Purple Streets of Chang'an - Chapter 356 — The Keys to the Household - 清風書屋

Word of it reached Dou Yan's ears.

In her past life, Song Ji had killed Song Cen!

In this life, she would do whatever it took to keep Song Chu safe.

Dou Huaide could not possibly have guessed what was in Dou Zhiwei's mind. He merely assumed that she had just taken hold of the authority to run the household and was still unaccustomed to it, so he teased her: "Boyan and I went to such great lengths for you—the least you could do is thank us. Instead you sit there staring blankly into your teacup. Surely you're not complaining that we meddled too much?"

Only then did Dou Yan rein in her thoughts and smile behind pressed lips.

But Dou Yan said with a solemn expression, "Fourth Aunt, tell me the truth—is the Song family very complicated?"

The Dou and Song families had simply drifted apart over the years. But once they drew closer, with Dou Huaide's and Dou Yan's sharp instincts, there would be no hiding it from them.

She gave a slight nod and said with restraint, "Which family isn't complicated?"

Dou Yan asked no further. He smiled and said, "Then Old Uncle Lu is truly a man of upright and honorable character. Were it not for him, I fear today's matter could never have been resolved so satisfactorily."

Dou Yan was, after all, a daughter-in-law. Even if Song Cen treated her harshly, she could only endure it. Were she to complain in front of outsiders, she would earn a reputation for being unfilial. According to her original plan, she had merely intended to invite the Lu family over as witnesses, using the occasion to let them see that it was not she who was unfilial toward Song Cen, but rather Song Cen whose conduct was erratic—forcing his son to divorce his wife over a single ill-chosen word from his daughter-in-law. Should any further conflict between her and Song Cen come to light in the future, the world would naturally lay the blame at Song Cen's feet. This would pave the way for her next step: seizing the authority to run the Yingzhen Ducal Manor. But she had never imagined that the two old madams would prove far more perceptive than she had anticipated. Not only did they reprimand Song Cen, they also made him hand over the household management authority to her on the spot.

She stroked the bamboo tally tokens—worn smooth as jade from generations of hands that had handled them—and her thoughts drifted far and wide.

It was Dou Huaide who voiced a worry: "We invoked the Second Old Madam and Uncle Five. That won't come back to bite us, will it?"

The so-called tantrum of the Second Old Madam, and Dou Bingheng still kneeling—those had been nothing but bluffs to fool Song Cen.

Dou Yan laughed. "Set your mind at ease. These days, Song Cen would probably cross the street to avoid anyone from the Dou family. Why would he go confront Uncle Five? And even if he did, would Uncle Five possibly side with the Yingzhen Ducal Manor?"

Only then did Dou Huaide breathe a sigh of relief.

Dou Yan rose to take his leave. "I've been out the whole day. I must be getting back. After the New Year, I'll come visit you again, Fourth Aunt."

Dou Yan urged them to stay for dinner: "The wind outside is howling. Going out on an empty stomach with no hot soup in you would be miserable. I've already had the kitchen prepare a hot pot. Stay for supper before you go."

Dou Huaide, however, wanted to stay for supper: "I told Mother I was going to Yuqiao Lane. How could I go home and eat supper now? It's the New Year—every restaurant on the street is closed. Where am I supposed to find food?"

Dou Yan was still hesitating when a servant boy came in to announce: "The heir has returned!"

Dou Yan seized the chance to keep him: "You haven't met your Fourth Uncle-in-law yet, have you? Since you've run into each other—"

Dou Yan had married directly out of the Yunqi Temple Lane residence. The Dou family in Zhending had never met Song Yan, including Grandmother.