While Dou Zhao and Song Mo were secretly plotting, Song Yan tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
He recalled his clan members caring for him as a child – his great-aunt’s steaming bowl of porridge on a cold winter day, and the summer jacket his third aunt made for him in the sweltering heat.
His uncle had four sons. Originally, he planned to bring his youngest son to Zhending as an apprentice scholar, both for education and to save expenses. In the end, he brought Song Yan instead.
His aunt said nothing, even preparing clothes for all four seasons for him.
In recent years, his aunt had wanted to arrange a marriage for him. However, lacking property or a proper occupation, good families demanded high bride prices. With his third and fourth cousins marrying in succession, the family’s finances were strained. Those willing to marry their daughters to him either had flawed daughters or were scoundrels after the bride price. His aunt could have easily arranged any match to gain a reputation for kindness, but she insisted on finding him a suitable wife…
Song Yan’s eyes grew moist.
At dawn, ignoring the servants’ strange looks, he knelt before Song Yumin’s door.
Song Yumin opened the door and froze, seeing the dew in Song Yan’s hair.
After a long moment, he said hoarsely, “You already know?”
Song Yan nodded, saying softly, “Uncle, I want to accept this marriage!” Shame was evident in his expression.
“What nonsense are you talking?” Song Yumin hurriedly pulled Song Yan up. “We raised you to this age, not to become someone’s live-in son-in-law! Never speak of this again! I’ll handle Duke Ying’s heir myself… Worst case, I’ll go back to tutoring for a few more years!”
“No,” Song Yan argued urgently. “I’m not afraid because the Duke’s heir intervened. I want to do this myself.”
His eldest cousin was already a provincial graduate, the third had passed the county exam, and soon his nephew would take the exams too. There were many expenses, and they no longer had the Dou family’s tuition fees. Many orphans like him had already starved or frozen to death. He had grown up and received some education from his uncle – what more could he ask for?
He only regretted not being able to pass the imperial exams to repay his uncle and clan’s kindness.
Song Yumin didn’t believe him.
Just days ago, they had discussed returning to Quzhou to register for the child examinations. How could he change his mind so suddenly?
“Uncle!” Song Yan knelt at Song Yumin’s feet. “The Zhaos are good people. They won’t mistreat me. Please agree!”
He refused to stand up.
Song Yumin wept openly.
Song Yumin’s friend, Zheng Jiuyan, heard from a servant that uncle and nephew were kneeling and talking, and rushed over, concerned.
Learning it was about Song Yan’s marriage, Zheng Jiuyan laughed heartily and teased Song Yumin: “You’ve become muddle-headed in your old age. The Zhao family are scholars who surely want a son-in-law versed in poetry and literature. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have kept their daughter unmarried this long. If your nephew marries into the Zhao family, he’ll serve Lord Zhao directly. Lord Zhao is a distinguished graduate of the highest imperial exams. Studying under him would be a hundred times better than studying with you! With the Dou family’s influence, don’t you worry about their future generations lacking support? If you truly care for your nephew, maintain good relations with the Zhaos to uphold his reputation. Surely no one in your family is after the Zhaos’ money?”
His words left Song Yumin torn between laughter and tears.
Zheng Jiuyan seized the opportunity: “How about I act as the matchmaker?”
Song Yumin remained silent.
Song Yan quickly rose to express his thanks.
Zheng Jiuyan smiled, “That’s more like it! A real man acts with honor and integrity. Since you’ve decided, go forth with dignity!”
Song Yan nodded repeatedly.
Song Yumin sighed deeply and went inside.
Zheng Jiuyan winked at Song Yan: “You’ll be living with the Zhao family from now on. Your uncle raised you like his own son. Even knowing you’ll be well off, he’ll still miss you. Go talk to him properly.”
Song Yan gratefully bowed to Zheng Jiuyan again.
Zheng Jiuyan waved him off with a smile and left. He immediately sent someone to inquire about Dou Shiying’s whereabouts, prepared a gift box with twelve varieties, and went to Jingan Temple Alley just as Dou Shiying was leaving work.
Hearing Zheng Jiuyan’s purpose, Dou Shiying’s jaw dropped in astonishment. After a moment, he cautiously asked for confirmation: “You’re not mistaken? Are you matchmaking for Song Qianli and my niece? My brother-in-law’s family wants to take in a live-in son-in-law!”
“Indeed!” Zheng Jiuyan smiled. “I’ve heard your niece is quiet and elegant. You’ve seen Young Master Song’s appearance, character, and knowledge while he tutored at your residence these past years…”
Before he could finish, Dou Shiying became excited. He quickly called Dou Zhengchang to entertain the guest and hurried to the guest’s room.
His aunt had also been sleepless.
Would the Song family agree?
If not, what about Zhangru’s marriage?
They had asked all their relatives and friends, and met all suitable candidates – where else could they find an appropriate match?
If word got out, wouldn’t people think the Zhao family was desperate to marry off their daughter and look down on Zhangru?
Why hadn’t they thought of Song Yan earlier?
If they had proposed this in Zhending, it would have been settled one way or another, without having to come to the capital.
There are no secrets under heaven. The Cat Alley side was manageable, but if the Locust Tree Alley people found out, wouldn’t they gloat in private? And the Wang family also lived in the capital…
The thought gave her a headache, leaving her dispirited all day.
