Jiang Lizhu was alone, calling out to a young maid: “Have you seen the young miss?”
“This servant hasn’t seen the young miss,” the maid replied hurriedly. “Should I help madam look for her?”
Overhearing this, Dou Zhao smiled and asked, “What’s wrong? Has Sister Yan gone missing?”
Jiang Lizhu gave a wry smile and said, “She’s probably hiding somewhere again.” Then she stopped the young maid, “Go about your business.” Turning to Dou Zhao, she said, “I’ll go check Bishui Pavilion. She might have gone back there.”
Having hosted guests at home several times now, Dou Zhao had noticed Jiang Yan’s shy nature. She smiled and said, “Then I’ll trouble Twelfth Cousin to look—there are too many guests today for me to manage her as well.”
“Sister-in-law needn’t worry,” Jiang Lizhu smiled. “Leave Sister Yan to me.”
She curtsied to Dou Zhao and went to Bishui Pavilion.
Bishui Pavilion was quiet, with only two young maids with newly grown hair sitting inside, sewing and chatting.
“Is the young miss not here?” Jiang Lizhu asked, puzzled.
The two maids hurriedly put down their needlework and stood up, replying in unison, “The young miss went to drink with Sister Yinghong attending her.”
Oh! Where could she have gone then?
Jiang Lizhu pondered as she searched along the lakeside path.
Just as she was approaching the moon gate, she saw several maids standing under a pomegranate tree in front of it, with a man and a woman talking nearby.
Looking closely, she saw the man wearing a lilac-colored Hangzhou silk robe with a black silk belt and a mutton-fat jade pendant. The woman wore a pink floral jacket, with pearl flowers as small as lotus seeds adorning her jet-black temples, making her face as beautiful as a magnolia blossom. Who else could it be but Chen Jia and Jiang Yan?
Jiang Lizhu’s heart inexplicably began to race.
She saw Chen Jia say a few words, and Jiang Yan covered her mouth, laughing.
Her eyes sparkled, blossoming like flowers, looking very charming and lovable.
Jiang Lizhu couldn’t help but hurry forward.
Seeing Jiang Lizhu, Jiang Yan greeted her with a smile: “Cousin!” Then she explained, “I heard Lord Chen come to drink, so I came specially to thank him and ask about Li Liang’s situation.”
By now, Chen Jia had heard the commotion and turned around. He smiled and cupped his hands to Jiang Lizhu, addressing her as “Madam Wu” with neither servility nor arrogance.
Jiang Lizhu’s mind was in turmoil. She nodded briefly to Chen Jia and took Jiang Yan’s hand, chiding, “Why did you come here? Sister-in-law is looking everywhere for you!”
Hearing this, Jiang Yan’s expression immediately fell. She said to Chen Jia, “Then I’ll trouble you with this matter!”
Chen Jia replied respectfully, “Don’t mention it. If I receive any news, I’ll have Tao’s second daughter-in-law inform Miss Yinghong.”
Jiang Yan nodded and linked arms with Jiang Lizhu, surrounded by Yinghong and the others as they headed to the inner courtyard.
Only then did Jiang Lizhu ask, “What did you ask Lord Chen to do this time?”
“Last time, didn’t I ask Lord Chen to help me send some silver to Li Liang?” Jiang Yan said. “I just wanted to ask how Li Liang is doing now. Who knew Lord Chen had someone else deliver it, and when that person returned with a message, Lord Chen forgot to ask about Li Liang’s situation. So I asked him to inquire about Li Liang’s current condition if he encounters that person again.”
Was it necessary to make things so complicated?
Jiang Lizhu remained silent.
Jiang Yan wanted to return to Bishui Pavilion, but Jiang Lizhu expended a great effort to persuade her to go with her to see Dou Zhao.
The female guests were all listening to opera in the flower hall, while only Dou Zhao and the Marchioness of Changxing were talking shoulder to shoulder in the reception room of the main house.
Seeing the two enter, the Marchioness of Changxing glanced at Jiang Yan with interest and stopped talking.
Jiang Lizhu and Jiang Yan came forward to greet them without showing any emotion.
