Chapter 92 — Anger
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 3 of 4
Lady Ji told her what had happened since: "...The Pang family will not admit, on any account, that Pang Kunbai waylaid you. They claim instead that you used your power to bully them and beat Pang Kunbai half to death. Now Pang Yinlou has escorted Pang Kunbai to Zhending Prefecture to seek medical treatment, and Pang Jinlou has gone to the capital. Pang Xilou has engaged the Provincial Graduate Hu as his attorney and means to bring suit against our family." Here she gave a cold, contemptuous laugh, and reassured Dou Yan, "One of Old Eighth Xing's men is still alive, and that man is willing to testify in court against the Pang family. When the time comes, I'd like to see what the Pangs have to say for themselves!"
Dou Yan nodded.
But if there was to be a lawsuit, it could not proceed until Dou Bingheng and Wang Xingyi had made their positions known.
She asked, "Has it been discovered who leaked word of my whereabouts?"
"No word yet," Lady Ji said. "Matron Liu used the pretext of something stolen from the house and took her people to the West Mansion overnight." She looked worried. "We must find that person, one way or another. Otherwise your situation will be dire!"
Ji Yong, who had been sitting nearby listening to them all this while, suddenly spoke up: "Want me to look into it for you?"
Before Dou Yan could answer, Lady Ji rushed to say, "Jianming, you are a guest here!"
Ji Yong was unimpressed. "Since I've stumbled into this, how can I stand by and do nothing?"
Lady Ji tried to stop him. "This is a matter for the elders to decide."
Seeing aunt and nephew on the verge of quarreling, Dou Qu stepped in to smooth things over. "Many thanks, Cousin Ji. Since Matron Liu has already gone over, let's let her take the first look. If Matron Liu searches all day today and turns up nothing, then Cousin Ji can step in—that won't be too late!"
Ji Yong nodded and lowered his head to take a sip of tea.
Lady Ji gave Ji Yong a startled glance, then looked at Dou Chu with something odd in her expression, and seemed about to speak but held back.
Dou Yan did not notice.
She was thinking of Chen Yanzhou.
A whole day and night—she wondered whether he had been able to find anything.
She did not want Ji Yong meddling in this affair.
His attitude was far too ambiguous.
After the midday meal, Dou Yan took her leave and returned to the West Mansion.
Her grandmother had not yet heard of the matter, but she was somewhat displeased that Matron Liu had come to interrogate the household maids: "After all, this is a West Dou affair. Even if it must be investigated, it should wait until you are back."
"It's only for fear that dragging it out would erase the traces." Dou Yan comforted her grandmother for a good while, and when she stepped outside she saw Chen Yanzhou standing at the gate.
He gave Dou Yan a confident smile.
Dou Yan knew he had found something. Her heart was at once set at ease.
The two walked as they talked.
"...The one who sent word was Liu Wan, but he's already dead at the scene of the robbery... I found that Du An put up at an inn called Ping'an in Lingshou County yesterday, and I've already sent Chen Lanxu to fetch him... Matron Liu insists on checking one by one, and it's very slow going. I'm afraid there will be no results today."
The road to the capital did not pass through Lingshou County.
"Then let us help Matron Liu by pointing the way!" Dou Xin said. "This matter would be better handled by the Second Madam."
"Fine by me!" Chen Yanzhou agreed readily. "I think the young miss ought to engage a few more men of exceptional skill as guards. I fear someone may set his sights on you again."
"The gentleman and I are of the same mind." Dou Xin then told Chen Yanzhou that from now on she would receive an annual allowance of ten thousand taels. "How about engaging Chen Lanxu and the others?" She named several people she had taken note of at the time, among them Duan Bing.