Chapter 36 A False Mother-Daughter Relationship
This isn't just causing trouble, it's clearly breaking off an engagement!
Dou Wenyi thought it would take a lot of effort, but she never expected the Shen family to act so quickly. They must have already found solid evidence.
It remains to be seen whether Dou Mingxiu can withstand the wrath of the Shen family.
Dou Wenyi was truly envious of Shen Lishu. Her brother, Shen Yanzhou, was so protective of his own. In her previous life, even though she married into the Dou family, he was willing to break ties with the Crown Prince to ensure that Shen Lishu and Dou Mingxiu would divorce.
As Dou Wenyi walked, she asked, "Has the old lady returned?"
"They're not back yet."
Fortunately, Madam Dou was not at home today; she had gone to the Marquis of Zhongxin's residence to visit her widowed sister-in-law.
Dou Wenyi stopped in her tracks. "Cuizhi, you go there yourself and tell Granny Cao to come up with a way to keep Grandmother at the Marquis of Zhongxin's residence for dinner. Be clever."
Her grandmother was already in poor health, and she didn't want her grandmother to be further agitated by Dou Mingxiu's messy affairs.
Cuizhi understood, nodded emphatically, and immediately turned and left.
Dou Wenyi lifted her skirt and headed straight for the main courtyard. From afar, she saw the maids and servants in the courtyard in a chaotic mess, all craning their necks to watch the commotion. As they saw her coming this way, they hurriedly pretended to do their work.
Dou Wenyi frowned. "Isn't it chaotic enough already? Don't you have anything better to do?"
The maids and servants left reluctantly.
At this moment, the heated argument and insults in the main room came to an abrupt halt. A short while later, the door suddenly opened, and a dignified and composed man slowly walked out, followed by seven or eight servants of the Shen family at a distance.
Shen Yanzhou wore a scarlet official robe, his posture as upright as a pine tree, with white jade hanging at his waist, which made him look noble and composed.
Dou Wenyi's heart tightened, and she was in a daze. It was him who had come.
After the Shen family and the Dou family broke off relations in their previous life, Shen Yanzhou resolutely pledged allegiance to Prince Rui, becoming his sharpest weapon.
He has the ability to manipulate events in the imperial court, and his methods are ruthless. He has dealt with many corrupt officials. Recently, he handled the case of Liu Rengui. Even the Crown Prince thinks he is a very troublesome person.
In this life, their two families broke off the engagement early, and it's unknown whether this will affect his decision.
Shen Yanzhou paused, his long, narrow, affectionate phoenix eyes scrutinizing her.
Thank you!
The clear, cool voice reached her ears, and Dou Wenyi's heart trembled. She lowered her eyes and pretended to be stupid, "I don't understand what Young Master Shen means."
Shen Yanzhou raised an eyebrow, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. "My Shen family owes you a favor, which we will repay in the future. It's only you."
Before she could respond, the crimson official robe had already drifted away, as if the conversation had never happened.
"...My son was beaten black and blue, and a junior dared to speak so arrogantly and force us to break off the engagement. The Shen family is so arrogant and domineering. Aren't they afraid that Shen Lishu will never be able to get married?"
Mrs. Gu broke down in tears, wiping them away with her handkerchief.
"My life is so miserable! My lord, is there no justice left? The Shen family is going too far! I can't swallow this insult! We... we'll have Mingyan go to the Crown Prince. We're going to file a complaint with the Emperor!"
Dou Bochang's face was gloomy, and his anger was brewing like a storm.
The harsh words of Shen Yanzhou still echoed in his ears; he wanted to see what fatal weakness he had in his hands.
With trembling hands, he opened the letter left by Shen Yanzhou.
With a crash, the teacup fell to the ground.
A shattered teacup lay in front of the door, spilling tea that wet her skirt. Dou Wenyi pulled her foot back from inside.
"Shut up! If you want to die, go ahead and sue me!" Dou Bochang's face was ashen, filled with boundless hatred. The piece of paper in his hand was like a death warrant, baring its fangs at him.
Madam Gu looked around blankly. "Master, Mingxiu just wants to take a concubine before the marriage, why is it like this? What are you talking about?"
"Your eldest son thinks the Dou family's wealth is too long-lasting, so he found you a courtesan as your daughter-in-law!" Dou Bochang suddenly raised his voice, then gave a low, bitter laugh.
His fingers were cracking, and he wished he could tear Dou Mingxiu to pieces right then and there.
