Chapter 236 — The Agreement
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
Song Yan watched for a while. Seeing how earnest he was, he nodded in approval and said, "I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back shortly. Practice your writing properly here at home, and by the time I return you must have finished today's three thousand characters!"
Gu Yu was taken aback. He looked up to ask Song Yan where he was going, but Song Yan had already left the sitting room.
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Though dusk had already fallen, the Dou residence in the Yunqi Temple alley was bustling. The maidservants all wore smiles as they hurried to and fro—some helping to hang the great red lanterns pasted with double-happiness characters, some helping to steady ladders, some wiping down chairs with their handkerchiefs, some tying red cords about the orchid plants on the tea tables—a scene brimming with joy.
Wang Shuying gazed through the half-open window at the busy, festive scene outside, then gave a cold snort, shut the window with a "bang," and said resentfully, "So that's all it amounts to!"
Mama Hu kept her head down over her needlework and said not a word.
She knew why Wang Shuying was seething.
When the Fifth Miss had married into the Jining Marquis's household under the Fourth Miss's name, the Fourth Miss had demanded back all her dowry—and whether Gao Sheng had done so intentionally or not, it included the trousseau gifts that the Second Madam Dowager, the Fifth Madam, the Sixth Madam, and other ladies of the Dou household had given the Fourth Miss. Mama Zhou had asked a question at the time, and Sulian had immediately snapped back, "Isn't a trousseau gift part of the dowry? Since it's part of the dowry, naturally it must be moved back."
Mama Zhou had nothing to say and could only watch as Sulian directed the maids and old women to carry everything back and lock it away in the Fourth Miss's storeroom.
And since the Fifth Miss had gone through with the ceremony, the Second Madam Dowager and the Fifth Madam and the other ladies, had they been scrupulous, ought to have made up a trousseau gift for the Fifth Miss. But everyone played deaf and mute; not a soul brought it up. The Seventh Master was still in a fury, the Seventh Madam was confined, and the Fifth Miss was the bride—could she ask for it herself? So the matter was simply left to drift.
Who could have guessed that now, with the Fourth Miss marrying, the Second Madam Dowager and the Fifth Madam and the other ladies would send yet another trousseau gift—and one more precious than before? How could the Seventh Madam not be beside herself with rage?
But even so, what of it?
The Seventh Master had set his heart on keeping the Seventh Madam confined here, and she could only watch as Sulian smilingly carried those things into the storeroom.
Wang Shuying asked Mama Hu, "When is the Fifth Miss coming over?"
"She says she'll come first thing tomorrow morning," Mama Hu replied. "The Seventh Master sent Gao Sheng all the way to the Jining Marquis's household especially for it."
Wang Shuying could not help complaining, "Is he really so afraid that Ming won't come? Ming is the Marchioness of Jining now; there's no telling how many matters at home are waiting for her to decide. Even if she comes a little late, what does it matter? Besides, the sisters will all be in the capital from now on—there'll be plenty of chances to meet. Is there any need to be so urgent about this very moment?"
How could Mama Hu presume to comment?
Dou Yan avoided the maidservants and spoke with Song Yan in the Taihu-stone chamber of the rear garden.
The setting sun shone upon Song Yan's upright figure, softening his silhouette and lending him an indescribable grace.
"What did you want to see me about?" he asked Dou Yan with a smile.
Dou Yan gazed at the young man who had come to her as promised.
His hair was still damp; when the evening breeze blew, she could even catch the scent of elm-pod incense on him. He had clearly heard that she wished to see him and had washed and hurried over without delay.