Chapter 379 — Heart to Heart

The next morning, while Song Yan went to court, Chuan'er's face was clawed to ribbons by Baizhi. A doctor had been summoned overnight, but the marks ran too deep — even once healed, her looks would be ruined. The upper courtyard could not keep a disfigured girl as a maid. Baizhi, for her part, had been bound by Song Cen, who declared that he would have the broker in to sell her off.

Dou Chi frowned and asked Ruozhu, "Is this business connected to Qixia?"

"I don't know whether it was her doing." Ruozhu's face was a little pale. "But when Chuan'er learned her face was ruined, she cursed Qixia for a viper and a scorpion, and wished her a wretched death... I think that even if she did not do it herself, she cannot be far from it."

She had not expected things to turn out this way.

Not only was Chuan'er ruined, but even Baizhi had ended up being driven from the household.

Unease stirred in her heart.

Dou Yan, however, felt a swell of indignation.

They were all girls of fifteen or sixteen, yet the moment they took to fighting, they reached straight for a life. And these were the ones who served Song Cen at close quarters — from which one might also judge the man's character and temper.

She counseled Ruozhu: "We may have handed her a knife, but whether she uses it to threaten another, or to stab someone in the back when they are unguarded, is for her alone to decide. As for Qixia — when you deal with that one, keep your wits about you."

"Thank you for your instruction, my lady. I will remember it." Ruozhu bowed to Dou Yan with gratitude and withdrew, lost in thought.

Song Han came to call on Dou Yan.

"I imagine you have heard what happened in the Xiangxi Courtyard, sister-in-law." His expression was awkward. "Father has no mind for my household affairs now, but the three maids in my rooms have long since been promised in marriage, and they cannot wait any longer. I beg you to put in a good word for me with Father, and let those girls go first."

How interesting.

Dou Yan smiled faintly.

Qixia, at his side, was vicious and ruthless — yet he showed tender care for those who had served him.

"These matters follow the household's usual practice," she said with a smile. "It is only that the replacements for your rooms have not yet been chosen, and so it has been delayed. That is my fault as your sister-in-law, and I shall send someone to see to it at once."

Perhaps he had not expected Dou Yan to apologize to him; a flicker of surprise crossed his face. "You are too kind, sister-in-law. The fault is my own impatience. Fortunately my rooms are quiet, and I can manage a while without them — that is why I came to ask a favor of you."

The two chatted idly for a while. Only then did Song Han rise to take his leave.

Dou Yan instructed Ruozhu: "Go and find out why the second young master is so eager to send those three out of the household."

Ruozhu assented, but did not leave at once. She hesitated. "My lady, is it proper for you to let them go just like that?"

Dou Xin said, "Has anyone so much as given me a word of notice, asking me not to release them? I need only act according to the rules of the Xuanming Sect."

Never mind releasing maids of marriageable age from the household — even arranging maids for Song Han without consulting Song Cen fell within her duties. She merely wished to see how Song Cen and Song Han would react, and so had gone along with it.

What surprised her was how little it took to unsettle the people in Song Cen's rooms. A little scheme, and everything fell into disarray.

That afternoon she released the three maids.

By the time Song Cen learned of it, a whole day had passed.

He flew into a rage and had Matron Tang carry a message to Dou Yan, demanding to know why she had released the three maids without his consent.

Dou Yan replied coolly, "Did not Lord Zhenguo put me in charge of the household affairs of the Ying Zhenguo Manor? What, must the coming and going of maids in the inner courtyard be reported to Lord Zhenguo as well? Or is the custom of the Ying Zhenguo Manor somehow different from other houses? I did wonder — when the Xiangxi Courtyard was in such upheaval, why was it the chief steward who came begging me to step in and calm matters? Clearly the household wants a firm hand!"

How dared Matron Tang bring up Huang Qing? She picked and chose her words, and carried back a reply to Song Cen.

Song Cen choked on his fury and said nothing for a long while.

And since Dou Yan had made up her mind to give him no peace, the moment Matron Tang's heels were out the door, she sent the wife of Gao Xing to carry a message to Song Cen: "The second young master is still young, at the very age when the blood runs hot. When the heir was the second young master's age, there were only a few rough-work maids in his rooms, and his daily needs were seen to by serving lads. It is my lady's view that the maids in the second young master's rooms are all in the bloom of youth, and since they have been released, no more maids should be added — a few serving lads instead. Then when the second young master goes abroad, he will have lads to run his errands, and the young ladies of the Xiangxi Courtyard will be spared their flutterings. My lady asks what Lord Zhenguo thinks of this."

Song Cen's mouth twitched with rage.

The wife of Gao Xing made a hasty bow in fright and turned and fled.

Song Cen cursed Dou Chixiao roundly within his rooms.

When Song Shi learned of it, his face went ashen. "No respect for his elders," he muttered under his breath, and went off to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

He had arranged to drink with Ma Youming.

Ma Youming saw that the small private room held only two sets of cups and chopsticks, and guessed that Song Yan meant to ask him about the day he had gotten drunk. He felt a faint stirring of anticipation, and a faint fear as well. Only after three rounds of wine, when the two had fallen into easy conversation, did he find the courage to ask Song Yan, "How do you regard the Prince of Liao and the heir?"

Song Yan was silent.

The room was utterly still — so quiet you could hear a pin drop — and yet the air all at once grew tense.

Slowly Song Yan poured himself a cup of wine, and said, unhurried, "Then why have you sent your wife, your children, and your elders all back to your hometown?"

The color drained from Ma Youming's face in an instant, and the hand holding his cup trembled.

Then Song Yan said softly, his voice low and mournful, "Whether to name the son of the principal wife or the worthiest son — from antiquity to the present, men have argued without end. The Prince of Liao is bold and hearty, and we are kindred spirits. But a ruler is a ruler, and a subject is a subject. What need have we to regard anyone at all?"

Ma Youming's spirits jolted.

Song Yan — Song Yan was laying his heart bare to him!