Chapter 118
Chapter 118: Impure Intentions
It had taken great effort for Xia Meng Yan to let him get close, so Duan Yi Chen refused to leave. He said: “Find someone with a build like mine and have the Shadow Guard leave with him.”
Xia Meng Yan wanted to refuse. With Duan Yi Chen at her side even one more day, she and the baby faced more danger. [Don’t blame me for being selfish. The Lin Family and I cannot afford to offend the Eldest Princess.]
She said, voice steady: “No. If the Shadow Guard leaves and something happens to you, how could we answer to the Eldest Princess?”
Duan Yi Chen was about to argue, but when he met Xia Meng Yan’s cold eyes, his heart sank. He said: “Fine, as you wish.”
A hard thud hit the window. Xia Meng Yan slowly closed her eyes. [Go, and never come back.]
Nanny Song carried in a tray of food. Seeing Chun Yue shake her head and take the tray, Nanny Song looked toward the room. The big miss lay quietly on the soft couch with her eyes open. Heir Apparent Duan was long gone. The quiet hurt to look at.
In the days that followed, Xia Meng Yan either ate and rested or read account books. While people in the manor waited for her to embarrass herself, the three stewards saw her amazing memory and dropped their worries, then began to help her in earnest.
Strangely, after Second Master Qian and Third Master Zhou met Old Master Lin, they settled down and minded their own work. Still, when they returned each day, they went first to the Eldest Master’s courtyard to pay respects. On the surface, the Lin Family looked peaceful.
Madam Jia walked out of the Eldest Master’s room, with Nanny Sun close behind. The wind in the Lin Family had shifted. Not only did Xia Meng Yan now manage most of the family’s businesses, she had also won the favor of the two old ancestors. The servants followed the trend and all wanted to serve at Xia Meng Yan’s side.
Supporting Madam Jia, Nanny Sun spoke softly: “Madam, don’t worry. With Divine Physician Luo here, the Eldest Master’s leg will soon stand again.”
Madam Jia nodded. Divine Physician Luo had entered the manor the night before. After examining the Eldest Master’s injury, he was confident he could cure it. Her hanging heart finally settled.
She gave orders crisply: “Tell the people below to keep their mouths shut. If anyone leaks Divine Physician Luo’s whereabouts, sell off the entire family.”
Nanny Sun bowed: “I have already warned them. Divine Physician Luo is the Lin Family’s honored guest and the Eldest Master’s benefactor. No one may slight him.” She glanced aside, and the maids behind her stepped back a few paces. She added, voice low: “With Divine Physician Luo caring for the Eldest Master’s injury, Madam can relax. But about the business side, it is not good to keep letting Cousin Miss handle it. She is still an outsider. Family is always more reliable.”
Madam Jia had smashed her favorite glass teacup the very moment the two elders handed all the Eldest Master’s businesses to Xia Meng Yan. In her mind, the two elders and the Eldest Master had been bewitched by Lin Yue and her daughter.
Noble houses lean toward sons, but the Lin Family was different. Daughters married out with half the industries as dowry. And that was not all. The granddaughter from outside the family was not even a Lin, yet her added trousseau gifts counted over thirty shops. Outsiders might think the Eldest Master, along with the Second and Third Masters, were adopted sons.
She let out a cold breath: “What use is saying this to me? Once the two elders decide something, who can change it?”
Nanny Sun’s lips curved, eyes full of calculation: “Madam need not be anxious. The Eldest Master is the legitimate eldest son. Even if the Old Master grows muddled, he will not give the family property to daughters and not to sons. I only fear the Old Master thinks too simply, while Cousin Miss has other plans.”
Madam Jia stopped walking: “What do you mean? Did you hear something?”
Nanny Sun said carefully: “Now the Lin Manor servants all want to serve in Cousin Miss’s courtyard. They are even saying…”
Madam Jia’s tone turned sharp: “Saying what?”
“They say Cousin Miss is pleasing the Old Master to pave the way for the child in her belly, so that when the Lin Manor divides estates in the future, that child will take a share.”
Madam Jia burst out, cursing: “Nonsense.” She had long ruled the Lin Family’s inner court. No one dared go against her. Her temper had not softened; it had only grown fiercer. She snapped: “The illegitimate child in her belly dares to covet the Lin Family’s property.”
