Chapter 155 — Conditions
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
Song Yan and Song Han were both at an awkward age, neither of them married. There was nothing improper in the Lord of the Zhenguo Estate holding the lady's dowry in trust—so why would Song Yan think of dividing it?
And yet the request was not unreasonable.
The chief reason was that the Lord of the Zhenguo Estate was still in his prime. Neither son was of an age to marry, and the Yingzhenguo Estate had no one to preside over the household. A remarriage was inevitable. If he were to remarry, dividing the lady's dowry between the two sons beforehand would be precisely the way to show respect for the late lady and for the sons she had borne—Song Yan above all, for he already had men about him who managed the dowry of the Dowager Lady Lu, and in all these years they had never once blundered. Handing Lady Jiang's dowry into his keeping would seem only natural in the eyes of outsiders.
And from Song Yan's tone, it was clear he would hand over the Second Young Master only after the lady's dowry had been divided...
Tao Jun smiled. "Dividing property is a tedious business; I fear it will not be settled in a moment..."
He spoke slowly, watching Song Yan's expression—his words carried a distinct note of probing.
Song Yan found it all the more distasteful.
If Song Han was so important, why should Father begrudge the late lady's trifling dowry?
He listened without a ripple of feeling until Tao Jun had finished, then said, "Then divide it slowly. Neither of us brothers is in any hurry."
With that, Tao Jun was certain of Song Yan's intent.
He sighed inwardly and smiled. "The heir is unwell, so I shall not intrude further. When I report back to the Lord of the Zhenguo Estate, I can arrange the third seventh-day rites."
Song Yan had made his demands; whether his father agreed, and when, would depend on who could hold out longer.
He gave a slight nod and had the guards see Tao Jun out.
A guard came to report: "Physician Yang is here."
One important reason Song Yan had sent for Yang Xiushan was to ask him about his mother's illness.
When Yang Xiushan saw his injuries, he was so astonished that for a long while he could not collect himself; the moment he did, he asked urgently, "What happened to you?"
Song Yan had long since prepared his story, and now he told it, half truth and half lie: "When Mother passed away, Father was in a foul temper. I rushed home frantic with worry, then quarreled with him for not sending word sooner, and he beat me soundly for it."
"That was a beating far too severe!" Yang Xiushan shook his head again and again, then told Song Yan to summon Huang Zhongli as well. "His family has treated bone injuries for generations."
Song Yan was just then casting about for a way to bring pressure to bear on his father, and Yang Xiushan handed him a fine idea.
He followed it readily, sending at once for Huang Zhongli, and then fell to discussing his mother's illness with Yang Xiushan.
"It was chiefly a stagnation of the spirit," Yang Xiushan sighed. "An illness of the heart like that can only be cured by medicine for the heart."
He was a frequent visitor to the Yingzhen Ducal Estate and knew how very close Song Yan had been to his mother. He had meant to say that Song Yan ought to have been at Jiang-shi's bedside at the time, but the thought of Song Zhi's hand in it made him swallow the words.
Huang Zhongli had not yet arrived; Gu Yu came first, carrying a great heap of medicines and tonics.
At the sight of Song Yan, he drew in a sharp breath.
Yang Xiushan also often attended the ladies of the Yunyang Earl's household and was well acquainted with Gu Yu. After a few courteous words, he tactfully excused himself on the pretext of writing out a prescription, yielding the place to Gu Yu.
The moment Yang Xiushan had gone, Gu Yu sat down on the brocade stool before Song Yan's bed, his face darkening: "What happened? Why did you want me to keep my uncle there for a few hours?"