Chapter 007
Chapter 7: Troublesome Friend
Chun Yue had been about to scold the intruder, but when she saw his face, she blurted out: “Heir Apparent Duan, why are you here?”
“Thought it was you. Don’t ask yet, lend me some silver,” said Duan Yi Chen as he reached inside the carriage, panting and careless about propriety. Seeing Xia Meng Yan staring in a daze, he lifted his hand and added, half teasing, half urgent: “Don’t be stingy, just ten taels. When I’m back in the Capital, I’ll pay you double.”
Xia Meng Yan’s eyes turned red. [I never thought that after my rebirth, the first troublesome friend I’d see would be Duan Yi Chen.] Memories surged up all at once.
She and Duan Yi Chen had met by fighting first and becoming friends later. When she was little, she often dressed as a boy and slipped out of her home. Once, she ran into Duan Yi Chen, who had also sneaked out. They both wanted the same jade pendant and refused to back down, so they decided to settle it the “boy” way: by fighting.
It wasn’t a real match, just two kids grappling and tugging at each other. As the Eldest Princess’s son and the legitimate heir of Marquis Xuan Ping, Duan Yi Chen was always handled with care. People were scared to even bump into him, much less scuffle. But young Xia Meng Yan didn’t know who he was, so she didn’t hold back.
Duan Yi Chen was upset, yet he didn’t want to press her with his status. He kept his identity quiet. After they ran into each other a few more times, they became friends.
At first, Xia Meng Yan dared not reveal who she was and only said she worked at Scholar Xia’s residence. Duan Yi Chen also said he “worked” at Marquis Xuan Ping’s manor. They each thought they were clever, until a banquet exposed them both.
In her last life, when she followed Lin Ye Lan everywhere, Duan Yi Chen once scolded her and said that boy was no good. They had a huge fight over it. After that, Duan Yi Chen kept picking trouble with Lin Ye Lan, and the two friends stopped seeing each other.
“You, don’t act like that. Don’t think that if you cry, I’ll forgive you,” said Duan Yi Chen when he noticed Xia Meng Yan’s wet eyes. He snatched his hand back and looked to Chun Yue: “I didn’t do anything to her. I only want to borrow ten taels. You have to be my witness.”
“Heir Apparent Duan, the Eldest Miss is happy,” said Chun Yue softly. She saw it clearly. Her Eldest Miss had long wanted to apologize but held back for pride. Heir Apparent Duan was stubborn too; a man won’t lose a piece of flesh by bowing his head first, yet he dragged it until now.
“Happy? If you’re happy, don’t cry. All right, all right, it was my fault before. I came here in person. Doesn’t that show my sincerity?” he said, trying to joke.
“You got into trouble again?” asked Xia Meng Yan as she calmed herself and wiped the corners of her eyes. Seeing a friend in a strange place made her truly happy.
“No.” He hurried to explain, worried she might misunderstand: “My silver was stolen at the inn. I think they’re a black shop, but they accused me of eating and not paying. I was angry and fought with them. There were too many on their side, so I ran.”
As he spoke, noisy footsteps sounded outside: “There he is! Dare to eat for free on Northern Fortress territory? He’s asking for death!”
“Men,” said Xia Meng Yan. Guard Song dropped down, arms crossed over his chest as he blocked the crowd.
“Chun Yue, go report to the yamen,” said Xia Meng Yan in a calm voice, just loud enough for those outside to hear.
The leader gave a cold snort when he heard “report to the yamen”: “Go on, report. Staying at an inn and not paying? I want to see who ends up in jail.”
“You think I’m scared of you? I don’t believe there’s no law on Northern Fortress land,” said Duan Yi Chen. Seeing Guard Song gave him instant confidence. Guard Song was the head bodyguard of Xia Manor. His skill was close to that of a Shadow Guard. This group of street thugs wasn’t worth a single serious move from him.
The leader stepped forward, then saw a lady step down from the carriage. From her bearing, figure, and dress, she had to be a proper madam from a great house. He softened his tone and smiled: “Madam, we’re not being unreasonable. Your friend won’t pay after staying at our inn, so what can we do? How about this, you pay for him, and we’ll leave now.”
