Chapter 512 — Not Letting Go

The Emperor meant to take up long residence at the Western Park detached palace, and the Heir Apparent wished to renovate that palace. But over the past few years the Empress had moved a great many things out of the Emperor's storehouses to subsidize the Prince of Liao, so there was simply no silver to be had, and the funds had to be drawn from the Ministry of Revenue. In recent years the Ministry had first borne the costs of river works, and then the floods in Jiangnan, and was already stretched thin—where was the silver to renovate a palace for the Emperor? The Heir Apparent shut his eyes and handed the matter to Song Yan.

Song Yan immediately summoned to the capital the former Vice Minister of Revenue, who had retired from office, to audit the accounts.

The Ministry of Revenue panicked outright. Within half a month they cobbled together the funds to repair the secondary palace, but thereafter they began to give Song Yan a wide berth whenever they crossed paths.

Dou Yan knew none of this.

Song Dan said, "Fifth Uncle means to take this chance to go back to Hao Prefecture and pay his respects at Grandmother's grave. After the Mid-Autumn Festival he'll set out for Liaodong. Even if there's a fuss, it'll only last a day or two. It's of no great consequence."

At the mention of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Dou Yan thought of Miao Zhi. "When does Song Han leave? Once he's gone, should we bring Miao Zhi back?"

Song Yan had made up her mind to pack Song Han off to the Northwest Camp. From what she knew of Song Zhi, there would surely be more schemes to come; even if Song Han kept his life, he need never dream of setting foot in the capital again. The house on Four Lanes was a gift from Song Cen to Song Han, and Miao Zhi was Song Han's lawful wife. With Song Han away from home, Miao Zhi had every right to live there—surely Song Cen could not be allowed to take the property back?

Would that not be letting Song Cen off far too lightly!

Song Dan said, "You make the decision."

Dou Yan sent word to Miao Zhi.

Miao Zhi could not help finding it odd, and asked the messenger, "How could the Second Master have agreed to go to the Northwest Camp?"

The old woman did not know, to begin with, and secondly Dou Yan kept her household under iron discipline, so she dared not speak wildly. She pleaded ignorance outright.

Miao Zhi did not presume to press her. She said she must think it over carefully, and would reply to Dou Yan once she had. She gave the woman a tael of silver and sent her off, then sat alone on the heated kang by the window and turned the woman's words over and over in her mind. By suppertime her expression was still somewhat distracted.

Ji Hong could not help asking what had happened.

She told Ji Hong what Dou Zhiwei had meant, and said in confusion, "Tell me, what does the lady mean by this? Surely the Second Master cannot stay away forever?"

Ji Hong thought for a moment, then said, "In the past the Second Master was very close to the Prince of Liao's household. Do you suppose this business might have something to do with the Prince of Liao? The Heir Apparent doesn't seem to care much for the Prince of Liao."

They lived in the separate residence, and being women of the inner quarters, they neither cared about nor knew anything of what went on outside.

Miao Zhi's heart leapt at once.

Could it be that Song Han had done something to offend Song Yan, and Song Yan had banished him to the Northwest Camp—perhaps never to return for the rest of his life?

Restless and ill at ease, she paced the room half the night. Early the next morning she had the carriage harnessed and went to the Ying Zhenguo Estate.

Dou Yan did not conceal anything from her, and told Miao Zhi the whole course of events.

Miao Zhi gasped as she listened, and only after a long while did she recover herself. In horror she said, "Truly, he who digs his own grave cannot live!"

Dou Yan said, "That property is yours after all. Pleasant as the farmstead is, it cannot match the convenience of the city. Before, you had no choice. Now that you can move back, it would be best to do so."

At these words Miao Zhi clenched her teeth. Suddenly she rose and knelt before Dou Zhiwei.

Dou Yan was greatly startled and quickly told Ruozhu to help Miao Zhi up.

Miao Zhi refused to rise, and said with tears in her eyes, "Sister-in-law, I have a favor to beg of you!"

"Whatever it is, get up first and then we'll talk." Some premonition stirred faintly in Dou Yan's heart. She dismissed the servants in the room and spoke with Miao Zhi alone.

"I want to accuse Song Han of adultery with his father's concubine!" Her bright eyes were wide open, as if a fire were hidden within them. "I want him ruined in name and reputation, to die a wretched death!"

Dou Yan had assumed Miao Zhi meant to divorce Song Han.

She was somewhat dumbfounded. "That charge cannot possibly stand! First, the Zhenguo Lord has no concubines; second, Du Ruo and the others are all gone. Bare words and empty air will only provoke the Zhenguo Lord and turn him against you."

To her surprise, Miao Zhi raised her brows and smiled. "It is precisely because none of those people are left that I can accuse Song Han of adultery with his father's concubine!" As she spoke she knelt again before Dou Zhiwei. "Sister-in-law, this time you must help me no matter what. I would sooner die than have anything more to do with Song Han."

(To be continued)