Chapter 197: Conspiracy

Dou Ming jumped up: "Are you crazy?" She stared at Wang Yingxue with disbelief in her eyes.

Wang Yingxue sneered: "Do you think I look crazy?" Then she told her that she had invited Wei Tingyu to her house under her name, "If you didn't rely on his ability to come at your beck and call, would you dare to invite him to Daxiangguo Temple?"

Dou Ming screamed, "How can a mother like you be like this? Can't you bear to see me do well? You actually instigated me to do such a thing?!" Thinking of how he was threatened by Ji Yong, but dared not tell anyone, he was afraid and aggrieved at the same time, and his voice became even sharper, "You know nothing! You know nothing! You just keep your eyes on your toes all day long, and you never care about my affairs..."

Wang Yingxue was hurt by her daughter's words, and her tears suddenly welled up: "Why do I only know how to live my life with my eyes on my toes? If it weren't for you, would I stay in the Dou family and swallow my anger? If it weren't for you, would I test the Marquis of Jining? If it weren't for you, would I be blamed by you like this now? For so many years, you always blame me for not giving you honor like other mothers, but have you ever thought about it, if it weren't for me, could you stand firm in the Dou family? If it weren't for me, could you become the legitimate daughter of the Dou family? What's wrong with me letting you marry the Marquis of Jining?

Marriage is meant to bring two families together. Now your sister is crying and shouting that she doesn't want to get married, can't we take advantage of it?

You blame me for speaking rudely, go find someone who speaks to you in a less rude way!

Your aunt's words are not bad, but look at the marriage she told you about - Liu Qingzhuo's father died when he was two years old, and his widowed mother relied on her brothers from her mother's side to raise him. Now he is just a groom, and in the future he will have to take the imperial examination, participate in the imperial examination, entertain his superiors and take care of his subordinates. Are you ready to give all your dowry to him? If you only give to the widowed mother, I have nothing to say, but don't forget that he also has an uncle, and the whole family is waiting for this nephew to become successful and repay the kindness of raising him!

Your grandmother’s words were not unpleasant, but she wanted to marry you to Tan Ge’er. With your dowry, as long as Tan Ge’er was not allowed to take the money to gamble, you and Tan Ge’er could have a life of ease and comfort under the eyes of Nan Ge’er. Your second aunt’s words were not unpleasant, but every time she saw me, she asked me: Ming Jie’er’s sister got half of Xi Dou’s property, and you have no son, so it is better to leave it to Ming Jie’er than to a concubine’s son or an adopted son. I heard that Shou Gu has an annual income of 50,000 taels of silver. When Ming Jie’er gets married, your aunt must prepare a dowry of 100,000 taels of silver for her, right? She told me that if your dowry is less than 100,000 taels, she will not agree to this marriage...”

"You, please stop talking!" Dou Ming lay on the bed and cried loudly, "Please stop talking!"

Wang Yingxue looked at her heartbroken daughter and felt a little regretful that her words just now were too harsh.

She walked over and sat beside the bed, gently stroking her daughter's smooth black hair, and whispered, "Ming Jie'er, I am your mother. If I don't do good for you, who can I do good for? If he had no feelings for you, I wouldn't have thought of this or said this. You have to believe me, mother has misjudged your father in this life. It's me... I think too much of him. I was biased before I did anything, so naturally I was less rude. But this time, I won't be wrong. I have my own way to let you marry him properly and become the wife of the head of the Jining Marquis's mansion!"

"No, I don't want it!" Dou Ming raised his head, tears streaming down his face, "I don't want something that my sister doesn't like..."

"Silly boy, who is your sister? If she didn't like Marquis Jining, she would have dealt with him long ago. Why would she be so evasive? Pang Kunbai still needs help to walk today!" Wang Yingxue looked at Dou Ming with pity and love. "But now, you see, she even tolerated Marquis Jining meeting you privately at Daxiangguo Temple. This shows how much she values ​​Marquis Jining."

Dou Ming was stunned for a moment.

She recalled the story that the servants at home had been spreading a lot recently about Wei Tingyu staying overnight at Nanfeng Pavilion... Also, the Wei family actually had their eyes on the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Yan'an... Her sister had endured it all...

Wang Yingxue was certain of her daughter's expression of realization. She slowed down her voice and said softly, "I am your biological mother. How could I harm you? Don't you want to marry into a good family? The wife of Marquis Jining is gentle and kind. Marquis Jining is handsome and has good character. His only sister married the prince of Duke Jing. If you marry him, you will be the wife of Marquis Jining. You will be able to hold your head high wherever you go. Isn't this exactly what you want? What else are you dissatisfied with?"

Dou Ming seemed to hear the scream of Miss Langba, which she had buried deep in her heart: "You are just a concubine's child, and you dare to pretend to be a young lady here, shameless!"

As if possessed by a demon, she asked Wang Yingxue, "What are you going to do?"

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yes?

What is she going to do?

Wang Yingxue patted her chest confidently in front of her daughter, but when she walked out of Dou Ming's inner room, she felt a little at a loss again.

Marrying on behalf of another is easier said than done.

