Chapter 372 — Complaints

"You want to set up your own household, and yet you can't bear to hear a voice that differs from yours. What am I supposed to say to you?" Dou Yan said coldly. "You seem to think you shouldn't measure your strengths against others' weaknesses — but since you excel at scholarship, you ought to walk the official road properly. Old Master Ji spoke sense. Right now there's an opportunity before you. Since you can help His Majesty compile books, there's no reason you couldn't use it to draw closer to him. It all depends on whether you define yourself as a scholar fit only for editing texts, or as an official who knows the legal codes inside out and can solve His Majesty's troubles!"

Ji Yong opened his mouth but said nothing.

The Zhao family's loyal old servant, meanwhile, was struck dumb, utterly at a loss.

Dou Yan felt she had said all that needed saying. As for what he would do, it was for Ji Yong to choose.

"If you're set on taking your private savings and going into business, then send me word — there's no hurry." With that, Dou Yan turned and left the side room.

Ji Yong sat in the armchair and sank into thought.

A young servant poked his head past the curtain and signaled with his eyes to the loyal old servant. It took the old servant a moment to react; then he tiptoed over and asked softly, "What is it?"

The young servant lowered his voice further. "The master asks, how did things go between Lord Ji and the young mistress? Why hasn't Lord Ji returned to the study?"

The old servant said hurriedly, "Go and tell the master that the young mistress went back to the inner quarters long ago, and Lord Ji is sitting in a chair staring into space. I was afraid Lord Ji wouldn't know the way to the study, so I'm waiting here for him!"

In truth, it was to keep watch and make sure Ji Yong did not wander off.

The young servant understood the old servant's meaning, and went off smiling to report to Zhao Si.

Zhao Si then heard from the maidservant he had sent to the inner quarters to inquire after Dou Zhiwei's wife that Dou Yan had already returned to the inner quarters and was talking with the Sixth and Fifth Madams of the Dou family. He set his mind at ease and instructed the young servant, "Go tell Old Luo to serve Lord Ji well!"

The young servant went off to the side room, smiling.

Zhao Si's fellow students all chimed in to congratulate him on having such a fine niece, and asked which family she had married into, and whose son her husband was.

Zhao Si answered each in turn.

They all wore looks of regret.

Someone even said, "Why didn't you choose a scholar for your niece back then, Lord Zhao?"

Zhao Si thought of Dou Huaiying, and irritation rose in his heart; even his tone turned somewhat stiff. "I was an official in the northwest. My niece's marriage was arranged by her father, Dou Wanyuan."

These men naturally knew Dou Huaiying as well.

Someone said in surprise, "Then how is Dou Wanyuan your family's son-in-law? Isn't he said to be Wang Yousheng's son-in-law?"

Zhao Si said sourly, "My sister was his principal wife. After she died of illness, he elevated Wang Yousheng's daughter to be his second wife."

The room fell cold for a moment.

Fortunately a young servant came in to announce that the bridegroom's sedan chair had arrived.

Everyone urged Zhao Si, all smiles, to go welcome the new son-in-law. Laughing and chatting, they went to the main hall for the bowing ceremony.

After the rites were performed, the newlyweds entered the bridal chamber and drank the cross-cupped wine; then the bridegroom came back out to toast everyone.

For a while the hall was full of laughter and talk — festive and lively enough.

Song Yan made his way to Dou Yan's side as she stood watching the bustle from the side corridor, and tightened her wind hood for her. "Why not go in?" he said with a smile. "Shall I shield you while you squeeze through?"

Dou Yan laid a hand on her belly and smiled. "I'm afraid of the crowd pressing on the child."

Song Yan thought about it and did not dare press her. Seeing the wind in the corridor, he put a light hand at her back and guided her toward the tea room nearby. "Sit over there a while. I'll pour you some hot tea. Once they've had their fun, we'll go home and come back first thing tomorrow."

Dou Yan nodded and followed Song Yan to the tea room. She sat on a brocade stool, sipping the tea he had brewed in small mouthfuls, and told him about Ji Yong, sighing as she did. "When a person is clever, everything he does comes twice as easily, and so he never learns to value it. And he's so dazzlingly gifted besides — I'm afraid the Ji family will lose a few more hairs over him."

Song Yan felt the hairs on his arms stand up.

But his manner remained perfectly mild. "Don't keep treating him like a child who hasn't grown up. He's already come of age. You can't spend your whole life tidying up the messes behind him. You have to try letting go, and let him grow up."

Dou Yan laughed. "You have a point. If he really wants to go into business, I'll just introduce him to a decent head steward. As for the rest, it's beyond our reach."

Song Yan muttered inwardly.

What "our"? It's "your," isn't it?

I never had any intention of helping him!

If he resigned his post and went home to Jiangnan, that would be just perfect.

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Brothers and sisters, here is today's second update.

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