thought made his heart ache.
Gu Yu had been tossing and turning for days, unable to sleep.
Finally, after getting some rest, he woke to news of Lady Dou being conferred the title of “Madam.”
He couldn’t help but rub his head in confusion.
Seeing this, Song Mo felt both irritated and amused. “Just tell me what’s wrong. Don’t act like a baby asking for candy.” His voice softened. “What happened?”
Gu Yu’s face turned red. After a long pause, he said, “My stepmother wants to arrange a marriage between me and her niece…”
Song Mo felt a pang of guilt. Gu Yu was only a few months younger than him and of marriageable age. Due to his complicated family situation, no one dared to make decisions for him, causing the delay.
These days, Song Mo had been preoccupied with his affairs, indeed neglecting Gu Yu.
His expression grew serious. “Does the Empress know about this?”
Gu Yu shook his head. “I overheard it by chance…” Just thinking about potentially marrying someone related to his stepmother made him feel unbearable.
Seeing Gu Yu’s look of disgust, Song Mo pondered, “As the eldest legitimate son, your marriage affects the prosperity of the Yunyang Baron’s household. Your father won’t act rashly. Previously, he ignored you because of your wild behavior. Now that you’re acting responsibly, he’ll surely treat you differently. However, we should prepare for the worst. I’ll keep an eye on this matter for you. But you need to have a plan yourself so I can better advise you.”
Gu Yu felt relieved that Song Mo was willing to help. Remembering how his father’s attitude had changed since he started doing business with Song Mo and Wang Qinghuai, he nodded.
Song Mo patted his shoulder again, smiling. “Feng Shao and the others are gambling in the warm pavilion. Why don’t you join them?”
This time, Gu Yu didn’t shy away from Song Mo, but he didn’t rush to join the others in the warm pavilion as usual. Instead, he hesitantly asked, “Is… is your wife treating you well?”
Song Mo’s lips curled into an irrepressible smile. “Very well!”
His whole demeanor resembled branches and leaves in spring, slowly unfurling in the gentle breeze.
Gu Yu felt a mix of envy and jealousy.
In the flower hall, Dou Zhao directed Suxin and others to refill tea for the gambling ladies.
Only the sixth sister-in-law Guo and the tenth sister-in-law Cai had come from the Dou family. Not seeing Dou Ming, Cai asked curiously, “How strange, where’s the Fifth Young Mistress?”
In her view, of the two half-sisters, the younger had stolen the elder’s husband, yet the elder had married into an even more prestigious family. The younger had married first but had no title, while the elder married later but was already an external fifth-rank official’s wife. She thought the elder should be quite pleased. So her voice was loud, echoing through the flower hall.
All eyes turned to Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao remained composed, smiling as she placed Six An Guapian tea in front of Old Madam Lu. Just as she was about to speak, the Second Madam of the Jing Guo Gong Manor, Madam Shi, cut in with a smile, “I heard the Madam’s sister is feeling unwell. Yesterday, the Madam personally visited, and my mother-in-law praised her kind nature, encouraging us sisters-in-law to get closer to her.
My eldest sister-in-law was planning to join us, but just before leaving, she said her brother’s wife from her maiden family was ill, so she had to check on her and returned to the Jining Marquis Manor at the last moment.” She covered her mouth and laughed, “In a few days, the plum blossoms in our home should bloom. My mother-in-law suggested we should learn from the Madam and invite everyone over for some lively gatherings when we’re free. We’re planning to host a plum blossom viewing party at home. When the time comes, all the ladies and sisters must not decline. You must come and enjoy yourselves with us!”
Everyone cheerfully agreed, those sitting together discussing which families had hosted what parties this year and how enjoyable they were. Those playing cards refocused their attention on the game, watching their opponents and ignoring everything else. The flower hall quickly returned to its previous liveliness, with no one bothering to inquire further about Dou Ming’s condition.
Madam Zhang winked at Dou Zhao and said, “We’ll need the Madam’s help in recommending a good chef then – the side dishes served earlier were quite good.”
Dou Zhao smiled and nodded, but inwardly sighed.
