Chapter 26 Dream
After running for an unknown amount of time, Dou Wenyi stopped, panting heavily. She desperately wanted to leave and escape the quagmire of the Dou family.
But running away will never solve the problem!
Dou Wenyi returned to Yilan Courtyard and instructed Cuizhi to send a message to Lin Zhiyi and Zhang Chengxian to reschedule for another day. Then she went to the front courtyard.
The main hall was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation, creating a peaceful atmosphere. The head matrons were checking the gift list, and the betrothal ceremony was proceeding smoothly.
To her surprise, Xie Guidu actually persuaded Marquis Dingyuan to personally come and present the betrothal gifts, which were three times more expensive than in her previous life.
After giving a few perfunctory replies, Dou Wenyi quietly observed everything like an outsider who had nothing to do with it.
On the contrary, Xie Guidu seemed to have realized his mistake this time and has not appeared again.
She stayed for a while, then got up and went to Shouhe Hall.
When Madam Dou saw her, the wrinkles on her face smoothed out. "Look at how dejected you look. Do you really not want to marry Xie Guidu?"
Dou Wenyi paused for a moment, shook her head, and then nodded.
To this day, Xie Guidu remains a perfect grandson-in-law in his grandmother's eyes. The reasons she holds are not enough to make her grandmother go against her grandfather's wishes and break off the engagement for her.
As for whether Xie Guidu had someone else in his heart, or whether the two of them were like strangers, or whether they had no feelings for each other, these reasons were not worth mentioning in their eyes.
Old Madam Dou held her hand and comforted her, "Xie Guidu is an outstanding child in every way. I can tell he is sincere towards you. If there is any misunderstanding between you, you should resolve it as soon as possible."
Dou Wenyi gave a bitter smile. "Grandmother, there's no misunderstanding between us. I just don't like him, and he doesn't like me either."
Old Madam Dou sighed and said earnestly, "If you really don't want to, your grandmother will risk her old life to help you break off the engagement. But Yi'er, you've already been at Yuqing Temple for four years. If you were to bear the stigma of breaking off an engagement, how would you face yourself in the future?"
After saying that, her expression suddenly changed, "Even if the engagement is to be called off, it has to be his fault, otherwise how will you ever get married in the future?"
"Grandmother, don't worry about it. Yi'er knows what to do." Dou Wenyi felt a warmth in her heart.
Her grandmother had always doted on her, so of course she would side with her in this matter. She would need a catalyst to break off the engagement.
Even if Xie Guidu saved Dou Mingyan, it cannot be taken as evidence that they had an affair, and therefore cannot be a reason for her to break off the engagement.
They wouldn't allow her to bring this scandal to the public eye.
Dou Bochang was cold-hearted and ambitious, so how could he tolerate anyone ruining the Dou family's path to success?
She couldn't ruin the Dou family's reputation and break her grandmother's heart for her own selfish reasons.
If she can't make a scene herself, what about someone else? For example, Princess Fu'an, or Pei Siyan?
A fighting spirit ignited in Dou Wenyi's heart. Princess Fu'an was determined to win Xie Guidu and was relentless in her pursuit. She had to find a way to give her a boost.
As for Pei Siyan, she still needs to gain his trust first.
——
As night deepened, the bright moon hung high in the sky.
Xie Guidu and Zhang Chengxian got into a fight, and neither of them gained the upper hand. They were evenly matched and both suffered injuries, although Xie Guidu had several wounds on his face.
He drifted off to sleep, gradually falling into a dream...
In his dream, he was lying in bed, murmuring, "Yi'er, Yi'er!"
Mo Yu quickly walked to the bedside. "My lord? The madam has been summoned by the Grand Madam to Fu'an Hall to attend to her illness."
Xie Guidu looked listless, his face deathly pale.
Mo Yu took out a sky-blue jade bottle from the drawer and poured out two crimson pills. "My lord, is your stomach ailment acting up again? Take the medicine first!"
Xie Guidu struggled to sit up against the headboard, took the pills, and swallowed them with warm water.
"She's been at Fu'an Hall for four or five days now, hasn't she?"
Mo Yu hesitated, then said, "...My lord, Madam finally managed to cure your stomach and heart ailment. Why did you drink again last night?"
The pills seemed to work, and Xie Guidu immediately felt much more relaxed.
He put on a brocade robe and a cloak, saying, "I'm going to fetch her back."
Snowflakes were falling heavily. Xie Guidu held up a green umbrella and could see that thin figure swaying precariously in the distance.
Dou Wenyi's knees were red and swollen, but when she saw him, her eyes filled with surprise.
"My husband!" Her soft voice brushed against his heart like a feather.
Xie Guidu strode up to her, took off his cloak and wrapped it around her. "Is Mother making things difficult for you because of the matter of having offspring?"
Dou Wenyi stared at him blankly for a moment, then lowered her eyes shyly. "No."
Xie Guidu felt a complex mix of emotions. Since their marriage, they had maintained a superficial relationship as husband and wife, without ever having consummated their marriage. So how could they have any offspring?
He wrapped his arms around her waist, his long fingers lingering on her soft hair, and whispered, "You've suffered."
Dou Wenyi mustered her courage and snuggled closer to him, basking in his rare tenderness. Xie Guidu's strong arms suddenly slipped between her legs, easily lifting her up in his arms.
Surprise flashed across her eyes, and the crisp scent of pine lingered around her nose. Like a startled raccoon, she instinctively clung to his neck.
Xie Guidu frowned slightly, quickened his pace, and carried her straight to the side room, where a warm and fragrant bath was already prepared in the tub.
A misty haze hung in the air, her cloak and dress cascading down, the dim light highlighting her fair, jade-like shoulders. The alluring scene in the bathtub was captivating, drawing his gaze. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he couldn't help but lick his lips, his body burning with desire…
Xie Guidu suddenly opened his eyes, his mind blank, and his underwear was wet.
A hint of embarrassment flashed in his eyes, and he quickly found new underwear and put it on.
Everything in the dream felt terrifyingly real!
A sudden, sharp pain shot through his abdomen; it seemed Zhang Chengxian had taken drastic measures against him!
Xie Guidu's forehead was covered in a layer of cold sweat. No, this painful feeling was all too familiar. His stomachache had probably flared up again.
"Mo Yu, quickly find out where the bottle of pills Yi'er gave me went!" Xie Guidu endured the pain and jumped off the bed, rummaging through drawers and cabinets to search everywhere.
Hearing the sound, Mo Yu pushed the door open and came in. It took him a while to remember what he was looking for. He pulled out a brocade box from the bottom of the rosewood drawer, inside which lay an exquisite sachet.
"When she gave away the sachets a while ago, didn't she also give away a bottle of Xiangsha Yangwei Pills?"
Xie Guidu held the sachet, looking completely bewildered.
Mo Yu's expression was somewhat unnatural. "Miss Mingyan said that bottle was pretty, so you gave it to her."
"What? Nonsense! How could I possibly give away something she gave me to someone else?"
Xie Guidu wanted to maintain his usual composure, but the intense pain made it impossible for him to control his temper.
Mo Yu muttered softly, "Young Master, back then, Miss Dou said that the stomach-nourishing pill was carefully formulated based on your symptoms and that you should try it. But you said she was so young, what did she know about pharmacology..."
"Go to the Dou family and ask for Xiangsha Yangwei Dan!"
Mo Yu was stunned. The two of them had broken up. How could he dare to go to the Dou residence in the middle of the night and make a fool of himself?
"Your Highness, I'd better go and call the royal physician first."
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