Chapter 253 — Unwilling
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
Song Yan saw it and smiled slightly. "It is most likely because the last time the Emperor summoned Lord Yu, he learned that Lord Yu suffers from rheumatism, which has grown worse these past years, so that the little finger of his left hand can no longer be straightened. The Emperor, in his compassion for Lord Yu's advancing years, excused him from the grand court assemblies—and from that came the rumor." He spoke, then added teasingly, "To write a book and establish a doctrine is the honor of a scholar's whole life—all the more so a book for which the Emperor will write a preface and have printed! However upright and incorruptible Lord Yu may be, however little he clings to power, I fear he will not retire at such a moment as this. Father-in-law and Sixth Uncle need not hurry to prepare traveling gifts!"
Dou Huaiying laughed heartily. "Well reasoned!"
.
Dou Bingheng's eyes lit up, and he stroked his beard with a smile.
Wei Fan sat to one side, utterly unable to get a word in.
Dou Yan, her aunt by marriage, and Zhao Zhangru were likewise attentive to the goings-on beyond the screen.
At these words the aunt breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhao Zhangru, however, winked at Dou Yan and whispered to her, "This little son-in-law your uncle found for you is not bad at all!"
Dou Yan, for all that she had lived two lives, could not help flushing. She put a spring roll into Zhao Zhangru's bowl and scolded fondly, "It is all your favorites, and still it cannot stop your mouth!"
Zhao Zhangru giggled softly.
Dou Ming's face, by contrast, had gone livid.
After the midday meal, Dou Yan and Song Yan were to go to the Huai Tree Alley to kowtow to the Second Old Madam, who, being widowed, found it inconvenient to appear on such an occasion.
Fifth Madam would of course accompany them. Dou Huaiying reflected that the Second Old Madam had been the one most set on marrying Dou Yan into the Ji family; the old and the young alike being what they are, if the Second Old Madam were to give Song Yan a cold face, his presence there might smooth things over. Dou Heng, for his part, thought that since they had all taken leave from their duties for Dou Yan's three-day return visit, they might as well take this chance to go and see their mother. But that being so, the Ji family would have to go along as well to show their filial duty... Dou Bingheng simply proposed that they all go to the Huai Tree Alley for the evening meal: "It is seldom we are all together—let Mother be glad too!"
And so the whole party went in grand procession through the rain to the Huai Tree Alley.
The Second Old Madam had been in a fluster over the firmness Dou Huaiying had shown in the matter of Dou Yan's marriage, not certain whether Dou Yan would bring her husband to pay his respects. She was sitting at home waiting in great unease when she suddenly saw the great crowd arrive and was overjoyed beyond measure. Especially when she saw Song Yan, jewel-bright at Dou Yan's side, she could not restrain her amazement. She looked at Dou Yan, then at Song Yan, her expression dimming a little, and sighed a long sigh in her heart.
If she were Dou Huaiying, she too would have seized the chance when Song Ke let go, would she not?
Fifth Madam, fearing the Second Old Madam might say something to spoil the mood, hurried to help her up onto the large *kang* by the window, and instructed Matron Liu to bring the kneeling cushions. "The Fourth Son-in-law and Fourth Daughter are to kowtow to the Old Madam!"
Matron Liu had long since made ready. Before Fifth Madam's words had died away, she was already smiling and placing the cushions before the Second Old Madam.
Dou Yan and Song Yan kowtowed to the Second Old Madam.
The Second Old Madam gave them a pair of glass cups as a gift of first meeting.