Chapter 461 — Struck
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
Only then did Tao Er's wife say, "The young lady of the Yingzhen Wardens' household wishes to marry again, and the mistress of the Wu house called me in to ask about your family affairs, my lord."
Chen Jia spat a mouthful of tea straight out, spraying Tao Er's wife full in the face.
"What did you say?" he said, aghast. "The mistress of the Wu house summoned you to ask about my family affairs?"
Tao Er's wife wiped the tea from her face and laughed. "That's right! The mistress of the Wu house also said she had been asked to do so by Lady Dou."
Chen Jia's jaw all but dropped off his face.
He paced round and round the study, turning over what Tao Er's wife had said.
Could it be that the Song family meant to betroth Jiang Yan to him, and had set the mistress of the Wu house to sound him out?
But that was impossible!
He knew well enough what stock he came from. Even if the Song family had picked the wrong man, they would never settle on him—so how had he caught Lady Dou's eye?
Surely the Song family had not got the idea that he and Jiang Yan were passing things to each other in secret?
If that were so, he was in dire straits.
He himself did not care—he was a grown man, and at worst he would be laughed at as a toad dreaming of swan's flesh; there might even be some who admired his ambition!
But what of Jiang Yan?
She would likely never wash that stain from her name so long as she lived!
Best he go to Lady Dou and talk it over, and clear up this misunderstanding?
Chen Jia considered this, one foot already over the threshold, yet the other simply would not lift.
He had the chance to marry Jiang Yan... delicate and gentle, a Jiang Yan like a flower of spring!
Chen Jia's heart grew warm.
If he let this chance slip, he would never have Jiang Yan for his wife.
Should he go, or should he not?
He stood upon the threshold, and for the first time in his life he had no idea what to do.
******
Jiang Yan, meanwhile, was having a heart-to-heart with Jiang Ling.
She stared at Jiang Ling in astonishment, so frantic that tears were on the verge of falling. "Twelfth Sister, there truly is nothing between Lord Chen and me! Why will none of you believe it?" Then she began to swear an oath. "If there is any illicit feeling between Lord Chen and me, may thunder strike me..."
Jiang Ling gave a start and clapped a hand over her mouth, stopping the words before they could leave it.
"My little ancestor, you dare swear an oath like that?" she said, aghast. "I only thought Lord Chen was a decent man, and since you knew him, the notion of making a match came into my head. And here you are, cursing yourself instead." With that she let go. "Had I known it would come to this, I would not have troubled myself."
Jiang Yan's face filled with guilt. "I know it was for my sake, Sister. It is only that I wish to marry no one. Lord Chen may be good, but he is not fated to be mine."
Jiang Ling had not expected such an answer. Her expression turned solemn. "How can you think that?"
Jiang Yan lowered her eyelids and said softly, "What man would look favorably upon me once he learns what befell me? Ever since I failed to hang myself in that inn, I have known that my life is settled as it is. How would I dare dream of anything else?"
Jiang Ling said, "And if Lord Chen were to come and propose?"
"Impossible." Jiang Yan shook her head like a rattle-drum.
"But what if Lord Chen truly did come to propose?" Jiang Ling would not give up, and asked once more.
In all this world, no one knew her circumstances better than Chen Jia. If Chen Jia were still willing to come and propose... did that not mean that Chen Jia did not disdain her?
Jiang Yan's heart stirred, and in an instant all was in turmoil.
For a long while she said nothing.