Just as Wang Yingxue's flushed face was lost in wild thoughts, the large gate of the manor ahead was suddenly pushed open with great force from outside! Then, Dou Lao Wu, Dou Shishu, was seen barging in forcefully with several servants and pages! Beside him was a middle-aged man dressed in brown, whom Wei Tingyu recognized at a glance as the current Prefect of the Capital! And the pages behind them were carrying several wooden boxes, chest-high, with cautious expressions!
"Ah!" The female family members were startled by this sudden turn of events, their eyes wide with lingering fright. Only after seeing clearly that it was Dou Shishu did they finally calm down! Even Wang Yingxue couldn't help but gently pat her small chest with her round fan, while glaring at Dou Shishu with an annoyed expression.
"Fifth Uncle, why have you come to Grandmother's estate?" Dou Zhao, as the one in charge of Madam Cui's estate at the moment, immediately stepped forward, looking at Dou Shishu, and asked with slightly furrowed brows. After all, barging in like that was simply too impolite! Did he really think this was the Dou Residence?
"This estate is secluded! The Prefect and I have important matters to discuss, which is why we came here!" Dou Shishu, seeing it was Dou Zhao, immediately put on that disgusting face of looking down on her, and waved his hand dismissively. Then, without waiting for Dou Zhao to answer, he turned around on his own accord, preparing to lead the Prefect into the manor.
However, the Golden Shadow Guards were not to be trifled with! They would not allow anyone to enter the estate without their master's command! Without a word, they stepped forward and blocked Dou Shishu and his group!
"What is the meaning of this?" Dou Shishu was startled, utterly dumbfounded after being blocked. Then he turned to look at Dou Zhao.
"Grandmother is unwilling to get involved in court matters, and she has already said so before! Fifth Uncle, if you wish to discuss important matters with the Prefect, please go elsewhere!" Dou Zhao, however, merely pouted directly and said.
"You..." Dou Shishu was stunned, not expecting his niece to show him no face at all in front of the Prefect. He immediately frowned, about to lose his temper. However, his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of Wei Tingyu standing nearby, looking at him with a playful expression. The anger that had already reached his throat was forcefully swallowed back down! Seeing his face flushed and neck thick with suppressed rage, yet daring not to speak further, the Prefect was somewhat bewildered!
"So, Marquis Jining is here!" After Dou Shishu finally calmed himself, he looked at Wei Tingyu and said, "I suppose Sister Zhao is so domineering because the Marquis spoils her, right?" If it were the old Dou Zhao, even though she wasn't close to her Fifth Uncle, she wouldn't have prevented a minor matter like borrowing the estate. However, the current Dou Zhao was openly confronting him, unwilling to yield an inch! This clearly showed she had someone backing her! And who else could that backer be but Wei Tingyu? Dou Shishu was deeply annoyed! He had only thought that Dou Zhao marrying into the Marquis Jining's Residence would help his reputation in court. Who would have thought that this Dou Zhao would turn her elbow outwards! Relying on the Marquis Jining Wei Tingyu's favor, she had repeatedly humiliated her maternal uncles! So, when he spoke, his tone inevitably became somewhat sarcastic!
"Fifth Uncle, what nonsense are you speaking?" However, Wei Tingyu merely smiled faintly after hearing this, took two steps forward, and stared directly at Dou Shishu, saying, "Since Zhao'er is my wife, it's only natural for me to spoil her! Or else?"
Exactly! Who else would the Marquis spoil if not his own wife?Isn't this a matter of course? What's there to be sarcastic about? Instantly, the same thought appeared in everyone's minds. Not to mention Wei Tingyu's wives and concubines, even Wang Yingxue fully agreed with his words at this moment! Putting everything else aside, if that fellow Dou Laoqi, Dou Shiying, had even one-tenth of Wei Tingyu's affection for his wife, Wang Yingxue wouldn't have ended up in this situation today! Nor would he have a sprawling green grassland on his head!
