Everyone turned toward the voice, only to see Wang Yingxue sashaying over slowly, a fan in hand, flanked by two servant girls. The smile on her face was so wide it nearly exploded her face—it was clearly forced and exaggerated.
But to Wei Tingyu's eyes, this fake smile was laughable. She was trying too hard.
As for Dou Zhao, Miao Ansu, and Zhao Zhangru, the moment they saw Wang Yingxue's expression, they all saw through her at once.
No matter how thickly she painted that smile on her face, she could not conceal the venomous envy and hatred flashing in her eyes when they landed on Dou Zhao's noble attire as the Marchioness of the Jingning Marquisate.
Among the women present, Dou Zhao now held the highest status. As a stepmother, Wang Yingxue could no longer hold any superiority before her.
In fact, Dou Zhao's elegance and grace at this moment made Wang Yingxue feel utterly inferior in her heart.
Indeed, a person's dignity depends on their garments, just as a steed is judged by its saddle. That country bumpkin girl she used to look down on had, upon marrying into the Marquisate, transformed into a noble lady who effortlessly outshone every other woman present.
In Wang Yingxue's eyes, everything that Dou Zhao now possessed—should have belonged to her daughter, Dou Ming! How did this wretched girl manage to snatch it all away?
But this was far from over. Just wait and see.
Sooner or later, she would have Dou Ming steal away Dou Zhao's title as Marchioness and sweep that wild wench out of the manor!
A malicious thought flashed through Wang Yingxue's mind, but in that instant, Wei Tingyu—whose gaze had never left her—suddenly understood.
No wonder that worthless ex-husband from his past life had become entangled with Dou Ming, and why that once-innocent girl had eventually done something so vile—stealing her sister's husband and harming her own kin.
It must've been Wang Yingxue who, day after day, poisoned Dou Ming's ears with venomous thoughts after Dou Zhao married into the Marquisate, slowly warping her pure heart.
"Your grandfather and Fifth Uncle are waiting for you," Wang Yingxue finally said with a warm smile as she approached, masking her twisted heart flawlessly. She then turned toward her daughter, chiding softly, "Ming'er, your sister and brother-in-law arrived, and you didn't even come inform us?"
Once she had said her piece, her eyes landed on Wei Tingyu—and instantly sparkled like stars.
The Marquis of Jingning, Wei Tingyu… truly a handsome man of dignified bearing!
He should've been her Dou Ming's husband! Yet it had gone to that little tramp, Dou Zhao!
Wang Yingxue inwardly seethed, her teeth clenched so hard they nearly cracked. But on the surface, she maintained her gentle, refined act, chuckling lightly.
"Our Zhao-jie has always lacked manners. She brought her husband back to visit yet walked straight into the rear courtyard," she said with a strained smile to Wei Tingyu. "If she causes any trouble in the Marquisate, I must trouble you, son-in-law, to be tolerant."
Well, well—here it comes.
Wei Tingyu sneered inwardly. Tricks like these may have worked on Dou Zhao's weak-willed father, but they were laughable to him, a reincarnated man who had seen countless palace dramas and inner-court schemes in his past life. She was utterly outmatched.
"You jest, Madam," Wei Tingyu replied with a calm smile, stepping forward and gently taking Dou Zhao's small hand into his own. Then, before the astonished eyes of all present, he added, "To have married Zhao'er is the greatest blessing of my life."
In this era, even among married couples, such intimate gestures in public were seen as improper and indecorous.
And yet, it was precisely this "impropriety" that pierced every woman's heart like an arrow.
What manner of celestial husband was this? To dare break etiquette just to stand up for his wife?
And to think—a dignified Marquis like him treating his wife with such care and affection, unafraid of being mocked by his peers?
Dou Zhao, at that moment, was overwhelmed with emotion. At first, she'd felt shy from the sudden hand-holding and instinctively tried to pull away. But after two attempts, she realized he had no intention of letting go.
Instead, the warmth from his palm seemed to radiate through her entire being, spreading a gentle warmth within her chest.
"Indeed, indeed," Wang Yingxue replied awkwardly, her face twitching slightly. "Then, shall we head inside?"
Wei Tingyu paid her no mind. He simply continued to hold Dou Zhao's hand and led her toward the courtyard.
The remaining ladies could only stand frozen in place, dumbfounded as they watched the pair's departing figures.
"Is... is the Marquis really holding Dou Zhao's hand all the way to the courtyard?" Zhao Zhangru blinked and whispered to Miao Ansu.
"That's outrageous! Who does that? What kind of couple holds hands in such a formal setting?" Miao Ansu responded, eyes locked onto Wei Tingyu's retreating figure, unable to tear her gaze away.
A man like that—he was exactly the kind of husband she had dreamed of!
"But look—they're not letting go at all!" Zhao Zhangru muttered, still shocked. At first, she thought it was impossible—but from the look of it now, perhaps not?
"…" Miao Ansu had no words. All she could feel was a growing envy swelling in her chest.
"To think... brother-in-law would love sister so deeply!" Dou Ming, too, was full of admiration as she gazed at Wei Tingyu's back, her eyes twinkling like stars.
She had already developed a deep fondness for Wei Tingyu, though the innocent young girl had yet to recognize the feelings blooming within her.
"Hmph!" Wang Yingxue, on the other hand, was seething with jealousy. "Just wait! Parading around like that will only make your father and Fifth Uncle furious! No manners whatsoever!"
Of course, despite her complaints, a part of her heart burned with envy. For this was precisely the kind of love she had yearned for all her life but never received.
"So what if they're angry? What can Lord Dou possibly do to the Marquis of Jingning?" Zhao Zhangru scoffed coldly, mocking Wang Yingxue. Then, ignoring the woman's boiling rage, she grabbed Miao Ansu's hand and quickly followed after the affectionate couple.
"You…!" Wang Yingxue opened her mouth to lash out, but all her targets had already walked away.
With no one left to vent her fury upon, she had no choice but to swallow her rage and bottle it inside.