Chapter 315 — Three Joys

"Aunt, have you decided where Cousin's wedding will be held?" he asked with concern.

"If we go back to Qingyang, it would take at least two months on the road. And I've done the sums—next spring Uncle will have to come to the capital to report on his post, and going there and back again would waste a great deal of time. I say, while Uncle is here in the capital, why not simply hold Cousin's wedding right here? We can join in the festivities and lend a hand as well." He went on,

"I hear that for Shouyuan's sake you sold off the family property in Xingxiang County? Setting aside Jiangnan, the land and shopfronts in the capital turn a greater profit than anywhere else. Why haven't you and Uncle considered buying some property here in the capital? If you don't object, shall I keep an eye out for you? Then Cousin Song's husband-to-be can manage it—it would be a fine way to temper his skill at handling household affairs."

Song Yan and Zhao Zhangru were both of age, and since the two families were of one mind on the matter, it was only natural they wished to settle the match as soon as possible.

Song Yumin wrote back to his wife, saying that only after the exchange of betrothal cards with the Zhao family could the wedding date be discussed. Still, this might well be the last Spring Festival Song Yan would spend in the Song household, so come what may they would hurry back to Quzhou before the Little New Year. He told his wife to make preparations and see that the festival was properly celebrated.

As he wrote, a faint melancholy welled up in his heart.

Zhao Zhangru's feelings were the very opposite of Song Yumin's.

Though her elders said nothing, Zhao Zhangru learned of her marriage from her own personal maid. Since he was the nephew of Dou Yan's tutor and had lived in the Dou household for several years, Zhao Zhangru had not the slightest worry about Song Yan's character or appearance, and her heart was filled at last with relief and joy that she was to be married.

As for her aunt, she thought the capital's goods were both fine and cheap, with a wide choice besides. Her daughter was to be married—why not, while they were still in the capital, buy Zhao Zhangru a few proper pieces for her dowry? So she asked Dou Yan to go shopping with her.

Dou Yan made full use of the advantages of her former life: which shop had the best combs, which had the greatest variety of fabrics—she knew it all clearly, and whatever her aunt could think of, she could find.

Her aunt could not help laughing. "How many days have you been in the capital, and already you know every corner of it!"

Dou Yan giggled. Rushing about here and there shopping with her aunt every day, she was perfectly happy.

Then word came from her uncle: he was well pleased with the match and had entrusted the betrothal arrangements to Dou Heng and Lady Ji.

Everyone was surprised; Dou Huaiying was thoroughly embarrassed.

It was Song Yan whose eyes were sharp. He consoled Dou Huaiying: "Since this betrothal means negotiating both the bride price and the wedding date, someone will have to smooth things over between the two sides. Where is the propriety in a son-in-law stepping forward to act on his niece's behalf? People would think we were in a hurry to marry off our daughter. It should be so."

At these words Dou Huaiying's spirits lifted; he nodded again and again, never even noticing that Song Yan had spoken of marrying off a daughter, not taking in a son-in-law. He only felt that a son-in-law was a fine thing indeed. Delighted, he washed his hands of the whole affair and stood by to watch the excitement.

No sooner had the betrothal cards been exchanged than Dou Yong's eldest son, Qijin, celebrated his first-month feast.

Dou Yan invited her aunt, and arm in arm with Zhao Zhangru, who had come along, they passed through the hanging-flower gate.

Everyone who saw Zhao Zhangru smiled behind their hands.

Lively, cheerful Zhao Zhangru blushed like the dawn clouds, afraid of being teased; she dared not carry on with her old free-and-easy ways, but only sat in the room helping Lady Han hold Qijin, which set everyone laughing again.

Zhao Zhangru found a chance to whisper to Dou Yan: "I want to be married quickly! Once I'm married, let's see which of them dares laugh at me then."

Dou Yan doubled over with laughter.

Zhao Zhangru pinched her hard twice before letting go.

The two cousins, hand in hand, went off to the flower hall where the banquet was laid.

Dou Ming arrived.

She wore a robe of true red with full-length sleeves; though she had dressed herself up with care, her haggard look was hard to conceal.

Sixth Sister-in-law Guo could not help asking with concern, "What's the matter with you? Why is your face so poor?"

Ever since that day when she had been so angry she spat blood, she had been listless and without spirit. She had summoned several physicians, who did no more than write out tonic prescriptions and tell her to rest quietly. She had not meant to come today, but Wei Wan had run off to the Jining Marquis's household at first light, clamoring and carrying on, insisting they must go. She had said she was unwell and that Wei Fan could go alone, but no—both of them had to go together. Over this she had quarreled with Wei Wan again, and if Wei Fan had not spoken up for her in front of her, she would not have bothered coming at all!

Surely by now Wei Fan had struck up a conversation with Song Yan?

The very thought made her heart feel as if a fire were burning in it, and her tone to Guo was somewhat stiff: "I'm fine! I just caught a chill a few days ago."

Guo had always thought Dou Ming quick-tempered; she paid it no mind, but neither did she care to watch Dou Ming's face. After a few casual words she went over to Dou Yan's side.

The eldest aunt of Ji Yong thought very well of Dou Yan. Seeing her now, she could not help but regret that Dou Yan had not married into the Ji family, and so she chatted with Dou Yan most warmly.

The Ji family was the natal family of the Sixth Madam, and Ji Song was also a high official of the third rank. At an occasion such as this, the Fifth Madam was bound to sit with the guests, and since Lady Cai was eloquent and smooth-spoken and sincerely wished to curry favor with Dou Yan, everyone joined in the fun and the talk, so that at first glance it seemed everyone was gathered around Dou Yan talking.

Dou Ming felt she could not bear to stay a moment longer, and glared at Dou Yan with resentment.

Dou Yan did not notice, but Zhao Zhangru, who had been glancing about in her boredom, did. She whispered to Dou Yan, "Dou Ming is glaring at you. Have you two quarreled? Her face is full of grievance!"

"When have you ever seen me quarrel with her?" Dou Yan kept a modest smile on her face, did not glance at Dou Ming once, and, looking for all the world as if she were listening attentively to Ji Yong's eldest aunt, said to Zhao Zhangru, "She looks at me as if her eyes were red with fury. How should I know what temper she's in now?" Yet her smile grew all the brighter.

Dou Ming only grew angrier at the sight, and her gaze at Dou Zhiwei was like a knife.

Before long, everyone had noticed that something was amiss with Dou Ming.

Those who knew how things stood between the Dou sisters smiled knowingly and pretended not to see.

Lady Han was displeased.

Ever since the business of the sisters' swapped marriages, it had been as if someone she trusted had betrayed her, and she had grown somewhat wary of Dou Ming. What once had seemed pitiable when Dou Ming did it now seemed to her mere petulance.

She frowned, blocked Dou Ming's line of sight, and said, "Fifth Miss has arrived! Why don't you go over and talk?" And she introduced Dou Ming to Ji Yong's aunt.

Ji Yong's aunt was a woman who seldom went out to social occasions, and how should she know the twists and turns of it all? She chatted smilingly with Dou Ming, and only then did Dou Ming feel a little better.