Chapter 113
Chapter 113: Ladder Over the Wall
News of Xia Meng Yan’s injury spread through the Lin Family at once. Every branch sent people to visit, but Matriarch Lin blocked them with a firm face: “Yan’er needs rest. Go back.”
With the old madam holding the gate, the branches did not dare press. They left their gifts and went away obediently.
This did not include the second branch.
Second Madam stood at the door. The worry on her face did not look fake as she said with a kneel in her voice: “Mother, I failed to take proper care of Meng Yan. Punish me as you wish.”
Xia Meng Yan had been hurt at the Qiao Family and had almost gone into early labor. Big or small, the matter could swing either way. On any other day, Second Madam would not have been so anxious.
But right now the two families were pulling against each other. If Xia Meng Yan got hurt at this moment, the Qiao Family’s plans might fall apart.
Second Madam felt torn. She hoped Xia Meng Yan would be fine, so that, because of Qiao Shan, she could speak with more weight in the Lin Family. Yet when she heard Old Master planned to make Xia Meng Yan the Second Shopkeeper, she did not want Xia Meng Yan to be fine.
There were so many men in the Lin Family. Could they not find one who was truly capable? Why make a divorced woman with a big belly take on the work?
It was clear Old Master did not trust the second and third branches. He meant to use Xia Meng Yan as a shield to hold them back.
Old Master Lin had already told Matriarch Lin how Xia Meng Yan had been hurt. The matriarch had not poured much care into this daughter?in?law of the family, but she had not treated her poorly either. She had not expected Second Madam to be so cold toward Yan’er.
“Go back,” said Matriarch Lin as she moved past the kneeling woman. “Yan’er will see no one.”
Hearing the displeasure in the old madam’s tone, Second Madam dropped to her knees with a thud and spoke even more earnestly: “Qiao Shan just passed. Father lost his only son, and I lost my only brother. Even if I failed in my duty, please, Mother, forgive your daughter?in?law for Qiao Shan’s sake. I truly did not mean it.”
“If the Qiao Family did this on purpose, do you think you would still be standing here in the Lin Family?” Matriarch Lin turned her face away. “Say no more. I already know how this began and how it ended. Instead, you should look into why Zheng Ming Lan targeted Yan’er.”
She added with dry experience, “They had no past grudges, meeting for the first time. Why strike so hard on the first meeting?”
Matriarch Lin had run the inner court for many years. What dirty tricks had she not seen? A single look from someone above, and the servants knew what to do.
Everyone knew that the Zheng Family’s eldest young master liked the Qiao Family’s second branch’s legitimate daughter. The Zheng siblings were close. Zheng Ming Lan wanted to please her older brother, so she picked on Xia Meng Yan. That was normal.
Second Madam understood at once what the old madam meant. She opened her mouth to explain, but a soft voice floated from inside the room: “Is Second Maternal Aunt here?”
Second Madam hurried in at once and bent to the bed with a look of concern: “It is me, it is me. Meng Yan, how are you feeling?”
“I am fine. Do not worry, Second Maternal Aunt,” said Xia Meng Yan. Her face was still pale, but the child was safe.
She had heard what Second Madam said while inside the room.
Today’s affair truly was not Second Madam’s doing. If her maternal grandmother iced Second Madam because of her, it would chill Second Master Qian’s heart. [Better to reduce fights than add them.]
So she would not hang this matter around Second Madam’s neck.
Sensing Xia Meng Yan’s kindness, Second Madam’s eyes flickered with guilt as she said, “Good, good. If something had happened to you, I would not have the face to see your mother.”
Matriarch Lin snorted lightly at that.
If her own daughter learned that her granddaughter had been bullied in the Lin Family, she would bring an axe to the door.
“Dream?smoke is a good girl who understands me,” Second Madam went on, trying to sound reasonable. “But about the Zheng Family, could you perhaps let it go? Zheng Ming Lan was frightened too. She is crying at home right now. Madam Zheng…”
At once, Xia Meng Yan’s face cooled. She pulled her hand back from Second Madam’s grasp and spoke without softness: “If the Zheng Family is sincere, they should come to our door and apologize, not look for the Qiao Family.”
“Meng Yan,” said Second Madam with a mournful face, as if caught in a hard place. “I will tell you the truth. The Zheng Family visiting the Qiao Family’s memorial was already giving the Qiao Family face. If we offend the Zheng Family over this, the Qiao Family will find it hard to move in Man Lin City. But do not worry. The Zheng Family is reasonable. They will offer gifts. They only ask that you do not make the matter big.”
