Chapter 342 — A Demand
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
Song Yan sat bolt upright on the kang by the window in the inner chamber, his face cold, and said to Dou Yan, "Go make me some gourd cakes!"
How could he be this petulant, like a child throwing a tantrum?
Dou Yan could not help but press her lips together and smile.
Song Yan shot her a glare.
Dou Yan stepped forward and took his hand, coaxing him as she would a child: "I was wrong, all right? I know you were worried about me. I won't say that kind of thing again." Then she took the hot tea from the maid's hands and pressed it into his. "I'll go make you gourd cakes!"
Song Yan wrapped his arms around her waist and said, "The kitchen is thick with smoke and grease. Just let the kitchen women make them."
His voice had softened, and there was even a faint note of amusement in it.
"You rascal!" Dou Yan did not know whether to laugh or cry, and gave him a sidelong glare.
Song Yan smiled faintly and pressed his face to Dou Zhiwei's chest, saying in a low voice, "Shouyuan, don't say things like that anymore. It hurts me to hear it."
Dou Yan's heart instantly softened until it could have dripped water.
She embraced him tenderly.
"It's my fault, not yours," Song Yan apologized, his voice sounding somewhat sullen. "I don't know why either. Ordinarily I can tolerate a great deal, but the moment I think of my good intentions going unappreciated by you, I lose a bit of control over my temper... If I'm ever like this again, don't pay me any mind. Just let me sit alone in the small study for a while and it'll pass."
Dou Yan's eyes were on the verge of brimming over as she listened.
Song Cen had wanted to kill Song Yan. Song Yan had once confronted Song Cen about it, but Song Cen would not speak, and Song Yan never asked again. From then on they were as strangers to each other—when had he ever explained himself to Song Cen? That was Song Yan's nature. Yet now, afraid she might misunderstand, he laid his heart bare for her to see, utterly unguarded before her...
Dou Yan kissed the top of Song Yan's head and laughed softly. "How could I bear to!"
Song Yan looked up, his face full of astonishment.
Dou Yan crouched down and pressed her cheek to his palm, her voice low and unhurried yet firm as she smiled again: "How could I bear to leave you in the small study."
"Shouyuan!" Song Yan was stunned, but the astonishment quickly turned to wild joy.
He scooped Dou Yan up in one motion, lifting her as though she were a child: "Shouyuan, Shouyuan!"
Dou Yan was truly afraid he might toss her into the air, and quickly clung to his neck: "Don't, don't, don't—I'm still carrying a child in my belly!"
"Oh!" Song Yan's brows and eyes bloomed with delight. He carefully set Dou Yan down on the kang, gazed at her with deep affection, called out "Shouyuan," and kissed her lips.
It seemed getting along with Song Yan was not so difficult after all!
Dou Yan closed her eyes and responded to Song Yan with lingering tenderness.
Leaving aside for now the springtime warmth behind the closed doors of the Song couple—let us speak instead of the Jingzhen Estate. Though it had invited only close branches of the family and in-laws, it still laid out fifteen tables, and across the water pavilion a stage was erected for a hall performance, bustling and festive.
Dou Ming stepped forward to toast the Duchess of Jingguo, then rose to take her leave: "My mother-in-law is slightly unwell and at home alone. I cannot drink and watch the opera here in peace. Another day I shall come keep Your Grace company at cards."
The Duchess of Jingguo was somewhat displeased, but since the girl had used her mother-in-law as a shield, refusing to let her go would make it seem as though she cared nothing for her in-law's health.