Chapter 41: Shocking Tiger (Pink Ticket 60 Plus More)

  Ji said that Yu Chai was not suitable to stay by Du Zhao's side and serve her, and told her to change to another maid.

  Yu's mother knew that this was Ji forcing her to get rid of the jade hairpin.

  The maids and old women in the Western Palace fawned on her because they wanted to get some benefits from her. As a result, when she committed a crime, not only could she not protect these people who had once flattered her, but she also had to personally punish them.

  Who will come close again in the future?

  But if she pretended not to understand, would Sixth Lady lose face and take this matter to Second Lady?

  Thinking of Second Mistress Yu, Yu's nanny couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.

  Let's get through this difficult situation first.

  Yu's mother gritted her teeth, took the jade hairpin back, and in front of everyone, she severely beat Yu twenty times until her skin was torn and bleeding, making it hard for her to breathe. Thinking that Old Master didn't know why he was furious, whoever got close would get hurt, so fearing that Yu's death would bring bad luck to Old Master, on one hand, she invited a doctor over to treat Yu's wounds, while on the other hand, she arranged for someone to find a husband for Yu to marry.

  "The most important thing is to marry far away," she instructed the matchmaker, "and don't ask for her ransom money, we'll even give ten taels of silver as dowry."

  This is a good thing, the matchmaker himself had an idea: "I have a distant relative who is a husband selector and makes a living on the Huai'an canal. He just lost his wife, if it can be done, there will be several packets of tea as a thank you gift. It's just that he's a bit old and has two sons..."

  Yu's mother didn't care about those things, as long as she could get the person to leave far away. Without asking another word, she agreed to this marriage: "I'll go tell Seventh Master."

  The matchmaker sat there happily sipping tea and waiting.

  Dong Shiying was in Heshoutang, but when Yu Niangniang rushed over, she was blocked at the door.

  "The old master is talking with Seventh Master," the young servant whispered to her. "He's given orders that no one is allowed to disturb them."

  Yu's mother stood waiting in the courtyard.

  In the study, Dong lay on the drunkard's chair, suddenly looking ten years older, tired and haggard.

  "Ten thousand taels, this time you must come back with the title of Juren!" He covered his forehead with the back of his hand, blocking out the light. In his low and depressed voice, there was a hint of helplessness and indignation. "The Duan family is no longer the same as it was when your great-grandfather was in charge. If you want to keep the family business intact, you must make an effort. Do you understand?"

  Dòu Shìyīng stood there silently, without making a sound.

  Dong Meng suddenly sat up and loudly scolded: "Did you hear it or not?"

  "I heard." Du Shiying replied calmly, asking: "As for the Wang family's matter, what are you going to do?"

  Dong Dang coldly smiled. He said solemnly, "You don't need to worry about this matter anymore, with me here, West Dong won't be able to bully East Dong! You just focus on attending the imperial examination." Then he loudly asked, "Who is standing guard outside?"

  "It's small Du An."

  "You go and invite the old man from the Wang family over."

  Du An left at the sound of his name being called.

  Dong Dong turned around and said to his son who was standing quietly there: "You go back and pack your luggage."

  Dong Shiying respectfully bowed to his father and left the Crane Longevity Hall.

  Yu's mother hastily came forward. She told him about the trip to the East Mansion and finally said, "This is what the Sixth Lady means... such a person cannot be kept, for the sake of past reputation, it's best to marry far away."

  She feared another disturbance and moved the Ji family out.

  Dong Shiying was taken aback and didn't speak for a long time before saying, "Since it's the Sixth Lady's intention, then just do as she intends!"

  Yu's mother got the message and hastily went back to the matchmaker. That night, a sedan chair was sent to take Yu's daughter away.

  Dong Shiying stood still for half a day, instructing Gao Sheng behind him: "You go help me pack things up, I'll go to Liu Ye's place and take a look at Shou Gu."

  Gao Sheng hastily said: "Then you should go and return early, tomorrow at dawn we still need to pay respects to our ancestors."

  Dou Shiying nodded and went to the East Mansion.

  Duan Shi Hong is packing up the scrolls to take to Kyoto. The study is a bit messy, seeing Duan Shi Ying come over, and they sit down in the hall together.

  "Shougu and Liu Jie have gone to Erniang's house for a visit," he said, pouring a cup of tea for Dou Shiying, "they should be back soon according to the time."

