At this moment, Wei Tingzhen felt a bit restless and did not notice the unusual expression on Old Madam Jin’s face.
A few months ago, she had taken the initiative to visit Wang Yingshu and had a conversation with her. Since then, she had sent a maid to deliver gifts, and the next day, she sent another maid with something else. During the Dragon Boat Festival, she even invited Wang Yingshu to go for a spring outing at the Sansheng Temple. Wang Yingshu had returned the favor with great thoughtfulness, and when they went out together, she was quite generous. It was during this outing that Wei Tingzhen subtly expressed her desire to break off the engagement, but to her surprise, Wang Yingshu pretended not to understand and completely ignored her hints.
Anxious, Wei Tingzhen had Old Madam Jin approach Hu Mama, who served Wang Yingshu closely, hoping to convey her message through her.
Hu Mama replied that Wang Yingshu was currently preoccupied with her own family’s marriage matters and had neither the time nor the energy to deal with Dou Zhao’s situation.
Wei Tingzhen immediately promised that if this matter succeeded, she would ensure Dou Ming was introduced to a good match.
However, Hu Mama merely smiled in response.
Wei Tingzhen understood that Wang Yingshu was not going to act until she saw results.
She had no choice but to carefully consider Dou Ming’s marriage prospects.
Logically speaking, both the Dou and Wang families were prominent households. Although Dou Ming was born of a concubine, Wang Yingshu was the legitimate daughter, albeit a somewhat forced one. While it might be difficult to arrange a marriage with the eldest sons of prestigious families, securing a match with the second or youngest sons of ordinary official families should not be too challenging. Did Wang Yingshu want her daughter to become a concubine?
Wei Tingzhen sent someone to inquire about Dou Ming’s marriage prospects.
She soon discovered that since Wang Yingshu had arrived in the capital, she rarely went out for social engagements and had not made any close acquaintances. As a result, Wei Tingzhen found it difficult to gather information about the Dou family.
Doubts began to creep into her mind.
Old Madam Jin remarked, “How can the Dou family be compared to the likes of the Jining Marquisate or the Jingguo Duke’s residence? It’s only natural that Madam doesn’t know anyone familiar with them. Why don’t I help you find out? I know someone who works at the Dou family’s shop.”
In large households, many matters were kept from the lower ranks.
Wei Tingzhen readily agreed.
Old Madam Jin went to Dou Zhao’s ink shop and found a maid working at the stove.
The maid was not very clear about the affairs on the other side of Jing’an Temple Alley. “All our shop’s accounts have to be reported to Zhen Ding. The Seventh Master has never taken money from our shop. Occasionally, he sends a servant to buy some paper or ink, and they always pay the full price.” As she spoke, she remembered Chen Qu Shui and eagerly added, “How about you meet our shop’s accountant? He just came from Zhen Ding to check the accounts…
Although he seems quite amiable, he must be very shrewd; otherwise, our shop’s head and second managers wouldn’t be intimidated by him. Or you could ask Hong Gu; I’ve heard she grew up watching the Fourth Miss of the Dou family. She’s just a country woman who hasn’t seen much of the world, but,” she lowered her voice, “when I went out with her, she bought trinkets worth three or four taels of silver without haggling at all… She must have some standing in the Dou family.”
Old Madam Jin nodded repeatedly.
The maid pretended to call Old Madam Jin “sister” and prepared a few dishes to entertain her, inviting Hong Gu to join them.
After a jar of Jinhua wine was consumed, Hong Gu, with a flushed face, became more talkative. When she spoke of the Fourth Miss, tears welled in her eyes as she recounted how she lost her mother at a young age, how she grew up with the Ji family, how charming and capable she was… She poured out everything like a bamboo tube spilling beans, and in the end, she gifted two Nie family handkerchiefs to Old Madam Jin as a token of their meeting.
Old Madam Jin left feeling satisfied.
Hong Gu hurried back to her room and poured two cups of cool tea, then went to Chen Qu Shui. “Can I say it like this?”
