Chapter 177 Communications

Can you tell others your birth date casually?

Can anyone tell fortunes?

What if you are stabbed with a villain?

Nanny Lu was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat.

She hesitated for a few words with Hong Gu and hurriedly left the writing shop.

When I walked out of the main street under the Drum Tower, I saw a fortune-telling stall...

Nanny Lu's heart moved.

What if the fourth lady of the Dou family and Marquis Jining don’t get along?

She couldn't wait to meet Wei Tingzhen.

Wei Tingzhen was surprised and delighted when she heard this.

There are ways to remedy the discord between the eight characters.

But if Dou Zhao is just too unlucky... then the Wei family has no say in this.

It would be even better if the person who said this was a member of the Dou family!

She praised Nanny Lu highly, but after Nanny Lu left happily, she became worried again.

Although this idea is good, Wang Yingxue is the stepmother and has no roots in Kyoto, so it is hard to believe what she says!

It would be best if Dou Shishu's wife, Fan, could come forward.

Wei Tingzhen immediately asked Nanny Jin to pass the message to Jing'an Temple Hutong.

Wang Yingxue almost fainted after hearing this. She suppressed her anger and yelled in the room, "Who does she think she is? She actually wants to order the Fifth Madam around? Is she crazy? Does she think the Dou family are all fools?"

Madam Hu advised: "Wei Tingzhen just wants to find someone whose words can convince others."

"Someone who speaks convincingly..." Then Dou Zhao would be rejected by the Wei family. Wang Yingxue seemed to see Dou Shiying's regretful and hateful expression. She couldn't help but laugh, and it made Madam Hu's scalp numb. She stopped laughing and said, "If I ask my mother to come forward, everyone should believe it, right?"

The title of Wang Xingyi's wife still carries some weight in Kyoto, but in the matter of Dou Zhao, the Wang family is Wang Yingxue's maternal family, and the criticisms of Dou Zhao by the sixth wife of the Dou family are more damaging than those of Wang Xu.

"But Aunt Hu worriedly said, "I'm afraid she will teach you a lesson again."

"When has she never taught me a lesson?" Ever since Gao rejected Wang Yingxue's request, Wang Yingxue and Gao had been at odds with each other forever. She said bitterly, "She ruined Ming Jie'er's plans last time! If she dares to stop me this time, I will get her out of the Wang family even if I have to die!"

Aunt Hu was so frightened when she heard this that she dared not say anything.

Wang Yingxue went to Liuye Hutong where the Wang family lived.

Wang Xu was somewhat skeptical of Wei Tingzhen's words: "Can she really make this marriage happen?"

Wang Yingxue bit her lip and said, "We have to give it a try. Even if it doesn't work out, it's a good thing for Ming Jie to have such a family to propose marriage. I don't want her to marry back to Zhending!"

In Zhending, many people criticized Dou Ming's background, which made Dou Ming live a life without dignity.

Wang Xu understood.

Dou Ming grew up in her arms and she had an unusual affection for him. Although she was very annoyed by Wang Yingxue's matter, when she thought of her smart and lovely granddaughter, her heart softened and she nodded in agreement.

Wei Tingzhen made an appointment with Wang Yingxue and her daughter to meet at Daxiangguo Temple tomorrow.

Taking advantage of the opportunity that everyone went to Daxiangguo Temple to listen to the abbot preaching Buddhism, and saying this in front of those ladies from outside the capital, the Wei family had a legitimate reason to cancel the engagement.

But for some reason, even though everything was arranged, Wei Tingzhen still felt a little uneasy.

She sent Nanny Jin away and chatted in private with Nanny Lu.

"Tell me, can Wang be trusted? In this case, she will become a target of public criticism. Will the Dou family let her go?"

Nanny Lu smiled and said, "Madam, Wang Shi only has one daughter, Miss Dou's Fifth. She will have to rely on her son-in-law for food in the future."

Wei Tingzhen suddenly realized.

Wang was too old to give birth to a son. If she could find a good son-in-law for her daughter, she would have the confidence to speak up in the future, whether taking a concubine and having a child or adopting an adopted son. The blame from the Dou family would be nothing to her.

Wei Tingzhen was delighted and told Nanny Lu: "Don't wear that moon-white vest anymore. It's too plain. Wear the pea green vase-flower jacket. It will make you look more energetic."

Nanny Lu smiled and went to find the dress herself and put it on the hanger. Then she carefully checked the jewelry, shoes and socks she would use tomorrow. When the maid came to report that Zhang Yuanming would stay in the study in the outer courtyard tonight, she waited on Wei Tingzhen to rest before she left.

As for Zhao Zishu's house in Qianfosi Hutong, which was halfway across the city from Duke Jing's Mansion, it was a time of constant music and bustling conversation.

Zhao Zishu, whose appearance was so charming that it was hard to tell whether she was androgynous, put down her wine cup. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked at Ji Yong with a pair of eyes slanted at the side, her eyes were watery and rippling with the tenderness of spring water.

"Lord Ji," his voice was low and a little hoarse, accompanied by the clear sound of the sheng, like the sound of wind blowing through the bamboo forest, surprisingly harmonious, revealing a tranquility that can soothe people's hearts, "I have already drunk my wine!" As he said this, he poured the wine cup over.

Not a drop of wine was dropped.

They sat down at the table. Zhao Zishu toasted He Yu three times first. Ji Yong started to cheer. Zhao Zishu toasted three times per person. This was the fifth round.

Different from the lightheartedness just now in Zuixianlou, they sat lazily around the white jade canal that imitated the flow of wine in the waterside pavilion. Tall red melon-shaped palace lanterns stood among the green trees, illuminating the young actors who were sitting not far away and playing the zither or the flute, making their faces look fresh and gentle, adding a touch of decadence to this midnight banquet.

