Chapter 155 — Conditions

Meet sincerity with sincerity — and in the days to come he might well need Gu Yu's help in holding his father in check.

Song Yan held nothing back, setting out the whole affair in brief, clear strokes.

Gu Yu's expression changed sharply. "How could it come to this?" he cried.

"I don't know either." A trace of bitterness showed in Song Yan's face. "If I could find the reason, perhaps I could untie this knot."

"Every house has its sutra that's hard to recite." Gu Yu's face was mocking. "Everyone takes me for a fool. But I know that the man who dares to correct me in front of my aunt is the one who truly wishes me well." His expression turned stern, and he said coldly, "Brother Tianci, say the word. Whatever you want done, I'll not shrink from fire or water."

Never a question of insubordination, of impiety, of filial defiance — none of it asked. He simply stood at Song Yan's side.

Song Yan's eyes grew moist at once. It was a long moment before he said, "There's nothing I need you to do for now." He told him of his talk with Tao Jun. "...First let my injuries heal, then find a way to protect myself, and get to the bottom of why Father should treat me so. Once the mourning period is over, I'll seek some office."

Once he was in office, Song Cen could not possibly treat him with such clumsy devices.

Gu Yu nodded. "Rest easy. During the mourning period, I'll come to see you every few days. Not just myself — now and then I'll bring along one or two sons of the capital's most influential noble houses, and I'll mention you from time to time before my aunt and the Emperor as well."

"My thanks!" Song Yan was deeply grateful.

"Oh, come now. What's all this?" A faint blush touched Gu Yu's face. In all his years he had never had anyone thank him so solemnly, and from Song Yan, whom he respected so highly. "I'm not much help in any case."

Time is the most heartless of all things. After three years of mourning, who could say whether the Emperor would still remember him. With Gu Yu to speak of him now and then before the Emperor and Empress, then when the mourning period ended, even if his father tried to stop him, he would have a way to obtain a post.

"That is already the greatest help to me," Song Yan said, thanking Gu Yu once more.

"Let's not talk of such things." Gu Yu waved a hand, embarrassed. "Are you short of guards here? I have two at my side who are quite skilled — my aunt gave them to me. If you want them, I'll make you a gift of them..."

Those were the life-preserving charms the Empress had given Gu Yu. Had it not been for those two guards, how could he alone have won the name of "Little Bully" in a capital city that hid dragons and crouched tigers!

"No need." Song Yan could not help smiling a little. "I still have the men my uncle left me."

"How did I forget that!" Gu Yu slapped his forehead, then went on, "Then do you want silver? I haven't much of a private purse, but I've plenty of antiques and calligraphy that aren't entered in the family ledgers. I can take them out and pawn them, and scrape together ten thousand taels or so easily enough."

"I need none of it." Warmth filled Song Yan's heart. "Keep it for your own use!" Knowing the offer was made in earnest, he added, "If I have need, I'll ask you then — it won't be too late."

Gu Yu nodded again and again. "Then you must be sure to tell me!"

"I will," Song Yan said, and just then a guard came in to announce: "Physician Huang is here."

Gu Yu hurried to welcome Huang Zhongli in on Song Yan's behalf.

Huang Zhongli was some fifty years old, tall and powerfully built, looking at first glance like a fighting man; yet for all his bulk, his great fan-like hands were exceedingly deft.

He took Song Yan's pulse, then felt the injured places, his brows knitting tightly together. "The external injuries are nothing much — three to five months and they'll be healed. But these internal injuries..."

Gu Yu started in alarm. "What? Can't they be cured?"

"That's not it," Huang Zhongli said. "Without three to five years, I fear they won't mend."

Gu Yu let out a long breath. "So long as they mend! Just tell us what medicines you need — if it comes to it, I'll go beg them from the Empress." His spoiled-brat manner showed at once, and Song Yan could only shake his head and smile.

Huang Zhongli, as it happened, had a temper of his own, and he smiled a needle wrapped in silk: "Nothing but common medicines — only they must be taken in water without roots, which is a little troublesome."

Water without roots meant rain water.

Rain fell but seldom through the four seasons, especially in a dry-climated place like the capital.

Gu Yu murmured, "Are we to move to Jiangnan, then?"

Song Yan knew Huang Zhongli was teasing Gu Yu, yet he was moved by Gu Yu's wholehearted loyalty, and said with a smile, "When it rains, just set out a barrel to catch it."

"Why didn't I think of that!" Gu Yu laughed heartily.

Something stirred in Song Yan's heart.

Three years before, the Emperor had bestowed on him a small farm estate, at Daxing, less than sixty li from the capital.

Perhaps that place might serve!

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Sisters and brothers, these past few days I have been rushing back and forth with no time to sit down and write, so there were quite a few small errors. Friends in the comments pointed them out, and I have corrected them one by one; the plot is not affected in any way, and those who are interested may go back and take a look.

Thank you to the friends in the comments who helped me catch bugs. If there are any problems, please keep pointing them out as always.

o(n_n)o~

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