Chapter 356 — The Keys to the Household

Dou Yan sat by the bed, watching Song Yan, who had drunk the sobering soup and fallen into a deep sleep. A smile touched her lips; she lightly kissed his cheek, then blew out the lamp and went to bed.

When Song Yan rose the next morning, he had forgotten everything he had said. He only had a vague sense that he had promised Dou Yan something.

He could not help slapping his forehead and crying "Blast!" He skipped breakfast and hurried out the door.

Dou Yan smiled.

She thought this was what Song Yan ought to be like, a youth not yet twenty, full of life, so vital that just looking at him lifted one's spirits.

She sat before the dressing table while Ruotong helped her comb her hair.

Ganlu came to report: "The managing matrons of the household are standing before Yizhi Hall waiting. The wind is biting, and they are all shivering."

These managing matrons must have gotten wind of it by now.

Dou Yan instructed Ganlu: "Tell them that whatever rules Lady Jiang kept, the same rules still hold here. They should go and do whatever they are supposed to do."

When the message was relayed, the managing matrons looked at one another.

Some who had once served under Lady Jiang turned their eyes and headed for the upper courtyard.

Someone kindhearted told the other managing matrons: "When Lady Jiang was here, she gave her instructions every morning at eight in the baosha of the east cross-courtyard in the upper court."

Enlightenment dawned, and they all hurried to the upper courtyard. Yet inwardly they could not help sighing: a new ruler brings new ministers, and were they, the stewards of the inner quarters, any different? Who among them would keep their post? Who would be sent away from the household? Who might even have a pretext found to destroy them?

For a time, all of them felt uneasy.

Dou Yan went about her toilette and dress at her usual unhurried pace, according to her daily habits. She ate and drank tea.

Ganlu could not help fretting on her behalf: "So many managing matrons are waiting in the baosha. Shouldn't you hurry over?"

"Lady Jiang did not begin handling household affairs until eight each morning. If they came early, am I supposed to accommodate them?"

That was true enough.

Ganlu gave an embarrassed smile.

After tea, Dou Yan finally went to the baosha in the upper courtyard.

It was only a repetition of old rules she could have recited with her eyes closed. Within an hour, the people in the baosha had dispersed.

Dou Yan returned to her room, curled up on the large kang by the window with Sujuan, making little clothes for her unborn child, while her mind kept turning over matters in Song Han's quarters.

Once the New Year passed, one second-rank maid and two third-rank maids in Song Han's quarters would reach marriageable age, and two reliable people would have to be sent to serve there. As for the young maids chosen from the farm estates, Du Wei had already been asked to investigate what their forebears had done. After the New Year there should be word. As for Lady Jiang's affair, it would likely have to be learned from the mouths of these young maids.

She intended to marry Ganlu and Sujuan to stewards of the household. The less they knew of such matters, the better.

Among the newly arrived maids, Ruozhu and Ruotong were both clever and could be put to important use.

There were also the account books of the Yingzhen Ducal Manor, which she must examine carefully. Wedding and funeral gifts not only required reciprocation; they also revealed the closeness or distance between the various households.

...

As Dou Yan was thinking, she noticed an unfamiliar little maid peeking in at the door.

She smiled and asked the little maid: "Which quarters are you from? Do you have business with me?"

The little maid was quite bold. She stepped out with a smile and said in a clear, orderly voice: "My name is Fuliu. I came from the farm estate in Tianjin Guard. Guard Duan sent me to see whether you are busy, madam."

After that batch of little maids from the farm estates entered the household, Dou Yan had the prefix Fu added to all their names.

"Go tell Guard Duan that I am free. Let him come in."

Fuliu smiled, turned, and ran off.

Before long, Duan Bing came over and said with a smile: "Madam, that Master Chen Jia wishes to see you."

Dou Yan was somewhat surprised and said with a smile: "How did you all come to be involved with Chen Jia?"

Duan Bing said: "When Suxin married, he also gave a gift. We could hardly let him just leave, could we? So we asked him to stay and drink the wedding wine. One thing led to another, and we became acquainted."

Dou Yan had to give Duan Bing some face.

"Let him come in." She smiled and instructed the little maid, "Take Master Chen to the small flower hall in the outer courtyard and serve him tea."

*

Brothers and sisters, here is the second update.

This is not idle chatter; every plot point here has a purpose.

o(n_n)o~