Chapter 311 — Candidates

Word of all they had said naturally reached Dou Zhiwei's ears afterward, down to the last syllable.

She could not help worrying, and said to Song Yan, "We have to think of a proper way to smooth this over. They all hold posts in the Imperial Guard—if the Emperor gets wind of it, I'm afraid he'll grow suspicious."

To transfer men to the capital so openly—even the Ministry of Personnel would not dare act so without the Emperor's handwritten decree.

She had assumed Song Yan would first pick two or three candidates to meet, never imagining he would make it such a grand affair. Sitting behind the screen at the time, she had already been somewhat on edge.

"Rest easy." Song Yan laughed, wholly unconcerned. "The garrison command of my Zhenbei City selecting a few Imperial Guardsmen to fill out the Five Cities garrison command is perfectly ordinary. I daresay none of those men's elders will have any objection."

The Imperial Guard was fine enough, but it all depended on what post one held.

The Five Cities garrison command was in the imperial city, tasked specifically with assisting the Shuntian Prefecture and the salt-tax bureaus. Even a petty clerk there skimed a little off the top, and because the Zhao family took a live-in son-in-law, the candidates this time were all second sons or cadet branches of that household—for them, this was truly a fine opportunity.

Song Yan really was thorough in all he did.

No wonder that no matter how he kicked up a fuss, he always had a sound case before the Emperor. And no wonder that to this day no censor had ever impeached him.

Dou Yan felt she need only trust Song Yan with all her heart.

"For now let's tentatively settle on these three. What do you think?" Song Yan drew three circles on the register and handed it to Dou Yan.

To pick twenty-odd from several hundred, and then three from those twenty-odd—why, a princess choosing a consort went no further than this. This time, Cousin Zhangru's marriage would surely be settled!

Never mind whom she had married in her last life—in this one, that man had still not appeared, so she would simply have to choose another.

Dou Yan nodded vigorously, and come evening, she perforce had to gratify Song Yan once more.

Early the next morning, she coiled her hair into a pretty slanted chignon and set off in high spirits for the Longhua Temple alley.

Song Yan wanted to go with her: "If Auntie asks questions, at least you'll have someone to talk to. Besides, those three haven't left the capital yet—wouldn't it be even better to seize this chance to summon them so Auntie and Cousin Zhangru can see them with their own eyes?"

He very much looked forward to the expression of delighted gratitude on his aunt-in-law's face when she heard the news.

This was the first time since marrying Dou Yan that he had been in such high spirits.

It was fine to let Song Yan come along.

Without him, this matter could never have been accomplished.

Once Auntie learned what Song Yan had done, she would surely like Song Yan even more.

Dou Yan nodded, all smiles.

Like two children hoping for praise from their elders, the pair suppressed their excitement and went together to the Heming Temple alley.

Gao Sheng was startled out of his wits at the sight of them, and made haste to say, "I'll go fetch the master home at once!"

For they had come without sending word ahead.

"No need, no need." Dou Yan said to Gao Sheng, beaming. "Today I've come to see Auntie about a small matter. Just keep the heir company while he takes his meal in the flower hall!"

A layer of sweat instantly broke out on Gao Sheng's forehead. Seizing the moment when a little maid was pouring tea for Song Yan, he whispered his instructions to her: "Quick, go fetch the two young masters from Mao'er alley to entertain the guest."

For the first time, he thought that if the master steadfastly refused to take a concubine, then adopting the twelfth young master into the family would be a good thing after all.

Dou Yan had no time to bother with any of this; leaving Song Yan behind, she went straight to Auntie's quarters.

At the sight of her, Auntie's expression changed drastically. She seized Dou Yan's hand and looked her up and down: "My child, what's happened to you? Why have you come back so suddenly? Has the Song family been mistreating you? Don't be afraid—Auntie hasn't left the capital yet, and I'll certainly stand up for you!"

"No, no." Dou Yan smiled all the more brightly. Seeing Zhao Zhangru's eyes wide with curious gazing at her, she drew Auntie into the inner room, shut the door with a "bang," and invited Auntie to sit on the large kang by the window. Sitting down beside her, she handed Auntie the slips of paper bearing the three men's credentials. "I want to play matchmaker for Cousin Zhangru. All three families are quite good—take a look and tell me which is better?"

Auntie was astonished beyond measure.

Dou Yan's eyes curved into crescents.

"You child!" Auntie came back to herself and hugged Dou Yan hard. "Now that you're married, you've learned to care for others."

Dou Yan giggled and fished Auntie's spectacle case out from under the kang table.

Auntie put on her spectacles and read through the three men's credentials in fine detail.

Military households or noble families, every one—no need to ask, her niece's husband must have pulled the strings.

Auntie was deeply grateful. She clasped Dou Zhiwei's hand: "Thank your niece's husband for me. But the Zhaos are scholars after all, so it would still be best to find a young man from a scholarly family to take in as a live-in son-in-law."

Dou Yan was struck dumb.

Auntie felt rather apologetic.

To find three such men, Song Yan and Shouyuan must have spent no small amount of thought.

She said guiltily, "It's all Auntie's fault for not explaining things clearly beforehand, making you take the long way round. I've noted the kindness you and your niece's husband have shown, and when the chance comes, I'll have your Cousin Zhangru repay you both."

Dou Yan did not know how to describe her dismay, but seeing the apology filling Auntie's eyes, she did not want Auntie to feel uneasy, so she quickly put on a show of pique, rolling about on Auntie: "You should have said so earlier!"

Auntie chuckled and drew Dou Zhiwei to her shoulder with fond indulgence.

Dou Yan folded the three men's credentials into a small square and tucked it into her sleeve. When she came out and saw Zhao Zhangru, she said only that she and Auntie had been discussing the matter at Qixia Temple on the tenth day of the tenth month.

For the past few years, whenever anyone fell silent at her and her mother's approach, it was almost always about her marriage prospects.

Zhao Zhangru had grown used to it and did not press the matter, only chattering and laughing with Dou Yan about this and that.

Dou Yan thought of Song Yan in the flower hall, and wondered how disappointed he would be when he learned how it had turned out.

And she had promised him so many "humiliating and sovereignty-forfeiting" concessions; once they were home, she feared she would have to agree to several more before his heart was soothed.

Dou Yan heaved a long sigh and left the guest room in low spirits, heading first to the flower hall where Song Yan was staying.

Song Yan was talking with the brothers Dou Yong and Dou Huaide, and one look at Dou Zhiwei's expression told him the matter had fallen through.

This was the first time Dou Yan had ever asked him to do something for her natal family!

He paid no mind to Dou Yong and Dou Huaide, rose at once, and went to meet her, asking in a low voice, "Is there something that did not please your aunt?"

This was not something she could hide even if she tried.

"It is all my fault!" Dou Yan said apologetically. "I set you to this without inquiring thoroughly first... My aunt wants to find a son-in-law for my cousin from a scholarly family."