Chapter 47 Forcing Him to Break Off the Engagement
Xie Guidu felt as if something was stuck in his throat, and he looked away in suppressed pain, as if trying to quell the heavy suffering.
Now that things have escalated to this point, regardless of whether it's true or not, Pei Siyan is clearly angry and suspicious of them!
Even if he vehemently denies it, Pei Siyan will most likely send someone to investigate him. There's a collection of poems hidden in his study, and he also treasures various items Mingyan gave him...
It will inevitably be exposed to him, becoming irrefutable evidence of their affair, and will inevitably implicate Mingyan.
But if he admits it now... wouldn't he have ruined Mingyan's reputation with his own hands?
And what angered him most was that those obscene and erotic love poems were not written by him at all!
At this moment, he was filled with remorse and felt trapped in a dilemma. He had really underestimated Dou Wenyi's determination to break off the engagement. She came up with this plan to deliberately annoy him and play him like a dice!
His hesitation became Dou Mingyan's death warrant.
Tears had already blurred her makeup; she was like a piece of broken jade, riddled with cracks, with not a trace of her former charm.
Dou Mingyan cried her heart out, "Your Highness... I am innocent. My relationship with Prince Xie is completely innocent, and there is absolutely no affair between us."
She wanted to swear to the heavens, but the thunder was still rolling, and the power of that bolt of lightning was simply too great.
This has left her with some trauma; she's genuinely afraid of saying something she shouldn't and getting struck by lightning.
Pei Siyan frowned on his handsome face and said in a low voice, "A beautiful lady is sought after by gentlemen. My Crown Princess is naturally charming and attracts admiration, which is only natural. Why are you crying?"
His words struck Dou Mingyan like a thunderbolt, and she stopped crying. At that moment, the evidence in Dou Wenyi's hands contained nothing that could be detrimental to her.
The debt of gratitude for saving his life is greater than heaven, and Pei Siyan does not look down on him!
Only by shifting all the blame onto Xie Guidu and clearing herself of all responsibility can she preserve her reputation, maintain the marriage, and continue to be his Crown Princess.
Dou Mingyan's eyes were red and swollen. She glanced apologetically at Xie Guidu, hoping that he would remember their past relationship and give her some face.
Her voice was still choked with sobs, "Your Highness, I don't know what Prince Xie is thinking, I have no idea what he wants to paint or what poems he wants to write, and I don't want to know!"
A hint of pain flashed in Xie Guidu's eyes; he understood her deeper meaning all too well.
His knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground, his voice hoarse, "Your Highness, this painting is indeed my work. As Miss Dou said, I only admired her in private, and that was a long time ago. I have never overstepped my bounds."
"The poem on this painting is not my work. The handwriting can be verified by a specialist. Please forgive me, Your Highness! In the future, I will abide by my duty and will never allow anyone to take advantage of me to slander the Crown Princess's reputation."
Having lived two lives, Xie Guidu finally confessed his secret love for Dou Mingyan.
He was in a sorry state, even his hair looked disheveled, and she had exposed his dirty, lewd, and dark thoughts to the world.
For some reason, Dou Wenyi did not feel the joy that a victor should have. Instead, she found the scene before her eyes extremely jarring and even felt a pang of sorrow for Xie Guidu.
His deep affection and sincerity were worthless in Dou Mingyan's eyes!
All Dou Mingyan pursued in her life was power, supreme glory, and the throne of empress.
Even if Dou Mingyan were to become empress and don an elaborate and gorgeous phoenix robe in the future, she would still have to grovel at Pei Siyan's feet, showing weakness and flattery, just like those women of lowly status who wholeheartedly wanted to please their husbands.
Just like my past self, I desperately searched for a true love, only to end up wounded all over.
To betray or be betrayed is just a matter of a single thought.
After the rain shower, the glazed tiles on the eaves of distant houses were bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun. The interplay of light and shadow created a solemn and dignified atmosphere, yet it also seemed as if the house had been reborn.
Dou Wenyi took a few breaths of fresh air, and her heart felt lighter. Her face was filled with regret.
"Young Master Xie, since you are in love with my third sister, why are you so determined to marry me? Or is it that you think I resemble my third sister and are trying to use me as a substitute, while in reality, the person you truly think about and long for is my third sister?"
Her words were chilling upon closer examination; she was practically calling him the most shameless, despicable, and vile man!
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Xie Guidu's forehead as he took all the blame and admitted his true feelings for Dou Mingyan.
At this moment, he had no way to distinguish the truth.
If he were to admit to this, wouldn't that mean that he married her while actually fantasizing about Dou Mingyan every night?
That's outrageous, that's vicious!
He could ignore her thoughts, but he was afraid that Pei Siyan would think the same way. How would he explain that?
Xie Guidu's back was bent, filled with grief and indignation, his eyes were bloodshot, and his lips trembled. "Dou Wenyi, how do you resemble Mingyan? I have long since let go of my feelings for her."
Dou Mingyan glared at her venomously. After going through all this trouble, breaking off the engagement was her real purpose.
Dou Mingxiu stared at her in disbelief, not understanding why things had escalated to this point.
Pei Siyan narrowed his phoenix eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping over the faces of Dou Mingyan and Dou Wenyi. He was suddenly surprised to find that the two women's profiles did indeed look somewhat similar!
If vision is blurry, it's possible to mistake one person for another.
