Chapter 426 — The Third-Day Bath

To think that she had first offended Dou Yan by taking over the household affairs of the Yingzhenguo Estate, and now stood suspected by Dou Yan of involvement in the business of Song Han and Jiang Yan—she wished she could leap into the Yellow River to prove her innocence.

If Dou Yan did not believe her innocent at all, and the child's prospects were ruined on her account, would her husband and son still hold her in respect?

Madam Song the Elder sat as if on pins and needles and stole a glance at Madam Song the Third and Madam Song the Fourth.

Madam Song the Third was greatly displeased that the women of the Song family had been seated near the door, and was whispering to Madam Song the Fourth, trying to prod her into voicing a complaint or two.

Madam Song the Fourth listened with a smiling face, while inwardly she held it all in contempt.

The third-day washing ceremony was, after all, the affair of the wife's natal family, and the Dou family was renowned and openhanded besides—if they did not take the seats of honor, who should?

She thought of the few words Dou Yan had spoken on the day Yuan Heng was born, when they had come to pay their respects.

Could the rumors circulating in the household actually be true?

At this thought she could not help glancing toward the reception room to the west.

Princess Ninghuai and Old Madam Lu were resting there, and Jiang Yan was serving them tea.

The two elder ladies looked at Jiang Yan, yet the content of their talk was something else entirely.

"With the name bestowed by His Majesty, Yuan Heng's position as eldest legitimate grandson is secure. There is no way the seat of the Duke of Yingguo will ever fall to that other one," said Princess Ninghuai, sipping her tea lightly.

"Our family has honored the Yingzhenguo Estate so highly, and not so that we might make a bridal gown for some base-born brat of uncertain origin," said Old Madam Lu, raising an eyebrow. The gentle benevolence of former days was gone from her face; she looked cold and severe, revealing the authority and presence of the mistress of a great house. "It is only a pity about Yan. Such a pretty girl, and that vile woman ruined her outright! However well that bastard behaves, however clever and sensible he seems, the mere thought that that woman's blood runs in his veins makes me sick to my stomach!"

This sister-in-law of hers had the most fiery of tempers. She had never been able to tolerate the smallest grain of sand in her eye; it was only that age had somewhat mellowed her.

But the matter of Jiang Yan had roused her temper again.

Princess Ninghuai had no choice but to say, "If the thing blows up, it will after all be a scandal, and of no benefit to Yantang either. We can only take it slowly."

Old Madam Lu nodded. "Setting all else aside, first let us get Huisun's dowry back. Then find Song Han a match and let him set up his own household, separate him into a branch of his own. At least then I will be able to eat my meals without losing my appetite at the sight of him."

"I fear the Duke of Zhenguo may have other ideas," Princess Ninghuai said thoughtfully. "In my view, it would be better to ask the Empress Dowager to bestow a marriage on Song Han. Every year the palace releases its female officials, and there are always kinswomen of consorts coming into the palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager. Whomever she names, it would be no disgrace to him."

Most of the consorts in the palace came from humble stock, and the sisters of their families were mostly the newly rich risen from long poverty, few of them presentable. Married in, with no elder kinswoman to guide them, they would do well simply to avoid missteps. To hope they might stand up to Dou Yan—they might have the will, but never the means.

Old Madam Lu was well pleased with Princess Ninghuai's idea. "Then let there be no delay. When you go into the palace to offer congratulations at the Third Imperial Grandson's full-month feast, sound out the Empress Dowager."

Princess Ninghuai smiled and answered, "Very well." Just then a young servant came running in. "The eunuch from the Eastern Palace, at the command of the Crown Princess, has brought gifts in honor of the young master's third-day washing."

Song Yan and Song Cen had both gone to the palace to give thanks, and Dou Yan was still in confinement, so Madam Song the Elder went out to express their gratitude, and had the things carried in.

They were nothing more than gold ingots for steady promotion, but they came from the Crown Princess, and so their significance was quite otherwise. The midwife held them in her hands and fairly floated with elation.

The company could hardly do otherwise than offer another round of congratulations.

Jiang Ling came to offer her good wishes for Yuan Heng's third-day washing.

She had once helped Jiang Yan cover her tracks, and Jiang Yan felt a warmth toward her at the sight of her; she led her in to bow to Old Madam Lu and Princess Ninghuai.

Jiang Ling's wit sparkled without cease, and she had the two elder ladies laughing heartily time and again.

Jiang Yan, gentle and obedient, poured tea and handed round water for the company.

On the road back from the Yingzhenguo Estate, Old Madam Lu said to Princess Ninghuai with feeling, "Unmoved by favor or disgrace—that is the bearing of a lady of a great house. How could it ever be achieved merely because a father or brother holds office, or a family has a little money?"

Jiang Ling's father-in-law was nothing but a petty commandant, and her husband had no rank at all, yet standing among all those ladies she was neither servile nor overbearing, calm and composed.

Princess Ninghuai patted Old Madam Lu's hand. "Yantang's wife knows what she is about. With A'yan at her side, she will teach her well."

"I hope so," Old Madam Lu said with a bitter smile.

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Sisters and brothers, here is today's extra update.

o(n_n)o~

ps: Begging for pink votes!