Chapter 43 Still Want to Be My Crown Princess?
Under normal circumstances, Pei Siyan has designated people to taste anything that goes into the mouth, so no one has the opportunity to tamper with it.
Dou Wenyi suddenly remembered that he had eaten a pastry given to him by the Seventh Princess in the Xiefang Palace.
They used a child to lower Pei Siyan's guard. How easy is it to do that?
Therefore, Consort Tan planted a hidden pawn among Consort Zhang. They killed two birds with one stone: not only did they want to ruin the Crown Prince's reputation, but they also wanted to sow discord between him and Consort Zhang!
Besides Prince Rui, there is also Prince Duan in the dynasty. Prince Duan's mother is of low status, so he has no interest in fighting. Even though he is here in the palace today, his presence is too insignificant.
Of course, she dared not make any judgment as to whether he was involved or not.
"Looks like you're not too stupid!"
Pei Siyan lay lazily on the bed, his phoenix eyes slightly closed, as if he had already guessed what she was thinking.
"This is an undeserved misfortune for you. I will take responsibility for you. Being my woman, you won't be wronged at all!"
Dou Wenyi was filled with grief and indignation. She pursed her lips and said, "Your Highness thinks too highly of me. I am truly unworthy of such a favor. I hope that you will cover for me, considering that I was able to help you treat your headache. Let's leave it at that."
She would never become a concubine, much less share a husband with Dou Mingyan.
Pei Siyan recalled the sweetness from earlier and chuckled, "Could it be that you still want to be my Crown Princess?"
"This humble woman dares not harbor any unrealistic thoughts." Dou Wenyi immediately shook her head, vehemently denying it.
She suddenly remembered something, "Can you tell me something? I hope you will answer truthfully."
"Can."
Why is Dou Mingyan the Crown Princess?
Pei Siyan's expression stiffened slightly, and he said succinctly, "A life-saving grace."
Dou Wenyi fell silent, a gloomy look settling over her eyes. No wonder Dou Mingyan was so fearless; it turned out she was Pei Siyan's savior.
Even if she cures Pei Siyan's headache, she cannot change her fate of being at his mercy; Pei Siyan will always be Dou Mingyan's protector.
Where did she rescue you?
"Want to know more? You know how to please me, after all, you were the one who initiated it..."
"Never mind what I said!"
Dou Wenyi's ears burned. She quickly tied her hair up and adjusted her collar. "If Your Highness does not keep your promise and insists on humiliating me, then hand over that letter of accusation to the Ministry of Justice. At worst, I will atone with my death!"
She knew full well that provoking him would only do her harm, but there was no room for negotiation on this matter.
A hint of dejection flashed across Pei Siyan's eyes; he really disliked discussing this matter with her.
Back then, Dou Mingyan risked her life to save him, and he promised to give her the position of his principal wife; no one could change that decision.
The man's deep gaze fell on her snow-white neck again. He liked to be in complete control of everything, including women.
Born into the royal family, he was made crown prince at the age of five and lived a life of luxury. Since his mother's accident, he had long been accustomed to the coldness of human relationships and no longer believed in so-called sincerity. He believed that anything could be exchanged for women, power, and even the throne.
If someone refuses, it means they haven't offered enough incentives.
Pei Siyan rubbed his fingertips together, as if her faint fragrance still lingered there, and asked casually, "Don't you want to break off the engagement?"
She dreamed of breaking off the engagement.
"What are your conditions?" Dou Wenyi suddenly looked up; he was truly adept at manipulating people's hearts.
Being able to break off an engagement doesn't mean she's willing to exchange her body for another fire pit.
Pei Siyan gazed into her bright and innocent eyes, his smile growing deeper. "Don't try to guess my intentions. I never bother to force others."
She couldn't resist this bait; once she relied on him, she would rely on him a second time.
She owes so much debt, how will she repay it?
I'm really worried about her.
Dou Wenyi took a deep breath. "Does His Highness's grace still stand?"
Pei Siyan said calmly, "Of course it counts. Isn't it not fully healed yet?"
Suddenly, he chuckled, "If you can please me, I'll give you a small reward, no problem."
"This humble woman is willing to serve Your Highness!" Dou Wenyi replied coldly.
She still treated him like a subordinate to a superior; she preferred to be his subordinate rather than his woman.
Pei Siyan curled his lips into a mocking smile, waiting for her to walk right into his trap.
......
Back at her residence, Dou Wenyi's wildly beating heart remained unsettled for a long time.
She originally planned to use that favor to break off the engagement, but Pei Siyan seemed to have developed an inappropriate interest in her...
With the wedding day drawing ever closer, it's unrealistic to expect to completely cure his headaches in such a short time.
Instead, she gave him another handle to use against her.
For a moment, she was in a state of utter confusion. There are no secrets in the world. If Dou Mingyan found out that the Crown Prince had 'favored' another woman, and even used her name to make her take the blame, how would she react?
Dou Mingyan must not find out that she is the one tonight.
"Yi'er, open the door—"
A deep voice interrupted her thoughts. It was Xie Guidu's voice outside the door. How did he find his way here?
"Yi'er, Dou Wenyi, I know you're inside."
Xie Guidu didn't see her at the banquet and guessed that she had gone back to her residence.
