Chapter 496 — Capture

Song Ke raised an eyebrow.

This Ji Yong—things were hardly peaceful on the Crown Prince's side of the Mingche Dao, yet he insisted on pushing his way in there. What was he playing at?

No one in the Dou family thought to warn Ji Yong; the two households belonged to different camps, after all, and if the other side fell into misfortune, one's own might well profit by it.

The conversation drifted gradually to the Grand Secretaries of the Zhan Shi Fu, and Dou Bingheng spoke of Zhao Peijie in particular: "...not only upright in conduct, but steady in temperament—the Crown Prince trusts him greatly. He keeps himself out of sight for now, but one day he will surely be made Chancellor and enter the Grand Secretariat."

Song Yan remembered Dou Yan mentioning this man, and he could not help listening with close attention.

A little maid from Lady Ji's side came running in, all fluster: "Something dreadful has happened—the Fourth Young Mistress has fainted."

Song Yan's heart clenched at once, as though his soul had scattered; it was a long moment before he came back to himself.

He bolted for the inner courtyard.

Dou Huaiying thought for a moment, then followed after him.

The others could hardly go peering into the inner courtyard, so they questioned the little maid: "How did the Fourth Young Mistress come to faint? Who else was with her at the time? When you came away, who was looking after her?"

The little maid's account was clear and fluent: "This servant does not know why the Fourth Young Mistress fainted. At the time the Fifth Madam, the Sixth Madam, the Eldest Young Mistress and others were all present, talking, when the Fourth Young Mistress suddenly clutched her chest and said she felt unwell. The Sixth Madam quickly ordered someone to fetch the cooling pills, and then the Fourth Young Mistress suddenly slumped over the table beside her. The Sixth Madam was badly frightened and bade this servant come and summon the Heir Apparent, while the Fifth Madam sent someone to call for the physician."

Everyone's breath caught.

Dou Huaide and Wu Shan appeared at the door of the study.

Seeing the tense atmosphere in the room, the two exchanged glances and said in unison: "What has happened here?"

Dou Jichang recounted the whole business to Dou Huaide.

Until the physician arrived, no one knew what to make of it.

Dou Huaide thought for a moment and said: "I will go and see."

Wu Shan pondered briefly, then went out of the courtyard together with Dou Huaide.

Dou Yan had been laid on the large kang in the room adjoining the reception chamber, with Lady Ji and the others gathered around.

The physician had not yet come; she had already regained consciousness and lay pale-faced in the crook of Song Yan's arm.

Song Yan's heart ached as though it were being wrung. His tone came out a little stiff as he addressed the Fifth Madam: "Fifth Aunt, do you think we should have the maids brew her some brown sugar water?"

"Oh!" The Fifth Madam came to herself and hurriedly ordered a maid to brew the brown sugar water—Song Yan's appearance as he burst in had been frightening enough, and only now did she feel her own heart pounding.

Lady Ji, meanwhile, said gently to the Eldest Young Mistress and the rest: "Why don't you all go and sit in the warm chamber? Crowding around Shouyuan like this will only make her feel worse."

Above all, Song Yan was here, and it was only proper that they withdraw.

The people in the reception chamber understood, and followed the Eldest Young Mistress into the adjoining warm chamber, leaving only the elder Fifth Madam and Sixth Madam behind.

Dou Huaide and Wu Shan lifted the curtain and entered.

Song Yan was secretly astonished.

Dou Huaide was Dou Zhiwei's foster brother. The two had grown up together, and that he should have come rushing in in his panic was forgivable—but Wu Shan...

He shot Wu Shan a swift glance.

And saw Wu Shan greeting the Sixth Madam with easy familiarity.

The Sixth Madam looked a little surprised, though she did not show much astonishment; the Fifth Madam, however, was plainly taken aback to see Wu Shan come in.

Song Yan took it all in and, betraying nothing, drew Dou Yan closer.

Dou Huaide and Wu Shan had eyes only for Dou Zhiwei, and paid no heed to Song Yan's expression. Dou Huaide asked anxiously: "How do you feel now?"

Dou Yan felt tired, as though she could not catch her breath.

She smiled, and her face, white as snow, made her seem all the more frail: "I am fine. I only got up too quickly just now..."

Dou Huaide and Wu Shan both breathed a sigh of relief.

The little maid came in bearing the brown sugar water.

Dou Huaide stepped aside; Wu Shan, however, went past the Sixth Aunt and hastily took the tray from the little maid. After two quick steps he checked himself, and with a faintly startled look handed the tray to a little maid standing beside Song Yan, saying: "Take the brown sugar water to the Fourth Young Mistress."

The little maid murmured her assent.

Song Yan's eyelid twitched.

Lady Ji stepped forward to support Dou Yan.

Song Yan said: "Let me," politely declining the Sixth Madam's kindness.

Lady Ji looked at the handsome pair before her, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, and withdrew to one side.

Dou Yan smiled and nodded to Wu Shan.

Wu Shan returned Dou Yan a smile.

Song Yan lowered his eyes slightly and took the small blue-and-white bowl from the maid's hands, then gently fed Dou Yan some water.

Dou Yan was secretly astonished.

There was no doubt that Song Yan treated her well, but he was steady and reserved. When others were present he was all the more tender and attentive, his affection showing in unguarded moments. Yet this was the first time he had displayed it so plainly, and it left her quite unaccustomed. But with the Fifth Madam and the others looking on, she could hardly spoil Song Yan's goodwill, so she forced down her embarrassment and let him feed her.

Wu Shan looked surprised.

Dou Huaide turned his face away, rather uncomfortable.

The Fifth Madam, however, knew that Song Yan was very fond of Dou Yan, and took it merely as a slip brought on by alarm. She paid it no mind, and turning away she repeatedly urged the maids, "Why has the doctor still not come?"

The little maid did not dare dawdle, and hurried out.

Song Yan took a handkerchief and wiped Dou Yan's mouth, asking softly, "Are you feeling any better? Shall I have a maid make you another bowl of brown sugar water? Is there any other discomfort?"

Dou Yan felt as though a foul vapor were trapped in her chest, unable to come out, and it was most unbearable. But she did not want Song Yan to worry, so she smiled and shook her head. "I'll be fine after a little rest!"

Yet her body leaned softly against Song Yan.

Song Yan held Dou Yan and kissed her forehead tenderly, comforting her in a low voice: "It's nothing, the doctor will be here any moment. If he can find nothing, we'll go home and have a physician from the Imperial Hospital take a look." He coaxed her softly, as though soothing a child.

Dou Yan had no strength left in her body and let Song Yan do as he would.

Dou Huaide flushed crimson, and tugging lightly at Wu Shan's sleeve, signaled that they should leave.

Wu Shan cast Dou Chu a glance of complex feeling, then turned and followed Dou Huaide out the door.

Gazing at the swaying door curtain, a flicker of coldness crossed Song Yan's eyes, but when he lowered his head and looked at Dou Zhiwei, his gaze at once turned full of tenderness.

Gao Sheng came running in at a trot, leading the doctor.

Seeing Dou Huaide and Wu Shan standing anxiously under the side corridor, he stepped forward and made a bow, then ordered a little maid to take the doctor into the hall.

Before long the doctor came out smiling, and cupped his hands toward the three under the corridor. "Congratulations. The young madam is with child!"