Chapter 71 — Coercion

The respectful "you" had become a familiar one.

Dou Yan found it strange instead. "When you came looking for me, did you not inquire clearly first?"

The girl said sheepishly, "Everyone spoke of you with such respect that I thought you must already have come of age..." Then she brightened. "Fourth Miss, if it's inconvenient for you to come forward yourself, could you ask an elder of the Dou family to put in a word for my father with Third Master Dou? I can go see Third Master Dou again." Then, as if remembering something, she added quickly, "This time I won't go to Third Master Dou empty-handed. I'll have a legal scribe write out the evidence Fourth Miss mentioned and bring it to him. Perhaps when Third Master Dou sees it, he'll change his mind!"

Young as she was, it was remarkable how quick-witted she proved—when one scheme failed, she immediately devised another, and once she had seized an opportunity, she never let it go.

Dou Chi praised her inwardly.

It reminded her of when she had first arrived at the Jining Marquisate. Seeing that only two rains had fallen all spring, she suspected the capital would suffer a drought. Recalling that Xuanning Marquis Guo Haiqing's brother-in-law held a post in the Grain Transport Commissioner's office, she called on Lady Guo time and again until she persuaded her to join in a grain venture with her. They made a substantial profit, and only then did she have the confidence to stop Wei Wan from meddling in the household affairs of the Jining Marquisate.

She felt a measure of sympathy for the little girl.

"What is your father's name?" she asked. "Where is your family's martial arts school, and what is it called?"

"My father's surname is Bie, his given name Dayong, his courtesy name Gangyi," the girl said. "The school is at our home, on Dongxiang Street in the east of the city. It's called the Bie Family Martial Arts School—ask anyone once you enter the city and they'll know it." She added, "My name is Sulan."

Dou Yan gestured toward Haitang. "When the time comes, you need only find her."

At these words Bie Sulan was overcome with joy. Her small eyes curved into crescent moons, and she hastily took Haitang's hand, calling her "Sister" sweetly and asking her name.

That joy was plain not only to Dou Yan but even to the serving women who had come with the carriage.

Bie Sulan respectfully kowtowed three times to Dou Yan. "Fourth Young Mistress, I will never in my life forget your great kindness."

Dou Yan smiled faintly at her, returned to the West Residence, and then sent for Zhao Liangbi. "Go to Zhending Prefecture," she said, "and make inquiries about the Bie Family Martial Arts School. Bring me word as quickly as you can."

Zhao Liangbi assented and withdrew.

Dou Yan went, as though nothing were amiss, to visit her Sixth Aunt, and unexpectedly encountered Wu Shan.

He explained with a smile, "There were some things in the tutor's lecture I didn't quite follow, so I've been puzzling them over at home these past two days. Fourth Sister, why have you come so late today?"

To avoid Wu Shan, she had deliberately chosen the hour when he was away at his lessons to come to her Sixth Aunt's for her own instruction.

"Something came up," Dou Xin said. "Next year Fourth Brother Wu will sit for the examinations—how are your preparations coming along?"

"Not bad!" Wu Shan replied with a laugh, looking very sure of himself.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then Wu Shan returned to the east wing.

After taking the midday meal at Ji's and resting for an afternoon nap, Ji and Dou Chu set out back for the West Dou.

The wild Cymbidium seedlings Dou Yan had asked someone to buy had arrived, and she had been busy these days tending to the orchids.

Ji lent her a hand, carefully planting the sun-softened orchid roots into the pots.

Grandmother watched from the side, and when the work was done drew water for them to wash their hands.

Everyone chatted and laughed, then went to look at the camellias, which were growing splendidly, and it was only when darkness fell that Ji rose to take her leave.

Only then did Zhao Liangbi, who had been waiting outside all this while, come in to report to Dou Yan: "...Shan Jie has let it be known that if Bie Gangyi is willing to sell his daughter to him as a concubine, he will step forward at once and stand surety for him. But Bie Gangyi refuses absolutely, and I hear he has been beaten so badly he has barely the breath left in him. I changed into different clothes and went to the jail to have a look for myself—the rumors are no exaggeration. If no one stands surety for him, I reckon he has only a few days left."

A flash of indignation passed through Dou Yan's eyes. "Was Bie Gangyi involved in that case or not?"

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To my dear reading sisters, I am just now adjusting my schedule, so the updates over the next couple of days may be a little irregular. Please bear with me and give me a bit of time.

The update will be posted shortly—everyone can read it when they get up tomorrow morning!

o(n_n)o~

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