Chapter 067
Chapter 67: Squeeze Every Drop of Value
Xia Meng Yan stood by the pavilion rail and said: “Please explain.” A breeze lifted the short hair on her brow, softening her cool eyes for a moment, like a lotus opening on a snowy peak, impossible to look away.
Lu Rong Fang stared a heartbeat too long, and relief flashed in his gaze. In his mind, it was a deal that would not lose.
He cleared his throat, hiding his feelings, and said: “I chose you not only for your dowry, but also for your ability. You just mentioned my birth mother, so you should know she is a concubine. The Lu Family’s legitimate heir is not my equal, but he had the luck of birth. No matter how well I perform, I will become his stepping stone in the end.”
“In great houses, legitimacy matters, but there are exceptions,” said Xia Meng Yan. “If your talent surpasses the legitimate heir, the family head would not waste you.”
Lu Rong Fang gave a short laugh and asked: “What if the family head tells me to assist the legitimate heir?”
Xia Meng Yan froze. Assist? That was being a stepping stone.
“I learned by chance that Madam Lu lets my birth mother run the household only so she can focus on raising her son,” said Lu Rong Fang. “When the time is right, she will use her maiden family’s power to make my mother and me bow our heads. I must secure a place at Court before my elder brother passes the provincial exam.”
“Then you could marry a woman with a very strong family,” said Xia Meng Yan.
“Even if I agreed, my legitimate mother would not,” said Lu Rong Fang, rising with a faint smile and walking toward her, step by step. “Lord Xia is resourceful, and you are very smart. With you and my mother holding the rear courtyard steady, I can focus on those people outside.”
Listening, Xia Meng Yan had to admit the plan was neat: both her silver and her mind. [Do I look that easy to use?]
She said bluntly: “If Young Master Lu wants to squeeze every drop of value from me, shouldn’t you give me something equal in return?”
If they married, Lu Rong Fang would gain a gold mine. Never mind the position of family head; even a First Rank Official post would be only a matter of time. He thought very well of himself.
“What does Eldest Miss Xia want?” asked Lu Rong Fang, drawing a bit closer.
Wrapped by his warm breath, Xia Meng Yan stepped back and said: “Playing little games is not good. Please answer my question directly.”
A touch of headache flickered across his face; a woman too clever was trouble. He said: “Those who scheme against you, I will block them.”
Xia Meng Yan suddenly found it funny, not funny at Lu Rong Fang, but at herself. She had leaned on scraps of memory from her past life and told herself Lu Rong Fang could end her current danger. [Wasn’t one Lin Ye Lan enough? Was I about to jump into the same pit again?]
“Young Master Lu, my answer is still the same…” she began.
“Meng Yan,” he cut her off, a chill flashing in his eyes, “my aunt enjoys His Majesty’s favor. Handling the Lin Family is not difficult. I trust your ability, but can you protect every single person of the Lin Family?”
“Lu Rong Fang, how dare you,” said Xia Meng Yan.
At this moment, she was sure: Lu Rong Fang was not as gentle and refined as he acted. [I underestimated him. Anyone who can gain a name under a legitimate mother’s suppression will never be without sharp edges.]
“Meng Yan, our situations are the same. We should support each other,” he said softly. “Rest easy. Later, I will—”
“There is no later,” said Xia Meng Yan. She stepped out of the pavilion, widening the distance. “From the moment you threatened me, there was no future between us.”
“That was not a threat, but a reminder,” said Lu Rong Fang. Revealing his true face did not trouble him. An ally without fangs proves nothing to anyone. “If I can think of it, others can too.”
He walked out of the pavilion, his eyes once more mild, and said: “I came with full sincerity. Please do not refuse me, Eldest Miss Xia.”
“Eldest Miss, someone is coming this way,” said Chun Yue, who had been keeping watch nearby.
Xia Meng Yan turned to leave without a second thought, but Lu Rong Fang stepped in to block her and said: “Meng Yan, give me a clear answer today.”
Seeing the people approaching, Xia Meng Yan understood he wanted to use gossip to nail down a story about the two of them. She kept her voice cool and said: “Young Master Lu, that is not what a gentleman does.”
