Chapter 73 Dou Wenyi, you will enter the Eastern Palace sooner or later
"Oh?" Pei Siyan stood up, looking down at her delicate face and fair figure, his clear eyes filled with a layer of mist.
They looked pitiful, yet were incredibly tempting.
She should have evoked pity, but he was as hard as iron, saying, "Don't even think about it."
"Your Highness, it is my fault. I couldn't control my heart. I beg Your Highness to grant my request..." Dou Wenyi's face was pale, and his strong body was reflected in her pupils. She repeated her words again.
Dou Wenyi naturally understood that every word she said was jumping on his landmines; she was playing with fire, challenging his authority, and testing his bottom line.
You can retreat one step, but you'll retreat every step of the way!
She learned her lesson the moment they met; she shouldn't have given him acupuncture, and she certainly shouldn't have recklessly crossed the line...
Now she deserves to reap what she sowed!
Pei Siyan lowered his eyes and suddenly asked, "Does Zhang Chengxian know?"
"Does he even know you're treating me like this?" Dou Wenyi forced herself to remain calm and retorted defiantly.
Zhang Chengxian's original intention today was to propose marriage. He should have understood her unspoken words. As for the fact that she had someone else in her heart, if Pei Siyan hadn't reminded her today, she herself wouldn't have known her own feelings, let alone Zhang Chengxian.
Pei Siyan's brows furrowed with displeasure, his voice icy, "Dou Wenyi, you'll be entering the Eastern Palace sooner or later, so don't spout nonsense. You're good in every way, except for your rebellious nature and your stubbornness. We've already been intimate; who do you think has the guts to steal my woman?"
"No! We don't have any!" Dou Wenyi shook her head desperately.
Pei Siyan stared at her with his long, narrow phoenix eyes, his gaze deep and intense. "Who is it?"
His chilling gaze was like that of a vicious wolf eyeing its prey, brooking no mistake, terrifying and unsettling, as if he were about to tear her to pieces at any moment.
Dou Wenyi felt her scalp tingle from the stare and shrank back into a ball.
How could she dare to mention Shen Yanzhou's name? That would only cause trouble for him.
Are you looking for death?
For a moment, she felt trapped, as if she were meat on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.
Her voice was hoarse, "Pei Siyan, do you want to drag other innocent people into this?"
Suddenly, she seemed to hear the cracking sound of her knuckles as she clenched her fist.
Pei Siyan let out a cold laugh. "Dou Wenyi, don't test my patience. In ancient times, there were Ehuang and Nüying, and the two Zhou empresses. If I give you a hint today, do you believe that Dou Bochang will send you to the Eastern Palace in a sedan chair tomorrow?"
Even if she doesn't tell him, wouldn't he be able to find out?
The light blue cloak worn that day was made of a material that ordinary people couldn't afford. The man who went to Chaotian Temple that day checked everything and the answer was soon revealed.
"You! Shameless!" Dou Wenyi became more and more frightened as she listened.
What exactly does he see in her? Can't she just change?
"Your Highness, His Majesty has issued an urgent decree—" Chi Yan's deep and respectful voice sounded from behind.
As the heavenly music played, Dou Wenyi breathed a sigh of relief. She caught a glimpse of the crimson figure out of the corner of her eye, then turned and strode away without looking back.
——
Cuizhi hurried up to the terrace and immediately noticed that her lips were swollen and red. After a moment's thought, she realized with a start that the person who had just left was His Highness the Crown Prince.
Cuizhi stared wide-eyed in disbelief, "Miss—"
Dou Wenyi sniffed. "What is it?"
Cuizhi sighed, her expression complicated. "Just now, Cailing said that the old lady wanted to reward the young ladies of the Zhongxin Marquis's mansion with some beautiful jewelry. She sent people to look for Zijuan, but they couldn't find her anywhere. She was sent away by Que'er, who was by the Second Madam's side, but Que'er said that the two of them had already parted ways."
"Sister Zijuan is always steady and reliable. Knowing that the Dou family is hosting a banquet and there are many things to do, she will definitely serve them wholeheartedly and will not run around."
Dou Wenyi felt a chill in her heart, vaguely sensing that something bad was about to happen.
Zijuan was pretty with a slender waist and a charming oval face. She was cheerful, shrewd, capable, considerate, and most importantly, loyal to her grandmother. She also helped manage her grandmother's private property and was excellent at managing people and accounts.
In her previous life, she inexplicably jumped into a well and committed suicide.
She was only in her early twenties when she died.
Zijuan was a first-class maid in the mansion, with a high monthly salary, and she served her grandmother, making her a very respectable person.
If she were short of money or in trouble, she would ask for help, and her grandmother wouldn't care much about money; she would usually help her with most problems.
Why did she have such a difficult time in her previous life?
Dou Wenyi tidied her hair and clothes, then asked again, "Under what circumstances would a woman choose to commit suicide?"
Cuizhi pondered for a moment, "Tormented by love? Tormented by money? Desperate for life... knowing that my days are numbered?"
Dou Wenyi shook her head.
The simplest weapon to destroy a woman is her 'chastity' and her reputation!
In her previous life, she was deeply entangled in the vortex of 'loss of virginity', and even after marrying Xie Guidu, she still suffered from gossip and slander.
Later, when her daughter died young, she contemplated suicide. Xie Guidu sent people to watch over her day and night.
He even threatened Cuizhi, saying that if anything happened to her, Cuizhi would have to be buried with him.
In truth, what she resented most was being unjustly accused, misunderstood, and ridiculed...
There is no greater sorrow than a broken heart.
By then, she had long since stopped expecting a response from Xie Guidu.
It wasn't until later, when Shen Yanzhou told her that there was something fishy about Nannan's death, that she regained the courage to live.
Could it be that Zijuan, like her, is also trapped in a quagmire and has been wronged?
As Dou Wenyi walked, she asked, "Cuizhi, do you know Zijuan? She's already twenty years old. Have her parents mentioned marriage?"
Cuizhi said worriedly, "Sister Zijuan is very ambitious. She has a childhood sweetheart. The man came to see her the other day. He is handsome and I heard that he is very learned. He will marry her after the imperial examination."
A flash of inspiration struck Dou Wenyi, and she suddenly remembered Yang's greed and the idleness of the second master, Dou Zhongyuan.
I'm afraid something bad is about to happen!
Dou Wenyi instructed in a deep voice, "Cuizhi, go and call Granny Cao, find a few reliable guards, put on veils and dresses, and also prepare ropes and sacks, and come to the second house as soon as possible, without disturbing the old lady."
"I'm going to the second wife's house first! I need to be quick, or it'll be too late!"
At this point, Cuizhi finally understood.
Her face was extremely pale, and a great sorrow enveloped her.
Zijuan has probably been framed by the second wife's family. If the second wife's husband turns around and falsely accuses Zijuan of being greedy for wealth and climbing into bed with him, it could be disastrous.
On one side was Old Madam Dou's own son, and on the other was her personal maid.
How should the old lady deal with this?
Was it to save face for her son, to suffer this injustice in silence, and to give Zijuan to him as a concubine?
Or should we uphold justice for Zijuan and expose the despicable nature of the second wife?
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