Chapter 48 Sharing a Husband with Her

Xie Guidu's words were truly disrespectful.

As the Crown Prince, Pei Siyan could have two to four concubines and ladies-in-waiting in addition to his wife, as well as countless maids, wives, and concubines who would serve him in bed.

How could he possibly make that kind of promise to Dou Mingyan?

This is clearly sophistry. He not only defended Dou Mingyan, but also subtly mocked Pei Siyan for being inconsistent in his words and deeds. He couldn't even do what he was supposed to do, yet he was trying to restrain him!

Xie Guidu, as expected of someone who had served as Grand Secretary, possessed a deep understanding of the ways of the relationship between ruler and subject, and was also quite eloquent. However, he was no longer a Grand Secretary deeply loved by the people, so how could he possibly challenge Pei Siyan?

What he didn't know was that Pei Siyan was never a benevolent ruler; his way of ruling consisted of nothing but subjugation, education, and destruction.

Xie Guidu really thinks too highly of himself; his words will only anger Pei Siyan and won't bring him any benefit whatsoever.

Sure enough, Pei Siyan didn't even raise his eyes, his tone dismissive and mocking, "Young Master Xie is, after all, the top scholar appointed by the Emperor, yet his words are childish, questioning ancestral laws. He lacks the spirit of a hero and is not suited to be an official."

This is a very serious statement; it not only questions his scholarship but also threatens to ruin his career!

A fleeting look of embarrassment crossed Xie Guidu's face as he stared at him defiantly. "I dare not question you, but I hope Your Highness will cherish the person before you."

Indeed, what you can't have is what you call the "white moonlight," and being a masochist is a man's nature.

It turns out his heart really can be split in two, and can be this outrageous. He wants to covet Dou Mingyan, help her with all his might, and also monopolize this marriage.

The most ridiculous thing is that he even tried to persuade Pei Siyan to treat Dou Mingyan well.

How dare he! He's shameless and immoral!

She didn't want to breathe the same air as this kind of person, nor did she want to listen to his nonsense. She gave Pei Siyan a perfunctory bow and left with a cold face.

Pei Siyan gave him a cold glance, her tone indifferent, "Is Prince Xie so bothered? I am different from you, I would never force anyone. Whether Mingyan marries or not is her own choice."

Xie Guidu's expression was solemn. "No one is perfect, and Your Highness cannot guarantee that you will not make mistakes. So why do you insist on criticizing me? Even if I once admired Mingyan, it does not mean that I cannot be good to Wenyi in the future."

"Whether it's Zhang Chengxian or Li Chengxian, I will never let go. Yi'er will always be my wife!"

He had only made a mistake that any man would make; it wasn't a heinous crime. He believed that Yi'er would forgive him.

Pei Siyan's eyes were like an endless, cold night, and his face was filled with a fierce aura as he smiled.

"That's not up to you. Young Master Xie is young and impetuous, with flaws in character and morals. If he can't pull back from the brink, then we can only use the law of the land to restrain him. Marquis Dingyuan and Lord Dou should know how to make the right choice."

Xie Guidu's face drained of color, and his heart sank to the bottom. His words were both a warning and a threat.

It seems Pei Siyan is serious and intends to intervene to the end.

What future can someone have after being judged so harshly by the crown prince?

Unless, of course, he, as the crown prince, is incapable of becoming emperor.

A strong sense of resentment welled up in Xie Guidu's heart. At this moment, he clearly realized that his marriage with Dou Wenyi was probably doomed.

Marriage is a major life event, and it is usually decided by one's parents.

Pei Siyan insisted on applying pressure, and how could the Marquis of Dingyuan and the Dou family withstand his wrath?

He was always arrogant and thought he had hidden it well. Even though he admired Dou Mingyan, he only regarded her as the moon in the sky and never thought of desecrating her like that erotic poem. However, he also hoped that Pei Siyan would treat her well.

Dou Mingyan cried so sadly tonight, but he didn't see a trace of pity in Pei Siyan's eyes.

That's why he wanted to ask for a promise on Mingyan's behalf... but he didn't expect that it would anger him.

It was Dou Mingxiu who caused the trouble, so why is he the one who suffers, and even Mingyan is implicated?

As things progressed to this stage, he vaguely felt that the whole thing was strange, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

He believed that Dou Wenyi would always be his wife!

He never imagined that one day their hearts would drift apart, and she would marry someone else...

——

The carriage stopped as it approached the Dou family's gate.

Dou Wenyi looked exhausted. She lifted her skirt and got off the carriage. Just as she stepped through the gate, Dou Mingyan caught up with her and grabbed her arm.

She made no attempt to hide her disgust. "Third sister, what is it?"

Dou Mingyan had already changed into a gorgeous dress. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her face was pale. Even her exquisite makeup could not hide the ordeal she had gone through in the palace.

"Your brother is in trouble because of you, don't you feel any guilt at all? Have you thought about how to explain this to our parents and grandmother?" Dou Mingyan ignored her sarcasm and went straight to the point.

Dou Mingxiu was imprisoned in the Imperial Prison by the Imperial Guards on suspicion of plotting to murder Prince Duan, and he probably won't be able to return until the case is solved.

This makes it sound as if Dou Mingxiu was imprisoned because of her.

Dou Wenyi was seething with anger. "I didn't lock him up, so what does it have to do with me? Isn't Third Sister the Crown Princess? Why doesn't she ask the Crown Prince to pardon his crime?"

