Chapter 123
Chapter 123: Bribed
The hand behind this wanted to set her against the first branch and also make Madam Jia and Concubine Su distrust each other. It was vicious. Most of all, the victim was a slow-witted child who could not speak clearly, so the truth would be hard to explain.
Xia Meng Yan stroked her belly, her eyes cold with irony. Duan Yi Chen had shown up suddenly. For the other side to drag her in so fast, they had clearly been watching her. In the Lin Family, the ones who wanted her gone were the second branch she had just offended and Zheng Ming Lan. As luck would have it, Zheng Ming Lan had been asking about Duan Yi Chen moments ago. Xia Meng Yan swept her gaze around and caught a figure flash by in the distance. She smiled faintly. [As expected.]
But she still had one question. This was the Lin Family. How did Zheng Ming Lan buy a Lin maid? Without proof, accusing him would offend Lord Zheng.
Madam Jia thought a moment and said, “Meng Yan, this maid may be listed under my house, but I never saw her. She was likely bribed to provoke us.”
Xia Meng Yan agreed and said, “We think alike, Aunt. A tea-room fire girl suddenly runs out and, right then, sees me commit murder? That is too coincidental.”
Realizing this was her banquet and that the Old Madam would blame her if anything exploded, Madam Jia sobered at once.
Concubine Su stood up with the boy in her arms and said in a small voice to Madam Jia, “Madam, Yu’er woke but he still fell into the water. I will take him back to change clothes. Please decide the rest.”
Madam Jia could not stand the sight of her and waved for her to leave.
Just as Concubine Su went out, Madam Wang hurried over. Without waiting for Madam Jia to speak, Madam Wang shot Xia Meng Yan a look and said, “I knew she wouldn’t behave. We kindly tried to match her with a proper family, but she refused. Then she sneaks around with a man and even tries to kill to silence him. Good thing it was found out in time, or the result would be awful.”
Xia Meng Yan gave a short laugh and said, “Madam Wang, your news travels fast.”
The “witness” was still kneeling here, yet the rumor had already spread.
Madam Jia had the same thought and looked at Madam Wang with displeasure, asking, “Sister-in-law, how do you know Meng Yan was sneaking around?”
Madam Wang choked, cursing Madam Jia in her heart for having no sense. How could she bend just because Xia Meng Yan said a few words? She said aloud, “Naturally a maid from the Lin Family spread it.”
“Impossible,” Madam Jia said. “This is the Lin Manor. Forget sneaking around. Even if there was a death, no one would dare let a word out.” Before Madam Jia took over the household, Matriarch Lin had managed it, and not even a fly could leave. To please the Old Madam, Madam Jia had stuck to that rule. For years, not even a servant’s spit had reached the street.
“Sister-in-law,” she said, “tell me which maid.”
“…” Madam Wang suddenly felt faint. Had Madam Jia drunk fake wine today? Why was she so muddled? She huffed, “You are forgetting what matters. Xia Meng Yan relies on the elders’ favor and runs wild in the manor. As the mother of the family head, shouldn’t you punish her?”
“Punish what?” Xia Meng Yan said with a smile. “You bribed a maid and dragged someone over, then tried to stick a hat on me. That is ridiculous. Leave aside the many holes in this story. Even if something did happen, it is the Lin Family’s matter. It has nothing to do with you, Madam Wang.”
“You—” Madam Wang felt she and Xia Meng Yan were born enemies. Every word from Xia Meng Yan poked her sore spot. “Aren’t you afraid the rumor will get out and ruin the Lin Family’s name?”
“Will you spread it, Madam Wang?” Xia Meng Yan asked.
“…”
Xia Meng Yan smiled again and said, “Since you won’t, and my aunt and I won’t, and the Lin Family servants won’t, then no one will know.”
It was the second time today Madam Wang had been shut down. For some reason, that made Madam Jia feel better. Still, Yu’er was the Eldest Master’s child. He had fallen from the rockery and become slow, but he could not be framed for nothing. She turned to Chun’er and said sternly, “You said you saw Cousin Miss push Yu’er. Is that true? If I learn you lied, not only you but your whole family will never find a place again in Man Lin City.”
Chun’er went pale at once and stammered, “Maid… maid may have seen wrong. Maybe Young Master Yu fell in by himself.”
Xia Meng Yan let out a sharp little laugh and said, “And the part where you heard me meet a man in secret, was that also wrong?”
Chun’er kowtowed and pleaded, “I did not see clearly. Please forgive me, Cousin Miss.”
“Chun Yue, search her,” Xia Meng Yan said, smoothing the small jeweled flower by her temple, her voice cool.
She judged the mastermind had acted on impulse and bribed Chun’er on the path. If so, Chun’er might not have had time to return the hush money and would still be carrying it.
Sure enough, Chun Yue found a banknote for one hundred taels hidden in Chun’er’s sleeve.
At the sight of the note, Madam Jia understood at once and slapped Chun’er, saying, “Heartless thing. The Lin Family has not treated you poorly, and you dare betray us? Take her away and question her thoroughly.”
“It is my own silver, Madam…” Chun’er tried to explain, but Xia Meng Yan said in a distant voice, “Is it? I remember the Lin Family’s servants keep savings at the Lin Family Bank, but this note bears the seal of the Meng Family Bank.”
Chun’er’s face changed. She opened her mouth to argue, but Nanny Sun stepped forward and slapped her, snapping, “Wretch, confess.”
Knowing she was exposed and that further lies might drag in her family, Chun’er said, “A maid gave me one hundred taels to frame Cousin Miss and said I would get more after it worked.”
“Do you remember what that maid looked like?” Xia Meng Yan asked.
Chun’er shook her head. “She handed it to me from behind the rockery. I only saw her back. She wore a maid’s clothes.”
Anyone bold enough to make a move inside the Lin Manor had come prepared.
Xia Meng Yan went to Madam Jia’s side and said quietly, “All our guests today are close kin of the Lin Manor. Let’s look into this in private.”
Madam Jia understood. They could not tear off masks with family. “We will do as you say. You have been wronged,” she said.
She guessed someone was jealous that Xia Meng Yan had been put in charge of some Lin Family businesses and wanted to frame her. Her eyes dropped to Xia Meng Yan’s belly, and the guilt in her heart grew. “Go back and rest first. I will handle the rest.”
Xia Meng Yan inclined her head and left with her people.
Seeing her go, Madam Wang lost the mood to stay. She found an excuse and left with the Jia Family.
Madam Jia did not dare to hide the matter and turned toward the Old Madam’s courtyard.
After the crowd dispersed, a small maid hurried to the back courtyard. She stood before Concubine Su and reported in a low voice, “Aunt, Madam found out someone bribed Chun’er and set a trap to harm Young Master Yu.”
Concubine Su looked at her pale-faced son and felt both worry and fear. She asked, “Who is behind it?”
The maid shook her head. “Chun’er did not see the face. Madam went to the Old Madam.”
A faint sneer crossed Concubine Su’s gentle features, and she said, “For such a small thing, they even go to the Old Madam.”
The maid did not dare answer.
After settling her son, Concubine Su stood and told the maid, “Find a chance to tell the Eldest Master about today. Do it naturally.”
The maid nodded. “Aunt, should we also investigate?”
“Remember your place,” Concubine Su said calmly. “Your mistress is only a concubine. For matters like this, let Madam and the Eldest Master decide.”