The gathered young nobles and noble ladies all stretched their necks in curiosity as Dou Ming picked up the brush but did not immediately write upon the paper. The air was thick with anticipation as all eyes turned toward her.
Dou Zhao was no different. Seeing her younger sister in such a predicament, she could only glance helplessly at her stepmother, Madam Wang Yingxue.
This woman—how could she command the servants to bring brush and paper without first considering whether her daughter was capable of responding with a matching verse? Was this not akin to placing Dou Ming upon a fiery altar?
At this moment, Dou Zhao had no idea that the reluctance in Dou Ming's heart stemmed not from an inability to compose a verse, but from her unwillingness to engage in a literary contest with another man before Wei Tingyu. Dou Zhao simply assumed her sister did not know how to reply.
The instinctive sense of duty as the elder sister stirred her into growing anxious. This verse was not difficult—she herself could have answered it.
Alas, the distance between them was too far. She could not very well run over and assist her sister before so many esteemed guests. What was to be done?
At this thought, Dou Zhao instinctively turned toward Wei Tingyu, her eyes full of silent plea, hoping her husband might devise a way to help her sister.
Wei Tingyu, catching the imploring glimmer in those doe-like eyes, smiled faintly and raised a hand in signal.
A female Silver Shadow Guard, disguised as a maidservant and stationed quietly behind Dou Zhao, stepped forward with a slight bow, ready to receive her master's orders.
Fortunately, the attention of the entire hall was still focused upon Dou Ming. Other than the five seated at the host's table, none noticed this quiet exchange.
Wei Tingyu whispered a few words into the guard's ear. She nodded silently and swiftly made her way to Dou Ming's side.
"Second Young Miss, the Marquis has a message for you," she whispered softly by Dou Ming's ear.
The worry in Dou Ming's eyes instantly cleared upon hearing the message. The furrow in her brow relaxed, her expression lightened, and her eyes shimmered with visible brightness.
According to the maidservant, her esteemed brother-in-law, Wei Tingyu, had composed a matching verse on her behalf to help her escape the predicament!
So, she still held a place of importance in her brother-in-law's heart!
At this thought, Dou Ming felt a pure and sincere happiness well up from within.
Without further hesitation, she picked up the brush and began writing in a graceful hand.
Seeing this, both Dou Shiying and Wang Yingxue finally let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Had the scene remained frozen, with Dou Ming unable to reply, it would have brought great embarrassment.
"Outside the heart lies a peach blossom spring—clouds conceal the narrow path, and among the woods where chickens and dogs dwell, another world opens!"
Dou Shiying stood and read aloud the verse his daughter had just penned.
"Marvelous! A perfect match!" he exclaimed. At once, Dou Shishu beside him nodded joyfully.
"Indeed! Who would have thought the second young lady of the Dou family possessed such refined literary talent!"
"Amazing! We scholars must bow our heads in shame!"
"The Dou family truly is a household steeped in the fragrance of books—what cultivated daughters they raise! Truly admirable!"
…The other noble sons joined in the chorus of flattery, though the praise, while directed toward Dou Ming, largely exalted the Dou family as a whole.
Even Wu Shan found himself pleasantly surprised. He had not expected such a refined and well-matched verse from Dou Ming, and a spark of curiosity and admiration was born in his heart.
He had always prided himself as one of the most accomplished young scholars, and he held a deep appreciation for the literary talent of women. He had long vowed to marry a wife with whom he could share intellectual companionship.
And now, it seemed, Dou Ming might be a worthy candidate.
With that thought, Wu Shan raised his wine cup, hoping to toast Dou Ming in admiration. But as he lifted the cup, he noticed something amiss...
Though a screen divided them, he could clearly see that Dou Ming's gaze was not directed toward him. Rather, she had turned her head to look intently at the central seat of the head table.
And who sat in that position, if not her brother-in-law, the Marquis of Jining, Wei Tingyu?
Could there be some hidden connection between them?
Wu Shan's heart jolted with alarm—but then he laughed at himself. No, that could not be! If there truly were such a thing, would they dare exchange such glances in public?
Besides, Dou Ming's elder sister, Dou Zhao—the Marquis's wife—was sitting right beside him!
It must be a misunderstanding. Wu Shan comforted himself with this thought, curled his lips in a self-deprecating smile, and sat down.
Yet what he didn't know was—his wild guess had hit closer to the truth than he could imagine!
At this very moment, Dou Ming was indeed gazing unwaveringly at Wei Tingyu. Her eyes were wide and unblinking, filled with gratitude and joy.
In her moment of greatest crisis—on the verge of humiliating herself and the entire Dou family—it had been her brother-in-law who stepped in to rescue her!
Could it be… could it be that he too did not wish her to match verses with another young man, and that was why he had helped her so deliberately?
At that thought, a sweetness bloomed in Dou Ming's heart.
Wang Yingxue saw her daughter's openly burning gaze and grew anxious.
I do intend for you to one day seduce your brother-in-law and seize the position of Marchioness of Jining from Dou Zhao—but must you be so brazen, so early? If Dou Zhao were to notice, wouldn't she become more guarded, thus lessening your chance?
Wang Yingxue turned her eyes toward Dou Zhao—only to realize her worry had been misplaced.
For Dou Zhao was not even looking at Dou Ming. She had no idea her younger sister had been staring at her husband this whole time without even blinking.
In fact… she now wore an expression much like Dou Ming's, her eyes fixed intently on Wei Tingyu's face.
"Marquis…" Dou Zhao looked straight at Wei Tingyu. After a few seconds, she blinked her large eyes and asked in disbelief, "How did you come up with that verse?"
"How did I come up with it?" Wei Tingyu paused, thinking to himself, Didn't I hear it from you while watching a play before? But of course, he couldn't admit that.
With a solemn frown, he replied, "I didn't think. The verse simply came to me, as if summoned by the heavens."
"Marquis… you and I truly share a heart and mind!" Tears welled up in Dou Zhao's eyes, moved beyond measure.
She had just thought of that very same verse, but could not share it with Dou Ming due to their distance.
She had never imagined that her husband would think of the exact same lines at the same time!
If ever there was a case of shared thoughts and hearts between two people—this was surely it!