Chapter 010
Chapter 10: Set the Trap First
Chun Yue whispered as she tightened a knot: “Great miss, will it cause trouble to lock the Marquis in this inn?” A moment ago, she and Guard Song had tied Lin Ye Lan and thrown him into a room. They also told the waiter not to disturb him before tomorrow’s dinner.
Xia Meng Yan rested with her eyes closed and answered lazily: “It won’t. In less than half a day, the Huo Family Army will come looking.”
When Lin Ye Lan barged in, Guard Song had already stood behind him. Xia Meng Yan had signaled for the guard not to enter. Knocking Lin Ye Lan out was only to avoid wasting time with a fool.
She asked softly: “How is Miss Yue’er?”
Chun Yue replied: “Miss Li Hua is with her. She has not caused any fuss. Heir Apparent Duan went ahead to scout and will be back soon.”
“Good. Now tell me about the money.”
On the way, Xia Meng Yan had pieced together the truth behind the imperial marriage.
Father knew she liked Lin Ye Lan. He did not approve, but he did not stop her. Then Lin Ye Lan went to court to see the Emperor and brought up the army pay for the Northern Fortress Pass. The State Treasury was empty, and the Court could not take out so much silver at once.
Father served close to the Emperor and could enter the Imperial Study at will. By chance, he was there that day.
Whether by plan or by accident, Lin Ye Lan mentioned wealthy merchants across the realm, including the Lin Family, her maternal grandfather’s clan.
Father had skill enough to stand before the throne. He did not want to be used by Lin Ye Lan, and he did not want the Emperor to grow suspicious. So he used his daughter’s marriage to solve the problem.
One marriage to solve the army’s pay. Why would the Emperor refuse? He gave the order to grant the marriage right away.
Knowing the cause and effect, Xia Meng Yan felt even more sorry for her past self. Two hundred thousand taels made everyone happy, except the Xia Family, who lost their only daughter.
[This time, not a single coin goes to Lin Ye Lan.]
A few days later, the carriage reached the Capital. Duan Yi Chen sat on his horse and lifted his chin toward Xia Meng Yan: “Don’t be afraid. I will go home first, report in, and then come to the Ping An Marquis Manor to get you.”
“No need. I am going straight to the Xia Manor,” she said.
Duan Yi Chen blinked: “You are serious?”
All along the way, whenever they spoke of Lin Ye Lan, Xia Meng Yan’s face turned bad. He thought she was still angry. He did not expect her to really mean it.
“Of course,” said Xia Meng Yan. She dropped the curtain and told the driver to head for the Xia Manor.
Duan Yi Chen muttered about divorce under his breath. The Xia Family was of scholars and officials. Old Madam Xia cared for face above all. How could she agree to a divorce?
Xia Meng Yan knew divorce would not be easy. But she had to do it, not for herself, but for the child in her belly.
Lin Ye Lan and Huo Ying Zi had been together at the Northern Fortress Pass. If nothing went wrong, when the army returned in triumph, Huo Ying Zi would come back to the Capital.
By then, Huo Ying Zi would have military merit. Xia Meng Yan would be only a housebound woman. The Emperor’s choice would be clear.
[Before they return to the Capital, I must lay everything out.]
The carriage rolled on and soon stopped at the Xia Family’s front gate.
Xia Meng Yan crooked a finger. Chun Yue bent close. After hearing the order, Chun Yue nodded with a small smile.
Then Chun Yue pounded on the gate and cried at the top of her lungs: “Help! Please save my lady! The Ping An Marquis Manor wants to kill her!”
Inside the carriage, Xia Meng Yan bit her fingertip, smeared fresh blood on her face, and tore the hem of her skirt to look as if she had struggled all the way here.
Passersby near the Xia Manor heard the crying and stopped to stare. When they heard the words “the Ping An Marquis Manor wants to kill someone,” shock filled their faces.
Wasn’t the Xia Family’s daughter married to the Marquis of Ping An? Had she died?
The gate swung open. Seeing that it was Chun Yue, the servant boy hurried to ask: “What happened?”
“Call the Master and Madam, quick. The Marquis of Ping An wants to kill the great miss!”
The boy turned pale and ran inside to report.
