Chapter 339 — The Eastern Palace

Soon the fifth day of the eleventh month arrived. Old Madam Lu sent word to Song Cen through her son Lu Shi: "At the birthday banquet of the Duchess of Jingguo, the ladies of the capital's noble houses will mostly be in attendance. The Dou girl has never been in such a setting; let her come with me and the Grand Princess to the Duke of Jingguo's residence, and make herself known to the wives of the dukes, marquises, earls, and ministers."

Song Cen frowned.

Tao Jun urged him: "The Duchess of Jingguo's birthday banquet. It would be hard to justify your lady's absence. It would offend not only the Duke of Jingguo's household, but Madam Lu and Princess Ninghuai as well..."

Song Cen flung the invitation from the Duke of Jingguo's residence onto the table.

Tao Jun signaled to Zeng Wu to put the invitation away and send it on to Yizhi Hall.

When Dou Yan received the invitation, she took counsel with Song Yan: "Can I not simply stay away?"

Ever since the pregnancy had been diagnosed at the Eastern Palace, they had kept it quiet, for the child was not yet three months along, telling only Aunt and Zhao Zhangru. Aunt fed her well and plied her with delicacies every day, and Dou Yan grew ever more disinclined to stir; each day she ate and slept, and when she woke she would sit with Aunt and Zhao Zhangru, chatting or doing needlework.

"It would be best to go," Song Yan said, taking the yam, lily, and goji porridge from the maid's hands and passing it to Dou Yan. "It was Old Madam Lu herself who had your great-uncle speak to Father about it, and she brought Princess Ninghuai into it as well."

"I know!" Dou Yan said between sips of porridge. "I simply don't want to move."

She looked for all the world as though she were being coy.

A faint smile came into Song Yan's eyes, and he coaxed her: "Go to the Duke of Jingguo's residence and come back, and I shall play chess with you."

Dou Yan smiled brightly, her eyes shining like gems, radiant with light.

Song Yan's heart was in an instant filled to the brim with tenderness.

He loved this Dou Yan, loved her being coy with him like this... He thought of that day in the carriage, when Dou Yan had looked at him for no reason at all and let her fondness show plain; he could not help gently touching her face, and said in a low voice tinged with indulgence: "Be good and keep them company, and I shall come to fetch you."

Song Yan's words pleased Dou Yan.

She giggled. "Don't try to fool me — the Duchess of Jingguo's birthday banquet. The Duke is of the same generation, so he need not go and offer his congratulations, but you are of the younger generation. Are you not going too? Yet you coax me and say you will come fetch me."

Song Yan said without a flicker of shame: "We shall put in an appearance and then leave. If I did not send someone to fetch you, could you slip away?"

"Sly!" Dou Yan shot him a look.

That glance was as rippling as sunlight on summer water, and it brushed across Song Yan's heart like a feather.

"How can you call that sly?" His gaze rested openly upon Dou Yan's full breasts. "I am afraid your constitution cannot bear it — all that rich fare at a birthday banquet, and you will be feeling unwell again."

"Aunt told me to keep tea leaves in my mouth to chew." Dou Yan had meant to ignore his gaze, but it was too scorching, too fiery, and she truly could not bear it; she could not help scolding him coquettishly, "I am speaking to you — where are you looking?"

Song Yan said at her ear: "It has been some days since I have seen them, so naturally I wish to look..."

The rogue!

Dou Yan's face burned. Looking at the corner of Song Yan's upturned mouth, her eyes shifted, and she glanced at him sidelong and asked softly, "Is that so?" Then she bit his ear and undid her collar. "Then let you look your fill."

Song Yan's face flushed scarlet in an instant.

Dou Yan laughed softly.

Song Yan pounced: "You think I don't dare!" and kissed her lips fiercely.

Joyful laughter echoed through the inner chamber.

Then from beyond the window came Aunt's deliberate cough: "Shouyuan, it is getting late. You should rest early! Tomorrow you still have to go to the Duke of Jingguo's to offer birthday congratulations."

The laughter in the room stopped short.

"I know," came Dou Yan's calm and composed voice from within. "I am going to rest now."

Her aunt withdrew to the guest room with a smile.

From the inner chamber drifted a peal of silvery laughter.

Song Yan lay sprawled limb from limb, slumped upon the kang.

Dou Yan, her face like a flower, had flung herself down beside Song Zhi.

"Tianci," she breathed, kissing his cheek, her hand slowly stealing into his robe.

Song Chu caught her hand, tapped her affectionately on the nose, and said softly, "I was only teasing you!" Then he sat up and said, "Let's get to bed!"

At first he had only meant to tease her, but afterward things slid somewhat out of hand.

Dou Yan embraced him from behind, leaned against his shoulder, and blew warm breath against his ear: "You truly don't want me to serve you? I have just been studying that book called 'Hua Ying' most carefully..."

Before she could finish, Song Yan pressed her down beneath him...

Again came Dou Yan's clear laughter from the inner chamber, mingled with Song Yan's grumbling complaints.

In the early winter night sky hung a few stars, like a beauty's bewitching eyes, glimmering with a stirring brilliance.

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Brothers and sisters, I am posting a rough draft for now; I will correct the typos later.