Chapter 27 A New Trick of Playing Hard to Get
Inside Linfeng Residence, a strong, bitter smell of Chinese medicine permeated the air.
Xie Guidu's illness alarmed the entire Marquis's mansion. A maid handed over a bowl of dark, murky medicine, which Xie Guidu drank in one gulp, but the pain in his abdomen did not lessen.
Lady Xue, the wife of the Marquis of Dingyuan, sat to one side, looking at the bruises and exhaustion on his face, feeling extremely distressed.
"Gui Du, what's wrong with you? You were perfectly fine yesterday when we were getting engaged."
Xie Guidu naturally wouldn't let them know that he had fought with Zhang Chengxian, so he had to lie and say that he had accidentally tripped and fallen.
Xie Mengyao sneered sarcastically, "My brother married that jinx Dou Wenyi. She'll bring misfortune to his family. I warned you, Mother, long ago, but you wouldn't listen. Now that it's affecting my brother, do you feel sorry for him? I think she's a vixen, a master of seduction!"
She felt a tightness in her chest whenever she thought of Dou Wenyi's face, which was so beautiful it seemed like a curse.
She was a sensation when she attended the private school. Despite her family's decline, she captivated a group of young noblemen, and even that scoundrel... couldn't forget her.
"Alright!" Madam Xue glared fiercely at Xie Mengyao; she hated vixens more than anything in her life.
Her daughter's words were like a resounding slap in the face. She was born into a prominent family, and the Marquis of Dingyuan's heart had long been devoted to the young and beautiful Consort Zhou. He treated her coldly and even his marriage proposal to Xie Guidu was extremely perfunctory.
It is clear that the Prince of Fu'an is much stronger than Dou Wenyi, and the Princess has promised the Marquis of Dingyuan a generous dowry. Everyone knows that the Princess controls the largest merchant guild in the country and has a large number of ships going to foreign vassal states every year.
With such a status and position, she is worthy of returning to her family home.
Marquis Dingyuan, however, believed that the Crown Prince was the chosen one by Heaven, and that by forming a marriage alliance with the Dou family, he would become Pei Siyan's brother-in-law. Thus, Marquis Dingyuan boarded the Crown Prince's ship.
Her son insisted on fulfilling the marriage agreement, despite her repeated objections.
Xie Guidu frowned. "Xie Mengyao, she's your future sister-in-law! You're an unmarried noblewoman, yet you keep calling her a jinx and a vixen. Is this your upbringing?"
Xie Mengyao pouted and reluctantly lowered her head.
Dou Wenyi has a terrible reputation; she's said even worse things in the past, but I've never seen him react this strongly before.
Xie Guidu didn't want to pay attention to her anymore. His gaze, seemingly casual, fell on the doorway, as if he was waiting for someone.
With a creak, Mo Yu pushed open the door.
Xie Guidu glanced at him carefully, his brows furrowing slightly, and his heart sank to the bottom.
Mo Yu didn't dare to look at him, so she could only stand obediently to the side and helplessly shrug her hands.
Xie Guidu felt as if his heart had been hit hard. His abdomen, which had been aching slightly, seemed to hurt even more, and even his limbs and bones were in pain.
Mo Yu went to the Dou family to get medicine early in the morning, and now he returned empty-handed. She herself did not come to visit him.
In the past, when he was sick, she was the most concerned and went to great lengths to find medicine for him.
Now, out of spite, he doesn't even care about his illness anymore.
Xie Mengyao noticed the gloom on his face, and her eyes darted around. "Mother, my brother is sick. Why don't we let Dou Wenyi take care of him? Anyway, they're getting married next month, so there's no need to avoid suspicion."
"Nonsense, what illness are you talking about!" Madam Xue shouted.
Mo Yu's heart pounded wildly. Was Miss Xie out of her mind? How could she let an unmarried woman serve a man when he was ill?
Even if they are engaged, it's still against etiquette!
Besides, Dou Si's maid Cuizhi wouldn't even give him a bottle of medicine, yet he still dared to dream that she would come to take care of him while he was sick. What a pipe dream she was having!
"It's such a big deal that her brother is sick, and she, his fiancée, didn't even bother to visit him. That's just not right!"
She paused, then arrogantly raised her chin. "Mother, I'll go and invite her myself."
——
The Tianning City night market is bustling with activity, thousands of lights illuminate the blue sky, and the streets and alleys are lively and bustling.
Fanlou, located in Jingmingfang outside Donghuamen, was the most famous restaurant in Tianning City. With its carved railings, jade steps, beaded curtains, embroidered lintels, and bright lights, it was frequented by high-ranking officials and nobles.
"Bring me some iced food!" The waiter hurried through the hall carrying a celadon ice platter.
Plates of thinly sliced, translucent slices of meat, coated in icy steam, were served on the table.
Dou Wenyi pointed to the translucent fish slices arranged like a lotus flower on the plate and said with a smile, "The perch sashimi from Fanlou is the most delicious. After we pour it over some broth and add ginger, scallions, and sauce, the texture will be smooth and tender, and the taste will be truly delicious!"
"Zhang Chengxian, you've helped me so many times, you should eat more."
She had originally made plans with Lin Zhiyi, but she couldn't make it due to other commitments.
Zhang Chengxian leaned back lazily in his chair with his legs crossed, and when he noticed her looking at him, he subtly put his legs down again.
He raised a plate of carved candied fruit and moved it towards her, saying casually, "It's nothing to mention. If you hadn't saved my brother, I would be the only wastrel left in our Zhang family."
The aroma of the sashimi was irresistible.
Dou Wenyi smiled and turned to Young Master Zhang, saying softly, "Cheng'an, you should eat more too. I'm treating, so don't skimp on the money."
"Mmm, thank you, sister." Zhang Cheng'an had been craving it for a long time, and he excitedly picked up the silver chopsticks and started eating.
Dou Wenyi glanced at the injury on Zhang Chengxian's face and casually asked, "What happened to your face?"
Zhang Chengxian rubbed his nose and chuckled, "It's nothing, nothing, I just tripped and fell. I heard Xie Guidu came to propose marriage. What are your plans for that? Should I ask my aunt to think of something...?"
"No need, I'll figure something out myself. Anyway, this marriage won't happen." Dou Wenyi shook her head, her tone resolute.
Even Consort Zhang cannot interfere in such matters without a legitimate reason.
After finishing a large plate of sashimi, Dou Wenyi felt that life was worthwhile.
It truly proves the saying that good food is the one thing you should never miss!
At this moment, the door to the private room was suddenly opened. Xie Mengyao glanced at it and felt her blood rush to her head.
"Dou Wenyi, my brother's stomach and heart disease has flared up, he's in excruciating pain, and you still have the leisure to accompany another man to eat fish sashimi? Don't you have any conscience? I think you two are just trying to have an affair!"
Dou Wenyi's lips twitched; she was genuinely bewildered.
Zhang Chengxian was furious. "Xie Mengyao, what's wrong with you? Are you blind? Didn't you see my brother? And her maid, and my servant? Aren't they human beings?!"
"You can't expect anything good to come out of a dog's mouth! Those rumors and gossips are spread by people like you!"
"Zhang Chengxian, how dare you insult me?" Xie Mengyao stomped her foot in anger, then turned and glared at her fiercely.
"What are you pretending for? Hurry up and take care of your brother! If you keep acting like this, he might abandon you!"
Xie Mengyao walked around to her, grabbed her hand, and tried to drag her away.
Dou Wenyi's eyes turned cold as she shook off her hand. "Then let's annul the engagement!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
