Chapter 212 — Admission

Zhang Yuanming, who knew his brother-in-law's temperament well, took it in stride, but Dou Wenchang and Ji Yong both wore expressions of disbelief. Ji Yong even cursed inwardly: This Dou Ming really has the devil's own luck, to win Wei Fan over just like that. Thank goodness Dou Yan didn't marry Wei Fan — otherwise, having to face a man whose brains are like porridge every single day, how could anyone live such a life!

As the thought flashed through his mind, he felt a little smug.

When Dou Ming learned that he had helped break off her engagement, she would surely be delighted!

And when his great-grandfather went to make the marriage proposal on his behalf, what sort of expression would she wear?

Shock, indignation, or would she angrily summon him to give him a dressing-down, demanding to know whether he had a hand in this business of the sisters swapping marriages?

At these thoughts, he felt a faint wonder.

Marriage is a great matter — why had he never imagined that Dou Yan might be shy about it?

Perhaps that was precisely what he liked about Dou Yan?

She was never coy or simpering about what she wanted. What she wanted and did not want was always clear and plain—unlike his cousins, who habitually said half and meant the other half. Even Ji Lingze, who had always been the paragon among those cousins for her quick wit and easy, forthright manners, seemed to suffer from the same flaw.

He watched Dou Ming crumple to the ground, clutching at the hem of Wei Fan's robe and sobbing softly, and felt better than he had in a very long time.

※※※※※

Song Cen, however, was in a foul mood.

Yesterday the Eastern Lin Count, Zhou Shaochuan, had taken a daughter-in-law. The Huichang Count, Shen Dagui, had congratulated him with a grin: "Your Yantang is truly capable—summoned by His Majesty every day at the summer palace! They say that when the grand secretaries hold their council, your Yantang sits right there in the Lizheng Hall, continuing to transcribe The Account of the Domains and Their Topography for His Majesty. Yantang's scholarship has advanced so far—how delightful, how delightful!" Then, with envy: "Such an honor belongs to your household alone!"

Whether the Ying Zhenguo Estate rose or fell, what business was it of his?

Song Cen felt stifled.

At this rate, in a few more years he feared he would have no way left to suppress Song Yan.

He summoned a servant: "Ask Mr. Tao to come and talk with me."

The servant answered and went off.

He sat on the large kang by the window, gazing out at the osmanthus tree beyond, its oil-green leaves dotted with tender yellow blossoms like a scatter of tiny stars, his thoughts elsewhere.

Ever since his falling-out with Song Yan, Song Cen had had the Guixiang Court on the eastern side of the Ying Zhenguo Estate renovated anew and moved there, so that it stood east while the Yizhi Hall stood west, the two facing each other in a standoff.

Tao Jun thought this a poor arrangement.

Song Cen was the rightful Duke of Ying and master of the Ying Zhenguo Estate; ceding the principal courtyard in this way gave the impression that he was yielding to Song Yan. He had urged against it several times, but Song Cen was set on living in the Guixiang Court. Tao Jun shook his head privately, yet knew there was nothing more he could say on the matter.

The court took its name from the osmanthus trees that filled its grounds.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the osmanthus in the Guixiang Court was in full bloom. From afar one caught the rich fragrance of the blossoms; up close the scent grew so heavy it became almost stifling.

When Tao Jun entered the study, he found Song Cen reviewing Song Han's lessons.

Song Cen loved learning. In his youth he had sat for the examinations and even earned the xiucai degree, showing considerable accomplishment in the craft of examination prose. Later the old Duke of Ying had rebuked him, telling him not to compete with scholars for fame lest it invite trouble, and so he had not continued on to the higher examinations—but he had engaged great scholars to instruct him at home, and in scholarship he had his own distinctive attainments, more than sufficient to guide Song Han in his studies.

Seeing Tao Jun, he set aside his second son's lessons and sighed. "When all is said and done... he has no gift for it. Nothing at all compared to Song Yan!"

If that was so, then why reduce himself to this pass with his eldest son?

Tao Jun muttered this inwardly, bowing respectfully and keeping to the proper measure of a confidential advisor.

Fortunately Song Cen had no intention of asking him to weigh in. As though he felt he had spoken out of turn, he quickly changed the subject. "I think we must take a more active approach with Yan'an Prefecture. Tomorrow go to the Yan'an Marquis's household and sound out the Wang family's intentions." He sighed as he spoke.

This was the trouble with having no mistress to preside over the household.

Women could talk easily among themselves, and a misstep could still be smoothed over.

Sending an advisor was stiff and rigid, and once a proposal was refused, it could not gracefully be raised again. That his own marriage prospects had long gone poorly was bound up with this as well.

※

o(n_n)o~

Sisters, brothers, here is a rough draft for now.

※