"Marquis Jining is quite imposing! One who didn't know would think this estate belonged to the Marquis Jining's Residence!" At this moment, the Prefect, who was accompanying Dou Shishu, also couldn't help but speak up. After all, in his opinion, it was one thing for them not to give Dou Shishu face, but they didn't care about him, the Prefect of the Capital Prefecture, either? They wouldn't even let them borrow the estate, completely disregarding him!
"It's not my Marquis Jining's Residence's, but it's not the Dou Residence's either! It belongs to Madam Cui!" Wei Tingyu sneered, glaring at the Prefect, and said, "Since Madam Cui is Zhao'er's grandmother, then she is my grandmother! Although I cannot be considered a filial grandson, I will absolutely not allow outsiders to comment casually on my grandmother's wishes!"
"Exactly! Grandmother already said that this estate doesn't receive outsiders! On normal days, even Fifth Uncle isn't allowed to come, so why did you bring some official?"
"Isn't the Dou Residence large enough? Is there not even one room for Fifth Master to discuss matters with his colleague?"
"Perhaps they're not discussing anything good! That's why they dare not discuss it at home!"
... As Wei Tingyu's words fell, Miao Ansu, Zhao Zhangru, and He Weifang immediately began chattering, their words all sarcastic towards Dou Shishu.
"You..." Dou Shishu was stunned, and his face immediately turned pale. Being so ridiculed and mocked by his own juniors in front of his colleague, where would the face of the Dou family's patriarch go? At this moment, he looked at Wang Yingxue, who was standing in the crowd, hoping she would step forward and say a few words for him. However, Wang Yingxue had always been very displeased with Dou Shishu, and now that she had become Wei Tingyu's outer chamber, she was even more unwilling to have any connection with the men of the Dou family. She simply turned her head and acted as if she hadn't seen anything.
"You are going to ruin my Dou family's great affair!" Dou Shishu was truly helpless now, but seeing these fierce Golden Shadow Guards and Silver Shadow Guards like wolves and tigers, and his own few pages not daring to force their way in, he could only curse repeatedly in frustration!
"Ruin your Dou family's great affair?" However, Wei Tingyu smiled slightly at this moment, then stepped forward, passing Dou Shishu and the Prefect, and walked directly towards the pages behind them who were carrying the wooden boxes. He scrutinized the wooden boxes as he spoke, "How do you know I am not saving the Dou family's future?"
"You... what do you mean by that?" Dou Shishu was startled, then subconsciously asked. Of course, since Wei Tingyu's gaze had been lingering on the wooden boxes, his voice was now somewhat shaky, and the Prefect beside him had even broken out in a cold sweat. Seeing their expressions, everyone present immediately understood! It seemed that what these two were doing today was indeed something that couldn't be exposed! Of course, these female family members didn't understand court matters, so they all looked at Wei Tingyu, wanting to hear what he would say next.
"I heard Fifth Uncle distributed rice dumplings to high-ranking officials in the capital!" Wei Tingyu, however, didn't expose him directly. Instead, he pulled open a wooden box held by a page in front of him, revealing neatly wrapped rice dumplings. "I was wondering what kind of filling these rice dumplings had?"
"I didn't expect such a coincidence; Fifth Uncle brought several boxes of rice dumplings over! Then may I beg a few from you to taste?" Wei Tingyu said, picking up a rice dumpling from the box and gently shaking it in front of Dou Shishu. Dou Shishu's expression had already turned panicked when he saw Wei Tingyu open the wooden box. Now, hearing his words and looking at the rice dumpling in his hand, his face immediately turned even more ashen. And everyone else was bewildered at this moment. So, Dou Shishu secretly ran to this rural estate outside the city with the Prefect to secretly talk, just to give him a few boxes of rice dumplings? Furthermore, the Marquis only took one rice dumpling from you; there's no need for your face to turn so ugly, is there? Is the dignified Minister of the Board of Revenue truly so petty?
