Chapter 130
Chapter 130: Siblings Plot Together
Zheng Ming Lan could not sleep either. At dawn the yamen officers would go up the mountain. If they found anything, she did not know how to handle it.
She asked softly: “Are all the people taken care of?”
Zheng Jing Nian dropped his daytime gentle manners. Holding the pastry with a dainty pinch of his fingers, he tasted a bite, then tossed it on the table in disgust: “Qiao Xi Wan’s maid is already dead. We left the evidence at the scene. No matter who investigates, it will point to her.”
She frowned and asked: “What about that maid’s family?”
He said: “I sent people to watch them. They cannot run.”
Zheng Ming Lan let out a breath. As long as nothing led back to the Zheng Family, everything could still be handled: “It is a pity we couldn’t find Duan Yi Chen.”
Zheng Jing Nian pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his hands, a hint of mockery at the corner of his eyes: “Sister, your mouth says one thing but your heart says another. More than not finding him, you fear the Heir Apparent Duan being at Xia Meng Yan’s side.”
Zheng Ming Lan gave a cold laugh. It was true. Ever since she heard the rumors about Duan Yi Chen and Xia Meng Yan, she never believed they were real. [A woman like Xia Meng Yan does not deserve Duan Yi Chen. She must have used some trick so he had no choice but to agree.] She could think of the most likely reason: [He is helping her for the sake of childhood ties, acting a part so the capital noble houses will not push her out.]
She said low and firm: “Since we already made our move, we cannot return empty-handed. With Duan Yi Chen away from her, the chance is rare. We should use it to ruin Xia Meng Yan.”
Zheng Jing Nian carefully smoothed the hair over his chest, his motions more delicate than a woman’s: “If it were a few years ago, maybe I could still help you. The daughter of the Hanlin Academy Chief Academician must be a different flavor.”
Hearing that, goosebumps rose on Zheng Ming Lan’s arms. Her elder brother was becoming more and more soft and strange. If he were not her only close kin, she would not cover for him: “Play however you want inside our manor, I will not interfere. But if outsiders find out, not just Mother, even Father will not be able to protect you.”
The dignified legitimate son of the prefect liked men. If this spread, the Zheng Family would be ruined. Without the Zheng Family, where could she end up?
She threw the comb in her hand onto the table with a dull thud, cruelty flashing at the corner of her eyes.
He stared at her and said in a low voice: “Sister, why do you think I became like this? Do you not know?”
The nausea rising in Zheng Ming Lan eased at his words. Back then, when Elder Brother and his friends rode out for a spring outing, she had followed in secret. The horse lost control, and Elder Brother, trying to save her, was trampled in his lower body and could no longer be intimate with women. Mother secretly hid the news, which is why no outsider knew.
She softened her voice: “Elder Brother, I am thinking for your sake too. If Father learns of this, that woman’s son will surely be favored and reused by him. When that happens, we will have nothing.”
Zheng Jing Nian smiled in a cool, feminine way, winding a soft lock of hair around his finger: “Do not worry. The Zheng Family can have only one son.”
Zheng Ming Lan’s heart jumped: “Elder Brother, what did you do?”
He grew impatient, stood up, and straightened his sky-blue robe: “Mind your own part. Qiao Xi Wan has been dangled out for so long and only now did one noble lady bite. Hurry and think of a way. My marriage cannot be delayed any longer.”
Qiao Xi Wan was only a merchant’s daughter. She did not deserve him. Even if he could not be a husband in the usual way, he still wanted a pretty vase with value to place at his side.
Zheng Ming Lan did not stop him as he left. He was right. She had to settle his marriage soon and trick Father for now. But she had something more urgent to do.
She called out: “Someone, come.”
“Eldest Miss.” A Shadow Guard knelt before Zheng Ming Lan.
At dawn, the abbot of Cloud Mountain Temple sent people down the mountain to report the crime. The monks had gotten up early and gathered in the main hall. Five people died last night. The abbot and the monks began to chant to release their souls.
Xia Meng Yan felt very tired. Nanny Song told the people outside to guard well and not let anyone disturb her.
Chun Yue hurried into the room, glanced at the person on the bed, and whispered to Nanny Song: “Nanny, news from the main hall came. Miss Qiao is missing. They say her maid went missing, she went out at midnight to search, and no one has seen her since. The abbot wants everyone to help look.”