Dou Mingyan's face darkened completely, as if someone had touched a sore spot. "That's different! You're forcing the Crown Prince to show favoritism. Prince Duan was injured because of your horse, while you're perfectly fine without any injury. Why should your brother take the blame for you?"

What a victim-blaming argument!

Dou Wenyi said with a mocking expression, "Isn't it his own fault?"

Dou Mingyan remained defiant, "Stubborn to the end! My brother is the eldest son of the Dou family, the hope of the Dou family. You have ruined the hope of the Dou family. Just wait to be punished by our parents. This time, even Grandmother will not side with you."

So what do you think I should do?

“You are a member of the Dou family. We share the same fate, and we share the same fate. You should bear all the blame and should not implicate your brother. You should be the one who goes to prison.”

Dou Wenyi's tone was extremely cold, "If Third Sister feels it's unfair, she should go and say that to the Crown Prince. I wasn't the one who arrested people."

"Let go!"

"No, you have to go to your parents and apologize."

Dou Mingyan gripped her arm tightly, preventing her from leaving. "Fourth sister, how can you be so heartless and disregard sibling affection?"

Is she planning to cause a scene right here and now, regardless of the consequences?

Dou Wenyi thought disdainfully, "Dou Mingyan, do you dare say you knew nothing about Dou Mingxiu framing me? And that Shuang'er, you were the one who introduced them, weren't you? You're the most innocent one, while Dou Mingxiu is muddle-headed. He almost lost his life trying to avenge you."

"Besides shirking responsibility, what else can you do?"

"I don't know! Dou Wenyi, you are the truly vicious one. You made things so embarrassing and ruined my reputation. Isn't it just because you're jealous and want to ruin my marriage? You're desperately trying to break off the engagement. I think you're just coveting the Crown Prince."

"You shameless thing to want to share a husband with me!"

"Ha, you treat him like a treasure, but I wouldn't even look at him."

Dou Wenyi lost her patience and had no choice but to pry open her fingers, trying to break free from her tearing. The next moment, Dou Mingyan fell straight to the ground.

"Fourth sister, why did you push me?"

It's only been a few days since she framed herself for falling into the water.

Are they trying to use the same old trick again? To frame her?

Dou Wenyi's anger surged, and she could no longer bear it. She rushed over, grabbed her, and slapped her hard across the face.

......

"Stop!" When Madam Gu arrived, the two were already locked in a fierce fight.

When Dou Wenyi was pulled away, she felt a burning pain in her arm, but after spending several years at Yuqing Temple, her strength was astonishing, and she didn't suffer any loss at all.

On the contrary, Dou Mingyan was used to being weak and was no match for her. At this moment, her makeup was ruined, her hair and clothes were in a mess, and her cheeks were red and swollen, making her look miserable as if she had been bullied and beaten.

The two were taken to the main hall, where servants hurriedly brought ice and ointment.

Seeing Dou Mingyan's severe injuries, Madam Gu was heartbroken and wished she could tear her apart on the spot. However, having learned from her previous mistakes, she dared not blame her without asking why.

She pulled Dou Mingyan into her arms, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief, and scolded her angrily, "You wretched child, kneel down! Did you strike first?"

It's outrageous that the future crown princess was beaten by her own younger sister in public.

Dou Wenyi sat calmly in her chair, holding an ice pack to her arm, completely unmoved.

Dou Mingyan cried until her voice was hoarse, "Fourth Sister started it! Her horse got into trouble at the hunting grounds and injured Prince Duan, which implicated my brother, Mother, my brother is in prison..."

Her voice was filled with deep grievance.

"What?" Madam Gu's face suddenly changed, feeling as if a thousand arrows were piercing her heart, and sharp pains shot through her chest.

Her world has collapsed!

She pointed at Dou Wenyi, her eyes bloodshot, and said, "Guards, take the Fourth Miss away and lock her in the ancestral hall. We'll deal with her when the Master returns."

Dou Wenyi finally understood Dou Mingyan's intention in deliberately provoking her to take action; she wanted to pin all the blame on her.

Dou Wenyi stood up, her demeanor domineering. "Mother, how many more times will you make the same mistake? My brother used a falcon to frighten my horse at the hunting grounds, causing Prince Duan to fall from his horse and injure his foot."

"You know what? He even prepared hunting traps for me. If I hadn't been lucky enough to be rescued, you would be seeing my corpse right now."

"No, impossible! Mingxiu couldn't possibly be so foolish as to do something so stupid!"

Madam Gu stared at her intently, seemingly already somewhat convinced.

"My brother is afraid I'll expose Third Sister's affair with Xie Guidu, and he wants to teach me a lesson. Dou Mingyan, His Highness the Crown Prince already knows about this, how could you keep it from Mother?"

"It's best to break off this marriage with the Xie family of Marquis Dingyuan as soon as possible, lest rumors spread and affect the Crown Princess's reputation, and the Dou family's path to advancement will be truly ruined!"

Dou Mingyan sniffed. "The Crown Prince is too busy with affairs to concern himself with such trivial matters. It was my sister who insisted on making a scene, showing no regard for sibling affection or the family's reputation, and even gathering a bunch of nonsensical evidence..."

Madam Gu's blood boiled with rage. "You wretched child! How could I have given birth to such a jinx? Why don't you just die?"

Dou Bochang, with a gloomy face, stepped across the threshold just as he heard this sentence.