Miao Anping’s teeth gritted audibly as he said bitterly, “What’s this about? I made some harmless remarks about the Song family, and now Song Han holds a lifelong grudge against me. Not only does he refuse to help, but he even sends out one of his household guards to slap my face. Does he take me for some poor relative begging for handouts?” Without further thought, he rushed to Duke Ying’s mansion.
Song Han knew nothing of this matter.
His face turned ashen with anger as he coldly glanced at the Miao siblings and said, “This is between you two. Don’t drag me into it.” With that, he turned and left.
Miao Anping leaped up like a lit firecracker, viciously berating Miao Ansu and forcing her to ask Song Yichun to change the appointee.
Miao Ansu cried her eyes out but remained seated, refusing to move.
Just as her brother mentioned seeking a constable position in Jurong County, one of the guards from Zhending with Dou Zhao got the job… She couldn’t believe there wasn’t something fishy about this!
Song Han thought the same.
Though he disliked Miao Anping, the man was still his brother-in-law. Miao Anping being humiliated like this also caused Song Han to lose face.
Song Han gazed toward Yizhi Hall, his heart churning like boiling water.
In Yizhi Hall, the guard who received the appointment was kowtowing to Dou Zhao in gratitude.
Dou Zhao smiled and said, “This has nothing to do with me. It was all the Young Master’s idea. If you want to thank someone, thank the Young Master!”
The guard was very astute and flattered her, saying, “Without you, Madam, how would the Young Master know about people like us? I must thank both the Young Master and you, Madam.”
His words pleased everyone present.
Dou Zhao rewarded him with fifty taels of silver to prepare his official uniform and grease some palms.
The guard thanked her profusely before withdrawing.
Returning to the east wing, he asked his delighted wife to arrange several tables of food and wine to treat the guards from Yizhi Hall. Everyone celebrated joyfully for two days.
Meanwhile, Dou Zhao pondered that since Song Mo had tacitly approved of the marriage between Jiang Yan and Chen Jia, this window of opportunity needed to be seized.
Judging by Chen Jia’s behavior, he had likely never considered this possibility. As for Jiang Yan, they needed to sound her out as well. Moreover, it had always been the man’s side who proposed to the woman’s side. If the woman’s side proposed first, it would put them at a disadvantage.
After much deliberation, she decided Jiang Liuzhu would be the most suitable intermediary.
Dou Zhao invited Jiang Liuzhu to her home to watch a play and hinted at the matter.
Being a clever person, Jiang Liuzhu immediately had an idea and smiled, “You can leave this matter to me with confidence!”
Upon returning home, she summoned Mrs. Tao Er for a conversation.
When Mrs. Tao Er, née Wu, emerged, she was so flustered she could barely tell which way was north.
She excitedly rushed back to Yuqiao Hutong, and as soon as she entered, she grabbed Tao Er and said, “Quick, pinch me and see if I’m dreaming!”
Tao Er laughed, “What’s gotten into you?”
Just as he spoke, Chen Jia returned from the yamen.
Mrs. Tao Er was startled and hurriedly said, “Sir, today Madam Wu invited this servant to their mansion for a talk.”
Chen Jia, suspecting it must be about Jiang Yan if Jiang Liuzhu had summoned his housekeeper for a conversation, felt his heart tighten. However, his face remained impassive as he asked, “What did Madam Wu want to discuss with you?”
Mrs. Tao Er remained silent.
Chen Jia called Mrs. Tao Er into his study.
Only then did Mrs. Tao Er say, “The cousin of Duke Ying’s family is to remarry. Madam Wu called me over to inquire about your household affairs, sir.”
Chen Jia spat out a mouthful of tea, spraying Mrs. Tao Er’s face.
“What did you say?” he asked in shock. “Madam Wu called you to ask about my household affairs?”
Mrs. Tao Er wiped the tear from her face with a smile and said, “Yes! Madam Wu also mentioned she was acting on Madam Dou’s behalf.”
Chen Jia’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
He paced around his study, mulling over Mrs. Tao Er’s words.
Could it be that the Song family intended to match Jiang Yan with him, and so had Madam Wu passed along a message?
But that seemed impossible!
He was well aware of his background. Even if the Song family had made a mistake in their choice, it shouldn’t have fallen to him. How had he caught Madam Dou’s eye?
Could the Song family have misunderstood his relationship with Jiang Yan?
If so, this would be disastrous!
He didn’t care much for himself – he was a grown man after all. At worst, he’d be mocked for being a “toad lusting after swan’s flesh,” and some might even admire his ambition!
But what about Jiang Yan?
She might never be able to clear her name of this stain!
Perhaps he should go speak with Madam Dou and clear up this misunderstanding?
As Chen Jia considered this, one foot was already out the door, but he couldn’t bring himself to lift the other.
He had a chance to marry Jiang Yan… the delicate, gentle Jiang Yan who was like a spring flower!
Chen Jia’s heart warmed at the thought.
If he missed this opportunity, he would never have had another chance to marry Jiang Yan.
Should he go or not?
He stood at the threshold, for the first time in his life at a loss for what to do.
At this moment, Jiang Yan was having a heart-to-heart conversation with Jiang Liuzhu.
She looked at Jiang Liuzhu in surprise, nearly in tears as she urgently said, “Twelfth Sister, there is nothing between Master Chen and me! Why won’t you believe me?” She then began to swear, “If there is any impropriety between Master Chen and me, may heaven strike me with five bolts of…”
Jiang Liuzhu was startled and quickly covered her mouth, cutting off her words.
