Chapter 81 — Wu Shan (Pink Vote 660 Bonus Chapter)
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
But Dou Qiguang shook his head again and again. "I'm not going. I've already arranged with Master Du. He's going to instruct me in the art of examination writing on my own from now on."
Dou Qitai gave a sigh at this and said wistfully, "I'd like to go, but my father says if I don't pass the xiucai examination, I'm not allowed to go anywhere."
No sooner had he spoken than a voice not their own rang out in the room: "Where are you all going?"
Everyone turned and saw Wu Shan come striding in, radiant, in a plain ivory Hangzhou silk robe with a straight collar.
Everyone in the room chorused, "Oh—" and called out "Top of the list Wu!" in teasing voices.
Wu Shan was too happy to mind. Smiling, he nodded and bowed to all sides. "I'm much obliged! Much obliged!"
"You wretch!" Dou Yong could not help but laugh. "Not a shred of modesty!"
"'When life is good, enjoy it to the full; never let the golden goblet face the moon empty.'" Wu Shan snapped open the folding fan in his hand with a flick, waved it twice, and sat down without ceremony in the armchair opposite Dou Yong. To Dou Yan he said, "It's so hot, and so noisy outside—shall we go to Zhaojue Temple for vegetarian food?" A look of anticipation actually showed on his face.
Dou Huaide gave a disdainful sniff. "What's so good about Jingjue Temple's vegetarian food? Let's go to Jingfuchun for ice bowls instead."
Dou Yong and the others nodded eagerly.
Only Dou Yan fixed his eyes on Wu Shan and said slowly, "You want vegetarian food, do you? Has your mother agreed to let you go?"
The play performed today, *The Fourth Son Visits His Mother*, had been chosen by Madam Wu.
His tone was icily indifferent, and his gaze on Wu Shan was bright and penetrating, with an edge of sharpness. Dou Yong and the others were taken aback and fell silent.
"I took first place so that Mother would agree to let me go to Zhaojue Temple for vegetarian food," Wu Shan said, slowly closing his fan. The smile faded from his face bit by bit, and his expression grew grave and earnest. "If she hadn't agreed, I'd already thought of seven or eight arguments to persuade her. Luckily, she agreed." As he spoke, the corners of his mouth curled up beyond his control, higher and higher, until at last he was grinning from ear to ear.
Dou Yan gave a humph. "Are you sure your mother agreed?"
Wu Shan laughed merrily. "Of course!"
Dou Yan's expression eased a little.
Dou Qiguang, utterly baffled, asked blankly, "What's going on with you two? It's only vegetarian food... does it really need my aunt's permission?"
Dou Yong looked thoughtful.
Dou Huaide's eyes darted this way and that, glinting with a touch of cunning.
Wu Shan smiled at Dou Qiguang and said, "I just thought, since we're going out to enjoy ourselves, why not invite the Fourth Sister and the others along too..." His eyes, however, were on Dou Yan.
"Oh!" Dou Qiguang said in sudden understanding. "Joy shared is joy doubled. You want to invite Aunt Four and the rest to the vegetarian meal too, and that's why you chose Baoguang Temple, and why you had to report to my aunt. And if my aunt is willing to bring Aunt Four and my younger cousins along—so much the better!"
"Precisely," Wu Shan said, his smile brilliant beyond measure—brighter than the summer sun outside.
Wu Ya, however, was so furious that her lips jutted out a mile. "If Shouyuan can go to Zhaojue Temple for the vegetarian feast, why can't I?" she fumed. "Brother is far too partial! He's only lived at the Dou family's for two years, and already he treats that Dou girl better than he treats me. I'm his own full sister, born of the same mother..." And with that, tears began to plop down her cheeks. "It's too infuriating!"