Chapter 64 — Piercing the Veil

Dou Yan gave a cold laugh. "The Pang family hasn't eaten bear's heart or leopard's gall, but they dare to make a shameless uproar."

Dou Huaiying faltered slightly.

Dou Yan said, "Let Boyan handle this business for you; I trust he can manage it well." Then she added, "When are you going to the capital? Before you go, I want to bring Aunt Cui over to keep me company."

Dou Huaiying was dumbfounded.

Dou Yan said, "There is a Wu Shan over in the Eastern Branch. It's no longer convenient for me to stay with Sixth Aunt; and here Mother keeps the household, so who knows what filthy tricks the Pang family might stoop to. The manor folk are simple and honest, they don't even pick up what's dropped on the road, and there isn't so much as a guard about, so it's even less safe..."

"No need," her father cut her off before she could finish, the veins standing out on his forehead. "You just stay quietly at home, and I'd like to see who dares lay a finger on you." With that, he flung his sleeves and left.

Dou Yan had little faith in her father's ability to manage matters. She resolved that whether he consented or not, once he went to the capital she would use this business as an excuse to have Grandmother move in for a while, which might let Grandmother escape the coming calamity. As for Pang Jixiu, if he still dared to scheme after her, she had her own ways of dealing with him.

Before long, Dou Ming was brought to the main house by two old maids.

The moment Dou Ming's feet touched the ground she gathered up her skirts and made to run outside.

Dou Chu gave a look, and a maid of her own stopped the girl.

Dou Ming lunged at Dou Yan, clawing and snarling, "It's all you, all you! You're the one who set Father and Mother at odds!"

The old maids who had brought Dou Ming at once restrained her.

Compared with Wang Shuying and Dou Ming, the servants of the house cared more for Dou Zhiwei's feelings.

Dou Yan instructed Haitang, "Have her copy out the Admonitions for Women ten times. When she's finished, she may be let out to eat."

Haitang assented, and the two old maids hauled Dou Ming, still shrieking, to the warm chamber at the back — Dou Yan had given orders that Wang Shuying and Dou Ming were not to enter her study.

Dou Yan picked up a book at random and leaned back against the great cushion by the window to read.

Half an hour later, Dou Huaiying came in with a face full of displeasure.

Seeing Dou Yan reading, he asked, "Where is Ming?"

"Copying texts in the warm chamber," Dou Yan said, rising to pour her father a cup of tea.

Dou Huaiying drank two mouthfuls of the hot tea, and his expression softened somewhat. He went to see Dou Ming.

Dou Ming was copying out the Admonitions for Women between sobs, while Haitang held a dish of fruit and the two old maids attended her.

Dou Huaiying tiptoed out of the warm chamber and drew Dou Yan aside. "Come, let's go see where those two ginkgo trees ought to be planted."

Dou Yan accompanied Dou Huaiying to the eastern court.

That evening Wang Shuying served supper to Dou Huaiying and his daughter with a stiff smile.

Dou Ming, released only after copying out the Admonitions for Women ten times, threw herself at once into her mother's arms the moment she saw Wang Shuying, crying "Mother" through her tears while stealing glances at Dou Huaiying's and Dou Zhiwei's faces.

Dou Huaiying's face was blank, and Dou Yan looked on as if she had seen nothing.

Dou Ming's heart sank and sank, and she wisely swallowed the accusations she had meant to make.

Wang Shuying hugged her daughter, and with a forced smile bade her softly sit properly, then ladled her a bowl of noodles with shredded pork.

Dou Huaiying was resolved not to speak a word to Wang Shuying.

After supper, he played a game of weiqi with Dou Yan.

Dou Yan had no wish to be drawn into the tangle between him and Wang Shuying. After one game she began to yawn. "Let Gaosheng play you; I'm going to bed." She covered her mouth, bade them a mumbled good night, and went back to her room.

As Haitang helped her wash, she said in a low voice, "Seventh Master asked Seventh Mistress whether she knew about Pang Jixiu sending you the lantern. Seventh Mistress said she did, and Seventh Master gave her a scolding. Seventh Mistress felt much aggrieved, saying the thing was a gift to you, so how would she dare stop it. Then Seventh Master said she and the Pang family were in league together, and Seventh Mistress was so angry she began to cry. Fifth Miss heard the commotion and ran over, and Seventh Master had the two rough maids bring Fifth Miss to you..."

"All right, I understand," Dou Yan said with interest, and climbed onto the kang.

In such matters, it was indeed more reassuring to leave things to Dou Yan.

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I couldn't get online today, so I had to ask a friend to help post this, and I don't even know what time it will go up...~~~~(_

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