Chapter 235 — Leaving the Palace

Song Yan emerged from the Palace of Earthly Tranquility and ran into Ma Youming, deputy general of the Divine Pivot Camp, along with a crowd of his subordinates at Xizhimen Gate.

Before Song Yan could greet him, Ma Youming brought his palm down on Song Yan's shoulder with a "smack" that sent him staggering sideways.

"Young Lord, you're getting married, and you didn't even think to call your brothers in to help?" he complained. "That's a pretty poor show!"

Ma Youming's subordinates chimed in with their own jeers.

"Young Lord, our brothers in the Divine Pivot Camp are no worse than the brothers of the Imperial Guard!"

"Young Lord, we may be military men, but we've had a few years of schooling too. We won't disgrace the rites when we escort your bride. Set your mind at ease!"

"Exactly!" someone else cut in. "Young Lord, when the time comes we'll pick brothers of matching height, dress them in Divine Pivot Camp uniforms, and send them to fetch your bride—I guarantee they'll look grander than the Banner Guard standing at attention!"

…

As they all jabbered at once, the four Banner Guards on duty at Xizhimen Gate could hold their tongues no longer. "What's wrong with the Banner Guard?" they retorted. "The commander of our Banner Guard came up through the Front Army Command and served under Lord Defender of the Realm himself. If the Young Lord wants an honor guard, the likes of you Divine Pivot Camp men are the last in line!"

"You're nothing but embroidered pillows—pretty on the outside and nothing more. How could you compare with the Divine Pivot Camp?"

"Enough. You Divine Pivot Camp men walk around looking ready to kill. Those in the know say you're fetching the Young Lord's bride; those who don't would think you're out for revenge. Don't go ruining the Young Lord's happy day!"

The whole gang forgot all about Song Yan, the guest of honor, and fell to squabbling among themselves.

Song Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He had long known these were a pack of troublemakers who couldn't stand a peaceful world.

He was neither a prince of the blood nor an imperial prince—by what right would he use a royal honor guard? Did he want the censors to have nothing to do?

Song Yan simply pretended he had seen and heard nothing. He cupped his hands to Ma Youming and made conversation: "When did you enter the palace, Brother Ma? Why didn't you come sit at my place for a while?"

"The threshold of your Imperial Guard office is too high—I was afraid of tripping," Ma Youming grumbled with a chuckle, then explained, "Elder Brother Wang was summoned by Grand Secretary Liang for questioning. A few of us brothers came along." Then he repeatedly offered his congratulations: "May the Young Lord and the Young Lady share lute and zither in harmony and grow old together."

The "Elder Brother Wang" Ma Youming spoke of was Wang Xu, commander of the Divine Pivot Camp.

Song Yan hurriedly thanked him.

Ma Youming then brought up Song Yan's wedding: "...There wasn't a whisper of it beforehand. Yesterday a wedding invitation suddenly arrived and gave me quite a start—I thought someone was playing a joke! It just so happened that the young lord of the Huichang Earl's household came to see Elder Brother Wang, so I asked him, and only then did I learn the invitation was genuine. Look at the date—I wonder which gentlemen the Young Lord has asked to perform the bride's-toilette ceremony?" In the end, he was still somewhat aggrieved at having received the invitation so abruptly, feeling he had been slighted.

Song Yan gave a bitter smile.

The moment the Lu family heard the news, they sent someone to demand of his father what this marriage business was about. Father hemmed and hawed for a good while before smoothing it over—or perhaps, fearing further questions, he had simply waited until these last two days to send out invitations far and wide.

If this marriage were set in stone, he would never have let his father slight his wedding so. What he feared was that Dou Yan would in the end refuse to marry him—the more ostentatious he was now, the harder it would be to salvage the situation later.

Song Yan sighed to himself and could only say, "I returned to the palace with the imperial entourage on the twelfth. To this day I've slept only three hours at home, and the wedding day is nearly upon us. Lord Shao has given me only five days' leave. As for how the wedding preparations stand, I'm completely in the dark—I know nothing at all!"

Ma Youming decided Song Yan had no reason to lie about such a thing, and his displeasure instantly eased. Then something else occurred to him. He threw an arm around Song Yan's shoulders and drew him aside under the great locust tree, then said in a low voice, "I've heard His Majesty is unwell—is it true?" His expression had turned grave.

Song Yan considered that Ma Youming, though he seemed careless and brash, was in fact discreet and quick-witted—a man worth befriending—so he answered tactfully: "His Majesty's old ailment has flared up again, but he is much better now. There's nothing to worry about."

Ma Youming was delighted at this. He clapped Song Yan hard on the shoulder again. "Young Lord, you're a true friend! I won't forget this favor!"

His own background was not humble either—otherwise, no matter how skilled he was, he could never have risen so young to deputy general of the Divine Pivot Camp. Yet compared with a peer of the highest rank like Song Yan, whose family had enjoyed imperial favor for generations, he was a long way behind. For Song Yan to speak these words was to him like clouds parting to reveal the bright moon; it lit his road ahead considerably—no less than a kindness of promotion.

This time Song Yan was prepared, and his shoulder was not knocked askew—but he could not let the man greet him this way every time. Feigning unbearable pain, he rubbed his shoulder and laughed: "Just because you lost to me at archery, you don't have to cripple my shoulder to get even! Look at that grip—half my body's gone numb."

Ma Youming roared with laughter.

Song Yan seized the moment: "Brother Ma, once I'm home I'll see how the family has arranged the bride's-toilette and the fetching of the bride. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you then to come lend some weight to the proceedings."

If the marriage with Dou Zhiwei came off, having Ma Youming, deputy general of the Divine Pivot Camp, and his colleagues from the Imperial Guard along to fetch the bride would make for a far more imposing spectacle.

Seeing his sincerity, Ma Youming did not stand on ceremony. "I happen to have nothing to do these days," he laughed. "Even if you didn't invite me, I'd come along for the fun."

No sooner had he spoken than a eunuch in fourth-rank dress came hurrying over, leading two young eunuchs bearing gifts.

At the sight before them, all three stopped short.

Song Yan recognized the newcomer as Cui Yijun, the grand eunuch attending the Crown Prince.

He greeted Cui Yijun with a smile.

Cui Yijun collected himself and said hurriedly, "Oh, my Young Lord, I was just on my way to find you on the Crown Prince's orders. Thank goodness you haven't left the palace—had you gone, I'd have had to chase you all the way to the Defender's residence!" With that, he waved a hand at the two young eunuchs and said to Song Yan, "His Highness Prince Zhaohua learned that the day after tomorrow is your wedding day and specifically instructed me to bring two congratulatory gifts bestowed by His Highness."

Song Yan thanked him profusely, accepted the boxes, introduced Ma Youming to Cui Yijun, and prepared to go with Cui Yijun to give thanks to the Crown Prince.

Cui Yijun knew Ma Youming was a capable man who had several times placed in the autumn hunt, and since he came recommended by Song Yan, he treated him with courtesy, nodding and offering a greeting.