"What's inside this rice dumpling?" Dou Zhao and He Weifang were the first to realize that the crux of the matter was not in this small rice dumpling, but in its filling, and immediately asked in unison.
"That must be something good! Otherwise, why would they so cautiously come to an estate outside the city?" Wei Tingyu scoffed, then gently tossed the rice dumpling to a Golden Shadow Guard nearby. The Golden Shadow Guard, in telepathic communication with his master, immediately drew his saber and cut the rice dumpling in half in mid-air! With two thuds as it hit the ground, the rice dumpling fell, revealing a gleaming yellow object inside.
"A gold bar!" At this, everyone present's eyes went wide! Even Wei Tingzhen hurried two steps closer, staring blankly at the gold bar inside the rice dumpling, moving her lips but too shocked to utter a single word. Good heavens! This Dou family is truly rich! Giving away gold bars the size of a finger wrapped inside a rice dumpling? Then how much gold must be in these few wooden boxes of rice dumplings?
The most shocked of all was Wang Yingxue! For all these years, she had managed the Dou family's finances, desperately trying every possible way to earn a lot of money, but Dou Shishu always said it wasn't enough. It was only then that she realized all the family assets she had accumulated had been taken by that fellow Dou Lao Wu to bribe court officials! One must know that in order to earn this money to meet the Dou family's expenses, Wang Yingxue had even squeezed a lot out of her own family! And she had even engaged in some gray industries, such as lending at exorbitant interest rates. If things were exposed, she would be in big trouble! The most crucial thing was that this money was actually used for bribery?! If it were to be investigated in the future, she would certainly be implicated as well! Moreover, that fellow Dou Lao Wu was incredibly bold, having bribed many court officials! So, could the Emperor not know? The fact that he hadn't touched him for now likely meant he was just waiting for the right moment! And the current Dou family was clearly on shaky ground! The imperial court could crush them at any time, and of course, the female family members would also be implicated by that scoundrel Dou Lao Wu! The thought that if Wei Tingyu hadn't exposed this today, she would still be in the dark, filled her with dread! Once this matter was exposed, she and her daughter Dou Ming would certainly not escape implication!
Wang Yingxue's gaze towards Dou Shishu at this moment held nothing but fury and disgust!
"It seems the Marquis has a deep prejudice against me!" However, Dou Shishu, being an incredibly thick-skinned official obsessed with power, still maintained the demeanor of an elder from the Dou family upon seeing this scene, looking at Wei Tingyu and saying, "This is merely a customary festival gift..." However, before he could finish speaking, a blade from Wei Tingyu's hand was placed on his neck, forcefully silencing all his subsequent nonsense.
"Marquis Wei, you'd best put that blade down! In my view as the Prefect of the Capital, you are now threatening a court official!" The situation was clearly out of control, and the Prefect of the Capital immediately spoke up.
"How dare I!" Wei Tingyu, of course, was not one to yield so easily. A sneer curled his lips, then he gently tapped with the back of his blade, and Dou Shishu flopped onto the ground with a thud. However, at this moment, he no longer cared about his pathetic appearance. He merely stared at Wei Tingyu with a horrified expression, because he remembered the situation on the day Dou Zhao returned for the family banquet! Wei Tingyu had unhesitatingly shattered the marble table in the Dou Residence's courtyard into powder. He knew then that this man truly dared to kill!
"Your Dou family's affairs have nothing to do with me!" Wei Tingyu was deeply satisfied with Dou Shishu's terrified expression, but still threatened him, "But there's one thing I hope you remember clearly! If you try to involve my people in these dirty dealings again, don't blame this Marquis for being unmerciful!" The current Wei Tingyu was accumulating strength and biding his time, yet this Dou Lao Wu of the Dou family was constantly stirring up trouble, as if afraid others wouldn't notice him. If this fellow continued to be so unruly, Wei Tingyu truly wouldn't mind sending him on his way directly, to avoid all future troubles!
