Chapter 284 — Disappointment

Song Yan decisively left all the household's social obligations to Dou Yan.

The Earl of Donglin was of middling build with fair skin, and years of a life given over to wine and women had left his gaze somewhat muddy.

Having abruptly been put in charge of the Five Wards Commandery and given a deadline of one month to close the case, he had no idea where to begin. Leaving the palace, he had gone straight home and consulted with his advisors for the better part of the day without arriving at any good plan. He was stewing in frustration when a servant brought in Song Yan's card. With a bitter laugh, he handed it to his advisors. "Well? What am I to do?"

One of them pondered briefly, then said, "The Duke of Dingguo was executed and Lady Jiang died of illness, yet the Duke of Yingguo could do nothing to him. A man like that is not one you may offend, Patron, whatever the circumstances... You must of course receive him... But you have only just taken over the Five Wards Commandery and are not yet familiar with the case... Did not His Majesty bestow upon him Emperor Taizong's sword and charge him with investigating the fire at the Yingguo Estate? In a manner of speaking, he too bears a duty to investigate... Why not wait until tomorrow and go together to the Commandery? Once the case is clear to all, we may think of a plan together. Best of all would be to summon Lord Huang, the new prefect of Shuntian, to the Commandery as well..."

The Earl of Donglin nodded repeatedly and, taking the advisor who had given him this counsel, went to the reception hall.

Song Yan and Gu Yu paid their respects to the Earl of Donglin in the manner of junior kinsmen.

Chuckling, the Earl invited them to sit and made solicitous inquiries about the fire at the Yingguo Estate.

Song Yan had no choice but to recount the course of events once more.

No sooner had he finished than the Earl exclaimed indignantly, "The Shuntian and Jing'an Ward Commandery has grown far too lax! Had they rushed over the moment the report came in, how could the thieves have broken in? Small wonder His Majesty was furious. This matter must not be glossed over or excused—otherwise the noble houses of the capital will be no better than kitchen gardens, open to any who fancy a stroll. Where is the safety in that? This must be investigated, and investigated to the very bottom. Whoever dares shield or slacken in the matter shall be dealt with as an accomplice of the thieves!" For all the vehemence of his tone, the words were hollow.

Song Yan had seen plenty of such bureaucrats, and knowing the Earl's character and conduct, he could hardly fail to recognize the man's stalling for what it was.

"Your Lordship speaks reason," Song Yan said mildly. "Only the world is vast and the crowd thick, and nearly four hours have passed since the crime. Even were the whole city under martial law this very moment, I fear the thieves' trail would be hard to find."

You had better know it!

The Earl nodded—then Song Yan turned his words about: "But the commander of the East Ward Commandery is a capable man. He has already taken his men to comb through every guild and trade in the East Ward, having them identify..."

The Earl still looked blank, but his advisor had caught the drift of Song Yan's words. Clearing his throat, he put in with a smile, "What is this East Ward commander called? I did not expect him to be so resourceful. With such a grave matter in the capital, these jugglers and street performers ought to be brought to order—who knows but the thieves may be hiding among them!"

.

His Majesty has lost his temper; someone must be made to answer.

And with the capital's guilds and trades, there was a ready supply of scapegoats!

"Yes, yes, exactly," he said hurriedly. "Not only the East Ward—the other four wards ought to be set in order as well." He quickly summoned his personal attendant. "Go, bring me the commander of the East Ward from the Five Wards Commandery!"

The attendant answered and departed.

Half testing, half consulting, the Earl said to Song Yan, "Where does the Young Heir think we should begin the search?"

Gu Yu made to speak, but Song Yan shot him a look. He swallowed his words, and Song Yan said, "Your Lordship holds the Five Wards Commandery by His Majesty's command; the decision is naturally yours."

At that the Earl laughed. He thought the boy Song Yan sensible of propriety and possessed of a broad view—no wonder he was treated as a junior kinsman of the house.

"Then let the search begin in the East Ward!" the Earl said with a smile. "That East Ward commander has already rolled up his sleeves and set to work. We need not do it all twice over—let him take the lead..."

As he spoke, the East Ward commander entered.

Seeing Song Yan, he was greatly surprised, but quickly cast him a grateful glance.

Had it not been for Song Yan, why would the newly appointed commander of the Five Wards Commandery have summoned him to his own house?

This debt of recommendation he would acknowledge.

So the East Ward commander thought as he bowed respectfully to the Earl of Donglin.

Song Yan rose with Gu Yu to take their leave. "We must still see Lord Huang."

Smiling, the Earl of Donglin saw Song Yan and Gu Yu to the door of the reception hall.

As an elder, he had shown the two of them high courtesy.

Gu Yu, however, was far from satisfied. No sooner had they climbed into the carriage than his mouth puckered. "That Earl of Donglin—what is he good for but eating, drinking, and currying favor with His Majesty? Why did you hand this matter over to him? The thieves' shadow is not even in sight, and already he is thinking of how to find a scapegoat. Does that look like a man catching thieves? You would have done better to give it to me!"

"Gu Yu," Song Yan cut him off. "Catching thieves is the business of the Five Wards Commandery and the Shuntian Prefecture. Were we to overstep and do their work for them, we would not only invite censure but might provoke that man's resentment, so that he refuses to cooperate—and what use would our efforts be then? Better to grant them a favor, so that we have a footing to speak on in future dealings." He went on, "The city gates have still not been placed under martial law. Do you think I could catch those thieves now?" At this his expression chilled. "When we leave the Shuntian Prefecture, we shall pay a visit to the Five Armies Command as well. Those thieves came from Cangzhou—Cangzhou owes me an explanation too, does it not?"

Even so, Gu Yu remained unconvinced. "...We ought to let those people know what we are made of!"

Were my eldest uncle still here, I daresay I would feel the same.

A flicker of pain passed through Song Yan's eyes. He knew that unless he found Gu Yu something to do, the boy would never sit still.

"Gu Yu," Song Yan hesitated a moment, then lowered his voice. "There is a matter I need your help with."

At once Gu Yu was all vigor. "Brother Tianci, what is it? Am I to go to Cangzhou?"

Song Yan laughed despite himself, then after a moment said gravely, "It is a private matter of mine, and I am not easy about trusting it to others..." He beckoned Gu Yu closer and bade him lend an ear. "Did not the Marquis of Anlu play matchmaker for my father? See whether you can arrange for someone of the Marquis of Anlu's household to harbor the thieves..."

"I know what to do!" Gu Yu was elated, rubbing his hands together. "I will make him eat coptis in silence—bitterness in his mouth and no way to speak of it."

"That is exactly the idea." Song Yan sighed with feeling. "Gu Yu has grown up—he knows some matters cannot be settled by brute force."

Gu Yu flushed red to the ears at the praise.

※※※※※

Meanwhile, Dou Ming, overjoyed, hurried back from Willow Leaf Lane to the Jining Marquis Estate and made straight for Wei Fan's study.

Wei Fan's study was quiet, with only a young servant there wiping down the tables.