Chapter 465 — A Match

Song Yan came back in. His expression was fairly calm, but there was a trace of amusement lurking in his eyes.

Dou Yan found this strange.

Song Yan waited until Dou Yan had changed her clothes and the servants had all withdrawn before he smiled and said, "Guess what Geng Li came to see me about."

Dou Yan guessed that his talk with Geng Li must have gone reasonably well, and teased, "Could he have come to bring you gifts?"

"Not quite, but not far off." Song Yan winked at her. "Geng Li came on the Prince of Liao's behalf to seek A'Yan's hand—as his formal wife."

Dou Yan was aghast. "A formally invested wife?" she blurted out.

Song Yan nodded. "If we agree to the match, he will submit a memorial to the throne requesting the decree at once. He even brought the draft memorial with him, in Geng Li's keeping."

This was too grave a matter. Dou Yan's heart surged violently, and it was all she could do to swallow back the words "absolutely not." Anxiously she asked Song Yan, "What do you intend to do?"

"Naturally, to decline tactfully," Song Yan said. His expression turned somewhat cold. "A'Yan has suffered enough already. I have no intention of marrying her off to a distant place."

Dou Yan blushed at her own momentary wavering of a moment ago.

"And what of the match between Chen Jia and Sister Yan?" she asked.

Song Yan frowned and said through gritted teeth, "That lucky brat."

Dou Yan could not help but smile.

Wu Yi came running in, panic-stricken. "Young Master! Madam! Something dreadful has happened—the young miss was abducted on her way to Puji Temple!"

Song Yan shot to his feet. "What did you say? Where is Zhu Yicheng?"

Dou Yan rose in alarm and confusion.

The one who had gone with her today was Zhu Yicheng.

Puji Temple was one of the most flourishing Zen temples in the capital, thronged with worshippers every day. Who would dare seize someone in the very heart of the capital region?

She looked toward Song Yan.

Song Yan was already striding out, and as he walked he gave Wu Yi stern orders: "Fetch Xia Lian at once! Saddle my horse!"

Wu Yi answered "Yes!" and rushed out.

"Yantang!" Dou Yan called, then said, "Take Duan Bing with you as well!"

Song Yan nodded and hurried out of the main courtyard.

Dou Yan, uneasy, followed after him.

She arrived just in time to see Song Yan vault onto his horse; reining in the animal, he roared at Wu Yi, "Bring me my bow!"

Xia Lian, Duan Bing, and the others were already outfitted and awaiting the order.

Dou Yan's heart was in her throat.

In her last life, Song Chu had shot the Crown Prince dead with an arrow.

She ran forward without thinking and caught hold of Song Yan's robe. "Sister Yan is a girl," she said urgently. "You cannot make this known to all and sundry."

A murderous air clung to Song Yan's brow. He considered for a moment, then nodded.

Dou Yan let out a breath of relief.

Wu Yi came carrying Song Yan's bow.

A sudden clatter of hooves came from beyond the gate.

Every gaze in the courtyard turned toward the sound.

They saw Chen Jia, his face ashen, come running in through the main gate.

At the sight of the scene in the courtyard he faltered for a moment, then his expression quickly grew agitated.

He clasped his hands toward Song Yan and said, "My lord, let me go with you!"

Song Yan sat his horse and looked down at Chen Jia with eyes like ice, saying nothing for a long while.

Chen Jia was taken aback.

Song Yan said coldly, "Just now the Prince of Liao sent men to seek A'Yan's hand as his wife. I had barely declined with polite words when A'Yan was carried off. Will you still come with me?"

The color drained entirely from Chen Jia's face, leaving him even paler than before.

Slowly he knelt before Song Yan, solemnly knocked his head three times, and said in a concentrated voice, "My lord, take me with you!"

Song Yan smiled faintly at the corner of his mouth and spurred his horse out of the mansion.

Xia Lian and the others streamed after him in a clatter.

Left behind were Dou Yan, surrounded by her maids, and Chen Jia, kneeling alone in the middle of the courtyard.

Dou Yan's eyes grew moist. Softly she said to Chen Jia, "Blades and spears have no eyes. Be careful."

Chen Jia bowed to Dou Yan with clasped hands and hurried out of the Ying Mansion, the Defender of the State's residence.

Dou Chijin lifted his head to the sky, let out a long breath, and a pleased smile bloomed at the corners of his mouth.

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Sisters, here is today's update.

o(∩_∩)o~

ps: typos and such will be fixed later...

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