Chapter 265 — The Imperial Edict
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
The pearl headdress, its beads the size of lotus seeds, gave off a soft, luminous glow—understated yet sumptuous. Anyone with a weaker presence would have been overwhelmed by it; the eye would see only the pearls and never the woman wearing them. Dou Yan, however, was tall, and the fierce spirit between her brows was such that rather than blurring her features, the pearls' radiance softened the lines of her face, making her bright and striking, a figure impossible to overlook.
Empress Dowager Yi could not help silently crying out, "Well done!" Then she smiled and said, "This child—she does know how to dress herself."
Dou Yan bent her knees and made her curtsy of thanks.
Her bearing was poised, neither timid nor overbearing, as though she had passed through such occasions countless times before—dignified and elegant.
Empress Dowager Yi nodded again and again, making no secret of her admiration.
The corners of Song Zhi's mouth could not help but curve upward.
Empress Yi watched them, hiding a smile behind her sleeve, then rose and whispered a few words into Empress Dowager Yi's ear. The Empress Dowager was startled, glanced toward Song Yan, and then began to chuckle.
Dou Chi, meanwhile, darted a glance at Song Chu.
Song Yan was looking at the two ladies with a face full of bewilderment.
Seeing this, Empress Dowager Yi laughed even more merrily and instructed Aunt Lan: "Go and bring out the candied orange peels that Fujian sent in as tribute a few days ago, and let Yantang and his wife taste them."
Aunt Lan was briefly surprised, then hastily agreed with a smile and withdrew.
Song Yan and Dou Yan stepped forward to give thanks.
Empress Dowager Yi pointed to an embroidered stool nearby and said, "Yantang is a boy we watched grow up. Now that you have married Yantang, you are one of the family. Sit down and talk with us." Her tone was warm and easy.
Song Dan gave his thanks and sat down.
Dou Yan followed suit.
Aunt Lan led several palace maids in bringing up tea and refreshments.
Besides the candied orange peels the Empress Dowager had mentioned, there were sweets such as ludagun and pea-flour cakes.
Dou Yan thanked Aunt Lan.
Then Empress Dowager Yi asked Dou Yan, "How old are you this year? How many brothers and sisters do you have at home?"
Dou Yan stood up and answered respectfully, "This subject is seventeen this year, and has only one younger sister at home."
"Sit down and talk, sit down and talk," Empress Dowager Yi said with a smile. "You look like a girl of generous bearing—why act so stiffly?" So saying, she looked smilingly at Song Chu and added, "You are a year older than our Yantang!"
Dou Yan nearly broke into a sweat.
In her last life she had looked just the same, and had answered with just the same respectful courtesy—and neither Empress Dowager Yi nor Empress Yi had ever said she was too respectful!
Dou Yan pressed her lips together in a smile and answered briskly, "Yes."
Empress Dowager Yi liked her frankness. She asked Dou Yan what books she had read, what diversions she had at home in her daily life, whether she was accustomed to life at the Ying Duke's estate, whether she had learned to manage a household while still at her maiden home—and so on, all manner of homely things, her manner kind and gentle, like an elder of the neighboring household.
Remembering Princess Ninghuai's words, Dou Yan smiled and answered each question in a clear, carrying voice.
Empress Yi glanced at Song Chu.
Empress Dowager Yi was well pleased with Dou Zhiwei's answers, and suddenly sighed with feeling: "Your mother-in-law was a capable woman, a pity she went too early..."
Dou Ji saw Empress Yi wipe the corner of her eye, and Song Yan too fell silent.
She suddenly realized: Lady Jiang must have been very dear to Empress Dowager Yi.
Sure enough, Aunt Lan hurried forward to comfort the Empress Dowager.