"Granddaughter? Grandmother?" Old Madam Cui was startled, then looked at Dou Zhao beside her, thinking, I'm not so senile that I've forgotten who my granddaughter is, have I?
"Grandmother!" Dou Zhao also stepped forward at this moment, then took Old Madam Cui's hand and said, "All along the way, we told Sister He about Grandmother! Sister He was very touched to hear it! Because you also reminded her of her grandmother!"
"Besides, since Sister He has already become our own sister, it's only right for her to show filial piety to Grandmother with us!"
"Yes, yes! It's right, it's right!" Miao Ansu and Zhao Zhangru also nodded repeatedly in agreement. They had already started calling Old Madam Cui "Grandmother" before!
"I wonder what kind of bewitching drug your grandson-in-law gave you; you're still helping him with this!" Old Madam Cui chuckled helplessly, then reached out and tapped Dou Zhao's small nose, saying, "Now I almost don't recognize you!"
"How can you not recognize me?" Dou Zhao blinked her adorable big eyes, then leaned her face directly on Old Madam Cui's shoulder and whined, "Could it be that your granddaughter has become even more beautiful these past few days, so Grandmother doesn't dare to recognize me?"
"Oh my! This little girl!" Old Madam Cui deeply adored Dou Zhao. Seeing that all three of them had accepted He Weifang, she no longer said anything. Moreover, He Weifang's demeanor at this moment was proper, graceful, and generous; Old Madam Cui was actually very satisfied with this woman in her heart. Of course! As long as she didn't threaten her biological granddaughter Dou Zhao's position as principal wife, then all was well!
"Mmm... husband... don't leave Yingxue..." In the Dou residence at this moment, inside Wang Yingxue's bedroom, she was taking a nap and muttering to herself.
"Mother is really something! Daughter is already so old, yet still so clingy to Father!" Dou Ming, who had originally come to wake up Wang Yingxue, happened to hear her mumbling and immediately blushed, muttering softly!
"Don't go..." However, just as Dou Ming's murmurs ceased, Wang Yingxue suddenly shouted and sat up abruptly from her sleep. After a few seconds of愣, her foggy brain slowly cleared, and she recalled that she was taking a nap in her room. A sense of melancholy couldn't help but rise in her heart! Because ever since that night when the jade-faced fox-like gentleman appeared in her life and then disappeared without a trace, Wang Yingxue had been constantly thinking of him! Although she knew that as a married woman, and with her daughter already at a marriageable age, she really shouldn't harbor such improper thoughts. However, matters of the heart are not swayed by individual will! Especially Wang Yingxue, who was only in her thirties, a fervent age! After experiencing the jade-faced fox-like gentleman's gentleness and valor, how could she not miss him dearly? And at this moment, she also regretted letting the jade-faced fox-like gentleman carry out the plan to seduce Dou Zhao. She was afraid that if this jade-faced fox-like gentleman and Dou Zhao really got together, he would no longer pay attention to her, and then she would truly cry herself to death! However, at this moment, besides being anxious, she had no other way, because she simply did not know the true identity of this jade-faced fox-like gentleman!
"Mother!" At this moment, Dou Ming saw Wang Yingxue's cheeks turn slightly red, and she sweetly moved closer, then hugged her mother from behind.
"Ah!" Wang Yingxue was still thinking about her young lover when she was startled by her daughter's sudden hug from behind! After turning her head and realizing it was her daughter, she slightly relaxed! That was close! I thought my thoughts had been exposed! If it was her daughter, it was fine, after all, she didn't understand matters between men and women yet, so she definitely wouldn't know that she was thinking about a man in her sleep!
"Mother! Is your relationship with Father so good that you even dream of him not leaving you?" However, Dou Ming brought up a sensitive topic, hugging Wang Yingxue and asking with a smile, "But Mother can rest assured, Father will definitely not leave you!"
Pfft! Who cares about that heartless old man Dou Laoqi? Wang Yingxue immediately grumbled in her heart upon hearing her daughter's words! However, she naturally couldn't say this directly to Dou Ming, so she laughed awkwardly and said, "What do you, a little girl, understand? Do you know what it means to think about a man?"
Dou Ming's face immediately turned red upon hearing her mother's words. How could she not know about thinking about men? These past few days, she had been constantly thinking about her brother-in-law, Wei Tingyu! Especially when she closed her eyes before sleeping, Wei Tingyu's figure would appear beside her. Of course, being an inexperienced maiden, she didn't know what intimate contact between men and women was like. So, the Wei Tingyu Dou Ming dreamed of was merely playing the zither and composing poetry with her, or drawing her eyebrows and painting. However, even just this was enough to make Dou Ming feel extremely happy!
"What... do you... have someone you like?" Dou Ming's subtle thoughts and expressions certainly couldn't escape Wang Yingxue, who had more experience. As soon as she saw her daughter's demeanor, she knew something was definitely up.
"Mother!" Dou Ming shrank her neck and said, "If I tell you, please don't laugh at me! And don't tell Father!"
"Good!" Wang Yingxue immediately nodded. At this moment, understanding her daughter's thoughts was the most important thing.
