Chapter 270 — A Feast

"What's the matter?"

Gu Yu twisted his body and went on tossing fish feed into the water without a word.

Song Yan laughed despite himself. "How old are you, that you still carry on like a child? What on earth is wrong? I haven't heard a word out of you since you came in. Have you quarreled with your family?"

Gu Yu gave a cold laugh. "I'm not married, so aren't I still a child?"

Song Yan was taken aback, then laughed again.

His smile was full of helplessness, with a touch of indulgence in it too, and Gu Yu's eyes reddened; he turned his face away.

Song Dan turned to leave. "Very well, then. We'll talk once you've thought it through."

Gu Yu flung the whole handful of fish feed into the lake with a smack and cried out loudly, "Ever since you married, you don't care about my affairs anymore!" His tone was that of a wronged young wife.

Shen Qing, Song Han, and the others all looked over, Song Han especially, whose gaze on Gu Yu flickered with a strange light.

Song Yan did not know whether to laugh or cry, and had no choice but to walk back. "How have I stopped caring about your affairs? These past days I haven't even caught a glimpse of your shadow—how am I supposed to care about your affairs?"

Hearing this, Gu Yu felt even more wronged.

A few days ago he had gone to Huai'an and settled all the accounts for the river works, and only then remembered that last time Wang Yu had asked him to look into who had struck Wei Fan that blow from behind. After returning to the capital, he had spent two days on the matter, and then discovered Ji Yong and He Yu. Not only that—he had also discovered that He Yu, though nominally Dou Huaiying's junior fellow disciple, had once kicked up a fuss at home demanding to marry Dou Yan; and most baffling of all, Old Master He had actually consented…

Now Wei Fan had cast Dou Yan aside and married Dou Ming, and He Yu was still egging Ji Yong on to settle accounts with Wei Fan—clearly the old feelings had never been forgotten.

If he told Brother Tianci, Brother Tianci would surely grow cold toward the Dou family from then on. Uncle Song had already treated Brother Tianci that way, and Tian'en did not dare to face Brother Tianci either. Wouldn't Brother Tianci then become a lonely man again, with no one even to ask after his warmth or cold? But if he did not tell Brother Tianci, then there would be a He Yu at his side coveting his sister-in-law, while Brother Tianci was kept in the dark—and the one keeping him in the dark was none other than himself… The very thought made his heart ache.

Gu Yu turned it over and over in his mind, and had not slept for several nights.

He had finally managed to get some sleep, only to wake and hear the news that the Dou daughter had been granted the title of "Madam."

He could not help scratching at his head.

Song Yan, seeing this, was both amused and exasperated. "Speak properly, don't act like a suckling babe crying for sweets—what exactly has happened?" Yet his voice had softened.

Gu Yu's face flushed bright red, and only after a long while did he say, "My stepmother wants to betroth her niece from her maiden family to me…"

Song Yan silently reproached himself.

Gu Yu was only a few months younger than he was, and had reached the age for discussing marriage as well. It was only that the family situation was complicated and no one dared to step forward and take charge on his behalf, and so the matter had been put off.

These past days he had been occupied solely with his own affairs, and had indeed been somewhat neglectful of Gu Yu.

His expression gradually turned grave. "Does the Empress know of this?"

Gu Yu shook his head. "I only heard of it by chance…" Yet even so, the mere thought that he might marry a girl of his stepmother's blood made him unable to bear it.

Seeing the disgust written all over his face, Song Yan pondered and said, "You are the legitimate eldest son, and your marriage bears on the rise and fall of the Yunyang Earl's estate. Your father will never act rashly. In the past it was because you were too wild, and your father was angry that you would not strive; that was why he paid you no mind. Now that you are conducting yourself properly, your father will naturally not treat you as he once did. But we must also guard against the worst; I will keep an eye on this matter for you. Still, you must have a plan of your own, so that I can help you think of a way."

That Song Yan was willing to help him set Gu Yu's heart at ease, like a great stone laid down. Recalling that ever since he had gone into business with Song Yan and Wang Yu, his father's attitude toward him had changed somewhat, he could not help nodding.

Song Yan patted his shoulder again and said with a smile, "Feng Shao and the others are gambling in the warm pavilion. Go find them and have some fun!"

This time Gu Yu did not dodge away from Song Yan, but neither did he run off to the warm pavilion to join the excitement as usual. Instead he asked hesitantly, "Sister-in-law—does she treat you well?"

A smile broke across Song Yan's lips beyond all restraining. "Very well!"

His whole being was like branches and leaves in springtime, slowly unfurling in the spring wind.

Gu Yu felt a sudden pang of envy, and a little jealousy too.

※※※※※

In the flower hall, Dou Yan directed Suxin and the others to refill the tea of the ladies at the card tables.

Of the Dou family, only the Sixth Cousin's wife, Madam Guo, and the Tenth Cousin's wife, Madam Cai, had come. Not seeing Dou Ming, Madam Cai said in surprise, "Eh, why don't I see the Fifth Young Miss?"

In her view, of the two half sisters, the younger had snatched the elder's husband, and yet the elder had instead married into a more illustrious house. Moreover, the younger had married first and there was still no sign of a title for her, while the elder had married later and was already a titled lady of the outer court. The elder sister ought to be very pleased with herself. So her voice was loud, and it echoed through the flower hall.

Everyone's gaze fell upon Dou Zhiwei.

Dou Chi showed no sign of discomposure. Smiling, she set the Lu'an melon-seed tea before the Old Madam Lu, and was just about to speak when Madam Shi, the Second Madam Zhang of the Jingzhenguo estate, beat her to it with a smile. "The Madam's sister seems a little unwell. Yesterday the Madam paid a personal visit, and my mother-in-law praised her straightaway for her honest and generous nature, and told us sisters-in-law to cultivate her acquaintance more. My eldest sister-in-law had meant to come along with us too, but just as we were leaving she said her own brother's wife was feeling unwell and she had to go back and look in on her, and so she went back to the Jining Marquis's estate on the spur of the moment." With that she covered her mouth with her sleeve and laughed. "In a few days our plum blossoms should be opening too. My mother-in-law says we ought to learn from the Madam—when there's nothing to do, invite people over for some lively company. She means to hold a plum-viewing feast at home, and when the time comes, none of you ladies and sisters must decline; you must all come and make merry with us sisters-in-law!"

Everyone answered with a chorus of assent, and those sitting together fell to discussing which estate had held what kind of feast this year and whether it had been enjoyable; those at the card tables turned their attention back to the game, watching the player to their left and blocking the one to their right, hearing nothing of what went on around them. The flower hall at once recovered its former liveliness, and who had the leisure to care what had become of Dou Ming?

Madam Zhang the Second winked at Dou Yan and said, "When the time comes you must help us recommend a good cook—those pickles served with the meal just now were excellent."

Dou Xin nodded with a smile, but inwardly she gave a quiet sigh.