Ji Yong stood on the steps, coldly watching as Wang Qinghai helped the drunken Wei Tingyu toward the bridal chamber.
Surely, there could be no one more foolish than Wei Tingyu in this world!
After paying respects to heaven and earth and entering the bridal chamber, Dou Ming sat with his head down beside the red dragon and phoenix candles, which cast no light on the curtains. Ma Jun’s servant outside was urgently calling, “Lord, hurry to the wedding tent to toast; the guests are urging you!” He didn’t even take a good look at the bride before hastily drinking the ceremonial wine and rushing out.
Fate had other plans.
By the time he realized the bride had changed, what face would he have to shout about it?
A maid from the Wei family approached with a smile, respectfully bowing to Ji Yong. “Uncle, there’s a detoxifying soup prepared in the flower hall. Would you like me to bring you a bowl?”
Once the bride entered the chamber, the bride’s family should return home, only to come back the next day for the recognition wine ceremony. The maid was subtly reminding Ji Yong that it was time to leave.
Ji Yong ignored her.
The maid couldn’t help but feel anxious.
What strange behavior from the Dou family—though the bride had entered, her family’s servants were still managing everything. The personal maids and wives who came with the bride were all arranged to rest in the east wing, while the Wei family’s servants were sent to the front to enjoy the wedding feast. Now that the newlyweds had entered, why was the new uncle still standing there? Was he going to listen in on the bridal chamber?
The maid muttered to herself.
Fortunately, the bride was gracious. When the Wei family’s relatives and friends came to see the new daughter-in-law, they merely smiled with their heads down, looking neat, without any blemishes on their faces or bodies. Otherwise, she might have thought there was something wrong with the bride!
Just then, a burst of laughter erupted from the bridal chamber as several distant relatives playfully teased the bride. One elderly lady, who should be addressed as “Great-Aunt” by rank, was being supported by her daughter-in-law as she walked out, joking, “It’s no wonder the lord is eager to see the bride. With such a charming little wife, if I were him, I’d want to hurry everyone out too!”
Laughter erupted again, startling the colorful pheasant kept in the courtyard for good luck.
Madam Cai circled the Wei family’s female guests, saying, “Tomorrow, let the lord properly bow to all the elders.” Accompanied by a group of women who appeared pleased by the compliments, they headed out of the courtyard.
Ji Yong noticed Ma Jun’s servant peeking out from the bridal chamber. Once the woman had walked far enough, she slammed the door shut.
He smiled slightly and left the main house with the maid.
He ran into the sweating Dou Wenchang.
“Lord Ji, I’ve been looking for you for ages,” he said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “It’s getting late; we should head back. Tomorrow, we need to arrange for people to come for the recognition wine…”
Dou Zhao was getting married, and he was tasked with carrying the bride.
His fifth aunt had instructed him to ensure the groom got drunk, but she hadn’t specified how drunk he should be. Since coming of age, he had followed his fifth uncle, helping him with many vague tasks, and had developed the habit of following orders without questioning. This time was no different. Seeing Wei Tingyu so drunk he could barely speak, he didn’t push further. Who knew that Ji Yong, who had come to watch the excitement, would suddenly intervene, insisting on getting Wei Tingyu drunk to the point of nearly collapsing under the table? If it weren’t for Wang Qinghai blocking a few cups and reminding him that today was Wei Tingyu’s wedding day, he might have drunk so much he wouldn’t even make it back to the bridal chamber.
Now, as they were about to leave, Ji Yong had disappeared again.
Ji Yong was a top scholar, and Dou Wenchang, being a fellow scholar, didn’t dare to pressure him. When the servant looking for Ji Yong said he had gone to the bridal chamber, Dou Wenchang had to come personally to invite him.
Ji Yong was surprisingly gentle, chatting and laughing as he left the Jining Marquis’s residence with Dou Wenchang, leaving Dou Wenchang puzzled. When had this cousin from the Ji family become so agreeable?
The sky was faintly brightening. The alley where the Dou family’s seventh master lived, in Jing’an Temple, was not a secluded lane. Two groups of people, masked and dressed in short black robes, were cautious, trying to avoid making too much noise as they exchanged blows, wary of attracting the attention of patrolling guards.
Duan Gongyi couldn’t help but curse inwardly.
The capital truly was a place of hidden talents. He wondered who had sent these people, as they possessed such skills! Only a thief could operate for a thousand days; how could one guard against thieves for a thousand days? If they couldn’t subdue this group completely this time, even if they repelled them now, they would likely return for revenge later.
Zhu Yicheng also grumbled inwardly.
What kind of people were the Dou family to afford such guards? He wondered what grievances they had with the heir. They had already startled the snake in the grass; it would be even harder to deal with them in the future. It would be better to settle this once and for all, to avoid lingering fear that would make them hesitant to act later.
Both men were determined to make the other submit, increasing the intensity of their attacks.
Meanwhile, Song Mo seized the opportunity to quietly slip into the inner courtyard.
Dou Zhao usually lived in Huai Tree Alley, and upon returning to Jing’an Temple for her wedding, she would naturally stay in the main house.
He headed toward the upper courtyard.
Although the path was silent, the ground was spotless, and most of the side rooms had no candles lit. It was clear that the management of the inner residence was still orderly.
If Dou Ming had married Dou Zhao, how could the Dou family be so calm?
Even if the Dou family’s seventh master had tacitly approved of the matter, what about Dou Zhao’s aunt? Why hadn’t she said anything?
Song Mo felt anxious.
The upper courtyard was eerily quiet, illuminated by the large red lanterns hanging in the winding corridors, casting a warm glow over the main house. Only the eastern side room and the northern side room of the east wing had lights on.
After hesitating for a moment, he knocked on the window of the northern side room in the east wing.
No one responded.
He pressed his ear against the eastern side room to listen.
Inside, a man’s voice faintly drifted out: “…Shou Gu has been sensible since childhood… I can only put her through this… I can only blame myself for not recognizing people… She has repeatedly done such hurtful things. Even if I take her as a concubine and have a son, that mother and child would likely be driven to a corner by her. Why should I harm another person? Should I let Shou Gu raise the child? It’s better to keep Shou Gu at home! Ming Jie marrying like this without clarity, her future won’t be easy. Even if Shou Gu has a broad heart, she can’t be without grievances.
The two sisters… will find it hard to have a good conversation in this lifetime… Since Shou Gu has stayed at home, it’s fine while I’m here, but if I’m not around, Ming Jie will likely never get a single tael of silver from home again… Besides the twenty thousand taels of dowry, prepare another fifty thousand taels for Ming Jie, or buy her some land, or help her invest in a business with a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan. That’s all I can do for her… After this, the family’s assets will have nothing to do with her…”
Upon hearing this, Song Mo immediately recognized the speaker as Dou Shiying.
He was infuriated, his heart aching with anger.
So you know everything! Instead of comforting the abandoned Dou Zhao, you’re here lamenting for the daughter who married in her place… Who will care for Dou Zhao’s suffering? You speak so nicely about keeping Dou Zhao at home to find a husband, but what man with any pride would want to marry into the Dou family?
She might as well be Wei Tingyu!
Moreover, the tone of the Dou family’s seventh master showed no concern that the Wei family wouldn’t acknowledge the marriage. The Dou family remained calm, as if nothing had happened, indicating that both the Dou and Wei families were aware of the proxy marriage, only keeping it from Dou Zhao… Or perhaps Dou Zhao knew as well!
The image of Wei Tingyu’s ecstatic face during the wedding ceremony flashed through Song Mo’s mind.
He couldn’t help but mutter under his breath, “Brat!”