Chapter 399 — Astonishment

Whenever Dou Yan went to see Fourth Madam Jiang again, she would often run into Song Han.

He would either talk with Jiang Xiexiu or help Jiang Xieying with her tasks, getting along splendidly with the Jiang sisters. Even Fourth Madam Jiang could not help sighing, "After not seeing him for a few years, Tian'en has grown up and become much more sensible."

Dou Yan smiled faintly.

Song Cen sent Huang Qing to deliver a trousseau gift to Jiang Ling.

Song Han stood drinking tea in the rear passage behind the main hall and did not come out.

Fourth Madam Jiang thought of how Song Cen had treated Song Zhi after the Lady Jiang's death, and said nothing.

Dou Yan was even less inclined to meddle in such matters.

After exchanging pleasantries, Huang Qing rose to take his leave.

Fourth Madam Jiang instructed the steward to see him out.

But Jiang Xiexiu picked up the gift list lying on the square table, glanced at it, then raised her eyes and gave a cold laugh.

Fourth Madam Jiang's brows knitted slightly, and she called out "Xiexiu" in a tone of warning.

Jiang Xiexiu bit her lip, bowed her head and curtsied to Fourth Madam Jiang, then withdrew.

Dou Yan did not understand what was going on.

Fourth Madam Jiang thought for a moment, then handed the gift list to Dou Yan.

A full thousand taels in silver notes, sent barefaced.

Even if the Jiang family had fallen so low that they had to rely on the Songs' silver to marry off a daughter, you might at least have sent a couple of trinkets to soften the appearance of it.

Song Cen was using the Jiang family as a stepping stone to gild his own face.

Dou Yan raised an eyebrow and smiled. "You know yourself that since my mother-in-law passed away, there has been no one managing the household of the Zhenguo Duke. I imagine the Duke instructed how much silver was to be given, and the steward below misunderstood and simply brought the silver directly. Fourth Aunt-in-law need not take it to heart. This silver is neither too much nor too little—in truth it is rather awkward to handle. I think it would be better to convert it into gold for Twelfth Cousin to take with her. It would not draw attention, and it would lend her some dignity."

Fourth Madam Jiang naturally knew Dou Yan was only comforting her. Still, she felt a pang in her heart; smiling, she made a few polite replies and sent someone to bring the silver notes to Jiang Ling for her inspection.

But Song Han suddenly burst out.

He seized the silver notes in one grab and cried out, pale-faced, "Fourth Aunt-in-law, I am going to find Father!"

Fourth Madam Jiang hurriedly had someone restrain him. "Your father means well. With his thousand taels, I need not prepare trousseau silver for your Twelfth Cousin, which solves my urgent need. Do not go making a fuss over every rumor!"

Song Han clutched the silver notes and said nothing, but tears whirled in his eyes.

Fourth Madam Jiang quickly summoned Jiang Xiexiu and told her to accompany Song Han to the rear passage to finish their tea.

Seeing that Fourth Madam Jiang had everything more or less prepared, Dou Yan asked after the details of the wedding banquet and set her mind at ease. Noticing that it was nearly time for the evening meal, she sent word to Song Yan that he need not come to fetch her, as she intended to return home together with Song Han.

Fourth Madam Jiang urged them to stay for supper.

Dou Yan declined politely. "You are busy here, and I still have several matters to instruct the stewardesses about at home. Once you are past this busy spell, I shall send you an invitation to bring my two cousins to my house for a proper visit."

Hearing this, Fourth Madam Jiang reflected that Dou Yan managed the household affairs of the Yingzhen Duke's residence, and so did not press her. Smiling, she rose to see her out.

Song Han bowed to Dou Yan. "Good sister-in-law, I have nothing to do. I should like to stay here and keep Fourth Aunt-in-law company."

Dou Yan would not dream of stopping him. Smiling, she admonished him a few times not to be naughty, then took her maids and serving women back to the Yingzhen Duke's residence.

Song Han did not return until the hour of Hai.

The next day, Dou Yan heard that Song Han had been given twenty strokes of the plank by Song Cen for skipping school and was lying in bed unable to move.

Dou Yan was greatly alarmed and went to find Song Yan.

Song Yan frowned at the news, thought for a moment, and went to the Osmanthus Fragrance Courtyard.

After a sharp exchange between father and son, Song Cen remitted ten days of Song Han's lessons.

Dou Yan and Song Chu went to visit Song Han.

Before Song Yan could open his mouth, Song Han had already pursed his lips and begged for mercy. "Elder brother, I did not mean to skip school. I wanted to talk more with Fourth Aunt-in-law, but Father would not allow it." With his backside smarting from the plank, he lay face down on the bed and timidly tugged at Song Yan's sleeve. "Elder brother, please do not scold me anymore. Fourth Aunt-in-law says that after Twelfth Cousin returns home on the third day of the wedding, they will be going back to Haozhou, and who knows when we shall meet again. In the past, I could go to my uncle's house whenever I pleased. No matter how Grandmother doted on Cousin Xiexiu, whenever I called for her, she would play with me. It is not like now—Cousin Xiexiu, even when she has a moment to spare, must still knot cords, and after talking with me a little she sends me off to play by myself..."

"Even so, you cannot skip school!" Song Yan said, though his tone had softened considerably. "You could have told me beforehand. Even if you could not find me right away, you could have told your sister-in-law!"

Song Han stole a sheepish glance at Dou Yan and mumbled his apologies. "Sister-in-law is carrying my nephew. I was afraid of disturbing you..."

Song Yan sighed. "Never again!"

Song Han nodded and gave Dou Yan a shy smile.

And so the matter was considered closed.

The next day, Song Han, still unable to leave his bed from the beating, was quietly carried on a servant's back to Fourth Madam Jiang's again.

When Ruozhu came to tell Dou Yan, Dou Yan said, "Since he went quietly, we shall simply pretend we do not know."

Then Gaoxing's wife hurried in and said, "Madam, someone from the Yunqi Temple alley has told me something. I have thought it over and over, and I think I had best tell you."

Dou Yan was taken aback. She knew her father often sent people to inquire after her from the Gao family, and the Gao family frequently visited the Gao Sheng household in Longhua Temple Lane. Whatever happened in the Yunqi Temple Lane quarter, the Gao family was always the first to know.

She straightened in her seat and asked anxiously, "Has something happened to the Seventh Master?"

If it were a matter of officialdom, Song Yan would surely have known long ago, and he would have helped her father deal with it. What she feared was her father making a fool of himself in his private life.

"No, no!" the Gao family's wife waved her hand hastily. "It is not the Seventh Master, it is the Fifth Son-in-law. I heard it from Xiao San—the Fifth Son-in-law has been accused and is facing a lawsuit. Out of regard for the Heir, the other party asked only that the Fifth Son-in-law pay a sum of silver to settle the matter. But because of this, the Fifth Son-in-law was too ashamed to show his face at the yamen again, and so he resigned his post. The Fifth Young Madam rushed over to Guimeng Temple Lane a few days ago and made a great scene, pressing the Seventh Master to put in a word for the Fifth Son-in-law before the Heir. The Seventh Master refused, and gave the Fifth Young Madam a dressing-down besides. She went off in tears to Liuye Lane. I was afraid the Wang family might come looking for you, so I thought it best to tell you first."

Xiao San was Gao Sheng's third son.