Chapter 129
Chapter 129: Scapegoat
“My being well has nothing to do with Miss Xia,” said Qiao Xi Wan, drawing back her gaze. The Qiao family had long been pressed down by the Lin family. Her father and eldest uncle wanted to cut off the Lin family’s trade routes, but the Lin family was too powerful. Several secret ambushes failed, so they had to pretend politeness with the Lins. Even without the matter of Qiao Shan, the Lin and Qiao families could never live in peace. And Xia Meng Yan was the darling of the Lin elders. What Xia Meng Yan said was not to be trusted.
Xia Meng Yan saw through her thoughts and did not rush. She lightly touched her belly and let her eyes fall to the pattern at the edge of Qiao Xi Wan’s sleeve as she asked: “Sister, have you still not found your maid?”
She had sent Song Mo to investigate the cause of the fire. He found more than fire oil. He also found a handkerchief. The cloth was common, nothing special, so Xia Meng Yan had not told anyone. But now, seeing the same pattern on Qiao Xi Wan’s sleeve, she smiled.
Qiao Xi Wan’s heart jumped. She gripped the handkerchief in her own hand and asked: “Do you know where she is?”
Xia Meng Yan sighed softly and said: “You misunderstand. How would I know where your maid is? I only happened to pick up a handkerchief. The pattern on it matches the design on your sleeve.”
Qiao Xi Wan hurried to cover the embroidered edge of her sleeve.
Xia Meng Yan tilted her head and smiled: “Do you not want to know where your maid is?”
A bad feeling swept over Qiao Xi Wan. She thought her maid might be in trouble and said, tight-voiced: “Miss Xia, please speak plainly. No need to circle around.”
“Fine,” said Xia Meng Yan. She took out the handkerchief and held it up. “Tell me if this handkerchief belongs to your maid.”
The moment Qiao Xi Wan saw it, her face changed. She cried: “How did Jie’er’s handkerchief end up in your hand? What did you do to her?”
Xia Meng Yan shifted aside so Qiao Xi Wan could not snatch it, then put the handkerchief away and said: “Good. Since Miss Qiao recognizes it, this is easier to discuss. Tell me how much you know about Zheng Jing Nian.”
Here it comes. Qiao Xi Wan had known Xia Meng Yan would try to sow discord. She braced herself and said: “I do not know, and I do not want to know.”
Xia Meng Yan acted as if she had not heard and went on: “Last time Miss Zheng almost made me miscarry, so my people looked into the Zheng family. I did not expect to find something. In talent and status, Zheng Jing Nian is one of the top young men of Man Lin City, the man many maidens dream of marrying. He is nineteen now. A man that good should already be married. Yet his household has not even taken a concubine. Has Miss Qiao never wondered why?”
“What are you trying to say?” Qiao Xi Wan’s heart trembled. She had not expected the topic to turn to Zheng Jing Nian.
“My people learned that from the time Zheng Jing Nian was ten, women kept appearing around him,” said Xia Meng Yan. “When he was fourteen, he went traveling with friends and was injured. After that, there were no more women in his back courtyard. Not long after, several strong men started appearing at his side.”
Qiao Xi Wan swayed and almost could not stand. Though raised behind doors, she had a scoundrel for an elder brother and had heard plenty about the young masters of Man Lin City. When Xia Meng Yan spoke of strong men, she understood at once.
“Given the Qiao family’s standing in Man Lin City, everyone would say you are marrying up,” Xia Meng Yan continued. “If, from the start, the Zheng family staged a setup and let you ‘rescue’ someone, would you lower your guard, Miss Qiao?”
“Impossible,” Qiao Xi Wan whispered, covering her mouth. If all this was true, and the Zhengs kept dragging out the marriage, then there must be a bigger plot.
Feeling tired from standing, Xia Meng Yan found a clean step and sat. “Why is it impossible? The Qiao family are merchants. Your status is low. Using you to cover Zheng Jing Nian’s weakness could not be better.”
Qiao Xi Wan said nothing.
“Sadly for you, you are no longer useful,” said Xia Meng Yan. “Zheng Ming Lan wants to push you out as a scapegoat.”
Qiao Xi Wan was shocked. Panic colored her face as she stammered: “What scapegoat? I did not do anything.”
