Wei Tingzhen received the news that Chen Qu Shui and Hong Gu had visited Jing'an Temple Alley, Cat Alley, and Huai Tree Alley within one day, and his heart turned cold.

  "Are Chen Quanshui and Hong Gu still living in the shop?" she asked Jin Laopo, "And when they went to visit Dongdajie in Jing'an Temple Alley, Master Duan didn't even keep them for lunch?"

  "Hmm!" Old Mother Jin nodded, "What's more, they haven't even seen Madame Qi's face."

  "How could this be?" Wei Tingzhen's eyebrows were tightly furrowed together.

  Jin's nanny, who had been scolded by Du Zhao without mercy, felt a little schadenfreude in her heart, naturally hoping that Du Zhao would be more unlucky. Her eyes slightly turned, and she said to Wei Tingzhen in a low voice: "However, when they left the old house of the Du family, they did bring out several boxes of snacks, with an air of sending away beggars."

  Wei Tingzhen's face turned even uglier.

  She thought for a moment and went to the Hou Mansion in Jining.

  Tian's eyes widened in shock, clearly not expecting Du Zhao to be in such a difficult situation at the Du family home. After a long while, he stuttered: "What can be done? It's just more chopsticks eating rice, I'll just consider it as raising another daughter."

  Wei Tingzhen was not convinced and said, "Mother, have you thought about it? Wang Shi is a stepmother who dislikes the daughter born to her predecessor. That's human nature, and it's understandable. But look at this, for her dowry, the accountant has been running around from one family to another, and every family has just been perfunctory. This isn't just about not liking the stepdaughter; maybe there's a problem with Duan Zhao's character. Our Tingyu is handsome and well-behaved. From a young age, Father and Mother hired a teacher to tutor him at home, teaching him the ways of being a person. As he grew older, we were afraid he would mix with those spoiled sons, so we hired a master to teach him archery. I don't know how much effort was put into it. In all of Kyoto's noble families, how many are like our Tingyu? Which family's esteemed daughter wouldn't be a good match for him? Why should he suffer such humiliation? He is the one we raised with care!"

  Tian's family listened and burst into tears: "Then what do you say we should do? No wonder it can still be withdrawn. If you want to blame, just blame me! If I hadn't gone to visit Zhao's family, this marriage wouldn't have happened... I originally thought that the Xi family had few people. Diao Zhao is the eldest daughter, no matter what, Diao Yuan would not neglect her. Who knew it would turn out like this?"

  Wei Tingyu's heart skipped a beat as he listened.

  She sat down beside her mother, pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her mother, saying in a low voice: "Mother, why don't we call off this engagement?"

  The Tian family was shocked as if struck by lightning. He waved his hand repeatedly: "No, no! Tingyu is guarding the rules, and Duan Zhao has been waiting for him for three years. Moreover, this marriage was originally taken from the He family's hands, and it would be a retreat... How can we explain it? Besides, Duan Zhao didn't do anything wrong...

  "Mother, listen to me. This matter is not impossible to achieve... Look at the British royal family's son, Song Mo, he killed so many people. Who doesn't know what happened in their household? But when the father and son go out, they still act affectionate, and when someone asks about Song Mo's killings, the Song family's people will insist that those guards were thieves. Even if the Emperor asks, they won't reveal anything. They managed to cover up the whole thing. Tingyu has only two or three months left of mourning, and he's doing business with Gu Yu and Song Mo, right? At that time, in front of the Duan family, we can just say that he's busy with this matter and delay the wedding a bit. Duan Zhao is not well-received at home, so there must be someone who doesn't like her marrying up. Others might not dare to say anything, but Wang Shi... She raised an eyebrow, "We just need to find a way to get in touch with Wang Shi, and I'll promise to let Wang Shi move freely as my friend. As a concubine who was promoted to wife, how could she not be tempted? Later, it will be easy for Wang Shi to find fault with Duan Zhao... Mother, this matter is not impossible to achieve if we put our minds to it!"

  "But wouldn't that harm Duan Zhao?" Tian's wife struggled to say, "She is already not treated equally at home, if the engagement is called off, what other way out would she have..."

  "Mother, you're wrong," Wei Tingzhen said in a gentle voice. "Dou Zhao's fifth uncle is a high-ranking official, and I don't know how many families of scholars want to form an alliance with the Dou family through marriage. If the young masters of aristocratic families are not good enough, then won't those from humble origins be suitable either? Perhaps if she breaks off the engagement with our family, she'll find a more compatible match and live a better life!"

  Tian still couldn't bear it.

  Wei Tingzhen was furious: "Mother, why did I marry into the Zhang family in the first place? If you let my brother marry that Du Zhao, what does that make me?" As she spoke, she thought of the hardships she had endured at the Zhang's over the years and couldn't help but sob. "Our family originally didn't have any wealth, but after Brother got the support of Song Mo, he was on the verge of making a fortune. Which family's virtuous daughter wouldn't want to marry him? I've already ended up like this, if Brother still doesn't have a good marriage prospect, what's the point of me living? What's there to look forward to in life?" After finishing speaking, she covered her face and wept silently.

  Tian's words struck a sore spot, and Wei Tingzhen also burst into tears in his arms.

  At one time, Tian's inner chamber became a watery and swampy place.

  ※※※※※

  When Wang Yingshu received the invitation card from Wei Tingzhen, she was very surprised and said to Hu Niangniang: "Doesn't she know that Dou's family banquet is hosted by Gao Sheng's wife?" As she spoke, a sarcastic smile appeared on her face.

