Chapter 246 Joy and Sorrow

Some are happy, some are sad.

Dou Zhao and Song Mo rested peacefully, but Song Yichun, who had been busy all day, sat on the armchair in the study with a gloomy face, listening to Tao Qizhong report the news he had heard in the past two days.

"…It is true that the fourth daughter of the Dou family grew up in the countryside of Zhending, and it is also true that she is at odds with Wang Yousheng's daughter. The fifth daughter of the Dou family stole the fourth daughter's fiancé, and this is also known to everyone in the Dou and Wei families. But what was unexpected was that, because sisters can easily marry, the seventh master of the Dou family temporarily compensated the fourth daughter of the Dou family with the banknotes that were originally intended for the fifth daughter of the Dou family as a dowry..." At this point, Tao Qizhong frowned and whispered, "I heard that the Dou family The seventh wife of the Dou family was so angry about this matter that she didn't show up when the fourth young lady left the palace. Moreover, the seventh master of the Dou family not only quarreled with the seventh wife of the Dou family, but also called the people of the Wang family to judge the case. Even the old man of the Dou family was shocked. When I came back, the people of the Wang family and the old man of the Dou family were still in Jing'an Temple Hutong. I think the fourth young lady of the Dou family will leave the palace first, and then her family will be in turmoil! I'm afraid she will become a laughing stock of the prince. "

Song Yichun was unhappy.

He hoped to cause trouble for Song Mo, but did not want the Duke of Ying's Mansion to be discredited.

Song Yichun thought for a moment and said, "Have your men keep a close eye on them. If there is a real commotion over there, tell Dou not to come back for the time being."

In this way, everyone would know that something had happened to Dou's family, which would help to alleviate the shock caused by the pile of banknotes.

Tao Qizhong nodded repeatedly and discussed with Song Yichun: "...I want to go to Zhending to see if I can find out any other information." He felt that even if Dou Shiying had more money than he could spend, he would not just give a bunch of banknotes to his daughter as a dowry. There must be something fishy about this.

Song Yichun was very satisfied with Tao Qizhong's prudence and agreed. Then he asked Song Hanlai, "How is his study these days?"

At Song Yichun's request, Tao Qizhong introduced a fellow villager who worked in the Hanlin Academy and came to guide Song Han's studies every ten days.

"Master Du said that Second Master is very hardworking. If he continues like this, he will be able to take the exam in two or three years."

Song Yichun was very dissatisfied when he heard this.

Everyone knows that children of meritorious service will not take part in the imperial examinations, but that old man insisted on bringing up the imperial examinations. Wasn't he trying to bluff him?

He recalled the time when Song Mo was studying. No matter which great scholar taught Song Mo, they all said that Song Mo was naturally intelligent and it was a pity that he was born in the Duke of Ying's mansion.

Song Yichun suddenly became a little angry, and said to Tao Qizhong in a gloomy voice: "It's getting late, sir, please go downstairs and rest first!"

After all, Tao Qizhong had been the guest of Song Yichun for more than 20 years. Knowing that Song Yichun was unhappy, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly and retreated with a gloomy look.

Song Yichun didn't pay any attention to these details at all, but was concentrating on thinking about the Dou family's affairs.

If the seventh master of the Dou family really had a falling out with his wife, he might as well take this opportunity to order his daughter-in-law to break off all ties with her family. In this way, Song Mo would not be able to get help from the Dou family in the future.

The more he thought about it, the better the idea became.

But who should talk to my daughter-in-law?

You can't let him, as a father-in-law, persuade his daughter-in-law himself, right?

Moreover, this matter must not alarm Song Mo. With Song Mo's intelligence, he would probably know what the Dou family is up to as soon as he heard it. If he did not alarm them, it might give Song Mo the opportunity to get closer to the Dou family.

Only then did he deeply realize how troublesome it was to not have a capable woman by his side!

Song Yichun's mind flashed through Jiang's beautiful face.

He couldn't help but shudder and shook his head violently, as if this could drive Jiang away from his memory.

※※※※※

At the Jining Marquis' Mansion, which was two blocks away from the Yingguo Duke's Mansion, although it was already past three in the morning, the lights were still on in the side courtyard where Tian lived. Several old women who served Tian were standing in the middle of the courtyard, looking at Wei Tingzhen's maid standing under the corridor with some uneasiness.

"What time is it now? Why can't you talk about it tomorrow? Why does Eldest Aunt have to ask now?" A maid murmured in dissatisfaction.

They couldn't even take a rest.

"That's right!" Her words attracted the common hatred of several old sisters. Another maid whispered unhappily, "They also called the Marquis and the Madam. The eldest aunt didn't think about it. Even if the Marquis did something wrong, he is still the supporter of the family and married to the Madam. She should at least give the Marquis some face. How can she teach the Marquis in front of the Madam like this?! I think we have to remind the Madam about this matter, otherwise, as time goes on, the Madam will definitely neglect the Marquis!"

Remembering the unclear argument between Wei Tingzhen and her brother that had just come out of the inner room, several maids nodded in unison.

At this time, Wei Tingzhen, who was being talked about by several old women, was glaring at Dou Ming with wide eyes, who remained silent. She looked as if she wished she could swallow Dou Ming in one gulp to vent her hatred.

"Are you dumb?!" She stared at Dou Ming, whose lips were pursed into a slit, with cold eyes, and shouted in a low voice, "No one in our family blames you. I just asked you a few questions, but you treated me like your enemy. Not only did you ignore me, but you even ignored your own mother-in-law. You married here on behalf of your sister, but has any of us ever said anything bad about you? Who knew that you were an ungrateful person, not to mention being humble and docile, you don't even have the most basic etiquette and manners! Is this the good daughter raised by your Dou family in the North Building? Tomorrow I will go and ask the old lady of Dou Ge to see who taught you to treat your mother-in-law like this..."

