Chapter 447 — Jiang Yan

Jiang Yan fretted herself into a spin—if only she could think of some way to earn a little money. But she now lived in a great walled compound, surrounded by a crowd of maids and serving women, and whenever she went out there were coachmen and guards; she was seldom left alone for a moment. Even if she wished, as in the old days, to knot a tassel or embroider a handkerchief to send on consignment to a wedding-goods shop, she could not get the things out the door.

Day by day she grew more listless.

When Yinghong saw it, she broke into a cold sweat and dared conceal nothing, and hastened to report it to Dou Yan.

Dou Yan set aside the business in hand at once and came to see Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan had not meant to alarm her. "I'm fine, truly," she murmured, casting Yinghong a reproachful glance.

"Don't look at her so," said Dou Xin*. "She meant only to be loyal—she feared you had been wronged." Then, drawing Jiang Yan into her arms, she said gently, "What is it? What can't you say to your sister-in-law?"

"There really is nothing!" Jiang Yan said, flushing. "It is only that the weather grows colder, and I find myself a little drowsy."

Dou Yan felt her forehead—the temperature was quite normal—then questioned the maids who attended her closely, and finding nothing amiss, had no choice but to set her worries aside for the time being, charging Yinghong to look after Jiang Yan well.

Jiang Yan smiled meekly and saw Dou Yan to the door.

Seeing her so soft and gentle, Dou Yan could only sigh inwardly, feeling as though she had somehow raised another daughter. Back in her rooms, she sent word to Jiang Ling, asking her to come and see Jiang Yan whenever she had a moment, to keep her company and talk with her, so that Jiang Yan would not sit alone and let her thoughts run wild.

Jiang Ling had not only a mother-in-law above her but a grandmother-in-law as well. The grandmother had long since retired from household affairs, which the mother-in-law managed. Both were generous-hearted women; pitying the Jiang family for the undeserved calamity that had befallen it, they treated Jiang Ling, their new daughter-in-law, like their own child, with the utmost forbearance and care. Jiang Ling, raised from childhood in the inner chambers, was poised in manner and cheerful by nature. Grateful that the Wu family had not spurned the Jiangs in their decline, and admiring their uprightness, she was not only filial toward her grandmother- and mother-in-law but deeply respectful of them. With her husband, Wu Zijie, she shared a harmony like that of lute and zither, and the whole family lived in peace and contentment. Thus the Wu family was more than pleased when the Yingzhenguo Estate invited her, thinking it good that she should have kin to visit, sisters of her own age to talk with, and companions to pass the time.

The moment she received the letter, she came to call on Jiang Yan.

But she had scarce set foot inside the Song household when word reached the Yingzhenguo Estate that Song Yanzhuo had been promoted to commandant of the Golden Serpent Guard.

Jiang Ling was startled and delighted. "Did I not come at just the right moment?" she said to Dou Xin.

Dou answered with a wry smile, and asked the young servant who had brought the news, "Is the heir still at the palace?"

"No," said the servant, unable to hide the joy in his face. "The men of the Golden Serpent Guard have borne him off to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion—they say they mean to drink his health!"

Dou Yan dismissed the servant.

"Sister-in-law doesn't seem pleased?" Jiang Ling said in surprise.

"Of a sudden I see the willows green along the path—" Dou Yan could only fob her off thus. "Am I not simply afraid that your cousin is too young, and will be dazzled by the world outside?"

Jiang Ling was much amused, and covered her mouth to laugh. "Sister-in-law is always so confident. I never thought you had your worries too."

"I am only an ordinary woman. How could I not worry?" Dou Yan traded a laughing glance with her—and then the household's chief steward and the senior matrons came to offer their congratulations.

Seeing this, Jiang Ling withdrew and went to the Bishui Pavilion.

Jiang Yan had just heard the news and was rejoicing over it. Seeing Jiang Ling, she at once asked whether she knew of her brother's promotion, and then took counsel with her: "What do you think I should give him to mark the occasion?"

Jiang Ling laughed. "What does Cousin not have? Anything you give will do—it is the thought that counts."

Jiang Yan thought it over, then smiled. "Then I shall embroider him a purse with the pattern 'Rising Step by Step'—embroidery is what I do best."

Jiang Ling thought it a fine idea. She leaned over the kang table to sketch the design with Jiang Yan, and took the chance to ask, "What has been the matter with you these days? Sister-in-law says you have seemed rather distraught."

"Don't speak of it." Jiang Yan, having at last found someone she could confide in, said, "You know what happened that day. I borrowed a hundred taels from Lord Chen..." And she told Jiang Ling all that had passed in recent days.

Jiang Ling laughed till she could not stop. "And this is what troubles you? A mere few dozen taels! Let me repay it for you first, and when you have money later, you can pay me back."

Jiang Yan knew the Jiang family had been confiscated down to the last stick of furniture; whatever silver Jiang Ling had must be the nest egg she had brought with her when she married—her money for a rainy day. How could she touch it?

"There's no need," Jiang Yan said, embarrassed. "Borrowing from you to pay Chen Jia would be tearing down the west wall to patch the east—and I would not have you dragged into this as well." Not wishing Jiang Ling to fret over her affairs any further, she smiled and changed the subject. "Now that my brother has been promoted, he will surely feast his kinsmen and colleagues. Tell me—do you think his feast might fall on the same day as Yuanheng's hundred-day celebration?"

"I shouldn't think so!" Jiang Ling guessed. "They could be held one after the other—two days of merrymaking, just right."

Jiang Yan nodded.

Song Sui decided to hold both on a single day: "Since it is to celebrate my promotion to commandant of the Golden Serpent Guard, and to celebrate Yuanheng's hundredth day, one occasion will serve both purposes. It will also keep people from thinking we are making too much of it, and putting on too grand an air."

"And what of the Prince of Liao?" asked Dou Yan.

"The road straightens itself when the cart reaches the hill. Are our days to be on hold so long as the Prince of Liao does not return?" He comforted Dou Yan. "Set your heart at ease. Whatever happens, I will never let you or the child come to harm."

And it was precisely because she knew that Song Ke would shield her and the child from any suffering, whatever it cost himself, that her heart ached the more!

Dou Yan gently smoothed Song Zhi's temples.

Song Sui arched a brow with a teasing air and whispered low at her ear, "Have you been missing me?"

Dou Yan's face burned at once, and she pinched Song Chu.

Song Yan laughed aloud and would have teased Dou Yan further, when the wet nurse came in carrying Yuanheng.

Seeing the pair sitting shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, upon the kang, she blushed, quickly lowered her eyes, and made haste to explain, "It is late, and I feared Yuanheng would start to cry..."

Yuanheng always wanted Dou Yan once night fell.

Song Qu took his son into his arms.

Song Ji stroked Yuanheng's head and chuckled. "You have come at just the right moment!"

Yuanheng gave his father a foolish grin.

Song Yan could not suppress a laugh, and called him "silly son."

※※※※※

Jiang Yan's debt remained unsettled, yet the matchmakers seeking to arrange her marriage were wearing grooves in the threshold of the Yingzhenguo Estate, adding another worry to her mind.