Chapter 092
Chapter 92: Preparing to Leave
Xia Meng Yan had not wanted to make things hard for Miss Lu, but when the other woman tried to threaten her, sarcasm rose in her eyes: “You only know a slap hurts when it lands on your own cheek. If my father weren’t clever and bold, the Lu Family would be busy right now dividing up my dowry.”
She added with a cool smile: “I do not wish to trouble you, but Miss Lu seems to enjoy being a stepping stone. Since that is so, I will oblige. Someone, throw Miss Lu out.”
Miss Lu, shocked by how ruthless Xia Meng Yan sounded, could not sit still and dropped to her knees: “Wait.”
The maids in the room all gasped.
Xia Meng Yan’s gaze turned cold: [So threats failed, and now she wants to tie me up with guilt?] She said, voice flat: “Miss Lu, there are no outsiders here. Who are you putting on this act for?”
Miss Lu shook her head, her voice softening as tears flashed in her eyes: “No, that’s not it. I spoke out of turn just now. I had no choice. If I cannot earn your forgiveness, my father will marry me off as a secondary wife to a man whose two previous wives have died. His eldest son is only five years younger than me. I said awful things because I panicked. Please, Little Sister Xia, help me.”
Xia Meng Yan disliked crying scenes that seemed to expect tears to solve everything, so she said plainly: “Miss Lu, who among us isn’t pitiful? When I divorced, people spat at me and cursed me. Did you think of helping me?”
Miss Lu froze. Back then they had not even met. How could she have helped?
Xia Meng Yan did not look at her and spoke evenly: “From the day of my divorce until now, I endured rumors and ugly words by myself. Other than my parents, everyone kept their distance. The idle talk of that day I swallowed alone; the wealth and honor of today I should enjoy alone. There are many parts to growing up, and the ability to handle things is one of the most important. Miss Lu, I sympathize with what you’re going through, and you may sympathize with me too. So let us keep our distance and not interfere with each other.”
Miss Lu’s tears fell in heavy drops. Xia Meng Yan had told her plainly: they were not close. If Miss Lu could stand aside and watch from a high place before, then Xia Meng Yan could do the same today.
Miss Lu choked up and pleaded: “Little Sister Xia, I’m begging you…”
Xia Meng Yan cut her off: “Miss Lu, we both have our own troubles to face. I do not owe the Lu Family. The Lu Family owes me. My father has shown mercy by not taking this matter to the Court. If he learns that the Lu Family is harassing me, what do you think he will do?”
Miss Lu paled. Thinking of Xia Ping Yuan’s sharp tongue in open debate, she trembled. If he spoke up, the Lu Family would be skinned alive. The Huo Family’s side branch was already a warning to all.
Xia Meng Yan raised her voice: “See the guest out.”
When the maids came in, Miss Lu had no choice. She pushed herself up and left with them.
Nanny Song watched her young miss toy with the teacup, tapping it again and again, and her heart ached. She said, trying to soothe her: “Miss, the Lu Family is shameless. You do not need to stoop to their level.”
Chun Yue returned with worry written all over her face. The Lu Family had gone too far.
After a long moment, Xia Meng Yan slowly lifted her head. A faint smile curved her lips, but to the two servants it looked bitter: “Women already have it hard. Why must we make it hard for each other?”
She lowered her eyes, and a quiet thought surfaced: [Isn’t Miss Lu today the me from a few months ago? Dragged by the rules of the world, pressed down by family, struggling and struggling, only to be pulled back into the whirlpool. The only difference is that I have parents who love me.]
Nanny Song touched her arm and said softly: “Miss, do not use another person’s suffering to torment yourself. It isn’t worth it.”
Xia Meng Yan smiled a little: “I’m fine. Pregnancy makes me sentimental.”
Nanny Song changed the subject: “For the gifts to the Old Master, I have prepared a few sets. Miss, would you like to take a look first?”
Not wanting them to worry, Xia Meng Yan let Chun Yue help her next door to review the gifts for the Lin Family. The Lin Family had many people. Xia Meng Yan had told Nanny Song to prepare the side-branch gifts separately. For the main branch, she checked the things for the three uncles, as well as for her maternal aunt and cousins. For the gifts to her maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother, she examined every item and then sealed each box with tamper tape.
