Chapter 267 — The Visit

In Princess Ninghuai's reception room stood flowering trees planted in great porcelain vats; though it was already late autumn, they still grew lush and green.

Stepping inside, Dou Yan could not help but feel her spirits lift; she went forward respectfully and made a grand curtsy to Princess Ninghuai, who sat upon a luohan bed.

Princess Ninghuai was startled. "Get up, get up at once! There's no need for such ceremony."

Lady Lu the Second, wife of Lu Shi, who had come in her company, hurried forward to help her up.

Dou Yan refused to rise. "Had I not had your guidance, I would not even have known what sort of dress was proper to wear into the palace today, let alone have received gifts from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Her Majesty the Empress, or been granted the title of 'Lady' by His Majesty ahead of time." She insisted on completing the full curtsy.

Doing a good turn does not necessarily require repayment, but to be thanked from the heart for it brings a joy that runs deep.

Princess Ninghuai chuckled. She pointed to the empty seat beside her. "Sit down and talk with me."

Naturally, Dou Yan would not presume so far.

Smiling, she gave her thanks and seated herself on an embroidered stool just below the princess.

Princess Ninghuai gave a quiet nod of approval. When the maids had served tea and refreshments, she asked about the visit to the palace: "Where did Her Majesty the Empress Dowager receive you? Who led you in? And is Her Majesty well?"

Dou Yan answered carefully, then said, "...When Her Majesty the Empress Dowager heard from you that I know how to play leaf cards, she told the heir to bring me into the palace when he had a free moment, to play a few rounds with her." Her eyes went wide. "But how did you know I can play leaf cards?"

That look of astonishment delighted Princess Ninghuai.

"You'll understand when you reach my age," the princess said with a laugh. "Your words come out slurred, crumbs fall when you eat a cake, and everywhere you go people find you a nuisance. There's nothing left but to hole up at home and while away the hours at leaf cards. The Dowager of the Dou family is about our age, so she must be the same. You grew up at her side in Zhending and were always there attending her in her old age—you must play very well indeed!"

Dou Yan felt her cheeks burn with shame.

Because of the memories she carried from her former life, she had disliked the Second Dowager in this one. Though they lived under the same roof in Zhending, she had seldom kept the old lady company. Her skill at leaf cards came, in fact, from the many hours she had spent pleasing Lady Tian in her previous life.

Be that as it may, Princess Ninghuai's having chosen to mention her before the Empress Dowager was a rare opportunity, and she thanked the princess once more.

"One family does not speak two languages," said Princess Ninghuai with a smile. "When your second aunt came into the palace, I offered her some pointers as well. But she never had your good fortune. It only goes to show that such things depend on who the person is."

Lady Lu the Second could not help flushing.

Dou Yan said, "Man proposes, Heaven disposes. But your kindness, Princess, we will hold in our hearts, and be ever grateful for it."

Lady Lu the Second nodded again and again.

Then Dou Yan sighed with feeling. "All the world knows that the closest ties are those of blood—break the bone and the sinew still holds. Yet when trouble comes, people would rather give their favors to strangers than to their own kin. And they'll argue it roundly: 'Give a favor to an outsider and it's counted a kindness, and you get a word of praise for your trouble; give it to a relative and they take it as their due. They won't even say thank you—and if something goes wrong, they'll blame you for incompetence and leave you scrambling to clean up the mess.' What they never stop to think is that when life and death hang in the balance, the only ones who will stand by you with all their heart, asking nothing in return, are still your own flesh and blood."

Princess Ninghuai's brows stirred faintly at this. She lowered her head, sipped her tea, and said slowly, "But where life and death are concerned, it is also those same blood kin who drop stones on the man already in the well, and push you down to your death..."

"True enough!" Dou Yan agreed, and broke into a radiant smile. "Look at me—coming to visit you and talking of such things. It only shows that kin are like friends: there are good and bad among them, and one can't judge everything by closeness of blood, nor indulge them at every turn." Then she turned the conversation. "The heir says the court has its own regulations for conferring the title of heir's wife. Special edicts of enfeoffment from His Majesty can be counted on one hand since this dynasty began. It is His Majesty's signal favor, and ought to be properly celebrated. He thought that while the weather still holds these next few days, we might hold a chrysanthemum-viewing feast at home tomorrow, and invite relatives and friends for some merrymaking." She glanced at the Dowager with a smile. "I do hope Your Highness and my second cousin-in-law will honor us with your presence."

Lady Lu the Second knew of this already and said nothing, but Princess Ninghuai was taken aback. She asked the palace maid beside her, "What day is tomorrow?"

The maid answered with a smile, "Tomorrow is the fourth."

Princess Ninghuai thought for a moment. "As it happens, I have nothing on tomorrow... then we shall go over first thing." The last words were directed to Lady Lu the Second.

Lady Lu the Second assented respectfully.

Dou Yan was overjoyed.

After they had chatted a while, she rose to take her leave.

Lady Lu the Second saw Dou Yan out.

Princess Ninghuai, supported by a woman official dressed in the manner of a palace maid, withdrew to her inner chamber.

"Yantang's wife is rather interesting!" she said to the woman official with a smile. "Every word she speaks carries a deeper meaning."

The woman official had plainly understood her mistress. She said respectfully, "Then will you still go to the Yingzhenguo residence tomorrow?"

"Go? Of course I'll go," said Princess Ninghuai with a smile. "There is some sense in what she said. When the Dingzhenguo residence fell on hard times, Yantang was the one running hither and thither for them—no own son could have done more!" Her smile slowly faded and her voice dropped. "Han and Qin are both older than Yantang, yet they are far beneath him. The Lu family has dwindled to this day. If Yantang could look after them a little, perhaps among Han's and Qin's children and grandchildren one or two might yet be found to uphold the family name..."

The woman official was greatly alarmed. "Your Highness is too grave," she said quickly. "I have always found Young Master Han and Young Master Qin filial and sensible..."

Princess Ninghuai waved a hand, cutting her off with some displeasure. "You have served me since you were small, and the bond between us is not as other bonds. Anyone else may say such a thing; you may not."

The woman official flushed and lowered her head.

Princess Ninghuai looked at her and sighed. "It remains to be seen what manner of woman this Dou is. If she knows how to repay a kindness, I would not mind lending her a measure of my strength... it depends on what choice she makes..." With that, as though waiting for something, she turned her attention to her tea and savored it slowly.

For a time the room was so still that a falling pin could be heard.

The woman official held her breath, not daring even to breathe aloud.

After a good while, a young servant came running in hurriedly.

"Your Highness," he reported, "the heir's wife has gone to the residence of the Second Master."

At these words, Princess Ninghuai let out a long breath, and with a pleased smile ordered the woman official to reward the servant with a tael of silver.

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