Ji also said that Yuzhan was not suitable to serve Dou Zhao, and asked her to replace her with another maid.

Nanny Yu knew that Ji was forcing her to deal with the jade hairpin.

The maids and old women in the West Mansion flattered her because they wanted to get some benefits from her. But when someone got into trouble, she not only couldn't protect him, but also had to punish those who flattered her.

Who will come over in the future?

But if she pretended not to understand, would the Sixth Madam feel humiliated and report the matter to the Second Madam?

Thinking of the Second Madam, Nanny Yu couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.

Let's get through this difficult time first.

Nanny Yu gritted her teeth, took Yuzhuan back, and beat her with twenty boards in front of everyone, until her skin was torn and she was breathing more than she was breathing out. She thought that the old lady was furious for some reason and anyone who got close to her would be in trouble. She was afraid that Yuzhuan had died from the old lady's mold, so she invited a doctor to give her medicine and asked someone to find a family for Yuzhuan to marry off.

"The most important thing is to marry her far away," she told the matchmaker, "and don't ask for money to redeem her. We will even give her ten taels of silver as a dowry."

The matchmaker was tempted by such a good idea: "I have a distant relative who is a porter and makes a living in Huai'an Canal Transport. His wife just died. If the marriage is successful, there will be a few tea leaves as a thank you gift. But he is a little old and has two sons..."

Nanny Yu didn't care about that. As long as she could get rid of the person, she agreed to the marriage without asking any more questions: "I'll go tell Master Qi."

The matchmaker sat there happily drinking tea and waiting.

Dou Shiying was in Heshou Hall. When Nanny Yu tried to go over, she was stopped outside the door.

"The old lady is talking to the seventh master," the servant whispered to her, "and she has ordered no one to disturb them."

Nanny Yu was standing in the yard waiting.

In the study, Dou Duo, lying on the Drunkard's Chair, looked as if he had aged ten years in an instant, tired and haggard.

"Wan Yuan, you must come back with a good test this time!" He put the back of his hand on his forehead, blocking his eyes, and his low voice revealed a bit of helplessness and resentment, "The current Dou family is no longer the Dou family when your great-uncle was in charge. If you want to keep the family business, you must fight for it. Do you understand?"

Dou Shiying stood there straight, without saying a word.

Dou Duo sat up suddenly and shouted angrily, "Did you hear that?"

"I heard it." Dou Shiying responded calmly and asked, "What are you going to do about the Wang family's affairs?"

Dou Duo sneered and said coldly: "Don't worry about this matter. I am here for Xi Dou, and I will not let Dong Dou manipulate you! You just need to go to the provincial examination peacefully." Then he said loudly: "Who is working outside?"

"It's little Duane."

"Go and invite the eldest master of the Wang family to come over."

Duan responded and left.

Dou Duo turned around and said to his son who was standing there quietly, "Go back and pack your luggage. We will leave for Kyoto early tomorrow morning."

Dou Shiying bowed respectfully to his father and left Heshou Hall.

Nanny Yu hurried over and told her about going to the East Mansion. Finally, she said, "…Sixth Madam said that such a person cannot be kept. For the sake of grandma's reputation, it is best to marry her off far away."

She was afraid of causing more trouble, so she moved Ji out.

Dou Shiying was stunned, and after a while he said, "Since it is Sixth Madam's wish, you should do it according to Sixth Madam's wishes!"

When Nanny Yu heard this, she hurried to report to the matchmaker, and that evening she walked out with the jade hairpin in her hand.

Dou Shiying stood there for a long time, and told Gao Sheng behind him: "Go and help me pack my things. I'm going to go to Sixth Master's place to see Shougu."

Gao Sheng hurriedly said, "Then you should go early and come back early, because we still have to worship our ancestors early tomorrow morning."

Dou Shiying nodded and went to the East Palace.

Dou Shiheng was packing the books he was going to take to Kyoto. The study was a bit messy. When he saw Dou Shiying coming, he sat down with Dou Shiying in the hall.

"Shou Gu and your sixth sister-in-law went to visit the second son's wife," he poured a cup of tea for Dou Shiying and said, "Looking at the time, they should be back soon."

Dou Shiying said softly, "Sorry for the trouble, Sixth Sister-in-law," and remained silent for a long time, holding the teacup.

Dou Shiheng smiled and said, "What's wrong? Are you annoyed by the troubles at home?"

Dou Shiying smiled faintly and answered irrelevantly: "Sixth brother, when the families wanted to cancel the engagement, why did you speak well of them?"

Dou Shiheng was a little surprised, and said half jokingly and half teasingly: "Your reputation is already bad enough. If you are rejected by other families, you may not be able to find a good wife in the future."

Dou Shiying listened and thought for a while, then suddenly smiled, his brows relaxed, like a slowly opening painting, with a natural and freehand flow and casualness.

Dou Shiheng was stunned when he saw Dou Shiying raising his hand holding the teacup and said with a smile, "Sixth brother, I'll toast you a cup."

"Hey!" Dou Shiheng suppressed his inner surprise and said with a smile, "What's the reason for this?"

"I just wanted to say 'thank you' to Sixth Brother!" Dou Shiying had a smile on his face, but his eyes were serious and solemn, which surprised Dou Shiheng a little. Just as he was about to ask him what happened, he heard a burst of laughter from outside.

"It's Shougu who's back." Dou Shiheng said, and left the ear room with Dou Shiying.

The big red lanterns lit up the yard in red. A group of maids and old women came in, escorting Ji and Dou Zhao. Ji lowered her head and said something to Dou Zhao. Dou Zhao looked up at her and giggled. The small red-gold lilac pendant on his ear flickered, as naughty and cute as the stars that flickered in the night sky.

