Chapter 382 — Asking the Reason

Wei Wan was furious and was about to snap back at Pang Yulou.

"I have caused trouble for all of you, aunts and sisters-in-law, over my own affairs." She bent her knees in a curtsy to the women of the Dou and Wang families. The crimson kesi robe hung loose on her gaunt frame, empty and billowing, and the sight of it could not help but add a pang of sorrow.

Pang Yulou, ever the one for surface show, immediately stepped forward and took Dou Ming's hand. Dabbing at the corners of her eyes, she choked out, "My dear auntie, it has only been one New Year since I last saw you, and how you have changed! We are all women who have been through it. Whose daughter-in-law is not plied with chicken and duck and fish during her confinement, and comes out of it a few pounds heavier? How is it that in your case you have grown so thin you hardly look human? If the Chixiao Sect heard of this, they would be worried sick over you and would hurry your uncles into writing to your grandfather, so that he might send some of Yunnan's finest medicinal herbs to build you up." Having said her piece, she looked at Wei Wan and said earnestly, "Your household is a century-old family of standing—how is it you do not even have fine medicinal herbs?" Then she turned to Cai shi. "Sister-in-law, I still have two packets of top-grade gastrodia and a catty of blood swallow's nest. As for the century-old ginseng, my mother-in-law was unwell a few days ago and it was used on her, so only a small half-root remains. I do not know whether it will be enough."

The implication was plain: the ginseng would have to come from the Dou family.

Cai shi cursed Pang Yulou roundly in her heart.

What did a century-old ginseng cost? Could gastrodia and blood swallow's nest even compare?

But in front of Wei Wan, she could not refuse.

Otherwise it would be the Dou family that lost face and propriety.

Wolves and thieves, the lot of them—no fit company.

She smiled. "If the Fifth Aunt's husband's family has none, then she can only look to us, her natal family. In a little while I shall instruct the matrons to send over several roots of ginseng to build up the Fifth Aunt's health. Rest easy, her aunt."

She did not say how old the ginseng was.

Pang Yulou curled her lip inwardly.

Every day they vaunted themselves as a family of scholars, yet at the crucial moment they showed their true merchant colors—and still they looked down on the Pang family at every turn!

The two women fought their covert battle, and the Fifth Madam, secretly displeased, said amiably to Wei Wan, "Since our in-law lady is unwell, shall we go and sit in Ming's rooms?"

Now the real play was to begin.

Those present naturally smiled and assented one and all.

The party went to the reception room of Dou Ming's main quarters.

The maids served tea and refreshments, then quietly withdrew.

Seated in the place of honor, the Fifth Madam smiled and said, "A girl's dowry from her natal family is meant to give her something to rely on after she marries. The eldest aunt is also a married daughter, yet she proposes that Dou Yan take charge of Ming's dowry—this truly goes against propriety. Never mind Ming; even our Dou family would not agree to it."

"Ordinarily we would simply ignore such talk. Even if the eldest aunt carried this suit all the way before the Emperor, it would not pass. But the eldest aunt has raised the matter again and again, as though she means to strip our Fifth Aunt of her dowry entirely, and our several masters found it strange—how did the Wei family ever hit upon such an idea? That is why they sent me and the two madams of the Wang family to ask the Fifth Son-in-Law."

"As the saying goes, an elder sister-in-law is as a mother. The Marquis of Jining has no brothers, only you, his one sister, and it is only right that you look after him. But this matter concerns the disposition of Ming's dowry. I think it hardly proper for the eldest aunt to decide it without consulting the Marquis of Jining. There is no one else here—why not invite the Marquis of Jining over and ask his opinion, and then we may decide what to do?"

The Dou and Wang families were many and powerful, and Wei Wan had no mind to bandy words with them. Hearing this, she at once sent someone to fetch Wei Fan, and said, "Who does not wish a daughter-in-law to bring a larger dowry? It lends face, and the children may enjoy its shade. But your Fifth Aunt has too violent a temper—at the least provocation she drags out her natal family. We only wish to live our days in peace and quiet, and truly cannot withstand your Fifth Aunt's tossing about, so we had no choice but to resort to this poor expedient and invite the elders of both families to discuss the matter."

Hardly had she finished speaking when Wei Fan, who had been waiting in the study, hurried in with a flustered look.

At the sight of him, Dou Ming's tears began to fall and would not stop.

She had miscarried, and Wei Fan had offered her a few perfunctory words of comfort, then joined with his mother and his sister to scheme about how to make life hard for her.

Such a Wei Fan disappointed her utterly.

Half her heart had turned cold.

Did he not know that if she handed over her dowry, she and he would thereafter have to live at Wei Wan's mercy?

What is life for, if not to be happy?

Can one be happy, watching another's face?

Why could he think of none of this, and only ever obey his mother and his sister?

She wept and collapsed against Granny Zhou's shoulder.

Granny Zhou held Dou Ming tenderly and comforted her in a low voice.

Wei Fan had not exchanged a single word with Dou Ming for over half a month, and now, seeing her weep like a crabapple battered by rain, his heart softened despite himself, and a look of hesitation came over his face.

The Fifth Madam nodded to herself, and when Wei Fan had made his bows she said, "The demand your Wei family has raised is too outrageous for words. Our several masters sent me to ask one thing: in what way is the Marquis dissatisfied with Ming, that he should torment her so? Not only did he cause her to miscarry, but now you would have our Dou family hold Ming's dowry in trust—the Marquis must give us a reason."

At the sight of Wei Fan's face, Wei Wan knew things would go badly. Before he could open his mouth she cut in, "My dear in-law madam, that is not rightly said. How have we tormented Dou Ming…"

The Fifth Madam made a gesture bidding Wei Wan say no more, and said gently, "Eldest aunt, whether a shoe fits, only the foot knows. We are all outsiders, it is true, but we do hope the couple may live well together. Let us hear what the Marquis has to say."

Dou Ming, too, lifted her head from her sobbing, and gazed at Wei Fan with tear-filled eyes, frail and lovely as a windblown autumn blossom.

Wei Fan's face flushed crimson. He dared not look at Dou Ming again, and mumbled, "I—I have no complaint against Ming…" Before he had finished, he felt his sister's knife-like glare, and thought of his mother lying ill abed; his head began to buzz, and he mumbled on, "It is only that my mother-in-law is of too poor a character. One takes on the color of one's company. Ming is forever running off to see her mother, and we cannot stop her however we try—that is why we resorted to this poor expedient… It is Ming who will not obey, not that we wish to torment her…"

The whole room was stunned.

The Fifth Madam could not help exchanging a glance with Gao shi.

If that was the reason, then it really might pass.

But they had come this time to stand up for Dou Ming—how had Wei Fan talked his way past it?