Chapter 223 Rescue

The Second Lady was also stunned by the news.

She didn't care about her old age and was about to get up and go to Jing'an Temple Hutong to find out what was going on. However, she was stopped by the tired-looking Fifth Madam: "Should we wait until the old man comes back before we make plans? The most important thing is, how are we going to give an explanation to the Ji family?"

The Duke of Ying's Mansion is not the Duke of Jining's Mansion. Since the engagement has been made, even if they want to go back on their word, it depends on whether the Duke of Ying's Mansion agrees or not! Fang Zhou has become the governor of Zhejiang Province, so how should he repay this favor? What should he give in return? The Fifth Madam felt very confused when she thought about it, and she couldn't help complaining, "What's wrong with Seventh Uncle? Even if he didn't agree to the marriage with the Ji family, he should have discussed it with the old man. How could he just agree to the marriage proposal of the Duke of Ying so easily? What kind of family is the Duke of Ying? They are the adopted son of Taizu, and a prominent family that has been favored by several dynasties! Their prince, who can marry any famous lady, actually wants to marry with the Dou family, and he wants to marry Shougu, who just made a fuss about sisters getting married! I'm afraid there is something wrong with this prince... Isn't this harming Shougu!" She also said, "If there was a decent woman in Seventh Uncle's family to help preside over the marriage, it wouldn't be so chaotic!"

The Second Madam nodded continuously and ordered Aunt Liu: "Go and find out what kind of person the Prince of the Duke of Ying is."

Nanny Liu stepped back immediately.

The Second Lady and the Fifth Lady discussed, "Should we ask the Sixth Lady's wife to go over and pass on a message to the Ji family?"

This is not an ordinary marriage that can be settled with the help of a few women. This is a matter agreed upon by the two families, and there are many twists and turns involved. Sixth brother's wife is just a woman, how can the Dou family push her forward? Even if they want to, Sixth brother's wife may not be able to take it!

The Fifth Madam didn't want to worry her mother-in-law, so she smiled and said, "Even if you want to ask Sixth Brother's wife to come forward, you should let the old man know first."

No mother-in-law would be unhappy if her daughter-in-law respected her son.

The Second Lady nodded repeatedly and waited with the Fifth Lady until Dou Shishu came back.

Dou Shishu was stunned for a long time after hearing the news.

"Seventh brother, did you really marry into the British Duke's family?" he asked again in disbelief.

The Fifth Madam nodded and said, "Although I didn't go in, the Song family's betrothal gifts were lined up in the main courtyard, and the front door was open for everyone to see. There were 124 pieces of betrothal gifts, so I definitely couldn't have seen it wrong."

Dou Shishu couldn't sit still any longer and said, "I'll go to Jing'an Temple Hutong now."

The fifth wife did not go in at first because she wanted to cooperate with her husband. Before her husband made up his mind, she would not say anything and would not do anything.

The two went to Jing'an Temple Hutong together.

As it was already dusk, the Dou family had closed their doors, but the 124-kg betrothal gift, plus the title of the Duke of Ying's Mansion, still made the Dou family's neighbors excited and talked about it a lot, so that the Jing'an Temple Hutong was inexplicably filled with a lively and festive atmosphere.

Mrs. Wu frowned slightly.

Dou Shishu walked in calmly.

The big red dragon and phoenix wedding boxes were neatly placed in the middle of the main courtyard. Dou Shiying, who came out after hearing the report, had a resolute look on his face and stepped forward to greet him.

Dou Shishu couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Knowing that there was no way back, he felt a little disappointed. He asked, "Have you found out about the Song family's affairs?"

When Dou Shiying accepted the betrothal gift from the Song family, he was prepared to be reprimanded by Dou Shishu. However, Dou Shishu was concerned about Shougu's future calmly, which made him slightly stunned. He felt a little guilty and whispered, "I've asked around... I've also looked for someone... who is worthy of Shougu..."

Dou Shishu said nothing more and asked about the progress of the marriage between the two families.

When he learned that Dou Shiying had already written the marriage certificate and set the wedding date for August 24, he couldn't help but glance at the Fifth Wife.

Mrs. Wu's face flushed immediately.

Dou Shiying murmured, "The wedding date is a bit hasty, but while my aunt is in Kyoto, it would be better to settle Shougu's matter as soon as possible..."

Dou Shishu nodded, smiled and told his wife: "Since Shougu is about to leave the palace, you should go and see her!" He then said to Dou Shiying, "If you need any help from your fifth sister-in-law, just ask."

How dare I ask you for help?

Dou Shiying murmured in his heart but nodded in agreement.

The fifth wife went to Dou Zhao's place.

Dou Shishu then talked about Zhao Si: "... He was recommended by the Shaanxi Provincial Government, and will soon be promoted to the position of counselor of the Huguang Provincial Government. This is a good opportunity for him. The Huguang Provincial Government Envoy, Mr. Li, has a boil on his back, which has not healed for a long time and is in so much pain that he cannot sleep at night. By this summer, the stench has become unbearable and his spirits are getting worse day by day."

Although he had been transferred to the post of Minister of Justice, he had worked in the Ministry of Personnel for more than twenty years and was now a Cabinet Scholar. How could he have kept these things from his ears?

Dou Shiying knew that this was Dou Shishu's way of showing goodwill to him, as a way of making up for the harm he had done to the Dou Zhao sisters.

Although he felt angry, he could not be selfish and willful as it concerned his uncle's future.

Dou Shiying bowed to Dou Shiying and said, "I still need Fifth Brother's care for my uncle's affairs."

"The Zhao family and our family have been friends for generations, and Ruifu and I are also old friends. What you said is too polite, Seventh Brother."