"At that time, I'm afraid even the Capital Prefecture won't be able to protect you!" Of course, after Wei Tingyu finished speaking, he glanced at the Prefect of the Capital standing nearby. This person being mixed up with Dou Lao Wu clearly indicated he wasn't a good official either. "However, if the Prefect feels dissatisfied, we can take these rice dumplings and go before His Majesty to differentiate!" Of course, Wei Tingyu had a good grasp of such people's psychology. As soon as these words were spoken, the Prefect of the Capital immediately dared not speak further. After all, officials like them couldn't withstand an investigation! Being low-key on normal days was fine, but once targeted by the court, an investigation would surely find something, and there would be no escaping it!
"Fifth Uncle had best remember what the Marquis said, otherwise, if you implicate anyone related to our Marquis's residence again, even I won't be able to help you when the Marquis is enraged!" Dou Zhao also displayed the dignity of the Head Lady of the Marquis Jining's Residence at this moment. She slowly walked forward and stood before Dou Shishu, looking down at her Fifth Uncle as she spoke. In the past, only he would stand before her, arrogant and overbearing. Today, Dou Zhao finally felt a sense of vindication! Of course, Dou Zhao's final reminder was also sincere. After all, in her opinion, her Fifth Uncle was always more apt to spoil things than to succeed, yet he was extremely arrogant! If he caused trouble for the Marquis, the Marquis wouldn't even need to act; she herself would want to flay him alive first!
"Good! Good! I understand!" Dou Shishu nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. After all, circumstances were stronger than man, and at this moment, he dared not anger Wei Tingyu in the slightest.
"Now, have Fifth Uncle seen clearly the women in this courtyard?" However, Dou Zhao was still afraid that Dou Shishu didn't understand the situation, so she spoke again to remind him, "They are all related to our Marquis's residence! Do not forget that!"
What? All the women in this courtyard are related to the Marquis's residence? Dou Shishu was startled upon hearing Dou Zhao's words, then his face also became bewildered. Dou Zhao, Miao Ansu, Zhao Zhangru, and He Weifang naturally didn't need to be mentioned; they were all Wei Tingyu's wives and concubines, and Wei Tingzhen was Wei Tingyu's older sister. It was natural for them to be related to the Marquis's residence. But what relationship did Wang Yingxue and Dou Ming, mother and daughter, have with the Marquis's residence?
Wang Yingxue, seeing Dou Shishu's eyes turn to her, immediately felt a tightening in her heart. This old man wouldn't have noticed anything, would he? However, she wasn't nervous. She simply smiled, fanned her round fan twice, and looked at him, saying, "Fifth Brother, you need not be confused. Just now, I already promised the Marquis to send Ming'er to his residence for a few days' stay. In a few days, she will officially be taken into the Marquis's residence as a noble concubine!"
"What? You..." Dou Shishu's face immediately changed upon hearing this. If that were the case, then both Dou Ming and Wang Yingxue, mother and daughter, would indeed be related to the Marquis's residence! However, Dou Ming's marriage was something Dou Shishu had planned to use for intermarriage with other families. How could Wang Yingxue have privately arranged it?
"Fifth Brother, do not take offense! Ming'er is my flesh and blood, so I naturally must find a good place for her!" Wang Yingxue looked at Dou Shishu with a cold smile, naturally knowing what this person was thinking at this moment. Using her to earn money for the Dou family, then using it to bribe other officials, and finally wanting to use her daughter Dou Ming's marriage to pave the way for his official career? What a disgusting man! Of course, at this moment, she no longer feared completely falling out with the Dou family! Not to mention that her own family was not one to be casually manipulated or bullied, she was still sitting in the position of the Head Lady of the Dou family! If Dou Shiying had the guts to divorce her, Wang Yingxue would be even happier! Furthermore, Wei Tingyu had just assigned two female Golden Shadow Guards and four female Silver Shadow Guards to return to the Dou Residence with her to protect her safety, so Wang Yingxue's confidence was even more abundant!