Chapter 433 — Thanksgiving

Three years before, the Crown Prince had already begun to observe the conduct of government; and when the Emperor went to the Eastern Garden to escape the summer heat, he would also, with the assistance of the Grand Secretaries, handle state affairs on the Emperor's behalf.

Song Yan murmured his assent and followed the Crown Prince to the Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince inquired about Song Han's marriage: "I hear it was the Empress Dowager's idea. How did the Empress Dowager come by such a notion? If Yantang has the leisure, he might do well to go and pay his respects to the Empress Dowager."

The disparity in rank and station between the two families was far too great—this was no bestowal of marriage; it was a slap in the face.

The Crown Prince tactfully hinted that the Empress Dowager must have some misunderstanding with the Song family, and suggested that Song Yan go and explain matters to her.

Song Yan had long wished to wash his hands of Song Han.

If not now, then when?

He showed a faint, bitter smile and said respectfully, "The Empress Dowager has always shown the Song family great kindness, and for His Majesty's grace in deigning to favor Song Han with a bestowed marriage, I ought to go and kowtow to the Empress Dowager in thanks. I am grateful for Your Highness's reminder!"

Seeing not a trace of joy in him, the Crown Prince for the moment did not press further, and instead spoke of Yuan Heng and the Third Imperial Grandson: "...What a coincidence! Not only are their birthdays a single day apart, but even their names are much the same."

Song Yan kept him company in conversation for a while, until the Crown Prince's tutor came to urge him on to his lessons. Song Yan thereupon took his leave, exited the Eastern Palace, and went to the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The Crown Prince then sent men to inquire into the matter of Song Han's bestowed marriage.

The Empress Dowager had no intention of concealing it, and Consort Dowager Shi, watching the Song family make a laughingstock of itself, was glad to fan the flames. Within half an hour, the affair of Song Han had reached the Crown Prince's ears.

The Crown Prince was aghast.

And after his horror, he secretly counted himself fortunate that he had not been clever enough to promote Song Han himself.

The Crown Prince thought of the Prince of Liao.

The Crown Prince's birth mother had died early, and in his younger years he had once been cared for by Empress Wan. After Empress Wan became mother of the realm, she treated him with the same respectful yet affectionate manner as before, and he regarded Empress Wan as he would his own birth mother. But the Prince of Liao... in recent years he had grown ever more overbearing. Sometimes the Crown Prince could not help wondering whether Empress Wan had a hidden hand in it.

But this thought he dared only bury in his heart; he could speak of it to no one.

Not even to the Crown Princess, who was closest to him, did he dare speak of it.

Recalling Song Yan's somewhat bitter smile, the Crown Prince suddenly felt a kinship of shared misfortune with him.

To have met with such a thing, Song Yan could indeed only smile bitterly.

He paced about his study, thinking that if only there were a chance to speak with Song Yan again, how good it would be.

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Song Yan drank his fill of tea in the Directorate of Ceremonial, and soon it was time for the midday meal.

The food in the palace was never as palatable as at home, and how could he stomach it now?

After leaving the office, he went to the Lu residence—Princess Ninghuai had secured such a fine match for Song Han, and by both sentiment and propriety he ought to call in person to thank Old Madam Lu and Princess Ninghuai.

Princess Ninghuai was delighted to see him and said with a smile, "I did this for my own sake as well; you need not take it to heart. Just be a good heir and do not let others get a hold over you."

"Cousins through aunt and uncle are flesh and blood," said Song Yan. "I have no brothers of my own, and my several cousins are as true brothers to me. Whatever there is, Princess, simply have them summon me."

Princess Ninghuai was well pleased with this speech, and asked about Jiang Yan: "Do you mean to keep her in the household, or do you wish to find her another husband?"

Thinking of how successfully the Princess had arranged a match for Song Han, Song Yan spoke plainly: "She is still young. If a suitable family could be found for her to marry into, nothing could be better."

Princess Ninghuai nodded with a smile, took the matter to heart, and pressed Song Yan to stay for the evening meal.

Song Yan, however, had his wife and child on his mind, and pleaded that he had eaten before coming; only then did he extricate himself and return to the Hening Temple Lane.

He first went to pay his respects to Dou Huaiying.

But Dou Huaiying was in the eastern wing.

So he went to the eastern wing and told Dou Huaiying what he had learned at the Directorate of Ceremonial: "His Majesty wishes to give the Imperial Eldest Grandson his first formal lessons. He Wendao recommended Du Jialun, but His Majesty thought Du Jialun rigid in temperament, and had his eye on Chen Rong of the Court of Receptions. Chen Rong's father was once of the same graduating class as Dai Jian, and while in the Hanlin Academy a rift arose between them over a matter of the imperial lectures; Chen Rong's father even resigned his post and returned home on that account. So Dai Jian recommended you..."

And Dou Bingheng, thinking this a fine opportunity, had simply gone along with the current, feigning ignorance and intending to push Dou Huaiying forward.

Hearing this, Dou Huaiying flew into a rage: "Is this not roasting me over the fire? If it succeeds, I make an enemy of Chen Rong; if it fails, I earn a name for toadying to power—would that not make me the laughingstock of my colleagues?"

From Dou Huaiying's standpoint, Song Yan certainly thought Dou Bingheng's conduct underhanded; but from the standpoint of the Dou clan, he felt Dou Bingheng's course was not without justification.

He counseled Dou Huaiying: "Fifth Uncle meant it for your good. Since you are unwilling, simply decline."

Dou Huaiying nodded and said, "I am going to the Locust Tree Lane."

Fearing that Dou Huaiying and Dou Bingheng would fall to quarreling, Song Yan said, "Shall I go with you?"

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Today's update is here!

o(n_n)o~