Chapter 2 He was the blessing she had accumulated over eight lifetimes.

A steady footstep came from outside the door.

Dou Wenyi lowered her skirt to cover her calves, and with a slight lift of her eyes, she saw a tall and straight figure.

The newcomer was dressed in a dark brocade robe, holding an ivory folding fan in his hand. His face was as beautiful as pearls and jade, exuding the air of a gentle and refined gentleman.

He was none other than her own brother, Dou Mingxiu. Cuizhi instinctively used her body to block the steamed buns on the offering table.

Dou Mingxiu's face was covered in frost, and deep anger surged in his lungs. "Serves you right. You can't even bear this little bit of suffering? Your father suppressed that shameful thing you did. Have you ever thought that if it were to become public, the world's spittle would crush you into mud!"

"Who exactly wants to harm you? Are you alright...?" His voice trembled, and he couldn't finish his sentence.

Dou Wenyi's heart clenched painfully, caught off guard, and her eyes reddened.

Who would have thought that one day, her most beloved brother would join forces with Xie Guidu to personally hand her over to the perverted and powerful minister of the Northern Barbarians?

Seeing her silence, Dou Mingxiu was furious at her lack of assertiveness. "Are you mute? Say something!"

"I didn't see it, what can I say?" Her voice was very calm.

Dou Mingxiu raised his voice, "Then you should at least remember your figure and physical characteristics."

"If you find this person, will you believe I'm alright?" Dou Wenyi's eyes were clear, but her voice was weary.

She had already told them the truth, but they didn't believe a word she said!

That night, she mistakenly entered a private room and heard people whispering. Before she could react, she was knocked unconscious by a palm strike.

Later, upon hearing that thieves were hiding in the temple and that the government had sent people to search it, Mother Gu and Dou Mingyan were so frightened that they returned home.

It wasn't until they returned to the Dou family that they remembered she had been left behind at the temple.

The Dou family immediately sent servants back to look for her. Although the temple was under martial law, the servants still went in. They searched everywhere but could not find her.

The next day, she found herself lying in an empty room. She rushed home, and as soon as she returned, rumors began to circulate.

Instead of receiving a word of comfort, she was brutally beaten by her father.

Yes, only if she becomes a sinner will her mother and Dou Mingyan be spared judgment for abandoning her and leaving the temple.

Dou Mingxiu was completely speechless. This concerned a woman's reputation. Even if things got out of hand, she would be the one who suffered. That villain deserved to die!

His eyes swelled, his heart ached, and as he turned away, a strong sense of bitterness welled up inside him.

If only she hadn't gone to offer incense that day. Why did she have to encounter such a calamity when her third sister and mother were both there?

Is she really a jinx?

After a long while, he gradually calmed down. "Xie Guidu has already come to propose marriage. He is of noble character and upright. Now that things have come to this, he doesn't look down on you and is still willing to marry you. You are blessed with good fortune! If you can't grasp this lifeline, you will never be able to turn your life around."

Dou Wenyi sneered inwardly, "Marry him? Dream on!"

Are you going to send yourself out as a stepping stone again?

The inhuman humiliation and abuse seemed to return to her, causing excruciating pain to seep into her very bones...

Seeing her remain silent, Dou Mingxiu's expression stiffened slightly, his dissatisfaction growing. "What's your attitude? You're still not willing?"

In the past, she was well-behaved and sensible. At a young age, she learned to make insoles and embroider clothes for him. She would often come up to him and act cute and charming.

On another occasion, he got into a fight with someone at the academy over a trivial matter and was surrounded and beaten by those spoiled brats. She happened to witness it, immediately drew a sharp dagger, and held it to one of the brats' necks, scaring him into immediately backing down.

She had never treated him so coldly and distantly before.

Dou Mingxiu gritted his teeth and said bluntly, "Your reputation is ruined now, your life is over! If Xie Guidu doesn't marry you, who will?"

Reputation? She already has a bad reputation.

Dou Wenyi felt a deep sense of desolation.

In the past, she would have really thought that her brother was concerned about her, but now she knows that he was just afraid that she would bring shame to the family and implicate Dou Mingyan.

"I'll never do it again." Dou Wenyi was too lazy to waste words with him and nodded perfunctorily.

Dou Mingxiu composed himself and said, "Hurry up and get ready, don't keep Young Master Xie waiting."

Dou Wenyi struggled to her feet and limped outside.

Dou Mingxiu looked at that slender figure from behind and felt a pang of sadness.

As soon as I crossed the corridor, I saw several maids carrying many dazzling brocade boxes and walking inside with great joy.

"...His Highness the Crown Prince truly favors our Third Miss. As soon as he heard she was ill, he sent so many treasures. Once she marries into the Eastern Palace, who knows how wealthy she will be!"

"I always said that the Third Miss is the most promising person in our Dou family. The Crown Prince is in Jiangzhe, but he still cares about our Miss. Such deep affection, who wouldn't envy him?"

"Who can argue with that? Unlike some people, who are just jinxes, always having a string of bad luck!"

"Have you heard about that? Some people are shameless and have probably already lost their chastity. Aren't they just bringing shame to the other girls in the household?"

"No wonder the master and mistress dislike her; she's not even as good as a single hair of the third young lady."

"I think she should go back to Yuqing Taoist Temple and be a nun for the rest of her life."

The unpleasant whispers reached Dou Mingxiu's ears, his face turned ashen, and his well-defined knuckles clenched tightly.

Do they want to drive her to her death?

Father clearly ordered that no one was allowed to discuss this matter, so how did the news still leak out?

Fourth Sister is nowhere near as bad as they say.

Dou Mingxiu shouted sternly, "If you dare to say another word, I'll pull out your tongues."

The maids were so frightened that they hurriedly knelt on the ground. "Young Master, we were wrong. We will never do it again. Please forgive us!"

The maids kowtowed and confessed their sins, but Dou Mingxiu couldn't listen to them; he felt his heart was bleeding.

The fourth sister is beautiful and talented, bright and lively, and also a bit arrogant. Many sons of powerful and wealthy men used to chase after her, but she never bothered to give them a second glance.

But ever since she returned from Yuqing Temple, her clothes have become dull and lifeless, her personality has become increasingly withdrawn, and she has become listless and devoid of her former vitality.

Why did she end up like this?

——

Dou Wenyi walked towards the front hall, and a familiar, deep voice reached her ears.

"Uncle Dou, Madam Gu, I, Gui Du, have come to pay my respects today, solely to ask for the hand in marriage with Fourth Miss Dou Wenyi. I hope you will grant my request. I heard that Fourth Miss is slightly unwell, so I brought some tonics with me. May I give them to her?"

Xie Guidu possessed a dignified and upright demeanor, and his tone was firm and unyielding.

For some reason, she also detected a hint of tenderness and longing in his voice, much like the way he felt when he mentioned his beloved Dou Mingyan.

Dou Wenyi's blood rushed to her head, and she stopped in her tracks. "Cuizhi, what day is it today?"

“The month of Gengsi, the day of Dingchou,” Cuizhi replied.

wrong!

In my previous life, he didn't come to propose at this time. Why did he come earlier?

A chilling thought suddenly flashed through her mind: could it be that he, like her, had been reborn...?