“I am not a gentleman,” he said. “To reach my goal, using a few methods is nothing shameful.”
“You—” she started.
“Eldest Sister, why are you with Young Master Lu?” called Xia Qing Yao. With her came Huo Ying Zi and the two Misses of the Lu Family.
“No need to ask,” Lu Second Miss said first. She cast a glance at Lu Rong Fang, gave a cold little hum, and said: “She could not stand being lonely and decided to seduce him. An illegitimate son and a divorced woman: a match.”
“Second Sister, watch your mouth,” said Eldest Miss Lu, her voice going cool at the word “illegitimate.” “Have you forgotten Father’s teaching? The Lu Family does not divide by legitimacy. The capable hold the higher seat.”
Lu Second Miss flung her sleeve and said with scorn: “Don’t press me with Father. ‘The capable rise’ only because Aunt holds you up.”
Xia Qing Yao ignored their bickering and hurried to Xia Meng Yan’s side, saying in disbelief: “Sister, weren’t you praying for the baby? How are you alone with Young Master Lu?”
“It was a chance meeting. We exchanged a few words. No need to make a fuss,” said Xia Meng Yan. With half the people present disliking her, she wanted nothing but a safe return to the manor.
“You call that a chance meeting? I say you planned to seduce him,” said Lu Second Miss with a cold laugh, the ridicule in her eyes plain. “Before Aunt, you act so pure, but behind her back you meet him in private.”
As if not sensing the hostility, Lu Rong Fang smiled gently and said: “I came with my sister to Green Mountain Temple to pray. I met Eldest Miss Xia by accident, and we chatted briefly. Sister, you misunderstood.”
Huo Ying Zi stood to the side, the corner of her mouth carrying the lightest hint of a smile.
Noticing her, Xia Meng Yan thought, [So Huo Ying Zi also has a hand in today’s business.]
“On the street, when you meet an acquaintance, you greet them. I don’t know the Lu Family’s house rules, but our Xia Family does not pretend not to see people,” said Xia Meng Yan, which was her answer to Lu Second Miss.
In her past life, Lu Second Miss had not married well. When Lu Rong Fang was at his peak, the Lu Family matriarch married her to a minister as a second wife. Many in the Capital did not understand it then. Looking back, it had only been paving the road for the legitimate son to fight Lu Rong Fang.
“How dare you shame me?” Lu Second Miss glared at Xia Meng Yan and said viciously: “I look down on Lu Rong Fang, and I look down on you. With your belly showing and still tugging at a man, no wonder the Ping An Marquis turned his heart elsewhere. With that flighty, unfaithful nature, not just the Lu Family—no noble house would want you. I will spread today’s story far and wide and see how you end.”
The pavilion and the space around it fell so quiet it was frightening. Every gaze turned to Xia Meng Yan.
Lu Rong Fang stood at ease, as if waiting to see how she would break the trap.
Hearing the insult, Chun Yue stepped forward to explain, but Xia Meng Yan raised a hand and said: “Stand down.”
Backed by being the Lu Family’s legitimate daughter and having an aunt who was Consort Ping in the Imperial Palace, Lu Second Miss did not put Xia Meng Yan in her eyes at all. Seeing Xia Meng Yan walk up to her, she lifted her chin, arched a brow, and said: “What, do you want to—”
A crisp “pa” cracked the air.
Before she could finish, a ringing slap landed on her cheek.
Everyone froze. No one had expected Xia Meng Yan to act with her hand. Even Lu Rong Fang was taken aback. But fact was fact.
Huo Ying Zi rushed up to check Lu Second Miss’s face and said: “Xia Meng Yan, how can you hit Second Miss Lu? Apologize.”
“Miss Huo is as double-standard as ever,” said Xia Meng Yan. Her eyes were cool, her voice neither loud nor soft, yet carrying a weight that could not be ignored. “When she insulted me just now, you played deaf. Now you speak up for justice. I already explained clearly. If Second Miss Lu chooses not to believe, I cannot help it. But she should not heap insult upon insult. In this pure land of the Buddhist Sect, it is better not to create sin with the mouth.”