Chapter 53 Breaking off the engagement and tearing each other apart – she's guaranteed to win!
"Girl, they look very aggressive. Let's go ahead and take a look."
"Okay." Dou Wenyi curled her lips. It was worth seeing. In her previous life, she married into the Marquis of Dingyuan and was tormented by Madam Xue and Xie Mengyao. She never had a peaceful day.
In this lifetime, I've finally gotten rid of these disgusting people.
Dou Wenyi asked, "Has Xie Guidu arrived?"
Cuizhi shook her head honestly.
Dou Wenyi simply changed into a crescent-white jacket over a white pleated skirt, and draped a gold-flecked shawl over her shoulders. She went to the main courtyard looking radiant.
The osmanthus in the corner was blooming with delicate golden petals, its fragrance wafting through the air. On the day she married Xie Guidu in her previous life, full of anticipation, it was also a sunny day like this. Time flies like a dream, and she has finally changed the trajectory of her life.
Along the way, the stewards were checking the betrothal gifts against the list one by one, and carrying things out of the storeroom box by box.
"...This white jade peony ornament, that sandalwood screen, and that red coral all belong to our Marquis of Dingyuan's residence. Move them quickly!"
"Getting involved with the Dou family is bad luck. I heard that their eldest son's marriage to the Shen family also fell through."
“Our Young Master Xie is a man of integrity and upright character. I’ve heard that Miss Dou is a jinx. She’s just unlucky. Just wait and see. Once the engagement is broken off, she can prepare to be an old maid for the rest of her life!”
“Miss, it’s clearly their fault. The Marquis of Dingyuan’s mansion is going too far.” Cuizhi stamped her foot in frustration, but Dou Wenyi seemed completely unaffected.
“It’s alright.” Suddenly, Dou Wenyi remembered something from her past life. “Go and fetch the set of gold jewelry that the Marquis of Dingyuan’s mansion sent over.”
As soon as I arrived at the main courtyard, I heard strange, eerie voices coming from inside the house.
"...Your fourth daughter is spoiled, has a bad temper, and a bad reputation. We are unwilling to be treacherous and heartless. Even if it means suffering a loss, we will still offer her a betrothal gift, which is extremely valuable."
"But your fourth daughter is ungrateful. Not only is she jealous, but she also has no tolerance for others. She makes a fuss about breaking off the engagement over the slightest thing. Such a trivial matter as marriage is truly an eye-opener."
It was clear from Xue's sarcastic remarks that Xie Guidu had not told her the real reason for breaking off the engagement.
Indeed, if people knew he was secretly eyeing the Crown Princess, how could he face anyone? Would he even have a future?
"Hurry up and bring me the betrothal letter!" Madam Gu was so angry that her chest heaved, but she had no way to express her suffering. After all, bringing up Dou Mingyan's matter was even more disgraceful for her.
Dou Bochang's face turned slightly cold. Since Dou Mingyan became the Crown Princess, he hadn't suffered so much humiliation in a long time.
Ever since Xie Guidu insisted on the engagement, Madam Xue had been holding her breath. Seeing that Madam Gu didn't say much, she thought she was in the right.
She completely disregarded Xie Guidu's instructions, her eyebrows radiating arrogance. "With a daughter like Fourth Miss, aren't you afraid of implicating the girls in your household? I wonder which family will be fortunate enough to have her as their daughter-in-law in the future."
Dou Wenyi walked straight in, bowed, and said in an unfriendly tone, "Aunt Xue, it's none of your business who I marry. You should keep an eye on Xie Mengyao first, lest she have an affair and cause trouble that's hard to handle."
Madam Xue's eyes twitched. The Dou family was making a scene about breaking off the engagement, and she still had the nerve to talk back and slander her daughter.
Her expression immediately changed, and she angrily rebuked, "Fourth Miss, you have no respect for your elders, you talk back to your elders, and you spout nonsense. You have no manners at all! Madam Gu, is this how you discipline your daughter?"
