Chapter 110
Chapter 110: Conditions
Xia Meng Yan could not be bothered with him and went straight to sit on the couch.
Duan Yi Chen saw she stayed quiet, but he did not get angry; he set the pastries aside.
Just then, the steward hurried in with worry on his face. Xia Meng Yan knew he was usually steady and quick to act, so if he rushed like this, something had happened: “What is it?”
The steward forgot the formal greeting and panted as he said: “Second Master Qian went to the Qiao family. They refused to back down and said the Lin family framed them. The Qiao family even said that, if we want to settle this, Cousin Miss must marry into their house, or they will report it to the authorities. The eldest master fears you might hear it elsewhere and told me to inform you so you won’t worry. The Lin family will not agree.”
Xia Meng Yan frowned. After she came to the Lin family, she had heard from Lin Qing Wan that Second Madam wanted to match her with a nephew from her maiden home, but Madam Jia refused, and no one mentioned it again. She thought that matter was over, but the Qiao family brought it up now.
After Master Qiao took a second wife, she bore only a daughter, so Qiao Shan was his only son. Now that his son is dead, Master Qiao must want to squeeze more out of the Lin family. With Second Master Qian’s skill, this should have been easy to smooth over, so there was only one reason left: the Qiao family was greedy and wanted too much.
Xia Meng Yan thanked the steward and asked him to tell her Eldest Uncle she was fine.
Inside the room, Duan Yi Chen had heard the talk outside clearly. Without noticing, he had crushed the pastry in his hand into crumbs. [Marry Yan’er? The Qiao family is not worthy.]
“Yan’er, don’t worry, I’ll send men to cripple them and see if they still dare,” Duan Yi Chen said as he hurried to her side, adding, “With me here, I won’t let anyone bully you.”
Xia Meng Yan gave a bitter smile: [Right now the biggest danger to me is Duan Yi Chen.] If the Eldest Princess discovered he was by her side, the result would be easy to imagine. She said, “Go back first, and don’t come today.”
Duan Yi Chen studied her carefully, especially those clear eyes, trying to tell if she meant it: “Do you find me annoying, or are you afraid my identity will be exposed and make things hard for you? Don’t worry, Old Master Lin knows I live next door and knows I climb over the wall to see you.”
Xia Meng Yan frowned at that: Grandfather knows? No wonder Song Mo could not find out who the neighbor was. So her maternal grandfather had been covering for Duan Yi Chen.
Made uneasy by her gaze, Duan Yi Chen could not help moving closer. The faint jasmine scent on her made his heart steady as he said, “I never meant to hide it. When I learned you were coming to Man Lin City, I wrote to Old Master Lin to ask him to find me a house. I did not expect it would be right next to the Lin family.”
She had not expected him to plan so early, and her gloom melted away. She said, “You just heard it. If I stay in the Lin family, I only bring trouble. You still want to keep seeing me?” Her father and mother had already suffered because of her, and now the Lin family faced trouble with the Xia family. She seemed to bring misfortune wherever she went.
“What trouble? Don’t look down on yourself,” Duan Yi Chen said, hearing the drop in her voice and feeling a stab of pain. He could not bear to hurt her, yet strangers kept trying. “If being in the Lin family makes you unhappy, I can go anywhere with you. As for Mother, I will handle it. You don’t need to worry.” [I have to settle things in the capital as soon as possible. If Yan’er finds out later, she might misunderstand again.]
Xia Meng Yan’s heart stirred and she could not help asking, “You want to roam the world with me?” She had thought about leaving the Lin family, but worried her parents would be anxious. Now that the Qiao family had come to make a scene, she could use it as a reason to leave afterward. Even if her maternal grandparents were reluctant, they would let her go. “If we can find a quiet place with clear hills and water and live in peace, that would be nice.”
Duan Yi Chen nodded. Xia Meng Yan gave him a bright smile: “I wouldn’t dare. You are the only heir in Marquis Xuan Ping’s household. If I run off with you, the Eldest Princess will come at me with a knife. Spare me.”
