Chapter 318 Apology
Dou Wenyi leaned back in her chair and let out a frustrated sigh. "Mother, do you know that after this period, the entire Wenguo Duke's family will be sent back to Longyou?"
Madam Gu's pupils constricted sharply as she stared at her in horror, muttering, "How could this be..."
The Crown Prince and the Wen family are a community of shared interests; they share both prosperity and adversity. If they are both to be sent back, then the Dou family will be even more vulnerable!
Did the Wen family break some taboo?
They are family after all; the Crown Prince's heart is too cold and hard.
Dou Wenyi picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said casually, "Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been difficult to balance. Since you are so determined to make things difficult for me, don't blame me if my father's or brother's career suffers any setbacks in the future."
She paused slightly, then suddenly raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a mocking expression.
Facing Dou Wenyi's icy face, Madam Gu lowered her head guiltily, her voice growing softer and softer, "I told you, isn't that enough? Xie Mengyao... gave us five thousand taels of silver and promised to give us more after it's all done..."
A mere five thousand taels of silver almost sold her daughter!
Has she lost her mind?
If they're willing to help even the Xie family, with whom they have a grudge, then they'll be emboldened to sell official positions in the future!
Dou Wenyi dared not think too much about it, and tried her best to suppress her anger, but couldn't help raising her voice, "Is the Dou family so poor that they can't even afford to eat? Without these five thousand taels of silver, can't they survive?"
Madam Gu felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, as if she were being stabbed in the back, and helplessly clutched the hem of her clothes.
The Dou family is doing well, but no one would complain about having too little money.
Ignoring her nervousness, Dou Wenyi suddenly dropped a bombshell, "If you two insist on making things awkward between each other, then I'll beg His Highness to arrange a posting for Father and Brother in the provinces, and they won't be allowed to return to the capital for three to five years. Mother, you can just stay here and live a good life in the Dou family!"
Madam Gu jumped to her feet. "How dare you!"
"Want to give it a try? If Mother can properly advise Father to be more careful with his words and actions, then I certainly won't. But if it happens again, then next time, I'll start with your most beloved son!"
Dou Wenyi emphasized her words.
Madam Gu and Dou Bochang have been unreliable their whole lives, and she doesn't want them to fall into a trap even in their fifties.
"You wretched child! How could I have given birth to such a debt-collecting daughter!" Madam Gu cursed before suddenly realizing that she was in the Eastern Palace.
She instinctively shrank back, tears welled up in her eyes, covered her lips, and hurriedly left.
Watching her departing figure, Dou Wenyi slumped into her chair, unaware of Cuizhi's arrival until she entered.
"...Crown Princess? Consort Zhang would like to invite you over."
Did they say what the matter was?
Cuizhi shook her head and voiced her worries, "Recently, some palace servants have been whispering that since you will be the Empress, Consort Zhang should no longer be in charge of the six palaces. They also said..."
"What else is there to say?"
"And you also said that you've long wanted to reclaim the right to control the six palaces."
Dou Wenyi was slightly taken aback. Consort Zhang had been in charge of the six palaces for many years and was experienced and skillful. She would need Dou Wenyi's guidance in the future. How could there be a competitive relationship between them?
These palace servants would fabricate stories and spread rumors.
After redoing her makeup, she took Cuizhi to Jingkun Palace. As soon as they entered the palace, they heard bursts of laughter and chatter. Through the curtain, they saw Consort Zhang playing with a cat with several other people.
Dou Wenyi entered the hall, never expecting that Sheng Xiyue and another unfamiliar noblewoman were sitting inside.
She bowed to Consort Zhang.
Consort Zhang's eyes lit up, and she greeted with a smile, "Wenyi, come and sit down."
As she spoke, she pointed to the girl who was helping Sheng Xiyue, "This is the fifth daughter of the Sheng family, the legitimate daughter of the second branch of the Sheng family, Sheng Xiyue's younger sister, Sheng Shuzhen."
Dou Wenyi nodded slightly to acknowledge the greeting.
Consort Zhang continued, "The reason I called you here today is that there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Your Majesty, please give your orders immediately."
Consort Zhang handed the snowball in her arms to a palace maid beside her before speaking.
"It's not so much an order as it is. It's Xiyue. She's young and doesn't know any better. She's made a lot of mistakes and wants to apologize to you in person, but she's afraid you won't see her, so she came to me for help. She'll be going to Jiangnan next month, and I'm afraid she won't be able to return to the capital for a long time."
Dou Wenyi was somewhat surprised.
Consort Zhang probably didn't know much about the conflict between her and Sheng Xiyue.
The news that Sheng Xiyue wanted to harm her and that she had drugged the Crown Prince was never spread. Consort Zhang still believes that Pei Siyan is obsessed with her, which is why he wants to break off the engagement.
Dou Wenyi remained expressionless and said softly, "Your Majesty, all those momentous matters are now just memories, I've long forgotten them. There's no need to bring up the apology again."
Sheng Xiyue's eyes held a complex mix of emotions as she continued, "No, Your Highness, you are a magnanimous person. It's your good temper that you don't hold it against me. These past few days, I've been reflecting on things every day. Whenever I think back to the past, I realize how willful and reckless I've been, and how terribly wrong I've been."
Dou Wenyi sat quietly, watching her with a smile, vaguely feeling that Sheng Xiyue might be plotting something again, and that it couldn't be as simple as just an apology.
As she spoke, she stood up, poured herself a cup of tea, knelt on the ground, and raised the teacup above her head. "I admit my mistake. I, Xiyue, offer you this tea as an apology. I do not wish to leave Tianning City with regrets. I beg Your Highness to grant my request!"
Dou Wenyi stared at the cup of tea, feeling utterly absurd.
If she refuses to accept this cup of tea, does that mean she won't forgive her?
Whether they forgive or not, they both know the answer.
They are irreconcilable enemies; how could a cup of tea possibly resolve the conflict?
What if something else was added to this cup of tea?
Sheng Xiyue apologized to Consort Zhang's Jing Kuning, and the tea was naturally also Consort Zhang's. If she had any doubts, and the tea was not poisoned, wouldn't that be sowing discord between her and Consort Zhang?
Sheng Xiyue wouldn't risk everything for such a small benefit, so why did she put on this show?
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