Chapter 166 — Good and Bad
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
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After his father had him flogged, he lay alone on the heated bricks of his mother's chamber, where the underfloor flues were kept burning, and his heart was dead quiet. He wished only that when he opened his eyes, everything that had happened would prove to be nothing but a dream—that his father would still be the same somewhat nagging but stern father as before, and his younger brother the same somewhat timid brother who obeyed his every word... In that moment, he felt that death was no more than this.
But Dou Yan had saved him.
His milk-brother Chen Tao had been beaten to death for refusing to betray him; his retainers and personal guards had been hunted down... He had been forced to rise to his feet and face his father in numb confrontation... At that time, he felt that the depths of human misery were no more than this.
But the guards Dou Yan sent had helped him deliver the letter in time.
Not only had he reestablished his position, but he had also secured his mother's dowry and the authority to manage Yizhi Hall. Even bearing the great label of "filial piety," he now had a way to contend with his father.
Whenever he felt he had reached a dead end, light would always break through the willows and blossoms, and a new path would open.
Song Yan thought of the expression on Dou Yan's face when she said this to him.
The smile faded from her eyes bit by bit, and something sorrowful flickered through them—a touch of melancholy, a touch of desolation, a touch of helplessness, a touch of rueful sighing... But soon it was all gathered away again, and she became radiant once more, glancing about with spirit flying, like a traveler on a long journey who, through the endless lonely night, finally succumbs to the exhaustion of ten thousand rivers and a thousand mountains, and only then lets slip a few traces of weariness that cannot be hidden.
Resilient, and yet fragile.
It made his heart ache unbearably.
She was so beautiful, and yet life had been so unfair to her!
Suddenly, he very much wanted to see Wei Fan.
"Chen He," Song Yan instructed, "we return to the capital at once."
"Ah!" Chen He was startled. "You—you're not going back to the farmstead in Daxing?"
"I have been out for seven or eight days already; it is time I returned." Song Yan said evenly, "After we reach the capital, take my card to the Jining Marquis's residence—I have business with the Marquis of Jining."
Chen He answered "Yes," and could not help exchanging a glance with Xia Lian.
The heir had originally planned to stay three days in Zhending; now it was only the second day, and he was already eager to return to the capital—and moreover, after having met the fourth young lady of the Dou family... The Marquis of Jining was none other than the future husband of the fourth young lady of the Dou family!
Xia Lian was deeply worried.
As soon as they returned to Yizhi Hall, he went at once to see Yan Che, who had stayed behind at home, and told him of his concerns: "...If the Marquis of Zhenguo discovers anything unusual, that would be terrible! The fourth young lady of the Dou family is the niece of Grand Secretary Dou!"
Yan Che had not known beforehand that Song Yan would go to Zhending to see Dou Yan. By the time he learned of it, Song Yan had already been gone two or three days. He too felt that Song Yan should not have too much contact with Dou Yan at this time, lest the Ying family of the Zhenguo estate seize some handle against him. Now, hearing Xia Lian's words, he felt the situation was even more serious.
He mused for a moment, then said, "The fourth young lady of the Dou family saved the heir's life. For the heir to call on her in person to express his thanks is a mark of respect for her. You need not make a fuss; just be more careful in the future. If the heir visits too frequently, it will not be too late for us to remind him then."