Chapter 65 Come on, let's hurt each other!
Madam Gu froze. "You, you wretched child, you are not allowed to sow discord here!"
Yang finally realized why she had been so reluctant to compile a guest list earlier.
She said sarcastically, "Sister-in-law, stop with the nonsense. If you're unwilling to relinquish power and let me take over, why are you pretending to be sick?"
The female managers present didn't dare to breathe, wishing they could just disappear on the spot.
Madam Gu was annoyed, but she maintained her dignified demeanor. "Sister-in-law, you're wronging me. Don't listen to her nonsense. I certainly hope that my mother-in-law's birthday banquet will go smoothly. I will prepare the invitations and send them to you in accordance with past practices."
Then, she sternly ordered the old women in the room, "From today onwards, whatever you do, report it all to the Second Madam. Serve her carefully, and if anyone dares to disobey orders, you'll be in big trouble!"
The old women inside nodded repeatedly.
With that, Madam Gu got up to leave.
Dou Wenyi looked at her with a smile, "Mother, those old customs, I wonder how long it will take to sort them out? If we wait until Grandmother's birthday to give them to us, who can we complain to?"
"Two days, is that enough? After all, Grandmother's birthday is coming up soon."
Her sharp gaze seemed to have already seen through her plan to delay.
“Good!” Madam Gu’s eyes were deep and profound.
Gu Shi glanced lightly at the old women present. They were all her trusted confidantes who had followed her for many years, and their ability to read people was already superb. If any of them were ignorant and did something they shouldn't have, they would naturally suffer the consequences.
She didn't want to stay any longer and turned to leave.
Dou Wenyi raised her hand to signal the old women to leave first, and said with a smile, "Second Aunt, I don't know anything, how could I steal your thunder? I just want to learn more about household affairs from you."
Yang snorted coldly, "What your mother said makes sense. If there is anything that Fourth Miss can do for this banquet, I will give the order. For example, you will be very busy when receiving the noble ladies."
She wouldn't tarnish her enemy's reputation!
Dou Wenyi seemed oblivious to her hidden meaning, remaining calm and composed. "Second Aunt, you've misunderstood. Grandmother doesn't intend to hold a grand celebration; she simply wants to invite close family members. You should consult Grandmother about who you'd like to invite!"
Madam Yang frowned; she had no desire to follow the rules in front of that old woman. "Are you in charge of the guest list?"
Dou Wenyi immediately ordered someone to bring pen, ink, paper and inkstone. She picked up the pen and quickly wrote down a long list of guests from memory.
Yang took the list and stared in disbelief.
Dou Wenyi added, "Second Aunt, you should send out invitations according to this method first. I guarantee they will all be people Grandmother wants to invite."
If everything has to wait for Madam Gu, it's easy to guess that this banquet will definitely be a disaster.
——
That morning, Dou Mingyan paid her respects to Madam Gu. Upon hearing that they were going to extend the old custom of hosting a banquet for guests to the second branch of the family, she took the initiative to accept the task.
Dou Mingyan stepped out of the doorway, her eyes half-closed. "Do you know why Fifth Sister didn't come to her zither lesson yesterday?"
Madam Gu was once a renowned talented woman. After getting married, she focused on managing the household affairs and no longer indulged in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She devoted all her passion to Dou Mingyan and even specially invited a female tutor with excellent musical skills to teach her at the mansion.
Dou Mingyan is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She is a well-known talented woman in Tianning City, and now, living up to expectations, she has become the Crown Princess.
Dou Yingxue, the legitimate daughter of the second wife, would also attend classes with her and never missed a class. However, she unusually took leave yesterday and did not come to class.
"I heard things aren't going well in the second branch of the family lately. It seems the second master is keeping someone else on the side. The second mistress is furious..."
Amber got along well with the maids in each room, and she was always well-informed.
At his age, he shows no respect for elders; he's truly a sharp knife!
A glint of surprise flashed in Dou Mingyan's eyes. "Oh? Go get some fine fabric. Let's go check on the second house."
