Dou Zhao couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.
She never expected that, even to this day, Wang Yingxue would still have such audacity! In the past, she had underestimated her.
She asked Chen Qushui, “If the Seventh Madam wants Dou Ming to marry into the Jining Marquisate on my behalf, what would she do?”
“Is that even possible?” Chen Qushui was extremely shocked, his mouth agape for a long time.
“There’s nothing in this world that can’t be done, only things that haven’t been thought of,” Dou Zhao replied, her expression somewhat indifferent. “Just investigate as I instructed; you should find something.”
Although Chen Qushui found it hard to believe, he trusted Dou Zhao and didn’t ask further. He took the account book and left Huai Tree Alley.
Dou Zhao stared blankly at the lush old locust tree outside the window, lost in thought for a long time before regaining her senses.
Perhaps it was because she now had a clear direction, but within just two days, news quickly came from Chen Qushui.
Her father had no idea that Huai Tree Alley had helped her break off the engagement with the Wei family. However, due to the repeated delays and changes in the wedding date, her dowry had long been prepared, and no one had arranged for her to leave the house. During this time, Wang Yingxue not only assigned her maids and servants to work in the kitchen and main courtyard but also frequently assisted Dou Ming in acquiring clothing and jewelry, claiming it was because Dou Ming had reached the age of marriage and needed to maintain her appearance when going out. Yet, the sheer quantity and exquisite craftsmanship of those garments and accessories were so extravagant that even her father found them excessive and scolded Wang Yingxue for it. Instead of being more restrained than she had been in the past, Wang Yingxue had a fierce argument with her father, accusing him of being harsh on Dou Ming.
Her father had always been generous with money, and with the recent summons to the palace for lectures, he was too annoyed by her incessant complaints to deal with her, opting to shut himself away. Although Gao Sheng was loyal and capable, he was merely the household manager and couldn’t intervene. Wang Yingxue was lavishly spending money, and the household was filled with people from silver shops and renowned silk merchants in the capital. While Dou Ming’s marriage was still uncertain, people in the capital were already speculating about the size of the dowry for the Fifth Miss of the Dou family.
Meanwhile, Fifth Aunt had visited Yuqiao Alley the day after Ren Ge’er’s birthday. She didn’t go to see Ji Yong’s mother or her mother but instead visited Ji Yong’s great-grandfather.
After leaving Yuqiao Alley, she immediately went to Zhimahu Alley and had a long private discussion with Madam Cai, returning home only after having dinner at the Cai residence.
Dou Zhao fell into deep thought.
It seemed that Huai Tree Alley had already made up its mind to have Dou Ming marry into the Jining Marquisate on her behalf—this would not only dissolve her engagement with the Wei family but also strike a blow against them, while conveniently placing the blame on Wang Yingxue. Such a great opportunity was not one-Fifth Aunt would let slip away!
Having Dou Ming marry in her place was not difficult; the challenge lay in what would happen afterward.
Dou Ming was unaware of the consequences, but Wang Yingxue could not possibly be ignorant.
In her previous life, she had been the legitimate Seventh Madam of the Dou family, with a powerful father who was a cabinet minister. She had the confidence to bear the consequences of a marriage exchange. In this life, however, she was struggling to take care of herself; why should she let Dou Ming marry in her stead?
Suddenly, Dou Zhao recalled what Su Lan had said to her that day.
“I sent the marquis to the Chuihua Gate. Just as I was hesitating whether to check if the lunch was ready in the kitchen, I saw the marquis returning with a servant. I quickly hid behind a tree, and when they had gone far, I sent a little maid to follow them. The maid reported that the marquis had entered the Fifth Miss’s courtyard with that servant.”
Was there something else she didn’t know?
Dou Zhao clenched her fists tightly.
In her previous life, when she learned that Wang Yingxue wanted Dou Ming to replace her and marry Wei Tingyu, that feeling of loneliness and helplessness washed over her again.
Since you all want to marry in my place, then let it be!
I want to see how Dou Ming can endure the hardships I once faced! How will you, Wang Yingxue, clean up this mess?! And why should Huai Tree Alley force me to marry into the Ji family?!
Resolute, Dou Zhao took a deep breath and instructed Su Xin, “Please ask Mr. Chen if he has found out where that money went. If it’s truly untraceable, then ask the Dou family’s chief steward to help investigate!”
This was an agreement between Dou Zhao and Chen Qushui.
If she needed anything from Chen Qushui, he would use this as an excuse to visit her.
Su Xin complied and left.
In the afternoon, Chen Qushui came over.
Dou Zhao whispered, “Can you get in touch with Mr. Yan?”
Chen Qushui was somewhat surprised.
Dou Zhao continued, “I want Mr. Yan to help me arrange for a family to leave Beizhili. I’m not sure which place he is most familiar with.”
Chen Qushui’s expression changed, and he said seriously, “Miss, what do you mean by this…?”
Dou Zhao intended to discuss this matter with him, so she naturally wouldn’t hide it. She lowered her voice and said, “You know how formidable Song Yantang is. I initially thought he owed us a favor, and it would be best to keep that favor for a critical moment. But now it seems that it can’t be retained—although Wang Yingxue’s plan is full of flaws if Huai Tree Alley and the Ji family join forces to mediate for her, she might just succeed. If that happens, it would be ideal. But what if she fails? Don’t forget, my aunt will come to the capital to send me off when the time comes.”
