[š„š„ Support link: patreon.com/MrGhost69
You can find 40 chapters ahead hereĀ š„š„]
Outside the grand gate of the manor, Wei Tingyu leisurely fanned himself as he watched the two men, Fifth Uncle Dou and the Prefect, depart. A profound smile played on his lips. "I hope I won't be seeing the two of you in this manor again in the future!"
Listen to that! Are those the words one should use to see guests off? The surrounding servants and pages all lowered their heads, not daring to breathe. They understood perfectly well at this moment: the Marquis might be smiling, but who knew what wicked schemes he was brewing in his heart! If anyone dared to stick their neck out now, they'd truly be asking for trouble!
"You..." Dou Shishu's eyes widened. He glared at Wei Tingyu, feeling as though all the air had been squeezed out of him, his heart filled with stifling resentment.
"Forget it, forget it! Let's go!" The Prefect had finally realized today that Wei Tingyu was not to be trifled with. Moreover, his secret transaction with Dou Shishu had been caught red-handed and evidence presented, leaving him no choice but to lower his head.
"My Dou family is truly blessed to have such a fine son-in-law!" Dou Shishu was helpless at this point. Pulled by the Prefect, he obediently moved towards his carriage. Of course, as he left, he didn't forget to mutter sarcastically.
"Naturally, it's a blessing!" Wei Tingyu, however, casually snapped his folding fan shut, lifted his head, and said to the gradually departing Dou Shishu, "But whether this blessing turns into misfortune depends on whether one has self-awareness!"
"..." Dou Shishu, of course, understood Wei Tingyu's words; after all, he had made it very clear before. If he behaved himself and didn't cause trouble for him and Dou Zhao, then it would naturally be a blessing! But if he didn't heed this good advice, Wei Tingyu would have other ways to deal with him! Dou Shishu, who usually loved to show off, now understood that he was completely at the mercy of his niece's husband!
"Brother-in-law is so impressive!" Inside Wei Tingyu's carriage, Wang Yingxue, Dou Zhao, and Dou Ming were seated. Little girl Dou Ming was even secretly peeking out the window, gazing at Wei Tingyu's figure. After witnessing the scene just now, she couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
Naturally! Otherwise, how could he have conquered my heart?! Wang Yingxue silently grumbled to herself, then quickly pulled at her daughter's sleeve and said, "A young lady should still be dignified! Don't be so impetuous, lest your brother-in-law sees and thinks your upbringing is lacking!"
"Oh!" Dou Ming quickly stuck out her small tongue upon hearing Wang Yingxue's words, then obediently sat up straight. In her current view, nothing else mattered except how her brother-in-law looked at her!
"Pfft!" Dou Zhao, seeing this scene between mother and daughter, immediately covered her mouth and chuckled softly. It wasn't that she didn't want to appear more dignified in front of them, but the interaction between Wang Yingxue and Dou Ming at this moment was simply too comical!
"Zhao'er!" Wang Yingxue turned to look at Dou Zhao after hearing her soft chuckle, then said with an apologetic tone, "I know... I made some mistakes back then... but that was never my true intention... I have also suffered for it these past ten-odd years..."
"Enough, no need to say more!" Dou Zhao merely nodded subconsciously upon hearing Wang Yingxue's words. However, could things really pass by so easily? Everyone understood in their hearts!
Wang Yingxue was first startled upon hearing Dou Zhao's words, then her eyes darted around, and she bit her lip, making up her mind! "Ming'er! Quick, go down and welcome your brother-in-law onto the carriage!" She turned to the primly seated Dou Ming and said.
"Do I really need to go down and welcome brother-in-law for just two steps?" Dou Ming was startled, then looked at Wang Yingxue with some confusion.
"If you don't go to meet him, what if your brother-in-law gets on the carriage behind?" Wang Yingxue pouted and then said to her daughter, "Don't come crying to me then!" After all, there were too many female family members at the moment, so He Weifang, Miao Ansu, and Zhao Zhangru had taken the second carriage behind them. As for Wei Tingzhen, she had already left earlier in the Duke Jingguo's Residence's carriage.
