When Wei Tingzhen’s family arrived at the Duke of Jining’s mansion, Ji Yong and Dou Wenchang were already there.

Seeing the Dou family’s carriage, Wei Tingzhen couldn’t help but feel puzzled. “Why are the Dous here so early?”

According to custom, the Dou family should have waited for the Wei family to invite them three or four times before reluctantly coming over. By then, the bride would have usually opened her dowry chest and presented gifts to her in-laws. It was barely dawn, and the newlyweds hadn’t even begun to worship the Kitchen God. The Dous had indeed arrived quite early.

The maid who came to inform Wei Tingzhen didn’t dare say much. Her mumbling made it difficult to understand what she was saying. Zhang Yuanming, however, laughed and said, “If they come late, you complain they’re not respectful enough. If they come early, you complain they’re not reserved enough. You’re hard to please!” This made Wei Tingzhen chuckle, and she playfully punched her husband. “You never have anything nice to say.” The frustration that had been building up in her heart due to her brother marrying a sister-in-law she disapproved of suddenly dissipated. Her face lit up with a smile, and she appeared much more spirited.

The steward who had received the news had been waiting respectfully for some time. He invited Zhang Yuanming to accompany the male guests from the Dou family who had come to meet the relatives. The maid led Wei Tingzhen and the children to the west wing where Madam Tian, the widow, resided.

Soon after, faint sounds of commotion could be heard from the west wing.

Zhang Yuanming, sitting in the reception hall, was bewildered. He couldn’t imagine what could cause such a disturbance so early in the morning, especially on his brother-in-law’s wedding day.

Dou Wenchang and Ji Yong, sitting opposite Zhang Yuanming, understood what was happening.

The truth had come to light.

Fortunately, one was known for his composure, and the other for his quick wit. They maintained their poker faces and continued to make small talk with Zhang Yuanming.

Zhang Yuanming, of course, had to pretend he hadn’t heard anything. He smiled and changed the subject to the recent court discussions about the Dao clan’s rebellion in the Menglian Pacification Commission of Yunnan. “…Thanks to Lord Wang, otherwise the people of Yunnan would have suffered from another war.”

The “Lord Wang” he referred to was Wang Xingyi, who was both a relative by marriage to the Dou family and the nominal maternal grandfather of the bride.

This man, who appeared dull, was quite clever.

As Ji Yong listened to Dou Wenchang and Zhang Yuanming exchange pleasantries, he mused to himself. Just then, he saw a young servant hurriedly approach Zhang Yuanming and whisper something in his ear. Zhang Yuanming was stunned, taking a moment to regain his composure. When he looked at Dou Wenchang and Ji Yong again, his expression became somewhat strange.

Dou Wenchang couldn’t help but feel guilty, and his speech became less fluent than before. Ji Yong, on the other hand, smiled even more cheerfully, discussing Yunnan’s local customs with Zhang Yuanming. This left Zhang Yuanming at a loss for words, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

Outside, a commotion accompanied by chaotic footsteps grew louder, approaching rapidly. It was clear that Wei Tingzhen had learned the truth and was coming to confront the Dou family!

It seemed that a war of words was inevitable!

The Fifth Madam had instructed Dou Wenchang to prevent the Wei family from sending Dou Ming back at all costs. However, Dou Wenchang had never done something as shameless as forcing someone into another family’s home, and it went against his nature. Feeling ashamed, he became nervous.

Being her husband, Zhang Yuanming immediately recognized Wei Tingzhen’s voice in the commotion.

He couldn’t help but frown.

What could be so urgent that it needed to be dealt with at this moment?

Whether right or wrong, it would only make them a laughingstock!

Disregarding the presence of the Dou family members, he instructed his servant, “Go tell your mistress that it’s getting late. Ask her to hurry and have the bride worship the Kitchen God and pay respects to the ancestors. Then I can properly drink a few cups with Uncle Dou.”

