Chapter 278 — The Counter-Tally

The Elder Madam's sobs gradually subsided, and she wiped at her tears with her handkerchief.

Only then did Dou Ci set down his teacup. His mild manner hardened into something stern. "It would seem, Aunt, that you already know about the thieves who coveted my dowry—how they took advantage of the fire at Yingzhen Ducal House to slip through the inner gate in the confusion, attacked Yizhi Hall, and tried to do me harm?"

By now the whole affair had exploded into an uproar.

The halls of a household ennobled at the very top rank, the descendants of founding ministers who had campaigned north and south beside the Great Ancestor, favored by imperial grace without interruption for more than a hundred years, the Yingzhen Ducal House, whose name was on every tongue as the most illustrious of the capital's patrician families—thieves had forced their way in. And a good number of them were still unaccounted for, no one knew whether they had slipped away from the estate when they saw how things stood, or were hiding in some corner or cranny of it. Tao Jun needed the household's women and servants to help search for them. The truth could not be concealed.

Panic swept through the Yingzhen Ducal House like a wind. The Elder Madam and Madam Dong were warned not to leave their rooms; the sturdy-looking matrons who served them were all summoned to help the men of the Five Wards Garrison Office hunt for the thieves. Only a few young, ignorant maids remained to keep them company. The rooms were cold and cheerless, and the little maids, frightened half out of their wits, huddled together in a knot, weeping without pause, so that the Elder Madam and Madam Dong, who had been staying the night at Yingzhen Ducal House, were both alarmed and terrified, and repented bitterly, dreading that thieves might burst in at any moment... The moment she heard that Dou Yan had sent for her, she forgot all their former friction; she only hoped that Dou Yan would let them stay inside the heavily guarded Yizhi Hall until daybreak, for she had no wish to return to those utterly defenseless guest rooms.

Hearing Dou Ci speak, the Elder Madam nodded and nodded, and even took up Dou Zhiwei's words to comfort her: "Have no fear! Daybreak is nearly here. Once Yantang gets word, he will hurry back and take charge of things..."

"Naturally!" Dou Yan coldly cut the Elder Madam short, her eyes fixed on her, her clear gaze suddenly flashing with the keen, cold gleam of a blade. "Since you administer the household affairs of Yingzhen Ducal House, and Master Tao wished to open the inner gate to draw water and fight the fire—I take it, Aunt, that you gave your consent?"

At these words, the Elder Madam shuddered.

So this Dou woman had summoned her with no good intent after all!

The rules of Yingzhen Ducal House were strict—how could the inner court be thrown open for any comer to pass in and out at will? By day, matrons stood watch at the inner gate; once it was locked, no one was permitted in or out without the counter-tally of Yingzhen Ducal House, to say nothing of flinging the gate wide open as they had done. It was like stripping a noble young lady of her outer robes and leaving her for any passerby to eye and appraise.

When Master Tao had sent the night-watch matron to convey his request to her, she had had her misgivings. But then she reflected that Master Tao was the Duke's own advisor, and that she merely held the counter-tally on his behalf—if the outer courtyard truly burned, could she bear the responsibility?

After turning it over and over, she had yielded and ordered the inner gate opened...

But what she feared most had come to pass.

Because the inner gate stood wide, thieves had slipped in. They had nearly harmed the Dou girl. Tao Jun, to be sure, could not escape blame—and neither could she, the keeper of the counter-tally, be cleared.

Recalling how the Dou girl had so rudely demanded, not long ago, that she hand over the counter-tally, how could the Elder Madam fail to guess Dou Zhiwei's mind?

That was then; this is now.

At such a moment, would she dare say no?

In the midst of such chaos, instead of cowering in her room like herself, the Dou girl had at once seized upon the affair and turned it to force an admission of fault from her. Setting all else aside—in all the capital, she could think of no second person with the Dou girl's nerve and her eye for the way of things.

If she did not admit fault, would the Dou girl let her go?

Perhaps the moment she stepped through that door she would be bound as an accomplice of the thieves, branded with the crime of colluding with them.

Her second uncle and Yantang were both away from home, and Master Tao and the rest had their hands full—who would spare a thought for a pair of widowed mother and daughter-in-law?

At these thoughts the Elder Madam wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant.

With a bitter smile she nodded, and made her excuses: "It was a moment's folly on my part. I thought, since Master Tao is the Duke's advisor, how could any counsel of his be wrong? I never imagined it would go astray..."

As she spoke, several strong-armed matrons came quietly in, sticks in hand, and ranged themselves behind Dou Zhiwei like a screen, watching her closely as though she were an intruder. One wrong word, and the sticks would come down...

This time she was well and truly sunk.

If she did not surrender the counter-tally, from the look of the Dou girl she meant to take it by force. But if she handed it over, how would her second uncle ever forgive her when he returned?

Yet when a man stands under a low roof, he must bow his head.

Since the Dou girl was resolved, why provoke her further?

Her mind made up, the Elder Madam changed tack. "I come of a humble family, after all, and I did not understand the gravity of it," she said, then turned to Madam Dong: "Go back now, and bring me the counter-tally of Yingzhen Ducal House." And to Dou Yan, with a face full of remorse: "I am without virtue and without ability. I beg you, Madam, to take charge of the household."

※※※※※

Meanwhile, beneath the covered gallery of the duty office, Song Yan stood gazing in the direction of Yingzhen Ducal House, his expression grave.

"You saw it clearly?" His gaze was cold as he questioned the guard who had come to report the discovery of something amiss. "It was Yingzhen Ducal House that caught fire?"

"I saw it clearly, my lord," the guard said respectfully. "Fearing a mistake, I ordered the men on watch outside to ride over and investigate in person. Not only did Yingzhen Ducal House catch fire—thieves forced their way inside as well." Here he looked relieved. "Luckily the thieves were seized by the household guards, and the men of the Five Wards Garrison Office hurried over in time. The flames are out now, and Yingzhen Ducal House is in no great danger. Four of their guards suffered light wounds, and no more."

Thieves?

Right under the Son of Heaven's own feet—thieves?

And bold enough to go robbing at Yingzhen Ducal House—who would believe it if told?

Song Yan's hand, hanging at his side, clenched slowly into a fist. Then he clasped his hands behind his back, as though that might conceal his fury.

How was Dou Yan now?

Was she hurt? Was she afraid?

She had only just married into Yingzhen Ducal House; this was likely the first such thing she had met with in all her life. Would he regret marrying him?

At the thought, his heart pricked as though by needles—fine, close-set needles, an ache faint and lingering... and he forgot his astonishment at being held hostage by Dou Yan in those days.

Did this affair have anything to do with his father?

Song Zhi's face gradually darkened.

Skin and hair are received from one's parents.

His father might harm him—but he could not harm Dou Yan.

A fire seemed to dance in his eyes, and he did not speak for a long while. At last he said, "Was my wife hurt?"