Chapter 387 — Censure
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
The men of the Five Wards Command looked at Wei Fan with a trace of curiosity in their eyes.
Wei Fan, slow to catch on, understood the whole business only when Jiang Yi formally took up his post.
Remembering how his colleagues had looked at him, he could not endure another quarter of an hour in the office.
Wei Fan went home and said to Dou Ming, "One of these days, when you have the time, go over to the Ying mansion and look in on Shouyuan. Song Yantang has lately promoted a man who is no kin of his at all to be Commissioner of the Southern Ward. Go and ask her what on earth is behind it."
By ties of blood or by ties of friendship, Song Yan ought to have advanced him.
The affair of Jiang Yi jolted him awake: since his marriage, he and Song Yan had never once sat down together over a cup of wine or exchanged a private word.
He had indeed been far too neglectful of Song Yan these past days.
Dou Ming heard him out in a fury, but reflecting that the two of them had only just made peace, she had no choice but to force the anger down into the depths of her heart, and the smile she produced was consequently somewhat strained. "Is Shouyuan a name you have leave to use? Mind you do not let something slip in front of Song Yantang, or neither of us will be able to show our faces. You know as well as I do that since I married you, Dou Ji has never once given me a kind look. Better that you go straight to Song Yantang than that I go to her. Do you not always say how fond of you Song Yantang used to be? Have a word with him. A trifling matter like this should not be difficult."
Wei Fan knew his own affairs best.
Even in the days when Song Yan treated him best, when he promoted his business, gave him horses, and made him known to his friends, the more he came to understand Song Yan's character, the deeper his fear of him grew, until at last he was fairly bowing and scraping before the man, afraid of saying the wrong thing, afraid of drinking too much, afraid of falling out of Song Yan's favor. That was why, when trouble came to the Ying mansion, he had thought to seize the moment to cut himself loose from Song Yan, and had said those things to his sister. Now that Song Yan treated him with chilly distance, how would he dare thrust himself forward?
But in Dou Ming's presence he could hardly say so, and could only screw up his courage and invite Song Yan to drink.
When Song Yan heard that Wei Fan had come calling, he felt as though something were scraping at his chest. He instructed Chen He: "Tell the servants below that in future, when the Marquis of Jining comes to this house, they may show him into the small reception hall in the outer court and offer him tea. There is no need to make a great to-do and go hunting for me or for my lady." Then he added, "I still have a memorial to write for His Majesty today. Go and ask the Marquis what he wants. If it is nothing important, see to it for him. If it is important, tell him I am occupied and have him leave word with you; I shall weigh the matter myself."
Put plainly, from this day forward he would neither see the Marquis of Jining nor do him any service.
Chen He muttered to himself.
This Wei Fan truly was a screw short of a bolt. How did he still dare set foot in Yizhi Hall?
Chen He went to the reception hall.
Wei Fan wanted Song Yan to advance his rank; how could a man speak of such a thing to a mere servant boy?
He hemmed and hawed for a long while, until even he himself did not know what he was saying, and then rose in disappointment and took his leave.
Chen He hurried to pass Song Yan's instructions down to the household.
Wei Fan went to the Jing mansion.
Wei Wan heard of it, and stamped her feet in a rage.