Chapter 355 — Judging the Matter (Bonus Chapter)

Dou Yan had been waiting for exactly these words from Song Cen.

Yet his face turned cold as he sneered, "So even the Duke of Zhenguo knows that a letter of divorce must be written by the son."

Song Cen's old face flushed red.

Dou Yan pressed on, "Money and silk move the hearts of men. Several hundred thousand taels of silver sitting in your honored household—even if the Duke of Zhenguo and the heir apparent turn up their noses at it, there are plenty who would not. The Shuntian Prefecture has already sealed its seal. I suggest you invite the maternal uncle or the paternal aunt's husband of your household to bear witness and settle the silver and the dowry clearly, lest there be wrangling hereafter."

This—would it not alarm the Lu family?

Song Cen hesitated.

Dou Yan poured oil on the fire, saying with disdain, "Could it be that the Duke of Zhenguo covets his daughter-in-law's dowry silver?" He continued, "The young ladies of our family are not for just anyone to point at and criticize. What was said earlier in the open hall, we shall let pass without pursuing. But by virtue of your remark just now—'such a daughter-in-law, I would not want her even if she were given to me'—we cannot leave the Fourth Young Lady in your household. We will take her away regardless. Today you will write a written pledge with your own hand for us to take, or else invite the elders to preside over justice. Otherwise, do not blame the Dou family for being ungracious—we shall take this case with the Duke of Zhenguo before His Majesty."

Several hundred thousand taels of silver?

No wonder it had taken several days just to account for the ledgers!

Song Cen's heart felt as if it were being clawed by a cat—aching for the silver, yet also wanting to divorce Dou Yan and cut off Song Zhi's support. It was a long while before his emotions settled, and he began to ponder the matter carefully.

The Dou family coveted Dou Shi's dowry. Seizing such an opportunity, taking Dou Shi back was the lesser matter; what they truly wanted was to remove Dou Shi's dowry from the Yingzhen Ducal Manor.

If this went before His Majesty, never mind anything else—once Song Yan was summoned and questioned, the whole affair would fall apart. That absolutely would not do. By then, perhaps Dou Shi would not be divorced, and he himself would become the laughingstock of the capital!

He certainly would not write that pledge.

Whether Song Yan would acknowledge it was one thing, but he feared the Dou family would shift all blame onto him, claiming he was the one who wanted to divorce Dou Shi. He would bear the blame while Dou Bingheng reaped the benefits. Unless his brain had been kicked by a mule, doing something that harms oneself to benefit others would be the height of foolishness.

Inviting the Second Maternal Uncle to preside over justice... that did not seem appropriate either.

The Second Maternal Uncle was famously rigid. Once he heard the whole story, he would likely summon Song Yan back. If Song Yan returned, this matter would certainly come to nothing.

Neither this way nor that way worked.

Truly a dilemma!

But once this chance slipped by, there would be no other. To bypass Song Yan and divorce Dou Shi again—after this warning shot—would be even more difficult.

Song Cen could not help cursing Dou Yan inwardly.

Of all times to make trouble, why must it be during the New Year?

Now it was a fine mess. The yamen had sealed its seal, so he could only invite the elders of the family to bear witness. The Song family had few relatives—apart from the Lu family, there truly was no other suitable choice.

Song Cen looked toward Tao Jun.

Tao Jun was at a loss as well.

This was a golden opportunity to pull the rug out from under them, but the question was whom to have bear witness.

He bowed his head in thought.

Dou Yan did not press them, sitting there with the calm assurance of the aged, waiting for them to make their decision.

Suddenly a young servant entered and announced, "The two maternal uncles and Old Madam Lu, along with Princess Ninghuai, have arrived."

Song Cen was greatly startled.

Dou Yan was already smiling. "Duke of Zhenguo, my apologies. It was I who, in your name, invited the two lords and the old madam of the Lu family. I knew it would be somewhat difficult for you to make this decision, so I took the liberty of doing it for you..."

Like a blow to the head, Song Cen's mind buzzed. He did not hear a word of what Dou Yan said afterward. By the time he finally calmed down, before he could make sense of it, Lu Chen and Lu Shi had each entered, supporting their respective old madams.

Dou Yan hurried forward to pay his respects. After introducing himself, he said with a look of shame, "Matters of the younger generation, to trouble the two old madams to make the trip—it is truly improper. But the Duke of Zhenguo is set on divorcing our Fourth Young Lady, and if our family does not step forward, it would not be right either." As he spoke, he smiled bitterly, the picture of helplessness.

Old Madam Lu and Princess Ninghuai were both past sixty. The Dou family was an affinal relative, and divorcing a wife was a grave matter, so no thought was given to the separation of the sexes.

Hearing Dou Yan's words, the Lu family all looked toward Song Cen.

Song Cen hemmed and hawed. He wanted to admit he intended to divorce Dou Shi, but in principle he could not justify it; yet if he did not say it, letting the opportunity slip away, he was unwilling.

To the Lu family, his expression confirmed that Dou Yan had spoken the truth.

Old Madam Lu was so angry she pointed at Song Cen and began to scold, "I thought it was just idle rumor. When the Dou family's kinsman came to invite me, I did not breathe a word of it before your uncle. To think it was actually true! I ask you—you want to divorce Tianci's wife, on what grounds? Among the Seven Grounds for Divorce, which one has she violated?"

Song Cen's face flushed crimson. He stiffened his neck and said, "She stirs up trouble with her tongue!"

"Just because she said the open hall was too cold, she stirs up trouble with her tongue?" Old Madam Lu pressed relentlessly. "Jin'er overstepped her station and offended her superiors—why did you not punish her? Instead you seize upon a single remark from Tianci's wife and will not let it go. By your logic, then maids and serving women who bring hot tea cannot be reprimanded either? Then what need is there for so many servants? Is it that you fear others have no rice to eat, and so you toil and sweat to earn money just to support those who have nothing to do with you?"

Song Cen muttered under his breath, unconvinced, "Jin'er is not an outsider."

Old Madam Lu was so angered she laughed. "It seems in your eyes all people are equal. If that is so, why do you not take out the property of the Yingzhen Ducal Manor and divide it equally among the other three brothers? According to the laws of this dynasty, the one who inherits the title should be the eldest son of the eldest branch. The title of Duke of Yingzhen—should it not be inherited by Song Maochun?"

Song Cen mumbled and could not speak.

Princess Ninghuai was of no ordinary status and had never involved herself in such domestic trifles. But when she heard that Song Cen was forcing Song Yan to divorce his wife, she was furious. After much deliberation, she had still come along.

Now, seeing Song Cen still full of stubbornness, she glanced at Dou Yan, who stood respectfully with hands at his sides, and could not help saying, "You, come with me!"

Song Cen was stunned.

Princess Ninghuai had already gone on ahead into the warm chamber at the rear.

Song Cen had no choice but to follow.