Chapter 381 — Calling at the Door

In his former life, Wang Xu had controlled the Embroidered Uniform Guard for a time, then been kicked down by Song Yan; not long afterward he retired from office.

Clearly Wang Xu was a key figure as well.

Dou Chiyou clapped his hands. "Excellent. In that case, we can seize the initiative."

Song Sui mused, "I wonder whom he approached at the Hanlin Academy and the Grand Secretariat?"

Dou Xin said, "Have you forgotten the matter of the Risheng Silver House?"

Back then Zhang Zhiqi had invited Dou Huaiying to buy in; Dou Huaiying and Zhang Zhiqi each held a third, while Guo Yan, Zhao Peijie, and Chen Songming together held the remaining third.

Guo Yan was the son-in-law of the former Grand Secretary Zeng Yifen. He had once served in the Hanlin Academy as Expositor-in-Waiting, and before Zeng Yifen's death he had been posted out as Surveillance Commissioner of Shaanxi.

Chen Songming was the Chief of the Messenger Office, a close attendant of the Son of Heaven.

Zhao Peijie was a Hanlin Academy Scholar and concurrently Junior Supervisor of the Household of the Heir Apparent — a servant of the Eastern Palace.

In his former life, when the Prince of Liao ascended the throne, Guo Yan rose on the strength of his post as Shaanxi Grand Coordinator to become Minister of War and Grand Secretary of the Yingwu Hall, taking his place in the Grand Secretariat; Chen Songming was promoted to Chancellor of the Imperial College; Zhao Peijie hanged himself at home after the palace coup; and Dou Huaiying had no part in any of it. But in this life, Dou Bingheng had entered the Grand Secretariat ahead of schedule, Dou Huaiying had come into their line of sight as well, and because Dou Yan had discovered things early and forced Dou Huaiying to withdraw his shares from the Risheng Silver House, putting Dou Bingheng out of the game, matters had returned to their original track — and in the end the Prince of Liao had still attached himself to Dai Jian.

Song Yan naturally did not know that Dou Zhiwei could "foreknow" events, yet through this he could see the essence of the matter.

His brows knitted tightly.

At present Guo Yan was merely a Consultant. He himself could promote Jiang Yi to Commander or Assistant Commander of the Five Wards' Military Command — and the Prince of Liao could likewise raise Guo Yan to a provincial administration commissioner or surveillance commissioner, one of those frontier governors.

Song Yan murmured, "Guo Yan and Zhao Peijie are both manageable. The former cannot affect the political situation unless he rises to full third rank; the latter is a servant of the Eastern Palace, and several of Cui Pianyi's disciples are well known to me, so it would be no trouble to set someone to watch him. It is Chen Songming who is the difficulty — there is no suitable man for that post..."

He came of a noble house. On the side of the Five Army Command it would be easy enough, but at the Hanlin Academy he likely could not get a hand in... Could the Dou family lend Song Yan a hand?

Dou Yan nearly blurted out Dou Yan's name.

In this year's spring examination he would place on the golden roll, then pass into the Hanlin Academy as a Bachelor, and observe administration in the Messenger Office.

Clear-headed and cool-tempered, steady in handling affairs and full of strategy — he was the most suitable choice of all.

.

Dou Yan smiled wryly and said, "How about this — leave the matter to me? Father and my sixth uncle both hold posts at the Hanlin Academy and know many people there. I will go consult with them."

"My father-in-law studied the arts of Laozi and Zhuangzi. Best not to disturb the old gentleman's peace." Thinking of his father-in-law's temperament, Song Yan declined tactfully. "I will find a way myself."

He still had some misgivings.

If Dou Yan could not find a suitable man, would he go to Ji Yong for help?

How Ji Yong treated Dou Yan, he could not say, but Dou Yan regarded Ji Yong almost as kin — and Ji Yong was famously wild and ungovernable. News of usurpation and seizure of the palace would leave other men trembling; hearing it, he would surely perk up, delighted at the prospect of chaos.

He was not after the merit of following the dragon; he only hoped to avoid this storm and come out whole. Why make the matter known to all and sundry, a great uproar?

"Leave this matter alone. I will find a way," Song Yan urged Dou Yan once more.

Dou Yan nodded. In his heart, though, he was counting how many days remained until the results were posted.

Just then, a trusted matron from Lady Guo's side came to bring Dou Yan word: the Wei family was pressing Dou Ming to hand over her dowry to Dou Juan to manage. The Wang family was furious, and Lady Gao had gone in person to demand an explanation from the Dou family. Fifth Aunt had been wronged into speechlessness, swearing by heaven that the Dou family had never taken Dou Ming's dowry into custody, and had arranged with the Wang family to go to the Wei household together on a chosen day to make matters clear and speak up for Dou Ming. From what Fifth Aunt meant, besides herself and Lady Dou, the Dou family also intended to ask Sixth Aunt, Lady Ji, and Dou Yan to appear.

Dou Yan laughed coldly at this, gave the serving woman a red envelope, asked after Jing, and then raised his teacup to see her out.

When Fifth Aunt sent someone to invite her, she refused without hesitation: "Dou Ming and I have never got along. Better we keep our distance and each go our own way than go and be given the cold shoulder. It is enough that her uncles, aunts, and cousins in the Dou family speak for her."

The old woman had no choice but to repeat her words to Fifth Aunt.

Fifth Aunt sighed.

Lady Cai said, "Since even Fourth Aunt will not involve herself in this, what do you think we should..."

Fifth Aunt shot her daughter-in-law a fierce glare. "This concerns Dou Juan's reputation. How can we not appear?" In her heart, though, she could not help but feel regret.

Her eldest son's wife was gentle and kind, but had unfortunately borne no son, and so had no standing in the household and could not overawe the second daughter-in-law. The second was glib and smooth, deft at every turn, and had given birth to the legitimate eldest grandson — but she was too mercenary, too short-sighted, no woman to run a household.

It seemed the fifth branch could only pin its hopes on the grandson.

Having conceived this thought, she discussed it with Dou Bingheng and took both of Lady Cai's sons to raise in her own rooms; and because of this Lady Cai grew estranged — but that is a later matter.

On the day agreed with the Wang family, Fifth Aunt and Sixth Aunt dressed in full court attire according to their rank, and Lady Cai and Lady Guo were likewise arrayed in opulent and dignified fashion; together with Lady Gao, Pang Yulou, and Lady Gao's daughter-in-law Gao Mingzhu, they went to the Jining Marquis's mansion.

Wei Wan, a jade-green peony in her hair and a cloud-and-pheasant-patterned outer robe on her back, stood at the second gate to receive the guests, her expression haughty.

Fifth Aunt felt her anger rise at the sight.

Were it not for this eldest sister-in-law, would the Wei family have so much trouble?

Setting aside her usual mildness, she stepped forward with a smile and needled Wei Wan at once: "I did not expect the eldest young madam to return to her maiden home so early. To judge by this grand array, my eyes played tricks on me just now — I thought it was Ming herself!"

The implication: mocking a married daughter for meddling in her maiden family's affairs.