Chapter 164 Getting revenge for her
Xie Guidu suddenly looked up, his expression filled with fear. "Your Highness, I will take Dou Wenyi away from the court's intrigues and will not let her get in your way again. As for how to deal with Pei Siyan, I have another plan. Please give me another chance."
Pei Shaoqin's eyes were dark, as if he was considering something. After a long while, he slowly exhaled and said, "Fine, this time, don't disappoint me."
They discussed the matter for a while longer, and Prince Rui invited them to stay for a meal. Xie Guidu said he had something to attend to at home and left in a hurry.
Prince Rui stared expressionlessly at the departing figure for a long time before finally speaking, "What do you think of Prince Xie?"
Feng Tingyun frowned and said sincerely, "Your Highness, his method just now was feasible. I didn't expect him to be so affectionate and righteous. However, given Dou Wenyi's methods, I'm afraid it won't be easy for him to subdue her, and the Crown Prince will definitely be on guard."
Prince Rui smiled coldly and said casually, "She can't stay in the Eastern Palace forever. We'll find her weaknesses eventually."
Xie Guidu was not one of them at all; he acted too impulsively. Dou Wenyi was betrothed to Pei Siyan as the Crown Princess not only because her birth chart was suitable for a marriage to bring good fortune, but Emperor Muzong actually appreciated her. Otherwise, why didn't he consider Sheng Xiyue, who had a higher status, as his principal wife?
As long as Pei Siyan is alive, he remains the crown prince and has the potential to ascend the throne. The decree allowing the crown princess and the concubine to enter the palace at the same time not only slapped the crown princess in the face but also warned the Sheng family against any improper thoughts.
After all, in the royal family, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate heirs means who can legally inherit the throne!
Pei Siyan has suppressed them for so many years simply because he holds the position of the eldest son of the legitimate wife.
Feng Tingyun glanced at Prince Rui, "His Majesty has been staying at Qionglin Garden these past few days, and urgent memorials from court officials are sent there."
Prince Rui raised an eyebrow and smiled, a smile that was both playful and meaningful. "Very good."
Emperor Muzong was a womanizer, and Dou Mingyan was quite capable enough to catch his eye. Now, even if she was foolish, she should have realized that Dou Wenyi and the Crown Prince were the culprits who drove her to this dead end.
As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. She must be extremely willing to join forces with me!
Besides, they have physical intimacy, making their relationship much closer than that of ordinary people.
The heavy snow gradually stopped.
The disaster in Tianning City was basically under control, and Emperor Muzong was in a great mood. He stayed at Qionglin Garden for several days in a row, enjoying plum blossoms and hot springs. Dou Mingyan was proficient in poetry, lyrics and songs, and her taste was very similar to Wen Wan's.
Holding her was like holding Wen Wan; Emperor Muzong felt as if he had returned to his youth, full of vitality and boundless energy.
When she served him in bed, she was passionate, bold, and devoted, completely unlike the affected manner of women in the palace, which made him quite reluctant to leave.
That day, he had just returned to the palace when, in the middle of the night, someone from the Imperial City Guard came to report that Qionglin Garden was haunted, which terrified Dou Mingyan.
Emperor Muzong was considering giving her a new identity and bringing her to the palace as soon as possible. At the same time, he ordered the Imperial Preceptor to perform a ritual. On the way, the Imperial Preceptor happened to meet Dou Mingyan's personal maid, Amber, and took her to Qionglin Garden.
......
Dou Wenyi received the message from the secret guards just as she arrived at the West Garden to attend the Princess's birthday banquet. A smile played on her lips as she couldn't help but admire how capable Pei Siyan's subordinates were.
This was her first major event as the future Crown Princess. With Consort Zhang's constant support and the Eldest Princess treating her as an honored guest, she naturally became the focus of everyone's attention.
Dou Wenyi's face showed no signs of distress; she was radiant, poised, and interacted with the ladies of high society with ease.
The noble ladies from prominent families speculated that the imperial physicians might have exaggerated the prince's illness. After all, they hadn't noticed a trace of dejection in the crown princess.
After lunch, the princess invited an opera troupe to perform, and also arranged an auction at Changchun Garden.
Dou Wenyi walked towards Changchun Garden. At this moment, Princess Fu'an, lifting her skirt, chased after her from the other end of the corridor and affectionately took her arm.
Fu Anjun smiled and teased, "Should I call you Dou Si or Sister-in-law from now on?"
Dou Wenyi laughed and said, "Let's stick to our own way. We're not married yet, so why call each other 'sister-in-law'?"
"I knew it! Back at Zuixianlou, everything was fine, so why did my brother, the Crown Prince, suddenly start interfering with me? He wasn't interfering with me at all; he was clearly worried that I would lead you astray!"
Back then, she was severely punished by the Princess for her affair with a male prostitute, which caused her to lose so much happiness.
Princess Fu'an pressed on, "Did the Crown Prince take a liking to you back then?"
Dou Wenyi frowned slightly, "Don't talk nonsense!"
Princess Fu'an understood immediately and smiled mischievously, "A young lady's reputation is important. Don't worry, I won't say anything carelessly. Besides, I don't like your third sister at all. She's so pretentious and annoying."
"By the way, is it true that your third sister really has dementia and has gone missing?"
Dou Wenyi replied with a cryptic expression, "Hmm."
Princess Fu'an didn't believe it at all, and looked suspicious. "It doesn't seem like it. She was perfectly fine when she came to the West Garden last time."
Dou Wenyi said meaningfully, "Didn't she fall into the water? After that, she got sick, and her illness was intermittent and never fully healed."
The two chatted and laughed, and soon arrived at Changchun Garden.
Princess Fu'an continued, "By the way, when I visited my elder brother, the Crown Prince, he was quite unwell. Since you've been staying at the Eastern Palace, has he improved?"
As soon as he said this, some people around him turned their heads slightly.
Dou Wenyi deliberately coughed lightly and raised her voice slightly, "I heard that Doctor Ge has a closed-door disciple who has received the doctor's true teachings. He will be coming to Tianning City soon, and perhaps His Highness's illness will take a turn for the better."
She gently pinched Princess Fu'an's arm and whispered a reminder, "Walls have ears."
Princess Fu'an immediately noticed the probing gazes around her and sensed the somewhat awkward atmosphere. Pei Siyan's health was a matter of national importance, and various factions were concerned, especially those court officials whose stances were wavering.
The thought of Dou Wenyi's sincere answer to her question warmed Princess Fu'an's heart, making her feel that Dou Wenyi truly regarded her as a close friend!
The two chatted and laughed as they walked through a bamboo grove, when they heard the voices of noble ladies gossiping.
"...Be careful what you say, she's the Crown Princess now!"
“You’re afraid of her, she’s a jinx who got dumped, but I’m not. Let me tell you, she seduced the Crown Prince when she was still his sister-in-law.”
"Poor Mingyan was bullied and had to claim she was sick. This shameless woman will get her comeuppance sooner or later."
The voice was sharp and sarcastic; without even guessing, Dou Wenyi knew that the voice belonged to Xie Mengyao.
Princess Fu'an gritted her teeth in anger. She deftly rolled up her sleeves and said, "Dou Si, open your eyes wide and watch how I deal with her!"
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