Chapter 238 — The Bridal Gifts
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
.
His gaze fell on Song Han, who had not uttered a word since entering the flower hall.
Song Han had been watching his elder brother with great care. When he saw Song Yan look his way, his eyes immediately reddened, and he called out pitifully, "Brother." Then he cast a fearful glance at Song Cen, who was talking to Lu Zhan with a face full of smiles, as if to say: it is not that I do not miss my brother, but I fear Father's punishment, and so I have no choice but to keep my distance from him.
Song Yan's eyes darkened slightly.
His own full brother, born of the same mother, had grown into such a cowering, timid creature.
At three, when wronged, one's eyes brim with tears, and it strikes people as endearing; at ten, when wronged, one's eyes brim with tears, and it strikes people as innocent; but now he was already thirteen...
The last time Song Yan had seen Song Han was at the ancestral rites during the Spring Festival.
Back then, Song Han had only reached his own chest.
In less than half a year, Song Han had shot up to his shoulder, and seemed even a little taller than he himself had been at thirteen. But he was terribly thin, his complexion blue and pale as though he lacked food and clothing, and his spirits were poor.
Caught between himself and their father, the boy must be suffering.
Song Ke looked again at Song Han.
Sometimes, too much concern is itself a poison.
Better, perhaps, to watch from a distance and lend a hand when trouble comes—that would likely serve him better.
Song Dan walked to their father's side.
That smile was gentle and bright, without a trace of shadow.
A hurried sound of footsteps came from outside.
A young servant came running in, panting: "The heir of the Earl of Guang'en has arrived!"
Song Cen was startled for a moment and looked toward Song Yan.
Song Yan's expression was unchanged; his smile did not widen even a little, as though he wore a flawless mask—even knowing it was false, one could find no fault with it.
He could not help cursing inwardly.
Dong Qi, in a scarlet official robe, came in smiling.
"My apologies, my apologies!" He clasped his hands in salute to everyone in the room. "Brothers, I'm late! I had just engaged a new carriage driver. Who would have thought the fellow would be so ungrateful—he hadn't done his preparation beforehand, and said not a word after I got into the carriage. We drove around for ages without finding the place before I realized he didn't know the way. If I hadn't kicked him down and offered ten taels on the spot to hire a driver who knew his business, I'd probably still be wandering the streets of Anding Gate!" He then laughed and said to Song Yan with a click of his tongue: "Eldest Song, your household is truly vast—it takes up an entire alley. No wonder my coachman couldn't even find the gate."
Is that so?
Wang Yu and the others only smiled and said nothing.
Only Gu Yu laughed in that strange, barbed way of his: "I thought you were wandering some back alley or other? So it was Anding Gate Street all along. But your temper is truly excellent—just one kick to send that coachman flying. Had it been me, a few lashes of the whip would have settled it. The Earl of Guang'en's household truly has a pure and generous tradition!"
Dong Qi chuckled, but his eyes flashed coldly, and in his heart he wished he could take a bite out of Song Yan.
Using me to make himself look good. Aren't you afraid you can't hold it up—that you haven't the luck for it?
The hateful thing was that he still could not stay away. Otherwise, serving together in the Imperial Guard later, when colleagues asked, they would think he had put on airs and had only helped Song Yan's reputation for magnanimity.