Chapter 456 — Seeking Shelter

Of those two households, one was the old uncle, the other the young uncle; both would have to serve as witnesses when the property was divided.

Song Han could not sit still. He went first to the Lu family.

Song Yan and Dou Yan were not there.

He went on to the Dou family.

Even Dou Huaiying was not at home.

Where had they gone?

Song Han stood at the gate of Yunqi Temple, watching the pilgrims come and go, at a loss and utterly bewildered.

But Song Yan, Dou Huaiying, and the others were just then in Housi Alley, at the back of the alley behind Yunqi Temple.

Song Yan had bought a small two-courtyard house in Housi Alley and brought Aunt Cui over from Zhen Ding.

Dou Yan and Aunt Cui were just then weeping in each other's arms!

Song Yan and Dou Huaiying, sitting in the main hall, shook their heads, and when Yuan Heng saw his mother weeping, he too began to wail at the top of his lungs.

Aunt Cui hurriedly pushed Dou Yan away and wiped her tears. "Look at you. You have even set our precious Yuan Heng to crying."

Dou Yan smiled with reddened eyes and pressed her lips together, yet tears once more fell from her against her will.

Granny Cui took Yuanheng in her arms and coaxed him, and as she coaxed she spoke to Dou Yan. "The heir often sends word to me and tells me everything about you, and I know all about your carrying the child and giving birth. I wanted to come and see you as soon as Yuanheng was born, but the heir insisted I wait until after his hundred-day celebration. I know—he feared that with all the guests crowding in for the full-month and hundred-day rites, I would be slighted. That boy. He truly has a thoughtful heart. Shouyuan, you have married a fine husband. You must treat him well."

Dou Yan nodded through her tears. "Now that you have come this time, you won't be leaving again, will you?"

"No, I won't leave." Granny Cui smiled. "The heir was right—so long as flesh and blood are reunited, any place is home. I will live here from now on. When you miss me, just bring the child and come see me."

And this place was very close to the Yunqi Temple alley. Whenever Father wished to visit Grandmother, he could come at any time.

Dou Yan nodded emphatically.

Granny Cui praised Yuanheng. "This child is sturdy. Just like you were when you were small."

Was I really that sturdy when I was small?

Dou Yan's tears gave way to laughter.

Dou Huaiying listened and sighed, then said to Song Yan, "You have been thoughtful... I see there is still a vegetable plot in the back courtyard..."

Song Yan said modestly, "It was nothing! It used to be a flower bed, but I saw that no fine flowers were planted there, so I took it upon myself to turn it into a vegetable plot."

Dou Huaiying was much moved.

Wuyi, who had come along, hurried in and said in a low voice, "Heir, Magistrate Shi Chuan invites you to drink at the Drunken Immortal Tavern." As he spoke, he produced a calling card.

Song Yan was about to say he would not go out, but Dou Huaiying had already spoken. "If you have business, go and attend to it. I will stay here with Shouyuan and Granny Cui, and nothing will go amiss." Then he added a reminder. "Shi Chuan is the Embroidered Uniform Guard's chief commander, and the Emperor is most wary of his dealings with others. If he asks you to drink, he must have something urgent to discuss."

Most likely it concerned the death of Shao Wenji.

Song Yan thought, the matter of the chopsticks could not be hidden from Shao Wenji.

Yet he had made it plain that Chen Jia was his man and had even handed Shao Wenji a small blade—Shao Wenji had taken him far too lightly.

Song Yan thought it over and said, "I will go and see what he wants with me! Tell Shouyuan to wait for me a while; I will come to take mother and child home."

It would also give Dou Yan and Granny Cui time to talk.

Dou Huaiying saw Song Yan out.

Song Yan went to the Drunken Immortal Tavern.

Shi Chuan was about forty, of middling height, with slightly dark skin—the sort of man who would vanish in a crowd.

When Song Yan saw him, he could not help thinking of Chen Jia.

Did everyone who did well in the Embroidered Uniform Guard have to look like this?

It was not as though they had never met before.

Song Yan exchanged pleasantries with Shi Chuan, and they took their seats as host and guest.

The dishes were served quickly.

Shi Chuan began with the local cuisine and in the end came round to Chen Jia. "Most capable. With him in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, matters run far more smoothly—no wonder the heir values him. So I wish to recommend him for promotion and transfer him to the Guard's office as vice commissioner, to oversee its internal affairs."

※

Brothers and sisters, here is today's update.

o(n_n)o~