Chapter 131 — Friends

But Song Cen, as though afraid Song Yan might change his mind, said hastily, "It's settled, then." Then he added, "I'm going to the storeroom to see whether there's anything suitable to send to the Prince of Liao. If you need anything, just tell Tianci!" This last sentence was directed at Jiang Shi. With that, he rose and went off to the storeroom.

Jiang Shi sighed and said to her son, "It's all just going through the motions. These past days you've been running here and there without even a proper night's sleep, and there's nothing more to be done on your uncles' side. You needn't trouble yourself with household matters—go find Yu and the others and have some fun!"

Yu's formal name was Gu Yu. He was the eldest legitimate grandson of Gu Quanfang, the Earl of Yunyang. Gu Quanfang's principal wife, née Song, was Song Cen's aunt. She had been married less than a year when she fell ill and died, leaving no children. Though Gu Quanfang later took as his second wife the younger cousin of Guo Haiqing, the Marquis of Xuanning, the two families continued to visit one another just as they had when Lady Song was alive, and in time the Songs and the Guos grew close as well.

Gu Yu's mother was a full sister of Empress Wan, and she died in childbirth bringing him into the world. He was the same age as Song Yan, and grew up delicate and pretty, almost like a girl; yet his temper was thoroughly domineering—one wrong word and he would come to blows, and he would not even let his attendants lend a hand, insisting on fighting his own battles. If he beat someone else, that was one thing, but if someone beat him, there was the devil to pay, and heaven knew how much trouble he had stirred up on that account. Empress Wan doted on this sole surviving blood of her sister, cherished him as the apple of her eye, and would even plead for him in person when matters blew up; every official family in the capital kept their sons well clear of him. Over time he earned the nickname "the little tyrant of the capital."

There were those with ulterior motives who egged him on to provoke Song Yan.

Song Yan was a rather unusual figure in the capital as well.

It was said that Song Cen was exceedingly strict with him. The family engaged several great scholars at once to instruct him—not only in the Hundred Schools, poetry, the qin, and painting, but also astronomy, calendrics, arithmetic, and horsemanship and archery. His time was never enough; he scarcely ever left the house, and few knew him. Those who had never met him liked to call him behind his back "the bookworm of the Yingzhenguo Estate." Those who had met him generally kept silent.

In truth, by that time Song Yan had already been thrown onto the battlefield by Jiang Meisun to temper his nerve; he looked upon Gu Yu the way a grown man looks upon a child, and took him not in the least seriously. Naturally, he turned a blind eye to Gu Yu's provocations.

Gu Yu came to blows at an imperial family banquet.

Song Yan showed him no mercy and, to the sound of Empress Wan's pleas, beat Gu Yu black and blue.

At that time the Prince of Liao had not yet gone to his fief, and, ever eager to see the world thrown into chaos, he cheered Song Yan on from the sidelines.

The Crown Prince, sweating profusely, pulled at Song Yan and then at Gu Yu, but neither would give him the time of day, and in his panic he shouted for the guards, who finally separated them.

Empress Wan held Gu Yu and wept; Jiang Shi held Song Yan and wept.

The Emperor had no choice but to pretend he had seen nothing, claiming he had drunk too much and needed to rest.

Who would have thought that from then on Gu Yu submitted to Song Yan utterly, running to the Yingzhenguo Estate every day to find him and play.

How could Song Yan have time to indulge him? He left him to sit there ignored.

Gu Yu, grinning and unbothered, stuck to Song Yan like a piece of taffy—wherever Song Yan went, he went; he took blows without striking back and scolding without talking back. Once Song Yan even threw him into a well and he nearly drowned, and when he was pulled out he said not a word to the adults but simply went on following Song Yan.

Only then did Song Yan look at him squarely.

He had Xu Qing—the guard at his side whom Duan Bing called "the sword hidden in the box"—teach him martial arts.

Gu Yu would hold a horse stance for the time it took two incense sticks to burn, and even with his hands and feet trembling he never uttered a word of complaint.

Seeing this, Song Yan had Yan Che teach him to read.

Jiang Shi hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

Song Yan sneered. "If the Guos want to play at 'killing with praise,' let them—but to scheme against the Yingzhenguo Estate, that is not something to be brushed aside so lightly. I had originally intended to settle accounts with the Guos properly, but for Gu Yu's sake I'll let it go. Let Gu Yu untie this knot himself."

Jiang Shi said nothing more.

In the space of two or three years, Gu Yu seemed to become a different person—not only modest and courteous in his dealings and substantial in his speech, but generous and openhearted, able to get along with anyone.

More than once Empress Wan praised Song Yan in front of Jiang Shi.

Song Yan occasionally had Gu Yu run errands for him, and the two shared meals and drinks a few times.

Seeing that her son had at last found a companion his own age, and that Gu Yu had turned from his wayward path, Jiang Shi rather encouraged her son to go out and about with Gu Yu.

"What does he do besides hunt with falcons and ride about?" said Song Dan. "I'd sooner help you take stock of the estate accounts. At least it's household business—the more one learns of it, the better."

Jiang Shi had been exhausting her mind and strength these past days, and in the end her brothers had still passed away one after another. She said nothing aloud, but in her heart she secretly reproached herself, feeling that she had been the death of her brothers—that had she heeded that young girl's advice earlier, perhaps matters would never have come to such a pass. The more she dwelled on it, the more her spirit wandered.

Her eldest son was a scion carefully raised by both the Songs and the Jiangs, and she had every confidence in him.

"Sooner or later this household will be yours. Since you have an interest, then learn how to take stock!" Jiang Shi smiled and had the tally cards brought to Song Yan.

Song Han nestled close to his mother and said with a smile, "Then I'll keep Mother company."

Jiang Shi patted her second son's head with satisfaction.

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