Chapter 121 — Setting the Scheme (Bonus update for 1,200 pink votes)

In her previous life, whenever people spoke of the Duke of Dingzhen, they would speak of the ten-thousand-character petition in blood that the people of Fujian had submitted on the Jiang family's behalf after the Duke's death.

Since that approach had failed, there was only one other way.

Perhaps things could be changed.

As for Yan Che, he felt he could not bear to remain a moment longer.

He must tell the Madam of this possibility as soon as possible, so that she could consult the household's advisors at once and settle on a course of action.

A sense of panic seized him, as though time were slipping through his fingers. He could not help calling out sharply, "Young Master!"

But before Yan Che's voice had died away, Chen Yanzhou, who had been sitting in silence, suddenly rose to his feet, and echoing the cry of "Young Master!" he bowed with clasped hands and said, "At present we can still tell the world that the young lady found your movements suspicious and took you for kidnappers carrying off some great family's child in flight, while you, seeing us so many and all skilled in martial arts, believed you had fallen among bandits. The young lady wished to rescue the child, you wished to escape—and so a misunderstanding arose. But once reinforcements arrive, I fear the affair will be hard to hush up. Better that I go with you to the capital, and you send a man to accompany our young lady back to Zhending. When the people come to collect the child, we will hand him over to them directly..."

Though he did not know the reason, he keenly sensed the change in Song Yan and Yan Che.

Since there had been a change, then the Fourth Miss must be sent back to the Dou household at once!

He resolved to throw another log on the fire, and stepped forward at the right moment...

Dou Yan was somewhat startled by Chen Yanzhou's decisiveness, but the words were already out of his mouth. She could hardly say anything more.

Yet Song Ke was an ordinary man—would he truly accept it? She had no confidence, and could not help glancing toward Song Yan.

For a moment, everyone's eyes fell upon Song Yan.

* * * *

The rain poured down in torrents, and the sky was black and heavy, as though it might collapse at any moment.

In the woods not far from the Dou family's estate, two men in bamboo hats and straw rain capes stood on a slope gazing toward Dou Zhiwei's estate. One was powerfully built, the other of neat and even figure; behind them stood in silence some thirty-odd sturdy men in black water-tight garments with black cloth masking their faces, who from a distance looked like so many charred stumps.

A boy of twelve or thirteen leaped nimbly to the side of the man of even figure, light as a grasshopper, and reported respectfully, "Sixth Master, I've made contact with the Young Master's people. But the situation is not good—the child has been taken hostage, and the Young Master and Mr. Yan are negotiating with the other side."

"How is that possible!" The powerfully built man raised his head in astonishment, revealing a face that was regular but wholly unremarkable. "Who took the child hostage?"

"The owner of the estate!" said the boy. "I hear the people guarding the child were struck by Pear-Blossom-in-the-Rain needles, and everyone is helping pull them out."

The man of even figure gave an intrigued "Oh?" and asked in wonder, "There are still people with such things in their possession nowadays? And who is this estate owner?"

The boy glanced at the powerfully built man and said in a low voice, "It's the Dou family estate—seems they've run into the Fourth Miss..." His voice trailed off.

The man of even figure gave a great start and said urgently, "How could it be the Dou family's Fourth Miss? In such heavy rain, why would she leave her home and come out here?"

The boy was caught between laughter and tears at the question, and said, "This is the Fourth Miss's own estate! The rain has gone on so long without clearing that the Fourth Miss was worried about the crops in the fields..."

Then the powerfully built man noticed that the face of the man of even figure was turning white and red by turns, and could not help asking, "Are you and this Fourth Miss of the Dou family old acquaintances?"

"I don't know her," said the man of even figure, his face somewhat livid, his voice hoarse. "But the Dou family's Fourth Miss is a woman of chivalrous heart and righteous spirit. A brother of ours on the road was once falsely accused, and it was the Dou family's Fourth Miss who helped clear his name. Later that brother died of his wounds, and it was the Dou family's Fourth Miss who gave money and labor to see him buried, and who took in his family besides. Many of our brothers on the road went to the Dou household as guards out of admiration for the Fourth Miss's chivalry—one of them is even from my own school..." He gritted his teeth and said, "We agreed beforehand that whatever grudges you have, you settle among yourselves, and we would only keep watch for you from the outside. But now that the Dou family's Fourth Miss is involved... I must trouble you to report to the Young Master on my behalf, and say that this Tan, unworthy as he is, wishes to act as peacemaker for the Dou family's Fourth Miss..."

The powerfully built man was dumbstruck.

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Sisters, brothers, I'm stuck on the story these past two days and haven't updated on time, but thanks to your great affection and your constant support with pink votes, I'll keep double-updating to the very end this month. I'll keep careful count of the chapters I owe as bonus updates—only more, never less, guaranteed to deliver!

o(n_n)o~

Thank you, everyone.

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