Blossom

The Dou family actually dared to threaten her!

She went straight to the Marquis of Yan'an's mansion and said to the matchmaker, Madam, Marquis of Yan'an: "How can the bride's family decide the wedding date? These chosen dates seem too ordinary to me. Why not ask the Imperial Observatory to select a few new auspicious dates?"

Madam, Marquis of Yan'an tactfully replied, "The groom's family asking the bride's side to choose the date is meant to foster closeness. Besides, I think the dates selected by the Imperial Observatory are quite good. Your father passed away several years ago, and your mother has been alone all this time. Surely she must be looking forward to holding a grandchild soon. Some matters, I think, can be let go if they're not too far off." Then she added half-seriously, half-jokingly, "Now the entire Capital is saying you've taken a liking to our Qingyuan. Even what tea I served you when you visited is being talked about in detail. Fortunately, I'm the matchmaker for the Marquis of Jining. If this were any other time, our family wouldn't be able to clear our name even if we jumped into the Yellow River."

The Wang and Wei families had been close friends for generations and maintained frequent contact. Wei Tingzhen often visited their home, and even though rumors spread in the Capital that Wei Tingzhen had taken a fancy to her daughter Wang Qingyuan, Madam, Marquis of Yan'an had paid no mind, dismissing it as idle gossip from people with too much time on their hands. It wasn't until the Dou family sent Madam Cai to discuss calling off the engagement between the Dou and Wei families that she became alert. After sending someone to investigate, she was shocked to discover the peculiar nature of the rumors. Realizing the Dou family wouldn't tarnish their own reputation for no reason, and recalling how Wei Tingzhen always subtly inquired about Qingyuan's marital status during visits, she concluded there must be some truth to the rumors. Furious, she initially considered rejecting the Wei family's matchmaking request but feared others would accuse her of having a "guilty conscience." Meanwhile, the engagement between the Dou and Wei families remained unresolved, leaving her so anxious she couldn't eat or sleep properly. Worried that her daughter, already considered somewhat older for marriage, might be affected by this matter, she pressed Wei Tingzhen to quickly finalize Wei Tingyu's wedding.

Wei Tingzhen didn't know whether Madam, Marquis of Yan'an was aware that she had spread the rumors herself. Hearing this, her face alternated between red and white with embarrassment.

Madam, Marquis of Yan'an casually pointed to the nearest date and said, "After the Ghost Festival in mid-July, the weather will be cooler. Let's set it for August 4th. The new bride can enter the household just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The whole family can reunite, and your father's spirit in heaven will surely be happy too."

Wei Tingzhen wanted to delay further.

But Madam, Marquis of Yan'an said, "I'm getting old and have to help prepare Qingyuan's dowry. If you still need to discuss matters with the Dou family, perhaps you could ask the Second Madam of your household to mediate between both sides?"

Wei Tingzhen understood this as a warning from Madam, Marquis of Yan'an. Though somewhat helpless, she replied, "Then I'll go back and consult my mother, let her make the decision."

"That would be best," Madam, Marquis of Yan'an said with a smile, lifting her teacup. Compared to before, her attitude had cooled significantly.

Wei Tingzhen left in a huff and went to the Marquis of Jining's mansion, where she happened to run into Madam Cai.Madam Cai was speaking with Tian Shi: "...Whether it's a yes or no, you must make a decision. The Dou family isn't desperate to form this marriage alliance with your family—it's only because of the prior agreement between ancestors that we can't casually break it off. Whether the Wei family acknowledges this betrothal or not, you must give us an answer. If you still recognize this engagement, Fourth Miss Dou has already waited four years for your Marquis. Shouldn't your family set a wedding date? If you don't recognize this betrothal..." She tapped the thick stack of gift lists on the tea table, "...since it's your family refusing, then the betrothal gifts you initially sent over need not be returned by the Dou family. However, the gifts the Dou family sent to you must be returned double. If some items have already been repurposed and cannot be returned, converting them to silver is also acceptable!"

Seeing Wei Tingzhen enter, Madam Cai abruptly stopped with an "Ah!" and stepped forward with a smile, curtsying in greeting. "How timely that the elder paternal aunt has returned. You're a sensible person—whatever the outcome of this marriage alliance with the Dou family, you should at least give us a clear answer. Right now, Grand Secretary Dou still doesn't know about the Wang family matter, so everything can still be discussed. But if too much time passes, that won't be the case anymore. If Grand Secretary Dou finds out, this marriage won't be up to Fifth Madam anymore—if he says to break it off, then it will be broken off..."

Tian Shi exhaled in relief and urgently called out, "Zhen'er!"

Wei Tingzhen first gave Tian Shi a reassuring smile before her expression darkened with displeasure. "Who's been spreading rumors here?"

"Who's spreading rumors, we don't know," Madam Cai replied with a smile, though her words were sharp enough to pierce through someone. "But the note the Marquis of Jining wrote to Fifth Miss Dou is still in Fifth Madam's hands. Originally, considering the familial ties between our families, it wasn't worth mentioning. But since the two families are now breaking off the engagement, there's no need for restraint anymore..."

Wei Tingzhen believed that if such matters became public, the woman's side would suffer more damage, and she was confident the Dou family wouldn't publicize it. Furious at Wei Tingyu's recklessness, she had slapped him hard earlier and hadn't bothered to inquire further. Now, hearing that Wei Tingyu had left a note with Fifth Madam Dou, she was so angry her vision blurred. Before she could recover, Tian Shi, who doted on her son, spoke urgently: "I think the wedding date should be set for the fourth day of the eighth month..."

