Chapter 393 — The Idea Takes Root

Dou Xin said, "The old madam came from a military family, so her health ought to have been excellent. How is it that after giving birth to the Second Master, her health deteriorated so badly?"

Song Zhi's expression darkened. He said in a low voice, "My mother was closest to my second uncle. Cousin Hanzhu was my second uncle's posthumous daughter. When my mother was carrying Tian'en, Cousin Hanzhu suddenly came down with the measles and ran a stubborn high fever. My mother was frantic with worry — she made a special trip into the palace to beg medicine from Empress Dowager Yi, and then spent several days and nights with my second aunt, not even bothering to undress, tending to Cousin Hanzhu. After that, she disturbed the fetus.

"Then my grandfather passed away. Though the palace sent eunuchs and female officials to help manage the funeral, my mother could not simply wash her hands of it, and she disturbed the fetus again.

"When the time came to deliver Tian'en, she hemorrhaged badly and nearly lost her life. Tian'en was born extremely frail because of it — for three days after birth he could not suckle or take milk. My grandmother had all her attention fixed on my mother at the time and had none to spare for Tian'en, so she handed him over to my father. What did my father know about caring for a child? He had no choice but to ask my eldest aunt to come and look after Tian'en for two or three months.

"My mother, feeling she owed Tian'en so much, indulged him excessively — all she asked was that he grow up healthy and live in peace and security, nothing more." He smiled bitterly. "Overcorrecting, as it were — and Tian'en turned out like this!"

In the hundred-odd years since the founding of the dynasty, most of the sons of meritorious families were like Hanlin Song.

If not for her memories of a past life, Dou Yan thought that having a brother-in-law like Song Han would not be so bad. But she was convinced that Song Ke would kill his father and brother for no reason — which meant Song Cen and Song Han certainly had their problems.

But she had no evidence whatsoever.

So Dou Yan comforted Song Yan with insincere words: "Even the ten fingers differ in length. You cannot expect the Second Master to be the same as you, can you? His constitution was never as good as yours from the start. That he has grown up safe and sound to this age is already a blessing from Heaven. You must not be insatiable and provoke Heaven's displeasure."

Song Yan put his arm around her shoulders and smiled, kissing her cheek.

Dou Yan changed the subject. "Tell me — what do you think about handing the Hanlin Academy matter to Boyan?"

"Boyan?" Song Yan was quite surprised. He hesitated. "Is that wise?"

"I think he is rather suitable," Dou Yan said. "First, he has traveled to many places over the years. He is steady and prudent without losing his integrity and chivalry, and he is quick-witted and adaptable. If he, as a newly minted jinshi, were to deal with Zhao Jiepei and Chen Songming, he would not draw much attention, and it would keep Zhao and Chen from becoming too wary." She smoothed Song Yan's collar as she spoke and smiled. "Second, I have a selfish motive — if things really are as we suspect, then given his status and his eloquence, he would more easily move Fifth Uncle to make the right choice. That way we can avoid dragging the Dou family down with us."

Dou Yan said that Boyan was, after all, one of their own.

Song Yan naturally preferred to use his own people.

He pondered and said, "Then I will find an opportunity to talk to Boyan and sound him out first."

There were only three years left until the Prince of Liao's coup. Time was growing more pressing by the day.

Dou Yan urged Song Yan: "Then speak to him sooner."

Song Yan was struck by a thought. He said, "I wonder what the Prince of Liao is actually planning? Waiting like this with no end in sight — it truly tries one's patience."

Dou Yan reminded him: "If he wants to succeed, he must have an opportunity, mustn't he? As long as the Emperor remains in good health, he has no excuse to enter the capital."

Song Yan's eyes lit up at her words.

The next day he invited Dou Yan to dine at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Afterward, Song Yan went into the palace for his duty shift, and Dou Yan came to see Dou Yan looking pale, sitting in her flower hall, hesitating to speak, his face full of unease.

Dou Yan sighed and decided to be blunt: "This is only our conjecture. But if by some chance it turns out to be true — both sides have large families. Taking precautions is always better."

Dou Yan nodded, his expression still somewhat dazed.

Dou Yan had Chen Yanzhou escort Dou Yan home.

Halfway there, Dou Yan finally came to his senses. He looked up and saw Chen Yanzhou's calm, water-like face in the swaying lamplight. He could not help but start. He lifted the carriage curtain — outside were the vigorous figures of Duan Bing and Chen Lanxu.

It suddenly occurred to him that this fourth aunt of his was far from ordinary. It seemed she had prepared for all of this long ago.

The thought flashed by, and he could not help but laugh at himself.

Back then, how old was Fourth Aunt? The Prince of Liao had not even established his household yet. How could things have been as he imagined?

He had truly been frightened today, letting his imagination run wild.

He smiled and thanked Chen Yanzhou, jumped down from the carriage, waved casually at Chen Yanzhou, and strode through his front gate.

Chen Yanzhou watched his retreating figure and smiled faintly, then instructed the driver to return home.

Dou Yan grew more and more interested in Lady Jiang and Song Cen's past.

After the Buddha's Birthday, Dou Yan passed the examination for shujishi, and the palace bestowed five-poison sachets and dingzi medicine. Dou Yan took advantage of Dou Huaiying's rest day to return to the Jiming Temple alley. Besides delivering the Dragon Boat Festival gifts to her father, she also brought him two bottles of the dingzi medicine bestowed by the palace.

That his daughter had come to see him naturally delighted Dou Huaiying beyond measure. He kept her for lunch at home, and in his study he checked Dou Zhiwei's calligraphy, rewarding her with two pieces of fine Shoushan stone seal material.

Dou Xin said, "Father has a good memory — he gives me the same thing every time."

Dou Huaiying said smugly, "You have loved this since you were small. How could I not remember?"

Dou Yan looked at the silver threads at Dou Huaiying's temples and thought for a moment, then said, "Are you and the Seventh Madam just going to keep dragging things out like this? Have you never thought of finding someone to look after your daily needs?"

Being asked about his personal affairs by his daughter made Dou Huaiying rather embarrassed.

He coughed several times and looked around. "Where has Yantang gone? Why hasn't he come to pick you up?"

Dou Yan could not press further, so she smiled and said, "Ma Youming dragged him off to the Divine Mechanism Camp. He won't be back until lamp-lighting time. I told him I would return early, so I asked him not to come for me."

Dou Huaiying then thought of Dou Ming.

He sighed inwardly and his enthusiasm for conversation with Dou Yan dropped sharply.

Dou Yan assumed her father was tired. After chatting with him a while longer, she rose to take her leave.

Dou Huaiying did not press her to stay. He said, "Since Yantang is not coming to pick you up, you may as well go back early." He saw her sedan chair all the way to the main gate.