.

  A few months ago, she took the initiative to visit Wang Yingshuang and had a conversation with her. Then today, she sent a wet nurse to send some things over, tomorrow another wet nurse would send something else over, and on Dragon Boat Festival, she even invited Wang Yingshuang to San Sheng An for an outing. Wang Yingshuang was quite particular about returning gifts, and when they went out together, she was very generous with her spending. It wasn't until then that she subtly expressed her intention to break off the engagement, but to her surprise, Wang Yingshuang pretended not to understand and didn't take the hint.

  She was anxious and asked Jin Niang to find Hu Niang, who served Wang Yingxue closely, in order to convey a message to Wang Yingxue through Hu Niang.

  Aunt Hu turned around and said that Wang Yingshu was worried about her own marriage, so she didn't have the mood or energy to deal with Duan Zhao's affairs.

  Wei Tingzhen immediately promised that as long as this matter succeeded, she would be responsible for telling Dou Ming about the good marriage.

  He smiled but didn't say anything.

  Wei Tingzhen knew that Wang Yingshuo was a case of seeing a rabbit and scattering hawks.

  She had to carefully consider Dou Ming's marriage.

  It stands to reason that both the Duan and Wang families are prominent households. Although Duan Zhao is a concubine's son, Wang Yingxue was promoted to be a legitimate wife, so she can barely be considered as a legitimate daughter. Although it may be difficult for her to marry the eldest son or grandson of a noble family, it shouldn't be too hard for her to marry the younger son of an ordinary official family. No wonder Wang Yingxue still wants her daughter to become the mistress of the clan?

  Wei Tingzhen sent someone to ask about Du Ming's marriage.

  She only then realized that since Wang Yingxue came to Kyoto, she rarely went out for social events and didn't make any close friends. She wanted to ask about the Dou family's affairs but couldn't find anyone to ask.

  Wei Tingzhen felt suspicious.

  Madam Jin said, "How can the Duan family be compared to the likes of the Hou and Gong families? It's only natural that you wouldn't know anyone familiar with them. Why don't I help you ask around - I know someone who works at the Duan's shop."

  All wealthy families are alike.

  Many things deceive those above but not those below.

  Wei Tingzhen agreed with pleasure.

  Jin A'niang went to Du Zhao's pen and ink shop and found the old woman who was working as a servant by the stove.

  The old woman wasn't very clear about what was going on in the Jing'an Temple alley either: "Our shop's accounts all need to be reported to Zhen Ding, and Qi Lao Ye has never come to our shop to take money. Occasionally, he would send a young servant over to buy some paper and ink, and they would always pay the full price." As she spoke, she suddenly remembered Chen Qu Shui and hastily said, "Why don't you go see our shop's accountant? He just happened to be coming from Zhen Ding to check the accounts... Although I think he looks quite kind and should be very clever, our shop's big boss and second-in-command both seem a bit intimidated by him. Maybe you could ask Hong Gu about it. I heard she was in charge of raising the fourth miss of the Duan family, and she's also a country woman who hasn't seen much of the world... However," she said, lowering her voice, "when I accompanied her out to shop, she would spend three or four silver coins on accessories without even haggling over the price. She must have had some status in the Duan family."

  .

  The old woman called Jin Aiyi "sister" and made several dishes to entertain her, inviting Hong Gu to keep them company.

  A pot of Jinhua wine down the belly, Hong Gu's face turned red and she became more talkative. She mentioned Fourth Miss, and Hong Gu's eyes welled up with tears. How she lost her mother, how she grew up with the Ji family, how she won people's favor... everything was said, just like pouring beans from a bamboo tube. In the end, she even gave two scarves from Nie's shop as a gift to Jin Laopo.

  The old lady left with satisfaction.

  Hong Gu hurriedly ran back into the house, gurgling and pouring two cups of cold tea, and went to Chen Qu Shui: "Can I say it like this?"

  "Really? How can it not be possible?" Chen Quanshui smiled and said, "Golden Auntie came to you in secret to ask about Fourth Miss, most likely on the orders of the lady of the Jining Marquis's manor. If she hears you say this, she will definitely feel even more loving and pitying towards our family's young miss."