Wang Qinghuai and He Yu, who were a little hot from drinking, were only wearing their shirts. One of them was leaning on the lap of a girl with pretty features, who was rubbing his temples, while the other was holding an actor with a childish face but still beautiful. Both of them looked a bit unruly and wild.

Gu Yu was dressed neatly, but he had taken off his shoes and was swimming barefoot in the winding canal, drinking wine and kicking the water. The splashing water hit the lotus flowers floating slowly on the water, causing them to sink to the bottom of the canal in an instant. He was laughing and raised his hands, and a diligent and beautiful actor poured wine for him.

The wine had gone into his stomach. It was midsummer, and although he was wearing a soft and cool silk gown, Wei Tingyu was still sweating profusely.

He looked at Wang Qinghuai and He Yu who were sitting on the opposite bank, and then looked at Gu Yu who was sitting next to him. For a moment, he didn't know whether he should follow Wang Qinghuai and He Yu's example and take off his straight robe, or follow Gu Yu's example and soak his feet in the clear canal water for more comfort.

Wei Tingyu was hesitating when he heard Ji Yong's voice: "My Lord, can you drink these three glasses of wine for me?"

Ji Yong's collar was half open, and he was leaning his elbows on a table beside him that was inlaid with black lacquer and ivory and depicted the Three Gentlemen, looking as if he could not hold his liquor.

Wei Tingyu's mind exploded, and his tongue became swollen: "I, I can't drink anymore..."

Ji Yong's face darkened.

Wei Tingyu looked at Wang Qinghuai again as if asking for help.

Wang Qinghuai had also drunk quite a bit and was just closing his eyes to rest and enjoy the gentle massage from the maid, so she had no time to pay attention to him.

He Yu sighed secretly in his heart.

What's wrong with you drinking it?

It's just that he is drunk.

It can just avoid Ji Yong's attack.

Why was Miss Dou Si betrothed to such a man?

"Jianming," He Yu signaled the actor beside him to pour wine for him, "If you can't drink anymore, I'll drink these three cups for you!" His tone was generous, and he wanted to help Wei Tingyu out of the predicament.

Wei Tingyu had just been secretly complaining in his heart that He Yu was probably a guy who was good at eating, drinking, whoring and gambling, but at this moment he immediately felt a liking for him and looked at him with eyes full of gratitude.

Zhao Zishu refused: "Then I'll ask someone to drink for me, too." His eyes moved and fell on Gu Yu.

Gu Yu's face was as rosy as a peach, with a hint of laziness, but her eyes were as clear as spring water.

He thought of the rumors about Gu Yu, the little bully of Kyoto, and felt ashamed. He quickly shifted his gaze to Wang Huaiqing, who was very friendly because of his calm temperament: "My Lord, please have a drink for me later!"

Wang Qinghuai half-closed his eyes and laughed.

The group of people chatted and laughed for a long time, and in the end Wang Qinghuai, He Yu and Wei Tingyu drank three cups each.

Gu Yu watched coldly, finding it very boring.

He stood up barefoot and said, "You guys continue, I'm going back first!"

Zhao Zishu couldn't help feeling a little nervous.

Wang Qinghuai knew his temper, so he smiled and said, "Don't worry about him." Then he called his personal servant, "Send Master Gu back."

Gu Yu waved his hand and said, "No need. It's not like I don't know the way." Then he walked away.

In the summer breeze, Wang Qinghuai's laughter could be heard faintly from behind: "...He is still a child."

Gu Yu was furious and wanted to go back to find the culprit, but then he remembered what Song Mo told him: "When doing something, you should ask yourself whether you are willing to do it. If you are willing to do it, you should swallow the consequences yourself and don't regret it or blame others. If you are not willing to do it, you will just be a little idiot and make people laugh." He thought it was unnecessary and told the driver: "Go to the Duke of Ying's Mansion."

The carriage rushed all the way to an alley where the Duke of England's mansion was located.

The officers and soldiers on night patrol saw this and made way for them.

In the middle of the night, Gu Yu knocked on the east side door of the Duke of England's mansion without any hindrance.

Song Mo had already gone to bed. When he heard that Gu Yu had arrived, he got up, put on his clothes, and went to meet him in his inner room.

"What happened?" Song Mo asked worriedly, "Didn't you and Wang Qinghuai go to entertain the officials of the Ministry of Industry?"

Gu Yu waved his hand, poured himself a cup of tea, and said, "It's not interesting! We met He Wendao's youngest son and the nephew of the Minister of Works Ji Song, the new top scholar Ji Jianming, and everyone ran to Zhao Zishu to continue drinking. The Ji family and the Wei family are relatives, and Ji Jianming claimed to be the uncle of Marquis Jining. He desperately drank Marquis Jining's wine." At this point, He couldn't help but complain, "That Wei Tingyu is the same. He's like a country bumpkin who has never seen the world. He didn't dare to refuse Ji Jianming's offer of wine, but ended up being teased by Ji Jianming like a monkey. It's embarrassing to be with him. Brother Tianci, you must tell me this time, why do you want to praise Wei Tingyu? I can't find anything outstanding about Wei Tingyu..."

Song Mo's expression changed slightly, and he asked, "What did you say? Did you take Wei Tingyu to Zhao Zishu's place?"

Zhao Zishu and Zeng Chusheng, the owner of Guanglianshe, are brothers in the same school. Zeng Chusheng has always made a living by singing operas, but Zhao Zishu often does pimping business for those dignitaries who have affairs with men, and her reputation is not good.

He couldn't help but wonder, "Who suggested going to Zhao Zishu's place?"