  Dòu Shìyīng softly said "trouble Liù Sǎo", holding the tea cup in silence for a long time.

  Dong Shi smiled horizontally: "What's wrong? Are you tired of being at home?"

  Dong Shiying smiled faintly and replied evasively: "Sixth brother, when the Zhū family wanted to break off the engagement, why did you speak up for them?"

  Dong Shi's expression changed slightly, and he said with a half-joking, half-teasing tone: "Your reputation is already bad enough, if you get rejected by all these families again, I'm afraid you won't be able to find a good wife in the future."

  Dou Shiying listened thoughtfully for a moment, then suddenly smiled and relaxed her facial features, like a slowly unfolding painting scroll, with a natural and effortless flow.

  Dong Shi looked at him dazedly, Dong Shi Ying had already raised the hand holding the teacup and smiled: "Sixth brother, I'll toast you a cup."

  "Hey!" Dou Shi suppressed the unusual feeling in his heart and smiled, "What's this for?"

  "I just wanted to say 'thank you' to Sixth Brother!" Dou Shiying's mouth was curved into a smile, but his eyes were serious and solemn, making Dou Shixiang slightly surprised. Just as he was about to ask what had happened, a burst of laughter came from outside.

  "Shou Gu has returned." Dou Shi Heng said, as he and Dou Shi Ying exited the ear chamber.

  The big red lanterns lit up the courtyard, making it a deep crimson color. A group of maids and servants escorted Ji Shi and Dou Zhao in, Ji Shi with her head lowered, whispering something to Dou Zhao, who looked up at her with a chuckle, the small golden earrings dangling from her ears sparkling like mischievous stars in the night sky.

  Du Shiying's nose turned sour.

  If Gao Qiu were still alive... I don't know how happy I would be!

  He involuntarily squatted down, opened his arms and shouted "Shou Gu" towards Dou Zhao.

  Dòu Zhāo raised his head and saw Dòu Shìyīng with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes.

  She stood quietly beside Ji Shi and softly called out "Dad".

  Dou Shiying's smile froze on his face, and his arm seemed to be supporting a thousand pounds of force, slowly falling down.

  Ji Shi hurriedly pushed Dou Zhao and smiled: "Your father is leaving tomorrow, he came to see you specially today."

  Dong Zhao pretended not to understand. He bent his knees and paid respects to Dong Shiying, then bid farewell to his father in a shrill voice: "Father, have a safe journey!"

  Dou Shiying lost her smile.

  What's the point of arguing with a child?

  He smiled and walked forward, stroking his daughter's head, saying: "Shou Gu is at Liu Bo Mu's place, listen to her. Got it?"

  Dong Zhaoshao smiled and nodded.

  Dong Shiying bowed to Ji's family: "Madam, please trouble Sixth Aunt a lot."

  Ji Shi hurriedly returned the courtesy: "Seventh Uncle is too polite. Shou Gu is clever and sensible, we all like her very much."

  Dòu Shìyīng smiled and bid farewell.

  Dòu Shì Héng Sòng Tā.

  "Tomorrow everyone will have to get up early, so there's no need to be so polite."

  Dòu Shì Héng was a straightforward person. Smiling, he waved his hand at Dòu Shì Yīng: "Then we'll see each other tomorrow."

  He stood shoulder to shoulder with He Ji, watching Dou Shiying leave.

  Under the clear wind and bright moon, the branches are dense and swaying, Du Shiying's background is lonely and desolate.

  Dong Zhao turned her head and ran into the inner room with a rustling sound... Madam Gao stood on the steps of the east wing of Qixia Courtyard, the fragrance of Yu Chuan flowers wafting heavily towards her face. From the main house came the faint sound of Madame Pang's giggles. It was as if a needle had pricked at her heart, making it unbearable.

  She suddenly felt anxious and restless, and couldn't help but pace back and forth in the courtyard.

  How did I end up as a sister-in-law with the Pangs?

  I've seen shameless people before, but never as shameless as this. They're even embarrassing to the Pong family.

  She has been upright and dignified since she was a child. No matter when, she has always been fearless and straightforward. When did she ever walk looking at her toes...

  Gao stood still in front of the corridor, panting heavily.

