Chapter 205 — Breaking Out
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
The Ji family ladies who had come to observe the ceremony were in the side rooms of the neighboring courtyard; since Lady Ji had been called away, none of them had appeared.『雅*文*言*情*首*发』
Wang Xushi, however, had been so frightened by Lady Zhao's outburst that she had been sent to rest in the side chamber, and word had been sent to the Imperial Medical Academy to summon a physician. Until the physician arrived, Lady Gao and the others dared not move Wang Xushi, and so they too stayed on.
The Fifth Lady spoke to her thus only out of regard for the fact that she served the Second Old Madam—Matron Liu was perfectly clear on that point, and how would she dare give herself airs? She hastened to compliment the Fifth Lady on her thoroughness, but just then the little maid sent to attend the Ji family ladies came running in, panic-stricken.
"Something's wrong," she said, hastily bobbing a curtsy to the Fifth Lady as she reported. "I don't know why, but the Sixth Lady and the Ji family folk were talking, and all of a sudden she burst into tears."
This little maid was the one the Fifth Lady had sent to the neighboring courtyard to gather news.
The Fifth Lady could not help exchanging a glance with Matron Liu.
It seemed the Sixth Lady had learned that Dou Ming had married into the Wei family in Dou Yan's place.
The Fifth Lady thought for a moment, then said, "Shall we go and comfort her?"
Sometimes, though covering one's ears to steal a bell is laughable, one must at least cover one's ears.
She took Matron Liu along the winding covered walkway to the neighboring courtyard, and halfway there they met Lady Ji.
Lady Ji's eyes were red, her face drawn tight and very grim.
With a smile the Fifth Lady called out, "Sixth Sister-in-law," but Lady Ji did not so much as glance at her; she brushed past and went straight to the eastern wing where Dou Yan was resting.
"Suxin, go out. I have something to say to your young lady." Lady Ji briskly dismissed Suxin, then, tears brimming on her lashes, caught hold of Dou Zhiwei's hand as she rose at the sound of voices, and said in a choked voice, "Shouyuan, tell me the truth—if you were to marry Jianming, would you be willing?"
Dou Yan was stunned.
Seeing this, Lady Ji's tears fell straight down. "Shouyuan, this is all your Sixth Aunt's fault. I know our Old Master has taken a fancy to you, and thought he would urge the Dou and Wei families to break off the match. Though Jianming is no fine match, if you were willing, I would speak for you before my sister-in-law, and with your cleverness you would surely live well. But I never thought they would resort to a substitute bride... If you are willing to marry Jianming, then let this matter rest; if you are not, your Sixth Aunt will go to your Sixth Uncle at once. Even if Ming has entered the Wei family's gate, we hold the marriage contract, and the match does not stand!"
Dou Yan's eyes grew hot, and she leaned her head against Lady Ji's shoulder.
Her tears quickly soaked Lady Ji's clothes.
"Sixth Aunt, I don't want to marry into the Wei family, and I don't want to marry into the Ji family either," she said, choking on her words. "I just want to stay at home and be a carefree unmarried daughter."
Faced with such a thing, what else could Dou Chi say?
Lady Ji wept softly.
For a time the room felt thick with gloom and sorrow.
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Gu Yu sat in the wedding pavilion of the Jining Marquis's household, idly watching the Dou family's eldest young master, Dou Wenchang, ply Wei Tingyu with wine—and the more he drank, the more Wei Tingyu drank with gusto.
He could not help muttering "Fool" under his breath, and said to Wang Yu, who sat nearby drinking with the next table, "What is it with these Dou brothers-in-law? The moment they see a bridegroom they pour wine down his throat. Whoever marries their daughters is in for eight lifetimes of bad luck!"
Wang Yu, rather drunk, chuckled twice.