"Oh!" Dou Ming was startled upon hearing this, then realized. She quickly nodded and scurried out.
"This outer chamber, Wang Shi, greets the Head Lady of the Marquis's Residence!" Seeing her daughter Dou Ming leave, Wang Yingxue immediately got up and knelt before Dou Zhao, then performed a grand bow to her. This sudden change directly startled Dou Zhao. Her already large eyes widened even more! What's happening? Did Wang Yingxue suddenly pull this on me? Is she trying to scare me to death without consequence?
"You are..." Dou Zhao's mouth twitched. She wanted to ask Wang Yingxue but couldn't speak. After all, she had long seen through the relationship between Wang Yingxue and Wei Tingyu, but had never spoken out, generally maintaining an unspoken understanding where everyone knew but didn't tear through the veil of pretense. But Wang Yingxue's actions at this moment were completely laying everything bare!
"The Head Lady is clever; of course, you would have seen through it long ago..." Wang Yingxue blinked, looking at Dou Zhao, and said, "It's just that I hope the Head Lady doesn't tell Ming'er about this yet; I fear she might not be able to accept it right away..."
"You don't need to tell me; I certainly won't tell younger sister Ming!" Dou Zhao frowned, then said, "But since you know this matter is riddled with countless wrongs, why did you still do this?" Since things were already out in the open, and Wang Yingxue had lowered herself to the stance of an outer chamber in front of her, Dou Zhao simply decided to ask.
"Actually..." At this point, Wang Yingxue's face flushed again, and she then quickly gave a rough account of what had happened earlier. And Dou Zhao's expression grew increasingly surprised as she listened to these words. Good heavens! I never expected it was because Wang Yingxue conspired to harm me, but unexpectedly, the Marquis saw through it and then seized the opportunity to take her as well! This way of doing things certainly resembles Wei Tingyu! Dou Zhao silently grumbled to herself. There were so many ways to control Wang Yingxue, yet he chose to conquer her on the bedchamber... This Marquis, ah... He truly leaves one speechless! However, Wang Yingxue's current state did seem like she had received her comeuppance! After all, she wanted to harm Dou Zhao into losing her purity, but in the end, she herself lost her purity to the Marquis! One could only say that Heaven's Dao had a good cycle!
"Now, I dare not have any extravagant desires! Madam, if you are ever displeased and wish to beat or scold me, I would not dare to show the slightest dissatisfaction or talk back!" Wang Yingxue's posture at this moment was truly low, practically humble to the dust, and Dou Zhao couldn't help but feel a flicker of compassion. Although she still harbored resentment in her heart for the events of that year, the current Wang Yingxue was indeed atoning for her sins with her life. And for Dou Ming's sake, Dou Zhao could only sigh helplessly, then extended her hand to her. "As long as you don't cause trouble for me and the Marquis in the future, let bygones be bygones!"
Upon hearing Dou Zhao's words, Wang Yingxue's face lit up with surprise, and she repeatedly shook her head and waved her hands, expressing her loyalty, "From now on, Madam, if you tell me to go east, I will never go west! In the future, when you serve the Marquis, I will diligently serve both of you outside, to atone for my past transgressions!"
I serve the Marquis in the room, and you wait outside the door... This scene seems a bit... Dou Zhao immediately felt a bit dizzy upon hearing this. How was it that ever since she met the Marquis, she and the world around her had undergone such drastic changes? Just like Wang Yingxue, this woman's values seemed completely different from before!
"Brother-in-law!" Wei Tingyu had just reached the carriage when he saw little girl Dou Ming suddenly lift the curtain and leap out of the carriage.
"Be careful!" Wei Tingyu was also startled; this little girl was still wearing a skirt! What if she tripped and fell face-first? That scene would be too unsightly! Thinking this, he quickly reached out and scooped the little girl, who was mid-air, directly into his arms.
