Chapter 397 — Escorting the Bride

Dou Yan's heart skipped a beat.

Li Liang's cousin must be at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight by now. Ten years ago she had been only in her early teens, so she could not possibly have had anything to do with the Song family affair. Yet Li Liang's cousin's daughter was the same age as Song Han...

She thought of the sister Song Yan had mentioned in their previous life.

Then where had this sister come from?

And to think he would go to such trouble, making elaborate arrangements just to secretly pay his respects!

Her heart suddenly felt as if she had bitten into a salted plum, sour through and through.

Dou Yan entrusted the matter to Chen Jia. "One matter should not trouble two masters. I must ask Lord Chen to look into Li Liang's cousin for me."

Chen Jia smiled and agreed.

Dou Yan said a few polite words, such as "Thank you for your trouble," and raised her teacup in dismissal.

After leaving the Yingzhen residence, Chen Jia let out a long breath.

Now that he knew the Li and Song families had old ties, he had considered the matter for a long time before deciding to report back to Dou Yan in person.

The moment he stepped into the Yingzhen residence, he had truly feared he might enter alive and never leave.

It seemed Madam Dou was indeed a woman who could hold her own against any man. Working for her was comfortable enough.

Chen Jia did not go home, but went straight to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Zhenfu Office.

Dou Yan was mulling over the several young ladies of the Jiang family.

The Duke of Dingguo was no good at reading imperial intentions, but he was an excellent judge of people. After the Jiang family's downfall, none of the Jiang daughters who had been betrothed had their engagements broken. Those not yet betrothed included, besides the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Misses who had come to escort the bride, the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Misses.

The Twelfth Miss was seventeen this year, a few months younger than Song Yan, and named Lizhu. The Thirteenth Miss was sixteen, named Xiexiu. The Fourteenth Miss was fifteen, named Xieying. The other young ladies were all about ten years younger than Song Yan; when the Jiang family fell, they had still been babbling infants, so Dou Yan had not asked much about them. Therefore, when she met Fourth Madam Jiang, Dou Yan could not help studying the three young ladies.

All three Jiang girls had snow-white skin and middling builds. Jiang Ling was graceful, Jiang Xiexiu spirited, Jiang Xieying gentle, yet all three sisters wore a faint sorrow between their brows; they were not lively and bright like girls from ordinary families.

Having gone through the confiscation of their household and the loss of their mother, no one could remain as innocent as before.

Dou Yan could not help pitying them in secret.

Fourth Madam Jiang, however, was very warm toward her. Seeing she was pregnant, she stepped forward and took her hand before she could bow. "Your health matters most; we can dispense with such empty courtesies." She also praised Song Yan for finding such a good courtyard. "In the outer city, close to Xizhao Temple, quiet and convenient."

Song Yan had specially taken a day off and gone outside Chaoyang Gate to welcome the Jiang women. Dou Yan waited ahead of time in this temporarily rented house.

Hearing Fourth Madam Jiang say this, Song Yan looked somewhat guilty. He said to Jiang Ling, "I am sorry you have had to bear such a grievance, Twelfth Sister. Now that you have married into the capital, come sit with us whenever you have time and talk with your cousin's wife. If anything troubles you, you can also have your husband come to me."

Jiang Ling smiled and said "All right," answering very readily. Yet Dou Yan felt she simply did not want to waste words with Song Yan and was only humoring him. If anything happened, she would never come looking for him.

Dou Yan glanced over at Jiang Xiexiu.

From the moment she entered until now, Jiang Xiexiu's gaze had drifted toward Song Yan from time to time. When Song Yan occasionally met her eyes, he would smile at her with great ease. Jiang Xieying, meanwhile, stayed by Fourth Madam Jiang's side the whole time, silently and thoughtfully adjusting the backrest cushion on her chair, quietly instructing the maids and old women who had come along, and looking after everyone in the main hall.

They did not bother with the usual proprieties, and all took lunch together.

After the meal, Song Yan and Dou Yan took their leave.

Wu Zijie accompanied his mother to visit Fourth Madam Jiang.

When they reached the gate, Song Yan and Dou Yan had no choice but to turn back.

The three Jiang young ladies withdrew.

Song Yan kept Wu Zijie company over tea in the main hall, while Dou Yan accompanied Fourth Madam Jiang in entertaining Mrs. Wu.

Mrs. Wu was plump and looked thoroughly amiable. She spoke frankly, and one could tell she was an easy person to get along with.

Dou Yan nodded to herself.

When she looked up, she saw Fourth Madam Jiang watching her with a gratified smile.

Dou Yan was startled.

Only after seeing off Mrs. Wu and her son did Fourth Madam Jiang say, "Before the eldest aunt passed away, she said you had a chivalrous heart. Seeing you now, it is indeed so. Song Yan is truly fortunate to have you by his side."

Dou Yan was astonished.

Fourth Madam Jiang smiled. "The eldest aunt told us all about how you warned the Jiang family. I have always wanted to thank you, but unfortunately we left in such haste that year that there was no chance. Now that we are one family, saying thank you again would seem affected... Everyone in the Jiang family, dozens of us, is grateful for your righteousness that year." As she spoke, she gave a slight curtsy to Dou Yan, which startled Dou Yan into hurrying forward to support her. Fourth Madam Jiang insisted and rose with the gesture, smiling. "Just this once; I will not put you in such a position again."

On her smiling face, tears were already falling like rain.

Dou Yan thought of the dead Jiang brothers and of the chaos along the coast now, and her emotions surged; tears brimmed her lashes.

Song Yan quickly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped Dou Yan's face, saying in a low voice, "Stop crying now, mind your eyes." Then to Fourth Madam Jiang, "You really are too much. The past is past; saying such things for no reason only makes people sad and brings back old memories."

After all, it was in front of Song Yan's elder, so Dou Yan felt a little embarrassed and took the handkerchief to wipe her own tears.

"It is my fault!" Fourth Madam Jiang wiped the corners of her eyes and smiled at them both. "Tianci has grown up and knows how to cherish others. If your uncle and maternal grandmother knew, there is no telling how happy they would be!"

Song Yan looked abashed.

Taking leave of the Jiang family women, she helped Dou Yan into the carriage and returned to the Ying Ducal Manor.

The next day Dou Yan dealt with the household's small affairs in the morning, and in the afternoon went to Fourth Madam Jiang's to add a gift to Jiang Ling's trousseau.

Seeing the scale of her generosity, Fourth Madam Jiang looked rather taken aback, but said nothing more, and had it carried to Jiang Ling's rooms.

Jiang Ling came out to give thanks, and seemed about to speak, then held her tongue.

Fourth Madam Jiang smiled. "Since trouble came to our house, the kindnesses we have received have been too many to count — far beyond anything words could convey. We need only keep them in our hearts, and when we have the means, not forget to repay them. That is the best thanks of all."

Jiang Ling and the others bowed to Fourth Madam Jiang with great respect, and said gravely, "Fourth Aunt, I will remember."

Fourth Madam Jiang nodded.

When Jiang Ling sat down again to talk with Dou Yan, the stiffness of before was gone; she was gentle and composed, with a touch of warmth besides.