Chapter 21 Don't wash your dirty linen in public, help spread it!

"Whether I did something wrong or not, everyone can see it clearly. Why are you in such a hurry? If you like apologizing so much, then apologize yourself."

Dou Wenyi's nonchalant expression made Xie Guidu's face darken even more.

When did she become so arrogant? How can she act so unruly in front of everyone? What will others think of her?

Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate, someone came in to report...

"Young Master Xie, I've been looking for you for ages. They've all started composing poems, and you're the only one missing. Ladies, the Princess has sent word that she invites you to Tingtao Pavilion to watch them compose poems."

Xie Guidu suppressed his imposing aura and regained his usual gentle demeanor. "I shall obey your command."

After he finished speaking, everyone chatted and laughed, and left with Xie Guidu.

It was as if the tense standoff had never happened.

Dou Mingyan adjusted the gold hairpin in her hair, walked straight up to her, and took her hand affectionately. Her tone was sincere. "Good sister, can we go to Cuiyu Pavilion and have a good talk? I didn't manage my maid properly, and I want to apologize to you."

Dou Mingyan spoke sincerely; if she were to refuse, these noble ladies would criticize her.

Dou Wenyi gave Cuizhi a look and said calmly, "Okay!"

Dou Mingyan had chosen a really good spot. Cuiyu Pavilion faced Yanming Pond directly, with its back against the mountain rocks and a waterfall seven or eight feet high on the side. The sound of the waterfall was deafening, and no one could overhear what they were saying.

"Fourth sister, you have long admired Prince Xie, so why do you still refuse his marriage proposal?" Upon arriving at Cuiyu Pavilion, Dou Mingyan asked bluntly.

Dou Wenyi laughed, "Third sister, weren't you supposed to apologize?"

Dou Mingyan took a few steps closer to the railing without making a sound, a strange glint flashing in her eyes. "Have you ever thought that if you insist on breaking off the engagement and miss out on Prince Xie, the marriage will probably become extremely difficult? As a child, you should be filial to your parents."

“Sister, if you have grievances, you can take them out on me. Don’t make things difficult for our parents.”

She and Xie Guidu are such a disgusting couple, even their hypocritical arguments are exactly the same!

Will she live a miserable and tragic life after remarrying Xie Guidu, forever reduced to being just a foil to her?

Dou Wenyi took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in her heart. "What if I insist on breaking off the engagement?"

Dou Mingyan pursed her lips. "Could it be that Fourth Sister already has someone she likes? Is it the young master of the Zhang family, or someone else?"

Out of the corner of her eye, Dou Wenyi noticed a faint crack on the wooden railing, which was almost moldy from being soaked by the waterfall, and a chill ran through her. "Third sister, who do you think I would admire?"

Why is she so insistent on her marriage?

She will be the Crown Princess in the future, and I won't get in her way!

Beneath the railing, the water shimmered, and their reflections intertwined. Dou Wenyi's pupils contracted; she felt she had overlooked something important...

Dou Mingyan suddenly slipped and pounced on her unexpectedly.

Almost instantly, her body tilted sharply in the opposite direction like a spring. Before Dou Wenyi could pull her up, the railing creaked and the rotten wood broke.

"Fourth sister, why did you push me—"

With a gasp, Dou Mingyan fell into Yanming Pond.

Water splashed everywhere, and in a daze, Dou Wenyi saw the triumphant provocation in her eyes.

Dou Wenyi was speechless. Then, she resolutely jumped down after her.

At the same time, a snow-white figure rushed from the other end of the bluestone path and plunged into the water.

"Help! The Third Young Lady has fallen into the water—"

The maids and servants on the shore stared in disbelief, and then two more people jumped in.

The lake water was clear. Dou Mingyan was struggling in the water. Before Dou Wenyi could even touch the hem of her clothes, she saw Xie Guidu carefully holding her and swimming towards the shore.

He didn't even glance at her once.

......

"Master, something terrible has happened! The Fourth Miss pushed the Third Miss into the Yanming Pond!"

The servant who came to report was flustered and whispered in Dou Bochang's ear.

"What?" Dou Bochang's heart skipped a beat, and his expression changed drastically, attracting the attention of the guests who were discussing philosophy in the West Garden.

Dou Bochang forced a smile. "Brother Zhang, I'll take my leave now."

He lifted his robe and hurried outside, asking, "Where is she now? Who rescued the Third Miss?"

