Chapter 243 — The Bride Sets Out
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
"Seventh Aunt wept and railed without stopping, and Fifth Aunt couldn't quiet her no matter how she tried, so the master lost his temper and told the eldest young master to fetch the eldest Wang young master, saying he meant to have the Wangs take Seventh Aunt home, and he wouldn't relent for anyone. He even pressed the young master: 'If you feel your Seventh Uncle can't give you orders, just say so, and I'll find someone else to carry word to the Wangs.' Seeing that Fifth Aunt didn't so much as lift an eyelid, the young master had no choice but to go to the Wang house." Sul an spoke clearly and glibly. "When Seventh Aunt heard, she made to kill herself, and when Fifth Aunt went to stop her, Seventh Aunt nearly clawed her face to ribbons. Fifth Aunt was furious and said, 'By now the guests for the congratulations must all have arrived—go and receive them at once, or people will start to wonder and spoil the festive mood. As for Seventh Aunt, keep her shut in her room for now and deal with her after Fourth Miss has left the house.' Just then a little maid came in to report that Fifth Miss and the Marquis of Jining had arrived. Fifth Aunt told her own attendant to invite Fifth Miss in, and said to the master, 'A mother and daughter share one heart—Seventh Aunt is in a poor state just now, so let Fifth Miss talk her round.' So the master came over here, and Fifth Aunt stayed behind in the rear rooms waiting for Fifth Miss."
Her aunt and Ji-shi saw it all clearly now. Then they fell to discussing it in low voices. "I wonder how the Wangs will handle this?"
"However they do, she's shamed herself past saving this time. She'll never hold her head up before the younger generation again!"
"Who'd have thought a man of such clay-soft temper as the bridegroom could thunder like that?"
"The milder a man is day to day, the harder he is to talk round once he digs in his heels!"
From the inner room came Zhao Zhangru's delighted voice: "Shouyuan, you look magnificent in that phoenix crown and rosy mantle! I can just picture you in your ceremonial dress once you're the heir's wife."
It seemed Dou Yan had changed into her wedding garments.
Her aunt and Ji-shi broke off their talk as one and went smiling into the inner room.
Tall and slender, Dou Yan sat on the large kang by the window in her true-red wedding dress, radiant and dazzling.
Her aunt and Ji-shi could not keep back tears.
Fifth Aunt came in with Cai-shi, looking worn and weary.
"Shouyuan, you're so beautiful today!" She forced a smile and took Dou Yan's hand, asking one thing after another, while Cai-shi chimed in to lighten the mood.
Dou Yan listened with a smile.
Her aunt and Ji-shi said nothing, letting Fifth Aunt play her solitary scene, and asked nothing about Wang Shuying.
Soon the auspicious hour came. Mrs. Zhao ritually combed her hair three times, she drank the lotus-seed and lily soup, and the sky gradually darkened.
Dou Juan's kinsfolk, one after another, gathered in Dou Zhiwei's room.
Everyone praised the bride's stately grace, saying she was plainly born to be a lady of rank.
From somewhere far off came the faint crackle of firecrackers.
Someone hollered at the top of their lungs: "The bridal sedan's here! The bridal sedan's here!"
The many women in Dou Yan's room rushed out pell-mell to watch the excitement.
Her aunt and Ji-shi stayed inside, hurriedly helping Dou Yan with the last touches.
Dou Zhiwei was perfectly calm, with the same composure she had felt when they moved from Zhending to the little house in Yunqi Temple Lane, which set her aunt laughing. "Truly, the emperor isn't anxious but the eunuch is dying of worry."
Ji-shi gave a spluttering laugh, and the sorrow in her heart suddenly cleared like mist.
Dou Yi could not help laughing too.
A little maid came running in, all excitement: "Fourth Young Master is so generous—he's scattering silver ingots of eight-tenths purity and heaven-scattered star flowers, two whole baskets of them!"