Seeing she did not believe him, he grew anxious: “You don’t have to worry about Mother. I will handle it.”
Xia Meng Yan knew he could even starve himself, leaving the Eldest Princess at a loss, but she did not want that. She said, “All right, I accept your kindness. Now go. My maternal grandmother will be here later. If she finds you here, my good name will be ruined.”
Duan Yi Chen did not want to leave and kept looking back as he went. At the door he said, “If anything happens, come find me.” Xia Meng Yan nodded with a smile.
The next morning, as soon as she got up she heard the Qiao family was holding a grand funeral and even dared to let people from the Lin family enter their mourning hall. Drinking her vegetable porridge and eating crystal dumplings, she said, “Where does the Qiao family get such nerve, letting people from the Lin family go in?” Her empty stomach felt much better. Lately her appetite had been strong; sometimes she even needed a midnight snack.
Nanny Song served her food while Chun Yue reported matters at Lin Manor. “The Qiao family sent someone to notify Second Madam. They must have said something, because Second Madam went to Old Madam’s courtyard, and then the news spread. The maids think the Lin family will send someone to go with Second Madam to offer condolences,” Chun Yue said.
Xia Meng Yan kept drinking her porridge. Qiao Shan had died in the Lin family. It could have been handled quietly. Now the Qiao family was making a fuss and even wanted someone from the Lin family to come pay respects, which would make the Lin family look guilty. She said, “Go find out who will go with Second Madam back to her maiden home.”
Chun Yue agreed and left. After the time for one cup of tea, she returned: “Big Miss, it’s Third Madam.”
Xia Meng Yan’s spoon fell, and the corner of her mouth lifted a little. Third Master was the Lin family’s adopted son, so Third Madam could not count as a true member of the Lin family. A sharp light flashed in Xia Meng Yan’s eyes as she said, “Tell Second Aunt I will also go to the Qiao family to offer incense.”
Chun Yue was shocked, and Nanny Song did not understand: “Big Miss, why would you go to the Qiao family to pay respects?”
Xia Meng Yan showed a sly smile: “Since the Qiao family set their eyes on me, I should go see which big fool wants to be my child’s new father.” If they dared to target her, they should be ready to suffer.
Nanny Song could guess what Big Miss intended, but she was still worried: “Those lowlifes are not worth your effort. If, by chance, you get hurt and harm the baby, that would be a huge loss.”
Xia Meng Yan waved it off: “It’s fine.” She wanted the Qiao relatives to know she was pregnant and that her temper was not mild. Whatever they planned would fail.
Second Madam had not expected Xia Meng Yan to go, but did not think too much about it. The three of them got into the carriage.
The Qiao family had set up a very large mourning hall. As soon as they stepped inside, they heard loud crying. Paper figures of a golden boy and jade girl stood everywhere. It was fine in daylight, but at night it would scare people to death.
Xia Meng Yan noticed people giving her belly strange looks, but she did not care. She had come to make sure they saw her belly, so she did not hide it.
They first offered incense in the hall, then followed a maid to see Master Qiao.
As Second Madam entered the main room, a figure rushed over. A crisp slap rang out: “Unfilial girl, your brother died miserably, and you come back only now.”
Xia Meng Yan frowned. Hitting Second Madam in front of her was meant for her to see. Second Madam took a deep breath and swallowed the iron taste rising in her throat: “Father knows my situation. Why make it hard for me?”
“He is your own brother,” Master Qiao barked, his voice full of hate. “He died under your eyes, and you still act like you are the victim.” He knew very well what his son had done, but in front of the whole clan, he had to put on a show.
Then Master Qiao glared at Xia Meng Yan and said, “You are the Lin family’s Cousin Miss. You interrogated Qiao Shan and locked him up. You are the murderer.”
Xia Meng Yan gave a cold laugh: “Since I arrived in Man Lin City, I have stayed in the manor and never met outsiders. How did Master Qiao recognize me at first glance? If you say this, do you want everyone to know what Qiao Shan did?”