Chapter 12 Why did Dou Mingyan insist on framing herself?
Dou Bochang was in high spirits. As soon as he returned to the mansion, he ran into Master Zhang at the gate. He was no longer arrogant as before, but greeted him with humility and said that he would prepare generous gifts to visit and express his gratitude another day.
The Zhang family and the Dou family lived next door to each other. Ever since the Zhang family produced a favored Consort Zhang, when has that old man ever given him a second glance?
What excited him most was that the patriarch of the Zhang family flattered him with words, praising his hard work and great achievements, saying that he was a model official in the court and that his position should have been moved long ago. He also told him not to worry and that he would take care of the matter.
It took him a while to learn that it was Fourth Sister who saved the young master of the Zhang family.
This is a life-saving grace! No wonder Master Zhang is so sincere in helping him. This time, things are settled!
Admittedly, the Third Princess was already the Crown Prince's fiancée, and she received quite a few rewards, but he didn't get any benefits at all.
He could hardly even see the crown prince, let alone get promoted.
Today, good news has come from heaven, how could he not be overjoyed?
Dou Bochang bowed respectfully to Old Madam Dou, and when he glanced at Gu Shi kneeling on the ground, he knew without a doubt that she had angered her mother again because of the fourth girl.
He couldn't help but scrutinize Dou Wenyi. She was beautiful and graceful, and even standing next to Dou Mingyan, she was in no way inferior in terms of demeanor. In terms of appearance alone, she was even more alluring.
One daughter married into the Marquis of Dingyuan's household, and the other married into the Eastern Palace.
The Dou family will enjoy endless wealth and glory!
Dou Bochang was unusually generous for once, saying, "It's just a few dead fish, right? I'll go apologize to my second brother myself, and at worst, I'll bring him some more treasures. Is it worth all this fighting?"
Madam Dou was stunned, a bunch of words stuck in her throat. Since her son had already offered a way out, she didn't need to make things too ugly.
"Mrs. Gu, please get up."
Dou Bochang made an exception and comforted her, "Fourth daughter, you've been wronged too. Go back, no matter how big the problem is, your father will take care of it for you."
Madam Gu stood up, her eyes wide with astonishment. "Sir, it's not..."
Dou Wenyi wasn't surprised at all. "Father, I'm fine. You don't need to pay for the fish, because someone stirred up trouble and deliberately killed them."
"What?" Everyone present was shocked.
Dou Wenyi raised her eyes and said, "It's very simple to check. Just cut the fish open and you'll be able to tell the abnormality. An experienced fish doctor can tell the cause of death at a glance."
In my previous life, such clumsy tricks could easily fool them, simply by taking advantage of a time difference.
Dou Mingyan deliberately created a series of unfortunate events to hint at and provoke them, accumulating resentment. Finally, she took advantage of Yang's love for her son and her emotional breakdown to attack her.
By the time she came to her senses and wanted to investigate, the dead fish had already been cleaned up.
Even if someone discovers something amiss, she has already been branded a 'jinx', so how can she clear her name?
What she couldn't understand was that Dou Mingyan was already a high-ranking future Crown Princess, and had already stolen her parents' love. What reason did she have to frame her?
Dou Bochang looked at her with a more inquisitive gaze. "Oh?"
Dou Wenyi explained the incident in a very calm tone.
It turned out that the old woman who raised fish had been dragged away to play cards and drink all day, and only rushed back to feed the fish in the evening.
After she finished feeding the fish and left, all the fish turned belly up, and they immediately went to find Granny Cao.
Granny Cao led her men to detain the old woman. Fortunately, they found the remaining fish food, which had indeed been tampered with.
Dou Bochang nodded repeatedly, finally realizing that Gu had been used as a pawn without her even knowing it.
Dou Mingyan, her face contorted with resentment, could no longer hold back. "Father, that damned wicked servant is treacherous and tries to sow discord between our two families. Someone must be behind her."
"We need to thoroughly investigate who she is close to or who her masters are, in case it involves too many people and she makes baseless accusations!"
These words were like a wake-up call, and Dou Bochang's expression changed inscrutable.
If a real investigation were to take place, it would cause chaos for the whole family, and who knows how many rumors would spread.
It's just a few fish; we can't afford to lose sight of the bigger picture!
Dou Bochang made the final decision: "Guards, give that old woman thirty strokes of the cane and then throw her out of the mansion. I'll send my second brother a few fish as a token of my appreciation, and that's it. This matter ends here; no one is to discuss it privately anymore!"
Madam Gu softened her voice, "Yi'er, you've been wronged. Don't blame your mother. I still care about you."
Dou Wenyi listened to her insincere "heartache" and felt no emotion at all.
If it weren't for their rebirth, they would have once again forced the label of 'jinx' onto themselves.
The Gu family disliked and resented themselves even more than outsiders!
She would unconditionally favor Dou Mingyan and pretend to be a loving mother in front of her to maintain her dignity as a noblewoman.
Is a perfunctory apology enough?
Doesn't she find it ridiculous?
Dou Wenyi said calmly, "Mother, it's alright. You only believed other people's slander and mistakenly thought that this matter was related to me. I'm not wronged."
The maid, Cuizhi, was in tears. "How could I not feel wronged? The young lady still has bruises on her legs from the last beating, and she almost got beaten again today..."
"Cuizhi, shut up—" Dou Wenyi turned around and scolded.
Dou Bochang's face darkened. The Zhang family now regarded Dou Wenyi as a noble person and even mentioned that they wanted to come and thank her. If they found out, where would he put his face?
“Madam Gu, you wrongly accused Fourth Sister without understanding the truth. No wonder she’s resentful. This is your fault. This mansion is in a mess; it’s time to put it under control.”
Madam Gu had never been so humiliated in public before. She felt both ashamed and suffocated, and mumbled a "yes."
Dou Mingxiu, who had remained silent until now, realized something was wrong.
Last time, my fourth sister was whipped dozens of times for no reason. She didn't cry or make a fuss and silently endured it, but it turned out that they had wronged her.
If her grandmother hadn't arrived in time, would she have been slapped a few more times for nothing?
Why did she have to provoke her mother's anger without explaining herself? She could have cleared things up much earlier. Why did she create so many misunderstandings? Wasn't she at fault?
And the lychees Xie Guidu sent—she doesn't have a mouth, so what reason does she have to blame others?
The inexplicable guilt in Dou Mingxiu's heart instantly dissipated, but her words reminded him.
“Mother, I think it’s just some people spreading rumors and stirring up trouble. They’re talking nonsense about how yin people attract evil spirits and bring misfortune to their relatives. I think they’re just charlatans who are greedy for money and that’s why they’re causing all this trouble!”
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