Xie Guidu furrowed his brow in contemplation, vaguely sensing that Dou Wenyi seemed changed, shrouded in an impenetrable mist.
Yet he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different.
He stood and gazed into the distance, watching the graceful figure until she reached the entrance of Bishui Pavilion before turning away and ordering a new sheet of painting paper to be laid out.
Meanwhile, discussions among the noble young ladies could be heard from within Bishui Pavilion.
"…Didn't you know? She's malicious-hearted – she even pushed her own aunt, causing her to miscarry. She's nothing but a star of disaster!" The speaker was precisely the Second Miss of Marquis Dingyuan Manor, Xie Mengyao, also Xie Guidu's younger sister.
She was Dou Mingyan's sworn sister and her foremost supporter.
Their rivalry had begun back in the private school for noble daughters run by the late Marquis Zhongxin.
In her previous life, after marrying into Marquis Dingyuan Manor, Xie Mengyao had intensified her efforts, creating countless obstacles for her. Even the early death of her and Xie Guidu's only child was connected to her!
"Is it true she was abducted by bandits? And lost her virtue?" someone asked.
"Don't spread baseless rumors. I heard she's already passed the Imperial Pharmacist examination…" another girl defended weakly.
She was Shen Lishu, the legitimate daughter of Minister of Justice Shen Jin, and in her previous life had been her elder sister-in-law, Dou Mingxiu's wife. Unfortunately, Dou Mingxiu never treasured her.
In her past life, she had suffered just as bitterly, another pitiful soul betrayed.
The young ladies chattered on, relentlessly listing Dou Wenyi's numerous misdeeds.
Dou Mingyan appeared displeased. "Enough! Weren't we discussing music? That qin I played earlier felt quite unfamiliar to me – my fingers have grown rusty. I still think Sister Meng's 'Mist and Clouds over Xiao-Xiang Rivers' was performed best."
Meng Jingshu, dressed in vibrant red, picked up the thread: "Tsk, listen to what she's saying! If she'd played 'Roaming in the Moon Palace' with her own qin, wouldn't she have been the undisputed winner?"
The Meng family had produced three high ministers over four generations, with her grandfather serving as current Chief Grand Councilor. Her status among noble daughters went without saying.
"Sister Meng, you're always teasing me! We're just amusing ourselves here without any judges – who would dare claim to be the winner?" Dou Mingyan retorted playfully, making as if to strike her with her round fan.
Meng Jingshu caught her wrist, smiling cheerfully. "Don't come throwing yourself at me – I'm not the Crown Prince! As for judges, didn't The Eldest Princess say she'd have us compete later? You'll have your chance to shine."
Dou Mingyan blushed coyly. "Sister Meng—"
"Why don't we find some talented scholars well-versed in music to serve as judges? Wouldn't that be amusing?" Xie Mengyao's eyes lit up as she proposed.
"Attendants, go quickly and invite Young Master Xie and Young Master Fu," Meng Jingshu agreed, finding the idea excellent.
Dou Mingyan smiled meaningfully. "You little minx, with spring stirring in your heart! It seems to me you're not looking for judges, but rather a suitable husband for yourself…"
This provoked a wave of giggles.
Dou Wenyi signaled Cuizhi to bring the qin inside to Dou Mingyan. These noble young ladies showed no shame gossiping behind others' backs – their so-called upbringing amounted to little.
"Third Young Miss, your qin is here!"
"Cuizhi? Where's Fourth Sister?"
Dou Mingyan emerged from inside, actively taking her hand. "You've arrived – why didn't you come in?"
All eyes turned toward them, various appraising gazes falling upon her.
At first glance, each felt a pang of envy.
She possessed a beauty that was truly one in ten thousand.
Dou Wenyi calmly withdrew her hand and smiled faintly, "Third Sister, please continue your fun. I won't disturb you any further."
A flash of malice crossed Xie Mengyao's eyes as she smiled meaningfully, "Dou Wenyi, Mingyan's zither skills are unparalleled. As her sister, you must be quite accomplished too? Don't hide your talents—please grace us with a performance."
"Yes, indeed!"
"Don't be modest. Even if you don't play well, no one will laugh at you."
