Chapter Forty-Four: Swift Blade

  When something involves one's own interests, the news will spread like it has grown wings and cannot be contained.

  But overnight, everyone in the Dou family knew about this matter.

  Some people secretly scold Wang Yingshuai as a troublemaker, some accuse Zhao Siyi of being unrealistic, some are calculating their own interests, and others are watching the show without fear of the stage being too high, waiting to see the joke. But no matter what attitude they have, no one wants to be the first to speak up. For a while, the originally bustling Dong Suan suddenly fell silent, and except for a few rough maids and wives walking around in the courtyard, people from each house didn't know where the cat had gone.

  Dou Zhao was somewhat pleased with the misfortune of others, but Ji Shi took her to the Western Palace instead.

  "Your grandfather is ill," said Ji Shi as she helped her change clothes. "We're going to see your grandfather."

  In front of the Zhao family, he put on a show that the Wang family was now in power and had to make Wang Yingxue legitimate, and I couldn't do anything about it; In front of the Wang family, however, he showed an attitude that although he was not satisfied with Wang Yingxue, things had come to this point, for the sake of both families' face, he would still find a way to make Wang Yingxue legitimate. Trying to please both sides and gain from all directions, now it has become difficult to advance or retreat, stuck in a dilemma.

  It's probably an acute illness.

  She returned and entered the Crane Longevity Hall with the Ji family.

  Dongdang was lying in bed with a green scarf on his head, looking very pale. Auntie Ding was attending to him by his side.

  It is said that Dou Zhao came to see him, but he didn't even lift an eyebrow.

  Aunt Ding's face turned red with embarrassment.

  Ji poured a cup of tea to signal Duan Zhaotan to go see his grandfather.

  Dong Dong hummed and turned around.

  Dou Zhao Duan held a tea cup, blinked his eyes and looked back at Ji Shi.

  Ji's eyebrows furrowed slightly. He took two steps forward, put his arm around Du Zhao's shoulders and comforted her with a smile: "Grandfather is ill and not in good spirits, just put the tea on the small table."

  Dong Zhaoli listened carefully and went to put down the tea cup with caution.

  Dong Dui remained indifferent and ignored him.

  Ji smiled and said to Auntie Ding, "Since Third Uncle has rested, we won't disturb him. We'll come back tomorrow to visit." Then he politely nodded at Auntie Ding and led Du Zhao out the door by the hand.

  On the road, Dunming saw the figure of Pangshi flashing by among the flower trees.

  She pretended not to see and got on the carriage.

  Pang rushed all the way back to Qixia Temple.

  Wang Yingshu was thin and pale, listlessly making an autumn coat for Dou Ming.

  Brother came and went, saying some things she had never thought of before.

  She can still live safely in Qixia Temple today, simply because of her father's resurrection. Her mother's family has power after all.

  If Father got implicated because of her... Wang Yingshuo didn't dare think further.

  If she had taken Duan Ming back to the Wang family like this, how would her later days be spent?

  Wang Yingxue's heart ached at the mere thought of Dun Shiyin's gentle and considerate nature, and she could only hope that each day would drag on as long as possible... If only she could wait until Dun Shiyin returned...

  She saw Pang's wife coming in. She forced a smile at Pang's wife: "Second sister, you're leaving so quickly, is there something wrong?"

  Pang poured himself a cup of tea and drank it all in one gulp before sitting down beside her and saying in a low voice, "I just saw Du Zhao!"

  Wang Yingshu couldn't help but let out an "ah" and sat up straight.

  Yesterday evening they had already heard about Zhao Si's conditions, Wang Yingshu thought Zhao Si was crazy, but Pang Shi's eyes lit up, and she couldn't sleep all night.

  "Don't be nervous," said Mrs. Pong with a smile. "It seems that Duan Zhao is here to visit the sick with Lady Liu." She clucked her tongue and said, "My goodness, Duan Zhao is really beautiful, and those embroidered shoes with pearls on them must be worth at least ten or twenty taels of silver. The Duan family is indeed wealthy."

  Wang Yingshuo disliked her second sister-in-law who judged everything based on its value in silver.