Just as Madam Gu was about to reprimand her, Dou Wenyi spoke up first, "Didn't you start by throwing mud at me? Whether I'm lying or not, you can find out by going back and thoroughly investigating Xie Mengyao's room."
In her previous life, Xie Mengyao's room contained a large number of obscene novels. Later, someone came to her door with a token of love and forced her to marry him, causing a huge scandal.
"After all, Prince Xie has a flawed moral character and couldn't control his heart, coveting someone he shouldn't have. Even His Highness the Crown Prince knows about this, which is why we insist on annulling the engagement. Didn't he tell you?"
Madam Xue's face grew increasingly grim, and she angrily retorted, "You're talking nonsense! I originally wanted to save you some face, even if it meant breaking off the engagement, at least to be polite on the surface. Not only are you ungrateful, but you're also turning around and blaming my son for everything?"
"It seems you're ready to break off all ties with the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion. In that case, we won't bother covering for you anymore. Let the people of Tianning City be the judge!"
Madam Xue wanted to make the annulment of the engagement public knowledge and ruin her reputation.
Dou Wenyi sneered, "Aunt Xue, if you want to gamble with Young Master Xie's career, then go ahead and make a scene. I'd be more than happy to oblige!"
Anyway, since things have blown up, Dou Mingyan will be the one who suffers, and she has no intention of covering up for her.
Xue choked, still wanting to retort, which showed how confident she was. On the contrary, Xie Guidu felt guilty and couldn't help but feel a little guilty, so she swallowed back her anger.
Dou Bochang's face was icy. "Alright, let's call off the engagement. Don't cause any trouble!"
At this moment, the steward came in with the betrothal gift list and reported, "Madam, our betrothal gifts have been tallied. Shall we move them back now?"
"Move it all back!"
Cuizhi followed her in, saying, "Miss, the gold jewelry you wanted."
Dou Wenyi glanced at Madam Xue with a half-smile, "Aunt Xue, do you recognize these three gold pieces?"
Madam Xue was so angry that she vomited blood, and her face turned extremely pale.
Xie Guidu's betrothal gifts included three gold items: a gold bracelet, a gold pendant, and a gold shawl. According to the customs of the Great Zhou Dynasty, such items would be made of pure gold and carefully crafted.
It is unclear what Xue's motives were, but he actually used gilded copper to deceive people.
In her previous life, these gold ornaments returned to the Dingyuan Marquis's mansion along with her dowry. She discovered them by accident and naturally told Xie Guidu, but he didn't believe her at all.
Ms. Xue also said that she deliberately tried to sow discord between her and her son.
Her marriage to Xie Guidu was like gilded bronze, so fake it couldn't be more fake, destined for a tragic end from the very beginning.
Dou Wenyi glanced at her disdainfully, "This was sent to your residence by you. It's not pure gold, but gilded bronze. Be sure to count it in front of you, lest you accuse us of switching your betrothal gifts."
"I've long heard that the Marquis of Dingyuan's family lives off the dowries of their daughters-in-law, and they can't even afford a fifty-year-old ginseng root. I hope Aunt Xue can find a wealthy and obedient daughter-in-law."
Everyone present was shocked. How could a noble lady be so shallow?
Is the Marquis of Dingyuan really on the verge of starvation?
In her previous life, Dou Wenyi brought a generous dowry when she married into the Xie family, and she also contributed a lot to their livelihood... but what did she get in return?
Enraged, Madam Xue slammed her teacup on the ground and yelled, "Let's see how long you can be so smug! So what if she's the Crown Princess? Maybe she'll get concubines and favored wives too. You'll be crying then!"
"Are they all dead? Hurry up and move them!"
When Madam Xue smashed the teacup, it meant that all ties were severed.
Dou Wenyi breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, she was no longer bound to marry Xie Guidu.
When Xie Mengyao and Xie Guidu arrived, they happened to witness this scene. Xie Mengyao was gloating, having come to watch the show.
Xie Guidu wanted to stop them, his eyes pleading, "Yi'er, let's talk again..."
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