Chapter 216 — Solicitude

So what do you plan to do?

There is nothing for it but to find Dou Yan a better match.

And if no such match can be found...

In any case, Dou Yan must not be made to suffer again.

But saying so was easy; doing it was another matter.

To begin with, Dou Zhiwei was no longer young, and how many men could compare with Wei Fan, a hereditary marquis who had already inherited his title? As for taking a live-in son-in-law, if that were so easy, why was Zhangru still unwed?

Dou Huaiying could not help looking embarrassed.

Zhao Zhangru, who had long since noticed Dou Huaiying's discomfort, hurriedly tugged at Dou Zhiwei's sleeve.

Dou Yan was slightly taken aback. Seeing her father's face full of mortification under her aunt's sharp gaze, she sighed inwardly and stepped forward to rescue him. "When did you arrive? Why didn't you announce yourself?" Then she turned to her aunt. "There is a chill in the night air. Won't everyone come inside and have some hot tea?" She took her aunt by the arm and said with a smile, "My cousin and I were just going through some amusing little things we found. They must have been given to Mother by Grandmother when she married. We were hoping to ask you about them!" Beaming, she drew her aunt into the north chamber that served as a temporary sitting room.

Zhao Zhangru waited for Dou Huaiying, holding the curtain open with a smile.

Dou Huaiying was grateful. He gave Zhao Zhangru a kindly smile and entered the north sitting room. He listened as his daughter and Mrs. Zhao and Zhao Zhangru chatted and laughed for a good while, drank a few cups of tea absent-mindedly, and, seeing that it was getting late and everything had been more or less packed up, rose to take his leave.

Her aunt could not help giving a cold snort.

Dou Huaiying, however, did not sleep a wink all night.

When he rose the next morning, he went to see Dou Yan and said, "I have already discussed the matter with the Wang family. Let王氏 either return to Zhending to serve the Second Old Madam, or go to the family shrine for a period of quiet cultivation. You had best stay in the capital. The household still lacks someone to manage its affairs."

That would also make it easier to arrange a match for her!

Dou Yan had not intended to return to Zhending so soon in any case.

She would settle her own affairs before going back.

"Wonderful!" Dou Xin said. "Auntie says she came to the capital once when she was young, with Uncle. I was just thinking of asking Auntie and Cousin Zhangru to stay with us a while longer and see all the famous sights of the capital."

At those words Dou Huaiying breathed a sigh of relief and began talking of the capital's scenic spots and historic sites.

A young servant had been hovering outside, peeking in, for quite some time. Only when Dou Huaiying paused did he cautiously enter and report, "Seventh Master, Mr. Xu Zhiji of the Hanlin Academy has sent a man with an invitation. He begs you to dine at the Zui Xian Pavilion this evening, and asks that you do not fail to come."

At once Dou Huaiying knew that Xu Zhiji most likely had a favor to ask.

He had always believed that "making things easy for others is making things easy for oneself," but he was in no mood to go drinking at some Zui Xian Pavilion with Xu Zhiji!

After a moment's thought he said, "Go tell the messenger that I have some trifling family matters and it is inconvenient for me to drink at the Zui Xian Pavilion. Thank him for his kindness. If he has other important business to discuss, he is welcome to come to my house for a cup of tea!"

The servant answered and withdrew.

Dou Huaiying resumed his earlier conversation with Dou Yan: "... Is there anywhere in particular you would like to go? I will have Gao Sheng accompany you."

Were it not for her aunt, and the impropriety of a lone man and woman going about together, he would have gone with his daughter himself in a couple of days, when the officials had their day off.

Dou Yan named a few places, then thought better of it. She smiled and said, "Oh, there is no hurry about this. Let me discuss it with Cousin first."

Seeing her in good spirits, Dou Huaiying cheered up as well. "I remember you were always fondest of seal stones. When you were small and saw them in my study, you would not let go of them—you simply had to carry them back to your own room and hide them away. In a few days I will take you to the Yubao Studio. Here in the capital their curios and jade are quite distinctive—even finer than the wares at our own Jifen Pavilion..." He coaxed Dou Yan cautiously, trying to please her.

At the time Dou Yan had been angry, and had deliberately taken for herself the things her father liked; it was not that she truly loved them. Thinking back on it now, she found it rather funny. Still, the chance was rare, and it would be nice to go with her father and see the Yubao Studio for herself.

She asked him with a smile, "Isn't our Jifen Pavilion supposed to be the finest under heaven? How is it that the Yubao Studio's wares are even better than ours?"

"Our Jifen Pavilion excels in variety—it carries goods of every grade, high and low, and has branches in every prefecture. If you fancy something at the Nanjing branch and want it sent to Hangzhou, Jifen Pavilion will arrange delivery, and that is how it has made its name. But as for quality, it cannot match the refinement of the Yubao Studio..." Dou Huaiying was explaining this to Dou Yan in detail when the young servant burst in again and reported, "Seventh Master, Mr. Xu's attendant has come back to ask whether he may call on you this afternoon."

Dou Huaiying could not help exclaiming "Oh?" and muttered, "What is it, to be in such a hurry?"

Dou Qu said, "Father, if you have business, go and attend to it! I was just thinking of sitting with Auntie and asking where she and Cousin would like to go."

Dou Huaiying did not press them, and returned to his study.

After the midday meal, Xu Zhiji arrived with a blue-robed scholar of about fifty.

Dou Huaiying saw that the scholar was finely dressed, with a flawless Hetian jade pendant hanging at his waist, a ruddy complexion, and a little fingernail grown out more than an inch—altogether the picture of a venerable scholar accustomed to comfort and privilege. He was secretly puzzled, but without betraying anything he invited the two men to sit.

Before the servant could serve tea, Xu Zhiji first begged pardon. "I have come without so much as obtaining Brother Wanyuan's consent—truly, I was beside myself with urgency. I beg Brother Wanyuan's indulgence."

Whatever Xu Zhiji wanted, it likely had to do with this blue-robed scholar.

Dou Huaiying pondered this and smiled. "You and I are both officials of the Hanlin Academy; it is only right that we support one another. Brother Zhiji, you make too much of it."

After a few polite exchanges, Xu Zhiji introduced the blue-robed scholar to Dou Huaiying. "This is a fellow native of my district. His surname is Tao, given name Chi, courtesy name Qizhong. He now serves as a retainer in the household of the Duke of Ying. In my early years, when I came to the capital for the examinations, I received kindness at Brother Tao's hands. Now Brother Tao has a favor to ask, and my position is too humble and my words too slight, so I have come to beg Brother Wanyuan's help." With that he rose and made a deep bow to Dou Huaiying. "I beg Brother Wanyuan, whatever it takes, to lend a hand."

Seeing this, the blue-robed scholar also rose hurriedly and saluted Dou Huaiying.

"Please, rise, both of you!" Dou Huaiying hurried to help them up. "Brother Zhiji, you know my temper. We are all officials far from home here in the capital; it is fate enough that we know one another. Whatever I can do to help, I will not shirk."

It was precisely because he knew this that Xu Zhiji had dared to bring the man unannounced.

He recounted the matter with a shamefaced air.