Chapter 113 So what if he's the Crown Prince? It's not like he can marry whomever he wants.

Dou Mingyan's eyes were slightly red, and tears instantly wet her eyelashes. Her charming eyes were filled with affection and timidity, making her look pitiful and touching. She believed that her appearance would make Xie Guidu feel pity and change his mind.

Xie Guidu could never bear to see her sad and in tears, so his resentment towards her for letting him down naturally lessened.

But the next moment, Xie Guidu turned his face away, refusing to look at her at all, and said in a cold and hard tone, "Third Miss Dou, don't joke around. You are the Crown Princess, who would dare to make things difficult for you?"

Dou Mingyan wept, her face streaked with tears, her lips trembling slightly, her voice filled with deep longing.

“Gui Du, don’t say such hurtful things anymore. I’m really upset… He’s not sincere to me at all, not even half as sincere as you. My fourth sister was bewitched by him and is willing to become a concubine in the Eastern Palace! On one side is my future husband, and on the other is my own sister.”

"Tell me, how should I deal with this?"

"At that time, what will the world say about her? They will only condemn her with words and writings; she will be drowned in spittle. Guidu, you can understand my pain, right?"

Dou Mingyan paid special attention to her words, not uttering a single word that slandered Dou Wenyi, and shifted all the blame onto the Crown Prince.

After she finished speaking, she carefully lifted her eyelids and looked up at him. Sure enough, Xie Guidu's expression softened.

She had long since keenly sensed that Xie Guidu actually had some genuine feelings for that bitch Dou Wenyi.

Xie Guidu's face showed disdain, and his tone was firm, "He can forget about it!"

"He is the crown prince; no one can stop him from taking a fancy to someone."

"So what if he's the Crown Prince? The future is uncertain, and he can't just marry whomever he wants. You don't need to worry about this; I have my own plans."

Dou Mingyan concealed a glint of darkness in her eyes, then looked up with a 'shocked' expression. "Really?"

From the moment she got engaged, she knew that Pei Siyan could not stay with her alone. He could marry anyone, but that person could never be Dou Wenyi!

Xie Guidu nodded, his heart filled with mixed feelings. If he hadn't broken off the engagement back then, why would he be in such a difficult situation now?

According to the wedding date, he would have married her into the Dingyuan Marquis's family long ago.

Fortunately, he has already gotten in touch with Prince Rui. With his support, it will be extremely difficult for Pei Siyan to ascend to the throne. Just like the Zhang family, those who are destined to die will still die, and they will still suffer misfortune.

In this life, he doesn't believe they will lose again.

So what are your plans?

Xie Guidu already had a plan, but he didn't intend to reveal everything to her. After all, he and Dou Wenyi were the real couple. "No rush, winning hearts is the best strategy. My ideas aren't quite mature yet, I need to consider them further."

Dou Mingyan pretended to be deep in thought, and said with great regret, "If Fourth Sister could reconcile with you, that would be the best thing, after all, you were also sincere towards her. I heard that the son of the Imperial Censor was a mentally challenged child who mistakenly entered the boudoir of the Grand Tutor's daughter, and the two even had intimate relations. Afterwards, the Grand Tutor actually married his beloved daughter to that mentally challenged child."

"Gui Du, you are in the court, so your information network is naturally better than mine. But is this matter the same as the rumors?"

After hearing her words, Xie Guidu felt a strange unease... Was she reminding him that he should use the act of ruining someone's reputation to force her into marriage?

He absolutely could not tolerate Dou Wenyi marrying any other man, but now he also couldn't bear to win her back by hurting her.

She was his wife, and he only wanted to make amends...

"This is not the behavior of a gentleman."

Dou Mingyan feigned a slip of the tongue and said cautiously, "Don't misunderstand, I don't mean to suggest you do the same... but I'm afraid Pei Siyan will stop at nothing, so I have to be on guard."

Xie Guidu gave her a deep look, realizing he had misunderstood her. "What you say is absolutely right."

He recalled the last time in Ru County, when Pei Siyan shamelessly took her hand in front of him, declaring his ownership in such a brazen manner.

He used his power to coerce her!

At this moment, Mo Yu rushed in to report, "Young Master, the young lady is making a fuss and wants to see her father—"

"Miss Dou, I have other matters to attend to today, so please excuse me!" Xie Guidu's expression suddenly changed, and after saying that, he followed Mo Yu and strode away.

Dou Mingyan opened her mouth, but hesitated, all the words stuck in her throat. Xie Guidu had already left, so she could only leave dejectedly.

Dou Mingyan leaned lazily against the carriage. "How is the wisteria growing?"

Amber's expression was somewhat unpleasant, but she still reported the truth, "Miss, I heard from the servants in the courtyard that there used to be quite a few wisteria vines, but the young master ordered them to be cut down and replaced with magnolia flowers."

For some reason, Dou Mingyan's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She took a deep breath. Sure enough, men's love was insignificant. Luckily, she never pursued love!

"The message has been out for several days now?"

"Three days."

Dou Mingyan nodded. Her godfather had always been arrogant, and given their relationship, he couldn't possibly ignore her. She could just wait patiently.

——

The assassination of Master Zhang caused a huge uproar in the court. The court was in turmoil, and the officials kept quiet about it while secretly speculating about what was going on.

Many others believe that this is clearly aimed at Crown Prince Pei Siyan, and that Emperor Muzong is about to change the heir apparent.

A few days later, the autumn rain pattered down, and frost-covered leaves covered the steps. The Zhang residence was draped in white mourning clothes, with funeral banners fluttering on the beams and pillars of the doors, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere filled with a sense of oppressive grief.

People who came to pay their respects went in one after another to offer incense.

Most of the people who came were relatives and in-laws of the Zhang family, and few of the former nobles and colleagues from the court were seen.

Minister of Justice Shen Jin was quite unconventional. He had a solemn expression, and after offering incense, he said a few dry words of comfort before leaving in a hurry.

Dou Wenyi sat in the corner, Zhang Cheng'an, dressed in mourning clothes, nestled in her arms, weeping silently, his suppressed sobs breaking her heart.

After a long while, he finally raised his head, wiped away his tears, and asked her softly, "Will my brother come back?"

Dou Wenyi gazed at the gray sky and the lingering drizzle, remaining silent for a long time.

Zhang Chengxian was far away on the frontier, and even if his father suddenly passed away, he could not return to the capital for the funeral without an imperial edict.

If Emperor Muzong had issued an edict allowing him to return for the funeral, it would mean that he had no intention of harming the Zhang family. Conversely, it would mean that he wanted to use this matter to eliminate the Zhang family's power and intimidate Pei Siyan.

She suddenly remembered that in her previous life, the Northern Di had sent many spies to infiltrate the Great Zhou territory. Among them was a high-ranking spy who was the military supervisor in charge of grain and fodder in the border garrison!

She had to write a letter to remind Zhang Chengxian.

The setting sun was like blood, the west wind swept up yellow sand, fallen leaves filled the sky, and banners fluttered in the wind.

Zhang Chengxian, dressed in blood-stained silver armor, entered the main tent of the military camp with an imposing air. He removed his helmet, his face beaming with joy, and respectfully asked, "Commander, is there something you need from this humble general?"

Commander Zong Rui's eyes darkened. He glanced at his apprentice and sighed, "An urgent message has arrived from the post station. Take a look at it first."

Zhang Chengxian took the letter, broke the seal, and began to read it quickly.

As he read on, he abruptly stopped, his eyes turning bloodshot, his fingers trembling. The thin sheet of letter felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and he almost crumpled it into a ball...