Chapter 70 — A Plea for Help

Fortunately, though the Second Madam had her schemes, she had her own ways over the wall. There was no need, though, to leave Ji caught between her and the Second Madam.

After seeing off the guests, Dou Yan asked the Second Madam to speak on her behalf: "...I want to be like Sixth Aunt—a person of deep learning. Sixth Aunt says it's a fine idea too. So I wrote to Father, asking his permission to continue my studies and to engage a private tutor to teach at home. Father has not yet replied. I'm afraid the Madam may obstruct it..."

The Second Madam glanced at Ji, on whose face a flicker of astonishment had appeared, and said with a smile, "You are still young, and this is the very time for study. Set your mind at ease—I will see to this matter, and the Wang will have nothing to say."

Dou Yan thanked the Second Madam with delight.

Ji sighed, patted her hand gently, and saw her to the carriage herself.

The Second Madam, unwilling to make a fuss, did not wait for Dou Huaiying's reply. She had already instructed Dou Zhen to quietly find Dou Yan a tutor: "...it must not be anyone from around Zhending, and his learning must be sound—good enough that Shouyuan will want to keep studying with him."

Dou Zhen was puzzled. "Shouyuan isn't going to sit the imperial examinations."

The Second Madam said, "We're spending silver—are we to bring home some ignoramus who knows nothing at all? If outsiders heard of it, where would the Dou family's face be? Where would the reputation of the Dou clan school be?"

But there was no need to bring home someone whose background they knew nothing about, either, was there?

Dou Zhen grumbled inwardly, yet dared not ask more. He answered "Yes" respectfully and sought out several trusted stewards to help find a tutor for Dou Yan.

Even so, word of Dou Yan's striking looks, poised bearing, and steady, proper conduct got about.

Before long, families began sending matchmakers.

The Second Madam turned them all away on the grounds that "she is far too young; at the very least we must wait until she comes of age."

Grandmother was rather worried when she heard. Privately she said to Hong Gu, "Coming of age—isn't that too late? The young gentlemen of suitable age will likely all be betrothed by then."

Hong Gu comforted her. "Our Shouyuan is so pretty and capable—are we afraid she won't find a good match? If there's none in Zhending County, is there none in the capital?"

"That's true enough." Grandmother was reassured.

Dou Yan laughed to herself in secret.

It seemed no one had so much as mentioned Wei Fan.

If only she could think of some way to get the betrothal token back from her uncle's hands... then her engagement to the Wei family would be thoroughly broken off.

Dou Yan thought of her own children.

It was as though they were preserved forever in her memory, still fourteen or fifteen years old.

Her spirits plummeted all at once.

On her way to Ji's for lessons, Dou Yan leaned listlessly against the great bolster cushion in the carriage.

The carriage, rolling along smoothly, suddenly halted with a jolt amid shouting; Dou Yan, Haitang, Qiukui, and the others lurched and tumbled into a heap, and from outside came a girl's voice, clear and ringing yet with a faint tremor: "Miss Dou, I beg you, save my father!"

Dou Yan's heart skipped a beat at the sound.

If she spoke of "saving," it must be something very dangerous.

What danger could there be for law-abiding common folk?

She did not know the girl at all, and had no wish to take up the matter. She told Haitang, "Have the driver hurry on—we mustn't be late for lessons."

Haitang hurried to pass Dou Yan's words to the driver.

The driver raised his whip to drive on.

But the young girl blocking the way spread her arms wide and stood in the middle of the lane, refusing to move.

The driver had no choice but to reason with her in a low voice: "Our young lady has not yet come of age; even her own affairs must be decided by the elders of the house. If you have a grievance, go straight to the yamen and beat the drum. What help could our young lady possibly give you?"

The girl stood there stubbornly.

The old woman attending the carriage jumped down to pull her away.

But the girl did not budge an inch.

The old woman's face flushed crimson, and she called for help.

The driver and the other old woman got down from the carriage as well.

The girl shouted straight at Dou Yan's carriage: "Fourth Miss, I beg you, my father has been wronged! They say we harbor bandits, but my father never even knew such a man! When my father's friends came to our house as guests, I was the one who poured their tea and bought their wine—I know all of my father's friends. Fourth Miss, I beg you!" With that, she began kowtowing to Dou Yan with loud thuds, and however the three adults pulled at her, they could not make her rise.

※

Update for February 17.

(*^__^*)

I am a diligent little bee...

※