Chapter 172: Mistake

Wei Tingzhen was disheartened when she heard that Chen Qushui and Hong Gu visited Jing'an Temple Hutong, Mao'er Hutong and Huaishu Hutong in one day.

"So, according to you, Chen Qushui and that Hong Gu are still living in the shop?" she asked Nanny Jin, "and when they went to visit Jing'an Jingsi Hutong, Lord Dou didn't even invite them to have lunch?"

"Yes!" Nanny Jin nodded. "Not only that, they didn't even see the Seventh Madam."

"How could this happen?" Wei Tingzhen frowned tightly.

Nanny Jin, who had been scolded mercilessly by Dou Zhao, was gloating in her heart, and naturally hoped that Dou Zhao would suffer the worst. She rolled her eyes slightly and whispered to Wei Tingzhen, "However, when they left Dou Ge's old house, they brought a few boxes of snacks, as if they were sending away beggars."

Wei Tingzhen's face became even uglier.

She thought about it and went to the Mansion of Marquis Jining.

Tian was stunned. She had obviously never expected Dou Zhao to face such a difficult situation in the Dou family. After a while, she stammered, "What can I do? It's just an extra pair of chopsticks to eat with. Just think of it as raising an extra daughter."

Wei Tingzhen was not convinced and said, "Mother, have you ever thought about this? Wang is my stepmother, and it is natural for her to dislike the daughter born to the previous wife. It is understandable. But look, for her dowry, the accountant asked one family for help, and each family gave a perfunctory look. This is not just because she is disliked by my stepmother. Maybe Dou Zhao has a problem with his character!"

Our Tingyu is a handsome boy with good character. His father and mother hired a teacher at home to enlighten him and teach him the principles of life since he was a child. When he was a little older, they were afraid that he would mix with those playboys, so they hired a master to teach him riding and archery... I don't know how much effort they put in!

Among the noble families in Kyoto, how many are like our Tingyu? Which noble lady is not worthy of him? Why should he suffer such injustice?! He was raised in our hands!"

Tian listened and started to cry: "What do you say we should do? Can we cancel the engagement? If you want to blame someone, just blame me! If I hadn't been so nosy as to go and visit Zhao, this marriage wouldn't have happened... I originally thought that the Xidou family was small, and Dou Zhao was the eldest daughter, so no matter what, Dou Wanyuan would not neglect her. Who knew it would turn out like this?!"

Wei Tingyu's heart was moved when he heard this.

She sat down next to her mother, took out a handkerchief and handed it to her, whispering, "Mom, how about we cancel this marriage?"

Tian was struck by lightning when she heard this. She waved her hands repeatedly, "No, no! Tingyu is in mourning, and Dou Zhao has been waiting for him for three years. Moreover, this marriage was originally obtained from the He family. It is unacceptable to cancel the engagement for no reason at all! Besides, Dou Zhao has done nothing wrong..."

"Mother, please listen to me." Wei Tingzhen firmly grasped her mother's hand, allowing Tian to calm down and listen to her daughter. "Everything in this world is up to people to say. Look at the Duke of Ying's mansion, Song Mo, the eldest son. He killed so many people. Everyone knows what happened in his family, but when the father and son go out, they still have to be affectionate. When someone asks about Song Mo's murder, the Song family insists that the guards were spying on them. Even when the emperor asks about it, they won't reveal a word and just cover up the matter.

Tingyu will be free from mourning in two or three months. Isn't he doing business with Gu Yu and Song Mo? When the time comes, just say in front of the Dou family that he is busy with this matter and postpone the wedding date. Dou Zhao is so unpopular at home, there must be people who don't like her marrying up. It's hard to say about others, but what about Wang..." She raised her eyebrows and said, "As long as we find a way to talk to Wang, I will promise Wang to be my friend. How can Wang, a concubine who was promoted to the main wife, not be tempted? ! Then let Wang find a fault with Dou Zhao, it won't be a big deal. Mother, as long as you are determined, there is nothing you can't do!"

"But if this happens, wouldn't it harm Dou Zhao?" Tian Shi struggled, "She is already unwelcome at home. If she cancels the engagement, how can she survive..."

"Mother, you are wrong!" Wei Tingzhen said gently, "Dou Zhao's fifth uncle is a nobleman. I don't know how many educated families want to marry into the Dou family. If the sons of noble families don't work, then those from poor families won't work either? Maybe if she breaks off the engagement with our family and finds someone of equal status, she will have a better life!"

Tian still felt a little reluctant.

Wei Tingzhen was angry: "Mom, why did I marry into the Zhang family in the first place? If you let my brother marry that Dou Zhao, what would happen to me?!" As she spoke, she couldn't help sobbing when she thought of the grievances she had suffered in the Zhang family in the past few years. "Our family originally had no wealth, and my brother got Song Mo's help. He is about to make a lot of money. Which famous lady wouldn't want to marry him? I'm already like this. If my brother still doesn't have a good marriage, what's the point of me living?! What hope do I have in this life?!" After she finished speaking, she covered her face and cried silently.

Tian was so hurt by what she heard that she started crying while hugging Wei Tingzhen.

For a time, Tian's inner chamber almost became a swamp.

※※※※※

When Wang Yingxue received Wei Tingzhen's business card, she was very surprised and said to Madam Hu, "Doesn't she know that the Dou family's financial support is managed by Gaosheng's wife?" When she said this, she couldn't help revealing a sarcastic look on her face.