Dou Ming had originally rushed towards her brother-in-law with full heart, but she hadn't expected him to also open his arms and embrace her. Her small face immediately turned red.
"Why did you jump down again? Aren't you afraid of getting hurt!" Wei Tingyu gently placed Dou Ming on the ground, then reached out to smooth her slightly disheveled hair and said.
"Ming'er is overjoyed to see brother-in-law, so I specially came to welcome you onto the carriage!" Dou Ming's face turned even redder when she saw Wei Tingyu tidying her hair! However, she still bravely looked at him without evasion and said, "Luckily, brother-in-law loves Ming'er the most!"
"Of course, brother-in-law loves Ming'er!" Now that their relationship was almost openly declared, facing this sister-in-law who would officially become his concubine in a few days, Wei Tingyu naturally didn't need to hold back and answered directly.
And the surrounding servants and pages now lowered their heads even further! This scene was too exaggerated! Brother-in-law and sister-in-law openly flirting in front of so many people, did they really think everyone was dead? However, these servants and pages also understood in their hearts that they were all people of this estate, in other words, they were all Madam Cui's people! Anyone who dared to badmouth the Marquis and the two young ladies of the Dou family behind their backs was simply asking for death! Just looking at the Marquis's current affection for the Dou sisters, if they truly angered this important figure who even dared to lay hands on his father-in-law's Fifth Uncle, being beaten and sold off would probably be the best outcome!
"Then let's get in the carriage, lest Mother and Eldest Sister wait too long!" Dou Ming blinked, then wanted to turn and leave Wei Tingyu's embrace.
"Wait!" However, Wei Tingyu suddenly pulled Dou Ming back, tugging the little girl back into his embrace, and looking at her, he said, "Ming'er doesn't want to be alone with me?" He had already heard Dou Zhao and Wang Yingxue's conversation inside the carriage, and at this moment, he naturally wanted to give them some space to deal with their past grievances. And little love-struck Dou Ming, hearing Wei Tingyu's words and thinking that her brother-in-law actually wanted to be alone with her, immediately forgot everything in her elation. The fact that Eldest Sister and Mother were waiting in the carriage behind was also thrown to the winds.
After a while longer, Wei Tingyu heard that the two women inside had reached a temporary reconciliation. Only then did he lead Duo Ming back into the carriage. After entering, Duo Ming and Wang Yingxue had returned to their original positions, their faces adorned with smiles as if nothing had happened, looking at the two who had entered.
"Mother! Sister Zhao!" Dou Ming's small face flushed from their gazes. She quickly threw herself into Wang Yingxue's arms, then said somewhat petulantly, "Just now, brother-in-law wouldn't let Ming'er come back, he insisted on talking to Ming'er..."
For flowers! Of course, she was explaining that it wasn't her who deliberately clung to Wei Tingyu and caused such a delay, but these words were somewhat like "protesting too much."
"The Marquis is so naughty?!" Dou Zhao smiled faintly upon hearing this and said, "Then perhaps we shouldn't delay younger sister Ming's youth. Perhaps the matter of her entering the residence, as we discussed earlier, should be set aside..."
"No!" Dou Ming immediately panicked upon hearing this. She quickly broke free from Wang Yingxue's embrace and threw herself onto Dou Zhao, acting coquettishly. And Wang Yingxue also took the opportunity to glance at Wei Tingyu. After exchanging smiles, Wei Tingyu directly sat in the main seat. Since Dou Zhao had specifically arranged for He Weifang, Miao Ansu, and Zhao Zhangru to ride in the second carriage, allowing Wang Yingxue to ride with him, this indicated that she already knew about the matter between them. Otherwise, such an arrangement would be impossible! After all, given Wang Yingxue's status, riding in the same carriage as Wei Tingyu would definitely invite some criticism, but at this moment, she no longer cared!
