Chapter 367 — Sisters
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
The Prince of Liao.
The Empress.
Wang Yuan.
Wang Ge.
The Emperor.
The Crown Prince.
Cui Junyi.
Kuang Zhuoran.
Jiang Jie.
Dai Jian.
Dou Yan wrote these names out on a sheet of xuan paper, then sank into thought.
But several days passed and still she could not work out the connection between these people—though word did come from Song Yan's side.
Wang Ge and Cui Junyi had entered the palace at the same time. Both were glib and quick-tongued, both knew how to please the eunuch over them, but Wang Ge was the more nimble of the two, and often slipped a little silver to his superior as a token of respect. So when it came time to choose attendants for the Crown Prince, it was Wang Ge whom their superior recommended. But Wang Ge could read only a few simple characters at the time, and the Crown Prince was not satisfied with him and sent him back. Cui Junyi, learning that Wang Ge had secured the chance by greasing palms, stamped with regret; and when he heard Wang Ge had been returned, he borrowed silver and went to their superior. Before long Cui Junyi was recommended to the Eastern Palace. Not long after, Cui Junyi, being able to read and write, found favor with the Crown Prince, and soon was attending to brush and ink in the Crown Prince's study. Gradually Cui Junyi became the Crown Prince's trusted confidant, a eunuch of the fourth rank proper. Wang Ge, meanwhile, was still struggling along at the seventh rank. Had he not seized his chance and become Wang Yuan's adopted son, he would likely still be scrubbing chamber pots in some forgotten corner.
And so the feud between the two was fixed.
Suxin found it hard to believe. "Just for that? The two of them have been trading blows for nearly twenty years?"
"Is that not serious enough?" Dou Xin said. "One rank above and you can crush a man to death! Among eunuchs the hierarchy is even stricter—one careless step and it can cost you your life. Never mind the rest: Cui Junyi today is a man who can speak with Wang Yuan, while Wang Ge must call Wang Yuan 'Father,' kneel, and knock his head to the floor before him. On that alone, Wang Ge must lie awake night after night."
"But what does any of this have to do with the Kuang family's business?" Suxin asked, puzzled.
Dou Yan murmured, "If I knew that, what would I have to fret about?"
Suxin hesitated. "Then... why not go consult Old Chen?"
At that Dou Yan's spirits lifted, but on second thought she dimmed again.
The matter was grave. Chen Yanzhou was already nearing the age of fifty. She had meant, if the situation remained unclear before the palace coup, to entrust Chen Yanzhou, Duan Bing, and the others to Dou Yan's care; she did not want to drag Chen Yanzhou into it to live in fear.
"Let me think on it myself first," Dou Yan said, putting Suxin off.
Ganlu came in and reported, "Madam, that gentleman from the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Zhenfu Office has come again. He says he wishes to see you."
The little maids were all full of resentment.
Chen Jia had come once, exchanged a few words, and walked off with a residence from the heir apparent. Who knew what he would wheedle out of them this time?
Dou Yan rather thought the man never darkened a door without a purpose—most likely it concerned the two maids he had mentioned before.
If he truly could settle the matter, it would be a gift of coal in the snow.
Dou Yan felt a touch of admiration for Chen Jia.
She told Ganlu to show Chen Jia into the small flower hall for tea, changed her clothes, and went with Suxin to the small flower hall.
Chen Jia stood in the middle of the hall, respectful as ever, listening for her approach. He shot her a swift glance, then lowered his eyelids and made his bow.
Dou Yan asked him warmly to sit.
Chen Jia did not stand on ceremony; he seated himself far from her, in an armchair near the door.