Chapter 395 — The Great Hall

The Duke of Ying was a muddle-headed man, but the daughter-in-law he had chosen had a mind that kept track of things.

Clever people like dealing with clever people, and she was no exception. Hearing Dou Xin speak thus, she felt moved to lend Dou Xin a hand, and said with a smile, "Indeed. When my father-in-law was still alive, he often spoke to the younger generation of the late Emperor's civil achievements and military prowess. Otherwise, why would our boy, young as he is, insist on going to the Northwest Camp?"

The Heir to the Duke of Xingguo was in the Northwest Camp, and by now already a camp officer.

The Empress came back to herself as well.

Among the titled families in this hall, for every house whose loyal sons had died on the battlefield in defense of sovereign and country, there was a house that clung to life and shirked military command. Those who died on the battlefield had indeed received generous rewards—but those who clung to life and feared death had not all been dispossessed and exiled either. The Empress Dowager grew angry at the very thought, and took the opportunity to give those families a good grinding down before she could feel satisfied. If the talk went on, it would likely turn into a settling of scores after the autumn harvest.

She smiled at the Empress Dowager and said, "When all is said and done, it is Your Majesty's wisdom—had you not issued the decree sending Lady Ping to tend the sick, there would be no Teng'er!"

The Heir to the Duke of Xingguo had guarded the frontier for years, while his wife remained in the capital. Ten years of marriage had produced no legitimate son. Once, when Lady Xingguo Gong came to the palace to pay her respects, she mentioned that her son had caught a chill; the Empress Dowager laughingly issued a decree sending Lady Ping to the northwest to tend the sick, and only then did the senior branch of the Xingguo Gong household produce a legitimate son.

Lady Xingguo Gong immediately picked up the thread, sighing with feeling: "How else to describe Your Majesty's wisdom? In great matters and small alike, you think everything through for us. If I were not afraid of disturbing Your Majesty's quiet cultivation, I would come to the palace every day to talk with you."

How could Lady Changxing Hou let Lady Xingguo Gong steal the show!

Seizing on the mention of keeping the Empress Dowager company, she said with a smile, "A few days ago the Consort Dowager sent word to me, asking me to go to the Puji Temple and see how the thousand-year ginkgo behind it is doing, and to remember to ask the temple for a share when it bears fruit."

Every year the Changxing Hou household sent men to the Puji Temple to gather ginkgo nuts as a gift for the Empress Dowager.

Hearing Lady Changxing Hou speak of this, the Empress Dowager thought of Consort Dowager Shi.

Ordinarily it would not be proper for a consort dowager to appear on such an occasion, but if the Empress Dowager spoke the word, the improper became a mark of favor.

She instructed a palace maid: "Summon Consort Dowager Shi as well, to join the liveliness. She keeps me company every day—I cannot leave her out at a time like this."

Lady Changxing Hou heard this and quickly kowtowed in thanks.

The Empress Dowager laughed. "What are you kowtowing for? Get up!"

Lady Changxing Hou smiled like a child performing for a parent: "Am I not rejoicing on the Consort Dowager's behalf?"

Amid the talk and laughter, Princess Ninghuai and the Third Princess arrived.

The Empress Dowager was on very good terms with Princess Ninghuai as well, and quickly had a palace maid announce them in, and fell to chatting about old times.

Before long Consort Dowager Shi arrived too.

She had always been skilled at adding to the merriment, and with her rank to lend weight, the atmosphere in the great hall soon surged to a small climax.

After that the Crown Princess and several of the princes' wives arrived.

The great hall grew livelier still.

Dou Yan had steered the conversation elsewhere, and so she sat quietly, letting the Empress Dowager hold her hand as she listened to the old ladies exchange pleasantries.

Lady Xingguo shared her predicament.

The two exchanged a glance and smiled.

Dou Ming had long since been forgotten.

When she had answered earlier, she stood in the middle of the hall; when Lady Changxing Hou pressed close, she was blocked from view; when Lord Ninghuai and the Third Princess entered, she hurried aside; and as Lady Changxing Hou and Lady Donglin Bo came forward one after another to pay their respects to Princess Ninghuai and the Third Princess, she was pushed to the edge by the curtains.

Yet she had to keep her back straight and her head slightly bowed, maintaining an attitude of humility.

The Empress Dowager and the Empress might not see her, but there were countless eunuchs and maids in this hall; one slip on her part, and who knew what it might become.

She could not help looking toward Dou Yan.

Princess Dening was pressing Dou Yan back onto the brocade stool as she tried to rise and pay her respects, murmuring something low to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager's gaze fell upon Dou Zhiwei's belly; beaming, she nodded, then beckoned the Crown Princess over, granted her a seat, and spoke with the two of them.

Those ladies who ordinarily looked down their noses at everyone now clustered cautiously around Dou Yan and the Crown Princess, wearing expressions of deference.

The Crown Princess had her back to her, so she could not see her expression clearly.

But Dou Yan was facing her.

Dou Yan's rosy cheeks and radiant smile, her ease and grace among these renowned ladies, were like the noonday summer sun, all but blinding her eyes.

By what right?

Dou Ming's face was frost.

By what right was she left here all alone, ignored by everyone, while that other stood in the full glare of countless eyes, the object of all attention, receiving everyone's envious looks?

Was it not Dou Zhi who was forever boasting of being a good sister?

Was this how a good sister behaved?

While she enjoyed being exalted by the crowd, had she forgotten she had a sister standing in a deserted corner, a sister who could not even lean against something to catch her breath!

Dou Ming glared fiercely at Dou Ming.

The young eunuch standing beside Dou Ming saw it and shivered.

No wonder Grandpa Wang always said the prettier the flower, the more poisonous it is; and the prettier the woman, the crueler her heart.

Lady Jining Hou and the Ying Ducal Heir's wife were sisters!

No wonder people said Lady Jining Hou was of poor character... Should he mention it to Grandpa Wang later?

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And so Dou Ming's journey of court attendance came to an end... O(∩_∩)O~

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※RS