The Huai Tree Alley had been in chaos for several days.
Madam Wu led her daughter-in-law, Guo, to repeatedly question Dou Ming about why Wei Tingyu had invited her to visit the Daxiangguo Temple. Meanwhile, Madam Liu was taking care of the fainted Second Madam, while Cai was managing the household affairs. She directed the maids to serve tea and snacks to the silent Sixth and Seventh Lords in the study, sent a trusted nurse to check on Dou Zhao, who had locked herself in her room and refused to open the door and instructed a young servant to see if Fifth Lord had returned from the yamen. Despite being busy, Cai appeared rosy and radiant, exuding vitality.
Soon, a commotion arose at the front gate.
Cai’s nurse hurriedly announced, “Ten Madam, the master has returned!”
Cai nodded, adjusted her clothing, and quickly went to greet him.
Dou Shishu’s expression was serious, exuding an unspoken authority as he asked Cai, “How is Shou Gu?”
While Dou Shiheng and Dou Shiying could take leave to handle this matter at home, he could not neglect his official duties.
Cai’s expression darkened at his words, and she replied softly, “No one will open the door, no matter who knocks…”
Dou Shishu frowned. “This won’t do! You must persuade her to eat something. If this continues, her health will suffer.” He then inquired, “What did the matchmaker from the Wei family say?”
Dou Zhao ignored everyone. What could she do?
Cai muttered to herself but maintained a respectful demeanor as she replied, “She said that the second day of the third month is an auspicious date. Although Seventh Uncle is very upset, he hasn’t said much.”
As they spoke, they entered the main courtyard and saw Guo supporting the weary-looking Madam Wu as she emerged from the east wing.
Upon seeing Dou Shishu, Madam Wu paused slightly, then, along with Guo, stepped forward to greet him. “Why has the master returned from the yamen so early?”
Dou Shishu sighed and smiled bitterly. “I had no interest in listening to their idle chatter, so I found an excuse to come back.” He glanced at the east wing where Dou Ming was confined. “What did Ming Jie say?”
Madam Wu remained silent.
Guo and Cai exchanged knowing glances, bowed and withdrew.
Only then did Madam Wu speak softly, “She mentioned that when Duke of Jining came to apologize, she encountered him and spoke a few good words on his behalf. This time, the Dou family has been reluctant to promise a wedding date, which has made Duke anxious. He invited her to meet at Daxiangguo Temple, hoping she could gather some information. I’ve checked, and she isn’t lying; there shouldn’t be anything between them…”
Dou Shishu snorted coldly and retorted, “I think they haven’t had the chance to get involved yet!”
Madam Wu dared not respond.
Her husband despised such matters. He was disciplined and self-restrained, having no concubines or maidservants. Even when she was pregnant, he slept in the study, attended by young servants.
After venting his frustrations, Dou Shishu felt much better and said to Madam Wu, “Let’s go see Shou Gu.”
Madam Wu complied, and they headed toward Dou Zhao’s room in the west wing.
The window of the west wing moved slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Su Lan quickly turned and rushed back into the inner room, saying urgently, “Miss, Fifth Lord and Fifth Madam are coming!”
Dou Zhao hurriedly swallowed the pastry in her mouth, took a sip of water, wiped her lips with a handkerchief, and asked, “Is it just Fifth Lord and Fifth Madam?”
“Just those two,” Su Lan replied. Meanwhile, Su Xin swiftly cleared the pastries from the kang table into a nearby cabinet turned, and helped Dou Zhao adjust her clothing, placing a large pillow behind her.
Just as Dou Zhao feigned weakness and lay down, a knock sounded at the door. “Shou Gu, it’s your Fifth Aunt! Your Fifth Uncle and I have come to see you.”
Su Xin dabbed a bit of warm tea on the corner of Dou Zhao’s eyes and called out, “Coming!” signaling Su Lan to open the door.
Understanding, Su Lan welcomed Madam Wu inside.
Dou Shishu stood outside, unable to enter his niece’s inner room.
Dou Zhao was weakly getting off the kang with Su Xin’s support when Madam Wu hurried over, taking three steps at a time. “Quick, lie down! There’s no one else here.”
“Please don’t worry, Fifth Uncle and Fifth Aunt,” Dou Zhao said weakly. “I’m fine; I’ll be better in a few days.”
Madam Wu looked at her pale face and couldn’t help but shake her head inwardly.
This child had such an unfortunate fate.
Her marriage had faced numerous setbacks, and there was still no resolution.
“You say you’re fine, but you’ve become nothing but skin and bones,” Madam Wu said with concern, trying to help her sit on the kang.
Dou Shishu remained outside, and Dou Zhao couldn’t sit up. She mustered her strength to bow to Dou Shishu, but before she could speak, tears streamed down her face. “Fifth Uncle, I don’t want to marry into the Wei family. Please help me!”
Madam Wu sighed deeply.
Dou Shishu remained silent for a moment before saying, “You’re not a child anymore. There were suitors before, and if you break off the engagement with the Wei family now, it may be difficult to find another match in the future. Your Fifth Aunt has already asked Ming Jie; Duke of Jining only wanted Ming Jie to speak a few good words to your father. He was afraid your father would be annoyed, which is why he arranged to meet her outside. It’s not as others say, that they were visiting Daxiangguo Temple together. I understand your heartache, but I assure you, they won’t act like this again. I will ensure Ming Jie is well-disciplined, so you can rest easy about marrying into the Wei family…”
Dou Zhao knew this would be the response.
