Chapter 112
Chapter 112: Went Out Without Checking the Almanac
Xia Meng Yan felt nothing for the Lin Family’s two adopted sons. She hardly saw them, and what she did see only confused her.
Qian Heng had taken the Lin Family’s support for years and even passed as a Provincial Graduate. His rank was not high, but he still counted as a scholar. By reason, he could have found a post in the County Yamen or the prefecture office and climbed step by step until he stood out.
But he did not. He gave up the official path and gripped the Lin Family’s business instead.
If he had a true head for trade, fine. He did not.
It was clear he just did not want to work hard. He meant to lie flat under the Lin Family’s protection.
As for Zhou Yuan, Xia Meng Yan could not yet see through him. He was capable and steady, a talent raised by the Lin Family. Staying with the Lin Family seemed right. Still, something about him felt odd.
Because she felt nothing for the two men, she felt nothing for their wives either.
But Third Madam ate the Lin Family’s food and then watched Xia Meng Yan get picked on. It felt like throwing meat buns to a dog.
Third Madam began to explain, but Xia Meng Yan cut her off with a calm voice: “Third Aunt, you did well just now. You speak for the Lin Family. There are many people here, so go put a stick of incense on Qiao Shan’s altar.”
Third Madam frowned. She had already done that when she arrived. Xia Meng Yan’s words were clearly meant to send her away.
Once Third Madam left, Xia Meng Yan found a quiet spot to rest.
Her body felt clumsier by the day. She planned to settle the Qiao Family matter, then stay in the manor to read the ledgers until the baby was born. [I just need peace and a steady routine.]
Voices drifted closer as a pair of people walked her way: “Did you see? The Prefect’s son, Young Master Zheng, and his sister, Miss Zheng, came. Who knew the Qiao Family had this kind of pull.”
Not wanting trouble, Xia Meng Yan slipped behind the rockery.
The second voice lowered with gossiping heat: “Of course the Qiao Family has pull. I heard Young Master Zheng likes the second branch’s legitimate daughter. With the Qiao Family in trouble, Young Master Zheng helped a lot.”
“Did he investigate Qiao Shan’s death?”
“The Lin Family says it was a revenge killing. But a Qiao Family servant said Lin Family people called Qiao Shan out at midnight. There must be more to it.”
“Whatever it is, with the Prefect backing them, the Qiao Family will not suffer.”
They turned away.
Hearing their steps fade, Xia Meng Yan came out from behind the rockery. [Did I guess wrong? Is the Qiao Family’s backer not the Huo Family after all?]
A sharp female voice cut the air: “Which branch of the Qiao Family are you a concubine from? Big belly and still not staying inside the room, standing in the yard to tempt someone.”
Xia Meng Yan turned. The speaker wore a moon?white dress and a waist chain of open?work glass beads. Sunlight spilled down, and a rainbow seemed to circle her.
The maid beside the young lady saw Xia Meng Yan standing there dazed and scolded with a curl of her lip: “Which concubine are you? So rude. You see my miss and don’t greet her.”
Xia Meng Yan glanced around. No one else stood nearby. She pointed at herself and asked in mild surprise: “Are you talking to me?”
Arms folded, the young lady walked up to her and looked her over with open scorn: “You wear fabric from Cloudwater Atelier, so you must be favored. What, now that you are pregnant you think you can strut around the Qiao Family and throw your weight, without knowing your place?”
“I do not need a stranger to judge me,” said Xia Meng Yan with a cool face, then she tilted her head. “But I would like to know who you are.” She regretted leaving home without checking the almanac, thinking with a trace of dry humor, [I went out and ran into a pack of mad dogs.]
“You do not know me?” The young lady stared as if she could not believe it.
The maid answered with pride, almost ready to stick a flower in her mistress’s hair: “My miss is Zheng Ming Lan, the Prefect’s legitimate daughter. You dare say you do not know her.”
Thinking of the talk she had just overheard about the Prefect’s visitors, Xia Meng Yan realized who stood before her. This was Zheng Ming Lan of the Zheng Family. She nodded and gave her name with calm politeness: “Xia Meng Yan.”
“So you are Xia Meng Yan.” Zheng Ming Lan pointed at her, eyes popping with shock.
She remembered her father had said that Lin Yue, the Lin Family’s legitimate daughter, married into the Capital’s Xia Family. One big reason the Lin Family ruled Man Lin City without fear was their tie to the Xia Family.