“Of course! Why wouldn’t it work?” Chen Qu Shui replied with a smile. “Old Madam Jin came to inquire about the Fourth Miss, most likely at the behest of the Jining Marquisate’s lady. If you say it this way, the lady of the Jining Marquisate will surely feel both pity and love for our young lady.”
Hong Gu nodded repeatedly. “That’s what I thought too. So I told her how considerate, kind, and capable our young lady is.” She chuckled, “It turns out that the noble families in the capital are just like us in Zhen Ding; they quietly inquire about a girl’s looks and character!”
Chen Qu Shui smiled and nodded. “So don’t think that these people in the capital are superhuman—they’re just like us.” However, he thought to himself that it was better to discreetly inquire before a marriage was arranged. Someone like Wei Tingzhen was clearly up to no good!
Hong Gu felt relieved and even considered whether she should give Old Madam Jin the autumn-colored silk she had bought from the neighboring shop a few days ago.
Meanwhile, Old Madam Jin relayed her findings to Wei Tingzhen, transforming the information into how Wang Yingshu had forced Dou Zhao’s mother to her death, yet after Wang Xingyi’s reinstatement, she was still recognized as the legitimate wife. She explained how Dou Zhao was sent to be raised by the sixth wife of the Dou family, living under someone else’s roof, and how she had won the favor of her elders: “…It’s clear she’s quite cunning. I said, how could the Dou family matriarch support her?”
Just thinking about her own experiences in the Dou family made Old Madam Jin furious, wishing for Dou Zhao to be rejected by the Wei family.
Wei Tingzhen frowned upon hearing this. “It seems this Wang is not easy to deal with!”
“Isn’t that even better?” Old Madam Jin replied with a smile. “If she lacks the ability, she might not be able to fulfill your request! This is no small matter.”
“Indeed!” Wei Tingzhen agreed. “But Dou Ming’s marriage will likely require careful planning!”
She had only been speaking casually before.
Old Madam Jin smiled. “Wang is afraid we won’t keep our word, but aren’t we afraid that Wang won’t keep her promises? Isn’t the second lady’s brother looking for a match? If you let it be known that you want to secure a good match for him, won’t Wang be moved? When the time comes, you can choose whoever you like!”
The second lady she referred to was the wife of Zhang Jiming, the second master of the Jingguo Duke’s residence.
Zhang Jiming was the eldest son of the Longxing Marquis, Shi Ruolan, and his father held the position of deputy in the Divine Machine Camp. He also had a maternal uncle who had become a prince through marriage, and since the Shi family had not divided their estate, Shi’s brother could be considered a good match.
Wei Tingzhen nodded with a smile.
Wang Yingshu, on the other hand, was in a state of panic.
She had long been stripped of her authority to manage the household, so how could she possibly disrupt Dou Zhao’s engagement?
Her previous silence was merely due to her inability to act; as for Dou Ming’s marriage, she had treated it as a last-ditch effort. She never expected Wei Tingzhen would help Dou Ming find a suitable match.
Such opportunities were fleeting.
“What should we do? What should we do?” she exclaimed, her face filled with urgency. “We’ve said it, and now Wei Tingzhen has acted. Now it’s our turn to deliver… If there’s still no news, not only will this matter fall through, but I’m afraid Wei Tingzhen will also suspect me. Wei Tingyu has been in mourning for three years, and Dou Zhao has waited for him for three years. Now that the wedding is approaching, Wei Tingzhen wants to break the engagement. This shows how cruel this person is!” She paused, “To be honest, I hope this marriage goes through—having such a sister-in-law, Dou Zhao would probably have to sleep with one eye open.”
Wang Yingshu let out a cold laugh.
Hu Mama couldn’t help but say, “Then let’s not worry about this matter…”
Wang Yingshu had no standing in the Dou family; no one listened to her, and they simply couldn’t fulfill Wei Tingzhen’s demands.
