Chapter 190 — A Heart-to-Heart
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
The ruddy firelight played across Dou Zhiwei's face, lending a touch of melancholy to features that were usually so bright and open.
Dou Huaiying poked at the silver-frost charcoal with the fire tongs and smiled. "What is it? You came running home after me all full of excitement, and now you look so glum. Is the house not entertaining enough for you? And do not blame Ming for it—that is simply her nature. Just think of it as keeping me company."
Because the Second Old Madam was there, they had their New Year's Eve dinner at the Huai Tree Alley house, and stayed up together to see in the new year. Only after hearing the spring-announcing bells of the capital's eighty-one temples did they set out for home.
But Dou Ming, yawning, declared herself too tired and went off to her room to rest, leaving Dou Yan standing alone at the gateway of the hanging flower gate.
So Dou Huaiying dragged Dou Yan into the study to roast sweet potatoes, and had the nerve to call it "when you were little, I often roasted sweet potatoes with you in the study."
Whether it was her memory that had gone wrong or his, she could not say.
Dou Yan grumbled inwardly, then gave a long sigh and said, "I have been thinking about our family's marriage alliance with the Wei family…"
The hand holding the tongs stiffened, and a certain gravity came over Dou Huaiying's face. "What have you heard?"
The matter had been noised about far and wide; his daughter could not possibly be wholly ignorant of it. But if the people at the Huai Tree Alley house had told Dou Yan everything—well, with the strictness of the Fifth Sister-in-law's household management, that too was impossible.
Dou Yan looked gravely at Dou Huaiying. "I hear the Wei family wants to break off the engagement…"
"Hu Yandao!" Before she could finish, Dou Huaiying had already rebuked her with a dark face. "Who told you that? Only a few days ago the Wei family invited the Marchioness of Ting'an to discuss the wedding date; it is only that no auspicious day could be settled on, and so the matter has been dragged out…"
"Why must Father deceive me?" Dou Yan said calmly. "Where has the Seventh Madam gone? Even if she is ill, at New Year's like this she ought to be brought back for a reunion dinner. When the Wang family sent their New Year gifts the other day, why did not a single one of their people ask after the Seventh Madam? Father, do not take me for the ignorant child of seven or eight I once was."
Dou Huaiying was struck silent.
Dou Yan seized the moment. "I do not wish to marry into the Wei family either!"
Dou Huaiying's face fell in alarm. "How can that be! I was merely angry at the Wei family's disrespect toward you—the Wei family has committed no great fault. Even if there is some peculiar design in it, it is the Duchess of Jing, the heir's wife, stirring up trouble; what has that to do with the Jining Marquisate? And the Marquis of Jining has come to the house time and again to apologize. Do not listen to those women egging you on. When two families join in marriage, even the most delighted of in-laws will have some unpleasantness over dowries and betrothal gifts—how can there be any talk of breaking it off simply because things could not be agreed! Do not let your thoughts run wild; this is all your father's affair. When the time comes, all you need do is go to them happily. By the way—when you marry, would you like Eleven to carry you out, or Twelve?" Then he regretted it. "If only you had a brother."
But Dou Yan was not about to let Dou Huaiying muddle her thoughts. She laughed and said, "Sir Cai has passed forty and still gave Sister-in-law Ten a little brother. It is not too late for you to give me a brother now!" Then she said, "Father, do not change the subject—"
Dou Huaiying grew flustered at this.
Dou Qu said, "Father, be at ease a moment and hear me out."
Dou Huaiying was slightly taken aback.