Chapter 029
Chapter 29: Lin Ye Lan Can’t Be Trusted
Lin Ye Lan hurried forward to support Huo Ying Zi and asked in a soft voice: “Why did you come?”
Huo Ying Zi looked up at the tall vermilion gate, guilt flickering in her eyes, and asked in a low tone: “Does Sister Meng Yan still refuse to believe you? Do you want to go back in and explain?”
“It is not about you. She does not know what is good for her,” said Lin Ye Lan as he helped her into the carriage. When he lifted his leg, pain tugged at his wound. He had taken numbing powder before leaving home so he would not look weak. Now the medicine was close to wearing off.
As the carriage rolled away, Huo Ying Zi gave a light cough and spoke with care: “Elder Brother Ye Lan, I am fine. Do not let me make things hard for you.”
“My mother is very ill,” Lin Ye Lan answered calmly. “The Marquis Manor planned to seek Divine Physician Luo anyway. This has nothing to do with you.” He had told no one that, besides treating his mother’s facial paralysis, the most important task was to treat Huo Ying Zi’s illness.
Because Qiao Sheng and others had been demoted, Huo Ying Zi grew upset and rode out to clear her mind. She fell into a cold pond and stayed there for about four hours before being rescued. The physician said her body was already weak, and that long soak had hurt her foundation. Marshal Huo ordered them back to the capital so she could be treated.
Now Huo Ying Zi had taken off her uniform and put on a moon-white dress. She looked like a stubborn little flower in the wind, stirring pity as she said softly: “Without Sister Meng Yan, how can we ask Divine Physician Luo to see Grand Madam?”
“Divine Physician Luo is not the only answer,” said Lin Ye Lan. “I will secretly look for other physicians to treat you. Do not worry. I promised Marshal Huo I would take good care of you.”
Huo Ying Zi’s eyes filled with gratitude as she murmured: “I am lucky to have you. Otherwise, I really would not know what to do.”
He asked, practical as ever: “Can you live alone in the Huo Family’s old residence?”
“With Nanny Cheng there, I can,” said Huo Ying Zi, sitting up straighter and patting her chest lightly. “You will be busy now that you are back in the capital. I can take care of myself.”
Lin Ye Lan nodded and let a cold remark slip: “If only Xia Meng Yan were half as sensible.”
“It is only a misunderstanding,” Huo Ying Zi offered with a small smile. “If I meet Sister Meng Yan another day, I will explain for you.”
“Forget it,” said Lin Ye Lan, cooling his tone. “Let her stew for a while.”
The carriage stopped at the Huo Family’s old residence. The branch family had already left the capital, and only a few loyal servants remained. Nanny Cheng reached up to help her master down. The two women watched the carriage leave.
“How was it, miss?” Nanny Cheng asked, nervous.
Huo Ying Zi did not answer. She turned and went inside. Back in her room, displeasure flashed across her face. She lifted her hand and swept a teacup to the floor with a sharp clatter as she hissed: “Useless. Didn’t they say Xia Meng Yan liked him and would agree to anything? Now she cannot even invite a physician.”
Nanny Cheng pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her master, speaking with open scorn: “Do not be angry, miss. Lord Xia is only a court scholar. He may step before the emperor now and then, but compared to the Huo Family, a noble house for a hundred years, he is a speck of dust. A young lady raised in such a family will be petty. No one should be surprised. Better to wait. Xia Meng Yan is carrying the Marquis of Ping An’s child. Where can she run? In the end, the marquis will have her in his hand.”
Huo Ying Zi wiped her pale fingertips. Though she had trained in martial arts since childhood, she had never given up caring for her body. [In the end a woman marries and has children. I do not want my future husband to dislike rough skin.] Her mood darkened and she tossed the handkerchief to the floor: “Send my calling card to the Marquis Xuan Ping Residence.”
Lin Ye Lan could not be relied on. She would find her own way. Grand Madam Lin’s face could wait. Her own illness could not.
“Understood,” said Nanny Cheng as she hurried out.
That evening, when Xia Ping Yuan returned and heard that the Marquis of Ping An had come by, he strode to Autumn Lotus Court and burst out: “What did that scum want? Did he come to snatch the child?”
All his life, he most regretted not stopping his daughter from marrying Lin Ye Lan. If he had known Lin Ye Lan was such a jerk, he would have knocked his daughter out before allowing that wedding.
“Father, please drink and calm down,” said Xia Meng Yan as she poured him tea, warmth rising in her chest because her father was here to shield her.
