Chapter 323 — Interlude

Zhao Liangbi said a few words, then explained to Song Yan, "The Third Master brought us into the city at the hour of mao this morning. First we went to Huai Shu Lane to pay our respects to the Second Old Madam; after the midday meal we went on to Heming Temple Lane. The Seventh Master's wish was that we audit the accounts at Yunqi Temple Lane. But the Third Master said that since the Lady can read the account books, and these properties stand in the Lady's name, it would be better to audit the accounts here at the Yingzhen Ducal household. If anything is unclear, the Lady can put her questions directly to the Third Young Master. So he had me bring over the inventory, the account books, and the ladies of the household who came with us, and told me to ask the Heir and the Lady for instructions and fix a date for the audit."

There was one thing he did not say.

Beyond the reasons above, when the Third Master and the Second Old Madam were discussing where the audit should be held, the Second Old Madam had also let fall the words, "It will also give the Heir an accounting."

He felt that remark laid bare the Second Old Madam's habit of grasping at advantage and dodging harm, and that it was a disgrace to the Lady; so he kept it back.

Song Yan gazed at the seals pasted across the camphor-wood chests and smiled faintly. "Then let it be as the Third Master says—we will audit the accounts in the flower hall of Yizhi Hall." Then he added, "Where are the Third Master and the Third Young Master lodged? The Lady and I are of the younger generation; it is only proper that we go and pay our respects."

Zhao Liangbi said hurriedly, "The Third Master and the Third Young Master are both resting at Huai Shu Lane."

Who knows whether he will be able to sleep tonight!

Song Yan grumbled inwardly, and instructed Chen He to send a card to Huai Shu Lane: "Tomorrow morning the Lady and I will go to pay our respects to the Third Master and the Third Young Master." Then he asked, "What is the Lady doing? Report this to the Lady as well, and ask her opinion—when would be a good time to begin the audit?"

Chen He answered with a smile and went off, reporting in person in the inner courtyard.

Dou Yan was holding Old Madam Duan's hand and speaking: "Master Duan saved my life; you are like an elder of mine. Only when you can live at ease in Yizhi Hall will my heart be settled. You must not speak such polite words to me. If there is anything inconvenient in food, clothing, or daily use, or anything you are not used to, just tell Suxin—" She called Suxin over and introduced her own maid to Old Madam Duan. "If she is not here, look for Sulan, or Ganlu, or Sujuan. Let them see to it..."

"That will never do!" Old Madam Duan rose hastily. "How can we trouble the young ladies who serve the Lady?"

"You must not say that. They are all your juniors; there is no question of troubling them." Dou Yan knew that old people who leave their homeland are always especially ill at ease. Only when the family is settled can those guards truly set their minds at rest and serve her.

The two were talking happily when Chen He arrived.

He respectfully reported Song Yan's words to Dou Yan.

Dou Yan thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow we will go and pay our respects to the Third Master and the Third Young Master; the day after, we will begin the audit."

Chen He withdrew with a smile.

Dou Yan spoke a few more words with Chen Lanxu and the other family members, and thinking that they had come a long, dusty road and must be very tired, she herself escorted Old Madam Duan out through the ornamental gate.

When Old Madam Duan saw her son, she could not help sighing with feeling: "No wonder you refused, time and again, when your senior brother in the capital invited you to be an instructor in the Ministry of War. The Lady truly is kind and righteous in her dealings!"

Duan Bing chuckled.

Old Madam Duan then admonished him: "A drop of kindness... Though you were kind to the Lady, she paid you a reward at the time, and over the years she has cared for you all the more. If there is any debt of kindness between you, it has long since canceled out. You must never pride yourself on your merit or use your kindness to make demands..."

After a long lecture of admonishment, Duan Bing did not know whether to laugh or cry. He said "yes" again and again, and it took him quite a while to persuade his mother to go wash and rest.

After seeing Old Madam Duan off, Dou Yan changed her clothes and met with Zhao Liangbi.

Zhao Liangbi first presented the clothes, shoes, and socks that Aunt Cui and Hong Gu had made for her, spoke of how Aunt Cui had been faring lately, and only then told Dou Yan one by one the trivial matters at home since she had left.

Dou Yan listened while observing Suxin.

She noticed that in the half hour she had been speaking with Zhao Liangbi, Suxin had refilled the tea for her and Zhao Liangbi six times.

Dou Yan's lips curved slightly. She knew that Zhao Liangbi wanted to stay the night at the writing-brush shop and have a good reunion with Cui Min and Tian Fugui. Dou Yan did not keep him, told Sujuan to stay and keep watch through the night, and went to arrange Song Yan's evening meal.

Song Yan saw that there was a dish of crispy fried duck on the table and knew that Dou Yan had been cooking again. He smiled and said, "You could just have the kitchen women make it. The weather is so cold; be careful you do not freeze your hands."

Dou Yan said, "Could they make it as well as I do?"

"That is true." Song Yan felt a little regret.

He liked to watch Dou Yan fussing around him, and so he found ways to make her wait on him. One day Dou Yan made this crispy fried duck, and he found it delicious; the next day he had the kitchen women make it, but no matter how he ate it, it was not as good as Dou Yan's, and so he let the matter drop. Who would have thought Dou Yan had taken it to heart, and every few days had the kitchen make it; again she found that the kitchen's was not as good as hers, and taught the cook several times, but for some reason the cook's version always fell a little short. Dou Yan could not be bothered to find the reason, and simply did it herself, making it for him whenever she was in good spirits.

Who would have thought Dou Yan would be so attentive? He had only ordered the dish once, and she had remembered it.

Song Yan muttered inwardly, yet his heart was like a piece of candy that would not dissolve no matter what.

He sat down close to Dou Yan and said with a smile, "In the dead of winter, why always crispy fried duck? Make some rice-wine glutinous rice balls instead!"

Dou Yan raised an eyebrow and glanced at him sidelong: "Are you sure?"

Song Yan suddenly dared not be sure.

Dou Yan burst out laughing. "You will not even eat ludagun, and you want to eat glutinous rice balls?"

Song Yan was speechless.

He simply did not want Dou Yan to tire herself, and wanted to switch to the simplest thing to make, to divert Dou Yan's attention.

Dou Yan giggled, laughing like a child.

This fellow—even when being considerate, he had to do it so obliquely.

But then, she had been like that before too, so much so that her good intentions were not something everyone could appreciate.

Having lived two lives, she had gained a little more openness and lost a little more restraint; only now was she beginning to learn to refuse others.

Dou Yan ladled a bowl of soup for Song Yan herself, the joyful smile reaching from the bottom of her eyes to the bottom of her heart, full of a deep warmth: "Drink your soup quickly; be careful it does not go cold and lose its flavor."

Song Yan bent his head and drank the soup.

Dou Yan ate quietly, but somehow her eyes could not bear to leave the handsome youth across from her; from time to time she would look up to steal a glance at him, and her mood would rise and flutter like willow catkins.

Song Yan was rather annoyed and shot her a glare.