Chapter 373 — Observing Quietly
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
To say nothing of how Song Yantang made a show of magnanimity — Ma Youming woke from sleep to find himself in an unfamiliar side room, and was so startled that, heedless of a head that pounded like a stone, he leapt up and shouted for his personal servant.
The servant came in at the call, a basin of washing water still in his hands, and said with a smile, "The Master's awake! Last night you drank yourself under the table with the Heir of the Duke of Ying and several of the heir's brothers-in-law, and Brother Chen He had you carried here to this guest room to rest. I sat up with you the whole night — and you went and missed the bride's wedding. Just now the Zhao family's new son-in-law is in the main hall paying his respects to the relatives; the Heir and the Madam are there as well. Will you wash and go over at once, or take your midday meal first and then pay your respects to Lord Zhao, and go back with the Heir afterward?" He clicked his tongue in admiration. "The Heir's brothers-in-law are so young, and yet they can match the Master cup for cup. Truly remarkable!"
Who in the Personal Guard did not know that Assistant Commander Ma, Ma Youming of the Divine Machine Camp, could drink any man under the table!
Ma Youming's face went pale at this. "I got drunk last night?"
The servant nodded and wrung out a hot towel.
Ma Youming took it and scrubbed at his face at random, his expression shifting uncertainly. "Then — last night, when I was drunk, did I say anything foolish?"
The servant thought it over carefully. "It was Brother Chen He who helped you over. You were shouting things like 'Heir, don't go — every word I say is true, I've staked my life and my whole fortune on you.' I saw it was a weighty matter and dared not let anyone else attend you, so I kept watch outside the door, and no one else came by. Before long you fell asleep, and slept until dawn without another word."
Done for. Done for!
So it was true — a man with something on his mind must never drink. Not only was his capacity shallower than usual; he had actually begun to babble.
His heart turned to ice, though he understood the cause well enough: he had buried the matter too deep and had no one to speak to, and once drunk he could no longer hold himself back from crying out.
Wine wrecks a man's affairs — the ancients never lied to him!
Ma Youming smiled bitterly.
The wretched part was that he could not recall a single word of what he had said to Song Yantang.
He paced several turns about the room, then said to the servant, "We will rest here in this side room for the time being. If anyone else asks, say I am still sleeping off the wine. If it is the Heir of the Duke of Ying who asks, say I am waiting for him here."
If he truly had poured everything out to Song Yantang, then Song Yantang ought to come looking for him.
The servant assented and helped Ma Youming wash and dress.
Song Yantang was beaming as he exchanged salutes with his new brother-in-law.
Song Yan, face flushed crimson, said shamefacedly, "Heir."
"I would never presume to have my elder cousin's husband address me so," said Song Yantang. "Call me Yantang, or brother-in-law."
Zhao Zhangru, standing shoulder to shoulder with Song Yan, blushed and stole a glance at Song Yantang.
Yet a flicker of amusement surfaced in Zhao Si's eyes.
Song Yan, however, was too embarrassed to call him "brother-in-law." He lowered his voice and said "Yantang," exchanged salutes with Song Yantang, and was then led to the western side of the hall to pay his respects to Madam Zhao and the other ladies of the household.
Every eye in the room followed Song Yan toward the west.
Song Yantang lowered his lids and turned over in his mind what Ma Youming had said.