Chapter 108
Chapter 108: Business Is Business
In the central hall, Duan Yi Chen took off his cloak and stood by the door to shake off the cold. He turned his head and saw Xia Meng Yan lying on the soft couch. She wore a moon?white undershirt with a matching long over?vest, and her relaxed, comfortable manner made him happy.
When the chill on him faded, Duan Yi Chen stepped into the inner room and said: “I heard there was an assassin in the manor, so I came to check on you.”
Their two courtyards were only a wall apart, yet Duan Yi Chen still felt it was not enough; he wished he could open a door in that wall.
Nanny Song grumbled in her heart: [You are the biggest “assassin.”]
Xia Meng Yan was used to Duan Yi Chen climbing over walls at night. Seeing the dampness on him, she looked at Nanny Song and said: “Have someone make a bowl of ginger soup.”
Nanny Song answered, went to the second door to wake Chun Yue, and told her to guard the entrance so no outsider would see Heir Apparent Duan.
Chun Yue had been half asleep, but when she heard “Heir Apparent Duan,” she woke at once. She thought: [When will Heir Apparent Duan stop climbing walls in the middle of the night? If the Lin Family finds out, who knows what they will say about the Eldest Miss.]
Duan Yi Chen sat facing Xia Meng Yan and told her what he had found these past few days: “The Lin Family has been in Man Lin City for many years. After Old Master Lin took over, he began to expand. After so long, the Lin Family’s businesses now reach across the Xuan Ming Empire. There have been many open and hidden attacks in that time, and the Meng Family is the worst.”
“The Meng Family?” Xia Meng Yan thought of Meng Huai Ren, whom she had met a few days ago.
Seeing her interest, Duan Yi Chen went on: “The Meng Family is the second largest noble house in Man Lin City. A few years ago they suddenly started to expand. People say someone in the Capital backs them. Now they fight the Lin Family for business and for the docks, and it is fierce. I looked into the Meng Family. Their trade is fairly clean. I did not find any tie to the Northern Fortress Pass.”
Xia Meng Yan sighed. They had gone in a circle and come back to the start. It still seemed best to look inside the Lin Family.
“Qiao Shan, the one who sold fake Snow Swallow Resin, is dead,” she said. “I think the person behind him is still in Man Lin City. Have your people look into it in secret.”
For now, they could only try whatever might help.
Duan Yi Chen agreed. A thin awkwardness slipped through the quiet room. Ever since he had spoken his heart, there had been a hint of something between them. Duan Yi Chen enjoyed it. A little warmth was better than standing still.
“You, what are your plans for the future?” he asked.
Xia Meng Yan looked at him. Outside, lightning flashed and rain beat wildly on the window as she said: “After the child is born, I will leave the Lin Family and find a place to raise the child.”
Duan Yi Chen’s heart tightened. She still planned to go.
“Can you take me with you?” he asked.
Xia Meng Yan’s heart thumped; she felt she had misheard: “You, what did you just say?”
Duan Yi Chen tightened his hold on the teacup, a smile spreading across his face as he said: “I feel you will have trouble taking care of the child alone. If I am there, I can help.”
Xia Meng Yan looked straight at him. Did Duan Yi Chen know what those words would make someone imagine? He was the Eldest Princess’s only son. If she dared to run off with him, the Eldest Princess would hunt her down.
Her knotted heart slowly loosened as she said: “One day you will start your own family. Bringing you along would not be convenient.”
If there had been any chance for them, she would not have said something so cold. Right now, she did not want to struggle in feelings.
Hearing this, Duan Yi Chen slowly relaxed his grip on the cup. His face stayed casual as he said: “Don’t speak so absolute. What if.”
Xia Meng Yan curved her lips. There was no “what if.” In status and rank, there was no chance for them.
The heavy rain fell all night.
People from the East and West Courtyards showed rare agreement and came early to Matriarch Lin’s yard to pay respects. When Xia Meng Yan came in with her maids, the room was already full. The First Branch sat on the left, the Second and Third Branches on the right, and their sons and daughters stood behind them.
