Chapter 25 — Instigation

Dou Yan giggled, though her heart was thumping. Was she really going to marry Wei Fan? He was no scholar; those fine inks tones would likely just end up stored in a warehouse if given to him.

As she was thinking this, a loud clamor came from outside.

Her father paid it no mind. He carried Dou Yan to the grand armchair before the writing desk and told her to practice her characters. "I've already given the orders—a writing desk and chair of rosewood are being made to your measurements, to be placed right beside mine. Then you'll be able to sit in your chair and practice your writing."

Before he finished speaking, Hanxiao rushed in, flustered. "Seventh Master, the Madam Dowager has come!"

Her father blinked. "The Madam Dowager is here—what is there to be flustered about?"

But Dou Yan had already guessed a thing or two.

In the end, the matter had come to light.

She wondered who had leaked it—and who had tipped off the Dou family.

"The Madam Dowager says she wants to take Fourth Miss back to stay for a few days. The Master refused and had Aunt Ding speak with the Madam Dowager on his behalf. They had barely exchanged a few words when Third Madam arrived and forbade the Madam Dowager from taking Fourth Miss back. She said Fourth Miss is a daughter of the Dou, that she has lost her mother but still has a father and a grandfather, and there is no reason for her to live under another's roof and be raised by her uncle's family." Hanxiao's face was fearful; if the Dou and Zhao families fell out, the ones who would suffer most were the maids who had come as part of the dowry. By law, Zhao Guqiu's dowry was to be left to Dou Zhiwei, and Dou Yan, being a daughter of the Dou, would naturally be raised by the Dou. Dou Yan was too young to run a household or make decisions; if they stayed with the Dou, the Dou would hardly treat them kindly; and if they wished to return to the Zhao, that too would depend on the Dou's consent. "Third Madam also said that Fourth Miss will have to marry when she grows up—which would be more respectable, a cousin of the Zhao family or a legitimate young lady of the Dou? If the Zhao truly had Fourth Miss's interests at heart, they would never have devised such a foolish scheme. The Madam Dowager cannot, just because of the rift between the Zhao and the Dou, set out to slap the Dou in the face at the cost of her own niece's dignity!" She paused, then went on: "The First Madam received word early on that the Zhao family is preparing to leave en masse for their official post—everything is packed, and they mean to set out the moment Fourth Miss is fetched. Yet the Madam Dowager denies it flatly. The Master has said that under no circumstances can Fourth Miss go with the Madam Dowager to Anxiang..."

Dou Huaiying cut Hanxiao off with a heavy frown and instructed Tuoniang: "You stay here and watch over Fourth Miss." Then he turned to Hanxiao. "Take me to see for myself!"

Hanxiao answered in a fluster and escorted Dou Huaiying out.

Dou Yan sat quietly in the grand armchair, waiting for someone to come for her.

Sunlight streamed through the lattice window, and motes of dust danced in the air.

A woman's soft voice murmured like a gentle breeze.

Footsteps drew nearer, step by step.

The bamboo curtain was lifted.

A woman in a pale green jacket stepped lightly into the room.

She called to Dou Yan in a tender voice: "Shouyuan, your aunt is here. Let me help you wash and dress, and we'll go see her—shall we?"

Dou Yan stared at her fixedly, then gave a self-mocking smile and called out, "Aunt Ding."

"Ai!" she answered with a beaming smile, then called Yuzan and Tuoniang. "Have the little maids bring in some water. I'll help Fourth Miss wash and change into fresh clothes so she's presentable for her guest."

Yuzan hurried to relay Aunt Ding's instructions.

Aunt Ding helped Dou Yan wash her face, now sending Tuoniang to fetch this, now sending Yuzan to fetch that, until both maids were spinning in circles.

She asked Dou Yan gently, "Shouyuan, do you miss your mother?"

Dou Xin: "I do!"

Aunt Ding said, "Then would you like to see your mother?"

"I would!" Dou Yan said loudly.

"Our Shouyuan is such a good girl!" Aunt Ding kissed Dou Zhiwei on the cheek and carried Dou Yan toward the main hall.

Her own maids crowded around her and Dou Yan, keeping Yuzan and Tuoniang far behind.

Past the great pagoda tree, spreading like an umbrella, lay the main hall.

Aunt Ding said softly, "Shouyuan, your aunt has come to fetch you. Whatever you do, don't go with her later—otherwise she'll sell you off to some backwater ravine, and you'll never see your mother again, never taste osmanthus cakes again, nor ever see Tuoniang, Yuzan, your grandfather, or your father."

Dou Yan nodded.

Aunt Ding was a little surprised.

She had not expected Shouyuan to be so easily coaxed!

She smiled and stroked Dou Zhiwei's hair. "Good girl. Once you've seen your aunt, Aunt Ding will take you to find your mother—shall we?"

"Yes!" Dou Yan answered.

Aunt Ding rounded the great pagoda tree and entered the main hall.

Like two armies facing off, the Madam Dowager and Matron Peng stood in the center of the hall, while Third Sister-in-law and several unfamiliar women stood below the central dais.

Hearing the commotion, both sides turned their eyes toward her.

Third Sister-in-law smiled and beckoned to Dou Yan. "Come, Shouyuan, come to your Third Sister-in-law!"

The Madam Dowager's smile was somewhat forced. She called softly to Dou Yan: "Shouyuan, let your aunt hold you!"

Aunt Ding set Dou Yan down on the ground and whispered in her ear: "She's been sold off to some deep mountain hollow, where she'll be beaten every day. Quick, go to your Third Aunt!"

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O(∩_∩)O~

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