Chapter 305 — Cannot

He could not control his son, but could he not even control a daughter-in-law?

"Attendants!" he bellowed. "Bring me the family rod! I refuse to believe it. If I discipline my own daughter-in-law, would the Dou family dare come storming to my door? Are they not afraid their married daughter will earn a reputation for 'defying her elders'?"

Dou Yan was not afraid.

Ever since the business with Pang Kunbai, whenever she moved about the inner quarters she brought either Suxin or Sulan with her, and when she went outside, she always had guards at her side.

She stepped back a few paces and smiled. "It is only proper for a father-in-law to discipline his daughter-in-law! Nor would our Dou family ever have grounds to take up a married daughter's cause on that account. It is only that I have no mother-in-law, and so each dawn and dusk I pay my respects. I do no more than inquire after your health through the door curtain. How I have angered you, I beg you to tell me plainly. When our relatives ask, I will at least have something to account for it."

"You dare talk back to me!" Song Cen slammed his palm on the table.

Suddenly several rough-work matrons came surging in from outside.

Dou Chu was stunned.

He looked at Song Cen and saw that his face too was full of astonishment.

The matrons quickly surrounded Dou Yan, and one of them said with a smile, "Lord Zhenguo, pray calm your anger! As the saying goes, instruct your sons in the hall, instruct your wife by the pillow. Even if the lady has erred, wait until the heir returns and instruct him instead. Why must you raise your own hand and ruin your good name?"

Another matron even tugged Dou Ji toward the door, whispering softly at Dou Yan's ear, "A wise man does not fight when the odds are against him. Lady, hurry back to Yizhi Hall!"

They had actually come to help Dou Yan out of her predicament.

Dou Yan was baffled by the scene before her, yet just as the matron said, she was unwilling to suffer such a loss. So she took Suxin and Sujuan and followed the matron out of the main chamber.

"Mutiny, mutiny!" Song Cen's roar carried from the main chamber. "Do you lowly serving girls not want to live?"

Hearing this, Dou Yan's steps faltered.

The matron pulling her along saw this and her eyes grew slightly moist. She hurriedly said, "Lady, we were charged by the heir to protect you. Rest assured, the heir promised us long ago that if such a day ever came, he would never treat us poorly."

Only then did Dou Ci set her mind at ease, and she quickly left the upper courtyard.

After seeing the matron off, Suxin could not help saying, "Lady, the heir truly treats you well!"

Yes!

Song Yan truly treated her very well.

He thought of everything before she ever had to, and never once did she need to step forward herself.

She could not compare him to Wei Fan either; she ought to break free from the so-called "experience" and "lessons" of her past life.

Dou Yan instructed Suxin, "I recall the heir mentioning a few days ago that an imperial physician surnamed Zhu in the Imperial Medical Academy is skilled in gynecology. Go tell the outer courtyard to have him come in and take my pulse, and write a few prescriptions for health and nourishment. I intend to properly regulate my constitution."

To bear Song Yan a healthy child.

Suxin broke into a smile at once and went off happily to the outer courtyard.

Watching Suxin's skipping figure, Dou Yan smiled as well.

She joyfully drew up the gift list for her return to her natal home and handed it to Ganlu.

Song Yan came rushing back from outside.

"You did not suffer any loss?" He looked Dou Yan up and down, as though afraid she might have lost so much as a single hair.

"With you, how could I ever suffer a loss!" Dou Yan wrapped her arms around Song Yan's waist and nestled into his embrace.

Song Yan let out a long breath of relief.

Dou Ji said, "Yantang, if we have a child, I will let everything else go and devote myself wholly to caring for the child."

"Naturally!" Rare as it was for Dou Yan to be in such spirits, Song Yan felt as though he had tasted honey. He kissed Dou Yan gently. "When the time comes, I will invite—" He paused. "Invite someone to help you manage the household!"

Dou Yan giggled. "And just who could you invite to manage the household for me?"

Song Yan tilted his head; for a moment he truly could not think of a candidate.

Dou Ji leaned in and whispered a few words at his ear.

Song Yan looked surprised. "Truly?"

"Mm!" Dou Yan pursed her lips and smiled. "Wait until October, when the person will come with Old Chen. You can help lend an eye then too."

Song Dan said, "This is one matter you know better than I! Then you may as well marry Su Lan to Chen He and be done with it, with Su Xin in the inner court and Su Lan in the outer court. That way things will be easier on you too."

"We will see when the time comes!" Dou Xin said. "First let us settle Su Xin's marriage."

The words had barely left her mouth when Su Xin walked in.

She had not expected that in broad daylight Dou Yan and Song Yan would be embracing each other right there in the resting chamber.

She could not help but let out a cry of "Aiyo," and, her face burning red, she retreated hastily.

Dou Yan and Song Ke burst out laughing.

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Sisters, brothers, I will be hunting for typos in a bit.

o(n_n)o~

ps: Begging for pink votes in support!