Chapter 491 — Cutting Losses

Song Yan had made no effort to suppress the news. Word spread quietly among the serving women of the Yingguo Duke's household—that Song Han and his own father's bedchamber woman had been caught in the act by Song Yan, and that Miao Zhi, in a fit of rage, had gone off to the country estate to rest and recover—and even the people of Four Lanes got wind of it. So when Ji Hong arrived with the duke's household servants and women to fetch Miao Zhi's trunks and chests, every serving woman with a shred of sense found some excuse to slip away. Those who could not get clear in time stared at Song Han sprawled on the ground, then at Jin Gui, who stood behind Ji Hong with a face utterly devoid of expression, and for a long while they could not collect themselves.

A servant striking her master—that was a crime punishable by exile.

How did this little maid dare?

The whole of Four Lanes was stunned.

The main chamber was dead silent, as though even the air had been caged.

Ji Hong could not help licking her lips.

No wonder Lady Dou treated the Duke of Yingguo as though he were nothing. The maids at her side were truly formidable!

If she wanted to leave Four Lanes safely today, she would have to rely on those two sisters, Jin Gui and Yin Gui.

Her manner toward Jin Gui and Yin Gui turned several degrees more respectful. "Elder sisters, it grows late, and you must return to report. Let us hurry and pack the Second Madam's things and send them to the country estate."

Jin Gui and Yin Gui understood perfectly well that the lady had sent them to overawe these people. As for hauling trunks and chests, that was not their work.

The two sisters smiled and nodded, taking up their posts at the door of the inner chamber.

Ji Hong hurried into the inner chamber with several of the older women.

Only then did Song Han's page collect himself and rush forward to help his master up.

Song Han shoved the page away and struggled to his feet on his own.

"Fetch me the guards." His mouth was swollen, his chin bruised. Looking at Jin Gui and Yin Gui, who stood there as though nothing were amiss, his face turned exceedingly dark. "A thousand days to raise an army, one hour to use it. I refuse to believe that a few women and children can carry off my belongings right under the noses of grown men!"

The page answered and ran off, only to come flying back. "Second Master, it's bad. That Ji Hong has somehow brought a dozen or more skilled fighting men, and they've blocked our second gate. We can't get out at all!"

Song Han trembled with rage.

That wretch Miao Zhi—she was playing the dead pig that fears no boiling water, determined to defy him to his face!

If he let Miao Zhi trample him today, how would he ever hold his head up again?

He strode out. "Let me see who dares to stop me!"

The page hurried after him.

Ji Hong packed with swift, efficient hands.

Her success in forcing her way in today had been, frankly, a matter of surprise tactics, borrowing Lady Dou's people. There would never be such a chance again. The pressing task was to carry off the most valuable things. As for the half-worn clothes and the ornaments bought from the curio shops, Song Han could have those for nothing.

Ji Hong politely urged on the rough-work women borrowed from Dou Yan. "Please, mothers, make haste. Once the Second Master returns, I fear we won't be able to leave."

The women, seeing Song Han struck down, were already uneasy at heart. They smiled and agreed, their hands moving faster still. In a short while, three or four trunks were packed.

Afraid that delay would breed trouble, Ji Hong stuffed Miao Zhi's valuables into the arms of Jin Gui and Yin Gui. "Elder sisters, do me this favor. Take these to our Second Madam."

Jin Gui and Yin Gui took orders only from Dou Zhiwei. Since Dou Yan had told them to help Ji Hong, they did not refuse, and tucked the things into their bosoms.

Ji Hong breathed a sigh of relief—when suddenly a commotion arose outside.

Anxious, she sent a little maid to see what it was.

The maid came running back in high spirits. "Sister Ji Hong, it's the young lady's brother! He's brought a whole crowd of people, says he's come to settle accounts for the Second Madam!"

Wonderful!

With the young master's brother to help, their chances improved considerably.

A smile crept onto Ji Hong's face.

Song Han, by contrast, was so furious his eyes rolled white.

Miao Anping turned black into white. Every other word out of his mouth accused Song Han of being caught by Miao Zhi in adultery with his father's bedchamber woman, of ignoring her gentle counsel, and of packing Miao Zhi off to the Song family's country estate to recover—and he demanded a thousand taels of silver as hush money.

He must have incurred eight lifetimes of bad luck to have married into the Miao family. Apart from silver, the Miao clan knew of no other thing in this world.

Song Han ground his teeth till they squeaked, and sneered, "To slander and frame an official—that too lands you in prison!"

Miao Anping was unperturbed. He laughed. "Master Song, you've spoken my very heart. Let us go to the Shuntian Prefecture and have it out! I refuse to believe there's any justice in a son bedding his own father's woman. Ah, yes—my sister tells me the Prince of Liao was present that day. The Prince of Liao hasn't left yet, has he? We'll invite His Highness to the yamen to bear witness. Others may not be able to summon the Prince of Liao, but your Song family is the foremost among the titled houses—you'll surely be able to!"

Song Han was speechless with rage, yet he dared not truly take the Miao family to court at Shuntian Prefecture.

It was not that he feared disgrace—Song Yan had already put it about that he had been drunk and gone into the wrong room, and he could use that as an excuse even in court. But if the Prince of Liao learned that he had not only bungled the task but lacked even the wit to clean up after himself, why would the prince ever regard him again?

Whatever standing he had today rested on Empress Yi.

A cold glint flashed in Song Han's eyes. "A thousand taels I don't have. Two hundred at most. Take it or leave it—otherwise we meet in court."

Miao Anping had already resolved to eat this fat morsel bite by bite, and he too feared a fight to the death. He haggled. "Eight hundred at the least. My brothers came all this way with me—they'll be wanting tea money, won't they?"

"Three hundred at most. Not a coin more."

Song Han stood firm, and in the end they settled on four hundred taels.

Miao Anping emerged from the study and barked at the servants of Four Lanes Alley to bring tea and refreshments to the idlers waiting for him in the flower hall.

Song Han watched those ruffians sitting in the flower hall he had so carefully arranged, and felt another stab of pain in his heart.

When Ji Hong in the inner court got word of it, she looked at the clothes piled over half the kang, bit her lip, and said to the Jin Gui and Yin Gui sisters, "Let's carry the things out now. We might run into the uncle-in-law in the front court, and he can lend us a hand."

Jin Gui and Yin Gui could not help cursing inwardly.

Miao Anping was dog meat unfit for a proper feast; even without his help, the two sisters alone could still get out of Four Lanes Alley.

They were glad enough to let the Miao family take the lead, and followed Ji Hong out.

When they reached the festooned gate, they ran into several old women who guarded the inner court and barred their way, refusing absolutely to let them leave. They even said they would report it to Song Han.

Ji Hong set up a loud wail.

Miao Anping, sitting in the small flower hall, heard the commotion, came out to watch the fun, and recognized Ji Hong at a glance.

He led a few idlers over and surrounded them.

"What do you think you're doing?" Miao Anping roared at the old women guarding the inner court.