Chapter 440 — He Hong

Song Yan nodded. "Choose a household for A-Yan with care. We ask not that they be rich or noble, only that the man will live his days with A-Yan wholeheartedly."

"Mm!" Dou Yan said. "So I mean to spread word of Madam Hu's suit far and wide. By the ninth day of the ninth month, when A-Yan and I have climbed Fragrant Hill, there will be all the more matchmakers coming to call."

Song Yan chuckled. "When the time comes, I shall go climbing Fragrant Hill with you both."

"You certainly shall!" Dou Yan scolded playfully. "If you do not go, who is to carry Yuanheng?"

"So I am worth a mere five taels of silver, am I?" Song Yan teased.

Yuanheng's wet nurse drew a monthly stipend of five taels of silver.

Dou Yan giggled.

Song Yan gathered Dou Yan into his arms.

His hot breath beat against her neck...

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Early the next morning, Song Yan and Dou Yan made themselves ready and, carrying Yuanheng, went to the small hall of the upper courtyard.

Song Cen had not yet arrived.

Song Yan and Dou Yan played with the child.

The family of Song Maochun came over.

Song Yan and Dou Yan rose to greet the guests.

The overbearing manner of Song Yan and his wife had long since made Song Maochun and his lady regret the day they had crossed them; each time they met Song Yan and Dou Yan they felt thoroughly guilty at heart. Seeing the two of them now with smiles on their faces, they were overcome with a sense of unmerited favor, and hurried forward, fawning written plain upon their brows, to exchange greetings: "The Heir has arrived so early? I thought I should be the first! No wonder those outside sing the praises of the Heir's diligence. You put us all to shame!"

Yuanheng's laughter put Song Yan in excellent humor. He rarely jested with Song Maochun, but now he did: "Diligence? Eldest Uncle flatters me overmuch!"

Song Maochun laughed awkwardly.

Lady Song the Elder stepped in to smooth things over. Holding Yuanheng's little hand, she said to Dou Yan, "It is barely half a month since last we saw him, and look how his features have opened out already, growing ever handsomer."

Dou Yan smiled radiantly.

The two households of Song Fengchun and Song Tongchun came crowding in around Song Cen.

Song Cen's face was dark and lowering. At the sight of Yuanheng, his expression turned somewhat complicated.

Song Fengchun and Song Tongchun exchanged a glance. Song Jun and Song Yue, knowing nothing of the subtle scheming among the adults, raced each other over to seize Yuanheng's hand. One said, "I am your fifth uncle," and the other, "His hand is so small, smaller even than my little cousin's."

Dou Yan smiled and let the two children gaze their fill at Yuanheng in their curiosity.

Lady Song the Third, however, hurried forward to draw Song Jun aside, and explained to her with a face full of embarrassment, "The child does not know better. Pray do not take it to heart."

A child so young—often the slightest stir of wind or grass could bring disaster down; she feared Song Jun might stand too near Yuanheng, and that should any mishap befall the babe, it would be laid at Song Jun's door.

Dou Yan did not force Song Jun and Song Yue to make much of Yuanheng; she smiled and said nothing.

Lady Song the Fourth saw it, hesitated a moment, and did not move.

This was the one scene Song Cen could not bear to look upon.

He said irritably, "Enough, enough! Everyone sit down and let us talk!"

And so all took their seats, the men to the east and the women to the west.

The three brothers of the Lu family had all come with their wives; from the Jingzhen Duke's household came Zhang Xuming and his wife, and Feng Shao.

The eldest Lu daughter-in-law said with a smile, "The Eldest Princess and our Old Lord and Old Lady are advanced in years and will not join so merry a gathering. They bade us husband and wife bring their gifts of first meeting."

Lady Zhang the Third said laughingly, "My father and mother have gone to pay their respects to the Eldest Princess, and bade us brother and sister come to offer congratulations to our cousin Tian'en."

Song Cen knew well that no eldest son could be measured against a second, yet these people went too far, sparing not the least shred of courtesy. Did they take Song Han for a man utterly without ability?

He was bitter at heart, yet there was nothing to be done—feet grow on other men, and if a man will not give him this face, could he force them to come against their will?

Song Cen nodded with furrowed brow, invited them to be seated, and himself drank his tea without a word, so that the air of the small hall grew somewhat oppressive.

The eldest Lu daughter-in-law, the while dandling Dong-ge'er, spoke to Dou Yan: "How many times a day does he nurse? Does he disturb you at night? In another month comes the hundredth day—have you fixed the date for the hundredth-day feast?"

Lady Zhang the Third clapped her hands behind the eldest Lu daughter-in-law to draw Yuanheng's notice.

Song Jun and Song Yue, finding it all very amusing, ran circles around Yuan Heng.

The small parlor at once grew lively.

Song Cen's face had gone ashen, and he called out loudly for Zeng Wu. "The sun is already high, so why have Tian'en and that Miao woman still not come?"

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Sisters, forgive me—the higher-ups called me in for questioning, and I had no time to send in the manuscript, so it is a little late.

⊙﹏⊙b sweating

ps: Updates are set for around ten in the evening.

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