  But she didn't want to say it either.

  These days, she has been helped by Er Biao's wife in many things. She can't always argue with Er Biao's wife over these trivial matters, can she?

  "Yingxue, have you made up your mind?" Seeing Wang Yingxue not speaking, Pang Shi smiled to herself in her heart. Wanting to be a mistress and also wanting to establish a virtuous reputation, what an easy thing to do? "Don't say I didn't remind you as your sister-in-law, without the consent of the Zhao family, Father would never allow you to stay at the Duan's house in such an ambiguous manner. You wouldn't want your brother and his wife and children to lose face because of this, would you? If you become a legitimate wife, you can still get half of the family property; if you go back, the Duan family's assets will have nothing to do with you."

  "I can take care of myself," Wang Yingshuang said discontentedly, "I just think that Old Master Duan will definitely not agree to this matter..."

  "This is for later." Pang squeezed Wang Yingxue, "Just say whether you want to be promoted to the position of wife or not?"

  Wang Yingshuo hung her head and didn't say a word.

  "This is me worrying on behalf of the ancients!" said Mrs. Pang, "Alright, it's my fault for meddling in other people's business. I'll head back to Nanhua now, and from now on, I won't interfere with your affairs again!"

  Wang Yingshu suddenly grabbed Pang's sleeve.

  Pang didn't raise an eyebrow, but smiled... Dou and Ji had just gotten off the carriage when they saw Cai Lan hurrying over.

  "Sixth Mistress," she said with a curtsy, in a low voice, "Fifth Master and Sixth Master, Seventh Master have all returned together!"

  Dong Shaoji and Ji were both shocked, and Ji's expression was even more solemn: "Do you know why the three masters have returned?"

  "I don't know." Cai Lan shook her head, "I only heard that Fifth Master took a few days off and came back with Sixth Master and Seventh Master." She also said, "Seventh Master has already returned to the mansion, Sixth Master was just summoned by Old Madam, and Old Madam instructed you that if you return to the mansion, go see her immediately."

  Ji thought for a moment and asked: "Besides me and Sixth Master, who else?"

  "Also Third Master and Third Mistress."

  Ji thought for a moment, then said: "I know." He handed Du Zhao over to Tuo Niang and Cai Shu, "You take care of Shou Gu, wait until I come back and then send Shou Gu back to the mansion."

  The two of them went back to the Ji family's residence together, carrying Dou Zhao with them. Meanwhile, Ji brought Cai Lan to see Tai Furen.

  The courtyard of the lady's house was quiet and still, with the serving maids and old women standing in the middle of the courtyard, holding their breath.

  Upon seeing Madame Ji, the maid standing on the steps of the main hall hurriedly came forward to greet her. Smiling, she accompanied Madame Ji into the house while saying in a soft voice, "As soon as Master returned, he spoke with Old Madam for half a day in the inner chamber and then asked me to invite a few people over."

  Ji saw that walking two more steps would be the inner chamber, so he made a gesture to Liu Mama and smiled as he followed her in through the curtain.

  Everyone has already taken their seats and is waiting for her arrival.

  Ji Shi hastily stepped forward and bowed to everyone.

  The second lady smiled and said: "No need to be polite, there are no outsiders." Then she pointed to the empty embroidered stool beside Du Shi, "Sit down next to Zhongzheng!"

  Ji smiled and sat down, but took the opportunity to quickly glance at Third Madam.

  The third wife sat there with her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart, her expression unreadable.

  "Everyone is here!" Dou Shixu, sitting shoulder to shoulder with Er Ta Furen, smiled and spoke up, "I've come back this time because I have an urgent matter that requires the help of Third Brother and Sixth Younger Brother."

  He is a typical Su family member, tall and slender in build, with fair and delicate skin. His eyes are bright and spirited, and his speech is as gentle as spring breeze.

  Dong Shibang hurriedly bowed his head and apologized.

