Chapter 299 — A Look in the Eye
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
Song Yan caught the implication in Dou Yan's words, and the mention of the Huai Tree Lane besides. Once Gao Sheng had disappeared from view, he could not help asking with concern, "What's happened? Is there anything I can help with?"
Dou Yan pressed her lips together and smiled.
If Song Yan knew what this was really about, he would not be smiling so easily.
She urged him to take his midday meal: "...and set out early besides." Then she added, "The weather's so cold—why don't we go straight to the estate in Daxing? As for Fengtai, since we've already asked people to keep an eye out for plants and flowers, they'll send word the moment there's good news. There's no need to rush. If we make too much of it, some sharp-eyed fellow may turn a ten-tael item into twenty and butcher us like a fat sheep."
The trip to the flower market had been meant only to amuse Dou Yan. Since Dou Chi took an interest, Song Yan went along with it readily enough.
After the midday meal, the carriage drove straight to Daxing without a single stop.
The stewards, maids, and serving women were already waiting at the gate. They clustered around Song Yan and Dou Yan and ushered them into the estate.
After a brief rest, Song Yan went with the steward to inspect the fields, while Dou Yan, attended as before by the same few women from her last visit, sat talking in the reception room.
※※※※※
The flower hall of the Jining Marquis's residence was packed with people. Not only were the Wei family's assorted relatives and connections present, but most of the Dou family's kin in the capital had come as well, all except the mother and daughter-in-law of Cat Lane. Even Gao Shi, Pang Shi, and Wei Wan's two sisters-in-law had turned out in full dress, their laughter warm and the chatter merry—a lively scene indeed.
Yet Madam Wang Yu, seated amid the crowd, was far from easy.
Before the feast began, they had been made to wait a good while for no apparent reason; and once it began, she did not see the wife of the Duke of England's heir anywhere.
Could Dou Yan be seated somewhere else?
Madam Wang Yu craned her neck and looked all about, and her gaze collided with that of the Third Madam of the Jingzhenguo household.
The Third Madam smiled and nodded at Madam Wang Yu.
Madam Wang Yu hastily returned a friendly smile.
The Third Madam turned away, her gaze sweeping from east to west and west to east, as though she were searching for someone.
Something stirred in Madam Wang Yu's heart. She murmured to her sister-in-law Zhou Shi, seated beside her, "I'm going to wash my hands," then rose and left her seat, slowly threading her way past the tables where the Dou family women sat and out of the flower hall.
She caught snatches of conversation: "...the Fourth Aunt's wet nurse didn't come... I heard the Seventh Uncle sent someone to invite her himself... said however others treat her, that's how she'll wait on them... didn't you see the Fifth Aunt's face looking mighty sour..."
Wang Yu could not help glancing at Dou Ming, who was smiling all over her face as she toasted Gao Shi.
That smile was indeed somewhat stiff.
Madam Wang Yu hurried off to the privy.
On her way back, she saw the Third Madam of the Jingguo household in close whispers with her own trusted old nurse.
She passed by the tables where the women of the Jingzhenguo household sat.
Through the babble she caught only one phrase: "The wife of the Duke of England's heir hasn't come."
Madam Wang Yu betrayed nothing as she resumed her seat, but she had lost all heart for lingering.
Once the wine had been cleared, the maids brought in tea and refreshments.