Chapter 493 — Celebration
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
As Miao Zhi sat brooding in the carriage, word came from the Crane Cry Temple Lane: "The Seventh Master says you are to bring Yuanheng with you when you come."
History had not strayed far from its course. Dou Huaide had passed the provincial examination, and Dou Huaiying resolved to seize the occasion to invite every Dou in the capital to the house for a merry gathering.
Dou Xin accepted the invitation and said to Gao Sheng's wife, who had brought it: "Go back and tell my father that I am off duty that day, and the Heir and I will certainly be there."
Gao Sheng's wife answered with a beaming smile, and Dou Yan had someone take her to see Gao Xing.
Song Yan saw the invitation and Dou Chu choosing gifts for Dou Huaide in the storehouse. "I wonder whether Sixth Uncle and Sixth Aunt will live to regret it—Eleventh Brother failed this time."
In the end Dou Yong did pass the imperial examination, though Sixth Aunt and Sixth Uncle did not know it yet.
After Dou Yan arrived at Crane Cry Temple Lane, she could not help studying Sixth Aunt's expression.
Seeing this, Ji Shi tweaked her nose and laughed. "You clever little thing—a mother yourself now, and still so mischievous!"
Dou Chiyou rubbed his nose and retorted, "How am I mischievous?"
"As if I do not know what you are thinking!" Ji Shi scolded fondly. "You are afraid I will see that your Twelfth Brother has passed and that your Sixth Uncle and I will regret it, are you not? Your Twelfth Brother was adopted under your father's name precisely to carry on the household. Now that he has it in him to do so, I am too delighted to regret anything!" She added, "And I believe your Eleventh Brother is diligent and hardworking too, and will surely not betray those ten years of studying by a cold window."
Dou Yan was moved. She took Ji Shi's arm and said with a grin, "Sixth Aunt, your heart is so broad. There is so much I must learn from you."
"Save your flattery!" Ji Shi patted her hand and spoke with her of intimate matters.
A maid came in to announce, "The mistresses and young ladies of Elm Tree Lane have arrived with their sons and daughters."
Ji Shi and Dou Yan went out to greet the guests.
After the exchanges of long-separated greetings, they went to the flower hall.
Ji Shi and the Fifth Madam walked at the front, discussing which of the capital's official families had sons who had passed the provincial examination this time, while Dou Yan and the others followed behind.
Guo Shi shot a glance at Dou Yan.
Dou Chi slipped back a few steps without making a sound. The others went into the flower hall, while the two of them stood talking under the covered walkway outside it.
"I did as you said," she murmured. "Mother-in-law told me to take both of Bai Shi's sons into my rooms to raise, and I refused. Whose sons they are is whose sons they are. Their birth mother is still alive. However well I treat them, I am only their legal mother. Rather than fight Bai Shi over them, I would sooner treat mother and sons kindly, and put my energy into Pin Yuan instead--raise her well, find her a good match. They will not dare slight me either way."
Dou Yan smiled faintly. "Just so! A life is only a few short decades. Why drive yourself so hard?"
Guo Shi nodded again and again, and, laughing, arm in arm with Dou Yan, she entered the flower hall.
Presently the eldest cousin-in-law and the rest arrived, and the flower hall grew lively.
Then Gao Sheng's wife came in, her face strange, and whispered at Dou Yan's ear: "Fourth Aunt, Young Master Ji wishes to see you!"
Ji Yong?
Dou Yan was greatly surprised. She said a few words to Ji Shi and went to the study in the front courtyard.
Ji Yong wore a straight-cut robe of sapphire blue, belted at the waist with a silk cord of the same color. On his handsome face his two sword-straight brows were knit tight, and he was pacing the room in visible anxiety.