The steward stood by the door, barely daring to breathe, waiting for punishment. Xia Ping Yuan tossed back a mouthful of tea, then caught sight of the steward shrinking like a quail. He barked: “Why are you standing there? Tell everyone in the manor: if the Marquis of Ping An dares to come again, whoever blocks him gets ten taels of silver.”
The steward brightened at the word “silver”: “I will give the order at once.”
“That is a good idea. Father always knows what to do,” said Xia Meng Yan with a laugh as she tugged him to sit. She shot Chun Yue a look, and the maid rolled the cart out and closed the door. Xia Meng Yan grinned: “Your daughter did not suffer. Your daughter almost made Lin Ye Lan die from anger.”
“Really?” Xia Ping Yuan sounded doubtful. Even if she could anger him, she still carried his child. Many women would finally compromise for the child’s sake.
Xia Meng Yan lifted her chin and tapped her chest: “I am Scholar Xia’s daughter. How could I have no backbone? Rest easy, Father. Even if Lin Ye Lan kneels in front of me, I will ignore him.”
[In my last life, I already died once. I will not fall into the same pit again.]
“But there is one matter you must treat with care,” she added.
“What is it?” he asked at once.
Xia Meng Yan told him what had happened when Old Madam Xia and Madam Wan came to her courtyard. Xia Ping Yuan listened and understood at once that someone wanted to make trouble inside the Xia Manor.
“It seems someone wants to drag me down,” he said grimly.
Xia Meng Yan agreed. The people behind the scenes had tried three and four times to reach Xia Xing Yan. They were so stubborn about it that they must have a grudge against the Xia Family. They had to be found soon.
“Do you have any leads, Father?” she asked.
Xia Ping Yuan shook his head: “Half the court are my enemies. The other half do not like me. Whoever is pulling strings in the dark, I cannot guess.”
He sighed and added in a lower voice: “I have wanted to quit this job for a long time. If not for… forget it. Remember this, Yan’er: at worst, we will leave the capital and return to our hometown. Do not let yourself suffer because of your father.”
Xia Meng Yan’s eyes burned red. She nodded hard and said with quiet force: “Do not worry, Father. No matter when or where, the four of us will stay together.”
[In this life, even if I cannot fix the whole world, I will protect the ones who love me.]
After she sent her father off, Xia Meng Yan called Guard Song in and asked: “Any news of the Heir Apparent Duan?”
Guard Song shook his head: “This subordinate scouted the Marquis Xuan Ping Residence last night. There are many shadow guards there now, and some are real experts. To avoid alerting them, I kept watch outside.”
Xia Meng Yan lowered her eyes in thought. The Eldest Princess had added shadow guards to keep Duan Yi Chen from sneaking out. Something felt off.
“Has anyone else entered the Marquis Xuan Ping Residence?” she asked.
Guard Song was about to say no when a bird call sounded outside. He flashed away and returned moments later to report: “Great miss, Huo Ying Zi sent a calling card to the Marquis Xuan Ping Residence to request an audience with the Eldest Princess.”
Xia Meng Yan grew thoughtful and gave a quick order: “Send my calling card too. Say I have business and wish to see the Eldest Princess.”
Rather than guessing in her own home, she would go to the Marquis Xuan Ping Residence to test the waters. She also wanted to learn why Huo Ying Zi had returned to the capital now. Xia Meng Yan was no longer the young miss who understood only love.
The emperor was wary of the Huo Family. Huo Ying Zi had rushed back to the capital and, on arrival, her first act was to visit the Eldest Princess. Xia Meng Yan was sure the Huo Family had other plans.
Guard Song took the calling card to Nanny Song.
The next day, after careful grooming, Huo Ying Zi arrived at the Marquis Xuan Ping Residence. A maid led her in to see the Eldest Princess.
Huo Ying Zi bowed with practiced grace and said: “Huo Ying Zi greets the Eldest Princess.”
The woman on the main seat wore a deep purple dress. Her brows were kind, and a faint smile rested at the corners of her lips. She waved a hand and said gently: “So you are Huo Ying Zi. Rise, and come closer so I can take a look.”
Huo Ying Zi rose and sat at the lower seat to the princess’s right. She spoke properly: “I have long wished to pay respects to the Eldest Princess. But without a summons, I could not leave Northern Fortress Pass, so I have been delayed until now.”
The Eldest Princess smiled and patted her hand as she said: “You followed Marshal Huo to guard Northern Fortress Pass. You are a meritorious servant of the court. Only, you suffered the wind and sun at the frontier garrison.”
Huo Ying Zi blinked, a beat slow. Her skin was as white as snow. [Is the Eldest Princess suspecting that I hid in the tents and never went to the battlefield?]