Chapter 331 — Coping
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
Surely I cannot say it is because he has taken one step farther from the Prince of Liao, and so I am pleased with myself?
Dou Yan muttered inwardly, then found it both laughable and absurd; she simply gave Song Yan a sidelong, half-smiling glance and answered with a coquettish lilt, "Now you know."
Song Yan was startled, then burst out laughing.
With Dou Yan, there was always something to delight him.
He reached out his long arm and scooped Dou Yan up, biting her ear as he said, "Let us go have our supper."
It came so suddenly that Dou Yan cried out, hastily flinging her arms around Song Yan's neck, only then realizing she was in his embrace.
"Put me down this instant!" Her face and ears burned red. "The lamps are not even lit yet—what is this nonsense?"
That forced composure which could not hide her blush made Song Yan laugh again; he blew a warm breath against her neck and said in an ambiguous tone, "So if the lamps were lit, then it would be all right to be naughty?"
This fellow—there was nothing he would not say!
The more embarrassed you grew, the more amusing he found it.
How could outsiders take him for deep-scheming and ruthless?
Dou Yan grumbled inwardly, while Song Yan carried her without the slightest effort into the dining chamber.
Ganlu and the others busied themselves laying chopsticks and setting dishes, looking as though they had seen nothing at all.
Dou Yan had to heave a long sigh.
The two sat facing each other for supper.
Song Yan looked up at Dou Yan and moved the dishes she had helped herself to twice more to her side.
An inexplicable sweetness welled up in Dou Yan's heart.
After supper, the two sat on the large kang by the window, drinking tea and talking.
"After you left, I saw Chen Jia." Dou Yan recounted what had happened.
Song Yan laughed at that. "He is sharp, all right—he knew to take your route!"
Hearing the implication in his words, Dou Yan asked, "So you are saying Chen Jia truly ran into those robbers by chance?"
Song Yan nodded, a shard-of-ice chill flashing through his eyes.
He glanced toward the Osmanthus Court and said in a low voice, "That one's handiwork!"
Dou Yan was startled and blurted, "How could it be..." No sooner had the words left her mouth than she felt the question was utterly senseless.
In all the world, who but Song Cen would hate Song Yan so?
Even if it was aimed at her, it was merely Xiang Zhuang dancing with his sword, his mind on Lord Pei.
But under the Three Bonds and Five Constants, even if father and son were to destroy each other, Song Cen could not do it so nakedly! The consequences of killing a son without cause—he could not bear them. Otherwise, he could simply have taken a blade and hunted Song Yan down himself; why go to all this trouble?
But why had Song Cen struck now, and in this manner?
Dou Yan mused, "What happened? Acting like this is far too unreasonable!"
Song Yan's expression was cold and stern. He said in a low voice, "As for why he did it, I am still looking into it. I expect results within a day or two."
Gazing at Song Yan's face, cold and still as ice and snow, Dou Yan felt only heartache.
She would rather he were as he had been a moment ago, joking and teasing with her.
That was how a normal person lived!
Dou Yan fell silent. She put her arm around Song Yan's waist and leaned against his shoulder.
As if by this she could give Song Yan a little warmth, make him feel less alone and cold.
Song Yan smiled and scraped Dou Yan's nose, whispering, "What is it? Missing me? I will spare no effort later, toiling myself to death..."
This scoundrel!
Ever since he married her, he had not had a single proper moment.
Dou Yan pounded him hard.
Song Yan blinked at her, wearing a look that said, "I did not say anything wrong—why did you hit me?"
Dou Yan could not help but burst out laughing.
The gloom and sorrow of moments ago scattered like smoke, vanishing without a trace.
Dou Yan was slightly taken aback.