Chapter 281 — Splitting Up

Song Yan let the Eastern City Garrison commander stand there while he savored several slow sips of tea. Only when he saw the commander's expression turn fearful, great beads of sweat standing out on his forehead, did he speak unhurriedly: "I happen to have a matter requiring your help—these thieves are reckless beyond measure. If they had fled the capital, that would be one thing, but I fear they are greedy at heart, hiding quietly somewhere, waiting for a chance to strike again. The capital is a vital region—not only are there many princes and noble houses, but many high officials as well. Should any disturbance arise, I am under imperial orders to investigate this matter, and you bear the responsibility for defense. When the time comes, none of you will escape blame!"

The Eastern City Garrison commander wiped the sweat from his brow. "Your meaning, Heir Apparent...?"

"I wish to borrow the men of your Five Cities Garrison to search the entire city." Song Yan regarded the Eastern City Garrison commander calmly, his tone as flat as when he had told him to summon the Five Cities Garrison Chief Commander. "Go now and bring the several garrison commanders here. I have something to say to them."

Search the entire city... Without an imperial edict, who would dare? One misstep, and the Embroidered Guard would think you were plotting rebellion...

He felt the sweat on his brow multiply. "Heir Apparent, a full city search..." With such a great mess already on their hands, whether his head would stay on his neck was still in question—how would he dare demand an edict from Song Yan? But without some written authority, the men conducting the search would be Five Cities Garrison men, and when the time came, even if he leapt into the Yellow River he could not wash himself clean!

Tao Jun, whom Song Yan had been ignoring off to the side, drinking his tea in solitude, was also badly startled and could not help saying, "Heir Apparent, this matter still requires careful deliberation..."

"If you find it difficult, Your Excellency," Song Yan cut him off, as though Tao Jun were not even in the room, "I will send others to summon the remaining garrison commanders. You may take the Eastern City Garrison men back to your office—and perhaps make room for the men of the other garrisons."

He would probably lose his black gauze cap along with his position, would he not?

But if he went, most people would assume the idea had been his...

The Eastern City Garrison commander stamped his foot inwardly and cried "To hell with it" in his heart. Summon them, then—take the blame, then. The Heir Apparent of the Duke of Ying had, after all, a sword once owned by Emperor Taizong resting beside him... Better to keep his life first and worry about the rest later.

He went to summon the other garrison commanders to come and talk.

By the time the men from the Five Wards Police Bureau arrived, the Vice Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture had also come.

When they heard Song Yan say he meant to lock down the whole city and search it from end to end, every one of them was struck dumb.

The commanders of the Five Wards Police Bureau looked at one another, but the Vice Prefect of Shuntian rose to his feet and bowed to Song Yan with clasped hands: "We await your orders."

He had only just received word that the Prefect of Shuntian had been thrown into the Imperial Prison by the Jinfang Guard.

The commanders of the police bureau were all sharp-witted men; seeing the Vice Prefect's attitude, they knew the wind had shifted, and they hurried to add their own assurances.

Within moments, the whole capital was set in motion.

Word that the Prefect of Shuntian had been thrown into the Imperial Prison by the Jinfang Guard soon reached the ears of the five commanders of the Five Wards Police Bureau as well.

Dou Huaiying came hurrying over from the Yunqi Temple alley, his face the color of gold leaf.

"Father-in-law," Song Yan said, stepping quickly forward to salute him, but when he raised his head he saw Ji Yong standing behind Dou Huaiying, his expression dark.

Slowly, Song Yan straightened his back.

The two of them looked at each other that way for a long while, and neither offered a greeting.

Dou Huaiying was too frantic with worry to notice any of it. Anxiously he asked after Dou Zhiwei: "...Is she hurt? Where is she now? I heard those thieves came for Dou Zhiwei's dowry?" At this he was overcome with shame and guilt, and he asked Song Yan, "Yantang, could you tell the people outside that the silver drafts were long ago deposited with the silver house... The silver house keeps many highly skilled guards on its payroll; no ordinary man could hope to get the better of them. It's safe."

"Very well," Song Yan said, and invited Dou Huaiying to sit in the study. "With something like this happening, the household is somewhat in a fluster. Shouyuan is speaking with several of the house's managing matrons, putting minds at ease."

"This was well handled," Dou Huaiying said, praising Song Yan.

Song Yan smiled modestly.

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Begging for pink votes... (*^__^*) hee hee...

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