At that moment, Ma Jun’s wife was sweating profusely in the inner chamber of Duke Jining’s main residence. She never imagined Dou Ming would attempt to hang herself.
If anything happened to the Fifth Young Lady under her care, how could she explain it to the Second Madam and Fifth Madam?
Looking at Dou Ming, who had regained consciousness but appeared dazed and lifeless, Ma Jun’s wife grew fearful. Pale-faced, she shouted urgently at the group of panicked maids and servants around her, “Why are you all standing here like fools? Go check why the doctor hasn’t arrived yet! If anything happens to the Young Lady, none of you will live to see another day!”
A maid responded with a quick “Oh” and hurried out of the inner chamber.
Suddenly, Dou Ming blinked, and her eyes gradually regained some life.
Ma Jun’s wife felt both shocked and relieved. She leaned forward, calling out “Fifth Young Lady” with a voice tinged with choked emotion.
Dou Ming sat up. Ma Jun’s wife quickly grabbed a large pillow and placed it behind Dou Ming’s back.
However, Dou Ming threw off the blanket and, slipping on her shoes, attempted to stand.
“My dear Young Lady,” Ma Jun’s wife said softly, her voice filled with pleading, “You’re still weak. If you need anything, just tell this servant. There’s no need for you to exert yourself…”
Wordlessly, Dou Ming pushed Ma Jun’s wife aside and, wobbling in her shoes, walked towards the door.
“Fifth Young Lady, Fifth Young Lady…” Ma Jun’s wife anxiously followed behind Dou Ming, wanting to persuade her to return to bed. Seeing Dou Ming’s determined expression that seemed to say, “No one can stop me,” and hearing the arguments outside, she remembered the Fifth Madam’s hint before leaving. Her steps faltered, allowing Dou Ming to lift the curtain and exit.
Dou Ming looked at Dou Wenxiang, whose eyes were filled with grief and anger, and hesitated slightly. However, from the corner of her eye, she noticed Ji Yong sitting casually in the corner, drinking tea. She gritted her teeth in hatred.
What was he doing here? A spectator who didn’t fear the height of the stage! One day, she would make him pay!
She shouted “Stop arguing!” at Wei Tingzhen, who had been talking incessantly.
Everyone suddenly realized that Dou Ming had left the inner chamber and was now leaning weakly against the doorframe, tears in her eyes.
As if cut by a knife, all voices inside and outside the room fell silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
“Please stop arguing!” Dou Ming said, breathing lightly, looking so frail that a gust of wind might knock her over. Tears streamed down her face. “Please, stop. Last night, the Duke was drunk. I only took care of him through the night. Nothing happened! It was my idea for my sister to marry in my place. Whatever consequences there are, I’ll bear them myself!” She turned her gaze to Dou Wenxiang. “Elder Cousin, I’ve disgraced the Dou family and you. It’s my fault. Please don’t argue with the Wei family on my behalf. Let them do as they wish with me, whether it’s to kill me or punish me!” She looked at Wei Tingzhen, her almond eyes as cold as centuries-old ice, piercing to the bone.
Wei Tingzhen was stunned.
Wei Tingyu’s eyes widened, and he stood up abruptly.
“One must face the consequences of their actions!” Dou Ming said with a cold smile, her lips curled in contempt. “What do you want to do? Just say it. There’s no need to humiliate our Dou family here!”
Zhang Yuanming, considering that Dou Ming’s attempted suicide might make the Dou family’s attitude extremely rigid, had planned to let his wife argue with the Dou family for a while before reasoning with them, hoping to regain some ground. He had remained silent, observing from the sidelines. Now, hearing this, he couldn’t help but let out a soft “Oh,” his gaze on Dou Ming becoming more attentive. Even Ji Yong straightened up as he listened.
Wei Tingzhen was so angry she wanted to stamp her feet.
Your Dou family caused this sister-swap marriage, and now you think you’re in the right?!
Do you want me to handle this?
Do you think I don’t dare to do anything to you?!
Wei Tingzhen pointed at Dou Ming and began to berate her mercilessly: “Who do you think you are? Face the consequences? Can you handle them? What right do you have? Don’t think I don’t know, your mother was just a promoted concubine. If it weren’t for your maternal grandfather’s influence, forget about marrying into our Wei family, you wouldn’t even be qualified to step into our Duke Jining’s mansion! Do you say I can deal with you as I, please? If you want to die, why didn’t you do it when no one was around? Making a scene now, don’t think I’m a fool…”
Without a word, Dou Ming moved towards a nearby pillar, intent on smashing her head against it.
The “thud, thud, thud” sound echoed like drumbeats in everyone’s hearts.
“Fifth Young Lady!” Before anyone could react, Wei Tingyu rushed over and grabbed Dou Ming around the waist. “Don’t do this!” he shouted. “I believe you! I believe you!” His eyes were wet, on the verge of tears.
Wei Tingzhen was stunned, then furiously berated him: “You fool! This is just a common trick women use. You… let go of her immediately! Don’t worry, she won’t die. She can’t die. She’s still waiting to become the Duchess of Jining! In all of Beijing, who else her age has become a duchess? She must be feeling quite proud of herself…”
But what if that was true?
Wei Tingyu remembered the first time he spoke with Dou Ming, how she had told him with a smile, “My mother was a promoted concubine, and my relationship with my sister isn’t good,” her eyes betraying a hint of sadness despite her casual tone. He recalled how she had tilted her head and said with a seemingly cheerful expression, “You need to please my father well, or you won’t be able to marry my sister,” her brow furrowed with a trace of worry. He thought of how, when he had left his father-in-law’s study feeling neglected, Dou Ming had peeked out from behind the lush flowers with a slightly mischievous smile…
And now, her resolute declaration to everyone that nothing had happened between them, her anguish when she said the idea of the substitute marriage was hers – all of this made his heart ache as if a piece had been torn out.
