Chapter 216 — Solicitude
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
So what do you plan to do?
There is nothing for it but to find Dou Yan a better match.
And if no such match can be found...
In any case, Dou Yan must not be made to suffer again.
But saying so was easy; doing it was another matter.
To begin with, Dou Zhiwei was no longer young, and how many men could compare with Wei Fan, a hereditary marquis who had already inherited his title? As for taking a live-in son-in-law, if that were so easy, why was Zhangru still unwed?
Dou Huaiying could not help looking embarrassed.
Zhao Zhangru, who had long since noticed Dou Huaiying's discomfort, hurriedly tugged at Dou Zhiwei's sleeve.
Dou Yan was slightly taken aback. Seeing her father's face full of mortification under her aunt's sharp gaze, she sighed inwardly and stepped forward to rescue him. "When did you arrive? Why didn't you announce yourself?" Then she turned to her aunt. "There is a chill in the night air. Won't everyone come inside and have some hot tea?" She took her aunt by the arm and said with a smile, "My cousin and I were just going through some amusing little things we found. They must have been given to Mother by Grandmother when she married. We were hoping to ask you about them!" Beaming, she drew her aunt into the north chamber that served as a temporary sitting room.
Zhao Zhangru waited for Dou Huaiying, holding the curtain open with a smile.
Dou Huaiying was grateful. He gave Zhao Zhangru a kindly smile and entered the north sitting room. He listened as his daughter and Mrs. Zhao and Zhao Zhangru chatted and laughed for a good while, drank a few cups of tea absent-mindedly, and, seeing that it was getting late and everything had been more or less packed up, rose to take his leave.
Her aunt could not help giving a cold snort.
Dou Huaiying, however, did not sleep a wink all night.
When he rose the next morning, he went to see Dou Yan and said, "I have already discussed the matter with the Wang family. Let王氏 either return to Zhending to serve the Second Old Madam, or go to the family shrine for a period of quiet cultivation. You had best stay in the capital. The household still lacks someone to manage its affairs."
That would also make it easier to arrange a match for her!
Dou Yan had not intended to return to Zhending so soon in any case.
She would settle her own affairs before going back.
"Wonderful!" Dou Xin said. "Auntie says she came to the capital once when she was young, with Uncle. I was just thinking of asking Auntie and Cousin Zhangru to stay with us a while longer and see all the famous sights of the capital."
At those words Dou Huaiying breathed a sigh of relief and began talking of the capital's scenic spots and historic sites.
A young servant had been hovering outside, peeking in, for quite some time. Only when Dou Huaiying paused did he cautiously enter and report, "Seventh Master, Mr. Xu Zhiji of the Hanlin Academy has sent a man with an invitation. He begs you to dine at the Zui Xian Pavilion this evening, and asks that you do not fail to come."
At once Dou Huaiying knew that Xu Zhiji most likely had a favor to ask.
He had always believed that "making things easy for others is making things easy for oneself," but he was in no mood to go drinking at some Zui Xian Pavilion with Xu Zhiji!
After a moment's thought he said, "Go tell the messenger that I have some trifling family matters and it is inconvenient for me to drink at the Zui Xian Pavilion. Thank him for his kindness. If he has other important business to discuss, he is welcome to come to my house for a cup of tea!"
The servant answered and withdrew.
Dou Huaiying resumed his earlier conversation with Dou Yan: "... Is there anywhere in particular you would like to go? I will have Gao Sheng accompany you."
Were it not for her aunt, and the impropriety of a lone man and woman going about together, he would have gone with his daughter himself in a couple of days, when the officials had their day off.