Wei Tingyu looked at Dou Ming, who was in a trance, and could not help but argue with her sister again: "Sister, can't you say less? Didn't I tell you clearly a long time ago that the banknotes were originally prepared by my father-in-law for Sister Ming, and Sister Ming didn't use them, so I can't let Tongde Silver House stamp them for nothing? My father-in-law gave the banknotes to Miss Dou Si... What are you talking about here? How can you talk like this?"

Tian shouted: "Yu'er, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Wei Tingzhen sneered, "Why? Now that you're married, you listen to your wife in everything and don't take your sister seriously anymore?" She said confidently, "The banknote was originally for Ming Jie'er. Since Dou Zhao was able to get her dowry back, why can't Ming Jie'er get back the dowry that was originally prepared for her? Even if you can't get it back, she's still your daughter, and your father-in-law should prepare a portion for Ming Jie'er!"

When Dou Zhao got married, she also went to the wedding as a relative-in-law.

When she heard about the pile of banknotes, she felt a lump in her chest and almost suffocated. She could not sit down at the table any longer and immediately sent a maid to look for Dou Ming. However, after searching for a long time, she could not find him. She returned to the Marquis of Jining's Mansion in a state of anxiety and waited until the third watch in the morning for Dou Ming, who came to visit her mother every morning and evening.

But before she could finish her words, Dou Ming walked out staggeringly and distraught with a dazed look on his face.

He looked like a wandering ghost, which scared Wei Tingzhen and Tian.

Dou Ming felt very tired!

She didn't know why the bundle of banknotes that originally belonged to her became Dou Zhao's?

My mother kept crying and refused to listen to anyone's advice.

My father was determined to send my mother back to the Wang family and would not change his mind no matter how much people tried to persuade him.

My uncle had no choice but to invite my father to the study to talk, and finally sent someone to deliver a letter to my grandfather in a sheepish manner...

How did things turn out like this?

After Wei Tingzhen found out, she forced her to go back to her parents' home and ask her father to return the banknotes. When her mother-in-law heard this, she kept nodding her head and saying something like "it should be so."

If Wei Tingyu hadn't said a few words for her, Wei Tingzhen would have ordered the servant to take her back to the Dou family!

A thought flashed through her mind and she thought of Wei Tingyu.

Yes, where is Wei Tingyu?

Dou Ming opened his eyes wide and looked around, then he saw Wei Tingyu hurriedly chasing after him.

She burst into tears and threw herself into Wei Tingyu's arms.

But Wei Tingyu stuttered, "Don't blame my sister. She's doing this for our own good! Think about it, even if we get the banknotes back, can my sister still take a penny of the money? It's all yours..."

Dou Ming looked at her husband with her mouth wide open, tears still welling up on her cheeks.

※※※※※

Mrs. Wang, who was tired after a day of work, was sitting in front of the mirror removing her makeup when she saw her husband, who was already about 70% drunk, walking in with unsteady steps.

She quickly stood up, helped her husband to rest on the big kang by the window, and poured him a cup of hot tea herself before preparing to continue removing her makeup.

Who knew that her husband would grab her and ask her about the bride with a smile.

No matter what, Song Mo almost became his brother-in-law!

Mrs. Wang couldn't help laughing, and told Wang Qinghuai in a slightly exaggerated way how Song Mo behaved foolishly in the bridal chamber.

Wang Qinghuai sat up suddenly, and he was about 60% sober in an instant. His eyes, which were originally a little hazy, immediately became sharp: "What did you say? Song Yantang, you actually let the woman's married man make all the arrangements?"

This is a way to respect the woman.

Madam Wang was shocked and said, "What's wrong? I didn't make up the story of Prince Song. If you don't believe me, you can ask Master Zhang San. Madam Zhang San was also there at the time, as was Madam Lu."

Wang Qinghuai said nothing, but sat there in a daze.

Mrs. Wang looked very frightened. After a while, she cautiously asked Wang Qinghuai in a soft voice: "What's wrong with you?"

Wang Qinghuai smiled bitterly and said, "This Song Yantang is really amazing! Fortunately, my sister didn't marry him, otherwise she would be in great pain if she didn't die!" As he said this, he couldn't help but sigh and said with emotion, "Whoever marries his daughter to the Song family to be Song Yantang's stepmother in the future will be a fool!"

Mrs. Wang didn't understand.

Wang Qinghuai said, "These things are in the past. It doesn't matter if you don't understand. But there is one thing I want to tell you. Either you don't associate with Dou. If you do associate with Dou, you must be careful and don't offend her!"

Mrs. Wang became even more confused.

But she always took her husband's words as the golden rule. When she saw her husband rest, she didn't ask any more questions and kept his words in her heart.

Wang Qinghuai closed his eyes, but couldn't fall asleep.

Song Yantang, you are so brave!

Not only did he trick the Emperor and the Empress, he also dug a pit for his own father to jump into. Even their Wang family was not spared and fell into the trap and became his "helpers" in Song Yantang.

And judging from the Duke of England's expression today, it seems that he hasn't noticed it yet.

It was because of the word "filial piety" that the British Council took the upper hand. If there was no "filial piety", what would have happened to the British Council...

He couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.

I just don’t know if the Dou sisters’ easy marriage has anything to do with Song Mo?

Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?