Movie: Get Alpha Dog at the start

After leaving the Dou family, Qin Hao had just returned to the palace and hadn't even sat down when Wang Yuan arrived.

"Your Majesty has ordered that the King of Qin come to the palace to meet you immediately."

Qin Hao's heart moved. It was not common to summon him to the palace late at night.

I followed Wang Yuan all the way to the Qianqing Palace, and when I entered the palace, I found that the prince was also there.

Qin Hao was about to pay his respects when he heard Zhu Jianshen cough twice from behind the curtain: "We are all family, so let's skip the formalities."

After saying that, Wang Yuan handed a memorial to Qin Hao.

Qin Hao opened it and saw that it was a disaster report from Futing. The Futing County Magistrate said that a hurricane had passed through Futing, and the houses in Futing were destroyed. The people were displaced and starving, and he hoped that the court could provide disaster relief as soon as possible.

Zhu Jianshen saw Qin Hao close the memorial but did not speak in a hurry, and could not help but sigh. After reading the memorial, the prince immediately knelt down and asked him to provide disaster relief as soon as possible. In fact, judging from the performance of his three sons over the years, his youngest son was more suitable to be the prince. Unfortunately, his family background was too poor, and the civil and military officials would not agree.

"Hao'er, do you think this disaster should be saved? How should it be saved?"

Qin Hao subconsciously glanced at the prince next to him: "Father is the Son of Heaven, and all the people in the world are his subjects. It is natural to save the subjects when they are affected by the disaster, but disaster relief also needs to be done in a proper way. If the funds are just allocated blindly, the officials below may take advantage of it and withhold the relief funds. In the end, the court spends the money, but the people don't get treated, and father is blamed instead."

"I think we should send a royal relative to Futing to help with the disaster relief, and also to deter those parasites."

Zhu Jianshen nodded with satisfaction: "Oh, then who do you think is the most suitable person to go?"

"Of course it's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the crown prince of a country. Going to the disaster area in person to rescue the victims shows the emperor's great grace."

Zhu Jianshen was very satisfied with Qin Hao's answer and even glanced at the prince.

The prince was a little surprised. In his opinion, Qin Hao was closer to Prince Qing, but today he suddenly spoke for him.

Just when Qin Hao thought that he had finished his part and could go home, he heard Zhu Jianshen suddenly say: "The prince has lived in the deep palace for a long time. The journey is dangerous. It is better for you two brothers to go together. You will have a companion on the road."

Qin Hao was stunned for a moment, then he understood the deeper meaning of Zhu Jianshen's move. It seemed that the poison given by Queen Wan had made Zhu Jianshen's body unable to bear it. Was this intended to make him assist the prince in the future?
What a pity, father. I want to quell the rebellion.

"My son, I obey."

Qin Hao and the prince bowed in succession. The prince stood up and prepared to leave, but Qin Hao had no intention of retreating. Since he was arranged to assist the prince, shouldn't he take the opportunity to ask for some benefits?

"Father, I am not young anymore. My brothers who are the same age as me have already become fathers. I am the only one who has not yet married. I heard that Dou Zhao, the eldest daughter of the Dou family, is dignified, elegant, beautiful and intelligent. If I can get married with you, it will be enough for me for the rest of my life."

The prince paused, and Zhu Jianshen, who was behind the curtain, was also stunned when he heard the words, and then he scolded.

"Marriage is a matter that has always been decided by parents and matchmakers. How can you make the decision?"

Then he changed the subject and sighed.

"I have been busy with state affairs these years and have neglected your marriage. Well, well, I will just follow your wish."

"Thank you for your help, Father. I will take my leave now."

After coming out with the prince, Qin Hao deliberately lagged behind the prince by one position. The prince, with his hands behind his back, suddenly asked a question.

"Is Dou Zhao really as good as you say? Why did I hear that he was a heretic who engaged in a lowly job?"

Qin Hao retorted, "People only know how to listen to rumors and follow what others say. Your Highness the Crown Prince will inherit the throne in the future, so it is better not to listen to one side and believe it."

The prince frowned and wanted to argue with Qin Hao, but Qin Hao didn't stop and walked straight past him.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Jianshen coughed for a while, drank a sip of hot tea to relieve the cough, and then said to the eunuch chief Wang Yuan: "Do you think Lao Jiu will be at ease to assist the crown prince?"

Wang Yuan was so frightened that he knelt on the ground: "This is about the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin. How dare this old servant speak nonsense?"

"Forget it, forget it. I won't make things difficult for you." Zhu Jianshen sighed, looking at the inky night outside the window, muttering to himself.

"Since you said that marrying this girl would be enough for the rest of my life, I will believe you for once."

"Wang Yuan, draft the decree."

The next morning, when Dou Shishu was attending court, he suddenly found that his colleagues, who usually ignored him, suddenly greeted him with smiles and were extremely polite. He was confused and was about to ask what had happened, but the court meeting had already begun, so he could only put his doubts aside for the time being.

When the court was dismissed, Wang Xingyi walked up to him and said sourly, "Tangguan Dou is really tight-lipped. He never informed me of such a big thing."

