Madam Gu’s breath hitched, and she nearly forgot to cry.
Master Xuanming was, after all, the National Preceptor’s junior fellow disciple and a guest of honor in the mansions of many noble families—how could he be slandered so easily?
She wanted to fiercely scold her eldest son, but seeing his resolute tone and considering the events of the day, it seemed… true enough. A lump caught in her throat, and she found herself unable to utter a word of rebuke.
Madam Gu looked toward Dou Bochang as if pleading for help, but his face was ashen, and he remained silent.
Dou Mingyan’s eyes flickered slightly. She never expected Dou Wenyi to possess such cunning—intentionally leading others to doubt Master Xuanming.
Exchanging a glance with her maid Baochuan, she closed her eyes and feigned a faint… Baochuan caught Dou Mingyan and cried out in alarm, “Madam, Master, something’s wrong! The Third Young Lady has fainted!”
Dou Mingxiu, frantic with concern, snapped at Baochuan, “Wasn’t she perfectly fine just a moment ago?”
Baochuan replied timidly, “The Third Young Lady has always been delicate. It must be the shock and distress—she can’t endure such turmoil…”
Gu Shi was beside herself with worry, her expression conflicted. She glanced back at Dou Wenyi with a meaningful look—clearly signaling that, with everything in chaos, the matter should end here.
Dou Wenyi pressed her lips together. Gu Shi genuinely doted on Dou Mingyan and couldn’t bear to see her suffer the slightest grievance. Just moments ago, she had sincerely wanted to make amends, but to Dou Wenyi, it meant nothing.
Gu Shi rushed to support Dou Mingyan, tears welling in her eyes. “Mingyan, my child, don’t frighten your mother—”
Dou Bochang looked anxious. “Why is everyone standing around? Go fetch a physician, quickly!”
With that, he ignored Old Madam Dou and hurriedly joined the others in escorting Dou Mingyan back to Lanyue Pavilion.
Granny Cao, standing beside Old Madam Dou, muttered under her breath, “How convenient, falling ill at a time like this.”
Old Madam Dou shot her a glance but said nothing.
Dou Wenyi sneered inwardly. With just a slight provocation, Dou Mingyan had lost her composure. It was clear she had some connection to Master Xuanming.
She could feign illness to disrupt matters today, but once the seed of doubt was sown, it wouldn’t vanish so easily!
Dou Wenyi helped Old Madam Dou back to Shouhe Hall.
“Don’t hold it against your mother. One day, she’ll understand that a daughter is still one’s own flesh and blood.”
Dou Wenyi knew her grandmother’s words were meant to comfort her—a well-intentioned gesture, after all, harmony in the family leads to prosperity.
Her mother’s boundless affection was entirely devoted to Dou Mingyan and Dou Mingxiu. She couldn’t compete for it, nor did she wish to try anymore.
The reason she had stirred up such a scene was to clear her name of the “star of disaster” rumor. Dragging Master Xuanming into the mess would be an added bonus.
After all, she still needed to carefully plan how to get Xie Guidu to annul their engagement.
Dou Wenyi threw herself into Old Madam Dou’s arms like a spoiled child. “Grandmother, I’m truly fine. Having your love is enough for me.”
Old Madam Dou’s eyes grew moist.
When Gu Shi gave birth to Dou Wenyi, she had suffered greatly—a severe hemorrhage nearly cost her life. It took over a year to recover, and she developed rheumatism, which flared up whenever the weather turned damp.
That was why Gu Shi had always resented this child.
Yet Dou Wenyi had always yearned for her mother’s affection. It was only after repeated coldness from Gu Shi that her heart grew cold…
The old lady saw it all and ached for her.
She held Dou Wenyi close, comforting her gently before letting her return to her quarters.
After Dou Wenyi left, Old Madam Dou soon received news that the fever of Cheng, the son of the second branch, had subsided.
Granny Cao was so angry she gnashed her teeth: "Old Madam, today's incident is truly bizarre. It's as if someone deliberately wants to pin the label of 'star of disaster' on the Fourth Young Lady."
Old Madam Dou sneered, "And they used Gu Shi's hand to do it."
The more Granny Cao thought about it, the angrier she became. "This person's intentions are too malicious. What good could come from driving a wedge between mother and daughter? Who do you think is behind this…"
Old Madam Dou shot her a sidelong glance and snorted coldly, "You old fool, still pretending to be clueless with me. Before we have evidence, don't startle the snake. Investigate carefully."
Granny Cao's face lit up with delight. "Right away."
"Send that Master Xuanming away immediately. From now on, no one is allowed to invite him to the residence." Old Madam Dou felt a pang of guilt—she hadn't protected her granddaughter well enough.
Granny Cao hesitated for a moment. "But Old Madam, he's the National Preceptor's junior brother. Wouldn't this offend the National Preceptor?"
