Chapter 117
Chapter 117: Not Convinced
Third Master Zhou stood respectfully before Old Master Lin, eyes lowered to the shoes across from him as he said: “Adoptive Father, Second Brother only worries for the Lin Family and for Meng Yan. That is why he misspoke. Without the Lin Family’s training, I would have been just an ordinary accountant. I came with Second Brother only to learn the full story. I did not mean to interfere with your decision.”
Sweat beaded on Second Master Qian’s forehead. He regretted his impulse: “Adoptive Father, please do not be angry. I only fear Meng Yan will be overwhelmed and give our enemies an opening.” He suddenly remembered: when Lin Yue was in the Lin Family, she was a natural at business, her ability matching Eldest Brother’s. How could her daughter be worse? [Foolish me.]
Old Master Lin did not respond to their looks. His presence alone made him hard to ignore as he said: “You two are capable. It was not easy to stand out among the younger generation. I have seen your efforts over the years. Do not mind the outside gossip. The Lin Family’s success has its own way of operating. In time, you will understand. Any other questions?”
Second Master Qian glanced at Third Master Zhou. Seeing him silent, he rushed to ask: “Adoptive Father, I want to know whether you asked Meng Yan to take over Eldest Brother’s work because of the Zheng Family.” [If I am going to be scolded, I want to know why.]
Old Master Lin did not answer. He looked toward the door. Understanding, Third Master Zhou went to close it and signaled his wife to wait outside, then returned with a grave face to stand at Old Master Lin’s side.
“Is it that Prefect Zheng used the Lin Family to threaten Meng Yan?” he asked in a low voice.
Old Master Lin nodded.
Second Master Qian flared up: “He dares threaten Meng Yan, he—”
“Second Brother,” Third Master Zhou warned softly, “watch your tongue. Let Adoptive Father speak.”
Old Master Lin sat back. The two gathered close, listening as earnestly as they had ten years ago. He said: “The Qiao Family tried to use Qiao Shan’s death to threaten the Lin Family. You both know this. Your eldest brother and I were searching for a way to break the deadlock. Then the Zheng Family barged in. Yan’er borrowed one force to beat another and turned the situation around. As the prefect over all Man Lin City, Prefect Zheng must keep face. The Qiao Family tried to climb onto the Zheng Family, but they were too clever for their own good and ended up in Yan’er’s hands. To protect his daughter, the Zheng Family had to show their trump card.”
It sounded simple, but only the people inside knew the danger. Without Yan’er’s handling, the Lin Family would have been flayed.
Second Master Qian listened in a fog.
After a pause to think, Third Master Zhou tested a guess: “The Zheng Family’s trump card?”
Old Master Lin looked between them and sighed: “A salt license.”
Second Master Qian shot to his feet. The stool fell with a heavy thud. Third Master Zhou froze where he stood.
A salt license?
The Lin Family was the most respected merchant house in Man Lin City. If the Lin Family called itself second, no one dared call themselves first. Even so, each year when the court issued salt licenses, they still had to run all over, pull strings in the dark, and spend piles of silver and antiques. Yet Xia Meng Yan made Prefect Zheng promise one with ease. Their shock pleased Old Master Lin; his maternal granddaughter was impressive, of course.
Xia Meng Yan did not know her grandfather’s thoughts. After she agreed to help her eldest uncle, piles of ledgers were carried into her courtyard. There were too many. Nanny Song cleared a room for a study. Three desks stood opposite the main table, left for three stewards.
“Miss, you can look again tomorrow,” Nanny Song said as she brought a late-night snack. Seeing her still bent over the ledgers, she felt both heartache and joy. The Lin Family valued their Miss, and the servants felt honored. But managing shops is hard work, and the Miss is pregnant.
Trimming the lamp wick, Chun Yue grumbled: “The Lin Family is using our Miss as a shield. Even temporary management makes people in the manor jealous. Who knows what they say about Miss behind her back.”
Nanny Song nodded at first, worried their Miss might be used as free labor. Then she shook her head: “Old Master Lin is the Miss’s own maternal grandfather. He would not be that hardhearted.”
Chun Yue curled her lip: “Maybe not the old master, but what about the rest of the Lin Family?”
Hearing them, Xia Meng Yan set down the ledger. She knew they worried for her and did not blame them as she said: “My grandfather and my eldest uncle do have their own aims, but they put them in the open. Even if unspoken, it is reasonable that I help when Eldest Uncle is in trouble. The Lin Family is complicated. Now that I have taken this hot potato, you must be even more careful with your words in the manor.”
Nanny Song and Chun Yue nodded together. They would not drag her down.
Knock, knock, knock.
The familiar rhythm sounded. The three shared a look. Chun Yue took the door to stand guard. Nanny Song opened the window to let the visitor in.
Smiling like a spring breeze, Duan Yi Chen climbed in the window on purpose even though there was a door. As usual, he stood a few steps away to shake off the cold, then glanced at the table: “The Lin Family really is heartless, making you work for free. Are you sure you are their own?”
“Shut up,” Xia Meng Yan said without expression. “If you cannot stand it, go back to the capital.”
Duan Yi Chen only grinned and told Nanny Song: “Please send something to eat. I have not had dinner.”
“Yes, Heir Apparent Duan, one moment,” Nanny Song said, and motioned to Chun Yue, who stayed at a careful distance by the inner gate.
Xia Meng Yan looked up and asked, “You still have not eaten at this hour?”
He leaned closer, glanced over the ledgers, and closed one with his hand: “Stop reading. You will ruin your eyes. Don’t worry. I have already settled the Zheng Family matter. Prefect Zheng will not dare bother you for a while.”
A bad feeling pricked her. “What did you do?” she asked.
Pride flashed in his eyes as he said, eager for praise: “I showed my trail a little. Prefect Zheng is searching everywhere. That old fox even sent people to the capital to inquire.”
Across the Xuan Ming Empire, even children know that Xia Meng Yan and Marquis Xuan Ping’s heir apparent, Duan Yi Chen, grew up together. As long as Prefect Zheng is not a fool, if he learns Duan Yi Chen is in Man Lin City, he will not dare move against Xia Meng Yan or the Lin Family.
Xia Meng Yan almost saw black. She had thought she was planning from a thousand miles away, but it turned out this guy was pushing from behind. [One sentence from Duan Yi Chen tired me more than a whole day of ledgers.]
“What is it?” Duan Yi Chen asked when she shut her eyes. Thinking her belly hurt, he said, “Do not worry. I will help you rest and raise the baby. As for the Zheng Family, I will take revenge for you.”
“What revenge? You will get me killed,” she said. “If Prefect Zheng can sense you, then the people the Eldest Princess sent to find you can too. When they reach Man Lin City and cannot find you, who do you think they will look for?”
Duan Yi Chen froze.
“Have your people return to the capital and keep watch on the people sent by the Zheng Family,” she said.
“Alright. What else?” he asked at once.
“Leave Man Lin City for now,” Xia Meng Yan said after a steadying breath. “Go to the Frontier Garrison and stay half a month. Then come back.”
“No,” Duan Yi Chen refused on the spot. “There must be another way. Do not try to trick me.”