  Aunt Hu handed a washed plum to Wang Yinxue and smiled: "Fourth Miss is getting married, in front of her relatives, can't say you don't care now?"

  Wang Yingshu sneered, throwing the letter on the kang and said: "Now you know to ask me to give them face, where did you go early?" Turning around, she coldly told the maid who came to report: "Don't see her."

  Aunt Hu gave a wink to the maid, then persuaded Wang Yingshuang: "Fourth Miss will definitely get married at Jing'an Temple Hutong, and Fifth Lady and Sixth Lady will come to help. It's your chance, why bother competing with Fourth Miss? Fifth Miss is also thirteen this year, it's time for her to be betrothed..."

  If the Duan family deliberately suppressed her and spread rumors about these things, which of those prestigious families with a good reputation would marry Duan Ming?

  Wang Yingxue's eyes turned red, and tears fell down: "Du Shiying's heart is too ruthless! Du Zhao is his daughter, can't Ming Sajie be his own flesh and blood? If I hadn't been deceived by him back then, how would I have ended up like this?" Then she began to resent her maternal family's eldest sister-in-law, Gao Shi: "In the past when my father was in trouble, I treated her so well. When Nang Ge'er was ill and only had one breath left, if it wasn't for me, he would have died early. Now that they are living a good life, with their brother becoming a high-ranking official, they turn around and don't recognize people anymore. I just wanted to ask her to help find a good marriage for Ming Sajie among the children of the Gao family, but she pushed and resisted, fearing that I would rely on Nang Ge'er, and hastily helped arrange Nang Ge'er's engagement with her niece Gao Mingzhu..."

  Auntie Hu remained silent.

  Since Wang Yingxue was deprived of her rights as the mistress, the Wang family also gradually distanced themselves from Wang Yingxue. As a result, she would say this every few days.

  Either blaming Gao's family or scolding Pang's family, or else talking about how she was deceived by Dou Shiying into becoming a concubine back then...

  There's still a bit of the ease and quickness from when I was doing the cotton business... like a typical wealthy family's resentful wife...

  Thinking of this, Hu Niang herself was startled.

  She couldn't help but take a closer look at Wang Yingshuang.

  Her pale face, her listless expression, she complained incessantly... regardless of whether anyone was listening, Wang Yingshu spoke to herself.

  Auntie Hu's tears almost fell as she couldn't help but interrupt Wang Yingshuang: "Seventh Aunt, you're a clever person. In the past, you were able to turn things around in such difficult situations. This time, you'll definitely get through this too."

  Wang Yingshuai was taken aback, her dull eyes gradually brightening up, the corners of her mouth twitching, just about to say something, when a little maid burst in: "Seventh Madame, Seventh Master has arrived."

  "Ah!" She exchanged a glance with Hu's nanny.

  Dòu Shìyīng had already taken big strides walking in.

  "I heard that the lady of the Hou Mansion in Jining is coming to visit you," he said, wearing his court attire and looking flustered, clearly having just received the news from the government office. "She's Shougu's older sister. I've already instructed Gaosheng to treat her well, and you must also be in high spirits at that time, making sure she feels at home!"

  Wang Yingxue looked at Suo Shiying, who was still gentle and calm as jade, with a complex mix of emotions in her heart.

  Originally, she thought this was Du Shiying's gentle care for her, now she realizes that it is just his usual behavior.

  He is like this with everyone.

  If you were to stab her with a soft knife, she thought it wouldn't hurt, but could torture you until you're out of breath.

  Wang Yingshu really wanted to pick up the teacup beside her and pour the full cup of tea on Du Shiying's face, but she thought of Du Ming, thought of Du Ming's marriage, her hand clenched tightly into a fist, but finally relaxed bit by bit.

  "I understand." She heard herself responding to Du Shiying's words in a gentle tone, "Certainly won't splash Fourth Miss's face."

  Dong Shiying nodded in satisfaction and left soon after. Not long after that, Gao Sheng's wife sent over a small box.

  Wang Yingshuai opened the box.

  Radiant and resplendent, filling the room with brilliance.

  "Seventh Master said that the mistress wants to see guests, so our family's wife hurriedly went to Yubao Hall to buy these accessories." Gao Sheng's wife had a full moon face and smiled with a few points of joy. The couple were both clever people, although they were in charge of the major events in Jing'an Temple Alley, but when it came to Wang Yingxue, they still treated her with the same respect as before, making it impossible for Wang Yingxue to find any fault.

  She smiled and curtsied, then backed away.

  Wang Yingshuang slammed the lid shut with a "bang".

  "What is this? Is this the reward for helping Dou Zhao save face?"

  Her face turned pale blue.

  Aunt Hu secretly sighed in her heart.

  In the study of Yuizhitang, Song Mo took over the note handed by Chen He and looked slightly stunned, saying: "When did Chen Quanshui arrive in Kyoto? What is he doing here?"

  Chen He bowed his head and said respectfully, "I heard that you've come for the Fourth Miss's wedding matters - the Fourth Miss's stationery shop needs to be audited, and wherever she gets married, it will need to be discussed with Seventh Master. Fifth Master and Sixth Master also need to be informed... It seems like there's a lot of work to do."

  With Liao Bifeng present, he subconsciously omitted Du Zhao's surname.

  ※

  Supplement yesterday's update.

  o(n_n)o~

  I will continue writing today's update, time cannot be determined...

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