Dou Shiying felt a lump in his throat.

If Gu Qiu were still alive... I would be so happy!

He couldn't help but squat down, open his arms and shout "Shou Gu" to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao looked up and saw Dou Shiying, who had sharp eyebrows and sharp eyes.

She stood quietly beside Ji and slowly called out "Daddy".

Dou Shiying's smile froze on his face, and his arms slowly dropped down as if they were supporting a thousand pounds of force.

Ji pushed Dou Zhao and said with a smile, "Your father will leave tomorrow, and he came to see you today."

Dou Zhao pretended not to understand, knelt down to greet Dou Shiying, and said goodbye to his father crisply: "Daddy, have a safe journey!"

Dou Shiying laughed.

What's the point of having a child by yourself?

He smiled and walked over to touch his daughter's head, saying, "Shou-gu is with Sixth Aunt, so you have to be obedient, okay?"

Dou Zhao nodded with a smile.

Dou Shiying bowed to Ji and said, "Shougu, please take care of me, Sixth Sister-in-law."

Ji hurriedly returned the greeting: "Seventh Uncle, you are too polite. Shougu is well-behaved and sensible, and we all like her very much."

Dou Shiying said goodbye with a smile.

Dou Shiheng sent him off.

Dou Shiying stopped him and said, "Everyone has to get up early tomorrow, so there's no need to be so polite."

Dou Shiheng was a straightforward man. He smiled and waved to Dou Shiying: "Then we'll see you tomorrow."

Standing side by side with Ji, they watched Dou Shiying leave.

Under the gentle breeze and bright moon, the branches are swaying, and Dou Shiying's background is lonely and desolate.

Dou Zhao turned his head and ran into the inner room with a clatter.

※※※※※

Gao stood on the steps of the east wing of Qixia Courtyard. The rich fragrance of the lily of the valley filled her face. From the main room she could faintly hear Pang's sweet laughter, which was like needles piercing her heart and was so unbearable.

She suddenly became restless and couldn't help walking around in the yard.

How did I become a sister-in-law of Pang?

I have seen shameless people, but I have never seen someone so shameless. He has lost all his face because of the Pang family.

Thinking about how she has always walked upright and straight since she was little, she has never been afraid of anything at any time. She has never been like this, watching her toes when she walks...

Gao stood in front of the veranda angrily.

No matter what Wang Zhibing thinks, she will return to Nankubo early tomorrow morning, and then take her son to Kyoto to visit her father and never wade in this turbulent water again.

Wang Zhibing can afford to lose face, but she can't!

Having made up her mind, she felt a little better, and then she saw a dark shadow coming from the woods beside her.

She was startled and looked carefully, and it was her husband Wang Zhibing.

He lowered his head, moved one foot higher than the other, and looked absent-minded.

I wonder what the old lady of the Dou family said to him?

Gao thought about it, and remembered that yesterday she had advised Wang Zhibing not to live in the Dou family, and that he could just stay anywhere for the night, but Wang Zhibing didn't listen. As a result, at breakfast today, the maids from the Dou family looked at them as if they were poor relatives who came to extort money. She held the anger in her chest until the afternoon when it gradually dissipated. Gao didn't want to pay any attention to her husband.

She turned and went back to the compartment.

Wang Zhibing looked at the dim light coming from the half-open door and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

He knew very well that it was improper for them to live here, but if he didn't live here and there was no one to suppress the Pang family, who knew what kind of evil things they would do?

I don't know who acted as the matchmaker for this marriage. This is not matchmaking for their family at all. This is simply harming their family.

Unfortunately, his younger brother is cowardly and incompetent, and is strangled by his sister-in-law. As the eldest brother, he can't bypass his younger brother to control his sister-in-law, right?

Wang Zhibing went into the house with a splitting headache.

Gao didn't say a word to Wang Zhibing, but silently fetched water for him to wash.

Wang Zhibing knew that his wife had been wronged because of his family affairs, and he felt very sorry. He pulled his wife's sleeve and said in a pretentious manner: "Do you know why Master Dou asked me to go?"

Gao said perfunctorily, "What is it?"

"Master Dou asked me, do you want Dad to be a wise minister who will go down in history? Or do you want Dad to be a loyal minister who will be famous for a short time?"

Gao was shocked: "What did the old lady of the Dou family say to you?"

"He told us something we didn't know." Wang Zhibing hesitated for a moment and told Gao about Zhao Guqiu's death.

Gao's face was as white as snow. She covered her chest with her hands, and her mouth trembled slightly. After a long while, she trembled and said, "Yes, yes, is it a mistake?" Suddenly, she remembered that her mother-in-law once said that an old friend's daughter was getting married, and she didn't have money to give a gift, so she didn't want to go. It was only because she pawned her own gold hairpin that Wang Yingxue was allowed to attend the wedding... But in her heart, she had already believed it a little, and tears couldn't help falling: "What a sin!"

"I didn't expect that either." Wang Zhibing's eyes also turned red. "Old Lady Dou said that if he didn't admire my father's character, he would never let Yingxue into the family. He just thought of it as taking care of the daughter of an old acquaintance, but he didn't expect to cause such a disaster. Old Lady Dou knew what Yingxue was thinking, but Old Lady Dou also said that after the incident with Zhao, the Zhao family would never agree to make Yingxue the legitimate wife. You also know that without the consent letter from the Zhao family, it would be useless even if the Dou family recognized Yingxue..."

For some reason, when Gao heard this, the phrase "divert disaster water to the east" suddenly popped up in her mind.