Chapter 035
Chapter 35: The Truth
When Wang Mang heard that the Huo Family had used Lin Ye Lan to cheat the Lin Family’s silver, he wondered if he had misheard and asked, “Miss, do you mean the Huo Family that has guarded the Frontier Garrison for years?”
The Huo Family Army held great prestige at the Northern Fortress Pass. Even though Wang Mang had clashed with them years ago, that was due to different positions. He still respected them.
Xia Meng Yan gave a cold smile. In her past life, she too could not believe the Huo Family Army would be so low. But judging by everything now, they were bandits through and through.
She said, “I know you don’t believe it. You will see the truth in time. You have worked hard on the road. Eat, and in these days take Yue’er around the Capital to have some fun.”
She took out one hundred taels and set them before him. Seeing him about to refuse, she said, “You earned this. Since you rarely come to the Capital, spend time with Yue’er.”
Knowing how expensive the Capital was, Wang Mang stopped refusing and thought about doing his tasks well in the future as he said, “Thank you, Miss.”
After he left, Guard Song landed before Xia Meng Yan and said, “Miss, Huo Ying Zi went to see Grand Madam Lin.”
Xia Meng Yan stood, her face calm as if this were all within her plans, and said, “Keep watching. See who else Huo Ying Zi meets.”
Emperor Xuan Ming already knew about the silver from Ping’an Marquis Manor. When the Huo Family found out that the money had gone into the State Treasury, who knew how they would react.
“Yes,” Guard Song answered, and his figure vanished.
Xia Meng Yan returned to the Autumn Lotus Court and told Chun Yue to prepare a set of men’s clothing.
Chun Yue set down her sewing and glanced at Xia Meng Yan’s belly as she said, “Miss, your body cannot take strain now. If something needs doing, let Guard Song handle it.”
Xia Meng Yan understood, but there were things she had to settle before her belly showed: “Don’t worry. I know my limits. Come with me.”
Knowing that her mistress had made up her mind, Chun Yue did not try to stop her. Following would at least be safer.
As night fell, the Capital grew lively.
Dressed as a young master of her husband’s clan, Xia Meng Yan took Chun Yue straight to the most famous brothel in the Capital.
At the door, women in thin gauze stood with their chests half-bared. Chun Yue flustered and stepped back, whispering, “Y-young master, why are we here?”
Xia Meng Yan snapped open her folding fan with a crisp sound and waved it before her chest as she said, “To have some fun, of course.”
This was not an ordinary brothel, but the Capital’s finest. Many heirs and young lords came here to seek pleasure. The Bright Moon Pavilion had a clever backer. The girls here sold their art, not their bodies, and were top class in beauty and talent. The style was elegant. In short, they took the money of noble young masters. This place had nothing to do with the poor.
Xia Meng Yan had come to ask about Duan Yi Chen.
She did not know what had happened. Was there not a single person in the whole Capital who knew?
Inside, dancers with graceful figures and lovely faces moved like fairies in the main hall, drawing many to stop and watch.
A smiling steward spotted the two unfamiliar faces and came over to ask, “First time here, young sirs? Are you here to talk business or relax?”
The Bright Moon Pavilion’s second and third floors had private rooms for three or five friends to listen to music and talk. The fourth floor, entered from the back, looked out over the Capital’s night view, perfect for whispering love.
Xia Meng Yan pinched her voice a little and said, “First time. Give us a table on the first floor. If something interesting comes up, we’ll go upstairs.”
The steward looked her up and down. With one glance at her clothes, he knew she was a rich young master out for excitement. He said, “Right this way, little young master. There will be a show soon, and you’ll have the best view.”
Xia Meng Yan nodded and looked to Chun Yue.
Chun Yue understood, took out one tael of silver, and handed it over as she said, “A tip for you. Bring my young master a good table of dishes.”
Seeing the silver, the steward’s smile grew genuine: “Rest easy, little young master. The food is on its way. You will be pleased.”
Xia Meng Yan scanned the room. Many tables were still empty, so she was in no rush. The night had only begun. She had time.
Before long, a fine spread arrived. The shopkeeper even brought over a young lady and asked tentatively, “Little young master, this is Miss Ran Ran. She plays the pipa very well. Would you like her to sit with you?”