A few days ago, her father and older brother had chatted that the Xia Family’s legitimate daughter, Xia Meng Yan, had come to the Lin Family to await childbirth. Zheng Ming Lan had wanted to find a chance to see what she looked like. She did not expect to run into her at the Qiao Family.
She lifted her chin and spoke with growing heat: “I heard from Qiao Family people that you were going to marry Qiao Shan. Now Qiao Shan is dead, and you still plan to marry into the Qiao Family’s second branch. How shameless.”
Xia Meng Yan paused. [Marry Qiao Shan? Then marry the Qiao Family’s second branch? Since when?]
“You are cold and faithless. A woman like you should be drowned in a pig cage,” said Zheng Ming Lan, more and more excited, as if the one Xia Meng Yan had betrayed was her own older brother.
In the Capital, Xia Meng Yan had seen many noble girls who were stubborn and simple?minded. They heard a rumor and took it as truth. They did not care what really happened. They only judged.
She stepped to the side to leave, but Zheng Ming Lan blocked her and snapped: “You show your true face and think you can run.”
“Let go,” said Xia Meng Yan as she shook the other’s hand off. Her foot slipped. She fell forward.
Seeing her belly about to hit the ground, she twisted and took the fall on her side. A heavy pain stabbed her waist. She let out a low groan as cold sweat broke on her forehead.
Zheng Ming Lan had not expected her to fall. She clutched her maid’s hand and stammered in panic: “D?don’t you dare blame me. You fell by yourself. I…”
“Yan’er,” called a low, tight voice.
Seeing the man who rushed in, Xia Meng Yan spoke weakly as pain tightened her back: “The baby. It hurts…”
Duan Yi Chen had gotten word from a Shadow Guard that Xia Meng Yan had gone to the Qiao Family. Worried, he had followed in secret. Right as he found her, he saw her lying on the ground.
He picked her up at once. His cold gaze swept past Zheng Ming Lan like a blade as he said in a voice that left no doubt: “You will answer for this.”
Everything had happened too fast. Zheng Ming Lan was still in shock when she met Duan Yi Chen’s furious eyes. Before she could speak, he was already gone with Xia Meng Yan in his arms.
Her maid whispered with a tremble: “Big Miss, that man was fierce. Will Miss Xia be all right?”
Zheng Ming Lan’s heart fluttered with fear. The man had the air of someone born high and noble. He had seen her bullying Xia Meng Yan. Would he come after her? She bit her lip and decided at once: “Hurry back and tell Father.”
Duan Yi Chen carried Xia Meng Yan and climbed over the wall into the Lin Family. He told a Shadow Guard to inform Old Master Lin, then stayed by her side and asked in a low voice: “Where does it hurt?”
Pale?faced, Xia Meng Yan felt pain beating in her waist. With Duan Yi Chen here, she hesitated to say more. She forced a steady breath and whispered, “I am fine. You should go now, before someone…”
“I do not care. If the Lin Family learns I am here, they learn it,” he said, refusing to move as guilt pressed on him. “Tell me where it hurts.” He hated that he had hidden his identity. If he had stayed openly at her side, this would not have happened.
“My waist,” she said, her strength fading. When she fell, her waist had landed on a pointed stone. With her weight and the baby, it felt like the stone had pushed into her skin.
Hearing “waist,” Duan Yi Chen reached to check. When he saw the red on his fingers, blood rushed hot in his chest. His voice dropped, icy and deadly: “Whoever did this to you will pay.”
“Yan’er,” called Old Master Lin as he rushed in after the Shadow Guard’s report. He caught sight of the blood on Duan Yi Chen’s hand and blanched. “How did she get hurt?”
“Old Master, call a physician at once,” said Duan Yi Chen, heart aching with regret that pounded again and again. “Yan’er was pushed and hurt her waist.”
Old Master Lin’s eyes flicked to Duan Yi Chen. Thinking fast, he warned in a low voice: “Heir Apparent Duan, I am here with Yan’er. You should return next door.”
He had already looked into it. The Eldest Princess did not favor Yan’er, yet Duan Yi Chen was deeply devoted and had even chased her to Man Lin City. His movements could not be exposed. If they were, trouble would fall on Yan’er.
Duan Yi Chen did not want to leave, but the woman in his arms spoke in a faint voice: “Go back. If they find out you are in Man Lin City, the Eldest Princess will kill me.”
Gloom choking his chest, Duan Yi Chen left a Shadow Guard to guard her, then slipped back to the house next door.
When Matriarch Lin heard that Xia Meng Yan was hurt, she hurried over. Seeing the blood on the floor, her eyes reddened with rage as she ground out, “The Qiao Family bullies us too much.”