“Sister!” he shouted, interrupting Wei Tingzhen. “No matter how bad she might be, she’s not lying!” Remembering his childhood, when he would look at the brightly lit mansion of the neighboring Marquis Changxing, and how his sister had bought him a large sugar-coated haw and, holding him in her arms, pointed at the Marquis’s residence saying, “One day, I’ll marry a prominent husband. We’ll have a house bigger than theirs, with more lights than they have. Everyone in Beijing will fawn over you, and you’ll never be neglected again.” His voice grew louder, and he stood even straighter. “What’s wrong with her wanting to marry into Duke Jining’s family? People aspire to improve their status, just as water flows downhill. We’ve already performed the wedding ceremony and consummated the marriage. We’re husband and wife now. You… you shouldn’t scold her anymore…” He seemed ready to acknowledge this marriage, but his voice gradually lowered under Wei Tingzhen’s furious glare.
Zhang Yuanming, familiar with his brother-in-law’s temperament, remained composed. However, both Dou Wenxiang and Ji Yong wore expressions of disbelief. Ji Yong even cursed inwardly: This Dou Ming has some dumb luck, managing to win over Wei Tingyu like this. It’s a good thing Dou Zhao didn’t marry Wei Tingyu. How could she have lived with such a muddle-headed husband every day?!
As this thought crossed his mind, he felt a small sense of pride.
When Dou Zhao learns that he helped her break off the engagement, she’ll surely be pleased!
When his great-grandfather goes to propose on his behalf, what kind of expression will she have?
Surprise? Indignation? Or will she angrily summon him for a scolding, demanding to know if he had any part in the sisters’ marriage swap?
Thinking about this, he found it a bit strange.
In matters of marriage, why had he never imagined Dou Zhao being shy?
Perhaps this was why he found Dou Zhao appealing.
She was never coy or pretentious. What she wanted or didn’t want was always clear and straightforward, unlike his female cousins who always spoke in half-truths and implications. Even Ji Linze, known for her quick wit and graceful manner among the cousins, seemed to have this habit.
He watched as Dou Ming collapsed to the ground, clutching Wei Tingyu’s clothes and sobbing softly. He felt an unprecedented sense of contentment.
Song Yichun’s mood, however, was extremely foul.
Yesterday, at the wedding of Zhou Shaochuan, the son of Earl Dongping, Shen Dagui, the Earl of Huichang, had congratulated him with a grin: “Your Yankang is truly capable. He’s summoned by the Emperor every day at the Summer Palace. I heard that while the ministers are in council, your Yankang sits in Lizheng Hall, continuing to transcribe ‘The Narrative of Yuzhou’s Circumstances’ for the Emperor. Yankang’s academic progress is remarkable, truly worthy of congratulations!” He added enviously, “Such an honor is unique to your household!”
What business was it of Shen Dagui’s whether Duke Ying’s household was doing well or poorly?!
Song Yichun felt somewhat irritated.
At this rate, in a few years, he feared he would no longer be able to suppress Song Mo.
He instructed his servant: “Please invite Mr. Tao for a conversation.”
The servant acknowledged and left.
He sat on the large kang by the window, gazing at the osmanthus tree outside, its oil-green leaves interspersed with delicate yellow flowers like tiny stars, his mind wandering.
Since his falling out with Song Mo, Song Yichun had renovated the Xiangxiang Courtyard on the east side of Duke Ying’s mansion and moved in, creating an east-west opposition with the Yizhi Hall.
Tao Qizhong felt this was unwise.
Song Yichun was the rightful Duke Ying, the master of Duke Ying’s mansion. Giving up the main courtyard like this gave the impression of yielding to Song Mo. He had advised against it several times, but Song Yichun was adamant about staying in Xiangxiang Courtyard.
Tao Qizhong shook his head privately but knew he couldn’t say more on the matter.
The reason Xiangxiang Courtyard was named so was because it was filled with osmanthus trees.
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, the osmanthus in Xiangxiang Courtyard bloomed profusely. The sweet fragrance could be detected from afar, becoming almost oppressively strong up close.
When Tao Qizhong entered the study, he saw Song Yichun checking Song Han’s schoolwork.
Song Yichun was fond of reading. In his youth, he had participated in the imperial examinations and even became a xiucai, showing particular talent in essay writing. Later, he was reprimanded by the old Duke Ying, who told him not to compete for fame with scholars to avoid controversy. Only then did he stop pursuing further examinations. However, he invited great scholars to teach him at home and developed his unique insights into scholarship, more than capable of guiding Song Han’s studies.
Seeing Tao Qizhong, he put aside his second son’s work and sighed, “After all… he lacks talent, far inferior to Song Mo!”
If that’s the case, why create such a situation with your eldest son?
Tao Qizhong pondered silently, maintaining the respectful demeanor expected of an advisor.
Fortunately, Song Yichun didn’t seem to want his opinion. Realizing his previous words might have been inappropriate, he quickly changed the subject, saying to Tao Qizhong, “I think we need to be more proactive regarding the Marquis Yan’an’s household—go to their mansion tomorrow and gauge the Wang family’s intentions.” He sighed.
This was the downside of not having a mistress to manage household affairs.
Women could communicate more easily, and even if something was said wrong, there was room for reconciliation.
Sending an advisor was not only stiff and formal, but once rejected, it would be difficult to bring up the matter again. The ongoing difficulties with his remarriage were partly due to this.