Regardless of whether Dou Shiying agreed or not, it would not be easy to hide it from Dou Zhao. Moreover, there were the Zhao family's uncle's wife who would definitely come to watch the wedding, the fifth and sixth wives who came to help, the Cai wife who was invited to be the bride, and the in-laws who came to the wedding banquet... Not to mention that she was deprived of the right to host the banquet, even if she was the seventh wife of the Dou family, it would not be easy to do so.

Thinking of this, she suddenly had a splitting headache.

First, she had to stay in Jing'an Temple Hutong.

Didn't father ask the Gao family to arrange a marriage for Ming Jie'er? As a mother, I must take a look at the man.

When it comes to his daughter, Dou Shiying is always easy to talk to.

Just use this as an excuse!

When getting married, she had to say goodbye to her parents. She could use the excuse that if she didn't leave now it would be past the auspicious time, and let Dou Ming kowtow to Dou Shiying in a hurry and leave. In front of so many guests, even if Dou Shiying found out, she would be caught off guard and would definitely not lose her temper in such a situation.

Then there is Dou Zhao.

The only chance for a proxy marriage is to wait for the sedan chair to arrive after getting dressed and dressed.

By that time, in addition to the Fifth Madam, the Sixth Madam, and the wife of Zhao's uncle, there would also be Quanfuren and the maids who came with the dowry in the bridal chamber.

The maids who came with the dowry were easy to deal with - Dou Zhao would definitely return to Jing'an Temple Hutong to get married, and all the people here were hers. It was the first time that Dou Zhao's personal maid had encountered such a thing, so she could use some customs and etiquette as an excuse and a little trick to get those maids out of the way.

As for the Fifth Lady, she told her that a guest wanted to see her and tried to drag her to the flower hall.

The trouble is the Sixth Madam and the Zhao family's uncle's wife, they will definitely stay by Dou Zhao's side...

Wang Yingxue pondered.

If only Mrs. Cai, the blessed lady, could help me!

Then we can find an excuse to get the Sixth Madam and the Zhao family’s uncle’s wife out of the way.

And Dou Zhao...she has to drink lotus and lily soup before getting married...cook a bowl of lotus and lily soup with knockout drug added...there is someone with her on the stove, just coax Gaosheng's wife to bring it in...

Wang Yingxue lay in bed, tossing and turning, thinking for a long time, and felt that this matter was not completely impossible. However, if she really acted according to the plan, there were many loopholes, which made her unable to make up her mind for a while.

Just then, a letter came from Liuye Hutong saying that Gao had invited Liu Qingzhuo to her home for dinner tomorrow and asked her to bring Dou Ming over to take a look.

Wang Yingxue suddenly became irritated. She replied lazily, "I know," and went back to Dou Ming's room.

Dou Ming was sitting on a cushion by the window, holding a pipa and daydreaming.

Wang Yingxue walked over lightly and whispered, "Your aunt asked us to go over for dinner tomorrow, saying that Liu Qingzhuo will also be there, so you can have a look..."

Dou Ming's knuckles turned white as he held the pipa.

Wang Yingxue sighed and said, "You make your own decision on this matter. I will always stand on your side. Even if it means going through mountains of swords and seas of fire, I will help you."

Dou Ming said nothing.

Wang Yingxue walked out.

After a while, the sound of a pipa came from behind her.

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When Dou Shiying returned home, he heard from Wang Yingxue that the Gao family had introduced a matchmaking relationship to Dou Ming. The man was only 22 years old and had already won the marriage. He was very satisfied and asked Gao Sheng to take 300 taels of silver to buy clothes for Dou Ming. He also asked Wang Yingxue to tell Dou Ming: "The man is talented and the woman is beautiful. Only a man with extraordinary talent can stand on the top of the family. Appearance and family background are not the most important."

Dou Ming agreed with his eyelids drooping, but he tossed and turned all night without sleeping.

She knew that once she agreed, the marriage would be settled and her future would be determined, and there would be no possibility of regretting.

Liu Qingzhuo is of medium height, with a strong physique and a simple and honest appearance. He is wearing a brand new royal blue silk gown. At first glance, he looks like a country boy who has come to the city to make a living, without any of the elegance and refinement of a scholar.

Dou Ming was very disappointed.

Wang Yingxue even pulled Dou Ming away from the screen behind the flower hall, using the excuse that she still had to discuss the matter with the Dou family. After lunch, she hurried back to Jing'an Temple Hutong.

Dou Ming locked himself in the study without waiting for Wang Yingxue to speak.

Wang Yingxue sneered in the room.

Why did her Ming Jieer marry such a person? Why was Gao Mingzhu, whom Wang Nan married, so charming with her bright eyes and white teeth?

She was wrapping her handkerchief around her neck, thinking about something.

Mrs. Cai was the relative of the Fifth Madam, and had been in charge of the imperial court for many years. Her husband was a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and had many friends. Most of the officials in the capital were familiar with her. She was also a person who was good at dealing with people, and had great prestige among the officials in the capital. However, she was just an unknown woman in the Dou family. She could neither help Cai Bi get promoted or make money, nor give her face. What could she rely on to help herself?

Wang Yingxue thought of Fu Yan's comments about Cai Bili's influence in Kyoto, and her heart was pounding.

There is nothing in this world that cannot be bought, it just depends on how much you pay.

Wang Yingxue's eyes could not help but fall on the three hundred taels of silver note that Dou Shiying gave her to help Dou Ming buy clothes...