Chapter 283 — An Endless Stream

Without betraying anything, she arranged breakfast for Gu Yu and Song Han, then returned to the inner chamber to change her clothes.

Song Ke seized the moment to follow her in, and at once caught sight of Dou Yan's snowy, rounded shoulders and the graceful line of her collarbone...

He thought of the plum-red mark he had left on that skin that night... and his mouth went dry. He dared not look again... eyes on his nose, nose on his heart, he stood there and said coolly, "What is it you wished to say to me?"

Dou Yan had matters on her mind and did not notice Song Yan's odd manner. She went behind the screen, and while the rustle of changing clothes came from within, she told Song Yan how Zhang Zhiqi, the manager of the Risheng Silver House, had drawn her father into a partnership.

Who was it that said a woman half-hidden behind a lute is the most alluring of all?

Song Yan stood outside the screen, listening to the whisper of fabric, and his mind was filled with the beguiling sight he had seen that night... At some point a bead of sweat had appeared at the tip of his nose and fallen silently onto his collar. Song Yan started, and only then reined in his wandering thoughts and settled himself to listen to Dou Yan. Even so, his mind was still somewhat knotted, and it was a good while before he said, "You mean for me to take the opportunity to reclaim everything Father-in-law left in Zhang Zhiqi's keeping?"

This fellow—when had he grown so slow?

Dou Yan came out from behind the screen in vexation, and the rose-colored embroidered jacket made her outshine the very flowers.

"I mean for you to look into Zhang Zhiqi's background for me—a petty merchant, of all people to do business with, dared to set his sights on the Junior Secretary of the Household of the Heir Apparent and the Commissioner of the Messenger Office. Doesn't that strike you as a little strange?"

If Song Yan could thereby catch a glimpse of the Prince of Liao's shadow, so much the better.

Reflecting that he had been inside for some time now, and that if he lingered people would assume Dou Yan had kept him in her room, Song Yan murmured a vague assent for the benefit of Dou Chili, who had but newly entered the household, and returned to the main hall.

Gu Yu and Song Han were seated one to each side of the table, taking their morning meal.

Song Yan thought over Dou Zhiwei's words, and the more he thought, the more sense they made—this Risheng Silver House was likely no simple matter, and its aims were surely not limited to a single silver house. His father-in-law had always been detached from worldly ambitions, and to keep company with such a grasping man could only bring him harm. It would be well, then, to take the opportunity to fetch back what his father-in-law had left with Zhang Zhiqi.

After all, it concerned his own father-in-law; it would not do to send anyone else on such an errand.

When Gu Yu and Song Han had finished their morning meal, Song Yan told Song Han to go back early and study, but called Gu Yu into the study.

Song Han stared at the closed lattice doors of the study for a long while before he clenched his fists and left the main hall.

Dou Yan instructed Suxin, "Find someone and think of a way to get a word with the people in the Second Young Master's quarters."

Suxin answered and went off.

Wang Yu and his wife came to call.

Song Yan received Wang Yu, and Dou Yan received Young Madam Wang.

One in the flower hall, the other in the reception room of the main courtyard, the two of them went through the whole affair of the fire at the Ying Ducal Estate once more.

Wang Yu, blazing with indignation, wanted to go with Song Chu to see the Earl of Donglin and beg him to hunt down the thieves with all speed. Young Madam Wang, meanwhile, eyes brimming, clutched Dou Zhiwei's hands and said without pause, "How could such a thing happen? These thieves are utterly brazen! Thank goodness you came to no harm. Disaster turning to blessing—there must be good fortune to follow!"

Before the Wangs had even taken their leave, Lu Zhan and his wife arrived to pay their respects, dispatched by the Elder Madam Lu and Princess Ninghuai.

Song Yan and Dou Yan had no choice but to recount the whole affair again, but before they had even finished speaking, Zhang Xuming and his wife arrived together... By the time it was not yet noon, Song Yan's and Dou Zhiwei's throats were already parched, and at last the Earl of Donglin emerged from the palace.

※

Sisters, brothers, posting the draft first—I'll hunt for bugs in a bit!

ps: begging for pink votes... o(n_n)o~

※