“How can we do that?” Wang Yingshu replied. “If Wei Tingzhen finds out, she will think we’re playing with her. With her temperament, she won’t let it go easily. If she publicly criticizes me or says something about Ming Jie, it will make Ming Jie’s marriage even more difficult!”
She couldn’t help but regret agreeing to Wei Tingzhen’s conditions in the first place. Yet, deep down, she understood that the temptation to have Dou Zhao break off the engagement and suffer a major setback was too great for her to refuse.
“Now we can only find a way to stall,” Wang Yingshu murmured. “Let’s see if there’s any change…” She instructed Hu Mama, “If Wei Tingzhen asks, just say that the Seventh Master doesn’t agree and that it would bring shame to the Dou family. Tell her not to rush, and I’ll think of other ways.”
Hu Mama nodded and conveyed the message to Wei Tingzhen through Old Madam Jin.
Wei Tingzhen waited for two months, feeling reassured, but there was still no news from Jing’an Temple Alley, while Wei Tingyu had already completed his mourning rites.
At that time, the Yan’an Marquis’s wife also attended the memorial service.
She looked at the handsome and tall Wei Tingyu and remarked to Wei Tingzhen, “Your family is about to celebrate a wedding, right? We’re still unsure where our Qingyuan will end up.”
The speaker was oblivious, but the listener was attentive.
Wang Qingyuan was not young anymore; a few years ago, the Yan’an Marquis’s wife had worried that her daughter would suffer if she married too early, but now she was eager to find a match.
Wei Tingzhen could no longer sit still and urged Old Madam Jin to find Hu Mama.
Wang Yingshu could only respond ambiguously to Wei Tingzhen, “I can only encourage the Seventh Master from the sidelines. If Madam has any good ideas, please teach me!”
Wei Tingzhen was momentarily taken aback and asked Old Madam Jin for advice.
But if even Wei Tingzhen was at a loss, what could Old Madam Jin do?
This conversation was noted by Old Madam Lü.
Coincidentally, Hong Gu had sent two pieces of red summer cloth to Old Madam Jin from the kitchen.
Old Madam Lü’s mind sparked with an idea, and she took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with the maid from the kitchen.
A couple of days later, she brought a jar of Jinhua wine to the Dou family’s ink shop, claiming she was there to visit the maid working at the stove.
Hong Gu, having received guidance from Chen Qu Shui, warmly welcomed Old Madam Lü.
After a few rounds of drinks, someone outside called for Hong Gu, and she had to apologize to Old Madam Lü with a smile, instructing the maid to take good care of her while she went to the shop.
Before long, Chen Qu Shui arrived and saw Old Madam Lü drinking with the maid. “Where’s Hong Gu? Why hasn’t she shown up after such a long wait?”
The maid quickly stood up. “Hong Gu just went out.” Fearing Chen Qu Shui would blame her for setting up a private banquet in the kitchen, she introduced Old Madam Lü to him. “This is the personal maid of the Jinguo Duke’s wife, here to see Hong Gu.” She then pointed to Chen Qu Shui. “This is our accountant from Zhen Ding, here to check the accounts.”
Old Madam Lü smiled and bowed, showing no fear.
Chen Qu Shui responded with an “oh” and turned to leave.
After a short while, Hong Gu returned, her expression serious as she pulled Old Madam Lü aside in the kitchen to speak quietly. “Do you know the birth date and time of the Jining Marquis?”
Old Madam Lü was taken aback and shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Hong Gu said solemnly, “Can you help us find out?” As she spoke, she slipped a pouch into Old Madam Lü’s hand.
Old Madam Lü felt the weight of it and, based on her experience, estimated it contained at least ten taels.
Her heart sank, but she didn’t show it on her face. She smiled and said, “At least give me some background so I know how to proceed!”
Hong Gu hesitated for a moment before whispering, “Mr. Chen, the accountant you just met, said he knows a Taoist master from Longhu Mountain who could read the Jining Marquis’s fortune.”