Chapter 307 — Facing the Moon
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
In stark contrast to the joyous, festive atmosphere of the Heyi Zhitang, . . .
Song Cen paced the room like a caged beast, violent and restless: ". . . That little wretch — who knows what he sold to the Emperor, to have His Majesty dancing in the palm of his hand, even looking ready to take his side! Had I known, I should have hardened my heart and cleaned him out thoroughly back then, instead of opening any ancestral hall . . ."
Tao Jun, standing at attention to one side, had worries of his own.
He called out "Lord Zhenguo," cutting off Song Cen's endless cursing, glanced around the room — not a single serving woman in sight — and lowered his voice to remind him: "Tell me, how did the Emperor come to know about the old rift between the Heir and you? An ordinary man would never trouble himself over such a thing!"
Song Cen was struck dumb.
Tao Jun pressed on: "Lord Zhenguo, I say this is no small matter — you must find a way to get a hearing before the Emperor. Even if today's business cannot be cleared up, at least no one will be able to drop poison in His Majesty's ear against you later. Who can be a thief for a thousand days? But who can guard against one for a thousand? If this goes on, we shall be entirely on the back foot."
Song Cen fell into deep thought.
For a time the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Yet a small figure flitted nimbly past the side window, darted behind the flowered wall nearby, and was gone in an instant.
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Once Dou Ci had finished distributing tips among the serving women, word reached the rest of the Dou family, and those relatives and friends who were on close terms with Song Yan — in particular Lord Huang Qi, Prefect of Shuntian, who would often have dealings with the Five Cities Garrison Command hereafter, and the Earl of Donglin, presently acting as its commander — each sent a trusted chief steward with a generous gift. So when the day came for Dou Yan's month-end visit to her natal home, Cloudrest Temple Lane was bustling as never before: not only did the whole household from Locust Tree Lane arrive, but even Lady Ji of Cat Lane and Lady Han, who was close to her confinement, came as well.
Dou Huaiying felt immensely gratified, and did not press the question of why Dou Yan had failed to attend Dou Ming's banquet last time; he asked her directly, "How many days do you mean to stay? I shall have the household make preparations."
The month-end visit did not require a married daughter to stay a full month at her parents' home, but merely fell in the month after her wedding; she might choose to stay a few days.
"Only two or three days," Dou Yan said with an apologetic smile. "In a couple of days the Heir takes up his post, and he must also urge the authorities to look into the fire at our house. I shall have to stay longer on my next visit."
A married daughter, treasuring the chance to be with her parents, would normally stay at least four or five days, some even a whole month; to stay only three days, as Dou Ci did, was very rare. Fortunately Dou Huaiying thought that a daughter married into another family must naturally put her husband's house first, and took no offense. He laughed and said, "Two or three days it is, then. I shall have Yantang come to fetch you when the time comes."
Song Yan rose hurriedly and answered "Yes," a trace of delight showing at the corners of his eyes and brows.
Dou Huaiying looked at him and chuckled.
Most likely his son-in-law wanted his daughter home early!