Madam Hu handed a washed plum to Wang Yingxue and said with a smile, "The fourth young lady is getting married. You can't say that you don't care about things in front of your in-laws, right?"

Wang Yingxue sneered, threw the invitation on the kang, and said, "Now you know you want me to give them face, what did you do before?!" She turned around and said sternly "No see" to the maid who came to report.

Madam Hu, however, winked at the maid, and then advised Wang Yingxue: "The fourth young lady will definitely get married in Jing'an Temple Hutong, and the fifth and sixth wives will come to help. This is your chance, so why bother to gamble with the fourth young lady? The fifth young lady is thirteen this year, and it is time for her to get married..."

If the Dou family wanted to suppress her and spread the news about these family affairs, who among those wealthy families with a clean reputation would marry Dou Ming?

Wang Yingxue's eyes turned red and tears fell, "Dou Shiying is so cruel! Dou Zhao is his concubine, so Ming Jie'er is not his biological daughter? If I hadn't been fooled by him, I wouldn't have ended up like this!" Then she blamed her natal sister-in-law Gao, "When my father was in trouble, I treated her so well. Nan Ge'er was so sick that he only had one breath left. If it weren't for me, he would have died long ago. Now her life is better, and her natal brother has become a provincial governor, but he turns around and doesn't recognize me. I just wanted her to help find a good marriage for Ming Jie'er among the Gao family's nephews and nieces, but she made excuses, as if she was afraid that I would rely on Nan Ge'er, and hurriedly arranged for Nan Ge to marry her niece Gao Mingzhu..."

Nanny Hu remained silent.

Ever since Wang Yingxue was deprived of her rights as a housewife, the Wang family has become increasingly estranged from her. She would repeat this every few days.

Either she complained about Gao, or criticized Pang, or she talked about how she was tricked by Dou Shiying into becoming a concubine...

She no longer has the same agility and quickness as she did when she was in the cotton business... She looks like a typical resentful woman...

Thinking of this, Madam Hu was shocked herself.

She couldn't help but look at Wang Yingxue carefully.

Withered face, unhappy look, endless complaints... Wang Yingxue just kept talking to herself regardless of whether anyone was listening or not.

Aunt Hu was about to shed tears and could not help but interrupt Wang Yingxue: "Seventh Madam, you are a smart person. You were able to turn the situation around in such a difficult situation before, and you will definitely be able to overcome the difficulties this time!"

Wang Yingxue was startled when she heard this. Her lifeless eyes gradually brightened up. The corners of her mouth twitched. Just as she was about to say something, a little maidservant rushed in and said, "Seventh Madam, Seventh Master is here!"

"Ah!" She couldn't help but exchange glances with Madam Hu.

Dou Shiying had already strode in.

"I heard that the lady from the Jining Marquis's mansion is coming to visit you," he said, wearing court robes and in a hurry, obviously having just returned from the government office after receiving a letter, "She is Shougu's aunt. I have already instructed Gaosheng to entertain her well, and you should also be in good spirits when the time comes, and make sure she feels at home!"

Wang Yingxue felt mixed emotions as she looked at Dou Shiying, who still treated her with a gentle and modest expression until today.

She once thought that this was Dou Shiying's unique tenderness and consideration towards her; now, she realized that this was just his usual way of doing things.

He is like this to everyone.

If you stab her with a soft knife, she may think it won't hurt, but it can actually torture you so much that you just hope it can be over in one breath.

Wang Yingxue really wanted to pick up the teacup at hand and splash the full tea on Dou Shiying's face, but she thought of Dou Ming and his marriage, and her hands clenched into fists, but finally loosened a little bit.

"I understand." She heard herself answering Dou Shiying's words in a gentle tone, "I will definitely not embarrass the Fourth Miss."

Dou Shiying nodded with satisfaction, and soon after he left, he asked Gaosheng's wife to bring him a box.

Wang Yingxue opened the box.

The room is filled with jewels and precious stones.

"Seventh Master said that the Madam wants to meet guests, so he asked our husband to hurry to Yubaoxuan to buy these jewellery." Gaosheng's daughter-in-law had a face as bright as a full moon, and there was a hint of joy in her smile. Both of them were smart people. Although they were in charge of all matters big and small in Jing'an Temple Hutong, they treated Wang Yingxue with the same respect as before, and Wang Yingxue could not find any fault with them.

She smiled, bowed, and stepped back.

Wang Yingxue closed the box with a "click".

"What is this? A reward for helping Dou Zhao to save face?"

She was so angry that her face turned livid.

Aunt Hu sighed secretly in her heart.

Song Mo, who was talking to Yan Chaoqing and Liao Bifeng in the study of Yizhitang in the Duke of Yingguo's mansion, took the note from Chen He and said with a slightly stunned expression, "When did Chen Qushui arrive in Kyoto? What did he do in Kyoto?"

Chen He lowered his head and said respectfully, "I heard that she came for the Fourth Miss's marriage. She needs to take inventory of her writing shop, and she needs to discuss with the Seventh Elder where to get married. She also needs to inform the Fifth Elder and the Sixth Elder... She looks quite busy."

With Liao Bifeng present, he subconsciously omitted Dou Zhao's last name.