He was hinting for her to wait until the Dou family had left before discussing any issues.

The servant acknowledged and left.

Ji Yong’s eyes lit up, surprised that Zhang Yuanming was someone who knew how to consider the bigger picture.

However, people who consider the bigger picture often tend to compromise.

Before the servant could reach the door, the bamboo curtain, which wouldn’t be taken down and stored until after the Mid-Autumn Festival, was flung open with a loud “clang.” Wei Tingzhen stormed in, leading several of her maids, her demeanor fierce.

“What drinks? What Kitchen does God worship? These lowlifes from the Dou family don’t deserve it!” She immediately started berating Dou Wenchang and Ji Yong. “Are your Dou family daughters so unwanted that you have to force them into our family? A sister marrying in place of another, how despicable! And you call yourselves a family of etiquette and literature? I’d say you’re no better than those who sell their bodies on the streets!

Don’t think you can bully us just because the Wei family has few members! When our ancestors were conquering lands and building the empire with Emperor Taizong, who knows where your family was, eating chaff and tending to other people’s cattle and horses! You’re not qualified to manipulate our Wei family! Let me tell you,” she said, waving the marriage contract in her hand, “if you don’t bring your Fourth Miss here, our Wei family won’t let this matter rest!”

The implication was clear: with the marriage contract in hand, if pushed to the extreme, they could take it to court. The Wei family wasn’t to be trifled with.

Zhang Yuanming listened with his eyes wide and mouth agape. After a moment, he reacted and quickly pulled aside one of the maids who had entered with Wei Tingzhen to inquire. The maid dared not conceal anything and told Zhang Yuanming about Dou Ming marrying in place of Dou Zhao.

Despite the cool autumn weather, Zhang Yuanming was drenched in sweat.

If the Dou family’s Fifth Miss had already consummated the marriage with Wei Tingyu, how could they still marry the Fourth Miss into the family?

Moreover, since Wei Tingyu and the Dou family’s Fifth Miss had already bowed to Heaven and Earth, even if they could annul the marriage, Wei Tingyu would be branded as heartless and unfaithful. After that, which decent family would dare to marry into the Duke of Jining’s household? It would be better to accept this marriage and let the Dou family owe the Wei family a favor, which could be used as leverage in future negotiations. Besides, the Dou family’s Fifth Miss was the legitimate granddaughter of Wang Xingyi, surely better than the Fourth Miss who was a fake granddaughter. Perhaps the Wei family could even gain the Wang family’s support in the future!

He quickly stopped Wei Tingzhen, “Be careful, don’t let everyone know about this…”

“Let them know! Let everyone see what kind of people the Dou family are!” Wei Tingzhen was furious.

How dare the Dou family humiliate the Wei family like this!

She was determined to teach the Dou family a lesson! Not only would she send the Dou family’s Fifth Miss back, making the Dou family suffer a loss, but she would also force them to marry the Fourth Miss into their family. After tormenting her enough, she would then divorce her, making the Dou family lose both face and fortune, becoming the laughingstock of Beijing!

Ji Yong, being a man of many thoughts, easily saw through Wei Tingzhen’s petty schemes.

Seeing Dou Wenchang trembling with anger, Ji Yong inwardly despised him a little. He then calmly said, “Then let’s meet at the Shuntian Prefecture court!”

Wei Tingzhen, seeing his nonchalant attitude, became even more enraged. She sneered, “Don’t think that just because your family has produced a cabinet minister, you own the government offices. What do you think the imperial censors are for? The Shuntian Prefecture court, you say? Fine, let’s meet there! Don’t blame us for not showing any mercy when the time comes!”

Ji Yong glanced at Wei Tingzhen contemptuously and said, “If I’m not mistaken, madam, you’re the daughter-in-law of Duke Jing’s household, aren’t you? When did you leave Duke Jing’s mansion and return to your maiden home? Otherwise, why do you keep saying ‘our Wei family’?”

