Chapter 34 The Rift Between Mother and Daughter
Dou Mingyan quickly helped Gu Shi up and said with concern, "Mother, please take care of your health."
I can't stand it now.
Dou Wenyi was eager to know what expressions they would have on their faces when they found out Liu Rushuang's true identity.
Dou Bochang's face turned ashen, and he kicked out, shouting, "You fool! You're engaged!"
Dou Mingxiu was kicked hard and collapsed to the ground, looking utterly disheveled. He was no longer the handsome and dashing man he once was.
Madam Gu screamed in fright and rushed over to protect her son, crying and begging for mercy, "Master, Master, what man isn't passionate? He's still young. We've been too strict with him. He'll be fine once the novelty wears off. Besides, it's common for men to have multiple wives and concubines!"
"If she's a good person, and Xiu'er truly likes her, it wouldn't be a big deal to take her in as a concubine!"
With tears in her eyes, Dou Mingyan pleaded for him, "Father, please talk this out, don't hit my brother."
Dou Bochang was so angry he was practically spitting fire. He laughed in his fury, "Fool! Keep spoiling him. One day, you'll get him killed."
Old Madam Dou coldly watched this scene. "Gu, do you know why the Shen family is willing to form a marriage alliance with a lowly fifth-rank official like us?"
Madam Gu choked.
Dou Mingxiu and Shen Lishu, the eldest daughter of the Minister of Justice, were already engaged. The Shen family held real power, and many powerful figures in the court wanted to curry favor with them.
The Shen family valued him because he had passed the imperial examination at a young age, was of noble character, and lived in a clean house without any concubines. They believed he had a bright future.
It was only because Dou Bochang had promised the Shen family that Dou Mingxiu would not take a concubine until he was forty years old that the Shen family reluctantly agreed to the engagement.
Afterwards, Mingyan was betrothed to the Crown Prince, and the Shen family was finally satisfied with the marriage.
In the past, Dou Bochang had high hopes for this eldest son. Even if he could not become a prime minister and go down in history, he would certainly be able to become a third-rank official.
Who could have predicted that Dou Mingxiu would become so engrossed in love that he would destroy his own foundation?
He wants to call off the engagement just because of some random woman? If this gets back to the Shen family, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Dou Bochang stared intently at his son, "Who is she? What kind of bewitching potion has she given you?"
Dou Mingxiu looked pained. Shuang'er was a delicate and frail woman. He didn't know how she would live without him. She was just born into a poor family. Why couldn't they accept her?
He shouldn't have risked letting her into the manor; he should have kept her on the estate and made his move gradually.
"Ru Shuang's father was a teacher, and came from an honest and upright family; they weren't a family with bad intentions..."
Dou Mingxiu felt a strong sense of powerlessness. Did they have to deny Ru Shuang's worth without even seeing her good qualities?
Madam Dou shook her head in disappointment and abruptly interrupted him, "No matter what your status is, you should not exchange gifts privately!"
"Get out and kneel in the ancestral hall! You can only come out when you admit your mistake!" Dou Bochang was furious.
Dou Mingxiu is the most outstanding legitimate son of the Dou family, and he must not be ruined by a woman.
Madam Gu wanted to plead for mercy, but seeing Dou Bochang's stern face, she dared not utter another word.
As Dou Mingxiu passed by Dou Wenyi, he gave her a deep look, his eyes filled with resentment and venom, as if he wanted to devour her alive.
——
After everyone left, Cuizhi brought ice to help her apply a cold compress. "Miss, the young master went too far. How could he hit you..."
Dou Wenyi replied calmly, "It's alright."
She'll only be in pain for a while, but Dou Mingxiu will be in real trouble!
This slap not only severed their sibling relationship, but also meant she would never have to feign politeness with him again.
In the following days, Dou Wenyi was completely absorbed in refining the Nine Immortals Jade Dew Pills, but unexpectedly, Madam Gu came to Yilan Courtyard again.
Gu looked haggard, with dark circles under her eyes, making her appear as if she had been seriously ill.
"Your elder brother studied diligently from dawn till dusk to pass the imperial examinations, even studying on New Year's Eve. He endured so much hardship to achieve his goal and finally entered the Hanlin Academy. How can he ruin his career for a woman..."
Madam Gu felt her heart bleeding whenever she thought about these things. They had originally hoped to rely on the Shen family to help him, but he actually wanted to break off the engagement.
Dou Wenyi interrupted her, "What exactly is Mother trying to say? You're not going to send her away, and you're going to continue raising her in the Dou family?"
“Your brother has been kneeling for three days without a drop of water. What should we do if this stalemate continues?” Gu found her words very harsh and did not intend to argue with her.
Did they soften their hearts after kneeling for three days?
Gu looked embarrassed and asked again, "Did you already notice your brother's unusual behavior?"
Dou Wenyi knew they would be suspicious, so she had already prepared her answer: "How long have I been back from Yuqing Temple? Have you and Shuang'er only known each other for a month or two, yet your love is already so strong?"
Madam Gu seemed to be deep in thought. "Your brother has always been very well-behaved since childhood. Apart from studying at the academy, he rarely even goes on trips. How could he do something so outrageous? I just can't figure out where he went wrong."
"Haven't you found out her identity yet?"
Gu's eyes flickered slightly. "Your father has already verified her identity, and what your brother said is true."
Looks like they haven't found the key yet!
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Dou Wenyi, and she remembered, "My third sister has been visiting a bookstore called Chengxintang a lot lately, and my brother also accompanies her there. Why don't you go and investigate? You might find some clues."
The owner of that bookstore was actually Liu Rushuang's maternal grandfather.
Dou Mingxiu would not normally patronize such a small study, but Dou Mingyan's invitation to him was a different story.
Dou Mingyan probably used that time period to secretly act as a matchmaker for the two of them.
This explains why, in her previous life, Liu Rushuang targeted her at every turn, causing her to suffer many hidden losses.
So, she had always been Dou Mingyan's secret spies!
Madam Gu didn't listen to her at all, muttering, "If only I could secretly take her as a concubine..."
"If you're doing this for your brother's good, then do it your way. Why ask for my opinion?" Dou Wenyi completely lost her patience and spoke in an unfriendly tone.
Madam Gu became agitated, her voice turning shrill, "Dou Wenyi, you've gone too far! I'm still your mother!"
Dou Wenyi gave a sarcastic smile. "So, Mother still remembers me? But no matter what I say, Mother won't believe me! If I told you that what you're doing will ruin your brother, would you still insist?"
Madam Gu's face turned pale and then flushed, and she was furious.
Sure enough, their mother-daughter bond was weak; their dislike for her was destined from the moment she was born. They had been estranged for over a decade, but she had tried her best to mend things.
Dou Wenyi's stubbornness is her own fault, and she has no one to blame but herself!
"Is there anything else, Mother?" Dou Wenyi picked up the tea, unmoved by her anger.
"You!" Gu was so angry that she couldn't utter a word, and stormed off.
After the person left, Dou Wenyi immediately took out paper and pen and wrote a note. "Cuizhi, send this note to Shen Lishu. Have someone keep an eye on Shuang'er and report to us if there is any disturbance."
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