Chapter 308 — Hesitation

Wei Wan was already bristling. "I knew it—come into contact with this Dou Ming and nothing good follows!" The more she thought, the hotter her anger burned. She flung aside the curtain and stormed out of the study, and standing in the hall she cursed toward the inner chamber opposite. "In the old days Song Yantang was so good to you—had a fine horse, he gave you one; had a bit of business, he pulled you in. But you—for the sake of a cheap, low woman, you've offended such a good brother! Take a wife for her virtue, take a concubine for her looks. When the principal wife has no virtue, the household knows no peace. That's written in the books..."

Inside the room, Dou Ming was in such a fury that her ribs ached; she leaped down from the bed and made to go confront Wei Wan.

Oh no—they were at it again!

Wei Fan's head throbbed. He caught hold of Wei Wan. "Sister, say one word less!"

Hearing this, Dou Ming's steps faltered.

Wei Wan stamped her foot in frustration. "Even now you won't reflect on yourself. Do you mean to muddle through life like this? I've heard that Song Yantang stepped in and helped the Empress's younger brother—the Earl of Jiading, Wan Pengji—make connections with a great family in Fujian. On tea alone, that Earl of Jiading made eight thousand taels of silver in two months! You fool, you could have taken a share of that too!"

Dou Ming was dumbfounded.

Was it true or not?

Song Yantang merely pulled a few strings for someone, and that person earned eight thousand taels of silver in two months. How much, then, must Song Yantang himself be making?

It had taken no small effort for her second aunt to open a silk shop on East Street, and even so it brought in only a little over a thousand taels a year. Yet these people could earn that much silver with a single word, as easily as breathing...

Wei Wan's words opened a window for Dou Ming, and as she stood dazzled and spellbound, it was as though she glimpsed a whole new world.

So there were people who despised money in this way!

Wei Fan, however, said nothing.

Just as his sister had said, Song Yantang had once been remarkably congenial with him.

And because of Song Yantang, people everywhere gave him a measure of respect. The likes of Feng Zhi of the Yong'en Count's estate, in particular, who in the past could not even be bothered to lift their eyelids when they met him, now, though hardly close to him, would smile and exchange greetings whenever they came face to face.

And now they knew he and Song Yan shared no friendship at all...

An overwhelming regret welled up in Wei Fan despite himself.

He could not help saying, "Every cause has its effect. If not for Dou Ming, I could never have gotten into the Five Wards Constabulary..."

Before the words were out of his mouth, Wei Wan had let out a cold laugh. "With the friendship you once had with Song Yantang, and him a vice commissioner of the Imperial Insignia Guard and commander of the North City Constabulary, getting you a deputy commandership would have been no trouble at all, surely? He might even have gotten you into the Imperial Insignia Guard itself! It is only you—played for a fool by someone's scheming, living off a woman's soft rice, and still thanking them with tears of gratitude..."

Wei Fan's face flushed red and pale by turns.

Behind the curtain in the inner chamber, Dou Ming heard it all, and felt a sweetness rise in her throat; she spat out a mouthful of blood.

Zhou Lao and the others were thrown into a panic.

"Madam, Madam!" They all rushed to her side.

Hearing the commotion, Wei Fan turned on his heel and was about to dash into the inner chamber, but he had taken only two steps when Wei Wan caught him by the arm. "What do you think you are doing?"

"I-I-I am going to take a look!" Wei Fan mumbled, avoiding his sister's sharp gaze.

"Has she no attendants about her? Must you go make a spectacle of yourself? If she is unwell, the old women will naturally come and tell you. What sort of behavior is it, rushing in there in a panic? The state she is in now is all because you have spoiled her! If you do not help her mend this fault now, are you going to let her turn into a shrew? After her questioning, Wei Wan went on with earnest gravity, "You are simply too softhearted. If you had refused Dou Ming back then, would you and Song Yantang have come to this pass today? There are things you must think over carefully: which is more important, the family estate or a wife? Without the family estate, will your wife respect you?"

At these words, Wei Fan could not help but straighten his back.

Wei Wan gave a slight nod and released her brother.

Wei Fan said, "Sister, about Song Yantang—I must discuss this properly with you."

"That is more like it!" Wei Wan beamed with gratification. "I will call your brother-in-law over this very moment. One more person is one more source of strength. We cannot let you and Song Yantang drift apart for no reason at all over a mere wife from the inner quarters."

The brother and sister left the hall of the main house.

Zhou Lao looked at Dou Ming, whose face was as yellow as gold leaf, and hurried out through the curtain. The hall was already empty, not a soul to be seen; only the five-colored tassels hanging on the lattice curtain swayed ever so gently.

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To the sisters and brothers reading this: a draft for now.

o(n_n)o~