Chapter 130 — Escaping the Heat

When Dou Yan stepped into her grandmother's sitting room, Ji Yong's clear, ringing voice was still echoing passionately through the air: "...You see, that is what the sutras say, but how many in those temples thick with incense and worshippers actually live up to it? Their minds are wholly bent on how to swell their coffers—how is that any different from the merchants of the vulgar world? There is really no need for you to donate such a great sum in incense money every year, only for it all to be pocketed and misused by them in the end!"

Her grandmother, seated in the grand armchair, and Hong Gu, standing behind her, stared at Ji Yong dumbfounded, their faces somewhat blank.

"Cousin Ji!" Dou Qu broke in. "When did you get back? Is Aunt Six well? And Cousins Eleven and Twelve? Have the two families settled on a wedding date?"

Ji Yong glanced at the sun outside and said in surprise, "What were you doing in the prefectural city? How did you get back so early?"

Answering one question with another, yet it set her grandmother and Hong Gu greatly at ease; her grandmother, as though meeting a savior, said loudly, "Shouyuan, you are back at last! Young Master Ji has been expounding the Dharma to us all day, and he must be parched by now. Once you have had your tea, why not go together to see the Second Madam? Matron Liu came looking for you several times today—she must be waiting anxiously by now." She wore the very picture of someone eager to see a guest off.

What in the world was all this about?

Dou Yan looked toward Hong Gu.

Hong Gu stealthily pointed at Ji Yong and said, "Young Master Ji wishes to sit for next year's spring examination. He finds the capital too noisy and Yixing too far, and he heard that the Crane Longevity Hall has a considerable collection of books, one of the few of its kind in all of Beizhili. So he petitioned the Fifth Master to let him stay at the Crane Longevity Hall for a time. The Seventh Master said the matter must be put to you. The Second Madam accordingly sent Matron Liu to invite you over to discuss it. Matron Liu came several times without finding you, and Young Master Ji, too impatient to wait, came over first and has been waiting for you until now..."

So kind to Ji Yong?

Could it be that after entering the Grand Secretariat, Uncle Five had decided to court the Ji family?

Ji Yong was full of schemes. If he had set his mind on moving in, the more you stood in his way, the more intriguing he would find it; the more he would try every means to get in. Where would she find the time and energy to deal with him? Besides, all the elders of the family had agreed. If she alone objected, would she not offend every one of them? Better to simply let him move in.

"A precious sword for a hero, rouge and powder for a beauty," Dou Xin said. "Since Grandfather passed away, the Crane Longevity Hall has stood empty, and it is rare that Cousin Ji has use for it. Father may simply give his consent on his own authority. Why trouble to consult me? I shall go and inform the Second Madam at once, so that the old lady need not keep worrying over the matter."

Ji Yong blinked a few times as he listened, said nothing, finished his tea, thanked her grandmother, and then, side by side with Dou Yan, who had changed her clothes and come over, went out through the hanging-flower gate.

"I hear Old Chen has gone to the capital to visit friends?" he said suddenly before climbing into the carriage. "Why did you not write a letter to Uncle Seven? The capital is crowded and teeming, and he has not been there in a long while. It would always be better to have someone to look after him!"

"Old Chen said it was a private matter of his own," Dou Xin said. "It would not do to trouble Father and my uncles. I could hardly take it upon myself, could I?" With that, she climbed into the carriage.

Ji Yong arched an eyebrow.

The Second Madam, rather than discussing the matter with Dou Yan, was in effect informing her: "You grew up at your Aunt Six's side, as close as mother and daughter. Young Master Ji is the nephew of your Aunt Six's natal family, which makes him your cousin. His examination is at hand, and the family has such convenient accommodations. There is no reason not to oblige one's own kin. If you and your sister find it inconvenient, you may as well move over to Aunt Cui's quarters for the time being."

Since all you elders have spoken thus, I am all the less able to raise any objection.

Dou Yan grumbled inwardly. Aloud she said with a smile, "The Crane Longevity Hall already has a side gate opening directly onto the street, so there is no inconvenience at all. When would you like Cousin Ji to move in? I shall give orders to have the Crane Longevity Hall swept and cleaned."

The Second Madam was well pleased with Dou Zhiwei's attitude. She glanced at Ji Yong, meaning to ask when he would move in.

Before the Second Madam, Ji Yong was proper and courteous, gentle as polished jade. He pondered and said, "Why not let me move in today? That will save you the trouble of preparing guest rooms here. Fortunately I have brought a few servants with me; as for the cleaning, Cousin, just leave it to me."

The Second Madam nodded with a smile. "Then let it be so." She took Ji Yong's hand and instructed him, "If you lack anything at all, come straight to me."

Ji Yong did not let his gaze wander; respectfully he said, "The Madam is too kind. I have heard from my aunt that Cousin manages the West Mansion with perfect order, so I doubt I shall have occasion to trouble you, madam." By the end of his speech, a hint of a smile had crept into his voice.

The Second Madam was slightly taken aback, then chuckled. "That too is because your aunt taught her well."

Ji Yong smiled and said nothing.

The servants in the room all followed suit with flattering laughter.

Dou Yan smiled with pursed lips.

This Ji Yong—though he was apt to stir up some odd scrape now and then and strike people as somewhat feckless, never once did he falter when it came to matters of consequence.

A feeling of gratitude toward Ji Yong rose in her heart.

Once out of the Second Madam's rooms, she could not resist asking him, "Have you a courtesy name?"

"Not yet," Ji Yong said with an indifferent smile. "When I have thought of one, you shall be the first to know."

Was this man, after all, Master Yuantong?

Dou Yan was rather vexed, but there was no use fretting over such a thing. She put it from her mind and made conversation with him: "What made you suddenly decide to sit for next year's spring examination? Was it not said that the old gentleman intended you to temper yourself for a few more years?"

He pursed his lips. "I found it would be more convenient to pass the metropolitan examination."

Dou Yan laughed heartily. "And what sort of wild scheme are you plotting now?"

Ji Yong's eyes flickered slightly.

He had known she would ask him that! Only he had not expected Dou Yan to ask with a smile. In his reckoning, she ought to have worn a blank face, her eyes mocking, glancing at him with disdain. Yet for some reason, thinking of that day when he had accompanied Dou Yong on a visit to his uncle's house—the rustle of skirts behind the bead curtain and the hushed giggles of young girls—and now seeing Dou Yan's frank, bright smile, his mood suddenly unfurled like clouds parting: "Tell me, could the He Shi Bi have become the First Emperor's burial offering?"

Surely he did not mean to go digging up the First Emperor's tomb?

Dou Yan was furious. "How could you do such a thing? Disturbing the sacrifices of the dead is a sin against merit and virtue..."

"Why are you so angry?" Ji Yong looked more aggrieved than she. "I merely wish to study the Qin calendar properly. How does that amount to disturbing the sacrifices of the dead or sinning against merit and virtue?"

Dou Yan was speechless.

Ji Yong strode past her, yet the corners of his mouth could not help curling higher and higher.