Chapter 476 — Taboo

Du Wei was the Duke of Dingguo's man, skilled in tracking. While Dingguo was in Fujian, Du Wei served as his eyes and ears in the capital.

By the time the first spring rain fell on the capital, Du Wei's intelligence had already been delivered to the desk before Song Yan.

Song Yan stood with his hands clasped behind his back before the window lattice, watching the threads of rain outside the eaves, his mind a tangled mess.

Dou Yan still could hardly believe it.

She sat in the grand armchair by the window, holding her teacup, murmuring under her breath, "How could it be?"

Song Yan turned around, his tall, upright frame leaning against the window lattice, and gave her a bitter smile. "I don't want to believe it either." His voice gradually lowered. "I still remember going to the palace with my mother when I was small. The weather was scorching, there were no trees in the palace, and I stood beneath the eaves with my clothes soaked through with sweat. Mother was frantic with worry, afraid I would suffer heatstroke. It was she who had a palace maid bring me a bowl of iced mung bean water, and who had a maid take me aside to change my clothes. Those clothes belonged to the Prince of Liao... She and my mother were close, very close. When the Emperor favored Consort Wang, he went several days without holding morning court. She was furious, and after the great audience she kept my mother behind to speak privately... All those yesterdays seem to stand right before my eyes... And yet everything has turned so suddenly, as if all the past were nothing but a joke..."

He lowered his eyelids, a trace of desolation showing in his expression.

Dou Yan's heart ached sharply, and she stepped forward to embrace Song Yan about the waist.

Song Yan stroked her dark hair and said in a low voice, "I'm all right... It helps just to say it aloud."

Dou Yan nodded and said, "Would you let me see Du Ming's report?"

Song Yan handed Du Wei's report to Dou Yan.

Before Song Yan was impeached, the Empress's attendants had visited Muchuan's residence several times; Muchuan's retainers and the censor who impeached Song Yan had met several times; whom the Prince of Liao had dispatched to Fujian that year, and how many times he had met with the Duke of Dingguo... all had been investigated down to the last detail.

If anyone claimed this business had nothing to do with the Prince of Liao and the Empress, no one in the world would believe it!

But Dou Yan was all the more convinced that Song Ke had taken a thief for his father and was serving the tiger as its henchman.

She said, "Should we investigate a little more thoroughly?"

Song Yan shook his head. "Du Wei can shadow a man's movements well enough, but as for what the Empress said to the Emperor in private—never mind him, even the Embroidered Uniform Guard might not be able to find that out. I've already invited Wang Yuan to dine with me this evening. Once I've seen Wang Yuan, matters will be clear. I want to know as well whether this business has anything to do with the Empress!"

Dou Yan sighed softly.

On rainy spring days, nightfall comes especially early.

The servants raised lanterns and saw Song Yan into his carriage through the rain.

Wang Yuan had finally managed a trip out of the palace today. He had no mind to entertain anyone, so he invited Song Yan to drink in his own courtyard.

By the time Song Yan arrived, the wine was already warmed, and the maid pouring it had bright eyes and white teeth, lovely as a spring breeze and a clear moon.

"Lord Wang does have a fine sensibility," Song Yan praised with a smile, seating himself opposite Wang Yuan.

Every blade of grass and every tree in Wang Yuan's residence had been carefully designed and chosen by his own hand, yet his position kept him from receiving many guests. It was like wearing brocade in the dark of night, and every time Wang Yuan thought of it, his heart gave a sharp pang.

Song Yan's words had scratched him exactly where he itched.

Lifting his wine cup, Wang Yuan began to praise his own residence.

Song Yan listened with a smile, asking a question now and then to keep Wang Yuan's interest in talking alive.

The meal was eaten amid talk and laughter until nearly the hour of hai.

At a wave of Wang Yuan's hand, the pretty maids and fine wine quietly withdrew. The flower hall that had been so lively a moment before was now left with nothing but silence and a table of cold tea and leftover dishes.

"The Young Lord comes to see me. I doubt it's only for a cup of wine?" He gazed at Song Yan with a smile, a flicker of cunning in his eyes. "You and I have not been acquainted for only a day or two, Young Lord. Whatever business you have, there's no need to go around in circles with me. So long as old Wang can do it, I will bend my back to the task and labor till death—I will certainly see it done for you."

Song Yan chuckled. "Bend your back and labor till death—you flatter me too much. But there is indeed a small matter I need your help with." As he spoke, his smile gradually faded and his gaze turned sharp. "I know you have always attended the Emperor closely. I simply wish to know: after my uncle's case broke, what did the Empress say to the Emperor?"

Wang Yuan was shocked to the core. But long years of attending the Emperor had trained him so that neither joy nor anger ever showed on his face.

He looked at Song Yan with a smiling face and said, "The Young Lord oversteps. We who serve as slaves—how could we presume to discuss our masters? This is a matter of losing one's head! Forgive me, I cannot help the Young Lord with this."

Song Yan laughed at himself. "I suppose this is a case of a dying man trying any medicine. You oversee the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Shi Chuan of the Guard is on good terms with the Prince of Liao—how could you possibly tell me about the Empress?" As he spoke, he raised his cup, which still held a little wine, in a toast to Wang Yuan, drained it in one gulp, and said, rather as if talking to himself, "First my uncle is murdered, then Muchuan's men are set to impeach me... I don't know what I've done to offend the Empress. She could simply have dismissed me from office—why play these tricks? Even a cornered rabbit will bite. How did the Empress reckon that I would tamely accept my fate?"

Wang Yuan's hair stood on end as he listened.

A vassal prince consorting with court officials—that was a cardinal taboo!

Though he oversaw the Embroidered Uniform Guard, its chief commander Shi Chuan was also the Emperor's trusted man. Wang Yuan's main energies still lay in attending the Emperor. If Shi Chuan's dealings with the Prince of Liao were deliberately kept from him, how could he possibly know?

But the question was—would the Emperor believe it?

What was Song Yan trying to do here?

Threaten him?

Or make him carry a message to the Empress, to soften and submit?

Wang Yuan stared fixedly at Song Yan.

Song Yan's expression was calm, without the slightest sign of begging for mercy.

Wang Yuan could not help cursing inwardly.

You think you're truly a son of the dragon, that the Emperor will fall out with the Empress over you!

Wait!

Wang Yuan's mind raced.

What did Song Yantang mean by this?

Empress Yi was moving against him in secret.

One was sovereign, the other subject. When the sovereign wills a subject's death, the subject cannot but die.

If Empress Yi wanted to be rid of Song Yantang, a single word would suffice. Why scheme against him in the dark?

Song Yantang was no easy man to deal with. What was his purpose in telling Wang Yuan this?

What, then, had passed between Empress Yi and Song Yantang?

And the Prince of Liao—Song Yantang said Shi Chuan had private dealings with the Prince of Liao. Was he hinting at something?

The thought flashed through him, and Wang Yuan's face went pale.