Chapter 127 — Racing to Sow (Extra Chapter: Asking for Pink Votes)

Dou Yan's head throbbed as though it would split.

She had no idea how many of the Jiang men had actually survived this catastrophe.

She had tucked Chen Yanzhou's letter away in a black-lacquered box behind the headboard of her bed.

At least the child now at Tan Family Manor was no longer the sole blood of the Jiang line.

Surely Song Yan's wariness of her could be laid to rest now?

She wondered when that Lu Ming would leave, and when Old Chen would return.

By mid-June the crops were all in the ground, and the fields were a lush green carpet of corn shoots, growing splendidly.

Lord Lu was greatly comforted, and declared he would petition the court to commend the Dou family for their service.

The Second Dowager hastily sent Dou Heng to the prefectural city to make the necessary arrangements.

Dou Fan received Wei Fan's wet nurse, Mistress Tian, at home.

"...Regarding that business last time, the Marquis feels he owes Miss Four a great apology." Her face was full of contrition, her manner exceedingly respectful. "Our eldest young madam meant well from the start—she never imagined she would make such a blunder. The Marquis specially sent me to beg your pardon on his behalf. Our lady has also reprimanded our eldest young madam, and there will never be such a thing again. He asks that Miss Four not take it to heart, and forgive our eldest young madam's thoughtless act."

Dou Yan was astonished.

She had never thought Wei Fan would apologize to her on his sister's behalf!

What on earth had happened in this life to change Wei Fan so greatly from the last?

Dou Yan, thoroughly perplexed, courteously saw Nurse Tian out, unable to fathom it no matter how she turned it over in her mind.

Lu Ming came to request an audience.

Dou Yan hoped he had come to take his leave. Instead he said, "Miss Four. My young master is lodging at the manor and wishes to see you."

Dou Yan's eyelid twitched.

What did he want to see her for?

Had she not already sworn her loyalty?

Now that the Jiang family had a chance to rise again, what did she still have to do with any of it?

"It is not convenient for me to go out and receive guests," said Dou Xin, "but your young master has come a long way, and I would not be so rude as to slight him. Here is what we shall do: I will send Suxin to see your young master. If there is any matter, your young master may have her convey it to me directly."

Lu Ming stood his ground and did not leave. "I beg Miss Four to go and see my young master! He wished to call on you in person, but feared it would put Miss Four in a difficult position, and that is why he quietly took lodging at the manor."

How had she forgotten that?

The Jiang family affair was now settled, and the Song family had come through it wholly untouched. If he openly came calling, she truly would not know how to explain Song Zhi's origins to the Second Dowager. And given Song Zhi's character, he was entirely capable of doing such a thing...

"Since it has come to this, I will find an opportunity to see your young master," Dou Xin agreed.

Yet she made Song Yan wait two days.

"I have kept you waiting overlong," she said in apology the moment she stepped inside, though there was not the slightest shade of shame on her brow. "There was business at home, and I could not get away."

"It is no matter!" Song Yan stood with his hands clasped behind his back in the corridor of the eastern wing, dressed in a fine moon-white cloth Daoist robe. He gazed at her with a faint smile, the weariness about his brows and eyes impossible to disguise, yet it lent him a warmer, more approachable air. Stripped of the coldness of their first meeting, he looked all the more handsome. "The manor is quiet and peaceful; it has done me good to rest here a few days." He spoke as he and Dou Yan entered the hall of the main house.

A brisk-looking young servant directed several burly fellows as they carried a great pile of things in from the eastern wing.

These were not the same men he had brought last time; Dou Chu did not recognize a one of them.

"What is this?" She looked at Song Yan, puzzled.

"My mother expressly commanded me to come and thank Miss Dou Four," Song Yan said with a faint smile, serene and gentle as moonlight. "Had it not been for Miss Dou Four's wholehearted aid this time, I fear the Jiang family could not have preserved even this much footing!" He sighed, his expression rather sorrowful.

Dou Yan had not expected Lady Jiang to send Song Yan to thank her.

But how dared she accept such credit!

"Young Master Mei is too kind," Dou Qu said. "I did no more than read from the book and talk of war on paper. Without your lady mother's resolve, without the scheming of your household's advisors"—she decided on the spot to include this god of death before her as well, and added—"and without Young Master Mei's aid, how could the Jiang family have escaped peril? Your lady mother is far too courteous; it only leaves me ashamed."

Song Yan listened with a smile at the corner of his mouth, but his expression seemed to tell her: be as modest as you like, I do not believe a word of it.

Dou Chi could not help feeling rather foolish.

Only then did Song Yan say, "I ought to have come sooner. Old Chen has no doubt told Miss Dou Four all about my maternal family's affairs—these past days I have been busy helping my grandmother and several aunts pack. My uncles and cousins are being exiled to Tieling Guard, which lies in the domain of the Prince of Liao. He and I were on somewhat friendly terms in the past, but he has been away from the capital a long while, and to renew that connection I still needed someone to speak on my behalf. What with all this muddle, I have been delayed until now. A trifling gift—a token of my mother's regard. I pray Miss Dou Four will accept it with a smile."

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Readers all, please look for tomorrow's update!

I will get it sorted out, I swear, fist clenched!

ps: I'll deal with the bugs later—if you've got pink votes to spare, spare them, go on...~~~~(_

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