Xia Meng Yan lifted the handkerchief in her fingers, and her face cooled: “You did not, but your maid did everything. If I am right, Zheng Ming Lan deliberately dropped your maid’s handkerchief in my yard. When the officials investigate at daybreak, you will not be able to explain even with a hundred mouths.”
“What?” Qiao Xi Wan’s knees gave way and she fell to the ground.
Looking down at the girl at her feet, Xia Meng Yan suddenly remembered her own past life, when she had humbled herself to beg a man to love her. She asked calmly: “Do you want to know why?”
Qiao Xi Wan’s eyes held anger and unwillingness, but not distrust.
“Because from beginning to end you were only the sycamore tree used to lure a phoenix,” said Xia Meng Yan. “No matter what, Zheng Jing Nian is the prefect’s legitimate son, while the Qiao family does not even rank in the top ten of Man Lin City. On what grounds could you enter their gate? Zheng Jing Nian dangling you and spoiling you is for show. Once the woman they want takes the bait, they will kick you aside. If he has a conscience, he may spare your life. If you refuse to be obedient, they may even pin his impotence on you.”
Qiao Xi Wan felt a heavy black net drop over her head and close around her.
“Whether you become Zheng Ming Lan’s scapegoat is up to you,” said Xia Meng Yan.
“What do you want to know?” Qiao Xi Wan stared at the woman before her, who in the dark looked scarier than any ghost. She finally understood her father’s warning: some people hide their edge, but when they act, someone bleeds.
“Why did Zheng Ming Lan set the fire to kill me?” asked Xia Meng Yan.
“You… you already know,” Qiao Xi Wan whispered. Cold sweat rolled down her forehead. The woman before her was too terrifying.
Xia Meng Yan gave a helpless smile and said: “You approached me again and again. I am not a fool.”
Qiao Xi Wan’s gaze wavered. At last she raised her head and met Xia Meng Yan’s eyes: “The Zheng family received news that the Heir Apparent Duan is in Man Lin City. Lord Zheng guessed the Heir Apparent is at your side. The Zheng brother and sister searched for a long time and found nothing. They heard you were coming to Cloud Mountain Temple to offer incense, so they followed to probe. Zheng Ming Lan set the fire to force the Heir Apparent Duan to show himself. Miss Xia, I do not want to be a chess piece. Please save me.”
“When did you dose us with sedative powder?” asked Xia Meng Yan. This was the one point she had not figured out.
Qiao Xi Wan answered: “Zheng Ming Lan bribed the temple’s reception monk. She had her place one kind of drug in your room. After you arrived, she had the reception monk add another drug to your tea.”
Xia Meng Yan almost laughed. She thought, [I wanted a good sleep tonight, so I did not drink tea. That is how I escaped.]
“How many shadow guards did the Zheng siblings bring?” she asked.
“I saw two,” said Qiao Xi Wan. “If there are more, I do not know.” She grew anxious. Dawn was near. Once the officials came up the mountain, she would have no way to clear herself. She begged: “Miss Xia, I told you everything. Please let me and my maid go.”
“Your maid is already dead,” said Xia Meng Yan.
Qiao Xi Wan froze where she knelt. Dead.
“Go back to your room now and act like nothing happened,” said Xia Meng Yan. “When the officials arrive at daybreak, ask them to help you look for someone.”
“What are you planning to do?” Qiao Xi Wan asked. She wanted to climb to higher branches, yes, but only if she kept her life. She thought, [Let Xia Meng Yan and the Zheng siblings fight. I want to be as far away as possible.]
Xia Meng Yan rose slowly and said: “Just do as I said. When it is over, I will return the handkerchief to you.” She turned and left with Chun Yue.
Qiao Xi Wan wanted to say more, but it was deep into the night. She had no choice but to go back.
At the door, Duan Yi Chen was waiting. Seeing Xia Meng Yan return, he stepped forward quickly to support her and asked with a spark in his eye: “What do you want to do? Do you want my help?”
Xia Meng Yan felt he was eager for chaos and said: “Yes.”
“Really?” he grinned. “Say it.”
She leaned close and whispered a few words in his ear. The corner of Duan Yi Chen’s mouth twitched. He said: “Such a nasty trick. Only you could think of it. All right. Sleep in peace. Leave the rest to me.”
Xia Meng Yan would have liked to do just that. She thought, [I only worry someone will not let me sleep when the time comes.]