Nanny Sun gently patted her back and whispered by her ear: “Cousin Miss’s intentions are not pure. The Eldest Master and the Old Master are blinded by family affection. Madam must not ignore this, or what will become of the main branch’s young masters and misses?”
The more Madam Jia thought, the angrier she grew. The Lin Family was large and rich, but there were many mouths to feed. Two adopted sons had already taken a share. If Xia Meng Yan came to divide again, how much would be left for her own children?
She asked through clenched teeth: “What can we do to take it back?”
Nanny Sun smiled and leaned in to whisper a plan.
After Divine Physician Luo finished taking the Eldest Master’s pulse, he went to see Xia Meng Yan. Luo Jin sat on the soft couch, eyes on the little head half-hidden behind the account books, and said, dry as ever: “The Lin Family really has a conscience.” He picked up a pastry from the table and took a bite: “Oh, they even put out the good stuff. They must be afraid you’ll get sick and their industries will be swallowed up by others.”
Xia Meng Yan pushed herself up from the table. Chun Yue hurried to steady her. She said, light and warm: “All right, I know you care about me. See? I’m fine. You rushed here in the dark. Why not rest first?”
Her people had already learned last night that Luo Jin slipped into the city.
Luo Jin said nothing. He pulled her hand over and took her pulse.
Xia Meng Yan was used to this. He had a sharp tongue but a soft heart. After he let go, she smiled: “Satisfied now? I really am fine.”
“What do you mean fine?” he scolded. “You’re overthinking and anemic. Xia Meng Yan, you are pregnant.” He turned to Nanny Song: “From now on, your miss may read account books only two hours a day. The rest of the time, take her out to walk.”
Nanny Song nodded: “You just mentioned anemia. Please write a prescription so I can prepare it.”
“Fine.” Luo Jin took the paper and brush from Chun Yue and wrote two prescriptions, handing them to Nanny Song: “Alternate these two.”
Nanny Song put them away like treasure and left with Chun Yue.
Luo Jin looked at the girl grinning like nothing was wrong and found it hard to stay angry. He took a letter from his robe and placed it on the table: “I met your father on the way. He wrote this.”
Joy flashed across Xia Meng Yan’s face. She opened it at once, and her eyes reddened as she read. Her father wrote that Emperor Xuan Ming valued him highly. At first, there were voices against him, but now no one dared question him. He also told her that if she suffered any wrong in Man Lin City, she need not swallow it. Even from the Capital, he had ways to deal with a person.
Seeing her tears, Luo Jin’s last bit of anger melted: “If I had known you would cry after reading it, I wouldn’t have brought the letter.”
“Thank you,” Xia Meng Yan said, eyes still wet.
In her past life, she had quarreled with Luo Jin and, against his advice, insisted on going to the Northern Fortress Pass. He called her foolish, but he still prepared many medicines to protect her pregnancy and save her life. She had been brainless and given them all to Lin Ye Lan. Later, when she needed them, they were gone.
Luo Jin was used to trading jabs with Xia Meng Yan. Seeing her cry was a first. He fumbled, then huffed: “Thank me for what? I am your master.”
“Half a master,” she replied.
“Don’t be ungrateful,” he shot back. “In the Xuan Ming Empire the people who want to be my disciples are too many to count, and you still pick and choose.”
She wiped her tears and sniffed: “You said it yourself. I never formally bowed as your disciple. I only learned your basics. So I count as half a disciple.”
Luo Jin fell silent. [This brat holds grudges.] It was true she had not bowed. He worried his old enemy would make trouble for her. Only learned his basics? He had nearly handed her his whole toolbox.
“Fine, fine, since that’s so, I—”
She cut in, smiling as she lifted a cup: “Master, please drink tea.” Her eyes shone. “I have wanted to call you Master for a long time. Today I finally can.”
She did not want to pretend to be some same-age friend. She wanted to call him Master.
Luo Jin’s ears warmed. He coughed, took the tea, and put on a stern face: “Good disciple, from today you are my last disciple.”
Xia Meng Yan grinned, sly and bright. [Great. Now I can openly trick Master out of medicine.]