“We can’t rely entirely on others for such a big matter.”
“Therefore, we need to have a backup plan.”
“If Wang Yingxue’s plan succeeds when the Dou and Ji families discuss the marriage, I will have an excuse not to marry—Wang Yingxue has let Dou Ming replace me to marry into the Wei family, and if Huai Tree Alley doesn’t intervene, what right do they have to meddle in my marriage? I have my ways to convince my father to agree to let me stay at home, and then we can return to Zhen Ding.”
“If Wang Yingxue’s plan is exposed, in a desperate situation, the Dou family might force me to marry into the Wei family. At that point, we would have to fight to the death. We’ll have the guards protect me, and then we can negotiate with the Dou family, forcing them to agree that I will never marry again.”
At this point, Dou Zhao couldn’t help but feel a bit wistful.
If things reached that point, she would have torn her relationship with the Dou family, and it would likely take a lot of effort and cost to mend her ties with them. After all, half of the Western Dou family’s assets were allocated to her as dowry, and the Eastern Dou family had every reason to manage that half of the assets until she married.
What she now called freedom was merely an illusion, like flowers in water or the moon in a mirror, and it couldn’t be taken seriously.
Chen Qushui understood the implications.
He asked, “What are your plans?”
Dou Zhao replied, “I plan to have the coachman from Huai Tree Alley testify that the reason the Dou family is allowing Dou Ming to marry into the Jining Marquisate is that the Dou family has already agreed with the Ji family that once Dou Ming is married, the Dou family will formally ally with the Ji family, and then present Ji Jianming’s marriage certificate as evidence.”
No wonder the young lady wanted Yan Chaoqing to help arrange for a family.
If the coachman came forward to testify for Dou Zhao, it was uncertain whether he could stay in the Dou family, let alone whether he could survive.
Chen Qushui was moved. “How did you persuade that coachman? How did you obtain Ji Jian’s marriage certificate?” He then felt that Huai Tree Alley was acting somewhat recklessly. “…You haven’t broken off your engagement with the Wei family yet, and they dare to accept Ji Jianming’s marriage certificate?”
Dou Zhao smiled slightly and said, “I’m afraid we’ll need to trouble Mr. Chen to figure out Ji Jianming’s birth date. As for the handwriting of the Ji family’s old master, I once saw it in a book belonging to my cousin Ji. The old man wrote in the official script; although his handwriting is elegant and beautiful, it’s not difficult to imitate.”
Chen Qushui was astonished and exclaimed, “Then that coachman…”
“Of course, I’ll make him say whatever I want him to say!” Dou Zhao said nonchalantly. “As long as he speaks the truth, it doesn’t matter whether he overheard the conversation between Fifth Aunt and Madam Cai by chance.”
Chen Qushui wiped the sweat from his forehead.
After leaving Huai Tree Alley, the next day, he visited Yan Chaoqing.
Upon hearing that Dou Zhao wanted him to help arrange for a family, he didn’t ask anything but said, “Is it someone from Beizhili? Can they be arranged in Tianjin? If it’s too far, the accents and living habits will differ, making it easier to be discovered. Tianjin is relatively close to the capital, so if anything happens, we can handle it promptly.”
As someone who worked as an aide, Chen Qushui understood his implied meaning and quickly said, “Our young lady has no other intentions; it’s just that this person has helped her before, so she wants to protect this family.”
Yan Chaoqing smiled and said, “I understand. I will arrange for them properly.”
Chen Qushui thanked him repeatedly, agreed on a way to stay in touch, and took his leave.
Yan Chaoqing’s attendant asked, “Sir, should we inform the Young Master about this matter?”
“No need,” Yan Chaoqing replied. “The Young Master is accompanying the Emperor to the summer palace. There’s no need to disturb him for such a trivial matter. Besides… I still owe that person a favor!”
The attendant nodded with a smile.
Yan Chaoqing closed his eyes in silence, pondering whom to ask for help in arranging the household registration for that family.
Dou Zhao quietly awaited the unfolding drama.
A few days later, Guo Shi quietly informed her, “Mother has selected a few more dates from those suggested by Seventh Uncle, and invited Madam Cai over, saying that the Wei family must choose one of these dates to marry or immediately break off the engagement. Otherwise, she will have to ask the Yan’an Marquis’s wife what she means by this. Knowing that the Wei and Dou families have an engagement, why is she still trying to push the Wei family to marry? If that’s the case, why didn’t she act sooner?”
“This time, the Wei family will not dare to do anything bad again. Don’t worry about Ming Jie’s situation. Once she marries, she should live well with the Jining Marquis.”
They treated everything Dou Zhao had done previously as a farce.
Perhaps that was the sentiment of many people.
Dou Zhao merely smiled and remained silent.
The Yan’an Marquis’s wife was also quite strong-willed; if she heard this, she would likely be furious.
The Wei and Wang families could be said to be friends through thick and thin. The Wang family had never neglected the Wei family during their most difficult times. If Madam Cai were to ask such a question, it would likely lead to a complete break between the Wei and Wang families.
Wei Tingyu, Tian Shi, and even Wei Tingzhen would certainly not want to see such a situation arise.
Dou Zhao asked Su Xin, “Is that coachman willing to testify?”
Su Xin smiled and replied, “On one side is a debt of gambling, and on the other is a chance to start anew. He’s a clever man and naturally knows which option to choose!”
Dou Zhao nodded.