Chapter 267 — The Visit

Dou Yan returned to the Yingzhenguo residence at dusk, just in time to met Song Yan and Yan Che coming out of the study.

"Have you eaten supper yet?" Song Yan asked Dou Yan.

Dou Yan shook her head. "I came from Old Madam Lu's place, then stopped by the Yan'an Marquis's residence and the Jing Duke's residence to invite the Wang and Zhang families to the banquet—since we are to keep up relations like kin, we may as well start keeping them in earnest."

Song Yan nodded. "I haven't eaten either. Why don't we eat together?"

Yan Che promptly took his leave.

Dou Yan felt a little embarrassed.

Song Sui went off to the hall as though nothing had happened.

Dou Yan had no choice but to follow.

Neither of them noticed that Yan Che, already at the door, had turned back and was gazing at them. Only when the curtain of the hall hid their retreating figures did he turn and go.

Dou Yan asked Song Yan, "Why haven't you eaten supper yet?"

"I've been discussing Father's marriage with Mr. Yan all this time!" Song Yan said frankly. "We thought up several plans. They're all workable, but I keep feeling they only treat the symptoms, not the root. I want to think a while longer!"

By the time Dou Yan had gone inside to change and came back out, Song Yan had already told Su Xin to serve the meal.

"Shall I have a word with my Fifth Uncle?" Dou Yan sat down across from Song Yan at the square table in the hall. "Official promotions are the Ministry of Personnel's business. Fifth Uncle has spent years building his position there, and now he is a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet besides. Those people will give him face no matter what."

"Not just yet," Song Yan said. "First I want to see just how far the Marquis of Changxing, Shi Ruilan, is willing to go for Huatang."

Dou Yan thought of the Marquis of Changxing's character and could not help worrying. "I've heard it said that to get the Marquis of Changxing to act on your behalf, you must knock on his door with silver. But once he has taken the silver, there is nothing he cannot accomplish. And even if by some chance the thing cannot be done, the silver will be returned untouched... Everyone says he is a man of his word!" By the time she got that far, Dou Yan herself found it absurd. A bitter smile crossed her face. "Swapping one pillar for another, scheming to get a hereditary post for a son—I fear the price will not be low. My fear is rather that the Marquis of Changxing will be reluctant to give the silver back..." So long as the Marquis turned a blind eye, he could report the matter as settled.

Song Yan gave a cold laugh. "If he doesn't return it, then he'd better have the life to spend it!"

Dou Yan was startled, and could not help wiping a forehead that bore no sweat.

Why was it that whenever a matter reached Song Yan, it always turned into something... that made one break out in a cold sweat?

Dou Yan reminded Song Yan in a low voice, "The Marquis of Changxing is the Datong garrison commander."

Song Yan said, as though it were only natural, "There are plenty of men who would like to be the Datong garrison commander."

Dou Yan was speechless.

After the two had eaten supper, they went to pay their respects to Song Cen.

That afternoon Song Yan had sent word to Song Cen that a chrysanthemum-viewing banquet would be held at home the next day, to celebrate Dou Yan's receipt of the title of lady. Now, however, Song Cen did not so much as mention the matter, and instead spoke to Song Yan of his marriage to the Hua family: "...There is no one in the household to manage the domestic affairs. I mean to ask your elder aunt to come and help oversee things. You need not trouble yourselves over the matter."

In truth, it was to keep Dou Yan from seizing the authority over the household in the interval and holding on to it.

Song Yan said "Very well" in a bland tone.

Song Cen shot a glance at Dou Yan and saw her standing there, eyes on her nose and nose on her heart, exceptionally meek.

She did not seem at all like a woman of fierce temper.

Could there be some misunderstanding?

The thought flashed through Song Cen's mind, and he decided it would be necessary to summon Tao Jun and question him again.

Tao Jun, who was just then drinking with his attendants, sneezed several times in a row and muttered under his breath, "Who's cursing me now?"

Chen Yanzhou, who had entered the capital just before sundown, also sneezed several times in a row.

His servant asked him, "What's the matter, sir? Shall I fetch a doctor?"

"No need." Chen Yanzhou rubbed his nose and instructed the servant, "Go to Yan Che, the aide to the heir of the Ying Duke's residence, and tell him I am waiting for him at the stationery shop on Drum Tower Street."

It was closer to the Ying Duke's residence as well.

He wondered what urgent business Yan Che had with him.

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Sisters and brothers, I've been far too busy today and it has delayed my writing. Here is a draft for now; I will catch the bugs later.

ps: It's the start of the month—begging for pink votes!

o(n_n)o~

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