“Leave her,” Xia Meng Yan said.
Miss Ran Ran blushed and sat shyly by Xia Meng Yan as she said, “Little young master is very handsome.”
“For that sweet line alone, my night is worth it,” Xia Meng Yan said. She was generous and slipped a banknote for one thousand taels into Ran Ran’s hand.
Seeing the note, Ran Ran’s eyes lit up. A rich fool had fallen into her lap. Tonight would be profitable. She said, “Many thanks, little young master.”
“I’m here for the first time,” Xia Meng Yan said. “Tell me all the fun stories from your house.”
With silver in hand, Miss Ran Ran poured out anything she could tell and a few things she shouldn’t. She talked about a certain young master who was bullied on the second floor and fled out the back without his pants, and another who looked tall and strong but was actually a crybaby.
“Marquis, look, isn’t that Madam?” a servant boy whispered to the man addressed as “marquis,” who was none other than Lin Ye Lan.
After his mother’s scolding, he had planned to return and rest. But he was in a foul mood, so he took numbing powder and brought a servant boy to the Bright Moon Pavilion to relax.
The servant boy stared toward a corner of the hall and, after checking again and again, said with certainty, “Marquis, that is Madam.”
Lin Ye Lan followed the servant boy’s gaze and saw a handsome young master with an arm around a girl, laughing brightly. If that was not Xia Meng Yan, who else could it be?
“Pregnant and still out making trouble,” he muttered. Then he hurried down the stairs.
It was no surprise the servant boy recognized her. Xia Meng Yan often dressed as a man. Every time she quarreled with Lin Ye Lan, she would disguise herself as a servant boy to slip into the Lin Family. The servants were used to it.
Still unaware she had been recognized, Xia Meng Yan kept her arm around Miss Ran Ran and listened to gossip.
“I heard Heir Apparent Duan often visits the Bright Moon Pavilion,” she said. “Which girl’s music does he like?”
At the name, Miss Ran Ran showed a wistful look and said, “Heir Apparent Duan always calls for Sister Yuan’er to dance. But he hasn’t come for days. Sister Yuan’er is quite sad.”
Feigning confusion, Xia Meng Yan asked, “Did something happen to Heir Apparent Duan? Otherwise, how could he stay away from Miss Yuan’er?”
“It’s not exactly something happened,” Ran Ran said. She looked around, lowered her voice, and continued, “The other sisters heard from another guest that the Eldest Princess wants to arrange a marriage for Heir Apparent Duan. But he is carefree and doesn’t want to wed, so the Eldest Princess locked him up.”
“He is of age to marry. Why wouldn’t he want to?” Xia Meng Yan asked.
“I don’t know. Don’t be fooled because he spends time here. He treats the girls with respect and is generous. He never makes things hard for us. We all hope Heir Apparent Duan comes out soon.”
Xia Meng Yan thought of Duan Yi Chen’s honeyed tongue that could talk life into a dead story, paired with that wickedly handsome face. Of course the girls liked him.
She asked, “For something like that, it shouldn’t last this long, right?”
At that, Miss Ran Ran glanced around again, then lowered her voice even more and said, “I heard the Emperor called him to the Imperial Palace at midnight, and he caused some kind of trouble. The Eldest Princess wants to find him a wife to keep him in line and get him into court soon.”
Xia Meng Yan’s hand tightened on the table, but her voice was even as she said, “Heir Apparent Duan isn’t that important. Called into the palace at midnight? You believe that?”
“I didn’t lie. A guard who works at the Imperial Palace came here to relax and said so,” Ran Ran said. She had been paid well and would make sure the guest felt it was worth the price.
“Then did he say what time…” Xia Meng Yan began, but before she could finish, someone clamped a hand around her arm. She turned and saw Lin Ye Lan’s cold face and said, “Let go.”
“How dare you…” Lin Ye Lan started, then cut himself off after a glance at Ran Ran. He did not want to expose Xia Meng Yan’s identity. He said, “Come upstairs with me.”
Xia Meng Yan felt he was being unreasonable and thought, [You play your games, I hug my girl. Why do you always show up in front of me? Did Huo Ying Zi already cast you aside?]