People always like to flatter the powerful and step on the weak. She had merely become the Heir Apparent’s wife of the Ying Guo Gong Manor, and without her doing anything to Dou Ming, someone was already helping her deal with Dou Ming to curry favor.
If Dou Ming knew that marrying into the Jining Marquis Manor would result in this, would she regret it?
The thought flashed through her mind as she smiled and called out to Madam Xiao, who had been nervously following her, “Why don’t you sit down for a while? There’s still over half an hour before lunch.”
Gratitude flashed in Madam Xiao’s eyes.
She didn’t know anyone here and couldn’t play any of their games.
Both had married into prestigious families in the capital from the countryside, yet the Heir Apparent’s wife of the Ying Guo Gong Manor was at ease and graceful.
Realizing this, her gaze towards Dou Zhao filled with deep admiration.
At this moment, Dou Ming was lying on her bed, sobbing quietly.
Wei Tingyu, dressed in his Marquis python robe as if ready to go out, furrowed his brow and paced anxiously by the bedside. “Don’t be like this! Can’t we talk calmly? What do you want? Crying like this will only make people laugh at us.”
“Aren’t you the one who wants to laugh at me?” Dou Ming lifted her head, her face covered in tears, looking as pitiful as a rain-beaten rose. “Today is the day I’m supposed to return to my maiden home for the monthly visit, yet Dou Zhao chose this very day to host a banquet at home. That’s bad enough, but you received an invitation and consulted me about going to congratulate Dou Zhao at the Ying Guo Gong Manor before escorting me back to my maiden home… Is there such a thing in this world? Is Dou Zhao more important or am I? Don’t forget, I am your lawfully wedded wife!”
Wei Tingyu looked embarrassed and tried to explain, “I didn’t mean anything by it. I just felt that Song Yanting treated me well in the past, and later we did something to wrong your sister, yet she was magnanimous and didn’t hold it against us. Today is their joyous occasion, and if we go to congratulate them and show our support, it would also be a way to make amends for what happened before…”
Before he could finish, Dou Ming’s face had turned bright red. “What do you mean by ‘we did something to wrong Dou Zhao’? It was a willing act on both sides, you need to be clear about that! If you want to go, go by yourself. Why do you need to use me to save face for Dou Zhao?” She started crying again, “I got married first, yet she was conferred the title of ‘Madam’ before me, and I didn’t say anything. You still think I’m not generous enough, you’re too heartless… I don’t know how I’ll be mocked when I return to my maiden home, and instead of comforting me, you’re finding fault with me. What’s the point of living like this? What do I have to look forward to?”
Wei Tingyu lowered his head and slumped into the nearby armchair, dejected.
Dou Ming cried for a while, but when she didn’t hear Wei Tingyu comforting her or making any sound, she began to feel uneasy. She quietly raised her head to look and found Wei Tingyu sitting there with his head down, sulking.
She timidly called out, “My Lord.”
Wei Tingyu glanced at her and turned his head away without responding.
As she was considering whether to humble herself and say some soft words to coax Wei Tingyu, a young maid came in to report, “The Elder Young Mistress has arrived!”
Dou Ming’s expression changed. “What is she doing here?” Her voice already carried a hint of disdain.
Hearing that his sister had come, Wei Tingyu’s mood lifted, feeling he could finally escape Dou Ming’s nagging. He didn’t notice Dou Ming’s tone and quickly stood up, asking the maid urgently, “Where is the Elder Young Mistress?”
The maid replied, “She went to see the Old Madam.”
Wei Tingyu hurried off to his mother’s courtyard.
Dou Ming was caught in a dilemma – it wasn’t good to follow, but it was worse not to. She stomped her foot in frustration and gritted her teeth before also heading to Madam Tian’s courtyard.
Wei Tingzhen looked at Wei Tingyu in surprise. “Why are you still at home? Weren’t you supposed to escort Dou Ming back to her maiden home?”
Wei Tingyu’s face reddened as he mumbled, “We had just finished preparing. When we heard Sister had come, we came to greet her first.”
One came while the other didn’t – this excuse wouldn’t fool anyone.
Wei Tingzhen gave her brother a cold look. “You two quarreled again, didn’t you?”