Madam Gu's face turned deathly pale, her body swayed, a metallic taste of blood welled up in her throat, and she spat out a mouthful of blood. Her vision went black, and she fell off her chair.
Dou Wenyi rushed in and took out the silver needles she always carried with her...
Liu Rushuang's identity was quickly confirmed, and Dou Bochang swiftly sent her back to Yao County near Tianning City. It is said that she was reported and arrested the day after she landed.
Afterwards, he carefully prepared the engagement tokens for Dou Mingxiu and politely delivered them to the Shen family, politely announcing the annulment of the engagement.
When Madam Dou learned the truth afterward, she had seen a lot and, after a moment of fear, calmly accepted the situation.
On the contrary, Madam Gu was so angry that she almost died, and she remained unconscious for three whole days before waking up.
She forced her eyes open and met Dou Mingyan's anxious and concerned gaze. "Mother, you're finally awake! I was so worried!"
"water--"
Dou Mingyan quickly helped her up and took a cup of water from the maid and handed it to her.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Madam Gu abruptly pushed Dou Mingyan's hand away, shattering the teacup on the ground, and glared at her fiercely.
The look of resentment and disgust in his eyes sent a chill down Dou Mingyan's spine, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
Dou Mingyan felt extremely wronged, and tears instantly fell down her cheeks.
Gu looked at her coldly, her eyes seemingly poisonous. "You really don't know anything about your brother's affairs? You repeatedly urged me to keep that scourge alive, ruining his future. What were you thinking?"
Dou Mingyan felt a chill run down her spine, and a strong sense of resentment welled up in her heart. He kept saying that she was the one he loved the most, but when his own son encountered trouble, he would take his anger out on her.
She merely wanted to use Liu Rushuang to control Dou Mingxiu and act as a go-between.
Dou Mingxiu is weak-willed, fickle, and easily tempted. He likes to have a soft woman in his arms. What does that have to do with her?
Madam Gu stared intently at her. "He doted on you, yet you schemed against him? Have you ever considered what crime it would be to keep a government prostitute? What good will it do you if the Dou family falls from grace?"
Dou Mingyan was truly wronged; how could she have known that Liu Rushuang, that vile woman, would be Liu Rengui's mistress?
Dou Mingyan cried heartbrokenly, shaking her head desperately, "Mother, I didn't! I had no idea that my brother would like that Shuang'er, and I didn't know her identity at all. If I had known, how could I have let him do such a thing without considering the consequences? The Crown Prince is most wary of these things, and doing this would not benefit me in the slightest."
Having watched the commotion unfold, Dou Wenyi slowly stood up. "Mother, calm down. How can you blame Third Sister for this?"
"Third sister, could you please inform His Highness the Crown Prince first? Although Father is acting out of a sense of justice, if the Shen family persists in their pursuit and tries to use this matter against us, it may affect my brother's career."
Dou Mingyan's heart tightened, and she pursed her lips. "Of course, Si Yan will definitely take care of the Dou family."
Ever since she fell into the water, Pei Siyan has been very distant from her, and she has been unable to see him at the East Palace several times.
Madam Gu's face flushed red and then turned pale, and there seemed to be guilt in her eyes. "Good child, I have wronged you. You have always been the most sensible. You would never harm your brother."
Dou Mingyan's eyes were filled with tears. "Mother, you only acted impulsively. I don't blame you."
If the timing hadn't been so inappropriate, she would have clapped.
This mother and daughter are putting on a show of acting skills, their ability to hypocritically flatter each other is truly unmatched!
No matter how much Dou Mingyan is favored, she can't surpass Dou Mingxiu's position in the Gu family's heart. If one day Dou Mingyan does something reckless and implicates Dou Mingxiu, I hope the two of them can remain calm and composed and maintain this cheap mother-daughter relationship.
Madam Gu then asked, "How is your brother now?"
Shen Yanzhou's men didn't kill him at all; they only gave him superficial injuries. But Dou Bochang was furious and whipped him dozens of times. He probably won't recover for a while.
When Xie Guidu arrived at the private room of Fanlou, several wine jugs were scattered on the floor, and the strong aroma of wine filled the air. Dou Mingxiu was already drunk and unconscious.
"Wake up—"
"Brother Guidu, why don't you go and break off the engagement?" Dou Mingxiu struggled to open his hazy, drunken eyes and exhaled a breath of alcohol fumes at him.
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