Dou Zhao asked Jiang Yan gently, “Where did you go just now? They’re performing ‘The Washing of the Silk’ outside. The dan role is played by Zeng Chusheng’s disciple, who sings quite well. You’re always cooped up at home doing needlework; you should come out and move around occasionally.”
Jiang Yan responded “Yes,” but Jiang Lizhu took over the conversation: “When I found her in Bishui Pavilion, she was doing needlework just as her sister-in-law said! If I hadn’t dragged her out forcibly, we might still be looking for her now.” Then she said to Jiang Yan, “I told you, if sister-in-law knew you were doing needlework in Bishui Pavilion, she would want you to come out and listen to the opera. Didn’t I predict correctly?”
What was this?
Jiang Yan was surprised.
If she said “yes,” wouldn’t that be lying to her sister-in-law? If she said “no,” wouldn’t that mean her twelfth sister was lying?
She hesitated, not knowing what to do.
The Marchioness of Changxing beside them laughed and said, “Young ladies should go out and get some fresh air. Staying indoors all day will make even the cleverest person dull-witted. Miss, go listen to the opera! They should be singing ‘The Parting’ now, which is Zeng Chusheng’s specialty. His disciple shouldn’t be too bad either.”
She seemed eager to send them away.
Jiang Lizhu, recalling the scene when they entered the room, guessed that the Marchioness of Changxing had something to discuss privately with Dou Zhao, which she and Jiang Yan had interrupted.
She smiled and said “Yes,” leading Jiang Yan out of the reception room.
Dou Zhao then shook her head at the Marchioness of Changxing, saying, “As you’ve seen, my relative is still like a child, and she’s remarrying. To be the principal wife of your family’s eldest brother, I’m afraid she might not be able to handle it!”
“That’s why we have the saying ‘measure the matchmaker’!” the Marchioness of Changxing laughed nonchalantly. “My eldest brother and I’m not boasting, is known for his competence in our area. There’s nothing he can’t handle, whether at home or outside. But such capable people also have their shortcomings, namely a strong personality. When my sister-in-law was alive, she often argued with my eldest brother about this.
Once, she even angered my eldest brother so much that he brought me back to persuade her. So for this remarriage, my eldest brother explicitly stated that he doesn’t care if the woman is a maiden or remarrying, or if she has a dowry or not, as long as she’s gentle and knows etiquette. I thought of your family’s miss because I saw her good temperament.
Moreover, my eldest brother is over ten years older than your miss, and your miss is as beautiful as a flower. If this marriage happens, with an old husband and a young wife, how could he not serve her attentively, hand and foot? Would he dare to lose his temper? Just wait and see, I guarantee that my eldest brother will be completely obedient to the miss, not daring to raise his voice.”
Dou Zhao smiled and said, “Please allow me to discuss this matter with our young master.”
“Of course,” the Marchioness of Changxing nodded with a smile and went with Dou Zhao to the flower hall to watch the opera.
Everyone was engrossed in the opera, with only a few people noticing the Marchioness of Changxing and Dou Zhao’s return. Dou Zhao saw Jiang Yan and Jiang Lizhu sitting at the end of the long corridor, attended by maids and servants, cracking melon seeds and drinking tea. She couldn’t help but smile slightly and began to listen to the opera attentively.
Soon, the banquet was ready.
The housekeeper came to invite everyone to take their seats.
Everyone entered the flower hall with smiles, sitting according to their status and seniority.
Cold dishes and hot dishes were served in succession.
Third Madam Feng from Duke Jing’s household found an opportunity to ask Dou Zhao in a low voice, “Is the Marchioness of Changxing trying to propose a marriage between her family’s brother and your miss?”
Dou Zhao’s heart stirred, and she nodded slightly.
Madam Feng then reminded her, “The Marchioness of Changxing’s eldest brother is indeed shrewd and capable, and his family is quite wealthy. However, he’s too capable. He wants to buy an official position now, but the Marquis of Changxing thinks he’s troublesome and has been ignoring him these days. He’s probably trying to prove a point and looking for another way out. Be careful not to lose both the lady and the troops.”
