Chapter 321 — Entrusted
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 3 of 4
"I have no idea!" Ganlu let out a long breath. "Humoring that sort of person—it wears you to death!" Then she asked, "Is the heir still in the Lady's rooms?"
Sujuan nodded.
Ganlu smiled. "Then in a little while I'll go report to the Lady what Lü Zheng's wife had to say to me."
Sujuan laughed. "Good enough. Come help us move the flowers."
Ganlu gave a groan, her face falling. "Must I?"
"You needn't!" said Sujuan. "Then all today's washing is yours!"
Ganlu said at once, "I'll move the flowers, then!"
Sujuan giggled.
Sparring all the way, the two of them went off to the small garden.
In the inner chamber of the main house, Song Yan's face was dark. "You need not spare my feelings. If these people come again, just call the guards and have them thrown out." He added, "Without rules, nothing can be squared. Father lifts these serving women so high—small wonder the household is all in a muddle."
"It is hardly as bad as you make it!" Dou Xin said. "My temper has never been a gentle one—do you think I fear being bullied? Doesn't Lü Zheng's wife have charge of the upper courtyard? I was thinking: if she comes often to Yizhi Hall, then I may just as well ask her about the Second Lord's daily comings and goings. He is only a child, after all; if there is anything they see to poorly, we can help keep an eye on it. If she wishes to come, let her come."
When all was said, Dou Yan had done it all for his sake.
Song Yan's expression grew grave. "Shall I speak to Old Madam Lu, then, and ask her to step forward and have Father hand the running of the household over to you..." Thus Dou Yan could inquire into Song Han's affairs openly and properly—why let a serving woman strut before her?
"Matters of the inner court are best settled by the ways of the inner court," Dou Yan said with a confident smile. "Isn't the New Year almost here? In past years there was no mistress in the house—will the Lord Defender of the State have Aunt preside over the spring banquet again this year? Even if he wished it, would Aunt come?" This was her duty. She could not push it onto Song Yan and let him fight her battles. Song Yan had his own duties and obligations—but his manner still warmed her heart.
A little maid came in to announce, "Heir, Lady, Steward Zhong has arrived!"
"So soon!" Dou Yan said in surprise.
Song Yan teased her: "When you asked me for the man, you urged me to hurry him along. Now he's here, and you complain he came too fast. You are truly hard to please!"
Dou Yan pressed her lips together and smiled.
Song Yan said, "Best send for Old Chen. It would not do for you to appear in this matter yourself; leave it to Old Chen."
Dou Yan agreed.
Song Yan arranged for Zhong Bingxiang and Chen Yanzhou to meet.
Zhong Bingxiang had been summoned posthaste from Guangdong by Song Yan for no other purpose than to pay his respects to the newly arrived Lady, and he already understood well enough what place Dou Yan held in Song Yan's eyes. When Song Yan arranged for him to help Dou Yan manage a portion of her dowry for a time, he thought it a trifle excessive, yet with the zeal peculiar to a merchant he accepted the arrangement cheerfully, and asked with a smile for Song Yan's instructions: "Am I to help the Lady sort the accounts, or reconcile them with Mr. Yan first?"
"Reconcile first!" Song Yan said. "The man I need you to train up for the Ti family has not yet reached the capital."
And when he does reach the capital—will helping the Lady sort the accounts come first?
Zhong Bingxiang smiled and answered "Yes," muttering under his breath.
Over the next few days Song Yan was busy reconciling accounts with Zhong Bingxiang.
Some of the stewards of the Ying Estate of the Lord Defender of the State likewise began, one after another, to reconcile accounts with Song Cen.
The Ying Estate's returns this year were better even than last year's.