After the evening banquet ended, the Empress Dowager and Madam Zhao returned together to the Qin Family's Rear Residence, while the visiting guests gradually dispersed.
In the lakeside Covered Gallery, Qin Xiangru, Duke of Jiang'an, stroked his great beard. His slightly tipsy face was full of smiles as he continued lavishing praise on the allusions from earlier:
"What a line-'from afar, without measure; up close, without restraint'! I've lived more than half my life, and this is the first time winning has felt so satisfying. That old fellow Wu Song will probably be racking his brains to find an expert to advise him once he gets home. This old man reckons he'll come again around the New Year. If Duke Ye is there then, you must lend me another hand..."
"Ah, Duke Qin, you think far too highly of a junior like me..."
"What junior? From now on, we're friends despite the years between us. Not brothers, but closer than brothers..."
"?"
Ye Jingtang could hardly accept such treatment, or the Empress Dowager would surely hit him. He hurriedly waved his hands.
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare..."
Qin Xiangru would otherwise have spent at least half a year fuming. With Ye Jingtang having given him a hand, he was genuinely grateful, and insisted on escorting him all the way from Red Goose Tower to outside the Courtyard before stopping. Had he not lacked an unmarried daughter, he probably would have arranged the marriage on the spot and delivered her straight to Ye Jingtang's room. Even as he left, he complained that having nothing but sons was useless-not one could be counted on when it mattered.
Only after watching the group leave from outside the Courtyard did Ye Jingtang turn and enter the Main Courtyard.
As it was growing late,