Chapter 441 — Sisters-in-Law

The third madam Zhang's was simpler still: a pair of pure gold willow-leaf rings.

Yet Miao Zhi felt quite content.

When she married, her own full aunt had given her only a pair of pearl hairpins as a bridal gift, worth no more than twenty taels — and among relatives that had already been counted a handsome present.

The third madam introduced the eldest young madam of the Lu family to Miao Zhi.

Though only the eldest young madam of the Lu family had come, she had not skimped at all on the gifts for Miao Zhi.

The relative Miao Zhi most wished to see was Princess Ninghuai. Seeing that she had not come, she was much disappointed, and said, "I wonder when I might go and pay my respects to the Elder Princess and the Old Madam. Surely we cannot leave the old lady without even knowing her nephew's wife by sight?"

The Lu young madam saw that Miao Zhi was not only beautiful but also a woman of some judgment, and she took a liking to her. Warmly she said, "The two elders are advanced in years and seldom receive visitors now. When I return, I will ask the Elder Princess and our Old Madam, and then send word to my cousin's wife."

"Of course!" Miao Zhi's smile was exceedingly sweet.

When it came to Yuan Heng's turn, she rewarded him with a pouch of silver melon seeds.

Dou Yan was much surprised. Then she felt a little embarrassed.

Had she known Miao Zhi would show Yuan Heng such favor, she ought to have had a pair of solid gold bracelets made for the Miao girl.

But Gan Lu, who was helping Yuan Heng put the pouch away, gestured to Dou Yan that the gold seeds were hollow.

Dou Yan smiled faintly.

Even so, the girl had put thought into it, and she ought to return the kindness.

The thought had scarcely crossed her mind when a clamor rose from the east side of the hall: "Fourth Sister-in-law is so stingy — she only put two taels of silver in the red packet! When Third Sister-in-law married in, besides the tips, she gave me and Sixth Brother a red packet of ten taels each!"

It was Song Jun's voice.

Miao Zhi's face flushed crimson.

Song Fengchun and his wife were mortified. Song Fengchun dealt his son a direct slap: "If you held your tongue, people might take you for a mute! Is two taels of silver so little? If you think it's too little, then give it to Song Yue instead!"

Rubbing his head, Song Jun muttered under his breath, his face full of grievance.

The third madam hurriedly said, "Children say what they will, children say what they will. Tian'en's wife, don't take this to heart."

What could Miao Zhi do?

She had no choice but to say she did not mind.

But with this little episode, the atmosphere had still suffered somewhat.

After the introductions were done, everyone went to the flower hall beside the small parlor to take their seats. Inside the room, apart from the clatter of bowls, chopsticks, and spoons, there was only the sound of the maids' footsteps as they brought in the dishes.

Song Jun and Song Yue were so scrupulously honest that it left Dou Yan a little discomfited.

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The next day, Song Han and Miao Zhi returned to her family home for their first visit as a married couple.

Dou Yan had been away from the household for some days, so that morning she sat in the upper courtyard listening to the stewards and matrons from every quarter present their accounts and receive her instructions.

Gu Yu came by.

He asked Dou Yan, "So Song Han and his wife have made their return visit?"

Dou Yan nodded.

Gu Yu, grinning, held up for her inspection a mutton-fat jade plaque carved with the motif of rising step upon step that hung from his waist. "Handsome, isn't it?"

The jade was flawless white, lustrous and translucent throughout.

"Handsome indeed!" Dou Yan teased him. "Surely you aren't planning to give that to Yuan Heng?"

"Anything else, yes—but not this!" Joy was plain on Gu Yu's brows, and he lowered his voice. "I got this from the Empress Dowager as a personal bestowal after I went into the palace to tell stories."

Dou Yan was astonished.

Gu Yu beamed at her smugly.

Dou Yan could not suppress a smile.

Gu Yu then asked her, "Where's Sister A Yan? Why isn't she about?"

"The Duke of Zhenguo won't acknowledge her," Dou Yan sighed, "and she doesn't much care to go out."

Gu Yu made a sound of understanding, and a look of sympathy came over his face.

Song Shi, learning that Gu Yu had arrived, sent a servant to summon him.

Gu Yu went off like a shot to Song Zhi's study.

Song Danzhuo questioned him: "You come into the house and don't come to find me, but go running off to your sister-in-law's instead—what business is that?"

Gu Yu had an instinct not to tell Song Yan about this matter. He gave a sheepish laugh and said, "I wasn't going to see Sister-in-law, I was going to see Yuan Heng!"

Song Danzhuo shook his head, not deigning to call him out on it, and asked with a smile, "How goes the shipyard at Tianjin Guard?"

"I've been keeping an eye on it—who'd dare make trouble!" Gu Yu said carelessly, and the two fell to talking shop. By noon, Gu Yu had stayed on at Yizhi Hall for the midday meal.

Hearing that Song Ke would be home for the meal, Dou Yan summoned Jiang Yan to eat with her, and took the chance to discuss with her the plans for a mountain climb on the Double Ninth.

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Sisters and brothers, today's update.

o(n_n)o~

ps: tomorrow's extra update is set for five in the afternoon.

I've been very busy these two days, afraid some unexpected thing may come up again...