How could the young Cui Shisan compare to Chen Qushui, who had weathered life’s storms, in understanding the human heart?
Moreover, there were things Dou Zhao could tell Chen Qushui that she couldn’t tell Cui Shisan.
If Cui Shisan knew, it would be the same as her grandmother knowing.
Her previous failed engagement with the Wu family, her refusal of the He family’s proposal, and now potentially breaking off the engagement with the Wei family, especially if she initiated it… It would be too scandalous! Because if this happened, she would be considered unmarriageable. Even her usually doting and indulgent grandmother wouldn’t agree if she knew. Dou Zhao hadn’t dared to breathe a word of it to her grandmother!
Yet she didn’t want Chen Qushui to risk himself for her sake.
“There’s no rush,” Dou Zhao evaded. “We’ll discuss it later. It’s still early anyway.”
Chen Qushui naturally understood Dou Zhao’s intentions.
He spoke seriously, “Miss, are you truly planning to break off the engagement with the Wei family?”
Dou Zhao had previously told him that the engagement with the Wei family was just a temporary measure. However, he noticed that after meeting Wei Tingyu, Dou Zhao showed an unusual tolerance towards him. Given that Dou Zhao wasn’t one to blindly comply, it was clear she had a good impression of Wei Tingyu.
However, in Chen Qushui’s view, although Wei Tingyu was handsome and generous, he lacked a strong will when facing problems. He’d make a good friend, but as a husband, this was a fatal flaw. He would listen to pillow talk and change his mind at his friends’ urging. Such indecisiveness was most unsettling.
Moreover, if Dou Zhao married into the family, she might have to contribute her dowry to maintain the Marquis of Jining’s household expenses. Others would think Dou Zhao had married above her station, receiving the name but not the substance.
The fact that the Wei family’s aunt demanded Dou Zhao marry into the Jining Marquis’s household within a hundred days was proof of this!
Besides his title as Marquis, Wei Tingyu was utterly ordinary.
But in worldly affairs, as long as both parties were willing, outsiders shouldn’t interfere.
If Dou Zhao had chosen Wei Tingyu, marrying him would only result in some financial loss, which wasn’t much to her. The match could be considered suitable in terms of social status.
What was unexpected was the sudden death of the old Marquis of Jining, requiring Wei Tingyu to observe a three-year mourning period.
Although Dou Zhao had asked him to investigate the Wei family’s affairs, she remained inactive, her attitude ambiguous, leaving Chen Qushui unsure of her true thoughts.
“Of course it’s true,” Dou Zhao’s expression was serious, her gaze determined. “I wouldn’t joke about such matters.”
Chen Qushui nodded.
It was good that Dou Zhao had made up her mind; he needn’t worry about the consequences.
Even if they didn’t achieve their goal this time, with both of them working together, they could keep trying.
Besides, with half of the West Dou family’s assets backing her, and the support himself, Duan Gongyi, Chen Xiaofeng, and others, relying on the Dou family’s influence, even if she never married, her life wouldn’t necessarily be worse than marrying into the declining Jining Marquis’s household. Why bother catering to the Wei family’s whims?
If she were to marry, as long as the fault lay with the Wei family, Dou Zhao could marry an honest scholar from an ordinary family and have control over her affairs, which might not be a bad thing.
Moreover, since Dou Shiyong had no sons, keeping his eldest daughter at home to marry someone who would take the Dou name was also acceptable… Any of these paths would be better than marrying into the Jining Marquis’s household!
He couldn’t help but smile, “Miss, please wait a moment.” With that, he left the hall.
Dou Zhao curiously waited in the hall.
Soon, Chen Qushui returned.
He wore a somewhat worn felt hat, hunched his shoulders, donned a tattered cotton robe, drooped his eyes, and clasped his hands, presenting the image of a down-and-out scholar. There was no trace of his previous scholarly vigor!
Dou Zhao was speechless.
Chen Qushui straightened up, instantly becoming spirited and energetic again.
“How’s that?” he smiled. “Not bad, right? I learned this from a street performer years ago. I guarantee the people from Duke Ying’s household won’t recognize me. Even if they do, they’ll just think I’ve fallen on hard times after leaving the Duke’s household. They’d never connect it to past events.”
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but smile.
She asked Chen Qushui, “What’s your plan?”
Knowing Dou Zhao had compromised, Chen Qushui smiled, “What did Miss originally have in mind?”
Since she had entrusted this matter to Chen Qushui, she should be frank!
Dou Zhao carefully said, “Wei Tingzhen is greedy, and her attendants, Granny Jin, and Granny Lü, both have influence. The two don’t get along. If we can exploit the conflict between them and spread rumors about my and Wei Tingyu’s birth charts being incompatible, this matter will be much easier to resolve.”
“An excellent plan,” Chen Qushui smiled at Dou Zhao, nodding continuously.
They were of one mind on this matter!
“I’ll set off for the capital as soon as possible,” Chen Qushui smiled. “In a few months, the Marquis of Jining will end his mourning period. We need to plan.” With him in the capital, this matter wouldn’t spiral out of control. He paused, then said, “However, since this involves the women of the inner household, I’d like to borrow someone from you, Miss.”
Dou Zhao smiled, “You mean Suxin?”
Chen Qushui shook his head, “I’d like to borrow Hong Gu.”
Dou Zhao was slightly surprised.
