"Since the red blossom has arrived, should we not simply play our part as the green leaves?" Miao Ansu blinked playfully as she watched Wang Yingxue lead Dou Ming into the hall. She lowered her voice and asked Zhao Zhangru, who was seated beside her.
"Mm! Let's just eat and drink to our hearts' content," Zhao Zhangru replied with a quick glance at Dou Zhao seated in the seat of honor. Seeing Dou Zhao give her a subtle nod, Zhao Zhangru understood the signal and responded softly.
Hearing this, Miao Ansu finally relaxed. Truth be told, she had no intention of drawing attention to herself tonight. Marriage had never been on her mind, and even if it had, none of these so-called noble sons held the slightest appeal to her.
"Elder Sister!" Before taking her seat, Dou Ming offered Dou Zhao a respectful nod and curtsy from afar.
Dou Zhao, ever poised in the manner of an elder sister, responded with a graceful smile.
However, back at her seat, Wang Yingxue's mood had begun to sour. This entire family banquet had been orchestrated to let her daughter, Dou Ming, shine—yet the spotlight clearly favored Dou Zhao.
Though Dou Zhao was already the wife of the Marquis and technically not a competitor, Wang Yingxue couldn't help but grow anxious upon noticing how Wei Tingyu seemed to have no interest in Dou Ming whatsoever.
In her eyes, her daughter Dou Ming was superior to Dou Zhao in every way imaginable. Why should such a fine marriage fall into the lap of that wild girl?
That's it! Wang Yingxue concluded. Wei Tingyu simply didn't know how exceptional her daughter was! He had probably proposed to Dou Zhao merely out of ignorance. If she could just show him Ming'er's brilliance, he was bound to fall for her!
With that thought in mind, Wang Yingxue forced a smile and signaled discreetly to Dou Shiying and Dou Shishu with her eyes.
Dou Shiying remained unmoved, but Dou Shishu, who was obsessed with officialdom, immediately caught on.
Having lost face earlier in the courtyard thanks to Wei Tingyu's sharp words, Dou Shishu was just looking for a chance to reclaim some dignity. Seizing the moment, he straightened his back and cleared his throat.
"Esteemed guests, all of you are men of great learning. I have a proposal—" he began with enthusiasm. "Let the gentlemen here compose the first lines of couplets, and let the ladies respond with matching lines. Whoever succeeds shall earn a toast of wine!"
It was clearly a ploy to create interaction between the noble sons and daughters, and the crowd welcomed it with delight.
Dou Zhao, watching this unfold, rolled her eyes in disdain. These people? Men of great learning? What a joke!
To think her Fifth Uncle would stoop so low as to flatter even the younger generation just to curry favor with their families… It was truly disgraceful.
"As Lord Dou suggests, it would be our fortune to witness the literary grace of the ladies," a handsome young man spoke first, drawing all attention toward him.
Wei Tingyu recognized him instantly—this was none other than Wu Shan, the third male lead in the original story, and the grandson of Elder Wu, a senior official of the court.
In the original tale, Wu Shan had been one of Dou Zhao's admirers, ardently so. But now that Dou Zhao had become a marquis's wife, he clearly held little interest in her and carried himself with detached boredom, a stark contrast from the others at the banquet.
Wei Tingyu found this unsurprising. Of all the young nobles present, Wu Shan was perhaps the only one who could truly be called learned. And given that he was attending a banquet hosted by a mere Bureau of Revenue official, it was clear he enjoyed lively gatherings.
Of course, given his status, both Dou Shishu and Dou Shiying had treated him with great hospitality, seating him at the head of the male guests' section.
Now that the grandson of Elder Wu had spoken, Dou Shishu's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Excellent! Then let Young Master Wu lead us!"
"A lane runs beside the wall where willows grow, the dike submerged beneath water, sheep and cattle tread a path so narrow, there seems no ground to step!" Wu Shan recited his line with great satisfaction after a brief pause.
He was brimming with confidence—for in his mind, none of the other young nobles here could match his knowledge.
"Marvelous! Truly a talent to rival the Hanlin scholars!" Dou Shishu praised without a second thought.
"Indeed, indeed! Brother Dezhen's literary talent is unmatched!"
"In my opinion, he's already the leader of the capital's scholarly youth!"
"This couplet—who among us can possibly respond to it tonight?"
The other young nobles quickly joined the flattery, seizing the moment to earn favor with Elder Wu's sole grandson. While many had come hoping to admire the ladies, currying favor with Wu Shan certainly didn't hurt.
Yet Dou Zhao, seated at the head of the hall, merely curled her lips in contempt. That line was nothing special. At the very least, she could certainly respond to it herself.
But she had no interest in engaging with these young men. Serving her husband wine and food was far more important tonight.
Meanwhile, Wang Yingxue's eyes lit up. Originally, she had hoped her daughter might replace Dou Zhao as the marquis's wife, but judging by the evident affection between Dou Zhao and Wei Tingyu, that now seemed unlikely.
Yet Wu Shan… He might just be a worthy match! The only grandson of Elder Wu, a highly respected minister held in great esteem by the emperor, with countless protégés and former colleagues scattered across the court—he was certainly no ordinary suitor.
Although scholars rarely earned noble titles without military merit, if Dou Ming married Wu Shan, she'd never need to bow her head before Dou Zhao again.
With that thought, Wang Yingxue wasted no time. She signaled for a servant to bring brush and paper before Dou Ming.
But in that moment, Dou Ming froze—her mother's arrangement had caught her completely off guard.
Though her literary skills were admirable, matching such a difficult couplet on the spot was no easy task.
Worse still, her heart was already wholly occupied… by her brother-in-law, Wei Tingyu.
To stand and respond now—to engage with another man in front of him—what if he misunderstood? What if he thought she harbored feelings for Wu Shan?
The mere thought left Dou Ming flustered and uneasy. Her brow furrowed as she sat there, unsure of what to do next.