When they arrived at the second house, Dou Yingxue was indeed busy comforting Madam Yang.
With red and swollen eyes, Madam Yang tried her best to maintain her composure. "Third Miss, what brings you here?"
"Second Madam, Mother asked me to send you the old customary document. She also said that if there is anything you don't understand, just send someone to ask her."
When Yang reviewed those old precedents, he couldn't help but be polite.
Dou Mingyan then ordered someone to bring up the cloth, saying, "These are all imperial gifts. I thought they would suit Fifth Sister, so I brought over a few bolts. Second Aunt, please don't find them offensive."
Yang's depressed mood gradually improved.
Dou Mingyan exchanged a few more polite words with her, then made an excuse to send Dou Yingxue away. She then changed the subject, saying, "I have a few private words to say, but I don't know if I should."
Dou Mingyan is the future Crown Princess, how could Madam Yang dare to offend her? "Third Miss, please speak freely."
Dou Mingyan sighed, "Auntie knows that I will eventually marry into the Eastern Palace. To put it bluntly, it's inevitable that the Crown Prince will have three palaces and six courtyards. I've already come to terms with it. But no matter what, I am the Crown Princess, and no one can surpass me. If I know those concubines and mistresses well and they are my own people, then it's easy to deal with them. But if they are kept outside, it's difficult to control them. Even if I want to teach and discipline them, it will be very difficult!"
Yang understood immediately, "You mean, you want me to bring the person back?"
Dou Mingyan smiled and said softly, "Once you bring her back, she'll be a member of the Dou family, a concubine. She'll have to listen to your instructions, won't she?"
Madam Yang's eyes lit up. As expected of someone destined to become the Crown Princess, her plan for rescue was thorough. "This method is quite good!"
"However, Auntie might as well take the initiative to find a few lucky and kind people to serve Second Uncle together."
"Where can you find someone so considerate?" Yang thought of Dou Zhongyuan's temperament, and a sigh caught in her throat.
Dou Mingyan said meaningfully, "Why bother searching everywhere? Aren't there plenty of wonderful people in the manor? For example, Zijuan and Cailing, who serve the Old Madam... They are meticulous and thoughtful, managing all of the Old Madam's many trivial matters in an orderly manner..."
"I'm afraid she won't condescend to do so..." Madam Yang's mind raced.
Zijuan is shrewd and capable, meticulous in every aspect, and is the old lady's most reliable assistant, enjoying her trust.
She was born a slave, and once her life contract was seized...
Madam Yang was truly tempted. Recently, she carefully examined the Dou family's accounts. Madam Gu had controlled the inner courtyard for many years, and she had already skimmed off most of the profits.
It's really difficult for her to get a share of the profits.
Dou Mingyan covered her lips with a round fan, her words carrying a hidden meaning, "I've heard that the old lady's private property will all be left to Fourth Sister, and Fifth Sister is also her own granddaughter! Never mind, the more I say, the more mistakes I'll make. Just pretend I didn't say anything."
"A person's fate is something they have to fight for themselves..."
Since ancient times, wealth has been a powerful motivator. She did not believe that Yang Shi would be content with being constantly suppressed by the second wife.
Yang's eyes were dark and unfathomable. If a direct approach wouldn't work, then what about another method?
——
Dou Wenyi dared not be careless in the slightest regarding this banquet, and sent people to keep an eye on her movements.
So much so that she found out about the banquet the moment Yang made the reservation.
Cuizhi said indignantly, "Miss, Yuelaixuan has such a bad reputation. I heard that the Zhang family from Xihua Street booked a banquet there last time, and many guests suffered from vomiting and diarrhea after returning home!"
"The Second Madam dares to book a banquet at such a restaurant. Isn't she afraid of disgracing the Dou family?"
Dou Wenyi said meaningfully, "Yang just wants to make some money. Once something goes wrong, she will definitely bring up the old precedent and shift all the responsibility onto Gu."
Everyone has selfish desires. It's their business if they want to fight each other, but they shouldn't set their sights on their grandmother.
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