After she greeted the elders, Xia Meng Yan was placed beside Madam Jia. Madam Jia, who usually acted delicate, sat properly next to the Eldest Master. The Second Madam’s eyes were red and her face looked worn; she must have learned that Qiao Shan was dead.
“You brothers are all here. Discuss Qiao Shan’s matter and give me an answer,” Old Master Lin said as he looked around the room, his tone unreadable. “There are no outsiders here. Speak freely.”
Everyone looked at one another. No one spoke.
Seeing this, Old Master Lin turned to Qian Heng and said: “Second, you speak. Qiao Shan was your brother?in?law, and this happened on Lin Family grounds. How should we handle it?”
Second Master Qian, Qian Heng, was indeed quick?tempered most days. If this had happened to someone else, he would have said a lot. But this touched his main wife’s family and the man who harmed his Elder Brother.
He thought for a moment and said: “Business is business.”
The Second Madam could not believe it. She struck Qian Heng in the chest and cried: “What do you mean business is business? My only brother died like this. Not only do you refuse to catch the killer for him, you throw dirt on him. Qian Heng, do you even have a heart?”
Second Master Qian scratched his head in frustration. Did she think he wanted this? Qiao Shan had already admitted his crimes before he died. Death could not wipe them clean now.
“Then what do you want?” he said. “The killer came and went in the Lin Family as he pleased. Do you think I can find the person?”
The Second Madam grew even angrier and said: “My brother was not yet married and died for nothing. He cannot even enter the family tomb. How am I to face my mother?”
The room was terribly quiet. Hearing the Second Madam’s sobs, people either sighed or felt helpless.
“Second Sister?in?law, are you trying to make the Lin Family pay?” Madam Jia could not stand it and said: “Qiao Shan plotted against the Eldest Master and left his legs useless. I have not even settled that account with you, and now you act up.”
“He is already dead. What more do you want?” the Second Madam snapped, glaring at Madam Jia as if she would bite her. “Why don’t I carry Qiao Shan over here and break his legs so Eldest Sister?in?law can vent her anger. Will Eldest Sister?in?law let my brother come back to life then?”
“You…” Madam Jia prided herself on never losing a quarrel, and seeing the Second Madam make trouble, she shot back without mercy: “Qiao Shan dared sell fake goods in a Lin Family shop and dared scheme against the Eldest Master. Was that not because you egged him on? If you had not complained before him, how would he have thought to harm the Eldest Master? In the end, you are the one who killed your brother.”
“Nonsense. I did not.”
“Whether you did or not, you know. After your brother’s seventh?day memorial, you siblings can face each other and speak.”
“You…”
“Enough. I told you to discuss, not to quarrel,” Matriarch Lin said as she slapped the table hard and swept them both with a cold look. “Look at yourselves.”
The Second Madam knew Qiao Shan had no ground to stand on. Now the only thing she could do was try to win more for her brother. She wiped her tears and said: “Adoptive Father, Qiao Shan was only a child. Someone misled him into doing wrong. Now that he has been silenced, how can I rest easy?”
Matriarch Lin and Old Master Lin exchanged a look, and both turned their eyes to Xia Meng Yan.
“Yan’er, how do you think we should handle this?” they asked.
Hearing this, everyone looked at her.
Xia Meng Yan had only planned to listen. She had not expected her maternal grandfather to let her make the call.
“Don’t be afraid. Speak boldly,” Old Master Lin said, his eyes full of fondness.
“If we go strictly by Second Uncle’s words and handle it by the rules, it feels a bit cold,” Xia Meng Yan said. “After all, Qiao Shan was Second Aunt’s brother. But what he did almost ruined the Lin Family and my Eldest Uncle. If we do not punish it heavily, how will the Lin Family keep order in the future? So, if Second Aunt wants fairness, she should first fill the hole Qiao Shan made. I estimate the shop’s loss is about one hundred thousand taels. And Eldest Uncle’s legs show no sign of getting better. If he cannot stand again, how does Second Aunt plan to get along with the First Branch?”
The more the Second Madam listened, the weaker she felt, yet she still did not want her brother to die in vain and said: “Is this the Cousin Miss’s solution?”
“Of course not,” Xia Meng Yan said. Since she had spoken, she would be fair and just, or she would waste her grandfather’s trust.