Chapter 166 — Good and Bad

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After his father had him flogged, he lay alone on the heated bricks of his mother's chamber, where the underfloor flues were kept burning, and his heart was dead quiet. He wished only that when he opened his eyes, everything that had happened would prove to be nothing but a dream—that his father would still be the same somewhat nagging but stern father as before, and his younger brother the same somewhat timid brother who obeyed his every word... In that moment, he felt that death was no more than this.

But Dou Yan had saved him.

His milk-brother Chen Tao had been beaten to death for refusing to betray him; his retainers and personal guards had been hunted down... He had been forced to rise to his feet and face his father in numb confrontation... At that time, he felt that the depths of human misery were no more than this.

But the guards Dou Yan sent had helped him deliver the letter in time.

Not only had he reestablished his position, but he had also secured his mother's dowry and the authority to manage Yizhi Hall. Even bearing the great label of "filial piety," he now had a way to contend with his father.

Whenever he felt he had reached a dead end, light would always break through the willows and blossoms, and a new path would open.

Song Yan thought of the expression on Dou Yan's face when she said this to him.

The smile faded from her eyes bit by bit, and something sorrowful flickered through them—a touch of melancholy, a touch of desolation, a touch of helplessness, a touch of rueful sighing... But soon it was all gathered away again, and she became radiant once more, glancing about with spirit flying, like a traveler on a long journey who, through the endless lonely night, finally succumbs to the exhaustion of ten thousand rivers and a thousand mountains, and only then lets slip a few traces of weariness that cannot be hidden.

Resilient, and yet fragile.

It made his heart ache unbearably.

She was so beautiful, and yet life had been so unfair to her!

Suddenly, he very much wanted to see Wei Fan.

"Chen He," Song Yan instructed, "we return to the capital at once."

"Ah!" Chen He was startled. "You—you're not going back to the farmstead in Daxing?"

"I have been out for seven or eight days already; it is time I returned." Song Yan said evenly, "After we reach the capital, take my card to the Jining Marquis's residence—I have business with the Marquis of Jining."

Chen He answered "Yes," and could not help exchanging a glance with Xia Lian.

The heir had originally planned to stay three days in Zhending; now it was only the second day, and he was already eager to return to the capital—and moreover, after having met the fourth young lady of the Dou family... The Marquis of Jining was none other than the future husband of the fourth young lady of the Dou family!

Xia Lian was deeply worried.

As soon as they returned to Yizhi Hall, he went at once to see Yan Che, who had stayed behind at home, and told him of his concerns: "...If the Marquis of Zhenguo discovers anything unusual, that would be terrible! The fourth young lady of the Dou family is the niece of Grand Secretary Dou!"

Yan Che had not known beforehand that Song Yan would go to Zhending to see Dou Yan. By the time he learned of it, Song Yan had already been gone two or three days. He too felt that Song Yan should not have too much contact with Dou Yan at this time, lest the Ying family of the Zhenguo estate seize some handle against him. Now, hearing Xia Lian's words, he felt the situation was even more serious.

He mused for a moment, then said, "The fourth young lady of the Dou family saved the heir's life. For the heir to call on her in person to express his thanks is a mark of respect for her. You need not make a fuss; just be more careful in the future. If the heir visits too frequently, it will not be too late for us to remind him then."

Xia Lian felt somewhat reassured, chatted with Yan Che a little about the trip to Zhending, and then returned to his room to rest.

Yan Che paced about his room for a long while, then went to see Song Yan.

Song Yan had just finished washing up. He was sitting on the large heated kang by the window, listening to Wuyi report on what had happened in Yizhi Hall over the past few days.

Ever since Wuyi and Songluo had recovered from their injuries, Song Yan had made the two of them his personal attendants.

Seeing Yan Che enter, Wuyi nodded to him with a smile and waited until he had finished speaking before stepping forward to bow to Yan Che.

Song Yan invited Yan Che to sit on the kang and said with a smile, "I was just about to come visit Mr. Yan in a little while—I did not expect Mr. Yan to arrive first." Then he instructed Wuyi to brew a pot of Biluochun. "This is the best season for Biluochun."

Yan Che thanked him with a smile and sat facing Song Yan.

Wuyi served the tea and quietly withdrew.

Only then did Yan Che say, "So the heir already knows?"

When he had entered earlier, he had caught the tail end of the conversation.

Song Yan nodded. "I heard it from Wuyi... Father has engaged two old scholars from the Hanlin Academy to tutor Tian'en at home, and he personally supervises Tian'en's lessons."

On any other day, when he returned to the residence, Song Han would have come rushing over in eager haste; today, however, there was still no sign of Song Han even at this hour.

Yan Che hesitated. "Then your meaning is..."

Song Yan said, "I am already as I am. If Tian'en can win Father's favor, that may not necessarily be a bad thing!"

"But..." If this continued, Song Han would inevitably be estranged from Song Yan in heart and mind. And if the Duke of Yingguo, with ulterior motives, were to fan the flames in between, I fear the Duke of Yingguo would stage a tale of brothers turning against each other behind the family walls.

"It does not matter," Song Yan said. "Tian'en is only ten this year. And the reason Father can still have some say before the Emperor is, more or less, that he rides on Grandfather's residual favor. You need not worry."

The old Duke of Yingguo had been resourceful and adept at fathoming the sovereign's mind; the Emperor regarded him as his right arm, and only thus was he able to obtain for the newly born Song Yan the hereditary grace title of Assistant Commandant. Song Cen was far inferior to the old Duke of Yingguo, and with Song Yan standing before him besides, even if he wished to elevate Song Han, he would need the ability to do so.

Yan Che understood at once.

"Indeed, I was overthinking," he said with a smile, and only then revealed the purpose of his visit. "I was worried that after you come out of mourning—by then you will be sixteen—I fear the Marquis of Zhenguo may make an issue of your marriage..."

Lady Jiang had passed away from illness; Jiang Meisun and the others were either dead or in exile; Old Madam Mei was far away in Haozhou. Even if Song Cen arranged an improper match for Song Yan, there would be no one to stop it in time.

Song Yan sneered. "She is nothing but a woman of the inner chambers. If she is compliant, so be it; if she harbors a second mind, just let her fend for herself."

Father and son were as incompatible as fire and water; this was the only thing his father could currently use to hold over him. His father could not possibly give up such a tool so easily. He had long been prepared in his heart—his wife would certainly be no good match.

Yan Che gazed at Song Yan's handsome, even beautiful features, and could not help sighing inwardly.

Song Yan had long since prepared himself and long since made up his mind; further talk on this subject, he judged, would only waste breath. So he shifted course and said, "On my father's side—any new findings?"

Ever since the situation had settled, Song Ji had sorted through the whole affair time and again, and still could find no reason why his father should have wanted to frame him.