"Fourth Miss Dou, are you afraid? Don't worry, we're all just having fun together."
Once someone made the suggestion, others joined in the clamor, each noble young lady harboring her own thoughts.
Dou Mingyan wouldn't let her leave so easily. "My fourth sister is timid. I won't stand for anyone bullying her. If you don't wish to play the zither, come, let's have some tea and snacks together!"
Hah!
Her words seemed protective on the surface, but they still managed to label her as 'cowardly'.
Just then, someone proposed, "Mingyan, is this the exceptional zither you recently acquired? Why not open it and let us admire it?"
With a creak, the zither case was opened.
"This zither—"
Xie Mengyao gasped in shock, exclaiming, "How did it get damaged?"
Dou Wenyi tilted her head to look at the zither. Two strings were broken, and a fist-sized dent was clearly visible on the body, with several alarming cracks radiating from it. It was obvious that something heavy had struck it.
Dou Mingyan's face suddenly changed, and she burst into anxious tears. "I played this zither just yesterday, and it was perfectly fine then…"
Immediately, several noble young ladies stepped forward to comfort her, chattering all at once. Various hostile glances shot toward Dou Wenyi.
"Baochuan, what exactly happened?"
Baochuan fell to her knees with a thud, weeping as she pleaded innocence. "Miss, please forgive me! It's impossible—the zither was perfectly fine… I've been carrying it with me the whole time since I arrived. I don't know how this could have happened!"
Suddenly realizing something, Baochuan looked up sharply. "Miss, when I entered the garden earlier, I had a stomachache and went to relieve myself. I entrusted the zither to Fourth Miss…"
Dou Wenyi sneered inwardly. So this was their trap all along.
Baochuan shuffled forward on her knees, grabbing the hem of Dou Wenyi's skirt. Looking up at her with a pitiful voice, she said,
"Fourth Miss, even if you're jealous of our Third Miss, you shouldn't take it out on this zither. Please tell the truth. I'm just a lowly maid—even if I died, I couldn't possibly compensate for such a precious zither. How would I dare to damage it?"
Cuizhi was furious, her hands trembling with anger. "How dare you falsely accuse us! I was the one holding the zither case the entire time. We never even opened it!"
Dou Mingyan looked grief-stricken, her delicate hands trembling as they brushed over the zither. She suppressed her sobs, her slender shoulders shaking slightly, a sight that tugged at heartstrings.
After a moment, she suddenly became aware of her loss of composure. Lifting a brocade handkerchief to wipe her tears, she said, "Nonsense! Fourth Sister would never deliberately damage this zither. She's not that kind of person. Let's not speak of this matter again."
"Even if it wasn't deliberate, it could have been an accident! She's already bullying you right to your face? And you still want to tolerate it?" Xie Mengyao spoke with sarcastic insinuation.
Meng Jingshu detested these inner-household intrigues the most. Her voice turned icy as she questioned, "Dou Fourth Miss, did you smash this qin to make Mingyan lose face? As the elder sister, she had no choice but to cover for you and swallow this grievance for the family's reputation."
"No wonder you were so reluctant earlier, refusing to come in despite repeated invitations. You already knew the qin was broken, didn't you? That's why you didn't dare enter."
Dou Wenyi remained composed, speaking unhurriedly, "Miss Meng, though you are the esteemed granddaughter of the Grand Secretary, you cannot judge based on mere speculation. Matters should be handled with reason and evidence. Where is your proof?"
"Baochuan, did anyone witness you not opening the case? Perhaps you damaged the qin before going to relieve yourself, then deliberately framed us. By doing so, you intentionally tried to drive a wedge between us sisters. With such malicious intent, what exactly are you trying to achieve?"
"As a mere maid, you wouldn't have such audacity on your own. Tell me, who put you up to this?"
Meng Jingshu's expression froze: "…"
Baochuan trembled with fear: "…"
Dou Mingyan felt her heart grow heavy. When had Wenyi become so meticulous?
"What's going on here? Weren't you looking for the judges?" A deep male voice sounded. Xie Guidu stood tall and graceful at the doorway, having appeared at some unknown moment. It was unclear how much he had overheard.