Chapter 332 Forced Marriage
Dou Wenyi lifted the curtain and looked up to see a pitiful woman kneeling about ten feet outside the carriage. She was Dou Yingxue, the second wife of the Dou family.
They were being stopped by the guards of the Eastern Palace and were not allowed to approach.
Dou Yingxue was dressed in white, with only a simple hairpin in her hair. Her face was even thinner than the last time I saw her. She coughed from time to time, making her look frail and pitiful.
"...How dare you! You even intercept the Crown Prince's imperial carriage?"
"I'm not a bad person. I'm the Crown Princess's younger sister. The Crown Princess is my fourth older sister. Please let me through!"
Dou Wenyi subconsciously felt that something was wrong. What exactly happened to Dou Yingxue?
If she wanted to see her, she only needed to send someone to deliver a letter to the Crown Prince's palace, and he would naturally see her.
Why intercept the Crown Prince's carriage in public?
Is this embarrassing situation due to desperation, or is there another hidden reason?
Thinking of Yang's temperament and her plain clothes, Dou Wenyi couldn't help but feel pity for her. "Let her come over."
The guards, upon receiving the order, immediately allowed them to pass. "Yes, Your Highness."
Dou Yingxue wiped away her tears, a hint of joy appearing on her pale face. She lifted her skirt and rushed over, "Fourth Sister, oh no, Crown Princess, please save me! I really can't stand being at home anymore, my mother..."
She looked around, as if suddenly realizing that she shouldn't say these things in public. "Fourth Sister, let me get in the carriage and then I'll tell you in detail, okay?"
A hint of doubt flashed in Dou Wenyi's eyes, but before she could speak...
Eunuch Anxi smiled respectfully, “Your Highness, this is His Highness’s imperial carriage. Without His Majesty’s special permission, ordinary people are not allowed to ride in it. If the censors in the court find out, they will probably impeach you again.”
Dou Wenyi's face burned with embarrassment as she suddenly realized what was happening.
In fact, as the Crown Princess, she also had her own imperial carriage.
Pei Siyan was always clinging to her, and when they went out, they ate and slept together, so they would never ride in two separate carriages.
These eunuchs knew the palace rules inside and out, but never spoke up to remind them. It was only because Pei Siyan was too biased towards them that they wouldn't be so foolish as to offend the Crown Prince.
As a result, she did become somewhat carried away with her pride!
Dou Yingxue looked at the most expensive golden nanmu carriage in front of her, and a flash of envy crossed her eyes.
She whispered a reminder, "Fourth sister, what about me?"
Eunuch Anxi smiled and said, "This servant will arrange another carriage for Miss Dou. Your Highness, what do you think of this arrangement?"
"good."
Dou Wenyi gave Dou Yingxue a reassuring look, "Let's talk about it when we get back to the East Palace."
——
As the carriage stopped in front of the East Palace gate, the copper bells on the eaves jingled in the gentle breeze.
She lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage. A moment later, Dou Yingxue leaned out from the unassuming sandalwood carriage behind her, her eyes timidly surveying the magnificent gate of the Eastern Palace, like a frightened fawn.
"Fourth sister, I've never been to the East Palace before. It's so magnificent!" she exclaimed sincerely as she stepped off the carriage.
"Come with me."
Dou Wenyi spoke calmly, suppressing her doubts.
After passing through numerous palaces and long corridors, the two arrived at the Wutong Garden.
Inside the hall, the purple-gold incense burner quietly emitted smoke, and a delicate fragrance permeated the main hall.
Dou Wenyi casually sat down, gestured for Dou Yingxue to sit opposite her, and then ordered tea and refreshments to be served. "Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Dou Yingxue knelt down with a thud, sobbing uncontrollably: "Fourth sister, Mother...she wants to force me to marry the Duke of Anguo as his second wife!"
"They said the betrothal would take place in the next few days. Today, I had a few words with my mother, and she tried to beat me to death. I ran away secretly."
Dou Wenyi frowned slightly.
She knew about the Duke of Anguo; less than a year after his wife's death, Dou Mingyan had almost become his adopted daughter. He was nearly fifty, almost older than Dou Yingxue's father.
Has Yang lost her mind?
She reached out to help Dou Yingxue up, took out a clean silk handkerchief and handed it to her, saying, "Get up and talk. How could Second Aunt be so confused?"
“My mother said that although the Duke of Anguo is older, older people tend to be more caring; she also said that he holds a high position and great power, and if I were to marry into that family, it would be a good thing for the Dou family and for the second branch of the family. My father really wants to change his official position…”
Dou Wenyi thought of Dou Zhongyuan's desire to go to the Imperial Stud to manage warhorses, and that nonsensical memorial, and felt utterly contemptuous.
Dou Yingxue covered her face and sobbed, "But he's older than my father! And he has a bunch of concubines. I... I'd rather be a nun than marry him!"
She raised her tearful eyes and tightly grasped Dou Wenyi's sleeve: "Fourth sister, please, help me think of a way. I heard that I can become a lady-in-waiting in the palace... but it's not necessarily a lady-in-waiting position. Once someone is in the palace, their family can't just arrange a marriage for them. Can you help me get into the palace?"
“I’m willing to do any job, no matter how hard or tiring, I can endure it. Even sweeping the courtyard or doing laundry will do; I can wash clothes. As long as I don’t go back to the Dou family, my mother can’t force me…”
Dou Wenyi stared at her eyes and brows, feeling that this matter was too absurd.
While Yang, the second wife, was indeed opportunistic, her eagerness to push her own daughter into a pit of fire was undeniably distasteful.
"Someone, take Fifth Miss to Baoyue Pavilion to stay, and serve her well."
"Yes," the head maid of the East Palace quickly replied.
A cold glint flashed in Dou Wenyi's eyes. "A daughter of the Dou family should not be treated so lightly. I will send someone to investigate this matter. If the situation is true, I will take care of it for you."
Dou Yingxue's face lit up with joy, and she was extremely grateful: "Thank you, Fourth Sister! No, thank you, Crown Princess!"
The steward took Dou Yingxue to settle in.
Watching her departing figure, Dou Wenyi picked up her teacup, gently blew away the foam, and took a sip of tea.
She remembered clearly that during her last visit to the Dou family, Dou Yingxue had secretly glanced at Pei Siyan several times at the banquet.
At the time, she thought it was just a young girl's curiosity about what the future emperor would look like, and didn't pay much attention. Now, looking back, perhaps this "forced marriage" had some hidden motives.
Hopefully, she's overthinking it.
In her previous life, Dou Yingxue married a minor official of the sixth rank and was sent to a local post. She made some achievements in the area and was later promoted step by step. Her life was actually quite comfortable among her sisters.
"Someone come here," she whispered.
The eunuch Anxi, who was guarding outside the door, entered in response: "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
"Go and investigate whether Duke Anguo is really planning to remarry. Also, check which families the second branch of the Dou family has been associating with lately."
Anxi accepted the order and left.
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