Given the frequent mobilization of the Imperial Guards, he guessed that something major must have happened at the palace. Worried about her safety, he waited there, but after an hour, he still couldn't see her.
Dou Wenyi was not originally on the list of invitees to the autumn hunt; he was the one who came up with the idea of adding her name so he could take this opportunity to have a proper talk with her.
Dou Wenyi's face turned pale. The incident of Xie Guidu forcibly kissing her last time was too horrifying. She had just escaped from the jaws of death late at night and was still in a state of shock. How could she be in the mood to deal with him?
"Dou Wenyi, if you don't open the door, I'm going to yell!"
Dou Wenyi clenched her fists, a surge of hatred welling up from the bottom of her heart. This was the person she had once loved with all her heart!
Doesn't he understand the strict separation between men and women?
Her house was relatively secluded and quiet, but the residences of other noble ladies were not far away. Why did he have to shout and yell, without any regard for her reputation?
brazen!
Dou Wenyi gritted her teeth and said, "Xie Guidu, what's wrong with you?"
"...I just wanted to see my fiancée. I couldn't help myself. Is that so hard to understand?"
"Get out! Stop causing trouble!"
Xie Guidu's eyes darkened, and he threatened, "Fine, you don't have to open the door, but then none of us will sleep tonight. Tomorrow, everyone in Tianning City will know that you turned your fiancé away!"
Having exhausted all other options, Dou Wenyi came up with a compromise: "I'll open the window; you can come here to say what you have to say."
She opened a window, and in the moonlight, Xie Guidu's handsome face was gloomy, his deep and dreamy eyes were tinged with intoxication, as he leaned against the window frame.
Xie Guidu is usually very restrained and rarely drinks alcohol. Just how much did he drink to dare to go crazy here?
Their eyes met, and Xie Guidu noticed that her lips were red and swollen, with rouge smeared all over them.
His heart ached suddenly, as if he had been stabbed with a knife. His hand under his sleeve quietly clenched into a fist, and an intense jealousy began to ferment, swell, and surge towards him overwhelmingly.
That's jealousy towards another man!
A chill ran through Xie Guidu's eyes. He moved his lips and said bitterly, "Where did you go just now?"
He hid in the bushes, and even though it was dark, he could still see a young eunuch escorting her back. The only people who could order eunuchs around were the Emperor, the Crown Prince, several princes, and the concubines in the palace.
Who exactly is that adulterer?
Dou Wenyi was extremely agitated. "My affairs are none of your business."
"You are my wife, it's only natural for me to ask you this, stop making trouble." Xie Guidu's expression was sinister.
"Xie Guidu, I've never made a fuss with you. You are not my true love, nor are you the one I've been searching for. Our fate has long since ended. Look to the future."
"Dou Wenyi, what exactly do you want? It's my fault for neglecting you. I'll change, okay?" Xie Guidu remembered the purpose of his visit, and his voice softened, abandoning his usual arrogance.
He's already swallowed his pride to beg for peace, what more does she want?
He had never humbled himself to beg anyone like this before, couldn't she understand him?
She has always been a stubborn person; once she sets her mind on something or someone, she will never give up easily. She said she wanted to study medicine, and she memorized those thick medical books without hesitation. She used to be bad at needlework and was often ridiculed, but later, in order to sew robes for Dou Mingxiu, she spent two years honing her embroidery skills. Even the most difficult double-sided embroidery was no problem for her.
"I apologize for what happened at the West Garden. I'm the one who caused you distress by giving me that zither. I still have several zithers hidden away. How about I give you one? I was only trying to help you that day. Your argument with Mingyan was really unseemly..."
"Enough!" Dou Wenyi's patience ran out, and she was utterly speechless.
"Xie Guidu, why do you have to pretend to be a Casanova and keep pestering me? Isn't Dou Mingyan the one you truly love? Please act like a man, go and act crazy in front of her, and don't come after me!"
Xie Guidu felt as if he had been struck by lightning. A look of horror flashed in his eyes, and all the color drained from his face.
"No... It's not what you think about me and her, you've misunderstood..." He stopped mid-sentence as he tried to explain.
He and Mingyan had never crossed any lines, so was she deliberately trying to trick him?
What evidence do you have?
Dou Wenyi gave a sorrowful smile.
Evidence? What more evidence do we need?
He protected Dou Mingyan in every way, his heart and eyes were only for her, those zithers she would never touch, the lychees he sent her every year, the portraits of beauties he never changed...
He was simply taking advantage of her infatuation to recklessly degrade himself, yet he remained convinced that his infatuation would never change.
His ruthlessness made her seem incredibly foolish, and she lived two lifetimes that turned out to be a joke.
Dou Wenyi had never resented anyone so much, regardless of past or present lives; she wished she had never met him!
She stared at Xie Guidu and said, word by word, "I used to be blind and heartless, and I poured my heart out to you. How did you treat me? And you even ask me for proof? Xie Guidu, how have you become so shameless?"
"Stop bothering me. You may not care about your reputation, but don't you care about Dou Mingyan's reputation either?"
Dou Wenyi uttered a harsh remark, then quickly turned and slammed the window shut.
Left standing there, bewildered, Xie Guidu roared, "You dare! If you dare harm Mingyan, I will not let you off easily..."
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