Chapter 209 — A Misstep

"It was Ming, not Shouyuan, who was married off yesterday!" she said in a low voice. "We only discovered it when it came time to take leave of the parents, and by then it was too late, so we had no choice but to make the best of the mistake. Seeing that Ming has always been close to your Seventh Uncle, I specifically asked him to step forward and speak up for Shouyuan. When you go over, act according to Ming's signals. Since the marriage has already been consummated, there is no reason on earth to let Ming suffer a loss." She then hinted that this matter was Wang-shi's responsibility. "...If the Seventh Madam won't speak up, it is not right for us to act rashly."

The Fifth Madam knew Dou Wenchang was an honest man and feared he might give something away, so she had kept him in the dark all through yesterday and only came clean today.

Dou Wenchang was deeply shocked, and filled with confusion besides.

Even so, Fifth Aunt was the elder sister-in-law. In a matter of such right and wrong, how could she let the Seventh Madam act so willfully?

But he and Dou Bingheng were as close as father and son, and saying such a thing aloud would inevitably show disrespect to the Fifth Madam. So he pressed his confusion down into his heart, answered respectfully, and went out of the hall with the Fifth Madam.

Ji Yong was standing on the western covered walkway, a faint, knowing smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Dou Wenchang walked over warily, and found that from where Ji Yong stood, one could faintly hear the sound of a woman sobbing bitterly.

The Seventh Uncle's household was small, and he wondered who could be crying. Ji Yong had already spoken: "Eldest Cousin, let us first pay our respects to Seventh Uncle. Then shall we go to the Jining Hou residence?"

Dou Wenchang had no choice but to follow.

But Ji Yong was sneering inwardly.

The Wang family knew well enough to weep bitterly now—where had they been earlier?

In the space of a single night, Dou Huaiying seemed to have aged ten years.

He lay dejectedly upon the bed, ignoring the Fifth Madam, and merely said a few words full of apology to Dou Wenchang and Ji Yong, who had come to help settle the aftermath: "I've put you both to trouble."

When something like this happens, no one feels good about it, least of all the father.

Dou Wenchang could understand Dou Huaiying's frame of mind. He nodded silently, and with a grave expression bade Dou Huaiying rest assured.

Ji Yong, however, offered a few comforting words in a most respectful and gentle manner—"Please rest assured, Seventh Uncle. We will handle this matter well"—and only then did he and Dou Wenchang set off for the Jining Hou residence.

Tian-shi had already received word, and the breath caught in her chest. She nearly fainted; and the moment she recovered her breath she urgently ordered her personal mama to fetch Wei Fan at once, then burst into bitter weeping: "How could such a thing happen? If anyone were to learn of this, where would our Wei family be able to show our face?"

The one Tian-shi sent to scout out the situation was Mama Luo, the most capable servant at her side.

"Keep your voice down, Madam!" She hurriedly drew out a handkerchief to wipe Tian-shi's tears. "Few people know of this matter as yet. If you weep like this, will you not be weeping until everyone knows? Though the Marquis and the Dou girl have not yet made their ancestral sacrifice, the marriage has already been consummated. Whether to accept the match as it stands or to have it out plainly with the Dou family, you must wait until the Eldest Young Mistress arrives before deciding. You cannot let it become known to all and sundry right now!"

At this, Tian-shi hastily checked her weeping and said between sobs: "Zhen is right. The Dou family is indeed no good match, and it is all my own weakness and indecision that has harmed Yu'er." With that she began crying again. "Had I known it would come to this, I should have agreed to Zhen's proposal and broken off the engagement with the Dou family. Better that than take an unaccountable daughter-in-law into the house." She was utterly consumed with regret.

But was this any time to be saying such things?

Fortunately, Mama Luo had served Tian-shi for decades and knew her temperament well. She was in no hurry, and reminded her gently: "As for the upper chambers, shall I send someone to keep a rein on the maids' and old women's tongues? I think the Dou family does not wish to spread this matter abroad either. And as for the several old relatives, with a thing like this having happened, the offerings to the Kitchen God, the ancestral rites, and the recognition feast will all likely have to be put off for the time being. There will have to be some explanation."

Tian-shi nodded repeatedly and said to Mama Luo: "I leave this matter to you. Before the Eldest Young Mistress arrives, on no account let anyone grow suspicious."

Mama Luo answered respectfully and withdrew.

When a family has a happy occasion, it is the sons-in-law and brothers-in-law who sit in the seats of honor—all the more so for a son-in-law of Zhang Yuanming's illustrious background, who had done so much to support the Wei family.

He rose early, took his breakfast, and dressed himself in fresh clothes to wait while Wei Wan finished her toilette.

The servants the Wei family sent to fetch Wei Wan dared not, in Zhang Yuanming's presence, so much as mention that the bride had been swapped; they said only that Tian-shi had an urgent matter to discuss with Wei Wan and asked her to come quickly.

Hearing this, Zhang Yuanming teased Wei Wan: "Your mother most likely got up this morning and thought the betrothal gifts you agreed on yesterday were too meager, so today she wants to add a few more pieces for the new daughter-in-law and has called you over to help pick out jewelry. I say you had better rise with the tide too—you are the eldest young mistress of the house, so don't be too stingy. You wouldn't want the new sister-in-law to think you miserly, and then when you go back to your natal home, not even get a meal laid out for you."

"She wouldn't dare!" Wei Wan had been out of sorts all along, and at these words she could not help arching an eyebrow and declaring imperiously, "If she wants to run the Jining Hou household, she'll have to have the ability for it."

Zhang Yuanming knew his wife's headstrong nature well enough not to be surprised at such a remark. He teased her a few more times until Wei Wan was laughing, and only then did the couple, chatting and laughing, take the children with them to the Jining Hou residence.

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Sisters, brothers, I beg you for your pink votes!

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