“Fifth Uncle, I will not marry into the Wei family,” she declared firmly, her tone resolute. “I cannot bear this shame! If the Wei family wants to marry me, they can carry my spirit tablet into their home instead.”
Dou Shishu and Madam Wu fell silent.
Far away in Duke Ying’s residence, Yizhi Hall, Song Mo sat by the window, wrapped in a sable fur coat, intently reading a piece of paper.
The early spring sunlight illuminated him, making his face appear as if carved from jade, exuding a cold elegance that captivated Du Wei, who stood before him.
“So, the wedding date for Duke of Jining is set for the second day of the third month?”
Song Mo’s clear voice echoed in the study, causing Du Wei to straighten up, quickly responding, “Yes, the Wei family has already begun renovating the new house.”
Dou Zhao had arrived in the capital last autumn, yet the Wei family only started renovations now. What had they been doing all this time?
Song Mo pursed his lips and waved his hand at Du Wei.
Du Wei bowed and exited.
Song Mo picked up the paper again, lost in thought.
Dou Zhao’s marriage was quite strange.
He had just managed to suppress the rumors about Wei Tingyu spending the night at Nanfeng Pavilion when news of the Daxiangguo Temple incident spread like wildfire. After warning Zhang Yuanming, Wei Tingyu promptly realized his mistake and personally went to Jing’an Temple Alley to apologize. After much effort, the Dou family’s stance softened, only for news to emerge that the Wei family had set their sights on the legitimate daughter of Duke of Yan.
Details about Wei Tingzhen’s visits to the Wang family, the gifts she brought, and even what the Duke’s wife wore during those visits circulated widely.
But that wasn’t the most shocking part.
The most shocking revelation came when he sent Du Wei to investigate, only to find that all the rumors were true!
The relationship between the Dou and Wei families had once again reached a freezing point.
The engagement between Dou Zhao and Wei Tingyu was once more on hold.
Then, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
Dou Ming suddenly became involved with Wei Tingyu… The Wei family was forced to bow to the Dou family and sent another matchmaker to discuss the wedding date. This time, to cover up the scandal involving Dou Ming and Wei Tingyu, the Dou family quickly agreed to the wedding date.
At this point, the strong-willed Dou Zhao would never agree to marry into the Wei family.
It felt as if invisible hands were manipulating Dou Zhao’s marriage, causing the relationship between the Dou and Wei families to deteriorate continuously, even reaching the brink of breaking off the engagement.
Who was behind this?
Why were they doing this?
Did Dou Zhao notice anything?
And what role did Ji Yong play in all of this?
Just thinking about these questions made Song Mo feel as if he were being roasted over a fire, unable to find peace for even a moment.
What was Dou Zhao doing now?
At this stage, if the Dou family truly cared for Dou Zhao, they should be breaking off the engagement instead of agreeing to some ridiculous wedding date!
Song Mo imagined Dou Zhao quietly crying in a deserted corner.
His heart felt as if it had been gouged out.
“Chen He, Chen He!” Song Mo called out loudly for his foster brother.
Chen He hurried into the study.
“Go to the Dou family’s ink shop on Gulou Street and tell them I want to see the Fourth Miss.”
Chen He was taken aback but quickly regained his composure and left.
Song Mo paced back and forth in the study, unable to articulate whether his feelings were anger or sadness.
Since the Dou family wouldn’t care for Dou Zhao, he would take it upon himself.
As long as Dou Zhao agreed, he would help her break off the engagement.
He wouldn’t be like Ji Yong, jumping around and doing unreliable things.
The rumors of the Wei family wanting to break off the engagement would continue to spread, covering up the scandal involving Dou Ming and Wei Tingyu. As long as the Dou family’s reputation remained intact, they would keep silent about the engagement cancellation, thus reducing resistance.
Then he would negotiate terms with Wei Tingzhen. Whether she wanted to secure a good position for Wei Tingyu arrange a favorable marriage, or both, there would surely be something to entice her.
If the Wei family wanted to break off the engagement and Dou Zhao refused to marry, the engagement would naturally fall through.
Song Mo thought he should inform Gu Yu, asking him to find a good position for Wei Tingyu among the royal guards at Fengtai Camp or Jinwu Wei. As for marriage, thanks to his father, he knew almost all the eligible young ladies in the capital.
It wouldn’t be difficult to arrange a match for a noble daughter with a generous dowry and good looks, even if he couldn’t marry a princess or a county princess…
The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
Meanwhile, Ji Yong stood there, looking bewildered.
When did he start feeling so differently about Dou Zhao?
He knew Dou Zhao was to marry Wei Tingyu, and he had even orchestrated for Wei Tingyu to sleep with Zhao Zhi, hoping to make Dou Zhao disdain him. He was aware of Dou Zhao’s feelings for Dou Ming and had allowed Dou Ming to have secret dealings with Wei Tingyu, intending to make Dou Zhao unable to tolerate being with Wei Tingyu…
Dou Zhao said he didn’t respect her decision.
That was because he believed Dou Zhao’s decision was wrong.
But knowing Dou Zhao was intelligent and capable, why did he doubt her decision?
Ji Yong stood there, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Meanwhile, Old Master Ji chuckled softly, stroking his beard leisurely as he exited Ji Yong’s inner chamber.