"Actually, last time... after I met brother-in-law... I... just couldn't forget him!" Dou Ming pursed her lips. She knew it was difficult to speak about this, but at the moment, besides her mother, she truly couldn't find anyone else to confide in. "But I know this is wrong! So I haven't foolishly thought about snatching him from my sister!"
"I only ask that I can still see him often in the future, and I'll be content!"
Upon hearing Dou Ming's words, Wang Yingxue's eyes widened directly. Indeed, my previous guess was correct; my daughter Dou Ming has indeed fallen in love with Wei Tingyu! Of course, she also hoped that her daughter could marry Wei Tingyu! However, this marriage status absolutely could not be low! Therefore, she had meticulously planned to pull Dou Zhao down and elevate her daughter Dou Ming to the position of principal wife of Marquis Jining's residence. But then she heard her daughter say she didn't want to contend with Dou Zhao for anything, only wishing to occasionally see Wei Tingyu and be satisfied?! This left Wang Yingxue speechless again! Why was her daughter so soft-natured, not fighting or contending for anything? With such a soft personality, how could she become the Grand Lady of the Marquis's residence? No! I must properly educate my daughter from now on! This weak personality must be corrected; she must actively strive for what she wants! Wang Yingxue thought to herself, her eyes darting around.
"Mother! Are you not angry?" Dou Ming became a little flustered seeing Wang Yingxue silent for a long time, only appearing to be in deep thought.
"No! How could Mother be angry? I will definitely support Ming'er in her own thoughts!" Wang Yingxue quickly shook her head upon hearing her daughter's words and said, "However, you are indeed at the age for marriage discussions! Even if Mother knows you have someone in your heart and won't force you, but your father and Fifth Uncle..."
"Mother! Please save me!" Dou Ming was terrified upon hearing Wang Yingxue's words! If it were before, she wouldn't have cared, but now that her heart belonged to someone, how could she tolerate any man other than Wei Tingyu? So she quickly shook Wang Yingxue's arm, her voice laced with tears, and her eyes immediately turned red.
"There isn't no way! It just depends on whether Ming'er can endure this hardship!" Wang Yingxue heard this and knew her kitten-like daughter had fallen into the trap, so she quickly spoke.
"I can endure any hardship! As long as Mother doesn't make me marry other men!" Dou Ming quickly declared, truly unable to imagine such a situation! Letting any man other than Wei Tingyu marry her would be worse than killing her!
"Since you like Marquis Jining... then go to his residence!" Wang Yingxue's eyes darted around as she said, "For now, being a concubine is also acceptable! This way, your father and Fifth Uncle will naturally have no way to force you to marry someone else!"
"A concubine?" Dou Ming was stunned after hearing this. She had considered this idea before, but she also knew that her father and Fifth Uncle would absolutely not allow her to become a concubine! Not even for Marquis Jining!
"You don't need to worry about your father and Fifth Uncle!" Wang Yingxue saw that her daughter's expression seemed somewhat moved and immediately said. Currently, her plan was to first get her daughter into the Marquis's residence. After all, she was a proper official's daughter, and there would be a chance in the future to depose Dou Zhao and elevate her daughter!
"Good!" Dou Ming immediately nodded repeatedly, hearing that her mother was willing to help her marry into the Marquis's residence! In her opinion, as long as she could stay by Wei Tingyu's side, being a concubine for a lifetime would not be a problem at all! She wouldn't even feel wronged! Of course, at this moment, she still didn't know her mother Wang Yingxue's ultimate plan.
"This Dou family is really interesting!" He Weifang looked at the invitation in her hand, then smiled and looked up at Wei Tingyu, saying. They had only just returned to the Marquis's residence today and hadn't even had time to rest, when the invitation from the Dou residence had already arrived! It simply stated that the Dou residence invited Wei Tingyu to a banquet tomorrow, and this invitation was personally delivered by Wei Tingyu's elder sister, Lady Jingguo.
"Yes! Any discerning person can see that this kind of banquet is for matching young masters and young ladies from aristocratic families, so why invite the Marquis?" Miao Ansu interjected at this moment.
"Cousin! What exactly is your stepmother Wang Yingxue planning?" Zhao Zhangru was even more direct, pointing out that there was something fishy going on.
"Who knows?" Dou Zhao smiled faintly, looking at Wei Tingyu and asking, "But no matter what they're thinking, it just depends on whether the Marquis wants to go!"
"You wouldn't know?" However, Wei Tingyu looked at this little fox, Dou Zhao, and shook his head with a smile, "Then do you want me to go?"
"Does the Marquis like Ming'er?" However, Dou Zhao did not directly answer Wei Tingyu's question but asked in return.
"Dou Ming... is quite charming!" Wei Tingyu pouted and said. This was not a lie; that little girl Dou Ming was indeed very likable, and her personality was gentle. Most importantly, she hadn't been corrupted by Wang Yingxue yet! If he were to take her into his home as well, would that count as saving an ignorant young girl who was about to go astray? All in all, it could be considered doing a good deed, right?!
"In that case! Then the Marquis should go!" Dou Zhao blinked, then nodded and said, "To be honest, I also don't want my sister to be led astray by my stepmother."
