Chapter 492 — Rumors

"That is the way of rumor and gossip," Dou Yan said, well pleased with the result. He smiled. "Keep men watching. If anyone comes forward to scotch the rumors for the Second Master, then blacken his name a little more for us—and when the time is right, see to it that all the neighbors know the Second Master has committed adultery with the Zhenguo Lord's bedchamber maid, and that the Second Madam was so grieved she went off to the country estate to rest and recover."

Liu Zhang smiled and assented, and kept an even closer watch on Song Han.

Song Han paced and pondered at home, and the more he thought, the more he felt this matter could be either great or small—especially with the Miao family mixed up in it, for they could raise a storm out of a dead calm, and Miao Zhi was stirring the pot besides.

He changed his clothes and hurried off to the Osmanthus Fragrance Court.

Song Cen was still seething over the scheme against Song Ke that had cost him Du Ruo as well. When he heard that Song Han had come to see him, his face darkened. Leng Heng said, "I will not see him."

The maids and old women dared not tell Song Han the truth, and hedged and stammered.

How could Song Han fail to see through that? He strode straight into Song Cen's study.

Song Cen was practicing large-character calligraphy. He flung down his brush and said in a heavy voice, "What do you think you are doing?"

Song Han hastened to put on a smiling face. "I have a matter of importance to discuss with you, Father. I heard from the servants that you were in your study practicing your writing, so I thought I would come and grind the ink for you."

One does not strike a man who comes with a smile.

Song Cen's expression softened a little.

Song Han seized the chance to state his business: "I was thinking of paying a visit to the Prince of Liao tomorrow—the Prince will be leaving soon, and this business has been botched. We must give the Prince some accounting. To say nothing at all, to let it pass in silence, and the Prince will very likely take us for men who shirk responsibility. A man may lack ability, but he must not lack the courage to answer for his deeds. The reason my elder brother can strut about as he does is simply that he leans on the Emperor's favor. Now there is no longer any room for turning between my brother and us. If we lose the Empress Yi's support as well, my brother will hold us in even less regard than before."

What Song Cen feared most now was Song Yan coming to settle scores with him.

Song Yan might be his son, but he had known for a long time that this son of his was no man to keep to the straight and narrow—otherwise he would never have gone all the way and tried to do away with Song Yan in the first place.

Song Han's words struck exactly the chord he wanted struck.

After some thought, he picked out several valuable items from the storehouse, wrote a calling card, and had them sent to the Prince of Liao's residence.

The Prince of Liao had, year in and year out, sent who knew how many gifts to the princes and great ministers of the capital; now that he was returning to Liaodong, and stood high in the favor of both the Emperor and the Empress, there were many who came bearing parting gifts.

Song Han's arrival drew no one's notice.

The Prince of Liao, however, received Song Han in his study.

The moment Song Han entered, he dropped to his knees before the Prince, and with a face full of shame said, "This petty man has ruined Your Highness's great affair. It was all my poor planning—I beg Your Highness to punish me."

Since there was no way around Song Yan, they would have to find a way to bring him down.

Now the scheme had failed. There was no longer any possibility of cooperation between him and Song Yan, so he might as well find a way to get a grip on Song Yan.

There were no better candidates than Song Han and Song Cen.

Whether they succeeded or failed, it would be a grudge between father and sons, between brothers—nothing to do with him.

That was why he had received Song Han in his study.

He smiled and said, "Tian'en, you are quite mistaken! Between your elder brother and me there is no blood feud over a slain father, nor any hatred over a stolen wife—so what is there to punish? My only regret is that you brothers are at odds, and that I, as a peacemaker, could not bring you to bury the hatchet and make peace."

Song Han understood at once, and said with a smile, "This petty man has come this time precisely to thank Your Highness for your great kindness. My elder brother is truly too obstinate, and has failed to live up to Your Highness's good intentions. Let me thank Your Highness on my elder brother's behalf."

The Prince of Liao gave a smiling "Mm," and raised his teacup to dismiss his guest.

Song Han kowtowed respectfully and withdrew.

Geng Li came out from behind the screen and said thoughtfully, "I fear Song Han is no match for Song Zhi!"

"Many men are no match for Song Zhi," the Prince of Liao said with a dismissive smile. "But even a tiger dozes now and then—who knows when this piece on the board may prove useful?" Then he added, "From now on, whatever Song Han wants to do, so long as it does no real harm, you may as well give him a hand. That way he'll be all the handier to use when the time comes."

Geng Li assented.

Song Han was greatly excited.

This, surely, counted as having got a foot in the door with the Prince of Liao?

With the Empress's backing him in the future, he refused to believe that a man of his quick wits would fare any worse than Song Yan!

Song Yan's only advantage was that he had been born a few years earlier!

From then on Song Han curried favor with his superiors and cultivated his colleagues, and not only did he quickly establish a firm footing in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he also made several friends who followed his every word.

After the Prince of Liao departed the capital with his eldest son, Geng Li, and other attendants, Song Han began to turn his thoughts toward Miao Anping.

This Miao Anping, who came every few days to "visit" him, was utterly revolting!

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To all you sisters and brothers who read this, here is today's update.

o(n_n)o~