Chen Qushui tactfully explained, “It’s because Hong Gu is older and can better converse with those grannies. Plus, her simple appearance makes her more believable. If the person speaking seems too clever, it might arouse suspicion.”
In other words, Hong Gu looked like a country woman, and those grannies, considering themselves superior due to their service in marquis and duke households, would be less guarded against her, making it easier to deceive them.
“But Aunt Cui…”
“Don’t worry, Miss,” Chen Qushui smiled confidently. “I’m just asking Hong Gu to pass along a few key messages, not to break off the engagement herself.”
Even if some clues were leaked and Wei Tingzhen discovered this scheme against Wei Tingyu, given her love for her brother, she would insist on breaking the engagement. By then, the fault for breaking the engagement would fall on them, but the goal would still be achieved.
Dou Zhao hesitated no longer and nodded, “Then I’ll trouble Mr. Chen.”
Chen Qushui exchanged a few polite words and then discussed some details with Dou Zhao before preparing for his journey to the capital.
A few days later, her grandmother called Dou Zhao over to talk: “Mr. Chen came by, saying he’s going to the capital in a few days to check the accounts of our shops. Knowing that the Wei family will end their mourning period in July, he wants to take Hong Gu along to pay respects to Madam Wei. This way, when the two families discuss wedding matters later, there’ll be someone to mediate. I was worried Hong Gu might be intimidated, but Mr. Chen said the Wei family, having lived in the capital for so long, has seen all sorts of people. The more honest the person, the more sincere we’ll appear. I thought Mr. Chen’s words made sense, so I agreed. See if you have any instructions for Hong Gu, and tell her later.”
Feeling guilty, Dou Zhao thanked her grandmother and only instructed Hong Gu, “Just follow Mr. Chen’s lead in everything.”
Hong Gu nodded repeatedly, took out her best Lu and Hangzhou silk clothes from the bottom of her trunk, tidied herself up, and left for the capital with Chen Qushui.
Fan Wenshu and Cui Shisan, having received word earlier, brought Tian Fugui to welcome Chen Qushui at the Chaoyang Gate.
Chen Qushui closed the door to speak with Fan Wenshu.
“So the Marquis of Yan’an’s birthday is next month?” Chen Qushui pondered.
Fan Wenshu nodded, “The Wang family has been searching everywhere for birthday gifts these days.” Having started in the antique business, he still maintained frequent contact with shop assistants, keeping him well-informed of such news.
Chen Qushui then asked, “Have you made any progress in befriending the servants of the Jing Duke’s daughter-in-law, as I asked last time?”
The Jing Duke’s daughter-in-law was the aunt of the Jining Marquis’s household. With the Fourth Miss about to marry into the Jining Marquis’s family, currying favor with the Jining Marquis’s aunt through her servants was a common tactic for savvy individuals. Fan Wenshu didn’t suspect anything and smiled, “The cook in our shop, Mama Bao, was introduced by Granny Jin, who serves the Jing Duke’s daughter-in-law.”
Chen Qushui nodded with satisfaction and said to Fan Wenshu, “Since Hong Gu rarely comes to the capital, why not have Mama Bao show her around the city?”
Fan Wenshu understood, called Mama Bao over, instructed her, and rewarded her with ten taels of silver. He then arranged a carriage with a young servant to accompany them, letting Mama Bao guide Hong Gu around the capital.
Hong Gu had never seen such excitement. Her eyes were dazzled, and she bought a pile of things: “This is for Aunt Cui, this for the Fourth Miss, these for Suxin, Sulan, Ganlu, Sujuan, and the other girls…” Mama Bao watched with envy, growing increasingly warm towards Hong Gu. When Chen Qushui prepared gifts for Hong Gu to pay respects to Madam Tian, Mama Bao volunteered to accompany Hong Gu to the Jining Marquis’s mansion.
Wei Tingyu and Gu Yu’s business was going smoothly. They had invested just a few thousand taels of silver, but the first return had already recovered their capital. Madam Tian calculated that once the four river section projects were completed, they would earn tens of thousands of taels of silver. By then, they could hold a grand wedding banquet for Wei Tingyu. Just thinking about it made her feel elated, giving her something to look forward to.
Hearing that the Dou family had sent someone to pay respects, Madam Tian was very pleased. She quickly had Hong Gu invited in. Seeing that she was a simple woman, Madam Tian liked her even more. She chatted with Hong Gu for a long while, rewarded her with a generous red envelope, and had her attendants keep Hong Gu for a meal before sending her off.
When Wei Tingzhen heard that someone from the Dou family had come to see her mother, she thought about the impending engagement and worried that her mother might have carelessly agreed to some conditions from the Dou family. She rushed over to inquire about the situation.
Madam Tian felt her daughter was being overly cautious and smiled, “They just came to the capital on business and paid a courtesy call. You’re overthinking it.” She then instructed a maid to bring in some fresh fruits.
The granny who had been sent by Madam Tian to entertain Hong Gu looked expectantly at Wei Tingzhen.
Wei Tingzhen understood and spoke privately with the granny, away from her mother.
“Madam, that granny from the Dou family was sent by Aunt Cui from the Dou family to discuss the Fourth Miss’s dowry with the Seventh Madam Dou in the capital.”
With the wedding approaching, True Peace had sent someone to the capital to discuss the dowry. Could it be that she had misjudged earlier? Was Dou Zhao a neglected weed in the Dou family?