Miao Ansu and Zhao Zhangru, however, were bewildered. They still hadn't figured out what Wei Tingyu and Dou Zhao were talking about.
"Don't my two younger sisters understand yet?" He Weifang got up and poured Wei Tingyu a cup of hot wine, then looked at Miao Ansu and Zhao Zhangru and smiled, "What family banquet to welcome guests? It's clearly meant to get Dou Ming into our Marquis's residence too!" Due to their conversations along the way, He Weifang now knew most of the situation at the Dou residence.
"Ah?" Miao Ansu and Zhao Zhangru finally realized and understood after hearing He Weifang's words. But it was no wonder they hadn't understood before, because logically speaking, there was no reason for a mother like Wang Yingxue to try to put her biological daughter into her stepdaughter's household as a concubine! However, if one looked at it from a long-term perspective, it was naturally clear what Wang Yingxue was planning! So, once the words were spoken, everyone present understood. The so-called family banquet tomorrow was for Wei Tingyu and Dou Ming to meet. However, Wei Tingyu already had a wife and four concubines at home, so the Dou family's actions were truly sacrificing their reputation!
"Beautiful scenery! The renovations are also elegant! I never imagined a manor could have such scholarly charm!" The next day, at the banquet, as soon as the manor gates were opened, Wei Tingyu's elder sister, Lady Jingguo, Wei Tingzhen, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration at the beautiful scenery in the courtyard. Wang Yingxue seemed to have prepared in advance, choosing a manor under Old Madam Cui's name as the banquet venue. Nominally, it was to welcome Marquis Jining, who had returned from afar, so Old Madam Cui had no reason to refuse.
"My mother-in-law dislikes the clamor of the marketplace, so she set up this manor!" Wang Yingxue couldn't help but feel a little smug upon hearing Wei Tingzhen's praise. At this moment, Dou Ming was already waiting in the courtyard. After all, she knew that if she wanted to become a concubine in the Marquis's residence, it was very necessary to curry favor with Wei Tingyu's elder sister! As soon as she saw the two open the gate and enter, she quickly went forward to greet them, and at the same time, bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Mother! Greetings, Lady Jingguo!"
"Good, good, good!" Wei Tingzhen's face immediately lit up with a smile upon seeing such an obedient Dou Ming. She quickly stepped forward two paces and helped her up.
"I had always heard that the second young lady of the Dou family was gentle and generous, intelligent and beautiful! Seeing her today, it truly lives up to her reputation!"
Dou Ming's cheeks immediately flushed with shyness upon hearing Wei Tingzhen's praise, but she was also secretly delighted. Of course, when her gaze looked behind the two and she found no sign of Wei Tingyu, she also showed a hint of disappointment.
"By the way! Why didn't Marquis Jining come with his wife?" Wang Yingxue, of course, saw her daughter's subtle thoughts and asked Wei Tingzhen. The reason she went through all the trouble of inviting Wei Tingzhen first, and then inviting Wei Tingyu through her, was because she was afraid that her nominal son-in-law wouldn't give her face! After all, Wang Yingxue still clearly remembered the scene at the family banquet at the residence before. It could be said that among the Dou family, besides Dou Zhao, Wei Tingyu didn't give face to anyone! Even though she was his nominal mother-in-law and an elder, she had no confidence whatsoever in controlling Wei Tingyu!
"He's currently lost in a land of tenderness! Unable to extricate himself..." However, as soon as Wei Tingzhen mentioned this younger brother, an expression of displeasure immediately appeared on her face. "He went to Dongdu and came back with another co-wife! He didn't even inform me, his older sister!" Wei Tingzhen grew angrier the more she thought about it as she spoke, and directly complained to Wang Yingxue, "When I went to the Marquis's residence this morning, he hadn't even gotten up yet. You can imagine he must have been..." However, just as she spoke half a sentence, Wang Yingxue subtly pulled her sleeve, signaling her to shut up. Only then did Wei Tingzhen realize. That's right! Didn't I discuss with Wang Yingxue beforehand today about facilitating Wei Tingyu's taking Dou Ming into the residence? Now, complaining about Wei Tingyu's promiscuity in front of Dou Ming, wouldn't this make Dou Ming back out?
However, when Wei Tingzhen turned to look at Dou Ming, she was surprised to find that the young lady's eyes were filled with only disappointment, with no hint of anger or resentment. Dou Ming was simply unhappy because Wei Tingyu had taken another woman, and that woman wasn't her! As for feelings of jealousy, there were truly none at all!
"We don't need to worry about him; he'll surely arrive later!" Wei Tingzhen smiled directly at Dou Ming, thinking, "He wouldn't dare to disrespect me, his older sister! After all, when he married Dou Zhao, it was my husband and I who personally proposed the marriage..."
Upon hearing Wei Tingzhen's words, Wang Yingxue couldn't help but roll her eyes several times, thinking, No wonder your relationship with your younger brother isn't that good! With your emotional intelligence, everyone around you must have been offended long ago, right? If she didn't have the status of the eldest daughter of Marquis Jining's residence and Lady Jingguo, her mouth would have been slapped many times over by now!