The two of them then discussed state affairs for a while before Dou Shishu and his wife returned home.

In the car, the Fifth Madam said to Dou Shishu, "Sixth brother's wife got the news and went over. When I went over, she was sitting in Shougu's inner room crying! From her tone, it seemed as if the prince of the Duke of Ying's Mansion had a bad temper..."

Before she could finish her words, Dou Shishu waved his hand and said, "What's the point of saying all this now? You can just go to the wedding happily." Then he said, "You go back first. I still have to go to Yuqiao Hutong."

The Fifth Madam hesitated and said, "It's so late..."

"This kind of thing should be dealt with as soon as possible." Dou Shishu said calmly, "If we drag it out, the Ji family will only think that we are perfunctory to them - we must show our sincerity."

The Fifth Madam was still a little worried and said, "Master Fang's matter..."

Dou Shishu waved his hands and said, "I have my own opinion!"

The Fifth Madam asked no more questions. She got off the carriage at the door of her house, respectfully escorted the carriage out of Huaishu Hutong, and then turned back home.

※※※※※

Old Mrs. Ji was lying on the drunkard's chair with her eyes half closed, thinking about Dou Shiying's breaking of the appointment without prior notice.

He invited Dou Shiying just to make friends with him, but he rejected his invitation bluntly. There was only one possibility - the Dou family told him what the Ji family meant, and he was very dissatisfied with this marriage!

Seeing that Ming was a handsome man with great achievements and was successful at a young age, no matter from which aspect he looked at it, he was the best candidate for a son-in-law. What else could Dou Wanyuan be dissatisfied with?

It would be better to send him an invitation tomorrow. If he doesn't come yet, I will go to Jing'an Temple Hutong to visit him in person.

People are afraid of the opposite side.

Would he have the nerve to reject this marriage proposal in front of me?

Thinking of this, he loudly asked the servant who was serving him: "Has the Sixteenth Young Master returned?"

Ji Yong is the sixteenth child in the family.

Old Mrs. Ji felt like she hadn't seen Ji Yong for several days.

The servant hurriedly said, "I will go and invite the Sixteenth Young Master now."

Old Madam Ji said "hmm", and a servant came in and said, "Old Madam, Mr. Dou Ge from Huaishu Hutong is here."

Old Lady Ji was very surprised. She asked the servant to invite Dou Shishu to sit in the flower hall. She changed into clothes for meeting guests and went to the flower hall.

Dou Shishu stated his purpose straight away, and said with a guilty look on his face: "After all, this is all my fault. I didn't expect that after my fifth niece got married, my seventh brother was afraid that my fourth niece wouldn't be able to get married, so he hurriedly married her to the Duke of Ying without informing us..."

Even though she was as old as an old lady, she couldn't help showing a surprised expression: "How could this happen?"

The marriage of your children is not like buying vegetables or radishes, which you can buy whenever you want.

Where did this British mansion come from?

The Duke of Yingguo's Mansion is not the Marquis of Jining's Mansion. That is a real family of high rank, a prominent family that has been blessed by the emperor for generations and has been prosperous for a long time.

Not to mention a small person like Dou Wanyuan, even the Ji family could not make the Duke of England's Mansion play tricks on them!

Old Lady Ji couldn't help but ask in a deep voice: "Have you found out clearly, is it really the Duke of England's Mansion?"

Dou Shishu did not expect that Old Lady Ji would ask such a question, but he thought that the betrothal gift included not only the "Niannian Youyu" carved from a whole piece of Shoushan stone the size of a washbasin, but also the carved silk and Shu embroidery that were as bright as clouds, so how could the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion be a fake?

He said tactfully, "I just found out about this this afternoon when the Song family brought 124 kg of betrothal gifts to Jing'an Temple Hutong to propose marriage. By the time I rushed over, it was already too late. Not only did the two families sign a marriage certificate, they also set the wedding date on August 24th."

Old Lady Ji couldn't help but sneer.

I am really becoming more and more naive as I get older. I actually said such things.

He looked at Dou Shishu, whose face was full of sincere guilt, and his mind raced.

"Jianming's uncle has worked in the Ministry of Works for many years and has always wanted to repair the waterways in Yixing. However, if it is funded by private individuals, it will inevitably be suspected of deceiving the public and gaining a good reputation. It is better for the government to preside over it, and our Ji family will follow..."

When you are an official, you should benefit the people.

But if it can benefit the hometown, it will be passed down through the ages and benefit future generations.

Yixing is just a small county town, how could it be in the emperor's eyes? Moreover, the imperial court has dredged the canal and the old Yellow River route in succession in the past two years.

Dou Shishu smiled bitterly.

This was the Ji family asking for compensation from me.

It is only natural to pay back debts. How could he not agree to it?

"That's a good thing." Dou Shishu said with a smile, "Master Ji, if there's anything else you need my help with, just ask!"

Old Master Ji sent Dou Shishu away with satisfaction.

Ji Yong is back.

He was smiling and in high spirits. When Old Lady Ji saw this, she felt a little stunned and didn't know what to say. She was speechless for a moment.

It was Ji Yong who asked Old Lady Ji with a smile, "What do you want to talk to me about?" She looked as if she was going to leave if she didn't tell me.

Old Lady Ji thought for a moment and asked, "What have you been doing? I've been busy these past few days and I haven't seen you."

Ji Yong smiled and said, "Nothing much, just went out for a few drinks with friends." Then he yawned and said, "Let's talk about it tomorrow. I'm so sleepy."

After saying that, she walked out of Grandma Ji's room without caring what he wanted to say, making Grandma Ji so angry that he was fuming.

Ji Yong was secretly happy.

After beating up Wei Tingyu together with He Yu, he felt much better.