Chapter 013
Chapter 13: Tearing Off the Mask
Grand Madam Lin looked unhappy and said: “They are right. We came late.”
Madam Jiang felt wronged, but when she met her mother-in-law’s disgusted stare, she had to hold her tongue.
Grand Madam Lin softened her voice and spoke to Nanny Song: “Do not blame her. The rumors outside these last two days made her anxious. It is not that she does not care about Meng Yan. How is Meng Yan’s health, and is the baby safe?”
Nanny Song had meant to provoke Madam Jiang and send both women away, but Grand Madam Lin spoke so neatly that it was hard to refuse. [Looks like they are set on seeing the eldest miss today.] She kept a cold face and said: “Old Madam, rest easy. The eldest miss’s child has the Xia family’s blood. The master and madam would sell the whole house if needed to save the child. Please wait a moment. The eldest miss will come right away.” She turned and left the front hall.
Madam Jiang waited until the servant was gone, then burst out: “Mother, look at her. A rude servant dares to shout in front of you. Is the sky upside down? You are the elder, yet they leave us hanging here on purpose to put Marquis Manor in its place.”
Grand Madam Lin shot her a glance and said: “Then why do you not rush in and drag her out?” Seeing Madam Jiang’s face flush, she snorted lightly and added: “Without solid proof, why would the Xia family block people from Marquis Manor? Since we are here, we will wait. A little while will not kill us.”
Madam Jiang felt slapped by her mother-in-law’s words and mumbled, red-faced: “I am only anxious for you.”
Grand Madam Lin said: “Being anxious is useless. Today we must bring her back to the manor. If she makes a scene later, let her vent. It serves us right that she discovered Ye Lan’s matter.”
Madam Jiang muttered: “It is normal for men to have more than one wife. Besides, Ye Lan knew Huo Ying Zi first, if not for…”
Grand Madam Lin cut her off: “Silence. Those words are for deceiving outsiders, not me. One of them owes money everywhere, and the other is eager to raise military funds to win merit. Marquis Manor is waiting for the Xia family’s silver. If Xia Meng Yan did not like Ye Lan, with Xia Ping Yuan’s temper, do you really think he would not dare defy the imperial betrothal?” She gave a cold snort. A bunch of fools. Deceive if you must, but never let the other side find out. Yet one after another shows no sense, leaving her to clean up the mess with her own face on the line.
Madam Jiang ran out of steam and sat down to drink tea with an angry puff.
Supported by a maid, Xia Meng Yan walked slowly into the front hall. At the sight of the sharp old madam from her past life, a chill crawled over her skin. In that past life, after the wedding, Grand Madam Lin handed the household affairs to her. Back then she thought it was trust. Later she learned Ping An Marquis Manor only looked grand on the outside; inside, accounts bled red. Lin Hong was useless and idle, owing debts all over town. When creditors came, Grand Madam Lin pushed her out to face them. In the end, it meant she paid Lin Hong’s debts. She had loved Lin Ye Lan then, and because she loved him, she did not feel wronged. Now, hmph, [You will all spit it back out.]
She bowed slightly and said: “Mother-in-law.”
Xia Meng Yan’s body was weak, and she moved very slowly. Chun Yue held her up, and her face grew even paler.
Madam Jiang turned to scold her but jumped in fright at the sight of that pallor.
A flash of cold light crossed Grand Madam Lin’s eyes, though her face showed worry as she said: “What is this? Did they not just say you were already much better?”
Xia Meng Yan heard the hidden tone and thought: [So you mean I am faking it.] She forced a faint smile and said: “I escaped home with my life. The baby is safe, but my body is empty of strength. It will take a long time to heal.”
Chun Yue gave the two women a hard look and said: “More than just healing. She should be lying in bed and must not set foot on the ground.”
The stern old madam had planned to act lofty like a mother-in-law, but now she had to yield. She said: “I have already written to blame Ye Lan. Do not worry. If he really wronged you, I will make it right for you. You are still the Ping An Marchioness. If you stay in your parents’ home too long, the ladies in our manor will be criticized. You are a sensible child, so I know you understand. Whatever we must discuss, let us speak back at the manor.”
