At that moment, Wang Yingxue was so enraged that she nearly grabbed a bamboo rod to personally beat that arrogant young man in green out of the hall!
Dou Zhao, too, furrowed her delicate brows. Though her relationship with the Dou family hadn't been harmonious in the past, what was happening now was clearly a slap to the Dou family's face!
And she—Dou Zhao—was, after all, the eldest daughter of the Dou family. Today, seated in the seat of honor beside her husband, the Marquis of Jining, she naturally could not allow these outsiders to run rampant with such insolence!
Just as she was about to slam the table and scold that brazen man, a warm hand quietly reached for hers beneath the table.
Startled, Dou Zhao turned and met Wei Tingyu's gaze. He gave her a gentle smile and nodded, signaling her to look behind.
Only then did she realize that standing right behind them were five valiant female Silver Shadow Guards, upright and poised like jade pillars.
Though they were dressed as simple handmaidens for convenience during travel, the aura of martial discipline around them was unmistakable.
"Does my lord husband mean…?" Dou Zhao blinked and softly asked Wei Tingyu.
"I told you," he replied with a chuckle, "no matter what happens, I shall always stand by your side! But as the Marchioness, you need not soil your own fair hands to deal with these vulgar pests. Why bother lifting your jade-like fingers to slap such unworthy scoundrels?"
Understanding his intent, Dou Zhao nodded with a smile and slowly rose to her feet.
The moment she stood, the noisy hall fell into a hushed silence as all eyes turned toward her.
What was the noble and elegant Marchioness doing? Was she going to act personally?
Even Dou Shishu, Dou Shiying, and Wang Yingxue, who had all been seated awkwardly nearby, were wide-eyed with astonishment.
"Today marks the day of my return to my maiden home," Dou Zhao spoke coldly, her voice clear and unwavering. "It is also a family banquet hosted by the Dou household. Yet who would have thought that a lecher would sneak into our midst?!"
Lecher?
The crowd was stunned. Then, as if by unspoken agreement, they all turned to stare at the young man in green who had just made a scene. Who else could she possibly mean?
"Madam!" The man paled, his drunkenness fading in an instant. He hurriedly clasped his hands in a salute and stammered, "I was only joking! Please, do not take offense…"
"Joking?" Dou Zhao snorted coldly and swept her sleeve with majestic disdain. "Are you familiar enough with the Dou household to make such jokes?"
At her words, two of the Silver Shadow Guards stepped forward with practiced swiftness, appearing before the young man in the blink of an eye.
Their movements were so fluid and lethal that the jaws of many young masters and noble ladies dropped in awe.
Who would've thought that even the maidservants of the Marquis of Jining's household possessed such formidable skills?
Indeed, some had noticed earlier that the five maids behind Wei Tingyu and Dou Zhao moved like trained warriors. Still, considering the Marquis had earned his title through military merit, it wasn't surprising that even his servants practiced martial arts.
But now they realized—these women were no ordinary maids. Even in the military, such skill would earn them high ranks!
Just how deep did the Marquis of Jining's power run?
"Twenty slaps. Then throw him out," Dou Zhao ordered calmly, her vermilion lips parting with a chill that sent shivers through the room.
Terrified, the man turned to flee—but how could his clumsy movements escape the Silver Shadows?
In perfect tandem, one guard twisted his arm and swept his leg, bringing the man crashing to his knees like a criminal awaiting execution.
The other immediately raised her hands and began to slap—left, right, left, right—sharp, echoing smacks filling the air.
Though they were women, their martial strength was undeniable. After just ten strikes, the man's face was swollen and bruised, resembling a pig's head.
By the time the twentieth slap landed, even his own parents might not have recognized him.
"This… this is outrageous!" Dou Shishu, a man obsessed with status and appearances, finally sprang up in alarm as he watched the scene unfold in his own home.
He had intended to simply give the green-clad man and Zhao Zhangru a mild scolding to smooth things over. Never had he imagined Dou Zhao would order such public punishment!
Especially considering the man's family would surely not let the matter rest.
"What are you worried about, Fifth Uncle?" Wei Tingyu glanced at him with a cold sneer.
"If this incident spreads… will it not sully the reputation of our Dou family…?" Dou Shishu was sweating profusely, speaking in a panic and no longer caring about Wei Tingyu's status.
"What does this have to do with the Dou family?" Wei Tingyu chuckled icily. "My wife is now the Marchioness of Jining. Her actions are those of the Jining Marquisate. What concern is it of her maiden household?"
Dou Shishu froze on the spot.
That's right! How could he have forgotten?
Dou Zhao was already married. A married daughter belonged to her husband's family—what did this have to do with the Dou clan?
It was the Marchioness of Jining who ordered the punishment, not the eldest miss of the Dou family.
Relieved at this realization, Dou Shishu unintentionally looked toward Dou Zhao—only to meet her gaze, cold as a glacier.
Dou Zhao nearly laughed from sheer frustration. Everything she had done today was for the Dou family's honor, even going so far as to exact justice on their behalf!
And yet her dear Fifth Uncle was more concerned about offending some court official than the family's dignity?
Now that her husband had claimed full responsibility on behalf of the Jining Marquisate, he was immediately at ease?
Such a man. Such a "senior." Even she couldn't bring herself to respect him.
"Then… dear son-in-law, how should this matter be settled?" Wang Yingxue asked cautiously, lips trembling.
"Escort him to his family's carriage and send him home," Wei Tingyu replied with a cold smile. "If his family feels wronged, let them go to the Capital Magistrate's Court and beat the grievance drum. If that's not enough, they can strike the Imperial Red Drum. I'll personally accompany them to the Imperial Court to explain everything. The Jining Marquisate fears no battle!"
His voice was loud and clear, resounding through the hall for all to hear.
There was no doubt. After tonight, news of how the Marquis of Jining doted upon his wife would sweep across the entire capital like wildfire.