Chapter 513 — The Accusation
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
Dou Yan said, "Since the Heir Apparent has sent Song Han to the Northwest Camp, he must already have arrangements in place—once Song Han goes there, no good end awaits him. But one thing Miao Zhi said struck home with me: even if he dies in the Northwest Camp after every torment, whenever I think that in the eyes of the world he is still a noble and honored son of a meritorious house, I feel the injustice of it in my heart."
Chen Yanzhou made no reply; the lid of his cup tapped softly against the rim as he sank into thought.
Dou Yan did not disturb him, but sat quietly to one side drinking her tea.
After about the time it takes two sticks of incense to burn, Chen Yanzhou said, "Letting the Second Madam go to the Shuntian Prefecture to lodge a complaint is certainly out of the question. Fortunately, the Second Madam's aim is the same as ours, and if she steps forward, the Heir Apparent and you may both keep clear of it. Moreover, there have long been rumors in the capital that Song Han has carried on with the Duke of Zhen's bedchamber maid—that is an excellent pretext. Qixia is now in Zhending, and not only she, but Caiyun, the personal maid who once served Song Han, could also testify. If only the Duke of Zhen would stand on our side! Let the Duke of Zhen question Song Han; Song Han will have no defense to offer, and the matter can be taken all the way to the Emperor, who may permit the Song family to strike Song Han's name from the clan register. In this way we need not explain Song Han's deeds to outsiders at all—let them guess. We can avoid stirring the authorities, and yet ruin Song Han's name utterly."
It was indeed a good plan.
But how to bring Song Cen over to their side?
Dou Yan and Chen Yanzhou said in one voice, "Could we make use of the matter of the Prince of Liao?"
The two could not help exchanging a smile, and then in unison they politely deferred, "You first!"
Laughter, bright and cheerful, filled the room.
When the laughter subsided, Chen Yanzhou again invited Dou Yan to speak first.
Dou Chi made a show of courtesy and said, "Song Han was thrown into the firewood shed the moment he returned, and though the Duke of Ying came twice, the Heir Apparent turned him away both times. Song Han has always looked upon the Duke of Ying as his pillar; there is no way the Duke of Ying did not know of his collusion with the Prince of Liao. We might as well work on the Duke of Ying—tell him that Song Yan had Song Han tortured, and that Song Han confessed his dealings with the Prince of Liao were all instigated by the Duke of Ying himself; and that Song Yan, out of fatherly affection, has kept the matter hidden, so that neither the Emperor nor the Prince of Liao knows of it. If he strikes Song Han's name from the family register, then even at the cost of the Yingzhen Guogong Manor's century-old reputation, we will see this matter carried to the Emperor's ears." Here she could not help but give a cold laugh. "This may be called turning a man's own methods against him—letting Song Han taste what it is to be betrayed by his own father!"
In the last life, was this not precisely how Song Cen and Song Han had done it!
Chen Yanzhou nodded again and again, and said with a smile, "This is best done by you, madam—you are a daughter-in-law of the Yingzhen Guogong Manor, and your attachment to it runs nothing so deep as the Heir Apparent's; and most importantly, you are a woman, so the manor will quite naturally mistake your motives for clearing obstacles from your son's path to the title."
Dou Yan rose, rather excited, and said, "Then it is settled! I will go see the Duke of Ying at once."
Chen Yanzhou hastened to say, "Be careful—you are still with child!" Then, uneasy, he added, "Better let me go with you, lest when you see the Duke of Ying you grow so agitated that you disturb the child."