Dou Zhao was greatly surprised to hear that the He family had commissioned Cai Bi to help the Dou family retrieve her betrothal token from the Jining Marquis’s household.

Logically, at this point, even if the He family was unwilling to let go, they should have remained silent. Why would they risk damaging their reputation by intervening on behalf of the Dou family? Were they interested in her or in Dou Shizhu? Or had He Wendao and Dou Shizhu already reached some agreement, urgently needing this marriage as a cover? After all, in her previous life, Dou Shizhu had entered the inner cabinet with He Wendao’s support.

She boldly hypothesized: “Could there be irreconcilable conflicts between He Yu and his elder brother?”

Chen Qushui’s eyes sharpened as he solemnly replied, “You may be onto something. If that’s the case, it would explain everything.”

He Wendao knew that after his death, He Yu wouldn’t receive the family’s full support. Since he had taken a liking to Dou Zhao, He Wendao might as well entrust his most beloved youngest son to Dou Shizhu, and then strongly support Dou Shizhu’s entry into the cabinet. For He Wendao, this merely meant declaring his stance early in the struggle for cabinet positions. Though risky, it wouldn’t shake his foundation and would resolve conflicts among his children—a multi-beneficial move.

He worriedly added, “I’m afraid this matter might cause trouble.”

“What matters doesn’t involve trouble?” Dou Zhao smiled optimistically, her expression relaxed. “Let’s investigate the He family’s situation in this direction before deciding. As for the Wei family, we should also have someone keep an eye on them. Regarding Cai Bi…” She wanted to say “I know him,” but considering her current identity, she paused before continuing, “I’ve heard his eloquence is remarkable. I fear the He and Dou families might prefer to compensate the Wei family to retrieve the token. The Wei family’s great-aunt is quite status-conscious; we should be wary of her.”

Chen Qushui didn’t suspect anything.

It was natural for Dou Zhao to gather information about the Wei family, given that it concerned her lifelong happiness.

“I’ll arrange it right away,” Chen Qushui said, his efficiency greatly admired by Dou Zhao.

She called out to Chen Qushui, asking, “Any news from the Ji family?”

Dou Zhao hadn’t told Chen Qushui about Ji Yong’s statement, “Considering we’re relatives, I’ll help you this time.” She instinctively felt the remark was too absurd; even if she mentioned it, Chen Qushui might not believe it or would dismiss it as a young man’s impulsive words.

Chen Qushui replied, “No news yet.” Inwardly, he contemplated whether he should personally go to the capital.

If Fourth Miss hadn’t timely noticed something amiss with the He family’s affairs, they might still be in the dark, let alone making any progress.

At times like these, Chen Qushui deeply felt the pain of lacking manpower.

He was about to discuss this with Dou Zhao when Suxin entered with an odd expression: “Fourth Miss, two young masters claim to be passing through Zhending County on business and have come to pay respects to Seventh Master. One introduces himself as surnamed Wei, the heir of the Jining Marquis’s household, and the other as surnamed Wang, the fourth son of the Ting’an Marquis’s household…”

Wei Tingyu and Wang Qinghai!

Dou Zhao’s eyes widened.

Chen Qushui was also startled. Glancing at the slightly dazed Dou Zhao, he hurriedly asked, “Where are they? Don’t they know Seventh Master is in the capital?”

“We told them,” Suxin’s expression grew even stranger, “but Young Master Wei said if Seventh Master isn’t home, he’d be happy to pay respects to any elder in the household. He said he’s just here to inquire after their well-being…” Suxin, having guessed Young Master Wei’s identity, hesitated before asking, “Should we ask Aunt Cui to help receive them?”

How did he end up coming here?

She knew that if their marriage arrangement remained peaceful, that would be fine, but if any commotion arose, Wei Tingyu would likely be the first to come and watch the excitement!

“No need.” Based on her understanding of Wei Tingyu, if he couldn’t see her, he would certainly find ways to linger at the Dou residence. Rather than let Wei Tingyu cause any embarrassment later, it would be better for her to meet and dismiss him herself. Dou Zhao instructed Suxin, “Please invite the two young masters to the flower hall. I’ll change my clothes and be there shortly.”

“Is that appropriate?” Chen Qushui gently suggested, “Doesn’t the Third Master handle all household affairs? Perhaps we should ask the Third Master to come and entertain the guests.”

Regardless, this Jining Marquis’s heir could potentially become Dou Zhao’s husband. He didn’t want Dou Zhao to ruin her image in front of Wei Tingyu.

Dou Zhao understood Chen Qushui’s concerns.

She didn’t care at all.

Even if Wei Tingyu looked down on her, as long as she was willing, she had ways to marry him. And even if he valued her greatly, if she was unwilling, she could derail this marriage.

She was more confident about him than anyone else.

Wei Tingyu wasn’t a problem at all!

But she didn’t want to appear too obvious and arouse suspicion.

“Then please accompany me to meet the guests, Mr. Chen,” Dou Zhao said. “If they have no particular business, please keep them company, arrange a banquet, provide some gifts, and see them off. If they have matters to discuss, please take them to Third Uncle and let them talk with him.”

This arrangement seemed acceptable!

It was better than having Aunt Cui receive them.