Seeing Dou Shiying rush in excitedly, she was startled.
Before she could speak, Dou Shiying ordered her servants: “All of you, leave. I need to speak with Madam Zhao privately.”
The maids hurriedly withdrew.
Dou Shiying told her about Zheng Jiuyan’s visit.
It took her a moment to process the information. When she did, she couldn’t help clasping her hands and saying “Amitabha Buddha,” then remarked, “That Yantang, I’ve never seen anyone more reliable!”
“What does this have to do with Yantang?” Dou Shiying asked, puzzled.
She then told him about Dou Zhao and Song Mo’s visit yesterday to discuss Zhao Zhangru’s marriage.
Dou Shiying was dumbfounded, finally understanding why Song Mo had tested Song Yan.
He couldn’t help but beam with joy, telling her about yesterday’s events in the reception hall: “…This boy is not only reliable but also attentive and thorough. Most importantly, he’s achieved success at a young age but doesn’t put on airs… How did our Shou’gu manage to marry such a wonderful son-in-law?” Then, remembering that Zhao Zhangru, like Dou Zhao, had a tumultuous journey to marriage, becoming an old maid at home, he comforted his aunt, “As the saying goes, those who wait to get the best soup. Our Shou’gu married so well, surely our Zhangru will marry just as well!”
His aunt nodded repeatedly, smiling and saying, “I hope your words come true.”
This was the first time since Zhao Guqiu’s death that his aunt had spoken so calmly with Dou Shiying. He grew bolder and said, “Do you think we should write a letter to my uncle? Ask his opinion…”
“Of course!” she replied. “If we’re to discuss marriage with the Song family, we might need to impose on you in Jingan Temple Alley for a while longer…”
“Please, stay as long as you need! Stay as long as you need!” Dou Shiying hurriedly offered some polite words before returning to the reception hall. He invited Zheng Jiuyan to stay for dinner and tactfully conveyed the Zhao family’s willingness to form a marriage alliance.
This was, of course, a foregone conclusion, with both sides aware of the situation. It was merely a matter of preserving the Zhao family’s face by having the Song family make the first move.
Zheng Jiuyan and Dou Shiying, with Dou Zhengchang serving them, drank and chatted amicably.
His aunt immediately sent someone to inform Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao cupped Song Mo’s face and kissed him several times: “You’re truly amazing!” She then called for a maid to help her freshen up, intending to go to Jingan Temple Alley.
Song Mo, touching his face, sat smiling as he watched Dou Zhao prepare. He joked, “The bride hasn’t even arrived, and I, the matchmaker, am already tossed aside. You’re too cruel!”
Dou Zhao smiled radiantly at him, playfully acting superior: “You’re allowed to come back to my maiden home with me!”
Song Mo laughed heartily.
He did accompany Dou Zhao to Jingan Temple Alley.
Seeing the Fourth Young Mistress and her husband return, Gaosheng immediately went to announce their arrival and hurriedly instructed the kitchen: “Quick! Prepare a new feast, the Fourth Young Master has arrived!”
The servants bustled about.
Dou Shiying, in high spirits from drinking, insisted on having Song Mo sit in the reception hall, sending Dou Zhao away: “Go, spend time with your aunt!”
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but smile, going to her aunt’s quarters.
“My child!” Her aunt held Dou Zhao’s hands, eyes glistening. “You’re always so thoughtful of your cousin.” She then inquired carefully about Song Yan.
Dou Zhao knew how important Zhangru’s marriage was to the Zhao family, but she hadn’t realized the immense pressure her usually composed aunt was under.
Had she known, she would have intervened earlier.
Regardless of what happened in her previous life, if she could make her uncle, aunt, and cousins happy in this life, wasn’t that enough?
Dou Zhao felt ashamed and answered her aunt’s questions earnestly.
A young maid entered, saying, “Madam, I’ve given the letter to Manager Gao. He said it’s a bit late today, but he’ll send someone to the post station first thing tomorrow morning.”
Dou Zhao asked curiously, “What letter?”
“A letter to your uncle,” her aunt smiled. “We need to inform him of such a significant matter.”
“The Northwest is a thousand li away. It won’t arrive until after the New Year,” Dou Zhao said. “Let me ask the heir to help. Going through the Ministry of War, it can reach there in twenty days at most.”
“Excellent!” Her aunt didn’t hesitate. Without a definite reply from her husband, they couldn’t exchange horoscopes. With the New Year approaching and the Song uncle and nephew still staying with friends, they couldn’t keep everyone in the capital indefinitely. “Please speak with Yantang about it.”
Song Mo, of course, handled this small matter impeccably.
That night, he had the Ministry of War include the letter with urgent dispatches to the Gansu Commander-in-Chief’s office in Qingyang.
As a result, the entire Northwest soon knew that Zhao Si’s niece was marrying the heir of Duke Ying!
But that’s a story for another time.
With the Zhao and Song families intending to form a marriage alliance, Song Yumin naturally wrote to inform his family.
Quzhou had waterways, allowing for faster correspondence. Song Yumin’s wife quickly replied, asking where the wedding would be held and if they needed help. She also enclosed a fifty-tael bank note, saying it was gathered by the clan for Song Yan’s wedding expenses.