Chapter 136 — Enthralled

Dou Yan saw it and urged her on with a smile. "We can just go back in a few days."

Grandmother thought of her own maiden home, where a single pot was still used both to fry vegetables and to boil water, a film of grease floating on every cup of tea. After some thought, she made the excuse that there was no one to keep an eye on the farmstead here, and that she would not rest easy if she went off herself.

How could Dou Yan guess at any of this? He pressed her eagerly. "Aren't the stewards managing the farmstead as usual? What is there to worry about? It must be seven or eight years since you last went back to your maiden home, isn't it? It is a rare chance to go back this time; I will have some sweets and snacks prepared at once, so that you will have something to give the children there."

"Then you stay at the farmstead!" Grandmother seized the chance to say. "The people here have handed over this season's crops to us. Someone must stay and keep watch, or the others will lose heart in their work."

"Very well!" So long as Grandmother was happy, Dou Yan did not much care. He had things prepared for Grandmother's visit to her maiden home, and even tore off several lengths of cloth for her to take to Tuo Niang. "To make clothes for her son and daughter."

Tuo Niang had borne another daughter the year before, and at New Year she had specially carried the child over to show Dou Yan, asking Grandmother to name her. The name she chose was "Changqing," meaning "evergreen," to signify long life.

Hong Gu took charge of the things, and early the next morning she accompanied Grandmother to Cui Family Village, some twenty li away.

Dou Yan made a round of the farmstead in the morning, and in the afternoon, having nothing to do, she set about tidying the flowers and plants in the courtyard together with her personal maids and a few of the rough-working women of the household.

The plum tree she had planted with her own hands in this life had turned from green to yellow, and looked about to wither.

Dou Xin said, "Tomorrow let us plant a camellia here. When the leaves fall, the camellia blooms. That way the garden will never be bare through the four seasons."

Su Lan giggled.

Dou Yan felt that someone was watching her.

She could not help but look in the direction she sensed it coming from, and there, beyond the wall, she saw Song Yan on horseback.

Dou Yan's almond eyes went wide.

Song Sui smiled at her.

Dou Yan's head instantly began to throb.

Now that they had seen each other face to face, propriety dictated that she invite him in to sit awhile. But if she truly did invite him in, how was she to explain to those about her how the two of them had come to know each other? Yet if she did not invite him in, a man of Song's temper would most likely not suffer such a slight, and if trouble came of it, that would be all the worse.

She shot a rapid glance around her.

Several of the women had straightened up and were looking this way; plainly they had already spotted Song Yan.

Never mind. She would invite him in first and sort it out afterward.

Dou Yan was pondering this and was just about to speak her invitation when Song Sui got in ahead of her. "I have business that brings me past your estate. I would beg a cup of water—might I trouble you for the convenience?"

His voice was low and hoarse, as though he were utterly exhausted.

Only then did Dou Yan notice that he was covered in dust, looking for all the world like a man who had ridden several hundred li.

Grandmother had gone to Cui Family Village and taken her attendants with her. These few women were originally from the tenant farmsteads and had been drafted in to help; they had the open-heartedness of farming folk, and seeing before them a figure out of a painting, what inconvenience could there be? Before Dou Yan could say a word, they were already chiming in, "No trouble at all, no trouble at all! We are farming folk—we may have nothing else, but tea we can pour out freely enough." And then, "Where is the young gentleman from? Where are you bound?"

Dou Yan had no choice but to keep silent.

Su Xin, Duan Bing, and the others did know Song Yan, but how they had come to know Song was a thought that made the blood run cold. Under such circumstances, how could they speak up?

Song thanked them with a smile, his eyes fixed on Dou Yan. "Then I am much obliged!" The corners of his eyes tilted slightly upward, setting off a pair of eyes like floating reflections on water, so beautiful it made the heart lurch.

Dou Yan's heart gave a jump at the sight.

Song Yan had already dismounted; above the wall there remained only a few tendrils of ivy poking their unruly heads over, swaying gently in the wind.

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Song Yan had certainly not come alone; four or five attendants followed at his side. One of them was the man who had come to deliver gifts to Dou Yan the last time—she heard Song Yan call him Chen He—and the rest she did not recognize.

How many guards did he have, after all?

Dou Yan grumbled inwardly.

She had heard that there were no elders in his household, and she seemed to see Song's gaze flash with a brilliant light, like a meteor streaking across the sky.

"I had thought to put up here for the night," he said with regret. "What is to be done now?" His brows drew together slightly, as though he were greatly at a loss. The women, seeing it, were moved to kindness. "There is no one else about—the young gentleman may as well stay the night."

In their eyes, how could a youth with such a fine face as Song Yan possibly be a bad sort?

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Making up for yesterday's missed update.

ps: Sisters and brothers who are reading, I know the updates are coming later and later, but sometimes I have to look things up, and I cannot go any faster. The reason I would rather add a make-up chapter like this than break a single day of bonus updates is that I hope one day to burst forth and pay off all the debt I owe...~~~~(_

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