Chapter 087
Chapter 87: The Mastermind
Lin Hong snapped back: “Don’t try to trick me. I’m not listening.” He had already learned that Xia Meng Yan could protect herself and talk circles around people, which was why he had used Sedative Powder during the kidnapping.
Watching his dirty hands reach for her, Xia Meng Yan kept her voice calm: “We are both as good as dead. I had a perfect plan. If you refuse to hear it, that is your loss, not mine.”
His hand stopped at the words as he demanded: “What do you mean? If you dare play me, I will take your child’s life.”
He had nothing to lose. His mother still cared about Second Brother, but he did not.
Xia Meng Yan spoke slowly: “I know someone is behind you. They promised to help you rise after this is done. If so, you are only their chess piece. Your ability is above Lin Ye Lan’s. If I help you, you could reach high office.” In her past life, after marrying into the Marquis Manor, she had paved many roads for Lin Hong, but his laziness ruined every job.
Not expecting her to know him so well, Lin Hong drew back his hand and straightened his ragged clothes: “Keep talking.”
She went on: “Instead of letting others hold something over you, work with me. If I could help Lin Ye Lan become a marquis, I can help you make a name.”
Lin Hong curled his lip: “That’s your perfect plan?” He reached for her again.
Her brow tightened as she warned: “If you do this, you will die.”
He paused.
“No matter who sent you, once I get out, they will kill you to please the Xia Family,” she said. “Then my father will thank them for avenging me and help them get what they want. Why let someone else profit? Take the chance yourself.” Lowering her lashes to hide the disgust in her eyes, she made her tone soft and weak: “Tell me the mastermind and send me home safely. My father will be grateful. Whether you soar in rank or live in luxury, both are better than dying with your eyes open.”
Like Lin Ye Lan, Lin Hong was selfish, timid, and quick to shrink back at the scent of danger. She truly wanted to know what promise had tempted him to risk so much.
He wavered. She made sense, but he was not a fool. If Xia Ping Yuan learned that he had kidnapped Xia Meng Yan, beating him to death would be kindness.
He sneered: “No wonder my mother calls you crafty. You want to sow discord and make me walk into a trap?”
She did not hurry as she replied: “Grand Madam Lin misunderstands me. I’m only stating the facts.” She had never expected him to carry her back himself. Talking to him was buying time. Even if she did not care about her own name, she had to care about the child in her belly. The physician had said the pregnancy was stable after four months, but she would not gamble.
Seeing him silent, she tried again: “You don’t trust me. Then tell me who is behind—”
A shocked cry rang out from outside.
Lin Hong’s face changed at Grand Madam Lin’s voice. He rushed to open the door, but before he touched it, someone kicked it in from outside. The blow hurled Lin Hong a full yard; he slammed to the floor.
Lu Rong Fang strode in. Seeing Xia Meng Yan, he crossed the room in two steps and knelt by her: “Meng Yan, I finally found you.”
He looked her over anxiously and asked: “How are you? Did that scum hurt you?”
Xia Meng Yan did not answer. A faint fragrance reached her nose, and she held her breath at once.
Lu Rong Fang gathered her up and quickly untied the ropes at her wrists and ankles as he asked in a low voice: “Why aren’t you speaking? Are you in pain?”
Xia Meng Yan let out a muffled sound and sagged into his arms.
“Is your belly hurting?” he asked, cradling her gently as he tidied the loose strands of her hair. “You don’t know. When I heard you were taken, I wanted to die. Thank heaven I found you. Meng Yan, I really cannot lose you.”
The scent around him grew stronger. Xia Meng Yan shivered.
She swallowed her fear and asked softly: “How did Young Master Lu find me?”
Holding her close, Lu Rong Fang did not let go as he answered: “The Lu Family has a hound with a very keen nose. Your maid gave me your usual handkerchief, so we could find you quickly.”
Her eyes chilled as she said: “Thank you, Young Master Lu.”
Bleeding at the lip and propping himself up, Lin Hong glared at Lu Rong Fang and snarled: “Who are you? You dare ruin my good thing. I’ll kill you.”
Just then, someone threw Grand Madam Lin into the room. She toppled to the floor in front of Xia Meng Yan.
“Second!” Grand Madam Lin cried as she crawled to help her son. She lifted her head and railed at Xia Meng Yan: “How vicious you are. We are family, yet you let outsiders beat my boy.”
Weak all over, Xia Meng Yan had no strength to argue. She tried with all she had to pull away from Lu Rong Fang, but it did nothing.
She raised her eyes and whispered: “I don’t want to see them.”
Lu Rong Fang’s voice cooled at once as he said: “All right. I will do as you wish.” He turned to the mother and son and ordered, face like ice: “Men, take them away and behead them.”
At once Lin Hong found his voice and thrashed: “You can’t kill me. I didn’t do anything. Someone ordered me—” A hand clamped over his mouth.
Seeing the numbers and the blades, Grand Madam Lin dropped to her knees and kowtowed for mercy: “Spare us. We were forced. Meng Yan, I beg you, don’t have us killed…”
When she saw Lu Rong Fang’s cold face, she turned and knocked her head toward Xia Meng Yan instead. There was still Lin Family blood in that belly. They could not let the Lin Family be wiped out.
Xia Meng Yan tapped the back of Lu Rong Fang’s hand with her fingertip and spoke in a gentle tone: “Rong Fang, let it go. Count it as doing a good deed for the child in my belly.”
At her small motion his eyes brightened. He closed his fingers around hers and said warmly: “You are kind. But scum like this will come back to harm you. Don’t worry. If anyone blames us, I will take it all on myself.”
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Xia Meng Yan’s eyes reddened with a hint of disappointment as she said: “Lin Ye Lan is already dead. I don’t want the child to be born with no kin at all. That isn’t the most important thing, though. I just don’t want blood on your hands and our engagement affected.”
Lu Rong Fang was overjoyed and said quickly: “Meng Yan, you’ve finally thought it through. That’s wonderful. We will return to the city now and set the engagement tomorrow.”
Xia Meng Yan curled her fingers slightly and looked at Grand Madam Lin as she warned: “Get out. Do not let me see you again in the Capital.”
Terrified, Grand Madam Lin and Lin Hong bobbed their heads: “We’ll go, we’ll go right now.”
Lu Rong Fang did not stop them. Instead, he glanced toward the doorway.
Propping each other up, the two stumbled out, only to have a figure drop in front of them. The newcomer said coldly: “Trying to run? Don’t even think about it.”
Lin Hong suddenly remembered what Xia Meng Yan had said: after the deed, the mastermind would kill him.
Two nights ago, someone in a veil had come to him with fifty taels, telling him to lead beggars to block Xia Meng Yan’s carriage today and then carry her to this place.
Could the person who had just entered be that same mastermind?
He stammered: “Y?you’re the one from that night?”
The newcomer sneered: “You know too much for your own good.”
A sword swept out as the words fell.
Quick as a snake, Lin Hong yanked Grand Madam Lin in front of him.
Blood spurted. Grand Madam Lin stared at the son she had loved for half her life in disbelief.
Lin Hong had no time for guilt. He screamed and bolted: “Murder! Murder!”
Inside, hearing the uproar, Xia Meng Yan frowned and asked: “You want them dead?”
Lifting her into his arms, Lu Rong Fang answered, voice cold and flat: “They don’t matter.”
“You…” Her face darkened and she was about to argue, when a sharp, icy voice cut in from the doorway: “Let her go.”