Chapter 385: Anger

The Wang family was in chaos.

Gao, Pang Yulou and a group of maids and servants pinched Wang Xu's Ren Zhong and applied cold towels to her face, and finally Wang Xu woke up.

She quietly ordered the people around her: "Don't tell this to me!"

Naturally, everyone responded with a respectful “yes”.

She still wanted to ask her two daughters-in-law: "Did Sister Ming really say that?"

Gao and Pang Yulou nodded slightly.

Wang Xu burst into tears, "What sin have I committed? I worked so hard to raise an ungrateful child, but she doesn't even recognize her own mother! Are there any children like this in the world? Why doesn't the Dou family do anything about it? Are they just going to let her treat her mother like this? Isn't the Dou family known for passing down etiquette? I always think of Ming Jie'er and put her ahead of my grandchildren. Why am I doing this? ? Isn't it to make up for the guilt towards Yingxue! Otherwise, how can she, a Dou, boss around and show off in our Wang family?" She scolded and called Gao, "Go and ask Ming Jie'er in person if she is determined not to recognize Yingxue? If she doesn't recognize Yingxue, she can forget about our Wang family's business. I will just treat Yingxue as if her husband died and her child died, and she has nothing to do with our Wang family anymore!"

Gao really didn't want to see the Wei family's faces again, but she had to obey her mother-in-law's orders and had to agree to it.

Pang Yulou was just afraid of chaos in the world, so he advised Wang Xu: "Mother, you asked your sister-in-law to ask Ming Jie'er, but you are asking for trouble! When Ming Jie'er said this, not only were my sister-in-law, my nephew's wife and I present, but also people from the Dou family. The fifth wife was dumbfounded at the time, and asked her several times, 'Don't you care that your mother was pregnant for ten months and gave birth to you?' Ming Jie'er didn't regret or hesitate at all, so why did you ask your sister-in-law to ask? Would we lie to you? If you don't believe it, you can just send someone to ask the Dou family, why bother running to the Jining Marquis's mansion to embarrass yourself?"

Wang Xu was stunned, and after a while she collapsed on the big pillow.

But this matter could not be hidden from Wang Yingxue, who was concerned about her daughter's dowry.

She stared at Madam Hu with her eyes wide open, her face pale. "Impossible! My Ming Jie Er can't possibly say such a thing! It must be Mrs. Pang who slandered Ming Jie Er in front of my mother. I have to go and get to the bottom of it!"

Wang Yingxue ran out the door.

Madam Hu grabbed her and advised, "My dear wife, the second uncle's wife lied to you. Could it be that the first uncle's wife will follow the second uncle's wife in lying? Fifth aunt must have done this as a helpless expedient measure. Just wait patiently. After a few days, when things have calmed down, Fifth aunt will come to see you."

Is that so?

Wang Yingxue asked herself.

But their hearts ached, and things were much more complicated than they had imagined.

Before long, rumors spread in the capital that Dou Ming had fathered a child out of wedlock, and even linked Wang Yousheng's promotion, Zhao Guqiu's death, and Dou Zhao's dowry together.

But when it comes to rumors, the person involved is usually the last to know.

Dou Zhao didn't know that trouble was happening just because he was sitting at home.

She and Chen Qushui studied the backgrounds of those in charge of the outer courtyard, and the grandparents or grandparents-in-law of these little girls of the "Fu" generation.

"You don't know until you check, and you'll be shocked when you check." Dou Zhao couldn't help but sigh, "On the surface, these people have no connection, but if you check from the perspective of grandpa and grandmother, you'll find that they are all relatives in a roundabout way, like an old tree with twisted roots, supporting the daily operation of the Duke of Ying's mansion. How could the Duke dare to deal with those stewards and servants so easily?"

Chen Qushui was also a little dumbfounded.

He looked at the names one by one, his scalp tingling as he said, "Fufeng's grandmother actually served two generations of Duke's wives. It was not until Mrs. Lu passed away that Mrs. Jiang decided to release her to her son to be raised in honor. Fuye's grandmother, on the other hand, had served Mrs. Lu in the House of Lords together with Fufeng's grandmother. And this Fuxue, there are many brothers and sisters in the family, and it seems that they were sent here to seek a way out because they couldn't support themselves. But his grandfather used to be the follower of the old Duke and saved his life. Because he was lame and couldn't do heavy work, he followed his son to live on the farm..."

"They were all seniors who were favored by Madam Lu and the old Duke before Madam Jiang." Dou Zhao said solemnly, "What happened after Madam Jiang took charge of the Zhongfu? Were they all replaced by her own people? Or were those who stayed in the mansion liquidated by Song Yichun?"

Thinking of what happened to these people, they both fell silent for a long time.

Chen Qushui sighed, "If you want to ask about the old Duke, you can definitely get the answer from them; but if you want to know about Madam Jiang, I'm afraid these people are of no use."

Dou Zhao didn't think so.

She smiled and said, "Everything has a cause and an effect. It is possible that we cannot find out about Madam Jiang from the old Duke."

"Oh?" Chen Qushui knew that Dou Zhao always had his own ideas, and he immediately became excited when he heard that.

Dou Zhao said: "Logically, even if the Duke of England doesn't understand the affairs of the household, he should find a trustworthy man to help him manage the affairs. Why is it that Mrs. Jiang was in charge of the affairs of the Duke of England's mansion in the past?"

