Chapter 291 — Dogs Barking, Men Startling

Standing on the steps of the Five Districts Constabulary yamen, Wei Fan said uneasily, "Is this really wise? What if your father-in-law comes back to the yamen? By rights, I should have reported to the office first thing this morning..."

What worried him more was this: if he was to take up a post at the Five Districts Constabulary, how could its people not already know?

But with Wang Qinghai standing right there, he could not bring himself to say it.

If something went wrong, how could he ever face Wang Qinghai again?

Inwardly, Wei Fan cursed Dou Ming for being so unreliable.

Wang Qinghai, however, said, "Are you dense? Didn't you hear that clerk say my father-in-law has gone to the Ying Zhenguo Estate? After what happened there, they're desperate for the Five Districts Constabulary's help. With my father-in-law showing up at the estate at a time like this, Boss Song is bound to keep him for a meal. You and Boss Song are co-brothers-in-law—perfect chance to scrounge a free meal and, on Boss Song's coattails, get a word in with my father-in-law. He'll be your superior before long; with one word from him, your promotion at the Five Districts Constabulary will be within reach. With an opening this good, how can you not know to use it?"

Wei Fan laughed. "Don't I have you?"

"Am I the same as Boss Song?" Wang Qinghai could not help rolling his eyes at him. "I'm merely the second son of the Yan'an Marquis Estate, with no achievements to my name, still living off my elder brother's table. Boss Song is the heir who inherited the Ying Zhenguo Estate, doted on by the Emperor, commander of the Jinwu Guard, a third-rank military officer with a first-rank heir's title. Can the weight of my words compare with the weight of his?"

Wei Fan thought it over and saw the sense in it. "Then let's go together? With you there, I'll have more nerve."

Probably because he felt he and Song Yan were too close, Song Ke was enough to make him wary; but the East Lin Count was one of the five seal-holding chief commanders, a pillar of the state, and he felt somewhat overawed.

Wang Qinghai reckoned they were all family anyway, so he agreed with a smile, and the two of them went off to the Ying Zhenguo Estate together.

Song Ke was at home; he had gone with the East Lin Count to the Zuixian Pavilion.

The two hurried over to the Zuixian Pavilion.

The East Lin Count was in the middle of a conversation with Song Yan. When he heard his son-in-law had brought a man to see him, he was displeased.

Did the boy not see what time this was? Even if he wanted to arrange a meeting or do someone a favor, it could wait until he was home—how could he casually bring a man to the Zuixian Pavilion? And with Song Yan present, no less.

He was about to snap at the servant when Song Dan spoke: "Your son-in-law must be Dahe, the Fourth Master of the Yan'an Marquis Estate, no? I am on close terms with Dahai, the heir of the Yan'an Marquis Estate—we are all family, when you come down to it. Why not invite your son-in-law in for a few cups?" He was extending the invitation to Wang Qinghai.

An occasion like this—it would do the son-in-law good to come in and see a thing or two.

The East Lin Count exchanged a few polite words with a smile and had the servant invite Wang Qinghai in.

.

The circle of titled nobles in the capital was only so large; even if one was not close, one had at least seen or heard of the others.

The East Lin Count chuckled and said to Song Yan, "We really are all family!" Then he gestured to the grand armchair beside him, motioning for Wei Fan to sit and talk. "Today your brother-in-law is treating us—don't stint on his account. Fine Zhuyeqing, and we don't leave until we're drunk."

Wei Fan looked at Song Yan's young, elegant face and could not help smiling awkwardly. He called out "Heir," and sat down beside the East Lin Count. Wang Qinghai, for his part, respectfully bowed to his father-in-law and to Song Yan.

The servant laid out fresh bowls and chopsticks.

Wei Fan told the East Lin Count about his appointment to the East District Constabulary.

The East Lin Count was taken aback and looked to Song Yan.

Song Yan knew nothing of the matter at all.

After the way Wei Fan had treated Dou Yan, he had no intention of helping Wei Fan again.

"So the Jining Marquis has been made deputy commander of the East District Constabulary—why was not a whisper of this let out beforehand?" he said blandly. "Had I known, I should have hosted a banquet to congratulate the Jining Marquis! As it is, we must wait for some free moment of the Jining Marquis's." The words were polite, but the tone was cold, and he neatly dissociated himself from the whole affair.

The East Lin Count was secretly surprised.

It seemed the co-brothers-in-law were not as close as he had imagined.

His thoughts turned to the Dou sisters' exchanged marriages.

The relations between the Dou sisters must be very strained indeed, and Wei Fan was weak and incompetent, not on Song Yan's level at all—how could the two co-brothers-in-law ever get along? And from this one could also see the Elder Dou sister's influence over Song Yan.

East Lin Count Ping felt he had grasped the workings of it. Toying with the cup in his hand, his manner toward Wei Fan gradually withdrew, the earlier warmth gone.

Wei Fan, wholly unaware, mumbled something unintelligible—he could hardly announce to everyone that the post had been secured for him by Dou Ming through the Wang family, could he?

Wang Qinghai, however, could feel the sudden chill that had fallen over the banquet.

Could it be that Song Yan did not know about Wei Fan's appointment to the East District Constabulary either?

A matter this big—how could Wei Fan not have given Song Yan a word of it?

With Song Yan's backing and connections, Wei Fan's road ahead would be far smoother!

He could not help shooting Wei Fan a glare, then hurriedly refilled Song Yan's tea and said with a smile, "This whole business came up very suddenly—even Peijin only learned of it this morning..." Better to live off his wife's family than let Song Yan and his own father-in-law misunderstand; and so Wang Qinghai told Song Yan and the East Lin Count how Dou Ming had gone about securing the post for Wei Wan.

Song Yan was quite surprised.

For the first time, he felt displeasure toward the Wang family.

If the Wang family had not used its power to press the matter so high-handedly, why would Dou Yan rather live with Aunt Cui at the country estate than come to the capital?

He showed nothing on his face, only smiled faintly. "I never imagined the Wang family would go to such lengths for this granddaughter of theirs. The Jining Marquis is truly fortunate—he had best not betray the lady's kindness!"

Wei Fan's face burned red with embarrassment.

The Elder Dou sister and the Younger Dou sister were not born of the same mother, and so naturally did not belong to the same maternal family.

The Earl of Donglin laughed heartily, papering over the matter as though all were well.

By now Wang Qinghai had caught the coldness and distance in Song Yan's words.

He could not help crying out inwardly, "Disaster!"

They had certainly overplayed their hand!

Not only had they failed to use Song Yan's influence to pave the way for Wei Fan, but they had exposed Song Yan's displeasure with him. From what he knew of his father-in-law, even if the Earl of Donglin did not trip Wei Fan up in future, he would never promote him either... A splitting headache seized him at once. He shot Wei Fan a look that said "not another word," and for the rest of the time dared not interject again, silently pouring tea and wine for Song Yan and the Earl of Donglin.

The conversation between the Earl of Donglin and Song Yan gradually turned to the fire at the Ying Zhenguo Estate.