Chapter 275 — Fire in the Night (Extra Update — Begging for Pink Votes)

"As for the rest of you," Dou Yan called out to Ganlu and Sujuan, "each of you take half the household back to your rooms to rest. When you are needed, come out and help put out the fire."

Seeing her calm and composed, her considerations thorough, her arrangements in perfect order, everyone could not help feeling greatly steadied, and they set about carrying out her instructions.

Dou Ji stood beneath the covered walkway, watching the fire.

The sharp-featured young wife brought over a grandmaster's chair and said eagerly, "Madam, do sit and rest a while. With Sisters Suxin and Sulan to lead us, nothing will go amiss!"

Dou Yan saw that she was rather quick-witted, and asked her, "What is your name?"

The woman hastened to reply, "My man is called Lu Yi, and my father-in-law once served as a bailiff on the estate at Anliang. After my man entered the household he drove the carriage for the Shizi, and now he keeps accounts at the sundries shop in the capital."

The estate at Anliang was part of Lady Jiang's dowry.

No wonder this woman had been posted to serve in the main chambers.

Dou Yan nodded slightly.

The fire burned ever larger, and the eastern row of servants' quarters beside the stables caught as well.

Fortunately the wind had not changed direction.

Suxin hurried back: "Madam, Mr. Yan says it is still unclear how the stables caught fire. The blaze is still fierce, and it is not known whether anyone is hurt. Word has been sent to the Shuntian Prefecture, but trouble also broke out at the Shuntian Prefecture's jail tonight. It seems someone tried to break prisoners out, and I fear they will not be able to spare men to fight the fire for some time. Mr. Tao has taken the Zhenguo Lord's calling card to the City Garrison Command; men should soon come from there to help." She added, "Mr. Yan has now taken Guard Xia and the others to help fight the fire. Mr. Tao urged that the hanging-flower gate be opened so the guards could draw water from the lake in the rear garden; Mr. Yan would not agree to open it, and urged instead that two of the wing rooms over by the eastern quarters be torn down. In the end Guard Chang led the guards from the Zhenguo Estate in drawing water, while Mr. Yan led our people in pulling down the wing rooms."

Neither Mr. Yan nor Mr. Tao had thought to call upon Song Han.

Dou Yan found this rather strange.

The great fire still blazed, the air everywhere thick with the smell of smoke, cries for help and shouts rising and fading by turns, and everyone wore a grave expression. In such a solemn moment, Dou Yan thought of the clear line drawn between the Ying Zhenguo Estate and Yizhi Hall, and could not help breaking into a little laugh.

She wondered what Song Cen would make of it, if he could see the courtyard in such disarray.

Suxin and Lu Yi's wife exchanged glances, at a loss.

Dou Ji said, "It is nothing. I was only thinking of Mr. Yan and Mr. Tao... and I am rather more in favor of Mr. Yan's plan. Lu Yi's wife, go about your business. I shall go back to my room and rest as well. Since both Mr. Yan and Mr. Tao are here, I daresay nothing will go wrong."

Lu Yi's wife answered respectfully and went to inspect the water jars.

Dou Yan and Suxin returned to the room, but how could Dou Yan sleep? The two of them sat on the kang and talked idly. "From the Second Master's tone, it seems those who once served him were all chosen for him by Lady Jiang. After Lady Jiang passed away, the Ying Zhenguo Estate released all those who had served her from service. Everyone around him now was newly installed in the past two years. In a while, speak to Mr. Yan and have him look into it for me: where are all those people who were released then, and what are they doing now?"

Suxin nodded, then said thoughtfully, "You suspect someone knows about Lady Jiang's affairs?"

"It is only one thread to follow," Dou Yan mused. "There are still some things I have not worked out, and I want someone to confirm them for me."

Dou Chi said that Suxin never asked too many questions, and this time was no different.

Suddenly a thunderous knocking erupted at the door, boom, boom, boom.

A young servant shouted "Who is it?" and made to answer the door, but Wuyi stopped him with a hand.

"Who is it?" he called in a rough voice, rather overbearing.

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Making up for the extra update of July 7.

ps: Sisters, brothers, this chapter was written last night, but since I have already been admitted to the hospital and it was rather late, I had no way to post it. I went for some tests this morning, and only now at this hour am I able to put it up... ⊙﹏⊙b sweat... My time is no longer my own now, and there is nothing I can do... I had originally planned to have a surge of inspiration... But thankfully there was this chapter, otherwise I would have had to break my streak today...

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