Blossom

Before Wei Tingzhen could speak, Madam Fan had already stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Wei Tingzhen, and addressed Madam Zheng coldly, "I wonder what grounds Madam Zheng has for such claims? Perhaps you are unaware, but our family’s late patriarch developed a fondness for the Book of Changes in his later years. Whenever a child was born into our household, he would have their fortune divined. There was even a Daoist Master from Dragon Tiger Mountain who once visited us. As a result, several of our family’s masters also took up this interest, delving into the study of the Book of Changes . Particularly the Seventh Master, who once lectured the Emperor on the Book of Changes and is most adept at warding off misfortune and evil. If Fourth Miss Dou were truly as Madam Zheng claims, how is it that our Seventh Master has never mentioned it?"

As she spoke, she turned and glanced at Wei Tingzhen. "The betrothal between our Fourth Miss and the Marquis of Jining was arranged in their childhood, and the marriage matching cards were formally exchanged three years ago. To show solemnity, the late Marquis of Jining even invited the Director of the Imperial Observatory to personally match their birth characters. At the time, the Director declared it a 'match made in heaven.' Overjoyed, the late Marquis gifted the Director a piece of Shoushan stone. This matter is well-known to both the Dou and Wei families. How could Madam Zheng connect the late Marquis’s passing to our Fourth Miss?"

She continued, "Life, death, illness—these are the natural course of human existence. Madam Zheng has little interaction with our family, so why would she attribute such things to our Fourth Miss? What is her intention? And from where did she hear such rumors?" Her eyes fixed on Madam Xu Wang. "As a woman yourself, and older than our Fourth Miss, surely you understand the harm such words could inflict upon her?"

Madam Fan’s words were sharp and unrelenting, a clear confrontation with Madam Zheng. Her pointed remarks left no room for misunderstanding, and the room fell silent. Some glanced at Madam Xu Wang, others at Madam Zheng or Wang Yingxue, but most turned their attention to Wei Tingzhen, eager to hear her response—Wei Tingzhen was Wei Tingyu’s elder sister, and her stance often reflected Tian Shi’s attitude, which in turn could influence the Marquis of Jining’s position.

Even Madam Wang, who had earlier avoided the topic, held her breath and strained to listen.

Wei Tingzhen felt a surge of satisfaction.

This was exactly what she wanted.

Whether Dou Zhao was truly ill-fated for her relatives didn’t matter. As long as everyone knew of this matter, she could steer the situation to the Wei family’s advantage.

"This…" Wei Tingzhen feigned hesitation.

Sometimes, reluctance to answer was an answer in itself.

Some shook their heads in pity, others pondered thoughtfully, while a few wore expressions of schadenfreude, eager for the drama to escalate.

Wei Tingzhen barely suppressed a smile.

Madam Fan thought she could protect Dou Zhao’s reputation this way, but little did she know—the more she defended, the more intrigued people became, and the more attention the matter would draw.

She was just debating whether to confirm Madam Zheng’s claims by saying, "Ever since my brother began serving, my mother has fallen ill," or "When their birth characters were matched, the Director of the Imperial Observatory also said my brother’s fortune was excellent—any woman who married him would enjoy wealth and honor, without mentioning any incompatibility between Fourth Miss Dou and her elders"—when she noticed her personal maid hurrying toward her, drenched in sweat and visibly agitated.

Wei Tingzhen was startled, her focus momentarily diverted.The maid quietly approached her and whispered urgently, "Madam, something terrible has happened. The Marquis of Jining was taken to a male brothel by Miss Dou the Fourth's cousin, Ji Jianming, this year's newly appointed Third Scholar, and even stayed there overnight... That Ji Jianming had ill intentions, but thankfully the Young Lord of the Duke of Yingguo intervened and rescued him. The Marquis asks you to return quickly."

It felt like a bolt from the blue. Wei Tingzhen's legs weakened, and had the maid not swiftly supported her, she might have collapsed on the spot.