As she spoke, she looked toward Matriarch Lin. Even the Lin Family dared not offend the Prefect. How could the Qiao Family dare?
Hearing that Madam Zheng had secretly reached out to the Qiao Family, Matriarch Lin’s heart grew colder.
The Lin Family did not want to offend the Prefect, but that did not mean they were afraid to.
“Zheng Ming Lan is cruel. She did not spare even a pregnant woman. They refuse to come and apologize, yet want forgiveness. Must the Zheng Family take every advantage?” she said, anger sharpening each word.
Xia Meng Yan did not miss the flash in Second Madam’s eyes. She understood all at once. Second Madam had not come to visit from true concern. She had come to clear the way for the Zheng Family.
Even if the matter settled quietly, the Zheng Family would remember the Qiao Family’s help, not hers.
Second Madam secretly pinched herself, and a tear fell at last. She spoke in a choked voice: “I know I should not speak. But the Qiao Family is my natal home. The Zheng Family is pressing me hard. I had no choice but to plead through the Qiao Family.”
Xia Meng Yan’s gaze slanted. She glanced at Second Madam’s hand and said in a cool tone that cut the play?acting short: “Second Maternal Aunt, if you cannot squeeze out tears, do not force yourself. I am hurt, not dead.”
There were no men here. Second Madam thought a little crying could win forgiveness.
Shock flashed in Second Madam’s eyes. She pulled her hand back in a hurry.
She could not understand where Xia Meng Yan found the nerve to go against the Prefect.
Xia Meng Yan had no special backing. She simply refused to be toyed with.
Whether the second branch of the Qiao Family had stirred this up or the Zheng Family had planned it on purpose, she was the victim. If the Qiao and Zheng families joined hands to bully her, she did not need to be nice.
As they spoke, Xia Meng Yan suddenly clutched her belly and cried out: “It hurts, Grandmother. My belly hurts…”
Matriarch Lin had not yet cooled from anger when her granddaughter’s cry struck her. She shoved Second Madam aside and called in a ringing voice: “Someone, fetch the physician at once.”
The room burst into motion. Second Madam was pushed into a corner. Her face went red, then green.
Was Xia Meng Yan truly in pain, or using the chance to accuse her?
For the first time, fear filled Second Madam. Xia Meng Yan was no soft fruit to squeeze. She was an ancestor in the Lin Family whom no one should touch.
Matriarch Lin turned and saw Second Madam standing there dumbly. Her voice cracked like a whip: “Get out. If anything happens to Yan’er, I will not spare you.”
Second Madam wanted to explain, but she feared rousing the old madam’s anger even more. Better to go back and speak with Second Master about what to do.
Xia Meng Yan kept one hand on her belly and let out a few pained cries. From the corner of her eye, she saw Second Madam leave. Only then did she ease up and sit slowly.
“You… you are fine?” Matriarch Lin stared, full of surprise, then understood at once. She huffed with half anger and half relief: “Child, warn me next time. These old bones of mine almost went to the grave because of you.”
Smiling, Xia Meng Yan took Matriarch Lin’s arm and spoke in a warm voice: “Just now, Second Maternal Aunt mentioned the Prefect again and again and talked about helplessness. If I did not do something, the Lin Family would be set over the fire.”
She had first thought Second Madam was innocent. Now it seemed no one in the Qiao Family could be trusted.
The Qiao Family had not yet repaid what they owed the Lin Family. Yet they dared to use the Zheng Family to threaten the Lin Family. Wolf hearts and dog lungs.
Matriarch Lin nodded, seeing clearly now. She patted Xia Meng Yan’s hand and said with care: “The Prefect is not easy to offend, but it is not impossible either.”
Xia Meng Yan agreed with a small nod. As long as the Lin Family lived in Man Lin City, they would be under the Prefect’s thumb. It was best not to offend him if they could help it.
“Let your eldest uncle and your maternal grandfather handle this,” said Matriarch Lin. “You focus on the baby.”
Xia Meng Yan leaned into her grandmother’s arms and gave a soft yes, though a sly light flickered in her eyes. [I will not let them toy with me.]
After Matriarch Lin left, less than half a stick of incense passed before the story ran through every corner of Lin Manor.
The tale went like wildfire: Zheng Ming Lan, the Zheng Family’s legitimate daughter, had pushed the Cousin Miss on purpose, then told Second Madam to keep the Cousin Miss from speaking. The Cousin Miss took the hurt to heart and stirred the fetus. The child in her belly might come early.