Nanny Song pulled her out and shut the door: “That is not right. Wasn’t Miss Qiao waiting for the yamen to help her look? How did she go missing?”
Both Nanny Song and Chun Yue had heard the words between Eldest Miss and Miss Qiao. By reason, Miss Qiao should have stayed quietly in her room and waited for the yamen officers.
Chun Yue grew anxious: “Did something change? Did Miss Qiao betray Miss?”
Nanny Song shook her head: “It is not betrayal. It was only a temporary cooperation. I just fear something extra will ruin Eldest Miss’s plan.”
From inside came Xia Meng Yan’s voice: “What are you two talking about?”
Nanny Song went in and told Eldest Miss what had happened. Hearing that Qiao Xi Wan had vanished, Xia Meng Yan paused, then gave a cool little smile: “Send our people to search as well. Chun Yue, you stay. Nanny, go to the kitchen. I want some red bean porridge.”
Nanny Song blinked. Why was Eldest Miss suddenly sending them all out? Xia Meng Yan gave both of them a look. Nanny Song understood, then said loudly: “Yes, I will go right away. Chun Yue, you stay and take good care of Eldest Miss.”
At the door, Nanny Song took away all the guards who usually protected Xia Meng Yan. The yard fell quiet and empty.
Xia Meng Yan got dressed, picked up a small bottle of salve from the table, and rubbed it on her wrist: “Chun Yue, go see if Qing Wan has woken up.”
Chun Yue clenched her hands. She wanted to refuse, but when she met Eldest Miss’s eyes, she could only obey: “This maid will go check now.”
As Xia Meng Yan continued to rub on the salve, someone suddenly appeared behind her. She started to turn, but a sharp pain struck her neck. Her eyes closed.
The intruder carried her out through the window and vanished.
After an unknown time, Xia Meng Yan was set down on a bed. A cold, stinging pain brushed her face.
A cold voice said: “It is this face that seduced the Heir Apparent Duan. If I ruin it, do you think he will still want her?”
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Qiao Xi Wan sat limp on the ground, pale, not daring to look up: “Miss Zheng, I really did not betray you. Miss Xia and I only met in the yard and said two sentences.”
Zheng Ming Lan played with a dagger. The sharp edge flashed silver as it cut the air: “Do not try any tricks. Miss Xia told you to report to the officials. Did she already know your maid was dead?”
Qiao Xi Wan bitterly regretted chasing wealth and clinging to the Zheng siblings. She had wanted to follow Xia Meng Yan’s advice and report to the yamen, but then Zheng Ming Lan confined her and forced her to repeat every word she and Xia had said. [When powerful ones fight, the little ones suffer.]
Wanting only to survive, Qiao Xi Wan mixed truth and lies and told Zheng Ming Lan their talk. She had thought the other woman would let her go, but instead it led to an even crueler scheme. Zheng Ming Lan wanted to destroy Xia Meng Yan.
Qiao Xi Wan said: “I do not know. Miss Xia only suggested it. She did not tell me anything else.”
Zheng Ming Lan sneered: “Stop playing smart. Stay here and draw the temple people over. When we go down the mountain, we are still sisters. If you dare to ruin my plan, you know the consequences.”
Qiao Xi Wan hurriedly kowtowed: “Do not worry, Miss Zheng. I will not go anywhere. I will stay in the next room.”
Zheng Ming Lan gave a look. A maid took Qiao Xi Wan to the room next door.
A Shadow Guard threw a person onto the floor. Seeing the clothes on that person, Zheng Ming Lan’s lips curled in a mocking smile. She could already imagine how people would react when they saw two people lying there without clothes. She ordered: “Feed the drug and entertain Eldest Miss Xia well.”
Hearing the door shut, Xia Meng Yan opened her eyes. When she heard that Qiao Xi Wan had disappeared, she had guessed something had changed, so she had rubbed a wake-up salve on her wrist ahead of time. [Since that is how Zheng Ming Lan wants to play, I will play along.]
After making sure the others had gone far, Xia Meng Yan slowly sat up. Turning her head, she saw a person lying on the floor. Before she could move closer, Duan Yi Chen slipped in. Seeing the person on the ground, he said with bright interest: “I did not expect to find a ‘kindred spirit’ in Man Lin City.”