Chapter 319 — Knowing (Bonus Chapter: Pleading for Pink Votes)

Dou Yan smiled with pursed lips and stroked Song Yan's forehead. "Do you really think that just because my own maid isn't marrying into Yizhi Hall, we'd stop being one family?"

Song Yan muttered, "Wouldn't it be even better if she did marry in?"

Dou Yan couldn't help laughing, and told him about her trip to Locust Tree Alley that day. "Can you have Shopkeeper Zhong come over as soon as possible? I suspect my third uncle and the others will be arriving before long."

Song Yan turned over and laid his head on Dou Zhiwei's lap. "Don't worry. Shopkeeper Zhong is already on his way."

Dou Yan was taken aback.

Eyes closed, Song Yan pointed at his own forehead, signaling Dou Yan to keep massaging it, and said lazily, "Every year at the Start of Winter, he comes to the capital to settle accounts with me. I reckon he'll be here in a day or two."

Seeing Song Yan resting his head on her lap as comfortably as a big cat, Dou Yan was torn between amusement and exasperation—yet in the end she pitied him, for it was rare that he got to relax like this, and she went on rubbing his forehead.

The room fell quiet.

Dou Chu lowered her head. Song Yan had already fallen quietly asleep.

These past days he had been chasing down the thieves behind the fire at Marquis Zhenguo's estate, helping her cousin find a suitable match, and cleaning up the aftermath. He must be exhausted, wasn't he?

She could not help bending down and pressing a soft kiss to Song Yan's forehead.

The cool, lingering warmth on her lips left Dou Chu stunned.

Since when had she and Song Yan grown so intimate?

Outside the window the cold wind moaned; inside, it was as warm as spring.

Gently, Dou Yan took up a quilt and laid it over Song Yan.

*****

From far off, Tao Jun heard Chen Yanzhou's voice.

That voice which, ever since his return to the capital, had jolted him awake from dreams more than once.

"The Chen Bo you spoke of—is that him?" Tao Jun asked Guard Chang, his lips somewhat pale.

Though they stood atop the Taihu rockery looking down at the winding covered corridor below, the great red lanterns hung along the corridor lit the whole place brightly. Chen Sou and his companions, just back from visiting Puji Temple, were chatting and laughing as they passed along the corridor, as though walking in broad daylight, with nowhere to hide and every detail plainly visible.

"That's him." Guard Chang's hands clenched tightly into fists. "I'm not mistaken. I'd know him even if he were burned to ashes."

"He was indeed the accountant at the Madam's maiden home," Tao Jun said. "When I went to Zhending, I met this man. Everyone in Zhending knows this Chen Sou."

If the one who rescued the Young Lord was Chen Sou, then the Madam...

Guard Chang grew excited at once, his fists clenching even tighter.

But Tao Jun's mind had gone blank.

The night wind blew past with a whistling rush, piercingly cold.

The two men shivered and came back to themselves.

"I think we'd better report this to the Marquis," Tao Jun said slowly, his thoughts still muddled and sluggish, like paste. "Whatever should be done, let the Marquis decide."

Guard Chang, contrary to his usual manner, seized Tao Jun at once and pulled him toward Osmanthus Court.

Song Cen had spent the whole day waiting anxiously for Tao Jun's news. Seeing the two of them come in together, he forgot all distinction between master and servant and hurried forward. "What did you find out?"

"That Chen Sou is none other than the missing adviser Chen Bo," Guard Chang cut in before Tao Jun could speak. "And Chen Bo was indeed an accountant at the Madam's maiden home. Those guards, too, once served the Madam."

Song Cen's face went white.

In other words, the one who rescued Song Yan that night was this Chen Bo.

And behind Chen Bo stood the Dou family.

Then did the Dou family know about his plan to kill Song Yan?

And when he went to propose marriage, why had the Dou family shown not the slightest sign?

Why had the Dou family's accountant been at Yizhi Hall in the first place?

And how had this Chen Bo learned that he meant to harm Song Yan?

Chen Bo was a scholar with not enough strength to truss a chicken—there was no way he could have rescued Song Yan with his own hands. How, then, had he gotten Song Yan to safety?

Song Yan had always repaid kindness and grudge alike with perfect clarity. Among these newcomers, was there anyone who had once saved Song Yan, who was in Song Yan's debt of gratitude?

Song Cen's temples throbbed as though struck by a heavy hammer, and he collapsed into the grand armchair.

*

Dear readers, sisters and brothers—I'm truly sorry. I don't know what's come over me lately; I've been in a daze, and twice I even forgot to hit publish and failed to update in time. Yesterday I thought I had explained in the chapter I posted yesterday that today's update would be delayed, but when I came online just now and saw your comments, I realized I hadn't written a single word of it...~~~~(_

Some friends have come over, so tonight's update will be pushed back until after midnight. Everyone, please read it when you get up tomorrow morning!

Once again, I apologize to you all!