Chapter 385 — Wrathful Looks
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
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Lady Gao, Pang Yulou, and a crowd of maids and old serving women pinched Wang Xushi's philtrum and pressed cold cloths to her face until at last she came around.
Faintly, she instructed those around her, "This matter is not to be told to the young mistress!"
All present respectfully answered "Yes."
Still unwilling to give up, she asked her two daughters-in-law, "Did Ming really say such things?"
Lady Gao and Pang Yulou nodded slightly.
Wang Xushi burst into loud weeping. "What sin did I commit in a former life! I toiled and moiled to raise an ingrate, and now she will not even acknowledge her own mother! Is there any child in this world who behaves so? Why does the Dou family not rein her in? Do they simply let her trample her mother underfoot? Do they not style themselves a house of propriety and rites? I have thought of Ming in every matter and every place, setting her above my own grandsons and granddaughters — and for what? Was it not to make up for my guilt toward Yingxue! Otherwise, she bears the surname Dou — by what right does she lord it over our Wang household, throwing her weight about and flaunting her power?" Railing on, she called to Lady Gao, "Go yourself and ask Ming once more whether she is set on disowning Yingxue. If she will not acknowledge Yingxue, then she need not expect our Wang family to trouble itself over her any further. I shall consider that Yingxue has lost her husband and that her child died young — she has nothing more to do with our Wang family!"
Lady Gao truly did not wish to go face the Wei family's scowls again, yet she could not disobey her mother-in-law's command, and so she braced herself and agreed.
Pang Yulou, however, delighted in stirring up trouble and urged Wang Xushi on: "Mother, sending Elder Sister-in-law to question Ming is nothing but inviting humiliation! When Ming said those words, it was not only Elder Sister-in-law, myself, and our eldest nephew's wife who were present — Lady Dou was there as well. That Fifth Madam was struck dumb on the spot and asked her again and again, 'Do you not even think of your mother, who carried you ten months and gave you birth?' Yet Ming showed not a trace of regret or hesitation. What is the point of sending Elder Sister-in-law to ask? Surely you do not think we would deceive you? If you do not believe it, you may send someone to Lady Dou — why rush off to the Jining Marquis's residence to lose face?"
Wang Xushi was struck dumb, and only after a long while did she slump back against the great bolster.
Yet even so, the matter could not be kept from Wang Shuying, who kept anxious watch over her daughter's dowry.
Her eyes went wide. She stared blankly at Nurse Hu, her face as white as snow. "Impossible — my Ming could never say such things! It must be that Pang woman slandering Ming before my mother. I shall go and ask plainly!"
Wang Shuying made to bolt for the door.
Nurse Hu caught her at once and reasoned with her: "My good mistress, the Second Madam may deceive you, but would the First Madam also join the Second Madam in lying? The Fifth Young Mistress must have done so as a last resort, a stopgap measure. Only wait patiently — in a few days, when the matter has died down, the Fifth Young Mistress will come to see you."
Was that so?
Wang Shuying asked herself.
Yet her heart ached as though pierced by an awl — and the affair was far more tangled than any of them imagined.
Before long, whispers began to seep out that Dou Ming was a child born of illicit union, and even the promotions of Wang Yousheng in those years, the death of Zhao Guqiu, and Dou Zhiwei's dowry were all woven together into one tale.
But in matters of rumor, it is usually the person concerned who learns of it last.
Dou Ming herself never suspected that sitting quietly at home, disaster would still come knocking.