"Mother!" Wei Tingzhen cried out in frustration, but when she saw her mother's pale face and frightened eyes, she froze.

Tian Shi continued, "Zhen'er, don't say anything more. I've made the decision—the date will be the fourth day of the eighth month." She then nodded apologetically to Madam Cai. "We would appreciate it if Madam Cai could put in a good word for us with the in-laws."

Madam Cai, having achieved her goal, was delighted. Noticing Wei Tingzhen standing nearby with a dark expression and recalling how she had repeatedly interfered, she pressed her advantage. "The Dowager is most reasonable, but I wonder what the elder paternal aunt of your household has to say? She is such a capable woman—not only does she manage the affairs of the Duke of Jingguo's household, but she also has the final say in your family's matters. I wouldn't want to report back to Fifth Madam Dou only for your elder paternal aunt to change her mind and make me come all this way for nothing...""You!" Wei Tingzhen flushed with anger and shame, wanting to retort to Madam Cai. But Tian Shi, who sought to smooth things over, intervened first: "Of course we care about our own brother. What happened before had its reasons. Now that it's settled, let's not dwell on the past. We'll send matchmakers with formal betrothal letters soon."

Madam Cai smiled and praised Tian Shi as "magnanimous and kind-natured," saying "Fourth Miss Dou is fortunate to marry into such a family." Without even glancing at Wei Tingzhen, she took her leave.

Wei Tingzhen stamped her foot: "Mother..."

"Enough," Tian Shi said firmly. "This matter is decided."

Furious, Wei Tingzhen went to find Wei Tingyu, twisting the ear of her younger brother who stood half a head taller: "You fool! What exactly did you write to Fifth Miss Dou?"

Wei Tingyu grimaced: "Sister, what nonsense are you talking about? When did I ever write to Fifth Miss Dou... Ouch! That hurts!"

Wei Tingzhen was taken aback. "You truly never wrote any notes to Fifth Miss Dou?" Her brother had never lied to her.

Wei Tingyu swore he hadn't.

Only then did Wei Tingzhen realize she and her mother had been deceived. Fuming, she cursed Cai Shi inwardly, plotting how to humiliate Madam Cai. But the Dou family moved unexpectedly fast—the very next day, they sent Dou Ming's dowry list.

Farmsteads, houses, shops, furniture, spices, jewelry, clothing, medicinal herbs... The exhaustive list filled a small booklet, totaling at least twenty thousand taels of silver.

Wei Tingzhen was shocked.

Tian Shi gave her daughter a meaningful glance.

Wei Tingyu was more direct: "Sister, don't speak ill of Dou Zhao anymore. She'll soon be your sister-in-law. I'll make sure she obeys you in everything."

Wei Tingzhen's face alternated between red and white.

Returning to the Jingguo Duke's residence, Zhang Mingyuan chided her: "I've told you before—don't judge by appearances alone. Had this marriage been ruined because of you, wouldn't you have regretted it?"

Wei Tingzhen muttered something unintelligible in protest, but from then on, she never criticized Wei Tingyu's marriage again.

Matchmakers were engaged, invitations sent, wedding tents booked, accounts arranged... The wedding preparations progressed smoothly, and soon it was late July.

Invited guests began sending congratulatory gifts.

Gu Yu and Wang Huaiqing each gave five hundred taels of silver, surpassing the two hundred taels from Wei Tingyu's uncle and the four hundred from Wei Tingzhen. Song Mo went further—besides five hundred taels, he gifted a twelve-panel screen with chicken-wing wood base inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting seasonal flowers, a pair of mutton-fat jade carvings of Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, and Happiness, a pair of natural agate deer, and a pair of cloisonné enamel pine and bamboo pieces. These items alone were worth over a thousand taels, prompting awed whispers from the accounts staff: "No wonder they say the Young Lord of Duke of Yingguo, though cold in manner, is extraordinarily generous. Look at these gifts..."

While monetary gifts required equivalent reciprocation, material gifts allowed flexibility in return gifts—clearly Song Mo expected nothing in return.

Wei Tingyu hadn't anticipated this and was overwhelmed.Tian Shi repeatedly reminded Wei Tingyu, "You must pay close attention to matters concerning Song Yantang from now on."

Wei Tingyu nodded incessantly.

Zhang Yuanming, however, frowned slightly.

Compared to his friendship with Wei Tingyu, Song Yantang's gift was far too extravagant.

He wanted to caution his brother-in-law, but when he saw Wei Tingzhen admiring the pair of sky-blue agate deer figurines and exclaiming, "How beautiful!" he swallowed his words—bringing it up now would only spoil the mood.

Three days before and five days after.

On the first day of the eighth lunar month, the Wei Family began setting up banquet tents and testing the stove to welcome relatives and friends arriving with congratulations.

Meanwhile, Dou Zhao returned to Jing'an Temple Alley.

She would be married from here.

At Fifth Madam's urging, Wang Yingxue took charge of managing the household.

In the afternoon, Dou Zhao's aunt, Madam Zhao, arrived in the Capital with her daughter Zhao Zhangru, weary from the journey.

Duan Gongyi and his men also quietly settled into Jing'an Temple Alley.