Even without considering that the Marchioness of Changxing’s eldest brother was almost twenty years older than Jiang Yan, just the fact that the Marquis of Changxing would eventually fall into Dou Qijun’s hands was enough for Dou Zhao to refuse to let Jiang Yan marry into that family.
She smiled and nodded at Madam Feng, expressing her gratitude.
Madam Feng said no more.
After lunch, everyone moved to the covered walkway to continue listening to the opera.
Jiang Lizhu quietly moved over and asked Dou Zhao in a low voice, “Sister-in-law, is the Marchioness of Changxing trying to arrange a marriage for Sister Yan?”
Seeing her apparent concern, Dou Zhao teased her, “What? Do you have a good candidate?”
Jiang Lizhu smiled awkwardly and said nothing. Amidst the cheers, she quietly returned to her seat with Jiang Yan and whispered, “For the first marriage, the father decides; for remarriage, one decides for oneself. Have you thought about what kind of person you want to marry?”
Jiang Yan’s expression darkened. After a while, she said in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s, “Who would want someone like me, who has lost virtue and chastity? If they want to marry me, it’s only to climb the big tree that is my brother. Haven’t I caused enough trouble for my brother and sister-in-law? Isn’t it better to just stay at home obediently without causing them any more problems? Why should I remarry?”
If Jiang Lizhu hadn’t been paying close attention and guessing half the words, she probably wouldn’t have heard a single word amidst the high-pitched singing.
She asked Jiang Yan in a low voice, “If we find someone like Lord Chen for you, would you still not marry?”
Jiang Yan was taken aback, then smiled knowingly, “You must have noticed that I often trouble Lord Chen. Lord Chen is different; he has seen me at my lowest point, and worst, I’m just like this. I don’t need to pretend in front of him.”
Jiang Lizhu nodded.
Jiang Yan wanted to explain her relationship with Chen Jia further, but Jiang Lizhu’s gaze had already turned to the stage.
She grabbed Jiang Yan’s arm and smiled, “Quick, look, they’re about to sing ‘The Encounter’.”
Jiang Yan had to swallow her words.
But recalling Jiang Lizhu’s words, she couldn’t help feeling anxious, thinking that she shouldn’t meet with Chen Jia anymore. If her brother and sister-in-law thought the same way, it would be terrible for Chen Jia.
Having grown up in the marketplace, she knew how much someone without a background had to sacrifice to reach Chen Jia’s position. She didn’t want to ruin Chen Jia’s future because of herself.
Jiang Yan couldn’t help but sigh dejectedly.
Meanwhile, after Dou Zhao told Song Mo about the Marchioness of Changxing’s marriage proposal, Song Mo repeatedly waved his hand saying “No” and “Too old.”
His reaction was within Dou Zhao’s expectations.
She used this as an excuse to decline the Marchioness of Changxing’s proposal.
The Marchioness of Changxing was so angry that her chest felt tight. She privately told her maid, “Does she think their miss is made of gold? A remarrying widow, still picking and choosing, be careful she can’t marry out in the future!” She also felt that her brother had given her a bad idea and called him over to scold him severely.
Her brother felt very wronged and said, “Sister, you’ve been in the inner courtyard for too long, and your outside information isn’t very up-to-date—this young lady is Song Yantang’s sister! Song Yantang is currently in high favor with the Emperor. This opportunity won’t come again. If you don’t believe me, you can write to my brother-in-law and see what he says!”
The Marchioness of Changxing was half-believing, half-doubting, and wrote a letter to her husband.
The Marquis of Changxing replied with a letter scolding the Marchioness of Changxing, criticizing her for being short-sighted despite her long hair, and asking why she didn’t seize such a good opportunity. He also said she shouldn’t have proposed to Madam Dou herself, but should have asked Imperial Consort Shi to propose, and so on.
But that’s a story for later.
The day after Yuan’er’s hundredth-day celebration, Jiang Lizhu, very unusually, took the initiative to visit Dou Zhao at Duke Ying’s mansion.