Chapter 171 — A Test

Chen Yanzhou hastened to thank him on Dou Yan's behalf.

Dou Huaiying felt himself well worthy of the courtesy, accepted it with perfect ease, and instructed Chen Yanzhou, "As for the dowry that comes from the family estate, discuss it with the Sixth Madam when the time comes." Then he pressed Chen Yanzhou and Hong Gu to stay at the house. "Putting up in a shop—what sort of arrangement is that!"

"The young lady is to be married soon, and the shop's accounts must be put in order without delay," Chen Yanzhou replied with respectful smile. "Hong Gu is also under Aunt Cui's commission to buy some fine things to add to the young lady's trousseau, and lodging at the shop makes it convenient to come and go. In a few days, when matters are more or less settled, we shall trouble Seventh Master again."

Dou Huaiying was not a man to stand on trifles, and finding Chen Yanzhou's reasons sound, he asked after the household at home.

Hong Gu answered him one by one.

As the noon meal drew near, Chen Yanzhou rose to take his leave. "I still must go to the Cat alley—the young lady asked me to bring something to the Sixth Madam."

In Dou Huaiying's mind, Dou Heng's household and his own were one and the same.

"Very well!" He thought nothing of it, and instructed them, "Since Shouyuan is to marry into the capital, you should go in her stead to call on the Fifth Master as well."

Chen Yanzhou was secretly delighted, and assented with reverence.

Dou Huaiying had Gao Sheng see the two of them out.

But Chen Yanzhou stopped Gao Sheng squarely at the gate. "One family needs no two sets of manners. I shan't stand on ceremony with you, and don't you stand on ceremony with me—else you make me an outsider."

They were indeed one family.

Gao Sheng stopped with a smile, his eyes following Chen Yanzhou and Hong Gu as they departed.

Chen Yanzhou and Hong Gu took a casual midday meal at a small eatery beside Yunqi Temple, then went on to Mao'er Alley.

The Sixth Madam clung to Hong Gu's hand and would not let go, questioning her so thoroughly that she knew exactly what dishes Dou Yan ate each day, and only then did she ask what Hong Gu had come to the capital to do.

Hong Gu said only that she had come with Dou Huaiying to discuss matters concerning Dou Yan's dowry, and of everything else she breathed not a word.

The Sixth Madam, quick to read another's meaning, chatted with Hong Gu about this and that for a while, until a servant from the outer courtyard came, sent by Chen Yanzhou, to summon Hong Gu.

Hong Gu rose to take her leave. "The Seventh Master instructed us to pay our respects to the Fifth Master on the young lady's behalf."

"You ought to go and make yourselves known at his gate." The Sixth Madam saw Hong Gu out to the second gate herself, asking what gifts they had prepared.

"For the Fifth Master, a jade lion paperweight; for the Fifth Madam, a string of nanmu prayer beads..." Chen Yanzhou recited the gift list for the Sixth Madam to hear.

Seeing that the gifts were complete in every particular and most thoughtful, the Sixth Madam was at last reassured; she cautioned the two of them on a few points to mind, and had Wang Yu see them out.

Chen Yanzhou and Hong Gu went on to the Huai Tree Alley where Dou Bingheng resided.

Dou Bingheng was not at home, and the Fifth Madam was much surprised to hear that a servant woman from Concubine Cui's household had come to pay her respects.

After thinking it over, she received Hong Gu in the flower hall.

Hong Gu had long since heard of this Fifth Madam—daughter of Fan Junming, the chief examiner when the Fifth Master sat for the provincial examination. She came not only of a family of officials but was shrewd and capable, the Fifth Master's worthy helpmeet. Yet Hong Gu had never set eyes on her, and the world at large held that a wife takes her standing from her husband; Dou Bingheng was now a Grand Secretary, and when Hong Gu faced the Fifth Madam she trembled with fear, not daring even to lift her head, much less make conversation.

When the Fifth Madam heard that Hong Gu had come merely to pay her a visit of courtesy on Dou Yan's behalf, she was somewhat set at ease.

Ever since Dou Bingheng entered the Grand Secretariat, the house had been thronged with callers, most of them coming to beg a favor. And this Fourth Miss of the Dou clan, though she had never met her, was one whose name she had long known; each time the girl made a move, it set off a fresh stir. She had truly feared that Dou Yan meant to ask something of her—for her mother-in-law, the Second Old Madam, had instructed her that in all matters concerning Dou Zhiwei, the Second Old Madam was to have the deciding word. The reason for this, as Dou Bingheng's wife, she naturally knew full well.

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Sisters, brothers—here is the make-up post for the April 2nd update.

As for tonight's chapter, everyone had best read it tomorrow!

o(n_n)o~

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