Chapter 37 — Night Talk
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 5
Ji shi sat on the kang by the window, gazing at the sleeping Dou Yan, and sighed a sigh scarcely audible. "This child—how very beautiful she has grown!" As she spoke,
having come out from Third Master Dou Zhen's house, she had taken Dou Yan along to pay her respects to the several nieces-in-law, and by the time they returned it was deep into the night and all was still. After washing and making herself presentable, Dou Yan had collapsed onto the bed and fallen fast asleep.
Old Mother Wang was sitting by the bed fanning Dou Yan; at these words she could not help looking toward the child.
No lamp was lit in the room. In the moonlight Dou Yan looked as though carved of pink jade, her little red mouth slightly pursed, a hint of a smile playing at the corners, as if she were dreaming something lovely—the sight of it melted a person's heart on the spot.
"Indeed!" Old Mother Wang said, unable to help herself. "How could Seventh Madam bear to leave Fourth Miss behind and go like that!"
Ji shi said nothing.
Old Mother Wang went on: "When all is said and done, it is all that concubine's fault. They were old acquaintances—old friends, no less—and still she entangled herself with Seventh Master. Where was Seventh Madam to put her face? No wonder Seventh Madam chose this road."
"She did not hang herself because she could not face others," Ji shi said, listening, a note of melancholy in her voice. "It was because she held Seventh Uncle too dear. Even if it had not been Concubine Wang—had it been any other woman, even the lowest sort of singsong girl—so long as she could win Seventh Uncle's favor, to her it would have been a catastrophe like heaven falling and earth splitting; she would sooner die than see it. But she never stopped to think: with her gone, what of the child? What of the brother of her natal family who raised her? Doing as she did—it is nothing but grief to those who love her and joy to those who hate her. Ai, I do not even know what to say. If she had had a mother to help her decide, or a bosom friend to talk with, matters might never have come to such a pass. The saying 'Take not to wife the eldest daughter of a motherless house' is not without reason. Only Shouyuan is to be pitied—her days ahead will likely be hard."
Old Mother Wang did not take this seriously. "Is it not said that Fourth Miss is betrothed to the heir of the Marquis of Jining's household?"
"Mere words, nothing more," Ji shi said with feeling. "If the Wei family truly meant to honor that betrothal, they would not have sent only a steward when Zhao shi died."
Old Mother Wang felt a measure of worry on Dou Yan's behalf.
"We had best not discuss such things behind people's backs," Ji shi said. "Has the gathering on Mother-in-law's side broken up yet?"
She had long since given her orders: the moment the Second Madam's guests dispersed, she was to be informed at once.
Old Mother Wang rose hurriedly. "I will go and see!"
Ji shi nodded, took the fan from Old Mother Wang's hand, and began fanning Dou Yan herself.
Old Mother Wang returned with word: "They say it has not broken up yet."
Ji shi's brows drew tight; she looked somewhat uneasy.
Old Mother Wang hesitated. "Could it be… has something happened?"
Ji shi said softly, "Mother-in-law is likely at this very moment quarreling with the Old Master of the West Mansion over Seventh Uncle's marriage!"
.
The sleeping Dou Yan turned over.