Chapter 210 — A Misstep (Bonus update, begging for pink votes)
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 3 of 4
Seeing Dou Wenchang so furious he could only tremble, he privately held him in some contempt, and then said slowly and deliberately, "Then let us meet in the great hall of Shuntian Prefecture!"—looking altogether unconcerned.
Wei Wan was beside herself with rage and sneered, "Do not think that just because your family has produced a Grand Secretary, the government offices are yours to run! What do you take the censors for? The great hall of Shuntian Prefecture, is it? Then we shall meet there! And do not blame us then for showing no mercy!"
Ji Yong cast her a contemptuous glance. "If I am not mistaken, madam is the heir's wife of the Jing Town-Nation Duke's household, are you not? When did you leave the Duke's household and return to your natal family? Otherwise, why do you keep saying 'our Wei family'?"
"You..." Wei Wan was so furious she nearly rolled her eyes.
But Zhang Yuanming seized Wei Wan by the arm.
"Wait!" he said in a low voice. "Look at the way they're acting—the Dou family must have come prepared. This matter needs careful deliberation!"
Wei Fan was taken aback.
Zhang Yuanming had already stepped forward, smiling as he bowed to Dou Wenchang and Ji Yong. "My wife is simply beside herself with worry. But your Dou family did indeed commit the fraud of a false marriage. That much is fact..."
"If that's the case, then why didn't the Marquis of Jining send the girl back to the Dou family when the veil was lifted? The Fifth Miss of the Dou family is a sheltered daughter of means and status, never stepping beyond the inner quarters. How is it that, without a single elder of the Dou family knowing, she had the audacity to take her sister's place and marry into the Wei household?" Ji Yong said with contempt. "I heard that some days ago the Marquis of Jining arranged a private meeting with the Fifth Miss of the Dou family at Puji Temple, which was discovered by the Fifth Madam of the Dou family. Because of this, the Dou family wished to break off the engagement. It was your Wei family that refused, and only then did the Dou family grudgingly agree on a wedding date. I rather think it is worth considering whose family committed the fraud of a false marriage. How is it that the Marquis of Jining, having clearly met his own sister-in-law, wound up entering the bridal chamber with her? At the double-ceremony toast, the Marquis of Jining was nowhere to be found, yet the Wei family's married eldest daughter was the first to raise a hue and cry, even demanding that the Dou family send over the Fourth Miss. Could it be that the Marquis of Jining wishes to emulate Emperor Shun—with Ehuang and Nüying both serving one husband? But first he had better see whether the Marquis has the stature to summon men with a single call!"
Who could match Ji Yong in eloquence?
Zhang Yuanming listened, sweating profusely.
Dou Wenchang, too, came back to his senses and hurriedly said, "Exactly! None of our elders knew beforehand that Ming had taken her sister's place. We only discovered it when she was taking leave of her parents—everyone in the wedding hall was struck dumb with confusion. Seventh Uncle's face went ashen at the time, and he tried to stop Ming, but your Wei family's matron of good fortune dragged her away. By the time those in the outer courtyard got word, your bridal sedan had already traveled several alleys. If you don't believe me, ask those who came to fetch the bride! Because of this affair, Seventh Uncle and the old lady of the Wang family both fell ill from anger, and several of my aunts did not close their eyes all night. They sent us here before dawn precisely to get to the bottom of it!"
"Utter nonsense! Turning right and wrong upside down!" Wei Wan was trembling with rage. "Your elders knew nothing? Then who combed the Fifth Miss's hair? Who dressed her? Who—"
What was the point of wrangling over such trifling details now?