Chapter 507 — Before and After

No one in the room spoke; a dead silence reigned.

Only the young, uncomprehending Yuan Heng poked his head out from his grandmother's arms and called out in a clear voice, "Uncle," shattering the stillness of the room.

Gu Yu lifted his head, his eyes red and still somewhat wet.

"Yuan Heng!" He forced a smile. "It's your uncle who has failed you." As he spoke, tears glistened at the corners of his eyes.

Dou Yan shot Duan Bing a look and said, "What sort of talk is that? We're already endlessly grateful that you could come all the way from Tianjin. This was never yours to control—so why take it all upon yourself? Get up this instant! Squatting on the floor like that—if your nephew sees you, he'll laugh at you."

Duan Bing and Chen Lanxu had already stepped up, one on each side, to haul him to his feet. Duan Bing said bluntly, "Since you know something has happened on our side, have you notified the Heir Apparent? Has the Prince of Liao truly entered the palace as they say?"

Gu Yu let the two of them pull him up, looking somewhat dazed, and said to Dou Yan, "It was the two curs my aunt left at my side who gave themselves away. I only learned of my cousin's affair yesterday, and at once found an excuse to have them both detained. I rode posthaste for the capital, but I was still too late—the city gates were already shut. Even with the pass the Emperor bestowed on me, I could not get in. Then I recalled that a few days ago Tianci had mentioned that you and your son were taking refuge from the heat at the Xiangshan villa, so I decided to come and see you both. I never imagined—"

He bowed his head in anguish.

In other words, Gu Yu had never had the chance to warn Song Yan!

Everyone's expression darkened.

Yuan Heng began to cry uneasily for his "Mama."

Dou Yan went over and took her son in her arms.

Chen Lanxu pressed her lips together, stepped forward, and saluted her. "Madam, rest easy and leave the Young Master to us! As long as a single breath remains in us, no one will harm a hair on his head."

Dawn was near. If they could hold out until daybreak, there was a chance they might break through the encirclement and find a way into the city to reach Song Yan.

Only by reaching Song Yan could the siege of the Xiangshan villa be lifted.

But at the thought of being parted from her son, Dou Chu's heart ached beyond bearing.

She hesitated a moment, then with tears in her eyes kissed her son's little cheek and handed Yuan Heng to Chen Lanxu.

Gu Yu understood at once what they meant to do.

He straightened his back and stepped forward. "Sister-in-law, let me escort Yuan Heng into the city."

"No!" Dou Yan shook her head without a moment's thought. "You're too conspicuous a target! You should find a way to slip out of the villa and get word to your cousin Tianci—that's what matters."

By the time word reached him now, it would likely be too late.

Gu Yu said this in his heart, but did not dare speak it aloud to Dou Yan.

"Then let me stay here with you, sister-in-law!" A savage light came into his eyes. "They want you to be a guest at the Prince of Liao's residence—"

"It's not as bad as you imagine!" A surge of emotion rose in Dou Yan's heart, and she urged him gently, "They only want to seize me and Yuan Heng to threaten your cousin Tianci."

Before she could finish, screams and roars erupted from outside.

Everyone exchanged glances.

Terrified, Yuan Heng twisted in fear, wanting Dou Yan to hold him.

Dou Yan took her son in her arms, while Gu Yu had already drawn back the curtain and was looking out.

"Sister-in-law!" he cried in transports of joy. "Someone's come to save us!"

At a time like this, who could still come to their rescue!

"Ah!" Dou Yan was half doubtful, half believing, and ran over with an anxious heart to look.

The crossbows that had been leveled at them had all been turned about, and arrows were flying thick toward the other side. Every so often one of the Prince of Liao's men was shot from the rooftops and fell into the courtyard, motionless.

"This—" Dou Yan was both startled and overjoyed.

"I don't know who it is," Gu Yu said, his eyes shining, "but they must have been sent by cousin Tianci to save us—no, perhaps cousin Tianci himself has arrived."

Dou Yi hoped for the same.

Someone shouted toward the other courtyard: "Sister-in-law, this is Chen Zanzhi. I have come under the Heir Apparent's orders to wipe out these rebels. Do not be alarmed—the Shenji Battalion is with me, and we've brought firearms."

"Amitabha!" Dou Yan could not help murmuring.

She did not know how Chen Jia had learned of their trouble, but the fact that he had brought men from the Shenshu Battalion showed that the situation was still under Song's control.

A great roar split the air, trailing fire, and several men tumbled from the rooftops.

Gu Yu's spirits surged. Restless for action, he ran back to retrieve his sword and said, "Sister-in-law, you and my nephew hide yourselves quickly. They're bound to fight to the death and throw themselves at us in a frenzy."

Before his voice had died away, Duan Bing, Chen Lanxu, and the other guards stepped forward. "We'll go with you!"

Gu Yu nodded and resolutely pulled open the door.

Dou Qu followed after him. "Uncle, two fists are no match for four. Why not use the storerooms for cover? As long as we don't go out, there's nothing they can do to us."

"With the crossbows gone, the outcome is still unknown!" Gu Yu's gaze was resolute. "Hiding in the house is too stifling!"

Duan Bing had never thought much of Gu Yu, but hearing this, he began to regard him with new eyes.

He clapped Gu Yu on the shoulder with his big hand. "Good! That's what a man of hot blood should say. There's no reason for the son-in-law to lead men fighting out there while we hide indoors. Young master, I'll go with you—even if it means death, they won't set one foot in this side room."

Out there they could form a line of defense; if they met the enemy inside the side room, once the Prince of Liao's men broke in, Dou Yan and Yuan Heng would be face to face with those rebels.

Gu Yu laughed heartily, and he and Duan Bing led the handful of guards out of the side room, pulling the door shut behind them and leaving Dou Yan, Yuan Heng, and Grandmother inside.

Grandmother's eyes swam with tears.

Yuan Heng, uneasy, asked his mother in a small voice, "Why won't Uncle hold me?"

Dou Yan could not hold back her tears, and choked out, "Uncle has to drive off those bandits for Yuan Heng. Once he's driven them off, he'll come play with Yuan Heng."

Yuan Heng nodded obediently. "I'll be good. I won't bother Uncle!"

Dou Yan held Yuan Heng tight.

※※

Before the gates of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the Heir Apparent stepped forward and gripped Song Yan's hand tightly. His lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing, only heaved a soft sigh.

"Your Highness!" Cui Yijun cast Song Yan a glance, his expression complicated, and murmured a reminder to the Heir Apparent. "Should we send for someone from the Grand Secretariat to talk the Prince of Liao down?"

The implication was to find a Grand Secretary to serve as a witness.

"No need!" Ji Yong said angrily. "I took a detour past the duty room just now—our Grand Secretary Dai is fast asleep, and you can't wake him no matter how you shout. They're all cunning sorts with no regard for the realm!"

The Heir Apparent's face turned ashen.

Outside the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the fighting grew fiercer by the moment.

At last Cui Yijun could no longer hide the anxiety rising in his brow.

Song Yan said in a low voice, "Your Highness, perhaps you should step forward and talk the Prince of Liao down, if only to set the Emperor's mind at ease."

Or rather, to let the Emperor see the Prince of Liao's wolfish, traitorous heart.