"Uncle Yin, is there any misunderstanding here? Please tell me what exactly happened." Dou Shishu was confused.

Wang Xingyi saw that he looked confused and didn't seem to be faking it, so he frowned and asked, "You really don't know?"

"I really don't know. If I lie, I will never be promoted."

Seeing that Dou Shishu, who was determined to climb up the ladder, even swore on his own promotion, Wang Xingyi began to believe it a little.

"Last night, Duke Jing's wife Wei Tingzhen and Duke Jining's Wei Tingyu came to the palace to plead guilty. They are probably in the Dou Mansion to discuss the cancellation of the engagement."

Dou Shishu was stunned by what Wang Xingyi said. Wei Tingyu broke off the engagement? It must be the engagement with Dou Zhao that was broken off, but where did the happy news of breaking off the engagement come from?
"I heard that His Majesty intends to marry your daughter Dou Zhao to His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, and has asked Elder Wu to be the matchmaker."

Wang Xingyi looked at Dou Shishu who was in self-doubt and said sourly: "It won't be long before the Dou family will be royal relatives. I'll have to trouble Brother Dou to take care of my daughter in the Dou family."

Before, the Dou family had no background, and everyone in the Dou family had to give face to him as a cabinet minister. Once Dou Zhao married the King of Qin, he would be a royal relative, let alone a small cabinet member, even the Prime Minister would not dare to act rashly.

"What Uncle Yan said is not true. Wang and Dou are one family. My sister-in-law has worked hard for our Dou family over the years. My seventh brother and I have seen it all. We should respect them."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xingyi patted Dou Shishu's shoulder with satisfaction, but he didn't know that Dou Shishu's eyes had become sharp as he bent down.

After the court session ended, Dou Shishu returned to the Dou Mansion and saw Wei Tingzhen and Wei Tingyu, brother and sister, leaving in a hurry, with Wang Yingxue chasing after them unwillingly.

"Fifth brother, I don't know what's wrong with the Jining Marquisate. They insist on canceling the marriage with Sister Zhao. Could it be that their inappropriate behavior last night was publicized?"

Seeing Wang Yingxue's sarcasm towards Dou Zhao, Dou Shishu frowned and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Since the Jining Marquis's Mansion has come to cancel the engagement, then return the betrothal gifts quickly and don't delay Zhao Jie'er's good marriage."

Wang Yingxue didn't understand and curled her lips and said, "Being rejected at such an old age, how can I have a good marriage?"

Dou Shishu ignored her and walked straight to the backyard.

"Fifth Master."

Dou Zhao's maidservant Su Xin bowed and saluted.

Dou Shishu had always been unfriendly to the people around Dou Zhao in the past, but at this moment he nodded in a friendly manner, making Su Xin think that she was dazzled.

In the backyard, under the magnolia tree.

Dou Shiying was telling Dou Zhao the good news that Wei Tingyu had broken off the engagement, and Dou Zhao subconsciously thought of Qin Hao: "Could it be him?"

"What he?" Dou Shiying asked puzzledly.

"Oh, nothing. I just thought of something else." Dou Zhao said casually.

Seeing Dou Shishu coming over, Dou Zhao's face changed. In her opinion, it was Dou Shishu who arranged for her father to take Wang Yingxue as a concubine in order to curry favor with Wang Xingyi, which caused her mother to hang herself. Her mother's death anniversary was coming soon, and the person she least wanted to see here was her fifth uncle.

"Fifth brother."

Dou Shishu just nodded to his brother, and then said to Dou Zhao: "Don't run around outside these days, just stay at home and rest."

"Fifth Uncle, are you going to put Dou Zhao under house arrest? I wonder what crime Dou Zhao has committed?" Dou Zhao immediately asked upon hearing this.

Dou Shishu's expression froze, and he said awkwardly, "Sister Zhao, please don't misunderstand. Uncle Wu is doing this for your own good."

Little did he know that these words completely ignited Dou Zhao's anger. He pointed at the magnolia tree and said sternly, "At first, Uncle Wu wanted to let Wang Yingxue marry in, saying it was for the good of the Dou family, but it ended up killing my mother. Today he said it was for my own good. I'm afraid Dou Zhao can't bear Uncle Wu's blessing!"

There was a flash of anger in Dou Shishu's eyes. If it were any other time, he would have reprimanded her severely, or even imposed family rules to let this "rebellious" niece know what hierarchy is.

However, things are different now. My niece is about to become the Princess of Qin. By then, my own future and the glory of the entire Dou family will depend on my niece, and I must not offend her.

"Sister Zhao, you have a deep misunderstanding of Uncle Wu. What happened was an accident, and Uncle Wu didn't want it to happen."

Dou Zhao sneered, "My mother's life was saved, but Uncle Wu just wanted to write it off without saying anything. Don't you think that's too easy?"

Dou Shiying was so anxious that she kept pulling Dou Zhao's sleeve: "Sister Zhao, stop talking."