At this moment in the capital, a ox-cart pulled by two yellow oxen was slowly lumbering along the main road. The passengers inside were Lady Li Niang and her four other daughters, who had traveled from out of town to the capital to seek refuge with her already married second daughter. The already cramped ox-cart was filled with boxes and bundles of all sizes, making the space even smaller and more confined.
"Sigh! Elder sister's arm is numb! Wake up, wake up!" Third Sister, Kang Ning, was currently fanning herself with a bamboo fan while gently nudging her fourth sister, Hao De, who was sleeping soundly leaning on her arm.
"Mmm!" Hao De frowned, waking from her sleep, and grumbled discontentedly. These two sisters, both unmarried maidens, were dressed youthfully and beautifully. Wearing light green tunics, their brows and eyes, though somewhat similar, possessed completely different styles of beauty. The youngest, Fifth Sister Le Shan, had a cute double-braided pigtail hairstyle and was sleeping soundly between her two elder sisters. She also wore a light green tunic, but her sleeping posture at the moment was unladylike and sprawling. It was evident that the journey had been arduous, as all three of Lady Li Niang's youngest daughters were in a drowsy state at this moment.
Unlike these three muddled young girls, Lady Li Niang, the mistress of the Li family, and her eldest daughter, Shou Hua, were not overcome by fatigue. Instead, they both appeared dignified and graceful, busy organizing the bottles and jars they carried with them. Although Lady Li Niang had already given birth to five daughters, she had married early, so she was still under forty years of age. Dressed in dark clothing with a red and green combination, her words and actions were extremely proper and graceful, exuding an even more charming and refined aura! As for her eldest daughter, Shou Hua, although she was already a married woman, her features remained exceptionally refined! She had become a widow soon after her marriage, and the hint of sorrow between her brows, coupled with her stunning beauty, at just over twenty years old, was enough to make any man who saw her unforgettable!
"Come! Brush your teeth!" Shou Hua, seeing her fourth sister awake, very virtuously handed her a toothbrush.
"Mother is truly stingy, why didn't we hire a sedan chair to enter the city?" Hao De frowned and grumbled. At this moment, her mind hadn't fully cleared yet. While taking the toothbrush handed to her by her eldest sister, she began complaining, "It would be both convenient and respectable!"
Lady Li Niang, however, looked helplessly at her fourth daughter but didn't answer. After all, one who doesn't manage a household doesn't know the cost of firewood and rice! She had already sold all the land and houses in her hometown, and the belongings in this cart were all the property the four of them possessed! Unlike her daughters, she was counting on these assets to establish roots in the capital and also to serve as dowries for her four daughters. How could she spend recklessly?!
"Aiya! You're so noisy!" At this moment, the sisters' conversation woke up the adorable pigtail girl, Le Shan. She grumbled as she sat up straight.
"Aiya! You stepped on me!" Fourth Sister looked at Fifth Sister getting up, still brushing her teeth, and grumbled again. Le Shan, however, said nothing, but shook her head and looked proudly at Fourth Sister Hao De.
"Aiya! Don't fuss, don't fuss, don't fuss!" Lady Li Niang was even more speechless seeing her daughters start bickering again right after waking up. However, she was experienced in dealing with such situations. She quickly waved to her fifth daughter, Hao De, signaling her to sit between herself and her eldest daughter, Shou Hua.
"Still some hair oil left, hurry, hurry!" She combed Le Shan's hair while also complaining about the sedan chair bearers they had encountered earlier.
"Don't even mention those accursed sedan chair bearers!"
"They were dreaming in broad daylight!"
"Demanding a hundred and twenty wen!"
"One hundred and twenty wen!"
"When we get to your second sister's house, you can ride sedan chairs as much as you like!"
Upon hearing Lady Li Niang's words, the previously bickering and noisy sisters finally quieted down, each sweetly fantasizing about the joy of riding sedan chairs once they arrived at their second sister's husband's home!