Chapter 520 — Promotion

When Chen Jia brought Jiang Yan over, Jiang Baisun gazed at the girl so like his elder sister and was overcome with emotion, saying "Good, good" again and again.

Though it was the first time Jiang Yan had met Jiang Baisun, she could sense his goodwill toward her, and stood there blushing with a shy smile.

Watching her, Jiang Baisun could not help but feel a tangle of emotions.

This niece of his was only a shadow of what she might have been.

Had she been raised in the Yingzhen ducal household, cherished like a pearl of heaven, who knows how radiant she would have been.

What a pity for the child.

Fortunately Song Yan had found her and brought her back—not too late, all things considered. From now on he would simply keep a closer eye on her.

All the more did he long to restore the Jiang family's standing through feats of arms.

Jiang Baisun clapped Song Yan on the shoulder and laughed. "Set your mind at ease. Your fifth uncle will not let you down."

Song Yan smiled faintly and gave Jiang Baisun a whip that the former Duke Dingguo had given him. "I will be waiting for my fifth uncle's triumphant return."

Jiang Baisun nodded and strode out of the capital.

Song Yan did not turn back for home until Jiang Baisun's figure had vanished from the post road.

※※※※※

A few days later the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived.

In years past the Yingzhen ducal household would invite Jiang Maochun and the other two families into the mansion, setting out banquets and music to admire the moon and the lanterns—a grand bustle. This year, because Song Cen was still lying ill in bed, Song Yan invited only Chen Jia and his wife back for a meal, and that was the festival done.

With some apology he said to Dou Yan, "At the Lantern Festival I will certainly take you all to see the lantern market in the streets."

Simple as it was called, in truth the Yingzhen ducal household was hung everywhere with lanterns of every kind, ablaze with light, and Song Yan had assigned several young maids and servants—still in their childhood topknots—to keep Yuanheng entertained. Yuanheng dragged along a rabbit lantern Song Yan had ordered from the Imperial Workshops, some three feet tall with wheels on its feet, and ran with it along the covered walkways. Who knows how happily he played—he had no wish at all to go anywhere.

Dou Yan looked out the window at her son laughing merrily and could not help saying, "There are so many people out there, and Yuanheng is still small, and people are setting off firecrackers—smoke and sparks everywhere. I worry he will choke on the smoke, and I worry he will be jostled or knocked about. Better by far to stay at home!"

Seeing that Dou Yan was not in the least disappointed, Song Yan was reassured. "I say we take this chance to dispense with some of the old tedious formalities."

Dou Yan did not quite follow.

Song Yan said, "Even once Father recovers, he will need quiet to recuperate. This New Year, ..."

The implication was that from now on the three families would no longer be invited to the mansion for the celebrations.

"Good!" Dou Yan agreed readily.

She could understand Song Yan's feelings.

When Song Cen had been about to drive Song Yan from the house, Song Maochun and the others had watched only for Song Cen's slightest sign, and once Song Han was struck from the family register they had not even asked why. Other people hoped for a flourishing clan so that when trouble came there would be a hand stretched out to help; but these people crowded close in the good times and, when hardship came, one and all pretended not to know. Such relatives were better done without!

"Fortunately the Dou family has no shortage of aunts and uncles," she said with a smile. "I fear people will say you have only your wife's kin to call your own."

Song Yan leaned in shamelessly and murmured by her ear with a low laugh, "Then why don't we have a few more? Think back—in the beginning the Chixiao Sect was but one man, and yet the Song family came to have all these branches. We can do the same!"

Dou Yan gave him a light slap.

Song Yan chuckled and, with his arm about Dou Yan's shoulders, stood beneath the eaves watching Yuanheng at play.

The great lanterns bathed the Yingzhen ducal household in a wash of red.

※※※※※

In the latter part of the eighth month the imperial decree came down.

Song Yan was appointed Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and concurrently Vice Commissioner of the Divine Machine Battalion; Ma Youming took over from Song Yan the command of the Golden Guard; the Earl of Donglin was made concurrently Commander of the Divine Machine Battalion, while the post of Commander of the Five Wards Constabulary passed concurrently to the Marquis of Anlu; Song Cen, on account of illness, stepped down as a commander of the Five Army Commandery, and the Marquis of Changxing, commander of the Datong garrison, was recalled to the capital as Commander of the Forward Army of the Five Army Commandery; the former Vice Commissioner of the Datong garrison was made commander of the Datong garrison; Dong Qi, heir of the Earl of Guang'en, was made Vice Commissioner of the Datong garrison ...

The civil officials were untouched, but the military officers were shuffled from top to bottom.

Reading the official gazette, Wang Yu could not help but heave a long sigh, and asked the Lady An, "Is there anything left in the Yingzhen ducal household worth celebrating?"

Lady An looked at him oddly. "What does the Heir Apparent mean to do?"

Wang Yu set the gazette down before her.

Lady An picked it up and read it through carefully. "The Marquis of Changxing is truly formidable—to have entered the Five Army Commandery as a Commander of the Seal. Small wonder the Marquis's household has grown more and more prosperous these years." She paused, then asked Wang Yu, "A few days ago someone came to propose a match for my brother's eldest son—with the legitimate second daughter of the Marquis of Changxing's third branch. My mother thinks the girl is handsome enough, only her temper seems somewhat fierce, and she is still wavering. Tell me, should I speak to my mother about settling the match ..."

"What nonsense are you rambling about?" Wang Yu frowned. "I meant for you to look at Song Yan's name!" He sighed with feeling, his tone complicated. "His Highness Prince Zhaohua treats him with such generosity. To let him hold the Divine Machine Battalion, he actually had the Earl of Donglin take the post of its commander as well!"

Lady An guessed her husband was somewhat displeased, and recalling that he had long been on good terms with Song Yan, she glanced at the gazette and ventured, "The Duke of Yingguo is no longer Commander of the Seal, it is true, but Song Yan has been transferred to the Embroidered Uniform Guard—like the Golden Guard, a personal guard of the Son of Heaven. Though it may not match his former post, one can hardly say he has lost power!"

Wang Yu shook his head at that. Thinking that Lady An would still need to call often on Dou Yan, he explained, "The Earl of Donglin is a sensible man. When His Majesty had him concurrently command the Five Wards Constabulary, and Song Yan oversaw the affairs of that office, the Earl left everything alone and followed Song Yan in all things—the two got on exceedingly well." He pointed at the names on the gazette. "Look, these two are colleagues once more. Song Yan has hardly lost power; it is plain that His Highness Prince Zhaohua means to elevate him, using the Earl of Donglin's seniority as a bridal robe for him, letting him at once command two of the Emperor's personal guards. Such favor has been shown only once before—by the Xuanming Sect, when the Yingzhen ducal household was first established. At this rate, the Yingzhen ducal household will flourish for at least another twenty years!"