Chapter 278 — The Counter-Tally

Dou Yan was in the inner courtyard. Even if she had been hurt, in so short a time the guards could scarcely have reached her. Yet he had to ask, as though only by asking could his heart be eased.

The guard could not help glancing up at Song Yan, a flicker of bewilderment crossing his brow.

He had made himself perfectly clear: only four guards of the Yingzhen Ducal House had been wounded. Why then did the Master still ask whether his wife had been hurt?

But Song Yan was his superior, and Song Yan had spoken. Naturally he had to answer.

"I have heard nothing of the Madam being hurt."

He had known the guard would answer so, yet when the words reached his ears it was as if a thousand waves had been set churning in his heart. A savage look flickered unbidden at the corners of his eyes and brows, and in secret he cursed himself for a fool.

Had he known it would come to this, he should have gone to the Fengtai Grand Camp.

It was farther from home, true, but freer than the palace.

Not like now, when he and Dou Yan stood so near, and yet, because the palace gates were shut fast, he could not go to comfort her. He could not even speak a word of care.

"Curse it!" Song Yan swore under his breath, his face dark.

The others thought he was vexed by the fire at the Yingzhen Ducal House, and were about to step forward with a few words of comfort when a guard came hurrying in.

"Master!" He bowed respectfully to Song Yan and said, "A servant from your household has sent word in. The Madam is safe and unharmed, and all is in good order at home. You are all to set your minds at ease!"

Song Yan's eyes lit up. The very air seemed to grow lighter with him.

One after another, the others came forward to congratulate him.

Song Yan brooded a moment, then went to the Qianqing Palace.

The Emperor had not yet risen. He waited in the Qianqing Palace for the better part of an hour. Only then were the lamps lit in the hall. He waited another half hour, and at last Wang Ge came out smiling to summon him in.

The Emperor was holding a bowl of congee.

Song Yan knelt before the Emperor, his eyes red: "Your Majesty, this humble subject begs leave to quit the palace early!"

The Emperor was taken aback.

Song Yan had always been a child who understood the larger picture. Never before had he been so grieved and so wronged.

The Emperor glanced at Wang Ge, and saw that Wang Ge did not know either. He could not help saying sternly, "What has happened?"

Song Yan told him the whole of it—the fire at home and the thieves who had broken in: "...At first we did not even know whose house it was. Only because it lies so close to the forbidden palace did we send men to inquire..."

Before he had finished speaking, there came a crash: the splendid jihong porcelain bowl smashed against the golden bricks and shattered to pieces.

"Treason, treason!" The Emperor was beside himself with fury. "In a time of peace and plenty, thieves dare to break into the Yingzhen Ducal House! What is the Shuntian Prefecture about? What is the Lord Commander of the Five City Garrison about?" He shouted for Wang Ge. "Go, summon the Prefect of Shuntian and the Lord Commander of the Five City Garrison before me at once! Today they dare plunder the Yingzhen Ducal House—did they mean to plunder Us yesterday?"

In the hall, one could have heard a pin drop. The palace maids and eunuchs trembled with fear.

Song Yan said in a low, steady voice, "Your Majesty, I beg leave to hunt down the thieves!"

The Emperor took down the Longquan sword that rested on the curio shelf and flung it with a clang before Song Yan. "Search them out with all severity, and see who has the gall to plunder a noble house of merit and to run riot under Our very nose!"

"Yes!" Song Yan kowtowed, took up the sword, and left the Qianqing Palace.

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Dou Yan sat around the kang table with Suxin and Sulan, examining the pear-wood tally kept in a rosewood box.

"It looks rather ordinary!" Sulan grumbled, running her fingers over the tally. "If someone forged one, how would you tell?"

"It isn't like a silver note from the money house, honored for the note alone and no matter who bears it." Dou Yan had obtained the tally without difficulty, and Suxin was glad too; she spoke with more liveliness than usual. "Every tally that is issued is recorded in the books."

Sulan laughed. "So that is why the Madam has the First Madam send word down: tomorrow morning she will summon the household's serving women to the upper courtyard to speak with them?"

Suxin nodded, smiling. "That way, the Madam's position will be proper and her name just!"

Sulan was delighted as well.

Dou Yan handed the rosewood box to Suxin and said, "Let us all take a short nap too. Tomorrow will bring a great deal to do!"

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To all my sisters and brothers who read this, the examination results are out: thank heavens, it is only a stone, and there is some trouble with the cervical spine. Though it is not yet decided whether to do the minimally invasive procedure or lithotripsy, either will require one to two weeks of treatment, so I will not be able to add extra weekend chapters in July.

Today is July 12, and I still owe the updates for July 9, 10, and 11. I will make them up when I can find the time in July. Since I am already in the hospital, only when Zhigong comes home to bathe and change clothes can he help me post, so I cannot guarantee the timing. At most, though, I will be discharged within a week. I ask your forgiveness for the inconvenience this causes your reading.

o(n_n)o~

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