Wang Yingxue had no idea what thoughts were stirring within Dou Zhao's heart at this moment. She merely watched the seemingly harmonious bond between the two sisters and found herself momentarily dazed.
Once she regained her composure, she turned with a smile toward Wei Tingyu and said gently, "Please, son-in-law, do come in."
"Many thanks to Mother-in-law," Wei Tingyu replied with a courteous smile. Facing the flattering demeanor of Wang Yingxue, he nodded slightly and then gave her a meaningful glance before striding forward.
But that single glance was like a bolt of thunder in Wang Yingxue's heart—she froze on the spot!
The look in Wei Tingyu's eyes had pierced through her like a sharp blade of icy light, reaching into the depths of her soul. It was as if there was no corner in her heart that could escape his gaze.
That penetrating look—as though it could see through her very essence—caused her heart to tremble involuntarily.
In that moment, she felt naked before him, as if every thought and secret had been laid bare.
An illusion! It must be an illusion! How could such a young scion of a noble house possess such profound insight and presence?
Wang Yingxue quickly reassured herself and took a couple of deep breaths, shaking her head slightly as if to clear away the lingering sense of vulnerability. When she looked again, Wei Tingyu had already walked away, and she pursed her lips lightly before following after him.
Wei Tingyu, though walking ahead, could feel without looking that Wang Yingxue had stood frozen in place for several seconds after meeting his eyes. This gave him a subtle sense of satisfaction.
Truth be told, Wang Yingxue wouldn't be such a loathsome person—if not for the fact that she had schemed against his beloved wife Dou Zhao.
After all, she was undeniably a beauty—and still relatively young.
Back then, she had been much younger than Dou Zhao's birth mother. When she married Dou Shiying, she wasn't even twenty, and soon gave birth to Dou Ming.
Now that Dou Ming had reached the age of fifteen and was entering her debutante years, by calculation, Wang Yingxue herself could not yet be thirty-five.
What's more, years of luxurious living had preserved her appearance remarkably well—better than many of her peers.
Just now, as she stood beside her daughter Dou Ming, had it not been for her mature hairstyle, one might easily mistake them not for mother and daughter, but for elder and younger sisters—perfectly natural and harmonious.
…
Inside the banquet hall, a lavish spread had already been laid out. The young men and women invited to the banquet took their seats according to custom, divided by a screen to preserve propriety between genders.
As hosts, the Dou family had already arranged the seats of honor for the elders.
But unlike the original order, the central seat of honor was now taken by none other than Wei Tingyu. As the Marchioness, Dou Zhao, who held the highest rank among all the women present, was seated to his right.
Dou Shishu and Dou Shiying sat to his left.
An empty seat remained beside Dou Zhao, reserved for the mistress of the house—Wang Yingxue.
Although the arrival of Wei Tingyu and Dou Zhao had displaced the Dou family members from the central position, neither Dou Shishu nor Dou Shiying seemed upset. On the contrary, their eyes sparkled with undisguised joy.
After all, this seating arrangement was clear proof that the alliance between the Wei and Dou families was solid—and it foretold a meteoric rise for the Dou clan in the near future!
Even the awkwardness from earlier in the courtyard had already been cast from their minds like smoke in the wind.
Young nobles at the banquet began rising one by one, offering toasts to Dou Shishu and Dou Shiying. Their words were filled with praise and congratulations, causing the two men to beam with delight and burst into hearty laughter.
Of course, some guests had thought to flatter Wei Tingyu directly. But he simply ignored them—after all, he was never one to mix with mundane folk. Instead, he devoted his attention to drinking and laughing with Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao, too, was all smiles, laughing sweetly at his jokes. Throughout the evening, she attentively refilled his cup and served him food, embodying the perfect harmony of husband and wife—an elegant scene of mutual respect and affection.
This display naturally discouraged any presumptuous guests from attempting to interrupt the Marquis of Jining and his lady.
Meanwhile, Miao Ansu and Zhao Zhangru—the two girls dressed most plainly at the banquet—were granted seats near the front of the women's section, just after Dou Ming's yet-to-be-filled seat, due to their close friendship with Dou Zhao.
The two girls frequently raised their cups toward Dou Zhao from afar, toasting her from their seats. Their bond as dear friends was evident—even distance could not cut their ties.
Occasionally, their gazes would flick toward Wei Tingyu, and they couldn't help but feel envious of the couple's beautiful relationship. Especially Miao Ansu—her eyes practically burned with intensity as she stared at him!
However, unlike many of the noble young ladies present, Miao Ansu's gaze, though fiery, carried no trace of jealousy—only heartfelt admiration.
Naturally, Dou Zhao noticed this. As the one who knew her friend best, she instantly understood the emotions behind that gaze.
"Here comes Ming'er!" Just then, as the hall brimmed with laughter and warmth, Wang Yingxue reentered the banquet hall, leading a freshly bathed and dressed Dou Ming through the main entrance.
One had to admit, the appearance of this mother-daughter pair was truly a feast for the eyes. The moment they stepped in, the young men seated below couldn't help but brighten with interest.
Even Wei Tingyu, as a man, wasn't immune to the sight. The matured charm of Wang Yingxue and the youthful radiance of Dou Ming walking side by side painted a picture of sublime harmony.
The young guests—all of them, male and female—rose in unison to bow respectfully to Wang Yingxue. After all, she was the matron of today's banquet, and it cost nothing to offer a polite bow.
Wang Yingxue, a woman of experience, easily caught the heated glances cast her way, and her heart swelled with pride.
This old lady still has her charm, she thought smugly. Too bad for you little brats—you can only look. Don't even think about touching!
"Your stepmother… is quite the showpiece," Wei Tingyu whispered into Dou Zhao's ear just as she bent forward to pour him a drink.
"She's always been like that, Husband. You needn't be surprised," Dou Zhao replied, lifting her gaze briefly toward Wang Yingxue, who was approaching with a practiced smile. Her own lips curled into a sneer of disdain.
Indeed, Wang Yingxue's beauty and elegance were undeniable—she was among the most striking women in the capital, a fact even Dou Zhao, who despised her, could not refute.
But that did not erase her shameful past—seducing her father, Dou Shiying, while her mother was still alive, and forcing her way into the household with a pregnancy.
That kind of woman clearly knew nothing of virtue or restraint.
Now, facing the admiring eyes of so many men, she was no doubt basking in their attention with self-satisfaction.