Chapter 424 — A Strategic Proposal

It seemed Song Yan truly had come to loathe Song Han, while Song Cen was bent on using Song Han to disgust Song Yan. All the more reason, then, for him to make good his own escape early.

Not long after Tao Jun returned home, he fell "ill."

Of course, all of that is a story for another day.

That very evening, Dou Huaiying came "dropping by" the Yingzhen Ducal House.

Song Cen had to put on a show of receiving Dou Huaiying for a while, and only then did Dou Huaiying head off to the Yizhi Hall.

The tiny infant, wrapped in a bright red silk-brocade swaddling cloth, was carried into the small study.

Dou Huaiying held his breath and looked over. In an instant his eyes grew wet.

"He's grown so handsome!" he murmured. "Just look at this hair and these eyes—as beautiful as Shouyuan was when she was little."

Song Ke muttered inwardly.

The child clearly takes after me—how is it that he looks like Shouyuan?

Gu Yu had not yet left. Looking at the child, whose little face had not yet filled out but who already bore a seven- or eight-tenths resemblance to Song Yan, he could not help but chuckle, and hastened to flatter Dou Huaiying: "He certainly does look like our sister-in-law."

"Doesn't he?" Dou Huaiying, having found a kindred spirit, beamed and studied Gu Yu for a few moments, then unfastened a jade pendant from his waist. "You must be the eldest young master of the Yunyang Earl's household? I have nothing fine about me—take this and amuse yourself with it!"

Gu Yu saw at a glance that the jade was top-grade mutton-fat jade, lustrous and smooth, fine and flawless, carved in a plain, generous style that flowed naturally—clearly an antique jade with a lineage behind it.

He promptly thanked him with a smiling face, and while Dou Huaiying was occupied looking at the child, he shot Song Yan a series of meaningful looks, signaling that the old gentleman was generous indeed—a few polite words on his part had won him such a fine object.

Song Yan did not know whether to laugh or to cry.

Dou Huaiying had seen his grandson with his own eyes, and the great stone weighing on his heart was set down. Fearing the wind might chill the child, he himself straightened the collar of the swaddling clothes before letting the wet nurse carry him back.

Song Yan invited Dou Huaiying to drink.

Dou Huaiying did not stand on ceremony; he chatted with Song Yan for the better part of an hour, all of it about Dou Yan's childhood.

Only then did Gu Yu learn of Dou Yan's past.

His heart began to feel somewhat uncomfortable.

To think that his sister-in-law was a woman of bitter fate as well.

He truly should not have treated her that way back then.

Fortunately, Brother Tianci genuinely cared for his sister-in-law and was firm in his resolve. Had his own meddling ruined the match, would he not have been the guilty party?

He busied himself pouring wine for Dou Huaiying.

The more Dou Huaiying looked at him, the more agreeable he found him. He told Gu Yu to come and visit the house when he had time: "...I still have a few brush washers that are presentable enough. You can pick one for yourself, and I will keep the rest to give to my grandson."

Gu Yu had seen everything worth seeing; what was rare was the sentiment behind Dou Huaiying's offer.

He hurriedly assented with repeated "yes, yes," and, seeing that Dou Huaiying was somewhat drunk, volunteered all the more eagerly to escort him home.

Song Yan drew him aside. "You aren't after something of my father-in-law's, are you? Don't you go disgracing me at my father-in-law's house!"

Gu Yu rolled his eyes. "Do I look like such a shallow man?"

Song Yan looked him up and down. "I don't see anything profound about you."

Gu Yu stamped his feet in a fury, helped Dou Huaiying into his sedan chair, and himself mounted a horse to ride alongside it.

Song Yan shook his head with a smile, and only after watching the two figures vanish at the mouth of the lane did he return to the Yizhi Hall and go to Dou Yan's room.

Dou Yan had slept most of the day and had recovered her strength.

The child slept at her pillow. She leaned against a large bolster, listening to Jiang Yan talk: "...While you were asleep, the Lu family and the wife of the Yan'an Marquis's heir both sent people to inquire after you. They said you were to rest well, and that they would come early on the morning of the third-day washing ceremony to offer congratulations."

Jiang Yan had already begun, quite naturally, to receive guests and handle matters on Dou Yan's behalf.

Dou Yan smiled and nodded.

Sometimes, all a person lacks is an opportunity!

She asked Jiang Yan, "And what did you say?"

Jiang Yan said, "I told them you had already retired, asked the two households' nurses to convey your regards to Old Lady Lu, Princess Ninghuai, and the wife of the Yan'an Marquis's heir, and rewarded each of the nurses with two top-grade red envelopes."

Dou Yan praised her: "Well done!"

Jiang Yan blushed. "I learned it from Suxin."

When Dou Yan gave birth, both Suxin and Sulan had come to help. Suxin had always commanded respect in Dou Yan's household, and when there was a matter to decide, everyone still asked her to make the call.

Jiang Yan then said with some worry, "I noticed that Eldest Aunt and the others looked quite displeased when they left. Is that all right?"

Song Xin said, "Kin are closer than outsiders because they can look out for one another in hard times. But when your brother fell on hard times, not one of them stood up to say a good word for him. With relatives like that, who will share your prosperity but not your hardships, offending them is no great loss—when the critical moment comes, they will be of no help anyway."

Jiang Yan lapsed into thought.

Song Sui counted himself fortunate to have found a wife who thought as he did.

Smiling, he strode in and said, "What are you talking about, to be so merry?"

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Sisters and brothers, here is today's update.

Begging for pink votes...

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