Chapter 373 — Observing Quietly

To say nothing of how Song Yantang made a show of magnanimity — Ma Youming woke from sleep to find himself in an unfamiliar side room, and was so startled that, heedless of a head that pounded like a stone, he leapt up and shouted for his personal servant.

The servant came in at the call, a basin of washing water still in his hands, and said with a smile, "The Master's awake! Last night you drank yourself under the table with the Heir of the Duke of Ying and several of the heir's brothers-in-law, and Brother Chen He had you carried here to this guest room to rest. I sat up with you the whole night — and you went and missed the bride's wedding. Just now the Zhao family's new son-in-law is in the main hall paying his respects to the relatives; the Heir and the Madam are there as well. Will you wash and go over at once, or take your midday meal first and then pay your respects to Lord Zhao, and go back with the Heir afterward?" He clicked his tongue in admiration. "The Heir's brothers-in-law are so young, and yet they can match the Master cup for cup. Truly remarkable!"

Who in the Personal Guard did not know that Assistant Commander Ma, Ma Youming of the Divine Machine Camp, could drink any man under the table!

Ma Youming's face went pale at this. "I got drunk last night?"

The servant nodded and wrung out a hot towel.

Ma Youming took it and scrubbed at his face at random, his expression shifting uncertainly. "Then — last night, when I was drunk, did I say anything foolish?"

The servant thought it over carefully. "It was Brother Chen He who helped you over. You were shouting things like 'Heir, don't go — every word I say is true, I've staked my life and my whole fortune on you.' I saw it was a weighty matter and dared not let anyone else attend you, so I kept watch outside the door, and no one else came by. Before long you fell asleep, and slept until dawn without another word."

Done for. Done for!

So it was true — a man with something on his mind must never drink. Not only was his capacity shallower than usual; he had actually begun to babble.

His heart turned to ice, though he understood the cause well enough: he had buried the matter too deep and had no one to speak to, and once drunk he could no longer hold himself back from crying out.

Wine wrecks a man's affairs — the ancients never lied to him!

Ma Youming smiled bitterly.

The wretched part was that he could not recall a single word of what he had said to Song Yantang.

He paced several turns about the room, then said to the servant, "We will rest here in this side room for the time being. If anyone else asks, say I am still sleeping off the wine. If it is the Heir of the Duke of Ying who asks, say I am waiting for him here."

If he truly had poured everything out to Song Yantang, then Song Yantang ought to come looking for him.

The servant assented and helped Ma Youming wash and dress.

Song Yantang was beaming as he exchanged salutes with his new brother-in-law.

Song Yan, face flushed crimson, said shamefacedly, "Heir."

"I would never presume to have my elder cousin's husband address me so," said Song Yantang. "Call me Yantang, or brother-in-law."

Zhao Zhangru, standing shoulder to shoulder with Song Yan, blushed and stole a glance at Song Yantang.

Yet a flicker of amusement surfaced in Zhao Si's eyes.

Song Yan, however, was too embarrassed to call him "brother-in-law." He lowered his voice and said "Yantang," exchanged salutes with Song Yantang, and was then led to the western side of the hall to pay his respects to Madam Zhao and the other ladies of the household.

Every eye in the room followed Song Yan toward the west.

Song Yantang lowered his lids and turned over in his mind what Ma Youming had said.

Of the three camps and twenty-two guards of the Personal Guard Corps, the Divine Machine Camp ranked first. That Ma Youming, barely past twenty, could sit in the Assistant Commander's seat there owed something to his good birth — but his own abilities were second to none as well. Who could be making things hard for him?

And over what grievance?

He thought of Jiang Yi.

It was Ma Youming who had introduced Jiang Yi to him in the first place, and Ma Youming who had begged him to transfer Jiang Yi to the Five Wards Command. Their private friendship was plainly a good one, and in the Divine Machine Camp the two were nine times out of ten counted as one faction. Now both Jiang Yi and Ma Youming were uncomfortable there, which pointed to a factional quarrel; if he lent Ma Youming a hand now, he would most likely be dragged into that quarrel himself.

But Ma Youming was his friend, and this favor he must certainly grant.

Only, he belonged to the Jinwu Guard. Reaching across the line was a great taboo in the army.

Song Yantang had been riding high these days; many men, in envy and spite, were waiting to pull him down or to watch him fall. But if he meant to overawe his own father, he must possess a strength that could crush all before it; he must be loud, and louder still, until the very mention of his name frightened men out of crossing him — only so could he stand where he could not be overthrown.

If at such a moment he thrust a hand openly into the affairs of the Divine Machine Camp, he would only turn its grandees against him. For himself he would not have cared, but where his friend was concerned he could not afford to be careless.

Last night he had been too taken up with Dou Yan to give the matter proper thought.

Song Yantang quietly instructed Chen He: "Go tell Du Wei to look into how many hills there are in the Divine Machine Camp these days."

Forewarned is forearmed; a little knowledge could do no harm.

Chen He slipped out of the hall without a change of expression.

Song Yantang turned with the others to look toward the western side of the hall.

* * *

Ma Youming waited until he and Song Yantang had left Yuqiao Alley, and still Song Yantang had not brought up yesterday's business.

His face went dead white.

How had he forgotten that?

He had been drunk last night; besides the chance that he had not poured everything out, there was another — that Song Yantang had taken all he said for drunken rambling, feigned ignorance, and let the whole thing pass without a ripple.

Ma Youming was sure he had not misjudged Song Yantang.

He judged that with any other matter Song Yantang might not have acted so; but this touched upon... Song Yantang was not only a Vice Commissioner of the Jinwu Guard, he was also the heir of the Duke of Ying's house. Even if he did not think of himself, he must think of his clan...

At the thought, Ma Youming wilted like an eggplant struck by frost.

Dou Yan was in good spirits.

She had settled her uncle's worries and given him her warning; compared with the last life, he would surely live more easily now.

She discussed it with Song Yan: "Uncle says they set out on the twelfth of the second month. I want to give them two thousand taels as a parting gift, and then invite uncle and his family to a meal. What do you think?"

Song Yan thought it over. "Why not hold the banquet here at home? It will let uncle see how we live."

Dou Yan nodded and smiled. "Just as well. Once uncle has been seen off, we will hold Sulan's wedding."

Song Yan warned her gently, "Your months are growing heavy. Take care not to wear yourself out."

Dou Yan nodded, dimpling, and once home she threw herself with great relish into the preparations for entertaining her uncle.

Lü Zheng's wife, the stewardess of Song Han's household, came to ask for her instructions: "In the Second Master's rooms, one second-class maid and two third-class maids have reached the day to be released. When would the Madam like me to summon their three families' parents to fetch them?"

Dou Yan had Ruozhu bring the almanac and said with a smile, "Let it be the third of the third month, then. That is an auspicious day."