Chapter 218 — The Break
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
She had come together with the Fifth Madam, and...
He went straight to the eastern wing where Dou Yan lived.
Dou Yan was sitting cross-legged on the large heated kang by the window of the inner room with Zhao Zhangru, discussing where they might go to play in the coming days. When she heard that Ji Yong had arrived, her brow lifted and she gave a cold laugh: "I was just about to go looking for him, and here he comes running to me of his own accord!" Then she instructed her maid, "Invite Cousin Ji to the hall and serve him tea."
The maid answered and left.
Zhao Zhangru, however, was puzzled. "What's the matter with you? Angry as all this? How has Ji Jianming offended you?"
"It's not something I can explain in a sentence or two." Since it involved Ji Yong's private morals, Dou Yan naturally would not tell Zhao Zhangru the whole story. She put her off, saying, "When I have a free moment, I'll tell you in detail. Wait for me here—I'll be right back."
Zhao Zhangru nodded and urged her, "Then be careful!"
"It's not as if I'm going to a fight." Dou Yan left for the hall.
Ji Yong sat in the grand master's chair drinking tea, a trace of smugness showing between his brows. He set down the teacup, picked up the note paper lying on the table, and waved it at Dou Yan. "Dou Ming's marriage certificate!" he said, concise and to the point.
Which was to say, from this day on, Dou Ming was formally Wei Fan's wife.
Dou Chiyou said, "You helped arrange it?"
"Of course!" Ji Yong said without the slightest concealment. "If I hadn't gone to Shuntian Prefecture myself, do you think Dou Ming's marriage certificate would have been so easy to obtain?"
The Ji family intended to take her as a bride. She had not been certain before whether Ji Yong knew of this, but now, seeing the marriage certificate in his hand and hearing his words, how could she fail to understand?
Thinking of all that Ji Yong had done, Dou Chiyou gave a cold laugh and said mockingly, "I wonder what you are to our family? My cousins and nephews somehow don't even know which way the yamen gate faces? We had to trouble you, sir, to step forward before Dou Ming's marriage certificate could be issued? Thank you, Magistrate Ji!"
At the thought that Dou Yan and Wei Fan would have nothing to do with each other ever again, Ji Yong felt an indescribable ease in his heart. Holding the marriage certificate he had just obtained for Dou Ming, he had come eagerly to see Dou Yan. He had guessed she might be displeased on account of it, but never imagined she would be so utterly unsparing. The breath caught in his throat, and he nearly choked.
"If this matter hadn't concerned you, I wouldn't have bothered with it at all!" It was a long moment before Ji Yong caught his breath, and then he flew into a rage. "If not for me, how could the Wei family have acknowledged Dou Ming? If not for me, how could your marriage certificate with Wei Fan have suddenly disappeared? If not for me, how could the witnesses for the Dou and Wei families have arrived so quickly..."
Dou Yan cut him off without courtesy. "If not for you, how could we sisters have been swapped in marriage?!"
Ji Yong was taken aback, and asked doubtfully, "You know?"
"Leaping about as you have been, even if I didn't want to know, I'd have no choice but to know." Dou Yan looked at him coldly.