Chapter 284 — Disappointment
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
The attendant answered and departed.
Half testing, half consulting, the Earl said to Song Yan, "Where does the Young Heir think we should begin the search?"
Gu Yu made to speak, but Song Yan shot him a look. He swallowed his words, and Song Yan said, "Your Lordship holds the Five Wards Commandery by His Majesty's command; the decision is naturally yours."
At that the Earl laughed. He thought the boy Song Yan sensible of propriety and possessed of a broad view—no wonder he was treated as a junior kinsman of the house.
"Then let the search begin in the East Ward!" the Earl said with a smile. "That East Ward commander has already rolled up his sleeves and set to work. We need not do it all twice over—let him take the lead..."
As he spoke, the East Ward commander entered.
Seeing Song Yan, he was greatly surprised, but quickly cast him a grateful glance.
Had it not been for Song Yan, why would the newly appointed commander of the Five Wards Commandery have summoned him to his own house?
This debt of recommendation he would acknowledge.
So the East Ward commander thought as he bowed respectfully to the Earl of Donglin.
Song Yan rose with Gu Yu to take their leave. "We must still see Lord Huang."
Smiling, the Earl of Donglin saw Song Yan and Gu Yu to the door of the reception hall.
As an elder, he had shown the two of them high courtesy.
Gu Yu, however, was far from satisfied. No sooner had they climbed into the carriage than his mouth puckered. "That Earl of Donglin—what is he good for but eating, drinking, and currying favor with His Majesty? Why did you hand this matter over to him? The thieves' shadow is not even in sight, and already he is thinking of how to find a scapegoat. Does that look like a man catching thieves? You would have done better to give it to me!"
"Gu Yu," Song Yan cut him off. "Catching thieves is the business of the Five Wards Commandery and the Shuntian Prefecture. Were we to overstep and do their work for them, we would not only invite censure but might provoke that man's resentment, so that he refuses to cooperate—and what use would our efforts be then? Better to grant them a favor, so that we have a footing to speak on in future dealings." He went on, "The city gates have still not been placed under martial law. Do you think I could catch those thieves now?" At this his expression chilled. "When we leave the Shuntian Prefecture, we shall pay a visit to the Five Armies Command as well. Those thieves came from Cangzhou—Cangzhou owes me an explanation too, does it not?"
Even so, Gu Yu remained unconvinced. "...We ought to let those people know what we are made of!"
Were my eldest uncle still here, I daresay I would feel the same.
A flicker of pain passed through Song Yan's eyes. He knew that unless he found Gu Yu something to do, the boy would never sit still.
"Gu Yu," Song Yan hesitated a moment, then lowered his voice. "There is a matter I need your help with."
At once Gu Yu was all vigor. "Brother Tianci, what is it? Am I to go to Cangzhou?"
Song Yan laughed despite himself, then after a moment said gravely, "It is a private matter of mine, and I am not easy about trusting it to others..." He beckoned Gu Yu closer and bade him lend an ear. "Did not the Marquis of Anlu play matchmaker for my father? See whether you can arrange for someone of the Marquis of Anlu's household to harbor the thieves..."
"I know what to do!" Gu Yu was elated, rubbing his hands together. "I will make him eat coptis in silence—bitterness in his mouth and no way to speak of it."
"That is exactly the idea." Song Yan sighed with feeling. "Gu Yu has grown up—he knows some matters cannot be settled by brute force."
Gu Yu flushed red to the ears at the praise.
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Meanwhile, Dou Ming, overjoyed, hurried back from Willow Leaf Lane to the Jining Marquis Estate and made straight for Wei Fan's study.
Wei Fan's study was quiet, with only a young servant there wiping down the tables.