Chapter 171 — A Test
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 4 of 4
Hong Gu had long since heard of this Fifth Madam—daughter of Fan Junming, the chief examiner when the Fifth Master sat for the provincial examination. She came not only of a family of officials but was shrewd and capable, the Fifth Master's worthy helpmeet. Yet Hong Gu had never set eyes on her, and the world at large held that a wife takes her standing from her husband; Dou Bingheng was now a Grand Secretary, and when Hong Gu faced the Fifth Madam she trembled with fear, not daring even to lift her head, much less make conversation.
When the Fifth Madam heard that Hong Gu had come merely to pay her a visit of courtesy on Dou Yan's behalf, she was somewhat set at ease.
Ever since Dou Bingheng entered the Grand Secretariat, the house had been thronged with callers, most of them coming to beg a favor. And this Fourth Miss of the Dou clan, though she had never met her, was one whose name she had long known; each time the girl made a move, it set off a fresh stir. She had truly feared that Dou Yan meant to ask something of her—for her mother-in-law, the Second Old Madam, had instructed her that in all matters concerning Dou Zhiwei, the Second Old Madam was to have the deciding word. The reason for this, as Dou Bingheng's wife, she naturally knew full well.
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Sisters, brothers—here is the make-up post for the April 2nd update.
As for tonight's chapter, everyone had best read it tomorrow!
o(n_n)o~
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