Chapter 240 — A Slip

Dou Bingheng heard about it,.

He hastily ordered his attendants, "Go and find out what on earth is going on!"

The attendants dared not dawdle. In a short while, one came running back wiping sweat from his brow, and recounted the whole course of events.

Dou Bingheng could not hold back and erupted in front of his own attendants: "What does Number Seven think he is doing? Is he afraid people won't know the Dou family has money? A whole chest of silver drafts for a dowry—what does he take the Dou family for? Nouveau riche? Or a pack of clods who never knew the toil of the fields? Is he not afraid of robbers marking him? Is he not afraid of the censors impeaching him? Is this flaunting wealth, or is this running the family to ruin?" The more he spoke, the angrier he grew, and he barked at the bearers, "Get moving—to Master Seven's residence, now!"

The attendants only then came to their senses, murmuring assent, and hurried Dou Bingheng off toward Dou Huaiying's house.

Fortunately most of the onlookers had already dispersed; otherwise they might not even have been able to squeeze through.

Dou Bingheng sat in his sedan, his heart in a tangle.

Most people in the world did not know the Dou clan was split into an Eastern and a Western branch. Seeing that Dou Huaiying was rich, they would mostly assume he held a higher office than Dou Huaiying and therefore ought to be richer. But Dou Huaiying was merely an impoverished Hanlin scholar—if he had money, it was naturally handed down from the ancestors; while he himself was a Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, and if he had money, he feared it would not be easy to explain!

The Emperor would certainly inquire into the matter. What was he to say when the time came?

Dou Bingheng could not help rubbing his brow.

It was his own carelessness that was to blame.

Mingche had said that Number Seven meant to compensate Shouyuan, and he had not even had someone keep an eye on it. All those silver drafts, and every one of them brand-new—even for the Tongde Silver House to print them would take several months' work. Could it be that he had made preparations long in advance?

Then when exactly had he begun preparing?

Could it be that he had foreseen that the sisters would swap brides?

And at the beginning, had he known of the agreement between himself and the Ji family?

He felt his head swell to the size of a bushel. The moment he met Dou Huaiying, he did not mince words and poured out every doubt in his heart.

The truth, however, was far simpler than Dou Bingheng had imagined.

"These silver drafts—I prepared them originally for Sister Ming," Dou Huaiying said with perfect honesty. "You know as well as anyone that Shouyuan received half the Western Dou's estate. Compared with her, Sister Ming's dowry would have been too shabby. So I thought, Shouyuan is a generous child; if I prepared a little more dowry for Sister Ming, surely she would not say anything. Who would have guessed that Sister Ming would go to the Jining Marquis's household in Shouyuan's place... I could not let Shouyuan be wronged simply because she has always been magnanimous. Otherwise, who would be willing to yield to others? Who would be willing to suffer a loss? If in this world no one were willing to take a step back, what would become of it? So I gave the silver drafts I had originally prepared for Sister Ming to Shouyuan as her dowry..."

When the words reached Wang Shuying, who had already been staring blankly because of that chest of silver drafts, she vomited a mouthful of blood on the spot and fainted.

Dou Ming's face went even paler. Looking at the serving maids and old women in the room, all thrown into a panic, she quietly slipped out of the rear back room where her mother was confined and found Wei Fan, who was pacing outside the main hall, and said listlessly, "Marquis, it is getting late. Ought we not return to the residence? Otherwise Mother will worry again."

She felt like a joke—wherever she went, it seemed people were pointing and whispering about her.

Wei Fan seemed somewhat distracted. He gave an "Oh," glanced at the main hall, and only then turned to leave the principal courtyard with Dou Ming.

Dou Ming was worried that Wei Fan had also heard her father's words and harbored resentment toward her, and so she paid closer attention than usual to his every movement. Seeing this, she could not help smiling. "What are you looking at, Marquis?" Her tone was sweet and coy, tinged faintly with flattery.

"N-nothing, nothing!" Wei Fan answered with some awkwardness, quickly recovering his composure and smilingly changing the subject. "Have you heard? Shen Qing made a great fool of himself..." And he told Dou Ming what had just happened in the flower hall.

Dou Ming listened attentively, as though greatly interested. "Who is Shen Qing?" she asked. Yet her steps slowed, and she came to a stop at the very spot where Wei Fan had just been standing, and turned to look.

Wei Fan laughed. "He is the nephew of the late Empress Shen. His title was granted through the empress's family. The Emperor is a man who remembers old ties, and the Empress was a virtuous and gracious woman—that is why their family has remained safe and sound to this day..."

Dou Ming was no longer hearing a word he said.

From where she stood, she could see clearly the eastern wing where Dou Yan lodged.

※※※※※

Once a decision is made, the heart finds its footing. What remained was only to meet each blow as it came, to dam the water as it rose, and press on through.

Dou Yan slept soundly.

Rising in the morning, her face glowed and her spirits were high.

Her mood infected those around her as well.

Su Xin and Su Lan packed and tidied with noticeably lighter hands.

Dou Yan summoned Chen Yanzhou, Duan Bing, and Chen Lanxu for a talk.

"I fear I shall rarely return to Zhending after this. As for the household guards, I must trouble the three of you to ask them: those willing to follow me to the capital should set their family affairs in order and move to the capital by the tenth month; those who wish to stay in Zhending—Aunt Cui there will need someone to look after her; and those with other plans, I will not press, but will give them a generous traveling gift in thanks for their years of hard service." Then, very formally, she invited Chen Yanzhou, Duan Bing, and Chen Lanxu, "You are my backbone. Without you, there would be no 'today' for me. Though matters at the Heir's side are in turmoil now, turmoil breeds heroes—it is also an opportunity. I hope the three of you will come with me."

Chen Yanzhou had guessed even before arriving that Dou Yan's summoning them at this moment meant either an invitation to follow her to the Yingzhengguo Estate or a discussion of the return to Zhending. The three had already agreed on the road to stand together with Dou Yan through thick and thin, but all felt it would be better to go to the Yingzhengguo Estate—at least there they would not have so many "overseers" above them, and life would be relatively easier. As for risk—one might trip and fall for no reason at all simply walking down the road; what undertaking was free of risk? Besides, risk had always kept company with wealth and honor.

Now they naturally felt the joy of wishes fulfilled, and one and all declared themselves willing to follow Dou Yan to the Yingzhengguo Estate.

The four of them discussed the particulars of the move for a good while. Seeing that it was nearly time for the midday meal, and that the aunt and Sixth Aunt who were escorting the bride, along with the little tagalong Zhao Zhangru, had come to talk with Dou Yan, the three finally rose to take their leave, though none could quite hide their excitement.

As Dou Yan was to be married, certain matters naturally had to be explained.