The others noticed Wei Tingzhen's pale expression and instinctively fell silent.

The maid, now the target of the noble ladies' scrutiny, was both frightened and anxious, repeatedly calling out "Madam" to Wei Tingzhen in a hushed voice.

Wei Tingzhen snapped back to reality with a start.

Her brother had always been honest—how could he have ended up in a male brothel?

And that Ji Jianming, since he was Dou Zhao's cousin, why would he harbor ill intentions toward her brother?

Her brother was rescued by the Young Lord of the Duke of Yingguo's mansion—aside from Song Mo, how many others knew about this?

Questions piled up one after another, her mind a chaotic mess with no clear answers. Yet she knew that at this moment, there was something far more pressing than unraveling the truth—she had to maintain her usual composure and not let these sharp-eyed ladies detect even a hint of abnormality. Otherwise, hiding the fact that her brother had visited a male brothel would be impossible.

Under normal circumstances, this would merely be an insignificant scandal. But now, with the Dou and Wei families about to formally exchange betrothal gifts, her brother's actions amounted to a slap in the face to the Dou family. Would the Dou family exploit this to withdraw from the marriage, tarnishing her brother's reputation?

Moreover, how could such a coincidence occur?

Dou Zhao's cousin Ji Jianming was also present—could this have been a scheme all along?

Wei Tingzhen dared not dwell on it further. All she knew was that with her brother entangled in such a scandal, she could not afford to provoke the Dou family any further. If they bore a grudge and seized upon her brother's visit to the brothel to make a scene, the consequences would be disastrous.

She immediately shifted her stance, forcing a smile as she said, "Madam Zheng, you are mistaken! When the Director of the Imperial Observatory matched the horoscopes of Fourth Miss Dou and my brother, he declared that Fourth Miss Dou would bring prosperity to both her husband and children. Coincidentally, my father passed away, and my mother, fearing that Miss Dou the Fourth might grow impatient, wished to hasten the wedding and instructed me to discuss the wedding date with the Dou family. This matter should be well-known in Zhen Ding."

So, it seemed that Wang Yingxue, her daughter, and Madam Zheng had been slandering Fourth Miss Dou?

The room erupted in murmurs.

The gazes directed at the three of them now carried disdain.

Wang Yingxue and her daughter, along with Madam Zheng, could not conceal their shock. Wang Yingxue, in particular, looked indignant and had just begun to retort with a sharp "You—" when Madam Xu Wang pulled her back, her face dark. Without waiting for the abbot of the Great Xiangguo Temple to begin his lecture, the three of them slunk away in disgrace.

Wei Tingzhen also left shortly after Wang Yingxue and her daughter, though while the trio headed for Willow Leaf Alley, Wei Tingzhen returned to the Jingguo Duke's residence.Let’s set aside how Madam Zheng glanced meaningfully at Wang Yingxue and remarked to Madam Xu Wang, "Madam, you spoil your paternal aunt too much," before parting ways with Wang Yingxue and her mother in displeasure. Nor will we dwell on how Wang Yingxue, furious at Wei Tingzhen’s sudden change of heart, cursed her vehemently the moment she boarded the carriage, only to be sharply reprimanded by Madam Xu Wang, who was enraged by her reckless behavior that had disgraced the Wang Family. Madam Xu even snatched the folding fan beside her and hurled it at Wang Yingxue. Instead, let’s focus on Wei Tingzhen, who, upon seeing Wei Tingyu, greeted him with a face as cold as ice and demanded sternly, "What exactly happened? Tell me everything without leaving out a single word!"

Wei Tingyu dared not conceal anything and recounted the entire incident in a flustered manner.

"You fool!" Wei Tingzhen couldn’t help scolding. "What have I always taught you? Speak only half-truths to others—never bare your heart completely. Yet here you are, doing whatever others tell you and even getting lured to Qianfo Temple Lane! If the Duke of Yingguo’s heir hadn’t arrived in time, how would you have handled the situation…?"