Xia Meng Yan said: “You want me to return, but I do not dare. I do not believe you did not know about the matter between the marquis and Huo Ying Zi. From the wedding until now, you all hid it from me.”
Madam Jiang could not hold back and said: “Ye Lan serves under Marshal Huo. If we told you, what could you do?” She sniffed and added, “Not telling you was for your own good.”
Xia Meng Yan curled her lips with a thin, mocking smile and said: “Elder sister-in-law spends my silver to speak for someone else. How kind of you.”
“You…”
“Be silent.” Grand Madam Lin’s gaze turned colder, as if she were meeting a new Xia Meng Yan. She said: “Before Ye Lan left the capital, I spoke with him about Huo Ying Zi. He swore he had cut ties. It is just that he cannot be too harsh because of Marshal Huo. You should understand. Ye Lan still serves under him. If you are angry, wait until the war is over. I will call him home. You can hit him and scold him as you please. Life is hard for a woman, especially one with a child. A careless word outside could land you in a pig cage.”
“Mother-in-law,” Xia Meng Yan cut her off and looked at her calmly, “you mean I should endure and keep being the money pouch of Marquis Manor?”
“So you know,” blurted Madam Jiang.
Grand Madam Lin shot her a knife-edged glare that almost killed her on the spot. Fool.
Grand Madam Lin smoothed her face and said: “We are one family. Talking money hurts feelings. Lord Xia is willing to help Ye Lan because he sees his ability and wants to lend him a hand. Then your days later will be easier too. When Ye Lan does well, you do well. So simple a truth you should know. Do not bring this up again, or you stain Ye Lan’s name.”
“So we circle back to telling me to endure,” said Xia Meng Yan. She stood up too fast and swayed.
Chun Yue grabbed her in alarm and said: “Eldest miss.”
Leaning on Chun Yue’s arm, Xia Meng Yan stared in disbelief and said: “If Lin Ye Lan wants to win merit, fine. If he uses the Xia family’s silver, fine. But he must not be ungrateful. He took the Xia family’s silver to please an old lover.”
She raised her chin and said: “Do you know that Huo Ying Zi egged Lin Ye Lan on to kidnap me and planned to use it to wring more silver from the Xia family? If anyone wants to endure such vile behavior, let them endure. I will not.”
“Xia Meng Yan, do not talk nonsense,” Grand Madam Lin said, stepping up to seize her hand, “it is a misunderstanding. Ye Lan would never kidnap you. Huo Ying Zi schemed in the dark. Do not let her fool you.” Xia Meng Yan shook her off.
“If you have any conscience left,” Xia Meng Yan said angrily, eyes reddening, “tell Lin Ye Lan to write a separation letter. I might think better of you.”
Grand Madam Lin’s face changed. Separation? Xia Meng Yan wanted to separate? Impossible. Without the Xia family’s silver, not only Ye Lan’s future, but even Marquis Manor’s daily life would fall apart.
Grand Madam Lin said: “I have borne your making a storm in the city. But separation is impossible. You married only a few months ago. How will the capital see Ping An Marquis Manor if you separate now? Besides, your marriage was granted by the emperor. Even if there is a problem, only the emperor can speak.”
Xia Meng Yan gave a cold smile and said: “So that is why you waited two days before coming. You are certain I will go back on my own.”
Caught out, Grand Madam Lin stopped pretending and said: “That is the truth. Today you must return with me.”
“What if I do not?” Xia Meng Yan laughed softly, mockery in her eyes. “Even if the marriage was by imperial decree, I am not afraid. If you want me to swallow the insult and pretend nothing happened, then return double of all the silver the Xia family has given.”
Madam Jiang jumped to her feet and shouted: “How could money already given be returned, and double at that? Spit. Do you think Ping An Marquis Manor fears you?”
“In that case, see the guests out,” said Xia Meng Yan. She turned to leave. Madam Jiang lunged in a fury and cried: “You must come back today…”
“Ah.”
“Eldest miss,” cried Chun Yue in shock.