Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1300: Made Me Sick

Hadn't he lost favor earlier and been incapable of currying favor with influential officials, do you suppose he would have managed to endure until this point?

Observing that Young Master Dou would not readily relinquish this chance to seize authority, Manager Dou commenced stalling: "Great Chu is so tremendously vast, and presently in such disarray. It's not exactly simple for the housekeepers from various locales to arrive in the Capital. It seems too hurried before October. How about we deliberate at length during the year-end? What are your thoughts, my son?"

The phrase "my son" was delivered with such an affectation of warmth that it almost made Young Master Dou feel inclined to heave.

He directed his gaze at Manager Dou and declared, "It is merely the close of August now. There remains at least a month preceding October. If the Dou Family were to furnish them with swift steeds, and they still couldn't manage to reach the Capital within a month even if they traveled ceaselessly, wouldn't that signify their utter uselessness? If they prove useless, then we have no need to retain them. Let them be sold off."

Manager Dou's countenance turned exceedingly grim. He desired to express his ire but understood that Dou Ke harbored no fear of him. He could only articulate, "I shall exert my utmost to retrieve them... If it proves truly unfeasible, then we shall be compelled to postpone."

Young Master Dou let out a laugh: "You may proceed as you see fit, but I too shall dispatch a message to them, conveying that should they wish to continue their employment, they must return posthaste. Any individual daring to tarry will be disposed of, along with their entire family!"

"You!" Manager Dou was consumed by intense anger. Dou Ke, this unfilial scion, was indeed utterly ruthless. However, he found himself injured at present, and with Dou Ke holding the superior position, he could only acquiesce, contemplating a strategy commencing from the Dou Family's inner circle.

The Dou Family constituted his birth family. The clan elders were all on amiable terms with him. Provided he voiced his intentions, the clan elders would deliberately delay their arrival or perhaps not appear at all, thereby deferring the matter of appointing a new head for the Dou Family.

Young Master Dou, having perceived Manager Dou's underlying strategy, offered a smile: "Esteemed Father, those clan elders are even more avaricious than yourself. Should I extend certain minor advantages to them and pledge my support for their progeny, they will invariably align themselves with my cause."

Manager Dou experienced a moment of astonishment, yet promptly retorted, "Hah, you impudent child, do you truly imagine you can command the allegiance of the Dou Family elders? In their presence, you are but a mere junior!"

Young Master Dou countered, "It is indeed true that I am a junior, but so long as they are cognizant that Junior Minister Ming and the Ouyang Family stand by my side, and considering that Ms. Meng has been duly sentenced and Meng Imperial Censor has been removed from his post, they will naturally gravitate towards my faction without any prompting from me."

Manager Dou's visage darkened considerably. He acknowledged the validity of Dou Ke's assertion. Those clan elders were, by and large, a collection of self-serving and timid individuals. Upon learning of the Meng Family's downfall, they would undoubtedly cease to harbor any dread of Mrs. Dou Meng.

However...

"Your father-in-law has held an official position for decades, whereas you are merely the offspring of a merchant. The Emperor has consistently held merchants in low regard. Do you truly believe that merely because the Emperor offered you commendation once, he would summarily dismiss an official on your behalf?!"

Young Master Dou, with remarkable composure, posed a counter-question: "Between the venerable Old Man Meng and the esteemed Junior Minister Ming, who commands greater favor in the Emperor's heart?"

He then erupted in laughter, his demeanor infuriatingly arrogant, proclaiming, "Old man, do you genuinely assume I am confronting the Meng Family with naught but empty hands? It is the formidable powers that stand behind me who are contending against the Meng Family, and in their estimation, the Meng Family amounts to nothing!"

The Meng Family had, in truth, once basked in considerable prominence, but had now degenerated to a mere Imperial Censor, with no particularly distinguished descendants within their lineage. The most promising of the Meng Family's grandsons was simply a Scholar who had barely scraped by, achieving a last-place pass; what was there to inspire apprehension!

As for Miss Meng, there wasn't even a single individual of striking beauty among them, compounded by a limited family background; what manner of influential connections could such a person possibly forge!

"The most formidable presence of the Meng Family, Old Man Meng, has met his end, and the Meng Family is now beyond any hope of recovery. If you possess any semblance of wisdom, you would understand the prudent course of action." Young Master Dou, having no desire to prolong this discourse with Manager Dou, declared, "I grow weary of conversing with you. I shall depart. Rest assured, I shall allocate one-tenth of the Dou Family's estate to Dou Er and Dou San, considering their inherent foolishness. In the absence of an estate upon which to depend, they might very well face starvation."

