Chapter 066
Chapter 66: No Free Ride
Xia Meng Yan had not finished weighing things when Xia Qing Yao came in all smiles, waving the Lu Family’s invitation as she said: “Eldest Sister, Eldest Miss Lu invited me to Green Mountain Temple to pray.” Spotting the invitation on the table, she laughed and added: “So you have one too. Great, we sisters can go together.”
Xia Meng Yan rested a hand on her belly, her whole manner soft with a mother’s calm, and said: “I’m not suited to go out right now.”
Xia Qing Yao sat beside her and pouted as she urged: “The ceremony at Green Mountain Temple is very effective. Eldest Sister can ask the Buddha for a Peace Talisman for the baby: please? If you don’t go, only Mother will go with me, Sister…”
[She did want a Peace Talisman for the baby, but her status was special; with so many eyes at a crowded ceremony, it would stir talk.]
Xia Qing Yao coaxed with a smile: “Sister, don’t overthink it. You stay shut in the courtyard all day. Go out and walk a bit?”
Xia Meng Yan sighed and said: “All right, but once we’re at Green Mountain Temple, I will only ask for a Peace Talisman; you can accompany Eldest Miss Lu to look around.”
Xia Qing Yao clapped softly and said: “No problem.” With the answer she wanted, she skipped off in high spirits.
Helpless, Xia Meng Yan turned and told Chun Yue: “Prepare the offerings.”
Chun Yue bowed and said: “This maidservant will go at once.”
To ask for a Peace Talisman, you cannot arrive empty-handed; seasonal fruits and pastries are a must, and if the heart is sincere, one should also donate incense money.
After leaving Autumn Lotus Court, Xia Qing Yao paused, glanced back over her shoulder, then quickly walked away.
The next morning, their carriage waited at the gate. The two sisters took the offerings and headed straight for Green Mountain Temple.
Once outside the city, more and more carriages filled the official road. Chun Yue, who had not gone out for a long time, lifted the curtain and said: “I didn’t expect so many people. Eldest Miss, look, is that the Lu Family’s carriage?”
Before Xia Meng Yan could answer, Xia Qing Yao leaned out and asked: “Where?”
Chun Yue pointed ahead and said: “Right there, at the very front.”
Though His Majesty had blamed the Lu Family, Consort Ping still stood in favor; their carriage was not the most lavish, yet you could pick it out in the crowd.
Xia Qing Yao started to call out a greeting, but Xia Meng Yan stopped her and said: “There are too many eyes here. If people see you, Second Aunt will scold you when we get back.”
Xia Qing Yao hurried to cover her mouth and thought, [How did I forget about Mother? Good thing Eldest Sister reminded me.]
Today’s ceremony at Green Mountain Temple was especially lively. At the mountain’s foot, carriage after carriage arrived. After the passengers alighted, the drivers lined the carriages up properly.
A sharp voice carried from behind as someone said: “Isn’t that the divorced Eldest Miss of the Xia Family? Pregnant, yet not staying home to keep quiet, out here showing herself.”
Another voice tugged at her sleeve and said: “Sister, stop. Elder Brother Yelan won’t like it.”
The first voice sniffed and said: “What’s the matter? She is a divorced woman. What rank does the Ping An Marquis have? She is only a merchant’s daughter, yet she looked down on him.”
Xia Meng Yan did not have to turn around to know who it was: Huo Ying Zi.
She turned anyway and saw Huo Ying Zi standing with a young lady whose brows were drawn in a permanent scowl. The face looked familiar, yet she could not place the household.
The scowling young lady stepped over and said: “What are you staring at? You don’t recognize this miss.” Stopping two steps away, she added, “The Ping An Marquis didn’t want you, and you still looked down on my elder brother. Do you really think you’re a treasure?”
Elder brother?
Xia Meng Yan quickly understood: this was the Lu Family’s Second Miss.
She was a legitimate daughter, while a concubine had given birth to the eldest daughter among the concubines. What was interesting was that this eldest concubine-born daughter happened to be Lu Rong Fang’s full sister.
Huo Ying Zi came forward with an apologetic look and said: “Meng Yan, she has a childish temper. Don’t mind her.”
The space at the foot of the temple was already crowded. Not wishing to argue, Xia Meng Yan dipped her head as a greeting, then turned away.
Lu Second Miss paused, surprised. She had heard the Xia Eldest Miss was known to fight for face. With what she had just said, the other side should have snapped back. She had even prepared her comebacks. Now it felt like punching a wad of cotton.
