A steady footstep sounded outside the door.
Dou Wenyi lowered her skirt to cover her calves and raised her eyes slightly, catching sight of a tall, straight figure resembling a pine tree.
The newcomer wore a Xu-colored brocade robe and held an ivory folding fan. His face was as radiant as pearls and jade, exuding the gentle and refined demeanor of a noble gentleman.
He was her own elder brother, Dou Mingxiu. Cuizhi instinctively used her body to block the steamed buns on the altar table.
Dou Mingxiu’s face was covered with a frosty expression, his anger surging within. "Serves you right—can’t even endure a little suffering? That scandal of yours was suppressed by Father. Have you ever considered that if it were exposed, the world’s scorn alone would crush you into dust!"
"Who exactly wanted to harm you? Did you actually lose your…" His voice trembled, unable to finish the remaining words.
Dou Wenyi’s heart suddenly ached with a sharp, unexpected pain, her eyes reddening.
Who would have thought that one day, her most beloved elder brother would join forces with Xie Guidu and personally deliver her into the hands of the Northern Di’s perverted and powerful minister?
Seeing her remain silent, Dou Mingxiu grew furious at her lack of resolve. "Cat got your tongue? Speak up!"
"I didn’t see anything. What is there to say?" Her voice was remarkably calm.
Dou Mingxiu raised his voice. "Then you must at least remember their build and distinguishing features."
"If you find this person, will you all believe that nothing happened to me?" Dou Wenyi’s gaze was clear, her voice weary.
She had long spoken the truth, yet not a single word of hers was believed!
That night, she had accidentally entered a side room and overheard someone whispering. Before she could react, she was struck unconscious.
Later, she heard that thieves had been hiding in the temple, and the authorities had sent people to search. Her mother, Gu Shi, and Dou Mingyan, frightened, had returned home immediately.
It was only after returning to the Dou residence that they realized she had been left behind at the temple.
The Dou family immediately sent servants back to search for her. Although the temple was under strict lockdown, the servants managed to enter. They searched everywhere but could not find her.
The next day, she found herself lying in an empty side room and hurried home. As soon as she returned to the estate, rumors began to spread.
She received not a single word of comfort; instead, her father gave her a severe beating.
Yes, only by making her the scapegoat could the fact that her mother and Dou Mingyan had abandoned her at the temple escape judgment.
Dou Mingxiu was completely speechless. Matters concerning a woman’s reputation—even if exposed, she would be the one to suffer. That scoundrel deserved to die!
His eyes swelled with emotion, his heart aching as if pierced by a knife. He turned away, a wave of intense bitterness washing over him.
If only she hadn’t gone to offer incense that day. Why, when both her third sister and mother had gone, was she the only one to encounter such a calamity?
Could she truly be a star of disaster?
After a long while, his emotions slowly settled. "Xie Guidu has already come to propose marriage. He is noble in character and upright in conduct. Given the circumstances, he does not disdain you and is still willing to marry you. This is a blessing you’ve cultivated for eight lifetimes! If you don’t seize this lifeline, you will never be able to turn your life around."
Dou Wenyi sneered inwardly. Marry him? In her dreams!
Offer herself up again as a stepping stone?
The inhuman humiliation and abuse seemed to return to her, the pain piercing to the very marrow of her bones…
Seeing her remain silent, Dou Mingxiu’s expression stiffened, his dissatisfaction growing. "You—what is your attitude? Are you still unwilling?"
In the past, she was obedient and sensible, learning to make shoe insoles and embroider robes for him at a young age, often drawing close to him with playful charm.
Once, when he got into a conflict over trivial matters at the academy and was surrounded and beaten by a few spoiled young masters, she happened to witness it. Immediately, she drew a sharp dagger and pressed it against the neck of one of the bullies, frightening him into submission.
She had never treated him with such coldness and detachment before.
Dou Mingxiu gritted his teeth and spoke bluntly, "Your reputation is tarnished now, your entire life is ruined! If Xie Guidu doesn't marry you, who else would want you?"
Reputation? She had long been burdened with a notorious name.
Dou Wenyi felt a deep desolation in her heart.
In the past, she would have genuinely believed her brother was concerned about her, but now she knew he was only afraid she would bring shame to the family and implicate Dou Mingyan.
"I won't do it again," Dou Wenyi said dismissively, nodding perfunctorily, unwilling to waste words on him.
Dou Mingxiu suppressed his emotions and said, "Hurry and freshen up. Don't keep Young Master Xie waiting."
Dou Wenyi struggled to her feet and limped out of the room.
Watching her slender, receding figure, Dou Mingxiu felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.
As soon as he stepped into the corridor, he saw several maids joyfully carrying an array of exquisite brocade boxes toward the inner chambers.
"…His Highness the Crown Prince truly values our Third Young Lady. As soon as he heard she was ill, he sent so many treasures. Who knows how prosperous she'll be once she marries into the Eastern Palace!"
"I always said the Third Young Lady is the most accomplished in our Dou residence. Even while the Crown Prince is in Jiangzhe, he still remembers our lady. Such deep affection—who wouldn't envy her?"
"Exactly! Unlike some people, who are nothing but a star of disaster, plagued by misfortune!"
"Have you heard about that incident? Some people are shameless and have likely lost their chastity long ago. Aren't they just dragging down the other young ladies in the residence?"
"No wonder the master and mistress dislike her. She's not even worth a single strand of the Third Young Lady's hair."
"I think she should just return to the Yuqing Taoist Temple and be a nun for the rest of her life."
The vicious whispers pierced Dou Mingxiu's ears. His face turned ashen, and his knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists.
Were they trying to drive her to her death?
His father had explicitly forbidden anyone from discussing the matter, so how had the news still leaked out?
How could Fourth Sister be as despicable as they claimed?
Dou Mingxiu barked sharply, "If any of you dare utter another word, I'll tear out your tongues."
The maids trembled and hastily knelt on the ground. "Young Master, we were wrong! We won't dare again! Please forgive us!"
They kowtowed and pleaded for mercy, but Dou Mingxiu could no longer hear them. His heart felt as though it were bleeding.
Fourth Sister was talented, beautiful, vibrant, and inherently proud. In the past, countless sons of noble families had pursued her, yet she hadn't deigned to spare them a glance.
But ever since she returned from the Yuqing Taoist Temple, her clothes had become dull and lifeless, her temperament grew increasingly withdrawn, and her entire being seemed devoid of vitality, losing all the vigor she once had.
How had she fallen to such a state?
As Dou Wenyi made her way to the main hall, a familiar, deep voice reached her ears.
"Uncle Dou, Madame Gu, I, Guidu, have come today with the sole purpose of seeking the hand of Fourth Young Lady, Dou Wenyi. I sincerely hope you will grant this request. I heard Fourth Young Lady is unwell, so I brought some tonics. May I give them to her?"
Xie Guidu carried himself with dignity and grace, his tone resolute and leaving no room for refusal.
For some reason, she also detected a trace of lingering affection in his tone, strikingly similar to how he spoke of his beloved Dou Mingyan.
Dou Wenyi felt a surge of blood rush to her head and halted in her tracks. "Cuizhi, what day is it today?"
"Gengsi Month, Dingchou Day," Cuizhi replied.
No!
In her previous life, he hadn't come to propose at this time—why had he come earlier now?
A chilling thought suddenly rose in her heart: Could it be that he, like her, had been reborn…