Chapter 471 — Married Off

Dou Yan rose to take her leave. "Get some rest early. Tomorrow is your big day—mind you don't let your face grow pale and drawn."

Jiang Yan blushed and murmured "Yes," seeing Dou Yan out of Bishui Pavilion.

Dou Yan returned to the main house.

Song Yan was practicing large characters in his study, and from the look of things, he was in a fine temper.

Dou Yan was caught between laughter and tears. "Her mind is simple—she hasn't the faintest idea what you are worrying about. Rather than slipping her private silver, you would do better to give her a pair of capable maids and matrons. Yuqiao Alley is so close to this house—surely you don't fear Chen Zanzhi would dare treat her shabbily?"

"I cannot fathom how that head of hers is put together," Song Yan said, exasperated at her failure to measure up. "All my worrying was for nothing."

Dou Yan took his arm and said gently, "I know you feared Chen Zanzhi would discover you had placed people in his household, and that it would sow discord between him and Sister Yan—that is why you gave her those two shops. Do not be disheartened. Before, she had no one to teach her, and she was young, which is why she was so easily led about by others. Now she has you and me to watch over her. She will grow up in time."

Comforted by Dou Zhiwei, Song Yan gradually let his anger subside.

The next day Jiang Yan left the house. He stood lost in melancholy for a good while.

Song Cen had not attended Jiang Yan's wedding at all. He had long since invited friends to go out of the city to admire the snow, and did not return until nightfall.

Seeing the servant boy sweeping up firecracker debris before the gate, he asked Zeng Wu with a cold face, "Has the young miss gone?"

Zeng Wu hastily bowed low and smiled. "She left less than two hours ago."

Song Cen stood for a moment, then returned to Jixiang Court.

Song Yan's words—that the Prince of Liao wished to take Jiang Yan as his consort, and that if it came to pass, he would have a prince for a son-in-law—had echoed endlessly in Song Cen's mind. At first he took it for nothing more than a means for Song Yan to provoke him. But as Geng Li paid call after call on Song Cen, and a personal letter arrived by six-hundred-li express, he began to feel uncertain; a few days ago he could no longer restrain himself and sent men to investigate.

To his astonishment, it was all true!

At the news he was thrown into complete disarray.

Had the child been raised within the household, she would have been more than fit to be the Prince of Liao's consort—how could she have been taken as a mere concubine?

He was at once filled with regret and rancor.

Yet the feeling flared like a firework and was gone just as quickly.

Compared with the anguish it would cause Lady Jiang, having Song Han raised in the household seemed to him far more amusing.

Song Cen strode toward the main house.

The servant boy posted at the door saw him and came running. "Lord Zhenguo, the second young master is here."

Song Cen was taken aback.

The curtain of the hall had already been lifted high, revealing Song Han's handsome smile.

"Father, you are back," he said respectfully, stepping aside to let Song Cen enter.

Song Cen gave a dignified "Mm" and said, "You have come to drink the wedding wine."

Song Han smiled. "I had not meant to come, but I wished to see Father, so I came over—only to find you had gone out to visit friends." As he spoke, he helped Song Cen to a seat and, taking the tea from the maid's hands, set it before him.

Song Cen lifted the cup and took a sip, then said languidly, "What business do you have with me?"

Song Han smiled. "I have set up my own household now, and can no longer shut my ears to the world outside and give my whole heart to the books of the sages, as I did in this house. I wish to find something to do, and would like Father to help me decide—what would be fitting?"

Song Cen had been pondering this very matter.

If he meant to elevate Song Han, he could not leave him idle at home with nothing to occupy him.

"The year's end draws near," he said, "and I have more occasion to go in and out of the palace. When the chance arises, I will secure an imperial decree on your behalf."

Song Han had not expected the matter to be settled so easily. He was overjoyed and thanked Song Cen again and again.

Song Cen was well pleased with Song Han's humility before him. "Spend the New Year in peace," he said, "and wait for good news from me."

Song Han returned to Si Tiao Alley in high spirits.

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Sisters and brothers, here is today's bonus chapter.

The story is nearing its end, and these past two days I have been fretting over how to conclude it, so I have been writing with more care and at a slower pace. Today's update will go up around eleven tonight—those who find that too late may read it tomorrow morning!

o(n_n)o~