Chapter 036
Chapter 36: Sowing Discord
Lin Ye Lan yanked Xia Meng Yan into a private room on the second floor and barred Chun Yue outside.
Xia Meng Yan rubbed her aching wrist, frowning as she asked: “Lin Ye Lan, what are you trying to do?”
Lin Ye Lan sat wide and bold, lifted a teacup, and gulped it down. The moment he saw her, he had rushed over and dragged her upstairs. On the stairs he suddenly thought it through: every time he returned from the Frontier Garrison, he came to the Bright Moon Pavilion to meet friends. Xia Meng Yan must have known. That was why she disguised herself as a man and showed up here, to draw his attention.
He spoke coldly: “You’re pregnant, yet you came to a dirty place like this. What are you doing? If you can’t let me go, just say so. For the child’s sake, I can give you a chance.”
Hearing that, Xia Meng Yan’s good mood vanished. She snapped back: “Dump the water out of your head. We are already separated.”
His face froze, sword-straight brows drawing together as he said: “I don’t agree.”
Xia Meng Yan almost laughed, thinking: [You don’t agree? Do I need your agreement?]
People always said arranged marriages were blind and mute. Now she felt that kind of marriage also had one good point: if the husband wasn’t at home, the elders could write the Separation Letter in his place.
She said flatly: “Take it up with His Majesty, not me. The emperor has already stamped the jade seal. If you refuse, you’re insulting him.”
What puzzled her was this: Lin Ye Lan and Huo Ying Zi had been unclear for years. Now that the two of them had separated, he and Huo Ying Zi should be all sweet and loving. Why did he keep appearing in front of her? [Did Huo Ying Zi actually reject him?]
Lin Ye Lan was tall and broad; when he stood, he made Xia Meng Yan look very small. She stepped back on instinct. He lowered his tone and softened it: “What happened at Northern Fortress Pass wronged you. The military situation was urgent. I didn’t expect they would… It’s over now. For the child, stop making trouble. And the Xia Family still has unmarried young ladies. You staying at your parents’ house will make it hard for them to marry.”
“You’re threatening me?” Xia Meng Yan narrowed her eyes, one hand covering her belly to guard the child: “What is it, Huo Ying Zi doesn’t want you? Makes sense. With the Huo Family’s mess, you can’t handle it anyway.”
Lin Ye Lan frowned, a helpless look flashing across his face as he said: “I only see Ying Zi as a sister. Marshal Huo was kind to me. I looked after her in camp to repay that kindness. If you don’t like it, I’ll be careful from now on.”
Feeling they could not talk, Xia Meng Yan only wanted to shake him off and find Miss Ran Ran to ask about that day. She said, voice cool: “After Huo Ying Zi returned to the Capital, she went straight to pay respects to the Eldest Princess. Don’t tell me you don’t know what she wants.”
Not waiting for him to answer, she went on: “The Eldest Princess plans to choose an Heir Apparent Consort from the eligible ladies in the Capital. That day Huo Ying Zi targeted me at every turn. She wasn’t defending you. She wanted to use you to hold me back so she could get close to Duan Yi Chen and seize the spot of Heir Apparent Consort.”
[Two can play at sowing discord. I can do it too.]
Lin Ye Lan’s face turned cold: “Even if you won’t forgive me, you can’t smear Ying Zi. She isn’t that kind of person.”
Xia Meng Yan sneered and stepped closer, voice sharp with mockery as she said: “You know better than I do how Huo Ying Zi earned her merits. She says I cling to Duan Yi Chen, yet she climbed up on the backs of countless men. Including you. You were one of her stepping stones.”
“Nonsense.” Lin Ye Lan’s breath hitched; he shoved her.
She hadn’t expected him to use force again. She stumbled back a few steps, pain shooting through her waist.
“I’m sorry, I… I didn’t mean it.” Guilt flashed in his eyes. He reached to steady her, but she slapped his hand away.