  Hong Gu nodded repeatedly and said, "I think so too. So I told our family's young lady how considerate she is, how kind-hearted she is, and how capable she is of managing the household to that Jin Ayi." As she spoke, she chuckled and said, "It turns out that the noble families in the capital are just like our humble households in Zhen Ding, quietly inquiring about the appearance and character of a girl's family!"

  Chen Qu Shui smiled and nodded: "So, don't think that these people in Kyoto are all three-headed and six-armed - they're just like us." But in his heart, he thought, it's better to make a secret deal before the engagement, isn't it? Someone like Wei Tingzhen is simply not reassuring!

  Hong Gu put her mind at ease and thought that if Jin Niang came again, she would give the autumn-colored satin she had bought from the neighboring shop to Jin Niang. And Jin Niang would tell Wei Tingzhen's story, which became how Wang Yingshu forced Duan Zhao's mother to death but was still reinstated after Wang Xingyi's resurrection. How did Duan Zhao end up being raised by the sixth lady of the Duan family? She had won over her elders' affection: "It sounds like a clever plan. I said, why would the madam of the Duan family help her?"

  Jin A'jiao couldn't help but feel angry whenever she thought about her experience in the Duan family, and she wished that Duan Zhao would be jilted by the Wei family.

  Wei Tingzhen frowned upon hearing this: "It seems that this Wang is not a good person to associate with!"

  "Isn't this better?" Golden Mother smiled and said, "If she didn't have the ability, Madam's entrusted matter, I'm afraid she wouldn't be able to accomplish it! This isn't a trivial matter."

  "Not bad!" Wei Tingzhen said, "But as for Dou Ming's marriage, I'm afraid it will have to be put off for the time being!"

  She was just talking about it before.

  "Madam Jin smiled and said, 'Is Wang Shi afraid that we won't keep our word? Are we not afraid that Wang Shi won't keep his promise either? Isn't Second Madam's brother-in-law going to propose a marriage? You just need to spread the word and offer to be the matchmaker for Second Madam's brother-in-law. When Wang Shi hears about it, how can he not be moved? As for who you want to be the matchmaker for in the end, it's still up to your preference, whoever you take a liking to!'"

  The second lady she mentioned is Shi's wife of Zhang Jiming, the second master of Jingguo Gongfu.

  Shi was the eldest daughter of Shi Rui Lan, younger brother of Marquis Changxing. Her father served as a lieutenant in the Divine Machinery Battalion and had another sister who married a prince consort, making her uncle also a prince consort by marriage. The Shi brothers did not separate their households, so Shi's younger brother could be considered a golden son-in-law.

  Wei Tingzhen smiled and nodded.

  Wang Yingshuai received the letter and was so anxious that she paced back and forth.

  She had long been deprived of the power to preside over Zhongyu, and she had the ability to destroy Zhuang's marriage.

  I was silent before, just because I couldn't do anything about it. As for Du Ming's marriage, it's like trying to revive a dead horse. Unexpectedly, Wei Tingzhen really helped Du Ming find a good family.

  Such opportunities are fleeting.

  "What to do? What can be done?" She was anxious all over her face. "We said, Wei Tingzhen has done it all. Now that we have fulfilled our promise... If there is still no movement, not only will this matter fall through. I'm afraid I'll also be suspected by Wei Tingzhen. Wei Tingyu mourned for three years, Du Zhao waited for him for three years, and just as they were about to get married, Wei Tingzhen wanted to break off the engagement. It can be seen how ruthless this person is." When she said this, she couldn't help but stop in her tracks. "To be honest, I actually hope this marriage can come true - with such a daughter-in-law, Du Zhao might not even dare to sleep with his eyes closed."

  Wang Yingshuang coldly laughed twice.

  "Let's just forget about this matter..."

  Wang Yingshuai has no status in the Duan family and her words are ignored, how can she possibly break up the marriage between the Duan and Wei families?

  "That won't do!" Wang Yingshu said. "If Wei Tingzhen finds out, she'll definitely think we're teasing her. With her temperament, she won't let it go easily. If she says a few words against me in front of people, or says a few words against Ming Jie, Ming Jie's marriage will be even more difficult!"

  She couldn't help but feel a little regretful about agreeing to Wei Tingzhen's terms. But deep down, she also understood that being able to make Duan Zhao break off the engagement and suffer a great loss was too enticing, and she simply couldn't resist.

