Chapter 378 — Hypothesis

He had found a countermeasure in no time at all; he saw the whole board, and his head was clear besides. No wonder, in her last life, the Prince of Liao had carried him into the palace.

She said, "If the coup succeeds, what comes next should be the civil officials' business, shouldn't it?"

Song Yan nodded. "Have a messenger on duty at the Office of Messengers, or someone on duty at the Hanlin Academy, draft the imperial edict; have the Grand Secretariat minister on duty step forward to attest that the edict is genuine; then find a regional governor to carry up a congratulatory memorial — and the matter is done. As for what men think in their hearts, and whether the new emperor can sit firmly on the throne, that is another question altogether."

Dou Yan's thoughts gradually cleared.

In her last life, the Grand Secretariat minister who happened to be on duty must have been Dai Jian. And the regional governor was nine parts in ten Guo Yan.

As she pondered, Song Yan was already rubbing her hair and sighing, "How is that head of yours put together, that it climbs all the way up to such things?"

Dou Yan turned her head aside, dodging Song Yan's hand, and smoothed her hair. "Isn't it just that I sit about dreaming up 'if I were the Prince of Liao, what would I do'?" As she spoke she caught Song Yan's hand and spun out nonsense: "Odd, though, isn't it? First the business at the Risheng Silver Shop, then the business with Kuang Zhuoran. Such a coincidence that we ran into both — we could hardly not think deeply on it. Tell me, could it be that Heaven is watching over us, putting everything in our path?"

Song Yan thought it over and had to admit there was something to what Dou Yan said.

He mused, "There is one thing you may not know yet." He told Dou Yan of the strange behavior of Jiang Yi and Ma Youming. "If the Prince of Liao means to act as we suspect, then by now he should be at work on the Divine Machine Camp as well."

Dou Yan was stunned, and for a long moment said nothing. At last she asked, "Then what do you mean to do?"

Song Yan smiled bitterly. "What can I do? Watch and wait, that is all. The merit of following a dragon is not so easy to earn. For now, let us first fish Ma Youming out."

"Even if you fish Ma Youming out, where will you put him?" Dou Yan said. "He is an assistant general of the Divine Machine Camp! What if we beat the grass and startle the snake?"

Hearing the implication in her words, Song Yan smiled. "What do you have in mind?"

Dou Yan said, "A good man needs three helpers. You all face the same predicament — why not talk it over and advance and retreat together, so that each of you has someone to look to?"

Song Yan had never thought of seeking allies.

He hesitated.

And Dou Yan, fearing her own judgment might be wrong, and that Song Yan following her would only take a misstep —

hurriedly added, "This is for you to decide. I am not the one involved; I can only offer suggestions."

Song Yan nodded, and with a smile rubbed her hair again. "I have you, my dog-headed strategist, and that is enough. The rest are not worth worrying about."

"So conceited!" Dou Yan smoothed her hair and shot Song Yan a glare.

Song Yan laughed heartily, looking entirely at ease.

Dou Yan was filled with admiration.

Though Song Yan was a year younger than she, he was calmer and more rational than she, who had lived two lives. No wonder, in her last life, amid all the curses and slander, he had only grown daily in the Emperor's favor.

The two washed up and prepared to rest.

Ruotong came running in.

"Young Marquis, my lady," she said, a thin sheen of sweat on her brow, "there is weeping and carrying on again over at the Osmanthus Fragrance Courtyard — even the front courtyard has been stirred up. Everyone is whispering and guessing what has happened..."

Dou Yan was a little surprised. "Has the Duke returned?"

"He has!" Ruotong said. "Only just got back."

Dou Yan looked at Song Yan.

Song Yan's expression was flat. "Since it is a matter in my father's household, best leave it to my father. It is not convenient for either of us to interfere."

Dou Yan told Ruotong, "It is late. Everyone should sleep early; tomorrow you must still attend the Young Marquis into the palace."

Ruotong withdrew.

Dou Yan and Song Yan lay down.

She had thought Song Yan would be unable to sleep, but soon he fell into long, even breathing.

Dou Yan smiled.

That Song Yan could look past the matter of Song Cen was all for the best.

She kissed Song Yan's cheek and blew out the lamp.

In the dark, a pair of eyes lit up like the morning star.

He gazed at the woman beside him for a long while, then gently gathered her into his arms. Cheek pressed to hers, he murmured, "Do you know that you are all I have left?" Then he shifted into a more comfortable position and slowly sank into a sweet sleep.

*

Sisters and brothers, here is today's second update.

Begging for your pink votes!

o(n_n)o~