Chapter 140 — A Contest of Wits
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
Shang'er looked no more than eleven or twelve, dressed in a coarse lilac garment like a country lad. Before Dou Ming could speak, he had already knelt in tears: "Young Miss, I beg you, save our Second Young Master!"
The dragon begets nine sons, and each is different.
Wang Tan took after Pang Yulou—lively by nature. In a child, a little liveliness was no bad thing. The trouble was that above him stood an elder brother, Wang Nan, who was old beyond his years, and so his liveliness had turned into naughtiness. For this he was scolded endlessly by his mother and berated by his grandmother.
Hearing Shang'er's words, Dou Ming asked without thinking: "What mischief has he gotten into now?"
Wiping his tears, Shang'er said: "The Master asked a fellow juren to write a letter of recommendation for the Eldest Young Master to study at the Imperial College. The Second Young Master did not know how important that letter was, and in a moment he soiled it... Young Miss," he burst into tears again, "the Second Young Master truly did not mean it... but the Old Madam not only made him kneel in the ancestral hall, she wants to send him to the Master... no one can dissuade her... Young Miss, please save our Second Young Master... I hear Yunnan is full of barbarians, and they even eat people..."
"Serves him right!" Dou Ming scolded. "Who told him to be so careless!"
"Young Miss!" Shang'er stared at her dumbly, too frightened even to weep.
Dou Ming was not truly angry at her cousin; seeing his face, she said: "Even if I wanted to plead for him, I could not—I am in Zhending, and he is in the capital!"
Shang'er blinked and said: "Yu Er brought me here."
Yu Er had been a local ruffian in Lingbi County. Having attached himself to Pang Xilou, he had curried favor with Pang Yulou, and Pang Yulou had brought him to the capital.
Since it was Yu Er who had sent Shang'er, this must be the Second Aunt's idea!
But to go to the capital...
The thought flashed through her mind, and Dou Ming was slightly stunned.
To go to the capital!
She had dreamed of going to the capital!
There was her grandfather, who doted on her; there was Wang Tan, who revolved around her every moment; and there was her beautiful mother...
Dou Ming could not suppress her excitement.
At worst she would get a scolding from Father—and who knew, she might even be allowed to stay in the capital!
Dou Ming could not help blurting out: "What do you all plan to do?"
Shang'er said: "Jingjue Temple is a nunnery. When the time comes, you need only go to the nunnery to offer incense, and our carriage will be waiting for you on the small path behind the temple."
Dou Ming grew ever more certain this was Pang Shi's scheme.
She thought it over and said: "Then it is settled. The day after tomorrow I will go to Zhaojue Temple to offer incense."
Shang'er departed overjoyed.
Dou Ming told Ji Hong of the matter.
Ji Hong was very worried: "If the Fourth Young Lady finds out..."
"So what?" Dou Ming said defiantly. "Father gave me over to her care."
Ji Hong said nothing.
Dou Ming lowered her voice and instructed her: "Don't breathe a word of this to Granny Zhou... Dou Yan will surely send a few guards to follow us, so you'll help me cover my tracks, and once I'm back in the capital I'll come fetch you."
Ji Hong was startled. "You don't want me to attend you?"
"It's only three or four days' journey to the capital. With Shang'er to serve me and Yu Er along, what is there to worry about?" Dou Ming said dismissively. "If too many people go, Dou Yan will catch on in no time."
And besides, she needed Ji Hong to cover for her.
Ji Hong thought it over and saw the sense in it.
The next day, Dou Ming pestered Dou Yan for permission to burn incense at Zhaojue Temple.
Dou Yan assumed Dou Ming was still smarting from Ji Yong's bullying and needed to vent, so she paid it little mind. She had Duan Bing assign a few guards to accompany Dou Ming to Baoguang Temple.