Chapter 129 A Concubine is Also a Concubine
Ever since Dou Bochang subtly expressed his desire for Dou Wenyi to enter the Eastern Palace, Madam Gu has felt extremely guilty towards Dou Mingyan. If it weren't for her father risking his life to save her, Dou Bochang would have been dead long ago.
She would never do something as ungrateful as repaying kindness with enmity.
So he had no choice but to cherish her even more. Dou Mingyan was incredibly perceptive; she guessed the reason after just a few words.
Her expression changed several times, but she forced herself to remain calm. "Mother, you don't need to be troubled. Father just wants me to go back to visit my family. It's nothing serious. I haven't been back to Youyang for a long time, and I miss it very much."
Madam Gu's eyes reddened as she pointed to several exquisite red lacquered boxes on the table. "Mingyan, these are all jewelry from the Treasure Pavilion, to add to your dowry. I have already prepared your dowry, so don't worry, it will be of the highest quality."
Dou Mingyan glanced at the brocade boxes; they were from the second floor or above of the Treasure Pavilion, and were quite valuable.
Dou Mingyan was very sensible. "Mother, have I made you spend money again?"
Madam Gu, remembering her daughter's kindness, felt even more distressed. After holding back for a long time, she finally asked, "Does the Crown Prince also favor your fourth sister? If that day truly comes, don't blame her..."
A flash of resentment crossed Dou Mingyan's eyes as she said softly, "Fourth Sister is naturally beautiful, and it's only natural that she's lovable. Even if she were to marry into the Eastern Palace along with me, I wouldn't feel wronged. It's just that she's being treated unfairly, since even a concubine is still a mistress!"
These words sounded really harsh, as if they were saying that Dou Wenyi deliberately seduced the Crown Prince and used her beauty to please him.
Madam Gu felt a burning sensation on her face and a pang of pain in her chest. She also felt ashamed, as no normal mother would want her daughter to become someone else's concubine.
In this matter, it was Dou Wenyi who had wronged Mingyan, and she couldn't refute it at all.
Madam Gu's eyes welled up with tears. "It's my fault for not teaching her well. You've suffered because of this. Don't hold it against your fourth sister."
Dou Mingyan could hardly contain her anger. She took a deep breath and said in a resentful tone, "Mother, don't worry, I won't hold it against you. I'm just afraid that Fourth Sister will cause trouble for me."
Madam Gu gritted her teeth and said, "Don't worry, I will tell her!"
"Mother, I'd like to go offer incense in a couple of days, is that alright?" Dou Mingyan remembered her important matter.
Madam Gu naturally granted her request and even specifically instructed her to bring more guards.
The following day, Dou Mingyan led a large group of people to Chaotian Temple.
After Dou Mingyan paid her respects to the Three Pure Ones, she followed a young Taoist priest to the backyard and entered a pill-refining room, where incense wafted through the air.
She removed her veil, revealing a fair and delicate face. Upon seeing that person, her eyes immediately reddened, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Godfather!"
The man possessed an extraordinary air, his brows exuding the authority of a superior. His attitude was distant. "Mingyan, I know you've been wronged."
Dou Mingyan cried with tears streaming down her face. "Pei Siyan is not human. He never intended for me to marry into the Crown Prince's palace. He is too cruel. For the sake of a lowly woman, he even tattooed me with ink... You have no idea how much I have suffered. The Dou family doesn't treat me like a human being at all."
"They all want me to be a stepping stone for that bitch Dou Wenyi!"
The man's long, slender fingers rubbed against the teacup as he sighed, "Mingyan, you're too impatient."
Last time, they were careless about the 'Fortune Fairy' incident. They didn't expect Dou Wenyi to mess things up. Their carefully planned assassination failed, and they even implicated Xuanming for no reason.
"His Majesty has more than one son. At worst, he can choose someone else as the crown prince. I have already made all the arrangements, and this time I will definitely make sure you get what you want!"
Dou Mingyan stopped crying, and seemed to see hope again. "What should I do?"
"Can you really do it?"
Dou Mingyan nodded heavily.
"Come closer, I'll tell you..."
Dou Mingyan leaned closer to him, the man's hot breath brushing against her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
She nodded stiffly, her lips curving upwards involuntarily.
Finally, with a hopeful look on her face, she said softly, "Godfather, didn't you say you had a way to remove the tattoo on the back of my neck?"
"Aren't you afraid of the pain?"
Dou Mingyan's alluring eyes were misty with tears. She nodded blankly, then shook her head.
The man's face was ashen. He pointed to the soft couch beside him and gestured for her to take off her robes.
Dou Mingyan sniffed and obediently unbuttoned her collar, revealing her robes hanging to the ground. She was now only wearing a thin, red, mandarin duck bodice and a pair of underpants.
She lay face down on the couch, her smooth, bare back trembling slightly...
That warm, large hand gently stroked the back of her neck. "Shall I tattoo a pure and immaculate lotus flower on your neck?"
——
Dou Wenyi finally took Xie Guidu's words to heart. Together with Granny Cao, she thoroughly investigated everyone in the inner courtyard and sorted out the Dou family's assets. However, she still couldn't figure out how Prince Rui intended to harm the Dou family.
In the evening, after having dinner with Madam Dou, she helped her take a walk in the courtyard.
She spoke slowly, "Grandmother, if a political enemy wants to harm our Dou family, where do you think he would start?"
Madam Dou's pupils contracted, and she patted her hand. "Are you talking about Prince Rui?"
Dou Wenyi looked surprised.
Sure enough, Grandmother was not entirely unaware of it.
"These days, the Crown Prince and Prince Rui are locked in a power struggle because of Dou Mingyan's marriage to the Crown Prince. If Prince Rui wants to avenge himself, targeting our Dou family is the easiest option. Another option is to scheme against your marriage. Yi'er, tell your grandmother, do you have someone on your mind?"
Dou Wenyi smiled helplessly, "Grandmother, no!"
Madam Dou sighed, “There are different people in the household. You have already dealt with the kiln matter and your mother’s loan sharking... Have you ever thought that if these things are not considered important in a powerful family, they are not a big deal?”
Dou Wenyi instantly grasped the deeper meaning behind her words, "Grandmother, do you mean that these things are insignificant, and that destroying a family isn't the most fatal thing?"
What is the most deadly thing?
Could it be a rebellion? Or collusion with the enemy?
Dou Wenyi felt a chill run down her spine. Xie Guidu's words still echoed in her ears: Prince Rui wouldn't even stoop to assassinating her.
His ambitions are far from insignificant!
It's pointless for the Dou family to plot a rebellion; the only way to serve Prince Rui's interests is to frame Pei Siyan for this crime!
So where should he start?
Madam Dou nodded with satisfaction, "The servants have made a mistake, but it doesn't warrant death. We should focus our efforts on our own family members."
Dou Wenyi suddenly understood.
She quickly noticed something was wrong. The reason was simple: Dou Bochang, who had been leisurely, suddenly became very busy. For several days in a row, his colleagues treated him to meals, and each time he returned, he was drunk...
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