Manager Dou recoiled in shock and exclaimed, "Hold! What is the meaning of bequeathing one-tenth of the estate to Dou Er and Dou San? What precisely do you perceive them to be? They are not destitute beggars; they are legitimate sons!"

Young Master Dou turned back to face Manager Dou, a smile gracing his lips as he spoke, "Legitimate sons? In my presence, as the legitimate son of the first wife, they are merely equivalent to bastards. Yet, I have not treated them unfairly, having distributed the estate according to the established rules. Initially, they were entitled to thirty percent of the estate. However, considering that the fool Dou Er will undoubtedly dispatch assassins after me, and the 'male white lotus' Dou San will surely offer his tacit approval, I shall withhold twenty percent of the estate as a penalty for Dou Er and Dou San's attempted assassination."

Manager Dou was rendered speechless. It was indeed true that, given Dou Er’s volatile temperament, he would not rest until he got his way and would assuredly enlist the help of Mrs. Dou Meng and his own subordinates to assassinate Dou Ke.

"Rest assured, I will keep a close watch on Dou Er and prevent him from making any grave errors," Manager Dou spoke in defense of Dou Er, harboring affection for the two sons born to Ms. Meng.

Young Master Dou cast a disdainful glance at Manager Dou and retorted, "Keep an eye on Dou Er? If you possessed the capability to keep an eye on him, he would not have devolved into the imbecile he is today."

He continued, "And cease your pretense of caring for Dou Er. The one you truly hold dear is Dou San. Shielding Dou Er is merely a strategic maneuver to ensure Dou San also secures a larger portion of the estate."

Dou San, being adept at scholarly pursuits, had always been highly regarded by Dou Wen, who harbored aspirations for Dou San to attain an official position and elevate the Dou Family's standing.

Having his innermost thoughts so transparently revealed left Manager Dou in a state of profound embarrassment.

Observing this, Young Master Dou declared, "They should be expressing gratitude towards me. Had it not been for my inherent benevolence, they would have met their demise long ago."

He then amended Manager Dou’s previous statement with emphasis: "Remember this, the only portion of the estate I will deign to share with Dou Er and Dou San originates from the Dou Family's ancestral wealth. As for the silver accumulated from the Tang Family's properties over the years, they shall not expect even a single cent!"

Manager Dou's countenance darkened considerably. He had already overlooked much of Dou Ke's earlier pronouncements, but witnessing him reiterate this point caused him immense pain. Pointing a trembling finger at him, he cursed, "Eldest son, are you truly this heartless? Are you attempting to drive your father and your two brothers to their deaths?!"

The revelation struck him with agonizing, heart-wrenching pain. The Tang Family's properties constituted half of the Dou Family's current assets, a fortune amassed through his own diligent efforts spanning over twenty years. To be denied even a single copper coin from it felt akin to death itself.

Young Master Dou regarded Manager Dou intently for a prolonged moment before finally uttering with icy coldness, "Then, all of you may proceed with dying."

With those final words, he turned and departed, leaving Manager Dou standing rooted to the spot, shaking his fist at the departing figure and unleashing a torrent of curses, branding him a beast, an unfilial son, a son born of questionable lineage, and an ungrateful individual towards his father-in-law.

Amidst his vociferous tirade, Young Master Dou unexpectedly reappeared. His gaze fixed unwaveringly upon Manager Dou, an intensity that nearly sent Manager Dou into a state of utter terror. He hastily reached for the knife concealed beneath his pillow, gripping it tightly, and stammered, "Eld... Eldest son, please do not resort to any reckless actions. Patricide is a grievous offense, punishable by the forfeiture of your life."

"Pfft, you are hardly worth the expenditure of my life," Young Master Dou dismissed with utter contempt. Finally, he added, "Dou Wen, Nanny Tang has frequently recounted how my grandfather placed such immense trust in you back then, attributing it to your profound love for my mother, a sentiment she reciprocated, and that your feelings were mutual... I find this difficult to believe. If it were true, what a colossal jest it would be!"

"I have returned solely to pose one question: If Nanny Tang's accounts hold true, do you harbor no sense of guilt? Have you ever once regretted failing my mother?"

Manager Dou stood dumbfounded, entirely unprepared for Young Master Dou to dredge up the subject of Mrs. Tang... It had been many years since her name had been spoken.

Having delivered his query, Young Master Dou turned once more and departed, intending to mobilize his own contingent to counter Dou Er's impending assassination attempt.

Within the quiet confines of the room, Manager Dou remained in a state of bewildered stupor for a brief period, his mind gradually conjuring the elusive image of Mrs. Tang...