Chapter 299 — A Look in the Eye

Song Yan caught the implication in Dou Yan's words, and the mention of the Huai Tree Lane besides. Once Gao Sheng had disappeared from view, he could not help asking with concern, "What's happened? Is there anything I can help with?"

Dou Yan pressed her lips together and smiled.

If Song Yan knew what this was really about, he would not be smiling so easily.

She urged him to take his midday meal: "...and set out early besides." Then she added, "The weather's so cold—why don't we go straight to the estate in Daxing? As for Fengtai, since we've already asked people to keep an eye out for plants and flowers, they'll send word the moment there's good news. There's no need to rush. If we make too much of it, some sharp-eyed fellow may turn a ten-tael item into twenty and butcher us like a fat sheep."

The trip to the flower market had been meant only to amuse Dou Yan. Since Dou Chi took an interest, Song Yan went along with it readily enough.

After the midday meal, the carriage drove straight to Daxing without a single stop.

The stewards, maids, and serving women were already waiting at the gate. They clustered around Song Yan and Dou Yan and ushered them into the estate.

After a brief rest, Song Yan went with the steward to inspect the fields, while Dou Yan, attended as before by the same few women from her last visit, sat talking in the reception room.

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The flower hall of the Jining Marquis's residence was packed with people. Not only were the Wei family's assorted relatives and connections present, but most of the Dou family's kin in the capital had come as well, all except the mother and daughter-in-law of Cat Lane. Even Gao Shi, Pang Shi, and Wei Wan's two sisters-in-law had turned out in full dress, their laughter warm and the chatter merry—a lively scene indeed.

Yet Madam Wang Yu, seated amid the crowd, was far from easy.

Before the feast began, they had been made to wait a good while for no apparent reason; and once it began, she did not see the wife of the Duke of England's heir anywhere.

Could Dou Yan be seated somewhere else?

Madam Wang Yu craned her neck and looked all about, and her gaze collided with that of the Third Madam of the Jingzhenguo household.

The Third Madam smiled and nodded at Madam Wang Yu.

Madam Wang Yu hastily returned a friendly smile.

The Third Madam turned away, her gaze sweeping from east to west and west to east, as though she were searching for someone.

Something stirred in Madam Wang Yu's heart. She murmured to her sister-in-law Zhou Shi, seated beside her, "I'm going to wash my hands," then rose and left her seat, slowly threading her way past the tables where the Dou family women sat and out of the flower hall.

She caught snatches of conversation: "...the Fourth Aunt's wet nurse didn't come... I heard the Seventh Uncle sent someone to invite her himself... said however others treat her, that's how she'll wait on them... didn't you see the Fifth Aunt's face looking mighty sour..."

Wang Yu could not help glancing at Dou Ming, who was smiling all over her face as she toasted Gao Shi.

That smile was indeed somewhat stiff.

Madam Wang Yu hurried off to the privy.

On her way back, she saw the Third Madam of the Jingguo household in close whispers with her own trusted old nurse.

She passed by the tables where the women of the Jingzhenguo household sat.

Through the babble she caught only one phrase: "The wife of the Duke of England's heir hasn't come."

Madam Wang Yu betrayed nothing as she resumed her seat, but she had lost all heart for lingering.

Once the wine had been cleared, the maids brought in tea and refreshments.

Madam Wang Yu was just about to take her leave when the Third Madam of the Jingzhenguo household suddenly rose and said with a smile, "I shall be going on ahead—who knows what mischief those two monkeys of mine have gotten up to at home. My heart's been thumping like a frightened rabbit ever since I walked through the door." So saying, she took Dou Ming's hand. "Madam Marquis of Jining, it won't do today. We must gather again another time."

Wei Wan was faintly displeased.

The Third Madam had swarms of maids, servants' wives, and nurses about her children at all times; she could sit at mahjong from dawn to dusk without a word of missing them. Yet now she wore the face of a doting mother sick with worry for her little ones—for whose benefit, exactly, was this performance?

Dou Ming, however, was meeting the Third Madam for the first time. Taking her for a mother who could not bear to be parted from her children even a moment, she warmly pressed her to stay.

The Third Madam insisted on leaving: "...next time, next time I'll bring all the children along." She even joked with a laugh, "Only I fear they'll make such a din you'll never have peace—and rue the day you let me bring them."

"They would be honored guests I could not summon even if I tried—how can the Third Madam speak so?" Dou Ming exchanged pleasantries with her, but in the end could not overcome the Third Madam's resolve and saw her out of the flower hall.

Madam Wang Yu watched, and rose to her feet as well.

"Tomorrow is my sister-in-law's 'Ninth Day' ceremony; I must go home and make proper preparations." She took her leave of Wei Wan. "My sister-in-law Zhou Shi can stay in my place." With that, she smiled at Zhou Shi.

This was, at least, the truth.

Wei Wan could hardly stand in her way, and smilingly told Madam Wang Yu to come and amuse herself whenever she had the time.

How could Zhou Shi sit still any longer!

They were both sisters-in-law in the same household. Her elder sister-in-law rushed home to put in an appearance for their younger sister-in-law, while she herself lingered at the Wei residence, too merry to think of leaving... and she was a bride of barely two years, with her mother-in-law watching her every move...

"I'll go back with you, Sister-in-law!" She caught at Madam Wang Shao's sleeve. "How could I let you bear the burden while I sit here enjoying myself?"

Everyone present was a long-tried daughter-in-law who had at last become a mother-in-law herself; naturally none of them could stop her.

After a few polite words, they saw the Wang family sisters-in-law out of the Jining Marquis's residence.

No sooner had the three of them gone than the Second Madam of the Jingzhenguo household caught on. Ignoring Dou Ming's urgings to stay, she found an excuse and took her leave early as well.

Wei Wan's face had turned very dark, yet Dou Ming noticed nothing and went on chatting with the ladies still seated.

The Fifth Madam looked on and sighed. She said to Cai Shi, "You stay here. My strength is failing me—I'll go on back first!"

Cai-shi was not about to stay behind.

If she drew Dou Yan's notice, she would lose more than she gained.

She clung tightly to the Fifth Madam's arm. "Mother, you are unwell—let me take you home! Is not Sixth Sister-in-law here?" She insisted on going back with the Fifth Madam.

The Fifth Madam was displeased, but with everyone present she could not vent her temper. She had no choice but to leave the dull-witted Guo-shi behind and take Cai-shi back to the Huai Shu Alley.

Seeing this, the Dou family's eldest young madam and the others took their leave one after another.

Before long, only two tables remained in the flower hall that had once been packed—and every guest at them was a relative of the Wei family.

Dou Ming's expression changed drastically.

Meanwhile, far away at the Daxing estate, Dou Fan was talking with the estate's managing wife.

"The several elder maids in my household have all reached the age to be released. I want to add a few young maids—cleverness and quickness come second; what matters is loyalty and a willingness to endure hardship." She smiled. "Keep an eye out for me among the Song family's estates, see if there are any suitable candidates. That way I need not bring them from Zhending and have them learn the capital's speech all over again."