Chapter 379 — Heart to Heart
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
The next morning, while Song Yan went to court, Chuan'er's face was clawed to ribbons by Baizhi. A doctor had been summoned overnight, but the marks ran too deep — even once healed, her looks would be ruined. The upper courtyard could not keep a disfigured girl as a maid. Baizhi, for her part, had been bound by Song Cen, who declared that he would have the broker in to sell her off.
Dou Chi frowned and asked Ruozhu, "Is this business connected to Qixia?"
"I don't know whether it was her doing." Ruozhu's face was a little pale. "But when Chuan'er learned her face was ruined, she cursed Qixia for a viper and a scorpion, and wished her a wretched death... I think that even if she did not do it herself, she cannot be far from it."
She had not expected things to turn out this way.
Not only was Chuan'er ruined, but even Baizhi had ended up being driven from the household.
Unease stirred in her heart.
Dou Yan, however, felt a swell of indignation.
They were all girls of fifteen or sixteen, yet the moment they took to fighting, they reached straight for a life. And these were the ones who served Song Cen at close quarters — from which one might also judge the man's character and temper.
She counseled Ruozhu: "We may have handed her a knife, but whether she uses it to threaten another, or to stab someone in the back when they are unguarded, is for her alone to decide. As for Qixia — when you deal with that one, keep your wits about you."
"Thank you for your instruction, my lady. I will remember it." Ruozhu bowed to Dou Yan with gratitude and withdrew, lost in thought.
Song Han came to call on Dou Yan.
"I imagine you have heard what happened in the Xiangxi Courtyard, sister-in-law." His expression was awkward. "Father has no mind for my household affairs now, but the three maids in my rooms have long since been promised in marriage, and they cannot wait any longer. I beg you to put in a good word for me with Father, and let those girls go first."
How interesting.
Dou Yan smiled faintly.
Qixia, at his side, was vicious and ruthless — yet he showed tender care for those who had served him.
"These matters follow the household's usual practice," she said with a smile. "It is only that the replacements for your rooms have not yet been chosen, and so it has been delayed. That is my fault as your sister-in-law, and I shall send someone to see to it at once."
Perhaps he had not expected Dou Yan to apologize to him; a flicker of surprise crossed his face. "You are too kind, sister-in-law. The fault is my own impatience. Fortunately my rooms are quiet, and I can manage a while without them — that is why I came to ask a favor of you."
The two chatted idly for a while. Only then did Song Han rise to take his leave.
Dou Yan instructed Ruozhu: "Go and find out why the second young master is so eager to send those three out of the household."
Ruozhu assented, but did not leave at once. She hesitated. "My lady, is it proper for you to let them go just like that?"
Dou Xin said, "Has anyone so much as given me a word of notice, asking me not to release them? I need only act according to the rules of the Xuanming Sect."
Never mind releasing maids of marriageable age from the household — even arranging maids for Song Han without consulting Song Cen fell within her duties. She merely wished to see how Song Cen and Song Han would react, and so had gone along with it.
What surprised her was how little it took to unsettle the people in Song Cen's rooms. A little scheme, and everything fell into disarray.
That afternoon she released the three maids.
By the time Song Cen learned of it, a whole day had passed.
He flew into a rage and had Matron Tang carry a message to Dou Yan, demanding to know why she had released the three maids without his consent.