Huo Ying Zi was also startled, though her face revealed nothing. Taking Lu Second Miss by the arm, she said with a smile: “Enough. There are so many people here. Be careful what gets carried back to the city.”
Lu Second Miss gave a small, disdainful sniff and tipped her chin toward the figure ahead as she said: “So what if it gets carried back? Could it be worse than her stinking name?”
“Come on, let’s go or we’ll miss the hour,” said Huo Ying Zi, tugging her toward the steps.
Supporting Xia Meng Yan, Xia Qing Yao glanced back and whispered: “Eldest Sister, if the Lu Family’s Second Miss is this temperamental in public, she must be even more spoiled at home.”
Xia Meng Yan kept her voice low and said: “She is a legitimate daughter; she has the backing to act proud. Did you see the Eldest Miss Lu who invited us?” By reason, if Lu Second Miss was here, Eldest Miss Lu should be as well, yet they had not seen her.
Xia Meng Yan guessed, [Eldest Miss Lu is with Lu Rong Fang.]
Xia Qing Yao had not thought that far. Looking around and seeing no one, she asked in a small voice: “Eldest Sister, could something have happened to Eldest Miss Lu?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Let’s go in first. We can look for her later,” said Xia Meng Yan.
The sisters entered Green Mountain Temple. Xia Meng Yan carried the offerings to the main hall to pray and to ask for a Peace Talisman, while Xia Qing Yao, unable to sit still, knelt and kowtowed a few times, then found an excuse to slip away.
Nanny Li spotted Second Miss and quickly followed after her.
Arranging the fruits and pastries, Chun Yue muttered, displeased, as she said: “Second Miss is almost of age, yet still runs about. If something happens, Second Madam will surely blame you.”
“Do not speak carelessly before the Buddha,” said Xia Meng Yan, pressing her palms together and closing her eyes.
[She had never believed in gods or Buddha, but now that she had been reborn, she could not help but believe it: the wheel turns, and good and evil find their due.]
“Meng Yan,” called a warm voice from her right.
Xia Meng Yan started slightly. Without opening her eyes, she completed her bows with full sincerity. Then she turned her head and said: “Young Master Lu, please address me as Eldest Miss Xia.”
Lu Rong Fang’s eyes narrowed a touch, a smile in their corners, as he glanced toward the great hall and said: “There is no one else inside. No need to be nervous.”
“I have not agreed to anything with Young Master Lu,” said Xia Meng Yan. She rose and walked straight toward the back of the hall.
Lu Rong Fang quickened his pace to follow.
Reaching a broad pavilion, Xia Meng Yan stopped and said: “Young Master Lu, I have thought over your proposal carefully. I refuse.”
As if expecting this, Lu Rong Fang only smiled, sat on a stone bench, and asked: “May I know the reason?”
“The Lu and Xia families are at the center of attention. If word of an engagement comes out now, it will only add fuel to the fire,” said Xia Meng Yan. “Young Master Lu is willing to step forward for me, but the timing is wrong.”
Lu Rong Fang tilted his head and asked: “Is it the timing, or do you doubt my ability?”
Xia Meng Yan paused, surprised he had guessed. Since he knew, there was no need to skirt around it, so she said plainly: “You have your eye on my dowry. Outsiders do too. If you can best them, I will accept the result. But if you cannot even handle the fleas outside, how can you protect the Xia Family and protect me?”
[She would not let Lu Rong Fang sit back and enjoy the fruits of her dowry. If he wanted a share, he had to show his skill.]
Lu Rong Fang’s gaze cooled, a hint of frost passing across his gentle face as he said: “Why not cooperate openly? Why test each other?”
“No,” said Xia Meng Yan. Standing in the pavilion’s doorway, she left a deliberate distance between them as she went on: “I admire Young Master Lu’s planning, but I am not a fool. You want to use my dowry to pave your road, so let me see your power first. From what I know, your birth mother currently manages the Lu Family’s household. By reason, you do not need a deal with me. Let me guess: the Lu Family is hollow inside, like the Ping An Marquis Manor, an empty shell.”
Other than that, she could think of no reason. Looking at the wider picture, the Lu Family served His Majesty. Even if she married into it, her dowry would still be hers; His Majesty could not take a court official’s household belongings to fill the State Treasury.
Lu Rong Fang laughed, his voice warm as jade, pleased in spite of himself, and said: “I did not choose wrong. Eldest Miss Xia is indeed clever. But you are mistaken on one point.”