Chapter 368 — The Maid

"They say he will enter the city the afternoon after tomorrow." Unable to contain her delight, her aunt drew Dou Yan into the inner room, told the maids to bring fresh fruit, and said, "Do not fret. The moment your uncle is back in the capital, I will tell him you came!"

Dou Yan nodded again and again. "Then I'll go out of the city early the day after tomorrow to welcome Uncle? When Uncle went to take up his post, I was only three. Uncle surely won't recognize me anymore..." She seemed very excited.

Her aunt patted her hand with a smile. "Good. We'll go together then."

Dou Yan nodded, her eyes crinkling shut with pleasure.

Song Yan arrived.

"I knew you would come to Yuqiao Lane to visit Aunt," he said with a smile. "I've come to Aunt's too, to scrounge a meal."

The aunt was overjoyed, saying "Nothing would please me more" again and again. She went into the kitchen herself and cooked several of her signature dishes to entertain them at supper.

Zhao Zhangru leaned close to Dou Yan's ear and hummed, "Look, he's chased you all the way here! He clings to you every single day like this, and you never tire of it!"

Dou Yan would not let anyone speak ill of Song Yan. "I don't find it tiresome at all! I think it's quite nice. I like it very much."

Which left Zhao Zhangru staring, dumbstruck and speechless.

But it sent the corners of the sharp-eared Song Yan's mouth nearly up to the heavens.

After supper, Dou Yan and Song Yan took their leave for home.

Song Yan suddenly produced a red sandalwood box from his bosom, as if by magic, and handed it to Dou Yan.

Dou Yan asked, astonished, "What is it?" — and opened the box as she spoke.

On a lining of crimson Zhang velvet lay a flawless mutton-fat jade armlet.

The lotus pattern on the armlet was plain and generous, antique and natural, possessed of a rich and noble beauty.

"This is...?" Dou Yan looked at Song Yan, utterly puzzled.

Song Yan, a smile at the corners of his mouth, said, "This is your reward."

"A reward for me? A reward for what?"

Song Yan told her, "Just keep it."

Dou Yan was lost in a fog, but no matter how she asked, Song Yan would not say. She had no choice but to accept the armlet, saying, "Where did this armlet come from? Why did you suddenly carry a piece of jewelry on you?" Her tone was rather suspicious.

Song Yan's smile soared. "Today Dai Jian invited me to dine, and I passed by Yubao Pavilion. I thought this armlet was quite fine, so I bought it."

For Dou Yan's birthday, since there were guests in the household and Song Cen was present in the hall, it would not do to make a grand affair of it; only a bowl of birthday noodles was served. But Song Yan had kept it in mind all along, and had given Dou Yan a lotus-patterned jade hairpin; seeing that this armlet matched that hairpin perfectly, he bought it. He had meant to wait a few days and find some excuse to give it to Dou Yan, but today, hearing her words, he could not resist taking the armlet out right there in the carriage.

"Really?" Dou Yan eyed Song Yan sidelong.

"Why would I lie to you?" Song Yan was quite open and unbothered.

So long as it was not a bribe he had accepted, all was well.

Dou Yan accepted it with peace of mind and asked Song Yan, "Is the Kuang family matter settled?"

"Settled, naturally." There was a touch of pride in Song Yan's tone. "Boyan is about to sit the spring examination. If I had not handled this matter well and he were distracted by it, would that not be my fault?"

Dou Yan gazed at him softly, then suddenly kissed him and said lazily, "This is your reward!"

Song Yan said gravely, "Tomorrow I mean to treat Boyan and my twelfth brother-in-law to drinks. For someone like me, who does the favor and even ends up out of pocket, may I ask for another reward?"

Dou Yan laughed until she could not straighten up.

The two chatted and laughed all the way back to the Yingzhenguo Estate.

As their carriage passed the main gate of the Yingzhenguo Estate, it brushed past Song Cen, who had just come home reeking of drink.

When Song Cen heard the silver-bell-bright laughter drifting from the carriage, his face darkened at once, like clouds covering the sky.

Dou Yan had no idea of Song Cen's gloom. At home she turned out boxes and trunks, finding two Xi inkstones she had filched from her father, two boxes of Huding ink, two boxes of wolf-hair brushes, two blocks of Hetian jade for seals, and a cloisonné silver ink-warming stove; she wrapped them in gift boxes and went to Yuqiao Lane the next day.

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This counts as a transitional chapter, I suppose. Part Three is about to begin. Everyone please bear with it a little; the exciting part is coming soon.