  "Now we can only think of a way to drag it out for the time being," Wang Yingshu said, muttering to herself, "We can only wait and see if there's any turn for the better..." She instructed Hu Niangniang. "If Wei Tingzhen comes to ask, just say that Seventh Master won't agree, saying it will make the Duan family lose all face. Tell her not to worry, I'll think of other ways."

  Hu Niangniang nodded and passed on the message through Jin Niangniang to Wei Tingzhen.

  Wei Tingzhen waited anxiously for two months. However, Jing'an Temple Hutong remained quiet, while Wei Tingyu held a memorial service to remove his mourning attire.

  At that time, Madame Yan'an also attended the memorial ceremony.

  She gazed at the handsome and elegant Wei Tingyu, and said to Wei Tingzhen with some emotion: "Your family is about to have a wedding soon, right? Our Qingyuan still doesn't know who will pick her up."

  The speaker has no listener, but the listener has intention.

  Wang Qingyuan is no longer young, and in the past, Madame Hou of Yan'an was afraid that her daughter would marry early and suffer, but now she is anxious to find a husband's family.

  Wei Tingzhen couldn't sit still any longer and urged Jin Amah to go find Hu Amah.

  Wang Yingshu could only ambiguously retort to Wei Tingzhen: "I can only kindly advise Seventh Master, if the madam has any good ideas, please teach me?"

  Wei Tingzhen was at a loss and asked Jin Amah to help her come up with an idea.

  Even Wei Tingzhen couldn't think of a solution, what could she possibly come up with?

  But these words were remembered by Lü Mama in her heart.

  Just then, Hong Gu sent two pieces of red summer cloth to Jin Laoba through his wife.

  Lv's mother was moved in her heart and took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with the old woman by the stove.

  Two days later, she brought a pot of Jin Hua wine to Du's pen and ink shop, saying only that she was visiting the woman by the stove.

  Hong Gu received Chen Qu Shui's instructions and warmly entertained Lü Mama.

  After two rounds of wine, someone outside came looking for Hong Gu. She had to apologize with a smile to Lv Niangniang and instructed the woman by the stove to take good care of her before leaving for the shop.

  Before long, Chen Quanshui found his way over and saw Lü Mama and the woman by the stove drinking wine. "Huh?" he said, "Where's Hong Gu? We've been waiting for so long and there's no sign of her?"

  The old woman on the stove hurriedly got up and said, "Hong Gu just went out." Afraid that Chen Qu Shui would blame her for setting up a banquet in the kitchen, she introduced Lv Ya to Chen Qu Shui, "This is the personal maid of the wife of the son of the Jingguo Gongfu, who has come specifically to see Hong Gu." She then pointed at Chen Qu Shui, "This is our Zhendings' accountant, Mr. Chen, who has come to check the accounts."

  Lü's wife smiled and bowed, without a hint of fear on her face.

  Chen Qu Shui uttered an "oh" and turned around to leave.

  Hong's expression turned serious as she pulled Lü Mama to the back of the kitchen and asked in a low voice, "Do you know the birth eight characters of the Marquis of Jining?"

  Mrs. Lü was taken aback and shook her head, saying: "I don't know."

  Hong Gu said solemnly: "Can you help us ask around?" As she spoke, she handed a purse to Lü Mama.

  Lu's mother took it in her hand and weighed it with experience, at least ten taels.

  Her heart also sank with it, but her face didn't reveal a hint, and she smiled: "You'd better give me the bottom line, or I won't know what to do!"

  Hong Gu hesitated for a while, then said in a low voice: "Mr. Chen, it's the accountant you just bumped into, he said he knows a real person from Longhu Mountain, and he can tell fortunes for the Duke of Jining."

  ※

  Regarding updates, many friends have asked, so I'll clarify here.

  Because I'm an amateur writer, and this year my child is going to high school, now I'm running between work and accompanying reading village, the time is relatively tight. Usually on weekends, my husband comes over to help with grocery shopping and cooking, so I can have time to write. I feel that the current state is indeed very poor, updates cannot be guaranteed, after discussing with my husband, from now on holidays will be double updated, other times only single update. Sorry for the inconvenience, please forgive me, dear book-reading sisters and brothers!

  o(n_n)o~

  ※