  Dòu Shì Jiǎo said: "Wáng Xíng Yí should be in Gānsù investigating the horse market ban, but instead this Wáng family matter came up. If he is impeached, it will make Zēng Gé Lǎo very passive. The Wáng family's matter must be cut off quickly. I have an idea, let's discuss it and see if it's feasible or not?" He paused slightly, his eyes slowly sweeping over the faces of his brother, sister-in-law, younger brother, and younger brother's wife. "Zhào Ruì Fū suggested that Third Uncle give half of the property to Shòu Gū as a dowry, I think Third Uncle will definitely not agree. So I roughly estimated that now the Dòu family's property is divided in half between the East Mansion and the West Mansion. The East Mansion is further divided into six shares, with the first, second, and fourth branches occupying half...

  Ji heard this and already vaguely knew Dou Shi's plan. Her heart was racing, and she couldn't help but look at Second Lady Tao.

  The second lady sat up straight, her eyes calm and steady.

  She thought of what Cai Lan said again.

  It seems Wu Bo has already gained Grandma's support!

  Ji's eyes swept over Du Shou's ranking list.

  Dou Shi Bang's mouth was slightly ajar, and he seemed to have some inkling of what Dou Shi Shuai would say next.

  But he soon regained his composure and listened attentively to Du Shi's words, just as he had done earlier.

  Look at your husband again.

  With a nonchalant expression on his face, he obviously already knew what Du Shi Zhui was going to say.

  Ji sighed.

  A voice came from beside Su Shi's ear: "...our three houses add up to exactly half of the Western House's property, which just meets Rui Fu's requirements. If Third Brother and Sixth Uncle agree, I'd like to allocate our share of the property to Shou Gu. As for the losses suffered by Third Brother and Sixth Uncle, please give me some time, I'll write an IOU and repay it slowly."

  As soon as he finished speaking, before the third and sixth houses had time to react, the second lady said: "If you have an urgent need, also report a number to me. I still have some silver coins that can be used to support the family's expenses for three or five years."

  Du Shi Bang respected his own mother the most, let alone this was for the future of his own brother.

  He had nothing to say.

  He also didn't want to express himself, lest Sixth Brother and Sixth Sister thought he was being a busybody.

  Dong Shi had always had the spirit of "a good woman does not wear her wedding dress, a good man does not eat his parents' food". Moreover, he knew about this matter before he came back. He was afraid that Ji Shi would feel wronged and couldn't help but look at Ji Shi.

  Dòu Shì Zhuī has everything planned out, can she say no?

  She nodded at her husband.

  Dong Shi said in a low voice: "I agree."

  Dong Shi Bang originally was a person who could put up and put down, seeing that the big matter had been settled, he said without any scruples: "I also agree." Afterwards, he felt that the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive, so he deliberately spoke in a light tone: "We don't need to have Fifth Brother sign an IOU, Mother's private silver is still left for us to reward those grandsons and granddaughters. As for our daily expenses, whether it's me or Sixth Brother, we can all afford it. If it really comes down to the day when we're destitute, I'll take my son, daughter-in-law, grandson, and granddaughter to the capital to find Fifth Brother."

  Dòu Shì Zhuī smiled slightly, his smile warm and sincere: "Third Brother, rest assured, I will definitely welcome you with open arms!"

  Dong Shi burst out laughing loudly.

  The second lady was overjoyed, and the wrinkles on her face seemed to have decreased by a few degrees: "Good, good, good. Brothers unite, their benefits are as sharp as gold. You can do this, and I can die with my eyes closed. Don't worry, for every word your fifth brother says, you will have a say too. I'm saying this here, Old Five, make a vow in front of your brothers, sisters-in-law, younger brothers, and their wives..."

  "No need, no need." Third Aunt also reacted at this time, with a smile all over her face, "This is not anyone's business, it's our family's business, how can we let Fifth Brother bear it alone?" Then she teased, "Mother, you say this, but aren't you stirring up discord between us brothers and sisters-in-law!"

  "It's all my fault, it's all my fault!" The second mistress smiled as if she had eaten a longevity fruit, "I won't say anything, I won't say anything."

  Dòu Shì Zhuō smiled and stood up: "Since that's the case, I won't say much more. I've already invited Lan Ge'er, Da Sao, Er Sao and the others to talk in the flower hall. At this time, they should have arrived, let's go together!"

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