Chapter 274 — Don't Even Think About It
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 3 of 4
The two sisters-in-law exchanged greetings and sat down side by side on the large kang by the window. Madam Dong's eye fell at once on the patterns scattered across the kang table. She had never been alone with Dou Yan before and had been worrying over what to talk about; at this sight she was delighted. She picked up a pattern at random and smiled. "Sister-in-law, are you drawing patterns? I came by a few lovely ones only the other day—shall I trace them out for you?"
Was not getting on with one's sisters-in-law made up of just such small things?
Dou Yan smiled and said yes, and told Suxin to bring paper so Madam Dong could draw the patterns for her.
Then Madam Dong brought up her mother-in-law, the eldest madam. "...That is simply her temper. She truly means no harm. Sister-in-law, I beg you not to take it to heart..."
Dou Yan listened with a smile, watching her quietly. Her clear gaze was not only limpid but carried the detached, all-seeing air of one who looked down upon the ways of the world, and it made Madam Dong deeply uncomfortable. Her words lost the fluency they had had a moment before. "...My mother-in-law has no other way..."
No other way—and so she shows me her displeasure before all the serving women of the Yingzhenguo Estate?
No other way—and so she sends her daughter-in-law to plead weakness and curry favor with both sides?
Dou Yan had seen plenty of this sort—one face to your face, another behind your back.
It was only a pity about Madam Dong. She had actually believed the two of them might become sisters-in-law who could chat about the weather together.
Dou Yan sipped her tea at her ease, treating Madam Dong as no more than a fly buzzing at her ear.
Madam Dong soon became aware of her awkward position.
Embarrassed, she broke off. It occurred to her that her father- and mother-in-law had already curried favor with the Duke of Yingguo, and while they lived there was nothing to worry about; but when the household came into her hands, she would have to deal with Dou Yan. And not only her—her son and grandson too would likely need Song Yan's patronage. Gritting her teeth, she dropped to her knees before Dou Zhiwei with a "thud," and said, her face burning with shame, "Sister-in-law, I know you are unhappy, and I apologize to you on my mother-in-law's behalf. If you still have it in your heart to forgive, I will apologize to you before the whole household later..."
Dou Yan shot a glance at Suxin.
Suxin stepped forward at once and helped Madam Dong to her feet.
"Elder Sister-in-law, you make too much of it," Dou Yan said, setting down her teacup and taking out a handkerchief to wipe her hands. "I am not one to haggle over trifles. I can see that you and your mother-in-law are both clever women, so I will not make things hard for you—rather than have the two of you kneel and beg my pardon before every servant in the house, till masters no longer look like masters and servants no longer look like servants, you would do better to hand me the tally tokens your father-in-law gave you." She smiled warmly. "The affairs of the household need not trouble Eldest Aunt any longer; I will see to them properly myself."
To Madam Dong's eyes, that smile was unbearably galling.
She gaped, and only after a long while managed, "That... that hardly seems right..."