Chapter 442 — Opportunists

Ruotong, who attended Jiang Yan and Jiang Ling, hastened to say, "This is the Second Madam of our household." Then she presented the two to Miao Zhi: "This is the young lady of the Jiang family, Miss Biao, and this is the thirteenth aunt of the Jiang family, the wife of Young Master Wu."

The two sides bent their knees to one another in salute.

Only then did Miao Zhi realize who Jiang Yan was.

She could not help stealing several more glances at her.

Jiang Yan shifted uncomfortably and edged a little closer to Jiang Ling.

A flicker passed through Miao Zhi's eyes. She exchanged a few pleasantries with Jiang Yan and Jiang Ling, then returned to her own new rooms.

Jiang Yan let out a long breath.

Jiang Ling could not help shaking her head. "You're the legitimate young lady of the Yingzhenguo household, proper and true, and she's but the wife of a concubine's son. What have you to be afraid of?"

Jiang Yan murmured, "I... I'm simply not used to it, that's all." Then she begged her, "Dear sister, please don't tell my sister-in-law. If my sister-in-law and my brother hear of it, they'll worry over me again."

Jiang Ling patted her hand. "Rest easy. I'm not one to stir up trouble."

Jiang Yan smiled, her lips curving upward, her little face like a pear blossom in full bloom, gentle and fragile.

Jiang Ling sighed.

When the two returned to the Yizhi Hall, the managing matron was just bringing in some chrysanthemum wine brewed a few days past for Dou Yan to taste.

Dou Yan merely sniffed at it, then had a little maid pour each of them a small cup, and said with a smile, "You try it too!"

It was brewed from the finest glutinous rice wine, smooth and sweet on the tongue.

Jiang Ling praised it lavishly.

Dou Yan told her to take two jars home. "Let your father- and mother-in-law have a taste. Consider it a small token of our regard."

Jiang Ling knew Dou Yan was giving her face, and agreed with a beaming smile. She said nothing aloud, but stored the kindness in her heart, thinking that should the chance ever come, she must repay Dou Zhiwei for her generosity in raising her up.

The three of them ate and drank and made merry in the inner chamber, teasing Yuan Heng, who had just woken from his nap, until Song Yan returned.

Jiang Ling and Song Yan went to the study to talk.

Dou Yan and Jiang Yan stayed in the inner chamber, trying on the clothes and trinkets they meant to wear for the mountain climb on the Double Ninth.

By the time Song Yan came back inside, the kang and the chairs were strewn with things, and Yuan Heng had a bright red kerchief clutched in his fist and would not let go; the moment anyone touched it, his mouth puckered and he began to cry.

Everyone was convulsed with laughter.

Song Yan teased, "This boy won't grow up to be a good-for-nothing young rake, will he?"

Dou Yan said, "When Boyan had his zhuazhou, he grabbed a box of rouge, and didn't he grow up to top the imperial examinations and enter the Hanlin Academy!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Song Yan was greatly intrigued. "How did a box of rouge come to be among the zhuazhou things?"

In ordinary families that hoped for great achievements from their sons, such things were never set out.

Dou Yan said, "My father put it there. When Qijin, my eleventh cousin's boy, had his zhuazhou, Father even set a pearl flower among the things. By the time my sixth uncle noticed, the Han family had already arrived. My sixth aunt said my sixth uncle had no choice but to pray in secret that Qijin wouldn't grab that pearl flower."

Jiang Yan and the others laughed until they bent double.

Song Yan thought of the quiet, desolate Yunqi Temple alley and said with a smile, "On the ninth day of the ninth month, shall we invite my father-in-law to climb the mountain with us?"

Dou Yan had never once thought of asking her father to go out with them.

She was silent a moment, then smiled. "Very well! I'll send someone to ask Father at once, and see whether he has made other plans for that day!"

Song Yan nodded and went to the study.

Dou Yan and Jiang Yan kept Jiang Ling company through supper, then escorted her to the hanging-flower gate; only after her sedan chair had gone did they return to their rooms to rest.

In bed, Song Yan told Dou Yan the purpose of Jiang Ling's visit. "The business of Fifth Uncle making a scene with me over money has spread far and wide. Aunt—my eldest uncle's wife—heard of it even in Haozhou, and sent my thirteenth cousin to ask me what on earth happened. She told me not to sink to Fifth Uncle's level, said she would write him a sharp rebuke, and had my thirteenth cousin bring me word that what was given to me is mine, that this was my eldest uncle's wish as well, and that if Fifth Uncle would not accept it, he should go argue it out with her..."

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Brothers and sisters, here is today's make-up update.

o(n_n)o~

Please, I beg you for your pink votes...

PS: Today's update has been pushed back to around ten tonight.