  No matter what Wang Zhihe thinks, she will return to Nanwa tomorrow morning and take her son to Kyoto to visit his father, never to wade through this muddy water again.

  Wang Zhi couldn't bear to lose face like this, she can't afford to lose face like this!

  Having made up her mind, she felt a little better in her heart, and then saw a black shadow turning from the nearby woods.

  She was startled. Upon closer inspection, it was her husband Wang Zhi Bing.

  He hung his head, one foot high and one foot low, with a distracted look.

  What did Mr. Dòu say to him?

  Madam Gao was deep in thought, thinking that yesterday she had advised Wang Zhihe not to stay at the Duan's house, and it would have been better for them to spend the night anywhere else. But Wang Zhihe didn't listen, and as a result, during breakfast this morning, the maid from the Duan's house looked at them with an expression that made them feel like poor relatives who had come to beg for food. The atmosphere was so tense that it wasn't until the afternoon that it gradually dissipated. Madam Gao didn't want to pay attention to her husband anymore.

  She turned and went back into her dressing room.

  Wang Zhihe gazed at the dim yellow light spilling out from the half-open door, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

  He didn't know that they lived here with unorthodox words and names, but if he hadn't lived here, the Pong family wouldn't have anyone to keep them in check, who knows what other outrageous things they would do?

  I don't even know who was the matchmaker for this marriage, this is not matchmaking for their family, but rather harming them.

  He was born weak and incompetent, being controlled by his brother's wife. As the elder brother, he couldn't just bypass his younger brother to manage his sister-in-law, could he?

  Wang Zhi's head was splitting with pain as he entered the house.

  Gao didn't say a word to Wang Zhibang, and silently fetched water for him to wash up.

  Wang Zhihe knew that his family's affairs had caused his wife to suffer, and he felt extremely uneasy. He pulled on his wife's sleeve and pretended to be mysterious, saying: "Do you know why Lord Dou called me over?"

  "What's going on?"

  "Master Dòu asked me, 'Do you want your father to be a virtuous minister in the annals of history or a transient and fleeting opposing minister?'"

  Gao's expression changed: "What did Old Master Duan say to you?"

  "Wang Zhi said something we didn't know." Wang Zhi hesitated for a moment and told Gao about Zhao Guqiu's death.

  Gao's face was as white as snow, she covered her chest with her hand, and her mouth trembled slightly. After a while, she stammered: "Will... will it be wrong?" But suddenly remembered that once her mother-in-law said that when an old friend's family married off their daughter, they didn't have money for gifts, so they didn't want to go. It was only because Wang Yuxue had pawned one of her own gold hairpins that she was allowed to attend the wedding banquet... In her heart, she already believed it a little, and tears couldn't help but fall: "What kind of evil is this!"

  "I didn't expect this either." Wang Zhi's eyes also turned red, "Old Master Dou said that if he wasn't admiring Father's character, he wouldn't have let Yingxue into the house. Originally, it was just taking care of an old acquaintance's daughter, but who would have thought it would cause such trouble? Yingxue thinks what, Old Master Dou is clear about, but Old Master Dou also said that after the Zhao family matter came out, the Zhao family will absolutely not agree to make Yingxue a proper wife. You also know, without the Zhao family's consent letter, even if the Dou family acknowledges Yingxue, it's still useless..."

  For some reason, when Gao heard this, the phrase "calamity from the east" suddenly flashed into his mind.

  ※

  Everyone in the comments asked me to make a character list, because the outline involves plot, and the character list is walking with the outline, needs to be separated out. Temporarily following the format of "The Mermaid in the Sky", I made one, everyone take a look first, if new characters appear again, update it. If you still can't understand, we'll discuss changing the format, welcome everyone's corrections... In Chapter 28 "New Year", I changed Du Qijun's age. According to the original outline, too many people in the Du family were written, reduced a few characters, resulting in such an error, here to reflect on it.

  Finally, it's about the titles. Originally, considering that Sanfang didn't have a title, each had their own title, and I planned to unify all the titles in the second part, but now it seems even more confusing. Also, because of the large workload, I'm afraid of making mistakes, so I added each person's name before the "Chang" character in the Duan family to distinguish them. For example, for Duan Huan Chang, he would be called "Huan Jiu Ye", what do you think?

  Some minor errors are being corrected intermittently.

  ※RQ