Chapter 221 — Swift Thunder
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
By the time Dou Huaiying got back to the Yunqi Temple Alley, ...
he was shouting for Gao Sheng, and said excitedly, "Do you know how to find Tao Jun?"
The moment Gao Sheng heard it, he knew that Dou Zhiwei's marriage was as good as settled, and his face lit up with delight. "He didn't leave an address," he said quickly, "but since he holds a post at the Duke of Ying's estate, I'll just go to the estate and ask for him."
In a house as eminent as the Duke of Ying's, the chief stewards and retainers all drew handsome salaries. Besides the separate side rooms and serving boys provided within the mansion, most of them kept another residence outside to house their families.
Dou Huaiying nodded again and again, and said with feeling, "Today I met the heir of the Duke of Ying. It is just as that Tao Jun said—no man is a true talent unless he draws envy. Song Yantang is not only remarkably handsome, but skilled with bow and horse as well, upright in character, and highly regarded by the Emperor. For all his illustrious birth, he is modest and courteous, and on excellent terms with his superiors and colleagues alike. He well deserves the name of 'a gentleman of humility, gentle as jade.'"
At this point, thinking of Song Yan's exquisitely handsome face, and of how Dou Yan was a year older than Song Yan—and how women, managing households and bearing children, age faster than men—he could not help feeling some regret. "It is only that I do not know whether their temperaments will suit. I was so intent on asking about his studies and his post that I forgot to ask whether he keeps any chambermaids at home, and whether he is given to indulgence in matters of the fair sex. When you go to the Duke of Ying's estate later, why not make some inquiries?"
Then he reflected that the Song family had not yet come with a proposal, and here he was asking such things, for all the world like a man frantic to marry off his daughter; if the Songs heard of it, they might well look down on Dou Yan. He hurriedly corrected himself: "Never mind—leave off inquiring about chambermaids and the like. We will speak of it after the Song family has formally come to propose." Having said this, he felt that going to fetch Tao Jun now also seemed rather hasty, and simply declared, "Better not seek out Tao Jun after all. If the Song family truly sets store by this match, they will naturally send him again to speak on their behalf."
But what if the Song family thought Dou Yan a matter of little consequence?
For a moment, Dou Huaiying was caught between hope and fear, not knowing what to do with himself.
From outside came a burst of laughing and chattering.
Dou Huaiying looked at Gao Sheng in bewilderment.
Gao Sheng said with a smile, "That should be the Fourth Miss and the aunt and the cousin, back from their outing to the White Cloud Temple. I will go and see whether the Fourth Miss has any orders for me." Before he had finished speaking, his eyes lit up. "Seventh Master, isn't the aunt still here?"
"Of course! Why didn't I think of that?" Dou Huaiying's spirits rose at once.
The aunt might not always be present, but since she was here, Dou Zhiwei's marriage could hardly be settled without consulting her. Rather than rack his brains alone here, better to ask the aunt to help think it through—and see to it that Dou Yan was married off properly and with dignity.
He stepped out of the main hall.
Gao Sheng followed close at Dou Huaiying's heels.
They had bought a great many things. Seven or eight serving boys filed past, their arms laden, heading for the eastern wing.
Dou Zhi, knowing full well what Zhao Zhangru was saying, her eyes curved like crescent moons, her cheeks faintly flushed, was laughing like a child who had just eaten sweets, utterly delighted. [雅*文*言*情*首*发]
Dou Huaiying stood transfixed for a moment.
Was this Shouyuan?
Never had he seen his daughter smile so radiantly!
A faint ache stirred in Dou Huaiying's heart.