"Forget it, forget it. Seventh brother, please persuade Sister Zhao. I still have some official business to attend to. Your sister-in-law's death anniversary should be celebrated in a grand manner." Seeing that the rift could not be eliminated in a short time, Dou Shishu had no choice but to leave first.

Dou Shiying looked at his brother's back, then turned to Dou Zhao and said, "You shouldn't say that about your fifth uncle. He has sacrificed a lot over the years to bring glory to the Dou family."

"Father, don't you think Fifth Uncle was a little strange today?" Dou Zhao did not respond, but frowned with a puzzled look on his face.

"What's weird?"

"If I had spoken to Uncle Wu like this in the past, I would have been punished by the family, right?"

Dou Shiying was also a little surprised when Dou Zhao said this. How could the always strict Fifth Brother allow his daughter to commit such a crime?

At the same time, Wu family.

When Wu Shan heard that his grandfather was going to propose marriage to the Dou family, he was immediately shocked: "Grandfather, who in the Dou family are you going to propose marriage to?"

"Of course it's the eldest daughter of the Dou family."

"But isn't the eldest daughter of the Dou family engaged to the Marquis of Jining?"

Elder Wu frowned: "When did you become so concerned about this matter?"

"No, nothing. I just went to the Dou Mansion for a banquet yesterday, and today I heard that my grandfather was going to propose marriage, so I was a little curious." Wu Shan wanted to get away with it.

Who is Lord Wu? An old fox who has experienced three dynasties, so he naturally saw through his little thoughts. However, he did not point them out, but pretended to reveal them casually.

"His Majesty has issued an order to arrange a marriage between His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin and the eldest daughter of the Dou family, and has ordered me to be the matchmaker. I cannot delay any longer because of the imperial order. I am leaving now."

Wu Shan was struck by lightning when he heard this: "Grandfather, are you talking about His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin and Dou Zhao?"

"It is absolutely true. It is such an honor for His Majesty to grant me a marriage. I am sure that the Dou family has heard about it and is waiting for me to come."

After saying this, Lord Wu didn't care about his grandson's reaction and went straight out of the house. Before getting on the carriage, he did not forget to give instructions to the housekeeper.

"Have someone keep an eye on Shan Ge'er and don't let him do anything stupid. His Majesty has granted the marriage. If you disobey the order, your family will be confiscated and your clan will be exterminated."

"Yes, sir."

At the same time, in Queen Wan's bedroom, Wei Tingzhen kept wiping away tears and complaining that her brother's childhood sweetheart was snatched away from her.

Duke Jing is the maiden family of Queen Wan, and Wei Tingzhen, as the wife of Duke Jing, is naturally on the Queen's side.

Empress Wan was a little impatient: "Didn't you say before that Dou Zhao was a vulgar country woman who was not worthy of being in a refined hall? Now that you have got what you wanted, His Majesty has given you many rewards, why are you still complaining here?"

Wei Tingzhen stopped crying immediately and said carefully: "Wang Yingxue, oh, Dou Zhao's stepmother said that Dou Zhao has a huge fortune in Futing and knows how to make money. Your Majesty, you also know what the situation is in Jining Marquis' Mansion..."

"Alright, put away your little thoughts. His Majesty has already issued an order on this matter. It is a golden word. Do you dare to disobey it? Besides, it is unwise to offend the King of Qin for Dou Zhao. After all, Brother Ting has a good relationship with him, and he may be useful in the future."

Seeing this, Wei Tingzhen knew that he would get nothing good from the Queen, so he could only leave with a look of grievance on his face.

"Humph, such a stupid woman, I don't know why Dad saw in her in the first place."

At the same time, Lord Wu had already arrived at the Dou family.

Dou Shishu and Dou Shiying hurried to the door to greet them. When Dou Shiying heard the purpose of Wu Ge Lao's visit, he was stunned. Seeing that his fifth brother looked normal, he immediately guessed that the other party had known about this for a long time.

"Fifth brother has known about the marriage granted by His Majesty for a long time, so he was so tolerant towards Sister Zhao today. I'm sorry that I still spoke well of you in front of Sister Zhao." Dou Shiying pulled Dou Shishu in front and questioned in a low voice.

Dou Shishu heard this and explained: "Seventh brother, please don't misunderstand me. I just heard some rumors."

"Seventh brother, it is such an honor for His Majesty to grant you a marriage. Please do not act on impulse."

Dou Shiying clenched his fists and said, "Once you enter a marquisate, it's like entering a deep sea, not to mention an imperial family. With Zhao Jie'er's personality, if she enters the palace... Anyway, I don't agree with this."

"Are you crazy? Disobeying an imperial order is a serious crime punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of the clan. Do you want to kill your entire family?" Dou Shishu was shocked.

Dou Shiying clasped his fists in the direction of the imperial city and said, "Your Majesty is merciful. I will personally go and plead guilty. If you want to kill me or cut me up, I will bear the consequences alone. I will not implicate my fifth brother."

"Are you really going to sacrifice our entire Dou family for Zhao Jie'er? Don't forget that you have more than one daughter, Zhao Jie'er. Isn't Ming Jie'er also your daughter?"

Dou Shiying was stunned. (End of this chapter)