Chapter 502 — Summer Night

Dou Chi dared to take the risk, but had no choice except to stall for time. He said to Duan Bing, "I'll think of a way to talk to them. You signal Chen Lanxu and the rest to edge their way over here slowly. However many can get in, get in."

Duan Bing nodded.

Dou Yan raised his voice: "Who are you people? I am the wife of the heir of the Yingzhen Duke's household, a lady of the first rank by imperial patent. Has no one told you that abducting an official's family member is a crime punished with an added degree of severity?"

The other side replied unhurriedly, "Madam, we too act out of necessity in a crisis. Please do not make things difficult for us..."

Even as he spoke, the sudden whistle of something cleaving the air rang out, and an arrow flew toward Chen Lanxu, who was quietly shifting his steps. Had Chen Lanxu not been wholly focused on the sounds and movements around him, and had his skills not been so good, he would surely have been struck; as it was, he dodged quickly aside.

Dou Yan's expression turned cold.

The other side said sinisterly, "Madam, do not refuse the wine of courtesy only to drink the wine of punishment."

Dou Chi gave a contemptuous laugh and said quietly to Duan Bing, "Push Song Han out and make him shield Chen Lanxu."

"Ah!" Duan Bing's mouth fell open.

Song Han, meanwhile, shrieked like a madman: "How dare you treat me this way! I am the Second Master of the illustrious Yingzhen Duke's household! Those lowly guards are not fit to carry my shoes, and you would have me take arrows for them?"

Duan Bing said as well, "But do you not still want Song Han's testimony?"

Dou raised his head and gazed at the night sky, bright with moon and sparse with stars, and said, "No need. I already know who wants to seize me and Yuanheng. He is of no further use. Push him out."

Song Han began to screech, unable to form a complete sentence.

Dou Yan ducked behind the door.

Duan Bing shouted "Chen Lanxu!" and without the least mercy shoved Song Han out.

Chen Lanxu seized Song Han and held him up before his chest as a shield, retreating toward the wing room.

Seven or eight arrows flew at them like shooting stars.

Chen Lanxu instinctively swung his great blade and struck the arrows to the ground, and in that very moment he ran into the wing room.

Dou Yan bared his teeth in a grin.

Chen Lanxu dropped Song Han, who had long since fainted dead away from fright, clasped his fists, and saluted Dou Yan, crying out excitedly, "Madam!"

"Say nothing more," Dou Xin said. "Tell the guards outside to use Song Han as a shield and charge in."

Chen Lanxu wavered for a while, but in the end brotherly feeling won out. He answered respectfully, "Yes," and flung Song Han out.

This time Song Han was not so lucky as he had been in Chen Lanxu's grasp. He was struck in the shoulder and the thigh, and the pain woke him.

Dou Yan once again ordered Duan Bing to throw the man out.

Song Han clung tightly to Duan Bing's leg, tears and snot running together beyond telling: "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law! I'll talk! I'll tell everything! Only please, whatever you do, don't throw me out again!"

Dou was unmoved and said coldly, "Throw him out for me."

Song Han was, after all, the son of the Duke of Ying. Duan Bing and the others looked at one another in dismay.

Dou Yan said, "In my heart, you matter more than he does. You need only do as I command. If anything goes wrong, I will answer for it."

For a moment everyone inside and outside the house felt their noses prickle with emotion, and Chen Lanxu's eyes grew moist. He clasped his fists, answered "Yes," and threw Song Han out.

Song Han shouted, "If you dare loose those crossbows, I'll give up your master's name!"

The other side hesitated.

Dou Zhiwei's guards seized the chance and charged toward the wing room.

"Loose arrows!" Seeing this, the enemy still chose to shoot.

A rain of arrow light spilled down from the sky.

Several of those running at the rear were struck, though fortunately none in a vital spot.

Song Han, lying flat on the ground, escaped death by luck, but took two more arrows, one in the back and one in the arm.

The guards he had brought, bound and left lying in the courtyard, were riddled with arrows like hedgehogs.

Song Han fainted again from sheer fright.

No one had time to stand on ceremony between men and women; Chen Lanxu helped tend his brothers' wounds, while Duan Bing could not help asking Dou Yan, "Who is it that wants to carry off you and the Eldest Young Master?"

*

Sisters and brothers, here is today's update.

o(n_n)o~

ps: Begging for pink votes...