“Bah, black shop. Your people stole my silver and now you accuse me of theft. Report it. Even if I go to jail, I won’t be framed,” said Duan Yi Chen, angry.
“There’s no need for that, sir. It’s only ten taels. You aren’t short on money, are you?” said the man.
Duan Yi Chen was about to argue again, but Xia Meng Yan stopped him: “Chun Yue, give them the silver.”
The leader took the money, weighed it in his palm, and grinned wide enough to show a big gold tooth: “Thanks kindly. If you pass through Northern Fortress again, please look after us.” He gestured to his men and left.
Duan Yi Chen fumed: “Why give him money? One look and you know he’s no good.”
“I’ll make it up to you. I’m tired. I want to rest first,” said Xia Meng Yan. Two days on the road had worn her out.
Duan Yi Chen finally remembered and glanced at her belly, then scratched his head: “Look at me forgetting. You’re pregnant. Go in and rest.”
Guard Song followed him to fetch the luggage, and Duan Yi Chen moved into the room next to hers.
After lunch, Xia Meng Yan lay on the daybed to rest. Duan Yi Chen came in, sat on a low stool at her side, and told her what he’d been through. He had learned she was coming to Northern Fortress and tailed her from afar. He only wanted to see her arrive safely before going back. But he fell ill on the way, his silver was stolen, and he got chased. While running, he spotted the Xia Family’s carriage and rushed over, never expecting it to be Xia Meng Yan’s in truth.
“Why are you here? Did you two have a fight?” he asked carefully.
“Not a fight. A divorce,” said Xia Meng Yan, lowering her head, her gaze falling to her stomach.
Duan Yi Chen sprang to his feet. That felt too abrupt, so he sat down again on the edge of the bed and tested the words: “You’re tricking me again. Everyone in the Capital knows you like Lin Ye Lan. You just got married and you want a divorce? No one will believe it.”
Xia Meng Yan knew she’d been too high-profile before. A sudden change wouldn’t be believed. “The divorce must happen. It’s enough that you know,” she said, then shifted the topic: “Now, your money. How much did you lose?”
Marquis Xuan Ping’s manor never lacked silver, and the Eldest Princess doted on her son. When he traveled, he carried plenty.
“Five thousand taels,” he said.
“Wait a moment,” said Xia Meng Yan. “Men.”
Guard Song came in: “What are your orders, Eldest Miss?”
She waved him closer and whispered a few lines.
Duan Yi Chen listened and grinned with bright excitement: “This time, I’ll make them kneel and beg me.”
“Don’t be happy too early,” said Xia Meng Yan. She looked at the fragrant pears on the table. The wind and sand at Northern Fortress Pass were fierce, and the sun felt bigger than in the Capital. Just standing outside made a person burn. Yet the fruit here was strangely juicy. This pear was so crisp that one bite sent sweet-sour juice running down her fingers. She took a bite and felt very satisfied.
Duan Yi Chen also took a pear and leaned back on the pillow lazily: “You mean that inn has someone backing it?”
He was a playboy, but not a fool. His clothes alone told anyone with eyes to tread carefully. Yet the inn’s shopkeeper had been bold, which meant he wasn’t afraid to offend him.
“Don’t forget, Northern Fortress Pass is the Huo Family’s turf,” said Xia Meng Yan, her eyes narrowing as a cold light flashed inside.
In her last life, she had crashed around without thinking. She forgot that Huo Ying Zi could be that arrogant only because Marshal Huo stood behind her. In other words, Marshal Huo might well have known what she did. Letting his daughter dangle Lin Ye Lan was his way of keeping two paths open.
Hearing “Huo Family,” Duan Yi Chen bit hard into his pear: “That old man goes against my father at every turn. I’ve wanted to deal with him for a long time. Thinks he’s far from the Emperor so he can act like a little emperor. Bah, more like a stray dog.”
Marquis Xuan Ping had risen from the army. After marrying the Eldest Princess, he slowly yielded power. Only then did the Huo Family rise.
Still, Duan Yi Chen wasn’t brainless: “If you’re right, we might not be able to leave Northern Fortress Pass.”
Xia Meng Yan lifted an eyebrow and gave a small laugh: “Not necessarily.”