Chen Qushui's eyes lit up and he said, "Why didn't I think of that?"

Dou Zhao couldn't help but smile.

It's not that Chen Qushui didn't think about it, but he had been with her for a long time and was used to her strength. He no longer thought it was strange for a woman to be in charge, so he didn't think about it in this way.

She said, "I have always wondered why the Duke of England changed so much after Madame Jiang passed away. Was it his nature that he had always pretended to be a man in front of Madame Jiang? Or was it something that provoked him? If it was the former, why was he afraid of Madame Jiang? If it was the latter, what happened to him?"

Chen Qushui said: "I think the former is more likely. When Madam Jiang was in charge of the reward, the old Duke was still alive. If Madam Jiang was using her power to suppress others, the old Duke would not have so calmly handed over the family affairs to Madam Jiang..."

Dou Zhao smiled and said, "You see, this involves the old Duke. Fuye Fufeng's grandparents should know something."

Chen Qushui nodded.

The two discussed how to visit these people.

When Song Mo returned home, the first thing he asked was "Where is the Madam?" He learned that Dou Zhao had been busy with household chores all morning, and had been talking with Chen Qushui in the small study in the afternoon. She had not come out yet, and no one had come to visit her, so he inexplicably felt relieved.

Wei Tingyu is really a piece of rotten clay that cannot be helped.

It was he who chose Dou Ming and ruined his engagement with Dou Zhao. Now he is looking for trouble with Dou Ming on the grounds that Dou Ming had a child out of wedlock.

What on earth is he trying to do?

Did he regret giving up Dou Zhao after he got married because he realized that the beauty in his arms was most beautiful when she was painted? Or did he regret giving up Dou Zhao because he knew that Dou Zhao owned half of Xidou's business and wanted to bring up the past because of the money?

He never thought about whether he had the ability to overcome such a huge challenge!

Song Mo changed into his usual bright blue silk gown in a depressed mood, and his handsome face looked a little gloomy.

Gan Lu was startled and said hurriedly, "My Lord, I will go and ask the Madam to come over now."

I thought he was annoyed by the secret conversation between Dou Zhao and Chen Qushui in the small study.

"No need." Song Mo frowned and said, "Madam is talking to Mr. Chen, please don't disturb her."

Really not necessary?

Ganlu responded respectfully, but he was still hesitant in his heart.

Song Mo waved at her, signaling her to leave. He sat alone at the table on the kang, stroking his chin and thinking.

Ganlu decided to tell his wife.

When Chen Qushui heard that Song Mo had returned, he naturally didn't want to stay in the small study room any longer.

He and Dou Zhao went to see Song Mo together and said goodbye with a smile.

Song Mo politely escorted him to the door.

Dou Zhao had heard from Gan Lu that Song Mo was in a bad mood. Seeing Song Mo coming back, he smiled and took his arm. He tilted his head and looked at him and said, "What happened today? Why do you look a little gloomy, as if it's going to rain."

Song Mo laughed and said, "Don't listen to what those maids say. I'm just a little tired and don't want to talk." He touched her belly again and said softly, "Is the child well behaved today?"

"The child is very well behaved!" After the first three months of pregnancy, Dou Zhao was able to eat and sleep well and even gained weight. "Gao Xing's family listened to my aunt's words and made me walk three laps in the yard every day. Now I even know how many trees there are in our backyard."

Song Mo smiled and said, "Gao Xing's job is good, so he deserves a reward!"

Dou Zhao chuckled and asked him, "What did you do today?"

"We didn't do anything." Song Mo said, "Gu Yu went to the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, and Gao Yuanhua, I, him, and the other three drank tea for the whole afternoon. Later, Dong Qi came and invited us to Zuixianlou for dinner. Gao Yuanhua felt that the people he met at Zuixianlou were all acquaintances, so he didn't want to go. Dong Qi then suggested that we go to Xiao Li's in Qianfosi Hutong to eat private dishes. Gu Yu refused again, saying that it would be better to go to Wanchunlou, a newly opened restaurant outside Chaoyangmen, than Xiao Li's. Gao Yuanhua thought it was too far away, and we stood there for a long time without making up our minds. In the end, the Emperor summoned Gao Yuanhua to question him, and Gu Yu and I were too lazy to socialize with Dong Qi, so we dispersed."

Dou Zhaoqi asked, "Why didn't Gu Yu come back with you?"

Song Mo smiled and said, "He took my carriage to the gate, but was stopped by the servant at home. He said that his fourth brother was not well, and Earl Yunyang asked him to go home quickly to check on him."

Gu Yu has three half-brothers. The fourth one is only three years old this year and has been sickly since he was born.

Dou Zhao said: "Should we send someone to take a look?"

"I've sent someone to follow him. If it's not good, I'll write back."

Dou Zhao asked about Gu Yu's marriage: "Hasn't the marriage been decided yet?"

Song Mo said, "Gu Yu went to the palace today to test the Empress's mood. Who knew that the Empress said that as long as Gu Yu likes her, it doesn't matter what her family background is. Gu Yu just told me about this in the carriage. From his tone, it seems that the Earl of Yunyang intends to marry him to the eleventh daughter of the Earl of Yongen, and he is not very satisfied." He shook his head and said, "He originally wanted to borrow the influence of the Empress, but he never thought that the Empress would speak in this tone."