Chapter 238 — The Bridal Gifts

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His gaze fell on Song Han, who had not uttered a word since entering the flower hall.

Song Han had been watching his elder brother with great care. When he saw Song Yan look his way, his eyes immediately reddened, and he called out pitifully, "Brother." Then he cast a fearful glance at Song Cen, who was talking to Lu Zhan with a face full of smiles, as if to say: it is not that I do not miss my brother, but I fear Father's punishment, and so I have no choice but to keep my distance from him.

Song Yan's eyes darkened slightly.

His own full brother, born of the same mother, had grown into such a cowering, timid creature.

At three, when wronged, one's eyes brim with tears, and it strikes people as endearing; at ten, when wronged, one's eyes brim with tears, and it strikes people as innocent; but now he was already thirteen...

The last time Song Yan had seen Song Han was at the ancestral rites during the Spring Festival.

Back then, Song Han had only reached his own chest.

In less than half a year, Song Han had shot up to his shoulder, and seemed even a little taller than he himself had been at thirteen. But he was terribly thin, his complexion blue and pale as though he lacked food and clothing, and his spirits were poor.

Caught between himself and their father, the boy must be suffering.

Song Ke looked again at Song Han.

Sometimes, too much concern is itself a poison.

Better, perhaps, to watch from a distance and lend a hand when trouble comes—that would likely serve him better.

Song Dan walked to their father's side.

That smile was gentle and bright, without a trace of shadow.

A hurried sound of footsteps came from outside.

A young servant came running in, panting: "The heir of the Earl of Guang'en has arrived!"

Song Cen was startled for a moment and looked toward Song Yan.

Song Yan's expression was unchanged; his smile did not widen even a little, as though he wore a flawless mask—even knowing it was false, one could find no fault with it.

He could not help cursing inwardly.

Dong Qi, in a scarlet official robe, came in smiling.

"My apologies, my apologies!" He clasped his hands in salute to everyone in the room. "Brothers, I'm late! I had just engaged a new carriage driver. Who would have thought the fellow would be so ungrateful—he hadn't done his preparation beforehand, and said not a word after I got into the carriage. We drove around for ages without finding the place before I realized he didn't know the way. If I hadn't kicked him down and offered ten taels on the spot to hire a driver who knew his business, I'd probably still be wandering the streets of Anding Gate!" He then laughed and said to Song Yan with a click of his tongue: "Eldest Song, your household is truly vast—it takes up an entire alley. No wonder my coachman couldn't even find the gate."

Is that so?

Wang Yu and the others only smiled and said nothing.

Only Gu Yu laughed in that strange, barbed way of his: "I thought you were wandering some back alley or other? So it was Anding Gate Street all along. But your temper is truly excellent—just one kick to send that coachman flying. Had it been me, a few lashes of the whip would have settled it. The Earl of Guang'en's household truly has a pure and generous tradition!"

Dong Qi chuckled, but his eyes flashed coldly, and in his heart he wished he could take a bite out of Song Yan.

Using me to make himself look good. Aren't you afraid you can't hold it up—that you haven't the luck for it?

The hateful thing was that he still could not stay away. Otherwise, serving together in the Imperial Guard later, when colleagues asked, they would think he had put on airs and had only helped Song Yan's reputation for magnanimity.

He stepped forward and bowed to Song Cen, smiling. "My father learned I was coming to my uncle's house for the wedding feast, and specially instructed me to bring a congratulatory gift. He also said that once you have finished with Yan Tang's wedding, Uncle, you must come to our house for a cup of tea. Father still treasures to this day the golden osmanthus wine you gave him years ago!"

At this, Song Cen's brow lifted almost imperceptibly. He replied politely, "My thanks to your father," then turned and asked Tao Jun, "How long until the auspicious hour?"—not a single word of courtesy more.

Song Yan's gaze sharpened slightly.

He knew there was some old grievance between the Song and Dong families, but what exactly it was, and how the enmity had begun, he had never heard anyone say. In this world, what is joined long must part, and what parts long must join. The friendships of great houses were the same. He also felt that so long as he himself was strong enough, the Dong family could do nothing to him. And if he lacked the ability to support the household, then even if he offered his cheek to the Dong family to slap, they might not spare the Songs anyway. Everything came down to strength, and so he had never taken the matter to heart.

His father was a man who valued reputation, which was why he stood here exchanging pleasantries with his friends. The Earl of Guang'en, by having Dong Qi deliver such a message to his father, had already given his father a way out. By rights, his father ought to have seized the opportunity and settled the old grudge with the Dong family—that would have been the wisest course. Yet judging by his father's manner, he seemed determined not to deal with the Earl of Guang'en at all, and his resentment ran deep.

Could it be that he had taken this matter too lightly?

Song Yan then recalled that the Earl of Guang'en seemed to have some friction with his maternal uncle as well.

He could not help glancing at Dong Qi.

Dong Qi's expression was calm; clearly, his father's attitude had been within his expectations.

It seemed he ought to send someone to make careful inquiries into this matter!

As he was pondering, Tao Jun went to check the water clock and came back smiling to report: "Still half an hour until the auspicious hour."

Wang Yu, understanding the hint, smiled at Shen Qing and the others: "Then let us all go over together?"

Shen Qing, rarely given such an opportunity to shine, had specially worn a flying-fish robe of carved silk, gleaming gold, like a piece of brocade come to life.

Hearing this, he was eager to try and hurried the others along: "Don't make Eldest Song miss his auspicious hour!" He was the first out of the flower hall.

The party went in grand procession toward Yandang Temple Alley.

Official robes are sometimes the best proof of identity.

Passersby on the road all stopped to watch, voicing admiring praise.

Shen Qing could not help feeling smug, convinced that this was what a proper life felt like.

He glanced about and saw that the only ones roughly his own age were Gu Yu and Song Han.

Gu Yu... had never gotten along with him, so there was no point in even considering him.

Lowering his voice, he asked Song Han, "Are you betrothed yet? When you marry, I will come fetch the bride for you too! What do you say?"

Song Han had been somewhat distracted all along and gave a wooden nod.

Shen Qing was rather displeased.

He thought to himself: even a man as formidable as Song Da had been all smiles and courtesy when he met me, yet you, a stripling who has not even grown a full head of hair, dare to treat me with such indifference.

Truly, the king of hell is easy to see, but his little devils are hard to deal with!

In an instant his desire to talk to Song Han vanished, and he turned to mutter with Zhang Xuming about household trivia.

In barely the time of three quarter-hours, they arrived at the mouth of the Heming Temple alley.

Gao Xing, who had been waiting there all along, led a few young servants in setting off strings of firecrackers with a great crackle and pop.

A crowd of onlookers soon gathered to enjoy the spectacle.