Chun Yue asked in a low voice as she carefully wrapped the Old Master’s gifts in a kerchief: “Miss, why seal them?”
Xia Meng Yan rested a palm on her belly and said calmly: “We must be extra careful with the elders’ gifts. Tell our people to watch their words and actions. Report anything at once.”
Her maternal grandfather loved her mother. He had given her mother a large dowry and later added even more when she married, which had stirred up envy in the Lin Family. This time when Xia Meng Yan visited, slander would be hard to avoid. She was ready. As long as the Lin Family did not endanger her child, she could endure anything else.
A maid came to report: “Miss, men from Heir Apparent Duan are outside.”
Thinking of what Duan Yi Chen had said last night, Xia Meng Yan told Nanny Song: “Count everything carefully, then have the physician examine what needs checking. Once it is all confirmed, put it away.”
Nanny Song led people to inventory the items. In the courtyard, Chun Yue glanced at the three men waiting and whispered: “Miss, how should we handle those three?”
She and the others had heard the talk last night. These three were likely the Shadow Guard from the Marquis Xuan Ping Residence.
Wiping her fingers with a kerchief, Xia Meng Yan looked at the three men through the window. Their looks were plain and their height average. If not for the swords at their sides, one might have taken them for serving lads from the villa.
She nodded once: “Not bad. Give each of them twenty taels of silver. Tell them to go home and say goodbye to their families.”
Chun Yue obeyed, but soon came back with the silver still in hand: “Miss, they say they have no families, so there is no one to say goodbye to. They won’t take the money.”
Xia Meng Yan’s lips curved. Duan Yi Chen did know how to choose people. With no families, there were no hostages to use against them. She said, decisive: “While we are traveling outside the capital, pay each of them twenty taels a month. Tell them this is the first month’s pay.”
It was a fair price for men chosen by Duan Yi Chen. Hearing this, the three men turned toward the window and cupped their fists in salute.
Over the next few days the villa stayed quiet. Knowing she would soon leave the capital, Duan Yi Chen climbed over the wall to visit her every night. Xia Meng Yan did not stop him. It would be only two nights more.
The Lu Family had wanted to pressure Xia Meng Yan, but they ran into a wall. Afraid that Xia Ping Yuan would make trouble at the Court, Lord Lu took the badly injured Lu Rong Fang to the Xia Family to apologize. His words, inside and out, called it a “misunderstanding.” Xia Ping Yuan accepted the apology and the compensation, then had them thrown out of the gate.
Standing before the vermilion doors as they closed, Lord Lu’s face turned dark as iron and he muttered, full of anger: “A honeyed blade.”
Lu Rong Fang did not look well either. With Consort Ping pressing them hard from the Imperial Palace, the Lu Family was forced to act with caution. He said through clenched teeth: “At least Lord Xia agreed to ease up. The Imperial Palace has something to be told now.”
Lord Lu’s tone cooled as he said to his son: “Cultivate yourself at home these next few days. Then attend some banquets and meet the young ladies of the capital.” In truth, this incident left Lord Lu disappointed in his son. He had to reconsider the choice of the next family head.
Feeling that hesitation, Lu Rong Fang bowed his head: “Your son will follow Father’s arrangements.”
When Lord Lu had left, Jian Ping slipped close and whispered: “Young Master, our people sent word. Heir Apparent Duan has been appearing at the Xia Family’s villa these days. They say Miss Xia’s pregnancy is now stable, and she will leave the capital in two days.”
Lu Rong Fang shut his eyes. When he opened them again, the unwilling fire in them had gone out. He waved a hand and said coolly: “Pull our people back. We return home.”
He thought with a hard twist of his mouth: [Xia Meng Yan, I don’t believe you can marry into the Marquis Xuan Ping Residence.]
The next morning, Song Mo arrived early at the villa. After Nanny Song reported, Xia Meng Yan told him to get familiar with the men sent by Duan Yi Chen. Their group would pose as a merchant convoy, saying they were taking goods to Man Lin City.
Xia Meng Yan handed a sealed letter to the villa steward and said simply: “After I leave, send this into the city.”
The steward tucked the letter away and watched the convoy roll out.