Chapter 095
Chapter 95: Second Madam Is Not a Good Person
Nanny Song came in and reported: “Big Miss, the greeting money has been handed out, two taels of silver for each person.” She lowered her voice and added: “From what the courtyard maids say, Second Madam has lately grown close to a Madam Jia from a physician’s household and has sent that Madam many gifts. Third Madam has been quiet, staying in the West Wing and seldom coming to the East Wing. Today the eldest master should have been resting in the manor to heal, but an important guest arrived, and the old master took the eldest master out to meet him. That is why he wasn’t at home.”
Xia Meng Yan rested her hand on the table, her voice a little tired as she said: “There’s no rush. We will go slowly and not startle the snake. Arrange Song Mo and the others. Do not expose their identities.”
Nanny Song agreed, asked what she wanted for lunch, and took people to the small kitchen to prepare it.
Xia Meng Yan looked around the courtyard where her mother had once lived. A strange sense of familiarity rose, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.
Seeing her mistress asleep, Chun Yue told the maids to lower their voices and began checking every item in the courtyard. With her mistress pregnant, they had to be careful. The Lin family was big and full of trouble; who knew if someone had a bad heart.
Xia Meng Yan slept well and woke after noon.
Since she would dine in Grandmother’s quarters, she only ate a little.
A head popped around the door as a clear voice called: “Cousin?” The two locked eyes, and the young girl ran in with a smile as she said: “You finally came.”
It was Madam Jia’s legitimate second daughter, Lin Qing Wan, two years younger than Xia Meng Yan.
Back when Xia Meng Yan came of age, Lin Qing Wan had stayed in the Capital for a month, and the two had gotten along well enough.
Xia Meng Yan patted the seat beside her and said: “Come sit.” That morning in the front hall there were too many elders around, and they couldn’t talk much.
Lin Qing Wan sat with a playful smile. As she moved, the gauzy skirt she wore shimmered beautifully. She said: “Now that you are here, I have someone to talk to again. After Big Sister married, there was no one left to chat with me.”
Xia Meng Yan laughed softly and said: “How could that be, with so many people in the manor.”
Madam Jia had two sons and two daughters. The eldest son studied at the academy and only came back once a month. The eldest daughter was already married. Lin Qing Wan was the third child, with a younger brother four years below her.
Kicking off her shoes, Lin Qing Wan scooted to Xia Meng Yan’s side and, copying her, leaned against the bolster as she asked in a low voice: “By ‘people,’ do Cousin’s words mean the concubine?born ones, or those from the Qian family and the Zhou family?”
Xia Meng Yan paused in silence.
Zhao Heng and Zhou Yuan were adopted sons of the Lin family. Everyone knew their status couldn’t compare with the eldest uncle’s line, but no one said it out loud.
“My mother says those people have bad intentions and tells me to keep my distance,” Lin Qing Wan said, her tone showing a little of the pampered pride she had grown up with.
Xia Meng Yan gave a wry smile and said: “That is not something we should say aloud. It would hurt our uncles.”
“You treat them like family, and they would sell you,” Lin Qing Wan huffed as she thumped the couch in anger.
Seeing her cousin’s temper, Xia Meng Yan knew something had happened. She stroked Lin Qing Wan’s back to soothe her and asked: “What happened to make you this mad?”
Lin Qing Wan hesitated, then met Xia Meng Yan’s sincere gaze and, even if it meant a scolding, said dejectedly: “Fine, then I’ll say it. Not long ago, Second Madam came to my mother, trying to match you with her natal family’s nephew. She should look at her own identity. Uncle is the Chief Academician of the Hanlin Academy, while her elder brother is only a small Sixth Rank Official. That is worlds apart. She really dares to dream.”
Xia Meng Yan froze for a moment.
Chun Yue and Nanny Song exchanged worried looks. Even here at the Lin family, they still could not escape talk of marriage.
“Don’t worry, Cousin,” Lin Qing Wan said quickly. “My mother didn’t agree. She put it off by saying Grandmother would have to approve.”
Coming back to herself, Xia Meng Yan smiled calmly and said: “Second Aunt is also thinking for me.”
Lin Qing Wan blinked in surprise and asked: “Cousin isn’t angry?”