“You…” Wei Tingzhen was so angry she nearly fainted.

Zhang Yuanming quickly grabbed Wei Tingzhen.

“Wait!” he said in a low voice. “Look at their demeanor. The Dou family must have come prepared. We need to think this through carefully!”

Wei Tingzhen was taken aback.

Zhang Yuanming stepped forward, smiling as he bowed to Dou Wenchang and Ji Yong. “My wife is just confused in her haste. However, the fact that your Dou family has committed marriage fraud is undeniable…”

“If that’s the case, why didn’t the Duke of Jining send the girl back to the Dou family when he lifted the veil? How could the Dou family’s Fifth Miss, a sheltered young lady who never leaves her boudoir, have the audacity to marry in her sister’s place without the knowledge of the Dou family elders?” Ji Yong said disdainfully. “I heard that some days ago, the Duke of Jining arranged a secret meeting with the Dou family’s Fifth Miss at the Daxiangguo Temple. When the Dou family’s Fifth Madam discovered this, the Dou family wanted to cancel the engagement.

It was your Wei family who refused, forcing the Dou family to reluctantly set a wedding date. I wonder which family is committing marriage fraud here. How is it that the Duke of Jining, who had met his wife’s younger sister, still entered the bridal chamber with her? The double morning congratulations haven’t even happened yet, and the Duke of Jining is nowhere to be seen, but the Wei family’s married-out eldest miss is already causing a scene. You even talk about having the Dou family send over the Fourth Miss. Does the Duke of Jining want to emulate Emperor Shun, with E Huang and Nü Ying serving one husband? That would depend on whether His Grace can command such respect!”

Who could match Ji Yong’s eloquence?

Zhang Yuanming was sweating profusely as he listened.

Dou Wenchang also came to his senses and quickly said, “Indeed! None of our family elders knew about Ming’er substituting for her sister beforehand. We only discovered it when she was bidding farewell to her parents. Everyone in the wedding hall was bewildered, and Seventh Uncle’s face turned ashen as he tried to stop Ming’er. But your Wei family’s attendants pulled Ming’er away, and by the time the news reached the outer courtyard, your bridal sedan had already traveled several alleys. If you don’t believe us, you can ask the people who came to escort the bride! Because of this incident, Seventh Uncle and the old lady from the Wang family fell ill with anger. Several aunts didn’t sleep all night and sent us here at dawn to get to the bottom of this matter!”

“Nonsense! Twisting the facts!” Wei Tingzhen was trembling with anger. “Your family elders didn’t know? Who did the Fifth Miss’s hair? Who dressed her in the wedding gown? Who…”

Why dwell on these trivial details now?

They needed to figure out what the Dou family’s intentions were and how the Wei family should respond.

Zhang Yuanming firmly held Wei Tingzhen back, interrupting his wife’s words. “Lord Ji has a silver tongue, but facts speak louder than eloquence…”

Before he could finish, a young maid ran in, her face filled with terror.

“It’s terrible! The bride has hanged herself!”

“Ah!” Zhang Yuanming and the others were stunned. All voices ceased, and the reception hall fell into dead silence.

Only Ji Yong’s eyes flickered slightly as he thought to himself: This Dou Ming finally shows some merit!

He coldly said, “I think we should follow the advice of Duke Jing’s daughter-in-law and meet at the Shuntian Prefecture court!” breaking the silence in the room.

Dou Wenchang glanced at Ji Yong, then pushed the maid who had come to report and urgently asked, “Where is the bride? Quick, take me to her!”

The young maid responded with an “Oh” and hurriedly led Dou Wenchang out of the reception hall.

Zhang Yuanming finally came to his senses and anxiously said, “Saving her life is the priority!”

He then followed Dou Wenchang out of the reception hall.

Wei Tingzhen’s face turned pale, and she glared fiercely at Ji Yong.

Ji Yong, however, smiled contemptuously and walked out unhurriedly.