Chapter 337 — A Return Gift
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
"No. I will not let that little beast off so easily," he said, his eyes bloodshot as he paced around the room—savage as a beast trapped in a cage and unable to find its way out. "Every dog in this household has a pair of snobbish eyes. If I let that little beast off just like this, what will I have left to keep those dogs in line…"
He had somehow laid the whole blame at Song Zhi's door.
Tao Jun smiled bitterly. "Lord of the Zhenguo Estate, I doubt this was the Heir's doing. If it were the Heir, he would have long since bribed those eunuchs to poison the Emperor's ear against you. Why would he resort to such a childish trick?"
These words made Song Cen pause, and in his heart he had to admit Tao Jun was right. Yet to admit it and believe that Song Yan was not behind this—that he was most unwilling to do. For a moment his expression shifted, dark and light by turns, inscrutable.
Tao Jun saw it clearly and at once spoke to Song Cen in a tone of consultation. "Why not end your sick leave in the next couple of days and return to your duties at the Five Armies Command, while I investigate where these rumors truly began?"
Song Cen said nothing. He kept circling the room, but he no longer mentioned having Zeng Wu seize anyone.
Tao Jun breathed a sigh of relief.
Song Sui found it strange and asked Yan Che, "Who started this rumor? Father has been forced to declare himself recovered—he must be furious!"
Yan Che smiled. "I found it strange too. I looked into it, but could find no thread to pull. If the Heir wishes to know, I can have Du Wei investigate further. Perhaps he might turn something up?"
"Never mind." Song Yan said, "As long as Father recovers, this matter will collapse on its own. Father now sees me as a thorn in his eye and a spike in his flesh. Anything that does not flatter him, any word that does not please him, he will take to be my doing. I have no wish to invite that suspicion. Let him be!"
Yan Che smiled and brought up another matter related to this one. "The business of the Lord of the Zhenguo Estate having those men abduct Suxin and the others—do you think we should tell the Lady, so that she has some idea of it and can be more careful in what she does hereafter? The old servant Chen Sou and the guard Duan by the Lady's side are no ordinary folk. Once they know the ins and outs of the matter, they will find ways to keep the Lady safe—better than us sitting here doing nothing."
Song Dan said, "Of course we must tell the Lady." Then he thought that he had been out all day and had not yet seen Dou Yan, and wondered what she might be doing today. Suddenly he felt a powerful urge to hurry home.
He rose to his feet. "I must enter the palace tomorrow. Master, you should rest early as well!"
Yan Che saw Song Yan out of the study.
Song Zhi's figure soon vanished beyond the hanging-flower gate.
Wuyi, who had been pouring tea in the study earlier, appeared at Yan Che's side and said hesitantly, "This was the Lady's doing. Is it proper not to tell the Heir?"
"What is improper about it?" Yan Che smiled. "The Lady did not harm a single hair on the Lord of the Zhenguo Estate's head. She merely complained a few words in private, and those careless maids and serving women spread them abroad. What is there to make such a fuss about—and to carry it to the Heir's ears? The Lord of the Zhenguo Estate and the Heir are, after all, father and son, but the Lady and the Heir are husband and wife. The Lady is wholeheartedly devoted to the Heir. We who serve them ought to be glad of it."
Wuyi nodded and smiled. "I think the Lady's way of doing it was quite satisfying too. Now the Lord of the Zhenguo Estate will not dare fall ill so casually again, will he?"
Yan Che laughed.
Dou Yan, who had heard that Song Cen was fully recovered and had already returned to his duties at the Five Armies Command, laughed as well.