Chapter 291 — Dogs Barking, Men Startling

"...The Emperor has always shown the Ying Zhenguo Estate especial favor, and this time he even replaced both the prefect of Shuntian and the commander of the Five Urban Garrisons. When the people of the capital gossip over their tea, who does not raise a thumb at the Ying Zhenguo Estate and say 'formidable'! Truly, fortune hides within misfortune, and misfortune lies within fortune! Those thieves came to the Ying Zhenguo Estate to steal, never imagining they would end up making its reputation—that is surely something no one could have foreseen." He smiled. "I met with Prefect Huang, and he told me the same tale. We even shared a laugh over it."

If he did not show a little steel of his own, these men would likely fob him off with a few unrelated scapegoats.

Song Yan smiled faintly. "The two of you have read my mind. Only, I hear those thieves are cunning and have long since fled beyond trace. I doubt even the Shuntian Prefecture and the Capital Garrison will find it easy to catch them within the deadline the Emperor set. I have thought it over, and to spare you any trouble, the Ying Zhenguo Estate will put up a handsome reward: a thousand taels of silver for anyone who can trace the whereabouts of one thief; two thousand for two; and so on, with no ceiling. For the capture of one thief, alive or dead: three thousand taels for a corpse, five thousand for a live capture. And should anyone capture three or more, the Ying Zhenguo Estate will vouch for him and recommend him to a post in the Guards. What say you?"

Would this not throw the whole realm into chaos?

Never mind the government men—even the outlaws of the greenwood, for silver and for a proper standing, would likely hunt down the thieves who had broken into the Ying Zhenguo Estate of their own accord. Those thieves might even turn on one another for the bounty...

The Earl of Donglin drew a sharp breath.

Whose idea was this, Song Yan's or Song Cen's?

He could not help studying Song Yan closely.

The youth was cool and luminous as moonlight, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, a trace of arrogance beneath his indifference. If there was any difference between him and those scions of great houses who had grown up favored by their elders and smooth-sailing all their lives, it was that his looks were extraordinarily handsome, beyond the common run—yet what he did was no different from those sheltered young lords who, when vexed, knew only to crush others with money and power!

This seemed badly at odds with the rumors he had heard about the heir of the Duke Yingguo.

Which, then, was the real Song Yan?

He rather regretted not having had Song Yan investigated thoroughly before coming.

The Earl of Donglin could not help rubbing his brow. "Does your honored father know of this reward? It will take no small sum, and you will have to petition the Emperor for the honor..."

Song Dan said, "Father is not at home; the Ying Zhenguo Estate has been entrusted to me. A trifling matter like this need not trouble him—the silver will come from me, and I will make the petition myself. I only beg that when Father returns, he will not be angry with me for the sake of the newly built stables and storehouses!" His tone was somewhat rueful, like one who has done wrong and wants only to make amends and beg his elders not to pursue the matter.

Beside him, the more Wei Fan listened, the more he felt Song Yan was making a mountain out of a molehill. Seeing the Earl of Donglin looking rather helpless, he could not resist saying, "Heir, I say you should keep out of this! With the Earl of Donglin and Prefect Huang on it, I trust those thieves will soon be brought to justice. Don't put yourself through all this trouble—it is hardly worth the cost..."

Song Yan had no wish to heed him at all, and said directly to the Earl of Donglin, "When Prefect Huang came at noon with the Shuntian vice-prefect and the constables, I said the same to them. Prefect Huang hesitated somewhat on hearing it, but the vice-prefect and the constables were most interested. Prefect Huang thought the reward too great and the number of people involved too many, and said he would consult you before giving me an answer..."

The Earl of Donglin silently cursed Prefect Huang's mother.

You knew of this long ago and never sent me word, and now that the news is out, you leave the decision to me!

If I agree, who is to answer for the chaos in the capital? If I refuse, do I not cut off my subordinates' road to wealth? Who will serve me wholeheartedly after that!

He could hold back no longer and said hastily, "When the Emperor summoned me and Prefect Huang, he said the Shuntian Prefecture was to take the lead in this matter and the Five Urban Garrisons to assist. Naturally I take my cue from Prefect Huang..."

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Sisters and brothers who read this book, here is today's update—I beg for your pink tickets!

o(n_n)o~

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