Chapter 093
Chapter 93: Uncle Injured
“Miss, we will reach Man Lin City in two days. Why don’t we rest here for one day?” The convoy had been traveling with stops and starts for ten days. Now they had reached a town with clean streets and busy crowds. It looked lively and prosperous.
Veiled and wearing a cloak, Xia Meng Yan lifted the carriage curtain and looked out: “All right. Follow our usual rules. Send two people to walk the town. Find a clean inn and book a whole floor.”
“Yes, Miss.” Chun Yue climbed down, took a quick minding serving lad with her, and went to ask around. Besides checking for any strange news, she also asked if the Huo Family had a shop nearby.
The carriage swayed forward. Before long, Song Mo returned saying the inn was ready, and he led them there.
Xia Meng Yan had just stepped down from the carriage when someone called to her from the street: “Are you the Xia Family’s Eldest Miss from the capital, Xia Meng Yan?”
Xia Meng Yan looked at Nanny Song, and Nanny Song went to meet the man: “And you are?”
The man bowed quickly and gave his name: “I am a steward of the Lin Family. The Old Master sent me here to wait for the Cousin Miss of the Xia Family.”
Nanny Song glanced back at her miss without meaning to. The Lin Family had sent someone to receive them? But they were still two days from Man Lin City. That was quite far.
Xia Meng Yan had the same thought. Supported by Chun Yue, she walked to the man and tested him with a mild question: “I’ve heard the Old Master likes sweets. What pastry does he like best?”
The man saluted her and answered without pause: “Cousin Miss is teasing me. The Old Master does like sweets, but since the Eldest Miss married out, he stopped eating them. The pastry he liked most is no longer made.”
Xia Meng Yan smiled and nodded: “Forgive me.”
Her maternal grandfather had loved the plum blossom cake her mother made. After her mother married, there was no more of that cake, and over time he gave up sweets. Only those closest to her maternal grandfather knew this.
The man did not mind the test. He bowed again and said clearly: “Servant Lin Jun greets Cousin Miss.”
“Let’s go inside to talk,” said Nanny Song as she gently helped her miss.
Xia Meng Yan agreed, and a group of them entered the inn. After arrangements were made and a quick wash, she sipped tea and asked in a calm voice: “If Grandfather sent you, did something happen?”
Lin Jun had heard the tales about this Cousin Miss from the capital: a muddleheaded girl with a poor name, even divorcing while pregnant. He put aside the rumor and answered with respect: “The Old Master received your letter and ordered a quiet inquiry. We found that the Lin Family does have business with the Huo Family, not much, only two or three lines. The people who handle the dealings are already under watch. So far, nothing unusual has shown.”
Xia Meng Yan nodded: “No rush. Take it slow. If it were easy to uncover, Emperor Xuan Ming would have destroyed the Huo Family already.”
Lin Jun went on: “A little over half a month ago, the Eldest Master drank with friends. On the way back, he fell into a pit and broke his leg. He is still stuck in bed. For now, the Lin Family’s business is being handled by Second Master Zhao and Third Master Zhou.”
The hand holding Xia Meng Yan’s teacup trembled. She lifted her eyes: “Eldest Uncle is injured?”
Lin Jun saw her doubt and gave the Old Master’s suspicion in full: “It is strange. The Eldest Master often drinks with friends, and he always has attendants and a sedan. He should not have been hurt. The long-serving attendant said the Eldest Master suddenly wanted a snack from the west of the city. He told the sedan bearers to wait, but the Eldest Master slipped out the back door. By the time they realized, he was already in the pit. Thankfully, his life is not in danger. The physician says a few months of rest will heal him completely.”
Xia Meng Yan frowned. Half a month ago was about when her maternal grandfather would have received her mother’s letter. What a coincidence. She had just sent a letter to the Lin Family, and then her Eldest Uncle broke his leg.
She asked in a low voice: “Did you find anything?”
Lin Jun shook his head: “It happened in a narrow alley. The Eldest Master said he only wanted to relieve himself and does not know how he fell into the pit.”