“So I tore off the mask and now you feel bad?” Xia Meng Yan met his gaze, eyes like ice: “I used to like you. I admit I was blind. I’ve already paid for it. From now on, whether you choose to be Huo Ying Zi’s dog or her stepping stone has nothing to do with me. Please, let me go.”
Lin Ye Lan’s face went hard: “You want me to let you go?”
He acted like she had always been the one clinging to him. Xia Meng Yan straightened slowly. “Yes. Let’s part on good terms. When the child is born, you can still see him. Otherwise, I don’t mind disappearing.”
Her father hated the struggles of The Court and had long wanted to resign and return to their hometown.
“Big Miss, open the door. If you don’t, I’m reporting to the authorities.” Chun Yue shouted from outside.
Xia Meng Yan moved to open it, but Lin Ye Lan blocked her path: “Either sit down, or leave the Bright Moon Pavilion right now. If you won’t choose, then forget about leaving.”
“I’m leaving now.” She didn’t want to make a scene, and she didn’t want to share a room with him for another breath.
“You?” He hadn’t expected she would rather leave than stay with him. Shame rushed to his head. He planted himself at the door and shouted outward: “Yell again and I’ll have my way with her right now.”
Then he seized Xia Meng Yan’s hand again and said through his teeth: “You want to cut ties with me? That depends on whether I agree. As long as the child is here, we can’t be finished. Xia Meng Yan, my patience is limited. While I still feel a little guilty, bow your head. Otherwise…”
“Otherwise we both go down together.” [I really want to ask my past self: what on earth did you ever see in Lin Ye Lan?] She looked at him and said evenly: “Lin Ye Lan, the Xia Family can give up its honor. Can the Ping An Marquis Manor do that?”
He had fought his way up on the battlefield to win his glory. The Xia Family had the power to risk a complete break. What did Lin Ye Lan have? Without the glory of the Marquis Manor, he was just a farmer in muddy boots.
Lin Ye Lan’s eyes widened; his grip loosened. Xia Meng Yan took the chance, pushed the door open, grabbed Chun Yue, and headed downstairs at once. [Lin Ye Lan is a madman.]
“Marquis, should I go after her?” the young attendant asked when he saw his master slump in the chair.
Lin Ye Lan didn’t answer.
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Xia Meng Yan hurried forward without looking, but a pair of arms caught her by the waist. She raised her hand to strike. The person seemed ready for it and caught her wrist, speaking fast: “It’s me, it’s me.”
Seeing who it was, Xia Meng Yan grew even angrier. She yanked her hand free and struck him: “You still dare to show up. Get lost.”
Duan Yi Chen had worked hard to slip out. He planned to stroll through the Bright Moon Pavilion to fool his mother, then find a way to meet Xia Meng Yan. He never thought she would be here. In all his years, other than being hit by his father, only Xia Meng Yan dared to hit him. He said calmly: “Let’s find a place.”
He led her up to the fourth-floor pavilion. It was open all around, only the wind howling by. He put a cloak over her shoulders and said: “It’s cold up here. Don’t catch a chill.”
She stepped back and said coolly: “Don’t trouble yourself, Heir Apparent. Say what you need to say quickly. I’m going back to sleep.”
His hand clenched, then loosened. A long time passed. When the wind felt like it would blow her away, he finally said in a low voice: “I’m sorry.”
“So you were the one who told His Majesty that Ping An Marquis Manor had two hundred thousand taels of silver?” Xia Meng Yan’s last bit of hope went dark. She would rather he told her that Marquis Xuan Ping had tailed him and found the secret of the Ping An Marquis Manor.
Duan Yi Chen lowered his head and said nothing.
“Why? You knew this could have set me free from Lin Ye Lan. Even if Lin Ye Lan was convicted, I could have handed the two hundred thousand taels to His Majesty. Why make me lose both the person and the money? You were my best friend. I told you everything. And you did this to me?”
Seeing her step back in anger, he feared she would fall. He reached for her, but she slipped away. He said: “Meng Yan, listen to me. It’s more complicated than you think.”
“Fine. Then tell me why.”