Chun Yue stood by the carriage and sobbed hard: “Great miss, hold on. We are home… We admit defeat. We will give up being marchioness. Let them have it. Please hold on, great miss, you still have a child in your belly…”
“What happened?” An auntie from the crowd could not bear it and stepped up to comfort her.
Chun Yue cried as she explained: “My lady went to the Northern Fortress Pass with the Marquis of Ping An. On the road he rushed like a madman. We thought he was worried about the Frontier Garrison. Who knew he could not forget the woman in his camp.”
“There is such a thing? The Marquis of Ping An keeps a mistress at the Frontier Garrison?” As a woman, the auntie felt angry for Xia Meng Yan.
“If it were only a mistress, my lady would have endured it, since she is with child. But they went too far. That woman told soldiers to kidnap my lady. Thankfully my lady learned of it early, and we ran away in the night. When the plot failed, that woman pushed the Marquis to ‘teach’ my lady. They chased and blocked us the whole way. If we had not met Heir Apparent Duan on an outing, my lady would have died on the road. Tigers do not eat their own cubs. How can the Marquis be so cruel?”
A loud voice cut through the crowd: “What a fine Marquis of Ping An. I will never forgive him.” On a quiet day, Xia Ping Yuan had been reading in his study. After hearing the report, he rushed over and caught Chun Yue’s words. His anger burst.
Madam Lin arrived a step later. Seeing her daughter weakly step out of the carriage, she burst into tears: “My Yan’er, how did this happen?”
Before anyone spoke, Xia Meng Yan knelt: “Mother, your daughter was wrong.” Her face was full of remorse. “I was blinded at first. Even knowing the Marquis of Ping An used me, I still loved him with all my heart. I never thought he would join with his woman outside and try to kill me.”
“Beast,” roared Xia Ping Yuan. “Do not be afraid, Yan’er. I will seek justice for you. You will stay in the manor. I want to see how the Ping An Marquis Manor has the face to come to our door.”
Xia Meng Yan began to cry out loud. Maybe it had been an act at the gate, but when she saw her parents and remembered her tragic death in the last life, she could not hold back her grief: “Father, I was wrong. I was truly wrong.”
The onlookers watched the family cling to each other and wept red-eyed.
“Miss Xia is so pitiful. She just got married and this happened.”
“Lord Xia serves close to the throne. How can the Marquis of Ping An favor a concubine and crush his wife?”
“So what if we talk about it? Miss Xia still suffers most. She is with child and stuck between choices. This is truly cruel.”
They watched Xia Meng Yan get helped into the Xia Manor. The red gate closed.
Madam Lin supported her daughter all the way back to Autumn Lotus Court. Xia Meng Yan secretly squeezed her mother’s hand. Madam Lin blinked and looked at her daughter.
Xia Meng Yan gave the smallest nod. Madam Lin’s heart settled a little: “Tell the kitchen to make some food. Also, invite Physician Wang. Everyone else wait outside.”
The maids went to their tasks and closed the door.
Xia Ping Yuan frowned when he saw Madam Lin send everyone away.
Madam Lin held her daughter’s hand and asked softly: “Yan’er, tell us what really happened. Why did you spread such words about Lin Ye Lan?”
A mother knows her daughter best. Unless she had suffered, Yan’er would not have put on a show at the gate.
Xia Ping Yuan knit his brows: “What do you mean? Was that all an act?”
Sitting up straight, Xia Meng Yan knelt before her parents with great care: “Father, Mother, I want to divorce Lin Ye Lan. Please allow it.”
“Divorce?” Xia Ping Yuan jumped to his feet, thinking he had misheard. “Does that brat really keep a mistress at the Frontier Garrison?”
Madam Lin motioned for him to sit and gripped her daughter’s hand: “Yan’er, what happened? If Lin Ye Lan wronged you, your father and I will stand up for you.”
Tears in her eyes, Xia Meng Yan nodded and told them everything that had happened on the road.
“Worthless cur. A commander of three armies, yet he kidnapped his own wife. After it all blew up, he tried to throw the blame on her. Coward,” Xia Ping Yuan fumed, pacing the room. “I have long disliked that boy. I did not think he was also this spineless.”
Madam Lin’s face was cold and firm: “The Ping An Marquis Manor bullies us too far. Divorce. We must divorce.”