Wei Tingyu listened meekly.

But the siblings grew increasingly puzzled.

Why would Ji Jianming treat Wei Tingyu this way?

Just then, an intentional cough sounded from the inner chamber.

Wei Tingzhen and Wei Tingyu looked up simultaneously to see Zhang Yuanming enter with a smile.

"Tingyu’s here too!" His smile was warm and sincere as he addressed Wei Tingzhen lightly, "What’s the matter? Why the stern face with Tingyu present? What has he done to upset you?" Then, with a meaningful glance at Wei Tingyu, he added, "Your brother-in-law just acquired a fine bottle of Pear Blossom White. Come, let’s share a drink." Clearly, he was trying to rescue Wei Tingyu from the situation.

Wei Tingyu was immensely grateful.

In the past, he would have eagerly followed his brother-in-law.

But Ji Yong’s attitude hung over him like a sword, leaving him restless and fearful of when disaster might strike and reduce him to ashes. How could he dare leave now?

Wei Tingyu cast a timid glance at his sister.

Wei Tingzhen snorted coldly.

Noticing the unusual tension, Zhang Yuanming’s smile faded, and his expression grew serious.

"What’s happened?"

Wei Tingzhen was too angry to speak.

Reading his sister’s mood, Wei Tingyu stammered through the story once more.

Zhang Yuanming’s expression darkened further.

After a moment’s thought, he asked Wei Tingyu, "You said Young Master Gu left first, and then the Duke of Yingguo’s heir and Young Master Gu came to your rescue?"

Wei Tingyu nodded honestly.

Zhang Yuanming’s face grew even graver. He tugged at Wei Tingyu’s sleeve. "Come, let’s go find the Duke of Yingguo’s heir!"

Song Mo wasn’t home.

After sending off a puzzled Gu Yu with a smile, he had gone horseback riding along the moat outside Xuanwu Gate.

Xia Lian lounged beneath the shade of willow trees by the moat to escape the heat.

Chen He, watching Song Mo’s dashing figure under the scorching sun, wiped sweat from his brow with a handkerchief and muttered, "If you wanted to ride, you could’ve gone to the farmstead in Daxing. Here, it’s all dust and sweltering heat..."Xia Lian chuckled and tilted his chin toward the nearby official road. "See that little girl selling fruit? She's passed by here five times already. And that young woman heading into the city—she's been sitting by the roadside resting for a full hour without blinking as she stares at the Young Lord. Then there are those women in the teahouse over there, sitting motionless..." He joked, "You'd never see such amusing sights at the farmstead! At least this way, we're not wasting fine scenery."

Chen He shot Xia Lian a displeased glare and muttered, "For them to catch a glimpse of the Young Lord's heroic bearing is a blessing they've earned from past lives..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Song Mo came galloping over on horseback.

"Chen He," he called out, his face flushed from the sun and drenched in sweat. His pale blue Hangzhou silk summer robe clung tightly to his body, accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow waist—a striking figure. "We're heading to the farmstead in Daxing!"

"Now?" Chen He's eyes widened.

Song Mo gave an affirmative hum and cracked his whip, charging toward Xuanwu Gate.

Chen He couldn't help but scratch his head in confusion.

Meanwhile, Xia Lian pondered to himself: Was the Young Lord truly going to Daxing, or was Zhen Ding his real destination?

If he intended to inform Miss Dou the Fourth about the Marquis of Jining's affairs, should he remind the lord about this?

Someone as astute as Miss Dou the Fourth likely already knew about the Marquis of Jining's character. Some things were better left unacknowledged—feigning ignorance could maintain appearances, while knowing the truth would force a decision. The marriage had been arranged by their parents—could it even be called off?

The Young Lord was still too young, after all. He might not yet understand these intricacies of human relationships.