Chapter 340 — The Birthday

The Duchess of Jingguo had borne three sons and five daughters. She had chosen the matches for three of her daughters herself, and every one of them had married well. The eldest daughter in particular had been married down to Xia Wan, the eldest son of Xia Bing, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy. At the time, everyone thought the eldest young lady of the Jingzhenguo household had been sorely wronged. But as Xia Wan passed the imperial examination in the eighth year of Chengping and became a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Justice in the eleventh year... and then, after his promotion to Zhejiang Provincial Governor last year, no one thought so anymore. Instead, they praised the Duchess of Jingguo for her keen eye in choosing such a fine son-in-law. This was also an important reason why the Duchess of Jingguo stood so firmly and proudly within the Jingzhenguo household.

By the time Dou Yan and Song Yan arrived at the Jingzhenguo household, the place was already thronged with guests. Besides the nobles and officials of the capital who had dealings with the Jingzhenguo household, the household's affinal relatives had also come to pay their respects on the Duchess's birthday. The five sons-in-law in particular presented lavish birthday gifts.

Song Yan lowered his voice and instructed Dou Yan: "If you need anything, send a maid to call me. If nothing else, tell Third Madam."

"I know," Dou Yan said softly, gazing at the radiant Song Yan. "Don't drink so much."

"Mm!" Song Yan nodded, gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and then went forward to help Old Madam Lu down from the carriage ahead.

Princess Ninghuai alighted from her carriage shortly after.

Old Madam Lu took Dou Zhiwei by the hand and said to Song Dan: "You just go and attend to your business. I will keep an eye on your wife. Not a single hair on her head will be harmed."

Everyone chuckled.

Song Yan was not the least bit embarrassed and thanked Old Madam Lu openly and honestly.

Old Madam Lu laughed heartily and turned to speak with Princess Ninghuai: "This child—it is precisely this about him that makes him so likable."

Princess Ningde smiled with her lips pressed together.

Song Yan, Lu Qin, and the others took their leave of Old Madam Lu and the other ladies and headed for the main hall to the east, while Dou Yan followed Old Madam Lu and the other women through the second gate.

Third Madam Zhang, surrounded by a flock of maids and serving women, hurried forward to greet them: "Your Highness, Grand-Aunt..."

She bobbed a curtsy to everyone in turn, and they all chatted and laughed as they made their way to the flower hall.

The Duchess of Jingguo was conversing with the Marchioness of Changxing. Seeing Old Madam Lu and Princess Ningde enter, she was rather surprised. She rose to welcome them with a face full of smiles, saying, "I never expected the two ladies to come. The Jingzhenguo household is truly honored!"

Old Madam Lu and Princess Ninghuai were a generation above the Duchess of Jingguo and need not have come at all. But since their granddaughter had married into the Jingzhenguo household, they came to show the Duchess some regard and to lend their granddaughter some face.

Old Madam Lu said with a smile, "Are we not here simply to scrounge a meal off your household?"

"Guests so distinguished we could never invite them even if we tried," the Duchess of Jingguo said with a smile. "So long as you do not mind the plainness of our wine and fare."

Everyone exchanged pleasantries. After greeting one another, they sat down in the flower hall.

The Duchess of Jingguo then spoke with Dou Yan: "This must be the first time the Heir's wife has graced our household as a guest. If there is anything you find hard to tell me, just send word to your cousin."

Third Madam Zhang and Song Yan were cousins.

Dou Xin murmured her assent.

The Duchess of Jingguo then introduced the ladies present: "This is my eldest daughter. She is presently in Jiangnan with her husband at his post. She made a special trip back from Jiangnan for my birthday... This is my second daughter. Her mother-in-law is a daughter of the Ji family of Yixing—that makes you affinal relatives as well..."

.

In her previous life, she had dealt with the Jingzhenguo household often. She was thoroughly familiar with their relatives.

The several married daughters of the Jingzhenguo household hurriedly rose to return the courtesies.

The flower hall was a scene of great liveliness.

A maid came in and announced: "The Heir's wife of the Yan'an Marquis household has arrived."

The Duchess of Jingguo repeatedly said, "Please, show her in at once."

Young Madam Wang, however, came in together with the Heir's wife of the Donglin Count household.

There was, of course, another round of greetings.

Afterward, the Countess of Guang'en arrived with her daughter-in-law, and then the Marchioness of Xuanning came...

Dou Yan knew all of these people—only the degree of familiarity differed. The wife of Guo Qinghai, the Marquis of Xuanning, was in particular not only a friend despite the gap in their ages, but also a business partner, and the two families had become in-laws through their children. Yet at this moment, Lady Guo merely nodded and smiled at her. There was no chance they would have come together, as in her previous life, to make a living and support their families.

Dou Chi could not help feeling a little melancholy.

The Countess of Donglin arrived with her two daughters.

Dou Chi's eyes went wide.

The Countess of Donglin had a figure as delicate as a willow swaying in the wind, and a face as lovely as a flower mirrored in water. One look at her stirred a touch of tender pity.

Her twin daughters, though still young, were like pearls and jade—exceedingly beautiful.

Dou Yan felt a faint tightness in her chest.

She quickly took a few tea leaves and put them in her mouth, and only then did she feel somewhat better.

More and more guests arrived. The flower hall was filled with laughter and cheerful voices. The older married women sat together talking, while the young unmarried ladies formed a group of their own.

Since this was Dou Yan's first appearance in the capital's circle of nobility, Princess Ninghuai personally led her around to meet people.

They were all acquaintances from her previous life. Dou Yan socialized with effortless ease, and her polite greetings always hit the right note, leaving a deep impression.

Old Madam Lu and Princess Ninghuai exchanged glances and nodded imperceptibly in approval.

Second Madam Zhang, who was receiving guests in the flower hall, rolled her eyes and said with a smile, "Why do I not see the Marchioness of Jining? I remember we sent her an invitation as well."

Since Wei Wan was the heir's wife, it stood to reason that she should help with the arrangements for the birthday banquet of the Duchess of Jingguo. But the Duchess disliked her eldest son, and by extension disliked her eldest son's wife as well, so she handed the entire kitchen operation to Wei Wan and instead had her second and third daughters-in-law assist her in receiving guests in the flower hall.

Hearing her second daughter-in-law's remark, the Duchess of Jingguo could not help frowning.

Third Madam Zhang, however, was far more deft than Second Madam Zhang. She hurried to smile and say, "It is still early before the feast begins; I daresay something has delayed her." As she spoke, she shot a glance at the old serving woman beside her.

The woman understood at once and went off to the counting room next to the kitchen.

Wei Wan was there inspecting the longevity peaches for the birthday banquet later.

The old woman hurried forward and made her obeisance. "Madam, Third Madam bade me inform you that the auspicious hour is nearly upon us, and I fear we can no longer wait for the Lady of the Marquis of Jining."