Chapter 470 — Awakening

Dou Ming leaned against the great bolster by the window, staring blankly at the big red lanterns hanging beneath the eaves, when a thought surfaced in her mind: I wonder what Dou Yan is doing right now?

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Dou Yan pushed Song Yan away, drenched in sweat, still short of breath.

Song Yan immediately coiled back around her, biting her ear. "What is it? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Dou Zhiwei's voice had gone hoarse. "I want some water."

"I'll get it!" Song Yan wrapped Dou Yan tightly in the quilt, then rose naked from the bed and poured her a cup of warm water.

Dou Yan gazed at the fine lines of his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and for a moment could not look away.

Song Ke set the teacup down on the small table beside the bed without betraying a thing, though inwardly he was thoroughly pleased with himself.

Dou Yan turned her head aside, a little embarrassed.

Song Yan curved his lips into a smile. "Shall I have water brought in?"

The quilt was sticky, and her body was drenched in sweat. Dou Yan gave a soft "Mm."

Song Yan scooped Dou Yan up, quilt and all, and laughed. "We'll bathe together."

Would that not mean yet another round of tossing about?

Dou Yan's face burned. She hurried to say, "No need, I'll do it myself!" and struggled to get down.

"Mind you don't catch a chill!" Song Sui held Dou Yan all the tighter, and with a laugh turned and carried her behind the screen.

Dou Yan looked at the pine tub behind the screen, wide enough for the two of them to bathe in with room to spare, and could not help begging for mercy. "Next time, all right? Next time I'll do whatever you say!"

Song Yan said shamelessly, "You said that just now, which makes this the next time." Then, heedless of Dou Zhiwei's protests, he climbed into the tub with her.

Dou Yan had no choice but to say, "We still have to go see the Old Madam tomorrow!"

She too had learned from Song Yan, and now called her grandmother the Old Madam.

Song Dan said with a smile, "I've already asked for leave. Tomorrow I'll go with you."

The sound of Dou Yan's impassioned moans echoed through the bathing chamber... so that the next day, seated in her grandmother's hall, Dou Zhiwei's body still felt weak.

She could not help shooting Song Chu a glare.

Song Yan pretended not to see. He sat ramrod straight with his teacup in hand, watching Dou Huaide kowtow to their grandmother.

"Good child, who would have thought you'd be adopted into the Western Dou." Beaming with affection, Grandmother bent to take Dou Huaide's hand. "From now on, your father and your younger sisters will be in your care."

"I shall heed the Old Madam's instructions," Dou Huaide answered gravely.

Grandmother nodded, smiling, and beckoned to Dou Huaiying, who stood to one side. "Sit down and talk."

Dou Huaiying sat down respectfully.

Yesterday Dou Huaide had formally moved to Heming Temple Lane, and Dou Huaiying had come to tell Song Yan and Dou Yan, bringing Dou Huaide along especially to kowtow to Grandmother.

They all sat and chatted idly for a while, and soon it was time for the midday meal. After they had eaten, Dou Huaiying and the others talked outside, while Grandmother spoke in hushed tones with Dou Yan beside the sleeping Yuan Heng.

"Why is Ming not to be seen?"

"They say she's feeling unwell," Dou Yan said with a smile, not wishing to make Grandmother worry over her and Dou Ming. "The Marquis of Jining came to drink, so we didn't invite her along today."

Grandmother said, "Still no news from Ming? She has been married over a year now."

"They say her constitution is still weak and she needs time to recover." Dou Xin patted the somewhat restless Yuan Heng.

Grandmother sighed. "The elders commit sins, and you children bear the consequences!"

Dou Chi smiled noncommittally.

In her last life, her circumstances had been far harder than Dou Ming's, and she had come through all the same.

Clearly, whether the days are good or bad depends entirely on how one lives them!

The family spent a joyful day in the Rear Temple Lane. When they returned to Yizhi Hall, Wuyi quietly reported to Song Yan: "The second son of the Daxing Guard's chiliarch wants to enter the Five Wards' Military Command, so he approached the Miao family, hoping Second Master would put in a word with you. Second Master paid him no heed, and the Miao family's uncle has kicked up a fuss in Fourth Lane."

Though Song Han had moved out, Song Sui had set men to watch him.

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To the sisters and brothers reading, happy weekend!

o(n_n)o~

Tomorrow's bonus update will still be around five in the afternoon.