Old Madam Dou was seething with suppressed anger. "Even the National Preceptor must bow to me when he sees me! With just his foul mouth, he's ruined Fourth Girl's entire life. He's committing a sin!"
By the time Dou Wenyi returned, it was already late at night. Yi Lan Courtyard was enveloped in silence.
A bright moon hung high in the sky, its serene glow filtering through lush tree branches—hazy and dappled—as it passed through the corridors. A peony flower suddenly landed on her.
Dou Wenyi looked up and saw a figure peeking over the wall. The man leaped down lightly, landing right in front of her.
Zhang Chengxian was dressed in a vibrant crimson brocade robe, his handsome features carrying a touch of intensity.
He grinned, revealing two canine teeth. "So? Did I handle things beautifully?"
Dou Wenyi instinctively glanced around before sincerely thanking him. "I owe you thanks for this. Thank you!"
"Why be so formal between us?… It's just that my younger brother keeps pestering me daily, saying he wants to play with you. If you have time, could you accompany him?"
Zhang Chengxian rubbed his nose—this was the excuse he'd racked his brains to come up with.
"Sure."
Seeing her agree so readily, Zhang Chengxian felt an inexplicable sweetness well up in his heart.
"By the way, I only asked you to help me invite Sun Siqi over. Did you do anything else for me?"
Zhang Chengxian smiled sheepishly. "My younger brother told our father about how you saved him. The old man keeps saying he wants to visit to express his gratitude, and I couldn't stop him. Today he ran into Uncle Dou and boasted that he would help him get a promotion."
Dou Wenyi suddenly understood. No wonder Dou Bochang had been looking at her strangely.
"My father isn't cut out for that. Please try to dissuade him quickly."
Zhang Chengxian shook his head firmly. "No can do. A gentleman's word is as good as his bond—my father won't agree. Besides, if Uncle Dou gets promoted, he might treat you better. What's wrong with that?"
The relationship between their two families had finally begun to thaw. Moreover, after her engagement annulment… perhaps he could take advantage of their proximity to win her favor!
Zhang Chengxian's eyes held a hint of seeking praise. "In two days, it's the second round of the Imperial Pharmacist examination. My aunt has people in the Imperial Food Bureau. Should I have someone copy the exam questions for you?"
Dou Wenyi had nearly forgotten such an important matter. "No need. I'm not actually planning to enter the palace."
She had already passed the preliminary Imperial Pharmacist exam. If she missed the second round without reason or claimed illness to avoid it, she would be seen as showing contempt for the emperor's grace. According to law, she would be convicted of "fraudulently avoiding service" and sentenced to penal servitude.
"The sky is growing late, I should head back now." With these words, Zhang Chengxian leaped nimbly onto the top of the wall.
Gazing at his bright, sun-like eyes and brows, Dou Wenyi smiled faintly, memories of him flooding back in a rush.
Zhang Chengxian, the dandy everyone dismissed as a good-for-nothing, had voluntarily gone to the border during the two most intense years of palace intrigue and stayed there for over a decade.
The Zhang family had been accused of selling official titles and getting involved in the struggle for imperial power, leading to their property being confiscated and the clan exterminated overnight, with not even young children spared. In her previous life, he seemed never to have married, later becoming a general who commanded awe across the region.
Pei Siyan's ability to unify the realm and make the Northern Di's iron cavalry vanish completely was undoubtedly due in large part to his contributions.
The young man before her was in the prime of his carefree, spirited years, clad in fine clothes and riding a proud steed—how could he possibly know that one day he would face the calamity of his family's destruction and the fall of the land?
Where did the decline of the Zhang family begin?
Dou Bochang and Gu Shi returned to the main courtyard, where Gu Shi attentively helped him wash up. After changing out of their clothes, they lay down on the bed.
Having enjoyed smooth sailing for over a decade, Gu Shi grew increasingly resentful as she reflected on how Dou Wenyi had publicly humiliated her earlier that day.
All these years, she had worn herself out with worry for Dou Wenyi, yet not only did the girl show no gratitude, she constantly defied her, her gaze cold and full of resentment, as if everyone owed her something!
She was nothing but an ungrateful wretch—what kind of child behaves like that?
Bottling up her bitterness, Gu Shi spoke cautiously, "…Husband, ever since Fourth Daughter returned home, nothing has been peaceful. One trouble after another keeps arising, and now Mingyan has fallen ill too. My heart is uneasy all day long. And that incident at the temple last time—why did it have to be her…?"
"She spent four years at Yuqing Monastery, receiving the Bodhisattva's guidance day after day. No matter how great her past sins… they should have been absolved by now. Could it truly be that heaven's will is unchangeable?"
She dearly wished Dou Wenyi would go back to staying at the Taoist temple—out of sight, out of mind…