However, when viewed from the front, their charm and features are completely different. Dou Wenyi is lively and pure, with red and glossy lips.
He suddenly recalled that unforgettable passionate kiss, the taste of which was like tea—rich, sweet, and slightly bitter, with a lingering aroma. He'd try having her feed him sugar next time...
Dou Mingyan... let's not talk about her.
To think that they'd be mistaken for each other would be a sign of mental instability.
Pei Siyan coughed lightly, his narrow phoenix eyes lowered, making his face appear gloomy and sharp. "The rest of you may leave. Young Master Xie, Miss Dou, let's talk about your matter privately!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Dou Mingyan breathed a sigh of relief. When she stood up, she felt her legs go weak and she almost stumbled and fell.
She bowed respectfully to Pei Siyan and then withdrew, with Dou Mingxiu following closely behind.
You could hear a pin drop inside.
Xie Guidu's heart sank. "I beg Your Highness to forgive me and please do not take your anger out on innocent people."
He's already overwhelmed with his own problems, yet he's still protecting Dou Mingyan!
Dou Wenyi curled her lips into a disdainful smile, feeling that victory was in sight.
A sharp glint flashed in Pei Siyan's eyes as he gestured for him to stand up and speak. "What crime have you committed?"
Xie Guidu stood up, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.
"You're just unable to control your emotions. Talented men have always been known for their romantic affairs. It's no big deal!" Pei Siyan, who had been so solemn just moments before, smiled easily.
Xie Guidu felt a sense of unease. After Pei Siyan entered the hall, he dismissed the palace servants, which showed that he did not want the matter to escalate.
He probably wouldn't blame Mingyan. Therefore, he wouldn't hold a grudge against himself.
Xie Guidu looked bewildered. "What does Your Highness mean?"
Pei Siyan held his teacup, a half-smile on his face, "Do you think Miss Dou and Mingyan look alike?"
Xie Guidu's heart skipped a beat. Her words had indeed aroused his suspicion. No man would allow another man to covet his wife and then scheme against his wife's sister.
"Doesn't look like it!"
Pei Siyan ignored Xie Guidu and looked directly at Dou Wenyi, saying, "What exactly are you trying to do after all this fuss?"
Dou Wenyi said without hesitation, "Your Highness, Xie Guidu's intentions are impure. I do not wish to marry him and I want to annul the engagement. He has been using me as an excuse to secretly send lychees and zithers to my third sister, and now he has even created this painting of a beauty."
"When my third sister becomes the Crown Princess in the future, I'm afraid he will still be attached to her and his nature is hard to change. He might use his status as my brother-in-law to cause trouble and ruin my sister's reputation."
Pei Siyan's expression suddenly changed, and he angrily rebuked, "Xie Guidu, everyone praises you as bright as the moon and as an upright gentleman. If you don't like Dou Wenyi, why did you marry her?"
Xie Guidu stared intently at Dou Wenyi, a metallic taste of blood rising in his throat, and vehemently denied it, "I won't! The person I truly love is Yi'er, and I will treat her well from now on."
"Really? You've been dragging this out since your own mess, and you haven't shown her a single word of concern. Is this what you call 'liking' her?" Pei Siyan chuckled.
Xie Guidu looked embarrassed and couldn't refute.
A wave of panic washed over him as he suddenly realized that the marriage was in jeopardy. "Marriage is a major event, arranged by a matchmaker. My marriage to her was arranged by my grandfather. I will treat her well from now on."
He was reminding Pei Siyan that this marriage was arranged by their elders, and no one had the right to interfere.
Even if he is the crown prince, it won't work.
Xie Guidu changed the subject, "Your Highness, have you considered that if Yi'er breaks off the engagement, her reputation will be damaged, and she may find it difficult to marry again?"
"Your Highness is overthinking this. A couple of days ago, Zhang Chengxian mentioned to me that he wanted to marry her." Pei Siyan's expression remained calm, and his voice was very composed.
Dou Wenyi was slightly taken aback. How could Pei Siyan even come up with such a bizarre lie?
Xie Guidu's face was extremely pale, veins throbbed on his forehead, and his tightly clenched fists trembled.
He suddenly realized why Pei Siyan would help Dou Wenyi. She had even found a new husband for her. Would she rather marry that playboy Zhang Chengxian than marry him?
Is she really going to sever all ties with him? Does she have no lingering feelings for him at all?
Exhausted, Xie Guidu's eyes flashed with intense hatred, and his attitude was extremely disrespectful. "This is my private matter. We should resolve it ourselves. I hope Your Highness will not interfere any further."
Zhang Chengxian wants to steal the bride? No way!
Dou Wenyi was thoroughly annoyed and said seriously, "Your Highness, I have no feelings for Prince Xie. No matter the reason, I will not marry him again. He only disgusts me. How can we spend the rest of our lives together? My grandmother promised me long ago that if Xie Guidu made a mistake first, she would help me break off the engagement."
Seeing her resolute attitude, Pei Siyan smiled and said, "Young Master Xie? This matter concerns the Crown Princess's reputation, so I have no choice but to intervene."
"Your Highness, you married Mingyan as your Crown Princess because you love her, right? Will you never betray her for the rest of your life, will you respect her, love her dearly, and promise her a lifetime of monogamy?"
Xie Guidu met his sharp gaze and asked in a cold voice, "Only by rectifying oneself can one rectify others; only by governing oneself can one govern others. What then does Your Highness intend to do?"
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