Chapter 341 — Conflict

With something weighing on her mind, she spoke.

As the auspicious hour for the birthday greetings approached, the Duchess of Jingguo's grandsons, granddaughters, and the children of her daughters appeared in the flower hall, each attended by a cluster of maids and serving women. One knelt to bow to his grandmother, another to her aunt by marriage; after a burst of laughter and chatter, Wei Wan appeared in the flower hall, invited the assembled ladies to move to the waterside pavilion ahead, and said, "A stage has been set up beside the pavilion. The ladies may drink and enjoy the opera at their leisure."

Everyone rose with smiles and made their way toward the waterside pavilion.

The Marchioness of Changxing, with great presence of mind, took Princess Ninghuai by the arm and led the way at the front, then turned her head to speak with Old Madam Lu: "That lilac-colored zhuanghua jacket with the gourd-and-reed pattern is truly lovely—I have never seen its like before. It must be a new pattern sent as tribute from the Jiangnan weaving workshops this year?"

Old Madam Lu chuckled. "You child, your mouth is fairly dripping with honey. I am not your mother-in-law—I have nothing to reward you with!"

The Marchioness of Changxing laughed. "Listen to you! Your good spirits are worth more to me than any reward."

Old Madam Lu turned to Princess Ninghuai with a laugh. "You see? And she still claims she is not flattering me."

Princess Ninghuai could not suppress a smile and teased the Marchioness of Changxing in turn: "Rest assured, the next time I meet your mother-in-law, I shall sing your praises most thoroughly."

Everyone burst out laughing.

Dou Yan, her hand held by Old Madam Lu as though she were a child, laughed along with them.

The Marchioness of Changxing then said to Dou Yan: "This is the first time the Heir's Consort of the Duke of Yingguo has come visiting. I am given to foolishness, so pray do not take offense. Later, sit with us—it will give you a chance to look after the Grand Princess and Old Madam Lu, and save the two elders from thinking I am merely being polite to them."

She was exceedingly warm toward her.

Because the Changxing Marquis household had married into the imperial family, it had always regarded itself as foremost among the noble houses. In her former life, the Marchioness had not deigned to glance at her. In this life, she had become the Heir's Consort of the Duke of Yingzhenguo, and with Princess Ninghuai's favor besides, the Marchioness of Changxing now looked upon her with new eyes. At their very first meeting, she had placed her in the category of those with whom she might speak freely and share a table.

Dou Yan merely smiled and nodded, the picture of modesty and restraint.

But she was the Heir's Consort of the Duke of Yingzhenguo; however modest and restrained she might be, her station was plain for all to see, and people came forward of their own accord to strike up conversation.

"Is the Duke of Zhenguo fully recovered?" It was the Heir's Consort of the Earl of Donglin who approached to speak with her. "At the last family theatrical gathering, you were tending to the sick and could not attend. I regretted it for quite some time."

Dou Yan glanced at the Countess of Donglin, who followed behind the Heir's Consort with her two daughters in proper order, and smiled. "The Duke of Zhenguo is quite recovered. I heard that several masters of the capital's opera troupes attended that gathering and sang most wonderfully. When your esteemed household next holds a theatrical gathering, I shall certainly be there."

The Countess of Donglin was a second wife; matters of social obligation were all handled by the Heir's Consort of Donglin, and she seldom went abroad.

In Dou Zhiwei's memory... this must be why the Duchess of Jingguo, on this birthday occasion, had also brought her two daughters to offer congratulations!

Dou Yan smiled and mingled with the company, gracious and proper.

Third Madam Zhang took a share of the glory, jesting and chiming in at her side, determined that Dou Yan's first appearance should be radiant and leave a deep impression.

Dou Yan never once spoke with Wei Wan, nor paid any heed to Dou Ming.

Second Madam Zhang watched, her eyes darting this way and that.

Wei Wan was seized with fury and shot Dou Ming a venomous glare.

Dou Ming was still brooding over the matter of the trousseau. Head bowed, she walked silently behind the others.

Wei Wan grew angrier still. She exchanged a few smiling words with Lady Guo, then walked up to Dou Ming and hissed in a low, resentful voice: "Are you mute? With so many people about, you do not even go up to greet them! Do you not often say at home that you were raised by Old Madam Wang? What of it? Is this how the Wang family teaches manners and propriety?"

The sarcasm drained the color from Dou Ming's face. She raised her head, about to answer with a cold laugh, when she saw the ladies all turning to speak with Dou Yan, who stood among them like a pearl of noble worth, radiant and luminous.

A foul breath lodged in her chest.

Dou Yan had already married into the Duke of Yingzhenguo's household, said to be the foremost noble house in the capital. Why, then, did Father secretly supplement her dowry, as though terrified she might not live well enough? She too was a married daughter; the Jining Marquis household was far inferior to the Duke of Yingzhenguo's. Why had Father never thought of her?

The thought that she had learned of Father's supplement to Dou Yan's dowry only from others' lips made her chest tighten and her heart feel as though it had been stabbed, an agony she could not bear. She wished only to flee this stifling banquet and ask Father why he treated her so. What mood had she left for Wei Wan?

To be thus ignored by her own sister-in-law, Wei Wan felt a fire blaze up in her heart with a thud. She seized Dou Ming by the arm and growled low: "I am speaking to you! Surely you are not so lacking in breeding as this?"

Ordinarily she was not so hot-tempered. But her mother-in-law, in her daily efforts to make things difficult for her, was forever hinting that her natal family was of no help—and here her own family was, doing things that dragged her down. At an occasion like today's, the natal families of her two sisters-in-law had arrived long ago; Third Sister-in-law Feng's family had even sent two elders. Her own sister-in-law, by contrast, had arrived at the last moment, and had cost her a favor owed to Feng for nothing. Her mood was foul, and her words and manner were more fiery than usual.

Yet Dou Ming had her own thoughts and could not be bothered with her.

She flung off Wei Wan's grip, straightened her back, and quickly caught up with the ladies ahead.

Wei Wan's face darkened as though a storm were about to break.

She hurried after her and seized Dou Ming's arm once more.

Young Madam Wang, who was speaking with Second Madam Zhang, saw this and teased the pair: "How affectionate you aunt and niece are! What secrets are you whispering?"

Everyone's gaze drifted toward them.

Second Madam Zhang's eyes lit up. She covered her mouth and laughed, then said loudly: "Elder Sister-in-law, what is it that cannot be said before us? Rest assured—we may envy the dowries of the two Dou daughters, but we shall not go about spreading tales and invite a thief to our door."

Everyone laughed. Though most were both envious and jealous, they all wore faces wreathed in smiles.

Wei Wan did not know why Second Madam Zhang should say such a thing on such an occasion, and gave a vague, smiling response.