Chapter 439 — Sister-in-Law

Everyone looked over the bride's dowry, and saw that although the quilt cover was of kesi tapestry, its color and pattern were of a style from ten years past; the teacups, though novel in shape, were not from the official kilns and were quite cheap. As for the feather dusters, their down shed at a touch; the pewter basins were so flimsy they could not be properly held; and the jade in the jade-and-stone bonsai had no luster at all, looking for all the world like ordinary rock...

The company could not help but show a measure of contempt.

One tactless soul blurted, "Wasn't this a marriage bestowed by imperial decree? Why is all the dowry made up of such things?"

Someone else yanked hard at that person's sleeve.

The speaker hastily shut his mouth.

The two maidservants and the old matron from the Miao family flushed crimson with shame.

The senior madam of the Song family, her face burning red, hurriedly invited everyone to the eastern wing beside the bridal chamber for tea.

The company went silently to the eastern wing.

Madam Song the elder warmly urged everyone to eat the fruit and melon, then asked the wife of the headmaster of the Splendid Embroidery Academy, "Where is your academy located? I wonder, do you take in young pupils?"

The headmaster's wife sipped her tea with elegance and replied, unhurriedly, "The academy is in the Sun family lane, beside the Shrine of the Medicine King outside the city walls. We take only pupils of seven or eight..."

As the others chatted, Madam Hu slipped over to Dou Yan's side and said with a soft laugh, "Madam, pray do not take offense at my bluntness—it is only that seeing the young lady of your household, I felt such tenderness for her, and then I thought of my cousin at home who has just been made a widower, a man only just turned twenty this year. He is handsome and accomplished, his family owns a few acres of land, and he earned his xiucai degree at sixteen. His late wife left him no children, and he lives alone with his widowed mother. I thought to make a match for the young lady of your esteemed house—and so I took the liberty of asking."

As she spoke, she watched Dou Zhiwei's expression with a certain wariness.

Dou Yan was greatly taken aback, and thought this Madam Hu far too forward, speaking so familiarly of matters beyond her station. Yet her face was all sincerity, and the family she described was not a bad one. Dou Yan could not help but hesitate, and said, "This matter must be discussed with our heir. If that family is truly in earnest, you may write down the man's name, his family's circumstances, and such, and leave it with me; then I may show it to the heir."

Madam Hu had never expected things to go so smoothly.

Given her station, had it not been Song Han's wedding, she would never have dreamed of setting foot inside the Yingzhenguo estate. It was for this reason that she had burned her boats and taken this risky step.

She nodded joyfully and, accompanied by a maidservant, went off to the western wing opposite.

If her cousin could wed the eldest legitimate daughter of the Yingzhenguo estate—the one rumored to have been swapped at birth—then never mind her cousin leaping over the dragon gate; the whole family would bask in the glory.

She carefully went over in her mind what she meant to say, and only then set brush to paper.

Dou Yan had Ruotong take the note, and said, "We shall be in touch later."

Madam Hu glanced at Jiang Yan, who was wholly absorbed in the opera, and nodded hurriedly again and again.

A quarter of an hour before the hour of the Rooster, the wedding sedan chair entered the residence.

They stepped over the fire basin, bowed to heaven and earth, entered the bridal chamber, and lifted the veil.

The bride's beauty drew a murmur of admiration from the company.

Miao Zhi darted a quick glance at Song Han and found the bridegroom rather handsome, and his gaze upon her was full of astonishment. This greatly gratified her vanity, and she lowered her eyes with a bashful blush.

Song Han had not expected his bride to be so beautiful.

His heart wavered for a moment, and when the "complete blessings" lady brought up the nuptial cup, his movements grew gentle.

Miao Zhi sensed the change in Song Han and was greatly pleased, her courage rising. The moment Song Han stepped out of the bridal chamber, her gaze swept a circle over the assembled ladies.

Apart from a young matron in a silver-red sleeveless jacket who looked dignified and elegant, every inch the refined lady of a great house, the rest were women past thirty.

Miao Zhi could not help but curl her lip.

Was it not said that this Dou woman possessed beauty that could outshine the heavens? To her eyes, she was quite ordinary.

Clearly this Dou woman was nothing but a thing others had inflated with praise.

She threw a meaningful look at Jihong, her close maidservant, signaling her to tip the little maid who was pouring her tea.

Jihong's face went red and pale by turns, but she stood stock-still and did not move.

Miao Zhi was displeased.

The maid, however, retreated with the same respectful air.

Madam Song the Third recalled the greedy faces of the Miao family demanding red packets when they had gone to fetch the bride, and reflected that after today she would be free of the whole affair; she wished only to be done with it at once, and was in no mood to say anything to Miao Zhi. Madam Li, for her part, was minded to introduce the people in the room to Miao Su'an, but she had not even learned all their names herself—how could she introduce them?

So everyone teased Miao Zhi, one after another.

Miao Zhi kept her mother's words firmly in mind: whatever anyone said, she was to pretend not to hear, and simply smile.

Madam Hu praised Miao Zhi for her steadiness and composure.

A young maid came in, smiling. "The Madam says it is getting late and the ladies and young mistresses are all ready to return to their residences, so she will see them out first."

※

Thank goodness I did not go back on my word!

o(n_n)o~

ps: I will fix the typos in a moment; tomorrow's bonus chapter will be up around three in the afternoon.