The maidservant's expression was rather grim. "Both of them have been rescued, probably by the maids and servants. They've been settled in the Biyue Pavilion, a wing room in the West Garden."

Madam Gu received the news almost at the same time. When she arrived at Biyue Pavilion, Dou Wenyi had already changed into a new dress. Her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her eyes were clear and innocent. She was holding a bowl of crystal hibiscus cake and eating it with relish, as if nothing had happened.

Dou Mingyan lay unconscious on the bed, her face pale and haggard. She was already weak and frail, and now she looked even more pitiful.

Madam Gu's two willow-leaf eyebrows immediately stood up, and a bloody smell rose in her throat.

What kind of time is this for an idiot to still be thinking about food?

Enraged, she didn't bother to ask what had happened. She rushed over and slapped her hard across the face, yelling, "Still eating? You wretched creature, kneel down!"

Dou Wenyi instinctively grabbed her wrist, and in the chaos, the Jianzhan teacup on the table was knocked to the ground and shattered, spilling its hibiscus crystal cake all over the floor.

"Mother, why did you hit me?"

Madam Gu's wrist ached from being gripped so tightly. She was filled with shock and anger. "Why did you want to harm your sister?"

Dou Wenyi stared at the bowl of crystal hibiscus cake, shook off her hand, and said coldly, "Mother, what are you saying? My sister's accidental fall into the lake was entirely due to the broken and rotten railing. Are you going to blame me for this?"

Dou Mingyan's maid, Amber, knelt on the ground, crying as she complained, "Master, Madam, our Third Miss kindly advised Fourth Miss to marry Prince Xie, but Fourth Miss wouldn't listen and instead spoke ill of her."

"And she even cruelly pushed the Third Miss into the lake. The Third Miss can't swim at all. How heartless the Fourth Miss is!"

"If the Crown Prince were to find out that someone was plotting to assassinate the Crown Princess, he would surely be furious..."

Dou Bochang's face was clouded with anger. "Do you know what the consequences are for falsely accusing one's master?"

“We saw it with our own eyes, there is absolutely no false accusation!” the old women present all spoke up.

Cuizhi retorted angrily, "You're talking nonsense! She clearly fell down on her own! You...you're framing our young lady!"

Amber looked up at Dou Wenyi and reported loudly, "Since the Fourth Miss returned, she has been jealous of our Third Miss, saying that she has usurped the place and that she should go back to her hometown of Youyang."

Dou Bochang's anger was completely ignited. "You wretched child! Mingyan's father lost his life to save your father. If it weren't for her father, where would you be living in such luxury now?"

"She is gentle and sensible, and has taken care of your parents all these years. How dare you question her identity? You are truly shameful!"

Dou Wenyi calmly looked back, "Father, Mother, are you going to just listen to one side of the story again and pin the blame on me?"

Madam Gu's chest heaved with anger, her eyes flashing with intense hatred. "Shut up! You're consumed by jealousy and have ulterior motives. How many messes have we cleaned up for you over the years?"

"How could our Dou family have ended up with such a worthless idiot like you!"

The heated argument eventually woke Dou Mingyan, who was pretending to be unconscious.

She sat up abruptly, tears streaming down her face. "Father, Mother, please don't blame Fourth Sister. She must not have done it on purpose. Family scandals shouldn't be aired in public. There are too many people around here. Let's go back and talk about it later."

Seeing that she had suffered so much injustice yet was still thinking about the Dou family's reputation, Madam Gu was moved and quickly embraced her, gently comforting her.

"My son, you've been wronged. Your sister is unruly, but we will definitely get justice for you. When we get back, we'll make sure she tastes the power of family discipline!"

Dou Mingyan has no parents, yet she is better off than someone who has both.

Gu couldn't bear to see her suffer the slightest grievance. When she first arrived at Yuqing Temple, how much bullying and ridicule she endured, did she ever care?

Dou Wenyi stared at them intently, a half-smile playing on her lips. "Father, are you sure you want to interrogate me in the West Garden?"

Dou Bochang was furious and raised his voice, "So many eyes have seen it, and you still want to deny it?"

“They are all servants who serve Third Sister. It’s easy for them to collude and frame me. What if I also have witnesses? What will Father and Mother do then? How will these servants who are trying to slander me be dealt with?”

Family scandals should not be aired in public, so let's help them air their dirty laundry today!