The old lady might view Wei Tingyu as a potential son-in-law and become increasingly pleased, potentially marrying off Fourth Miss in a muddle—Fourth Miss’s marriage had been troubling Aunt Cui for the past two years. Just yesterday, she had approached him, asking whether it would be better for Fourth Miss to marry into the He family or the Wei family.

“If Fourth Miss doesn’t mind this old man’s humble presence, I’d be honored to accompany you,” Chen Qushui said modestly as he went with Dou Zhao to the flower hall.

Wei Tingyu and Wang Qinghai were examining the furnishings in the flower hall.

“Did you see that?” Wang Qinghai elbowed Wei Tingyu, pointing at a celadon vase holding winter jasmine on a long table. “It’s a Ru kiln piece.” He then pointed to a pair of pure white coral bonsai on the curio shelf, “They’re about two feet tall. Even the Yubao Pavilion in the capital might not have coral of such fine quality… Your in-laws are truly wealthy!”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Wei Tingyu, who had been staring at the bamboo groves outside the flower hall—recognizing purple bamboo, square bamboo, spotted bamboo, and nanmu bamboo among several unfamiliar species—turned his head at Wang Qinghai’s words. Remembering that the Dou family had sent someone to retrieve the betrothal token from his family, he said awkwardly, “We only met as children. It’s uncertain whether she even remembers me!”

Wang Qinghai teased him: “Oh my, childhood sweethearts…”

Chen Qushui, seeing these two handsome young men behaving so flippantly, felt quite disappointed and cleared his throat softly.

The two turned their heads abruptly.

They saw a thin, elderly man in a long blue cotton robe accompanying a tall young woman as they entered.

The young woman appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, with skin as white as snow, long eyebrows extending to her temples, and eyes shining like cold stars, exuding confident composure. Wei Tingyu and Wang Qinghai, accustomed to the delicate beauties of pleasure quarters, stared at her in amazement. Wang Qinghai enviously said to Wei Tingyu, “She’s so beautiful… You’ve struck gold. Hurry and marry her… Don’t you dare return that jade pendant to the Dou family…”

Wei Tingyu shuddered, snapping back to reality.

He hastily bowed to Dou Zhao, saying, “I am Wei Tingyu. We met once as children. I wonder if Miss Dou remembers me? I was passing through Zhending on business and came specially to pay a visit. Since the elders are not at home, I won’t intrude further. I’ll come another day to visit Miss Dou.” As he spoke, he began pushing Wang Qinghai towards the exit.

Both Wang Qinghai and Chen Qushui were bewildered by Wei Tingyu’s sudden behavior.

Chen Qushui glanced at Dou Zhao, whose expression remained calm.

Wang Qinghai stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.

He had no choice but to hastily bow to Dou Zhao before following Wei Tingyu out of the flower hall.

Chen Qushui, watching Wang Qinghai’s unsteady figure, was quite displeased.

“Fourth Miss, birds of a feather flock together. This Fourth Young Master Wang’s behavior is frivolous and his speech vulgar. He’s certainly not a steady and composed individual,” he said, unable to comment on Wei Tingyu and choosing to criticize Wang Qinghai instead. “It might be for the best to retrieve the betrothal token from the Wei family.”

Dou Zhao, however, was long accustomed to Wei Tingyu’s impulsiveness.

She was thinking about Wei Tingyu.

This was her first encounter with Wei Tingyu since her rebirth.

She had thought she would never see him again in this life.

Compared to the Wei Tingyu in her memory, the current one was still a youthful boy with a childish face. She found it difficult to connect him with the handsome middle-aged man she remembered.

Still immersed in the shock of their reunion, she spoke absent-mindedly: “Don’t worry, if I want to retrieve the token, I have plenty of ways to do so. But now is not the time. Let’s discuss it in a few days.”

Chen Qushui, however, felt that the matter wasn’t as simple as Dou Zhao made it out to be.

Dou Zhao seemed to harbor a unique sentiment towards Wei Tingyu… as if she was particularly tolerant and patient with him.

He had a vague sense of unease but understood that now was not the time to discuss this with Dou Zhao.

Chen Qushui chose to proceed gradually.

He smiled and said, “That’s fine. Let’s resolve the He family’s matter first. The Wei family has fewer members and should be easier to deal with than the He family.”

Dou Zhao nodded.

She thought so too.

When matters become entangled with politics, they tend to become intricate and obscure.

The Wei family, being idle nobility, lacked the qualifications and wouldn’t dare to involve themselves in such affairs.

As soon as Wei Tingyu and Wang Qinghai walked out of the Dou family’s main gate, Wang Qinghai grabbed Wei Tingyu: “You were the one who said you wanted to see what abilities the Dou family’s young miss had that made the He family willing to disregard their reputation to marry her. Yet when you saw her, you left without a word. What exactly are you trying to do? If you don’t give me an explanation today, don’t expect me to accompany you out in the future!”

Wei Tingyu looked around, seeing the Dou family’s gatekeepers chatting idly behind the door and the alley completely deserted. He then pulled Wang Qinghai forward a few steps and said in a low voice, “My sister said that if the He family is willing to help my brother-in-law obtain the position of heir apparent sooner, she would agree to return the jade pendant to the He family. The He family has already agreed… I’m not sure if this matter has been settled… My sister said she wants to see the imperial edict before giving the jade pendant to the He family…”