“My dear girl, how dare you make such a rash oath!” she said in horror. “I thought Master Chen seemed like a good man, and since you know him, I had the idea to play matchmaker for you. And here you are, cursing yourself for no reason!” She released her hand and continued, “If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have bothered.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yan’s face filled with guilt. She said, “I know sister has my best interests at heart, but I don’t want to marry anyone. Though Master Chen is good, we are not fated to be together.”
Surprised by Jiang Yan’s response, Jiang Liuzhu asked seriously, “Why would you think that?”
Jiang Yan lowered her gaze and said softly, “What man would look favorably upon me knowing what I’ve been through? Ever since my failed suicide attempt at the inn, I’ve known that this is how my life will be. How could I dare to hope for anything else?”
Jiang Liuzhu asked, “What if Master Chen were to propose?”
“That’s impossible.” Jiang Yan shook her head like a rattledrum.
“But what if Master Chen did propose?” Jiang Liuzhu persisted, asking again.
No one in this world knew her circumstances better than Chen Jia. If Chen Jia was still willing to propose… did that mean he didn’t look down on her?
Jiang Yan’s heart stirred, and she suddenly felt flustered.
She remained silent for a long while.
Jiang Liuzhu breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Then let’s wait and see.” She couldn’t help but advise her, “One must look forward in life. This opportunity may not come again. You’re still young, and unlike other unmarried ladies your age who can help their sisters-in-law manage the household or teach their nieces and nephews to read, write, and sew, what will you do when you’re older? Do you plan to enter a nunnery? With your temperament, even if you did, you’d likely end up carrying water and tending the garden. Don’t naively think that a temple is truly a place free from worldly concerns.”
“I… I don’t,” Jiang Yan murmured. “Back when I used to go to temples with Lady Li Yao to offer incense, I saw how those nuns would always find ways to get people to donate money. Whichever nun’s patrons donated the most would be favored by the abbess.”
“Since you understand this, give it some serious thought!” Jiang Liuzhu said as she stood to leave.
Jiang Yan lay in bed, unable to sleep.
What should she do?
Should she marry Chen Jia?
What if one day Chen Jia came to despise her…
The mere thought pierced her heart with pain.
But if Chen Jia truly proposed as Jiang Liuzhu suggested, and she refused…
Jiang Yan tossed and turned in bed like a pancake being flipped.
For the moment, both of them were at a loss.
Dou Zhao waited several days but Chen Jia never came to propose. She couldn’t help but sigh quietly.
Perhaps they were not fated to be together after all.
She set the matter aside for the time being.
Song Mo was happy to let things unfold naturally and had no reason to inquire about it actively.
Dou Zhao and Song Mo then turned their attention to the matter of Song Han’s household division.
They invited the Prefect of Shuntian, Lord Huang Qi, to witness the proceedings, with Dou Shiheng and Lu Fuli serving as intermediaries. Song Han signed the family division agreement.
Song Yichun hid in Xixiang Hall, unwilling to come out and meet the guests.
Dou Shiheng asked Huang Qi to persuade Song Yichun: “Brothers falling out is often caused by parents being unfair. Your early division of the family may not necessarily be a bad thing. If all the noble families in the capital could be as clear-headed as you, the lawsuits in our Shuntian Prefecture would be reduced by half.”
Although Song Yichun knew Huang Qi was merely comforting him, he took the opportunity to save face and came out to greet Dou Shiheng and Lu Fuli.
Privately, Dou Shiheng spat in disgust at Song Yichun, saying, “He wants to have his cake and eat it too!”
Dou Shiying smiled wryly and said, “At least the family has been divided. Sixth Brother’s trip wasn’t in vain.”
Dou Shiheng felt some pity for Dou Zhao and instructed Dou Dechang, “Your adoptive mother has had a hard life. After you go over, you must take good care of her.”
Dou Dechang respectfully answered, “Yes.”
As the youngest son, he had been the most mischievous in the past. But now that he was to be adopted, thinking of his father’s doting love over the years, he became even more respectful towards his father.
Dou Shiheng sighed and gently patted his second son’s shoulder, dismissing him. He then discussed Dou Dechang’s matter with Dou Shiying: “Since he’s already been recorded in the family genealogy, don’t worry about me. Arrange a time for Zhi’er to move over. Hanging between two households like this will inevitably affect his studies. Since you’ve chosen him, he should focus on improving his scholarship to uphold the family name.”
Dou Shiying had also been planning to discuss this with Dou Shiheng: “How about moving on the first day of the twelfth lunar month? Firstly, it’s convenient for relatives to visit during the New Year; secondly, I plan to invite a retired Hanlin Academy scholar to tutor at home, so Zhi’er can focus wholeheartedly on preparing for the examinations.”
This year was the year of the metropolitan examination, with the provincial examination the following year.
Dou Shiheng nodded in agreement.
Dou Shiying informed Song Mo of this matter.
Song Han was busy moving house. Song Maochun and the other three families came to help for appearances’ sake, and some acquaintances who had always wanted to curry favor with the Song family but lacked the opportunity also flocked to Luzhu Pavilion to join in the bustle. Song Mo had no interest in managing these trivial matters and volunteered to help Dou Shiying handle the affairs of Dou Dechang’s adoption.
Dou Shiying felt as comfortable as if he had drunk a cup of hot tea on a cold winter’s day. He smiled and said, “What is there for you to do? Just come and keep me company over tea.”
Song Mo smiled and asked, “Have you informed the Wang family?”
According to custom, after Dou Dechang’s adoption, Wang Yingxue would become his adoptive mother. He should pay his respects to her in any case.