Chapter 287 — Spending the Night Away

Dou Yan had come once. She found the manor at Daxing reasonably tidy. After a hurried look around, she was politely invited by the stewardess of the Daxing manor into the main hall of the upper courtyard, while Song Yan went to the study.

Seeing that the main hall had been swept clean and the windows were bright, she gave Su Xin an instruction and went into the inner room to sleep off her morning drowsiness.

When she woke, she felt refreshed all over. Her body was still a little weak and languid, but her spirit was greatly restored.

Dou Yan looked up and saw Song Yan. He was sitting on the large kang by the window, leaning toward the light outside to read something, the kang table covered with all sorts of paper slips.

Only then did Dou Yan realize that the sky outside had darkened, and that in the inner room there were only herself and Song Yan.

But before she could speak, Song Yan—whose senses were far keener than most people's—had already turned back, smiling as he asked, "Are you hungry? You only had half a bowl of congee before you went out. You were sleeping so soundly that I didn't call you." With that, he raised his voice and instructed the serving women outside, "Bring in the chicken soup stewing on the stove!"

She knew the proud, cold Song Yan, the decisive and even ruthless Song Yan, but she had never seen this Song Yan… gentle and considerate, bright and clear… How many faces did Song Yan have?

Dou Yan watched him with interest.

Song Sui shuffled over in his slippers. "What is it?"

He knew he had been a little reckless that morning, but the feeling had been too wonderful, and he had given himself a reason to indulge. Now, though, he could not help worrying about Dou Zhiwei's health.

Her flower path was somewhat red and swollen…

At the thought, his face flushed slightly, yet his heart swelled with tenderness, and his body grew uncontrollably hot.

He hurriedly banished these wanton thoughts from his mind.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he could not help stroking Dou Zhiwei's forehead.

Even reborn into another life, he was still a year older than Song Yan. Yet Song Sui always treated him like a child—pinching his hand one moment, stroking his face the next, as if soothing a small animal. It left Dou Yan torn between laughter and exasperation, though he also rather enjoyed this occasional feeling of being doted on.

But then she thought: whenever she showed the slightest hint of pleasure, Song Yan would turn into a proud Persian cat—tail lifted high in smug triumph, pressing the advantage until she was utterly routed and begging for mercy… She decided not to tell him.

"What are you doing?" Dou Yan sat up wrapped in the quilt, a smile she did not even notice brimming at the corners of her mouth. "Why haven't you lit the lamp?"

"I was afraid of waking you." Song Yan stroked her cheek again, then tucked the quilt around her. "I found a map, and I was looking at where those bandits might flee." As he spoke, Ganlu came in with the chicken soup.

Song Yan took it from her. "I'll feed you."

It was not as though she were ill and unable to move.

Dou Qu said, "I'd better do it myself!"

Song Yan did not insist, and tucked a large bolster behind her back.

The chicken soup was rich and fragrant; one mouthful and warmth spread through her whole body.

"The chicken soup tastes good." Dou Yan ladled out a spoonful and offered it to Song Yan. "You try it too!"

Song Yan looked down at the sweet white porcelain spoon, and his expression paused for a moment.

.

Many great households were particular about eating from separate portions, and the Dou family was no exception.

How had she, as if possessed, ladled out a spoonful for Song Yan to drink?

At the thought, Dou Chi sighed to herself.

Whenever she thought of what Song Yan had suffered in his previous life, her heart ached faintly.

But in this life, Song Zhiwei had not encountered those miserable troubles. She ought to change this habit of hers—whenever there was something good, she always thought of saving it for Song Yan, feeling that he had suffered too much…

Dou Yan was about to draw her hand back when Song Sui lowered his head and drank the soup.

"It really does taste quite good." He smiled and asked Ganlu, who was serving nearby, "Who made this? Reward her with two top-grade red packets."

Ganlu was an unmarried girl. Seeing Song Yan and Dou Ci so affectionate, she was happy for them, yet still a little shy. Blushing, she said, "It was a woman on the manor called Third Sister-in-Law San." With that, she curtsied. "This servant will relay the Young Heir's words and give her two top-grade red packets as a reward."

Song Ran nodded, his expression indifferent but his manner clearly pleased. Turning to Dou Yan, he said, "Give me a couple more sips."

"Oh!" Dou Yan handed the bowl to Song Yan.

"No need," Song Yan said. "Just ladle out a couple of spoonfuls for me to taste."

He said it with perfect seriousness, and Dou Chi, suspecting nothing, fed him two spoonfuls—only then realizing something was off. If he wanted chicken soup, he could simply have another bowl; why drink from hers? Hers was only a small bowl, and a few spoonfuls would empty it.

Dou Yan was about to hand him the bowl when Song Sui said, "This really does taste good!" Then he called to the serving woman, "Bring another bowl in."

Since when had she become so petty, brooding over a single bowl of chicken soup?

Dou Chi could not help examining herself, but she was of a frank and cheerful disposition, and soon put this trivial matter out of her mind.

After the two of them had their soup, the maids came in to lay out the evening meal.

Song Ji said, "Shall we stay the night at the manor? The outer courtyard is only looking for a flooded courtyard to repair—that is Tao Jun's business. The inner courtyard is nothing but firewood, rice, oil, and salt. Would they starve to death if you went one day without issuing the tally?"

Dou Yan was caught between laughter and tears, and badly wanted to say: Young Heir, if I stay here tonight, the Yingzhenguo Estate will have gone two days without a tally issued!

But these were all small matters.

She was afraid that with the emperor far away and the mountains high, and a lone man and woman together, the fellow might take liberties...

But before she could say anything, Song Ji, as though he had seen right through her, let out a chortle and murmured at her ear, "Indulging in sensual pleasures runs counter to the way of nurturing life. You only do it now and then—surely you cannot keep at it forever? Your frame is soft and yielding, and I have the will but not the strength..." With that, he even winked at her.

Dou Zhiwei's heart skipped a beat outright.

She could not help secretly despising herself a little.

She had truly been bewitched into a muddle by Song Yan.

How had it not occurred to her to bring up "nurturing life"? Otherwise she might have used it as an excuse to hold Song Yan back.

It occurred to her that the intervals between their couplings had never been long, and she could not help doubting his so-called "will but not strength"; then again, perhaps because Song Yan had only just tasted such pleasure, he had—in his own words—been somewhat unrestrained... For a moment she felt caught between advancing and retreating.

"All right, I was only teasing you just now." Song Yan, who had been watching Dou Yan's expression all along, straightened his features. "In truth, I still have matters left unfinished—we had best go back tomorrow!"

She really had been addled by Song Yan!

If Song Yan fooled around even when there was proper business to attend to, then— treacherous minister though he had been in his former life—he could never have kept the imperial favor undiminished for a dozen years on the strength of his service in the dragon's ascent alone.

Dou Yan nodded.

Song Yan smiled faintly, a smile like moonlight, clean and bright.