Xia Meng Yan fell silent. With his status, if Eldest Uncle invited friends, it would be at the best restaurant in Man Lin City. Such places have private rooms on every floor, with rooms for guests to relieve themselves. Why would he go to a back alley?
She asked again: “When he woke up, did Eldest Uncle remember nothing?”
Lin Jun nodded: “He drank too much and remembers nothing. The Old Master asked me to come so the Cousin Miss would stay on guard.”
Xia Meng Yan understood her maternal grandfather’s meaning at once. The person behind this was either the Huo Family or a hidden plant inside the Lin Family. Since she would soon be living there, they needed to prepare.
Lin Jun began to explain the current state of the Lin Manor’s branches. Xia Meng Yan listened closely.
“Zhao Heng,” he said, “was once a student sponsored by the Lin Family. He later passed the county exam, but his rank was low, so he stayed and became the Lin Family’s first adopted son. He is ranked second, so everyone calls him Second Master Zhao. Zhou Yuan was once a clerk’s apprentice in the Lin Family’s accounting room. Because he saved the Lin Family in two crises, he became the second adopted son, ranked third. Everyone calls him Third Master Zhou. Both men are married. They each have a house outside, but they did not move out. They live with the side branches.”
Lin Jun continued: “Three years ago, the Old Master handed most of the family business to his son, and a small part to Second Master Zhao and Third Master Zhou. The side branches each have their own stewards, but they handle smaller portions. Since the Old Master stepped back from stewardship, the side branches have had complaints. They said the Old Master trusts outsiders more than his own kin. They caused trouble twice in secret, but Second Master Zhao and Third Master Zhou settled both matters. This past year has been quiet.”
A sly light flashed in Xia Meng Yan’s eyes, and she smiled at Lin Jun: “Mister Lin, you know a great deal. Who do you think is most suspicious?”
She remembered that her maternal grandfather kept two very discreet advisers. Only those closest to him knew who they were. Looking at Lin Jun, she quietly guessed: [He is likely one of the two.]
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Lin Jun blinked, surprised that she guessed so quickly: “I was the one lacking vision. Cousin Miss must forgive me.”
He had expected a brainless vase. He had not expected someone with such sharp observation.
He said, careful and clear: “If we follow the guess of outsiders, the Eldest Master’s injury benefits someone, and the one who benefits is the one who did it. At first the Old Master thought so too. But the two gentlemen showed nothing unusual. The side branches have made small moves now and then, but nothing big. It all looks normal.”
Xia Meng Yan smiled lightly: “Mister Lin, the more you say, the more it sounds like a polite push-off.”
Lin Jun straightened his face: “I would not dare. It is just that without proof, suspecting anyone is unfair. We would rather treat everyone the same.”
“What a fair way,” said Xia Meng Yan. She found it wise. Without evidence, suspicion would look like favoritism and could be used by those with bad intentions to stir up more trouble. She asked: “What did Grandfather say?”
Lin Jun replied: “Our people have already taken root in many places. As soon as the hidden hands make a move, we will catch them.”
Xia Meng Yan agreed: “Better to stay still for now.” The Huo Family had just lost two hundred thousand taels. They would likely act soon.
She ended the talk: “Mister Lin, go rest first. Tomorrow we will set out for Man Lin City.”
Lin Jun rose and withdrew.
After he left, Xia Meng Yan held her teacup, stood at the table, and quietly wrote down several names. She drew a circle around them and murmured: [Do not disappoint me.]
Two days later, when the convoy entered the city, people from the Lin Family were already there to lead the way. Lin Jun had left half a day earlier. It would not do to expose that he had gone out to meet her.
As the carriage stopped, a warm and loving voice sounded outside: “My big girl, you finally came.”
Before she even got down, Xia Meng Yan’s eyes grew hot with tears. It was her maternal grandmother. She had come in person to welcome her.
Matriarch Lin, supported by servants, had just reached the carriage steps when a soft, delicate voice chimed in: “Grandmother, your girl missed you.”