Chapter 254 — Dejected

"I gave it quietly at the time," Song Dan said. "My monthly allowance was only fifty taels then, and the rewards for festivals and New Year all had to be recorded in the ledgers. I borrowed the silver from my fifth uncle. Later I went to Fujian and joined my eldest uncle's men in suppressing the Japanese pirates, and only then did I learn that winning battles meant silver to be had—and so I made that account whole. I think my mother must have known. But she never said a word about it, and naturally I was not so foolish as to bring it up with her." Here a touch of sorrow showed at the corners of his eyes and brows, and he said in a low voice, "I wonder how my fifth uncle is faring now. The last time I went to see him, he was very low in spirits." He added, "My fifth uncle was always openhanded and generous. If he were still in the capital, and we were to marry, he would surely scour the whole city to find us betrothal gifts; and before our marriage was even settled, every curio shop and gold and silver emporium in the capital would know that I was to be married..." His words were full of sighs and regrets.

Dou Chi clapped Song Yan on the shoulder. "While there is green on the mountain, one need not fear running out of firewood. Even if my fifth uncle cannot, like my third uncle, lead the Jiang clansmen and rally them to start afresh, in a few years, when the wind has died down, he can think of some way to obtain a general amnesty and go home to be a country gentleman—that would be fine too!"

Song Yan was slightly startled, but at once he checked the instinct to pull his hand away, and said, "Thirty years east of the river, forty years west. The Jiang family's hundred years of glory have also come to the time for returning to simplicity and plainness, for rest and recuperation." Yet his body suddenly straightened bolt upright, betraying the tension in his heart.

Dou Xin said, "Then tell me—what sort of man is my fifth uncle?"

Her manner was so open and calm that it quickly dispelled Song Yan's nervousness.

He smiled and recalled, "My fifth uncle was very handsome—everyone said I take after him somewhat. He was generous and openhearted, a man of strong loyalty, cheerful by nature, and he kept company with all sorts and conditions of men. In those days, when the people of the capital spoke of Fifth Master Jiang, there was no one who did not raise his thumb and praise him..."

Song Yan smiled as he spoke of days gone by. It was as if he had returned to that time when every day brought an endless pile of lessons that had vexed him beyond measure, yet which now, in memory, seemed an incomparable happiness.

Dou Yan listened with keen interest, and in his mind's eye a figure gradually took shape—a Jiang Baisun of the wandering-knight sort.

The carriage came quietly to a halt before the gate of the Duke of Ying's residence.

At some point the rain had stopped, and a rainbow now hung in the sky.

Song Yan helped Dou Yan down from the carriage, and seeing a puddle before it, instructed Chen He: "Assign a careful driver to serve the madam." Then he led Dou Yan around the puddle and up the steps.

Chen He, the carriage driver, and all those on duty at the gate stood as though frozen by a spell, and only came to their senses once Dou Yan and Song Yan had passed through the door. The driver clutched at Chen He, crying "I've been wronged!", but Chen He had no time to listen to his grumbling and simply told the young servant beside him: "Find him another post," before hurrying after the pair. At the gate, the servants on duty fell to whispering, and a great buzzing arose.

Since Song Yan and Dou Yan had left, Song Cen's mood had been as foul as the rainy weather.

Before Song Yan's marriage, he had not provided his son with a bedchamber maid.

Many a wedded couple, because the husband had performed poorly on the wedding night, found the wife thereafter reluctant to share his bed.

Not only had his son consummated the marriage with his wife, but on the return visit he had shown unusual gentleness and consideration.

Men were all alike: once they had gained the advantage, they would naturally bow their heads.

Song Yan must be getting along very well with the Dou girl.

Then should he or should he not hand over the authority to manage the household to his daughter-in-law?

He thought to consult Tao Jun, but Tao Jun had gone to Zhending and had not yet returned.

Then Mr. Du of the Hanlin Academy sent another letter, saying that in recent days he had been commanded by the Emperor to lecture to the princes, and feared he could no longer continue to guide Song Han in his studies...

Song Cen was so angry that a foul breath stuck in his chest and would not come out.

He summoned Song Han, gave him ten sound lashes, and drove him out; for a long while his breathing would not even out.

Thinking of how, when the Jiang woman was alive, he had never had to trouble himself over such matters, an unreasoning fire rose in him; after the rain he paced to and fro along the winding corridor of the Xiangxi courtyard several times before he felt somewhat better.

Hearing that Song Yan and Dou Yan had returned and were coming to pay their respects, he darkened his face and sat waiting in the main chamber.

But when he heard Song Yan say that early the next morning he meant to take Dou Yan to the Jiang woman's grave to offer incense, his mood turned unspeakably foul once more.

Song Cen decided to set the matter of the household authority aside for the time being.

"I understand!" he said gloomily, waving his hand.

Song Sui pressed on relentlessly: "I want to take Tian'en along tomorrow—at Qingming Tian'en had his lessons to attend to, and at the Lantern Festival my younger brother said he was afraid... The last time he went to offer incense to Mother was at the Beginning of Winter last year."

Song Cen looked at Dou Yan, who since entering had stood with hands lowered respectfully at Song Yan's side, silent yet unable to conceal her beauty, and thought of Dou Bingheng's eloquence; he waved his hand to signal that he understood.

Song Yan and Dou Yan withdrew.

Only then did Song Cen recall that he seemed not to have instructed Dou Yan in the morning and evening greetings.

※

Sisters, brothers, an extra chapter for you—please vote for me with your pink tickets!

o(n_n)o~

※