Second Madam’s act looked like care but was really belittling. Cousin might have been married before, but in status and looks she was outstanding. Not just a Sixth Rank Official’s son, even a First Rank Official’s son would be a match.
Having seen too much scheming in her previous life, Xia Meng Yan found this little trick hardly worth anger. She only said lightly: “What is there to be angry about, when Eldest Aunt already refused for me.”
Lin Qing Wan felt that Xia Meng Yan had changed. Frowning, she studied her and asked: “Truly not angry?”
“That is because I have already decided not to marry again,” Xia Meng Yan said. She did not want to be tangled up by marriage anymore. Letting the news slip through Lin Qing Wan’s mouth was also fine.
Lin Qing Wan had not expected that and, for a moment, didn’t know how to react. She knew from her mother how the Lin family had tried to freeload. She admired her cousin for daring to divorce and bring her child away.
“Then what about Heir Apparent Duan?” Lin Qing Wan asked in a teasing tone.
Seeing Xia Meng Yan’s surprised look, she grinned and said proudly: “Don’t think you can hide things from me. I heard that Heir Apparent Duan likes you and kept seeing you even when people gossiped. Don’t tell me it’s false.” She would never admit she’d learned it by eavesdropping on Grandfather and Father.
Nanny Song hid a laugh behind her hand and said: “Fourth Miss, so you know.”
“So, how is Heir Apparent Duan?” Lin Qing Wan pressed.
“Not good,” Xia Meng Yan said, thinking of Duan Yi Chen and feeling speechless. “I only want to be with my child and watch them grow up.”
Lin Qing Wan’s gaze fell to her cousin’s belly. It had been seven months, only three left to go. Thinking of why Xia Meng Yan had come to Man Lin City, far from the Capital and the Royal Family, she sighed, then brightened and said: “In three months, I can be an aunt. I have to prepare a proper gift.”
“Of course, and it has to be a grand one,” Xia Meng Yan said with a smile.
Unable to wait, Lin Qing Wan slipped her shoes back on and hurried off to the storeroom to choose something first.
Seeing Fourth Miss leave so happily, Nanny Song felt glad for her mistress. It was good to have a sister in the Lin family who truly got along with her.
“Are the gifts for Grandfather and the three uncles ready?” Xia Meng Yan asked, setting down her book and glancing at the light outside.
“They are all arranged,” Nanny Song said with a nod.
There was still time before dinner. Propping herself up, Xia Meng Yan decided to take a walk.
Stepping out of the courtyard, they breathed in air filled with floral scent. Chun Yue supported Xia Meng Yan, and Nanny Song followed behind as they walked unhurriedly.
The Lin family manor was divided into East and West Wings. The East Wing housed the legitimate children of the Lin family, while the West Wing was for the branch lines. Between them stood a parasol tree so large that it would take three people to encircle it. Its branches stretched wide like a great umbrella that linked the two wings.
Xia Meng Yan hadn’t walked far when she noticed how even the side branches of the parasol tree along the wall were thick. In summer, it would be wonderful to swing beneath it.
Her hand fell to her belly as she thought of playing on the swing with her child, and joy spilled from her eyes.
Compared with the scheming in the Capital, Man Lin City seemed more suited to her.
A light breeze rose. Petals lifted and drifted by. Xia Meng Yan reached out, and a pale pink petal fell into her palm, followed by the soft rustle of leaves. She slowly closed her eyes to savor the moment.
Suddenly, she felt a gaze fixed on her. She looked over and wondered: [Is it the Lin family’s shadow guard, or Duan Yi Chen’s people?] She was only in the garden and had not gone all the way to the parasol tree.
A sharp scream split the quiet.
Startled, Xia Meng Yan turned toward the sound. Nearby maids and serving lads had heard it too and stood frozen.
Who was it?
Without being told, Nanny Song hurried off to find out.
She soon returned, her face tight with worry as she said: “Big Miss, it’s not good. It’s the eldest master. He was accompanying the old master to receive a guest when a horse was spooked and stepped on the eldest master’s injured leg.”
Xia Meng Yan’s heart jumped and she asked: “How is Grandfather?”
“The old master is unharmed, only frightened,” Nanny Song said.
Xia Meng Yan headed straight for her grandfather’s courtyard, her mind racing as she thought: [How could it be so coincidental. How did a well?trained horse get spooked?]