Chapter 136
Chapter 136: Caught Red-Handed
After so many things happened, Xia Meng Yan did not want to stay at Cloud Mountain Temple any longer. The Abbot knew she was praying for the child in her belly, so he agreed to place the prayer beads before the Buddha for seven days, then send them to the Lin Family.
Xia Meng Yan pressed her palms together and said: “I thank you on behalf of my child.” She then looked at Nanny Song.
Nanny Song took out sixty thousand taels from her sleeve and handed them to the Abbot.
Xia Meng Yan said, calm but sincere: “The fire at Cloud Mountain Temple must have frightened you. I hope my sincerity can make up for some of the loss.”
The Abbot’s brows trembled before he pressed his palms together and said: “Amitabha. Miss Xia is kind. On behalf of everyone at Cloud Mountain Temple, I thank Miss Xia.”
After the carriage left, one of the Abbot’s attendants asked in confusion: “Abbot, those prayer beads have been with you for years. Many people in Man Lin City have begged for them, yet you always refused. Why did you offer them to Miss Xia?”
He added, puzzled: “There are so many people of status in Man Lin City. Miss Xia does not even rank among them.”
The Abbot turned the beads in his fingers and said: “In Buddhism, fate matters most. I share a karmic tie with Miss Xia.”
[Fine, a fated person then.]
Lin Qing Wan helped Xia Meng Yan into the carriage. When the wheels started to roll, her nerves finally eased. She slumped against her cousin and said with a shaky laugh: “Cousin, it’s a good thing you were there, or else…”
Xia Meng Yan patted her shoulder, thinking that if not for her, Lin Qing Wan would not have been targeted by Zheng Ming Lan. She said softly: “You were brave. Even without me, you would have found a way through.”
“Cousin,” Lin Qing Wan whispered, and though she was a bold girl, she was still not yet of age. Being almost assaulted left a shadow in her heart. Hearing Xia Meng Yan’s words, she began to cry: “If Mother finds out, she will only scold me.”
“Then we will not let her know,” said Xia Meng Yan. “I will tell Grandfather and Grandmother about what happened at Cloud Mountain Temple. As for anyone else, you can decide.” She had never felt sisterly warmth in the Xia Family, yet in the Lin Family she clicked with Lin Qing Wan at once. Perhaps that too was fate.
Lin Qing Wan nodded, hugged her cousin, muttered for a while, and fell asleep without noticing.
Duan Yi Chen lifted a corner of the carriage curtain. Seeing Lin Qing Wan asleep, he lowered his voice and asked: “That old bald monk just now, do you think he understood you? Do you want me to go remind him again?”
Xia Meng Yan said coldly: “The Abbot of Cloud Mountain Temple is respected and well read. If you keep speaking to him without respect, then do not stay by my side.” In the Capital, Duan Yi Chen spoke freely; for the Eldest Princess’s sake, people let it pass. But this was Man Lin City, far from the emperor. Who would care who he was here?
Duan Yi Chen rubbed his nose and muttered: “Got it. I will change.”
Xia Meng Yan drew a deep breath. The mountain air filled her lungs and her tired body slowly relaxed. She said: “Cloud Mountain Temple has stood in costly Man Lin City for many years. The Abbot is no ordinary man. He knows who I am. Even if he would not give face to the Lin Family, he will cover for the Zheng Family a little. Besides, I am the victim. If I do not pursue it, why would he spread it?”
Duan Yi Chen nodded. It made sense. Cloud Mountain Temple thrived on incense. The Abbot had ties with many households. If a scandal broke, who would still come to offer incense?
He asked in doubt: “Are you really going to protect the Zheng Family?”
Knowing Xia Meng Yan’s vengeful nature, he found it hard to believe she would let the Zheng Family off so easily.
“It is only a stopgap,” she said. “If the fish bites, we pull in the whole net. If the bet is wrong, we will settle with the Zheng Family before we leave.”
Duan Yi Chen grinned: [This is the Xia Meng Yan I know.]
When Zheng Ming Lan returned to the Zheng Family, she jumped from the carriage and ran straight to her mother.
After hearing her daughter’s story, Madam Zheng wanted to cover the girl’s mouth. She scolded in a low voice: “You are foolish. Xia Meng Yan is just a divorced woman. Even if she marries Duan Yi Chen, she cannot become the heir apparent’s consort. If you make things hard for her, you only make Duan Yi Chen unhappy. Now she has something to hold over us, and you dragged your elder brother down with you. How will the three of us stand in the Zheng Family from now on?”
The more Madam Zheng thought, the angrier she got; her heart throbbed with pain. [What sin did I commit in my last life to give birth to two children like this, one brainless and one neither male nor female.]
Zheng Ming Lan knelt and begged forgiveness. The Cloud Mountain Temple matter was not over. Father had been called away by the steward. When he returned, he would punish her. If it was only kneeling in the ancestral hall, that would be fine. She feared he would use the family rod.
“Mother, I know I was wrong,” she said quickly. “That wretch Xia Meng Yan grabbed my mistake and took many benefits. Those were my elder brother’s. Don’t you want them back?” [Why can Xia Meng Yan stand equal with Father? What is she?]
Madam Zheng loved her son, but she also knew that a woman who could bargain with the master was not simple. She knew her daughter well. If the girl made such a fuss, she must be after something. She warned her: “Ming Lan, I know you are proud, but do not forget there is always someone better. Today it is Xia Meng Yan. Tomorrow it will be someone else. Will you try to press them all down?”
Zheng Ming Lan froze.
Madam Zheng looked tired. There were many concubines’ children in the back courtyard. She had to guard against them rising, teach her two children, and manage the master’s ties outside. It was exhausting. [Most of the time I have no one to talk things through with.] She had thought her daughter was grown and could share some burdens, but the girl was less worry-free than years ago. Feeling wronged, Madam Zheng could not help but cry.
Zheng Ming Lan panicked and stood up to apologize: “I was wrong. Please do not be angry, Mother. From now on I will stay home and learn the rules. I will not make trouble outside again.” [I have already angered Father. I cannot lose Mother’s favor too.] As for Xia Meng Yan, she would settle that slowly later.
After soothing her mother, Zheng Ming Lan had not even reached her own courtyard before the steward took her to the ancestral hall.
When Xia Meng Yan returned to the manor, she first paid respects to Matriarch Lin, then went back to her own courtyard.
At dinner, Duan Yi Chen brought news that Zheng Ming Lan and Zheng Jing Nian had been caned twenty strokes and made to kneel for seven days.
Xia Meng Yan said with a faint frown: “Lord Zheng is truly ruthless, using his own daughter to warn others.” Hearing that the Zheng siblings were punished under watch, she judged Lord Zheng a hard man. [He is ruthless.]
Still angry, Duan Yi Chen bit a bun hard and said: “Only twenty strokes? Why not break their legs?”
Looking at the bird’s nest soup in her bowl, Xia Meng Yan smiled lightly and said: “For some people, living is harder than dying. Just wait. When the rumors spread, that will be the end for those siblings.”
Just then, the two Lin elders and the Eldest Master walked in. Seeing the two young people sharing a table, all three showed surprise.
An odd mood filled the dining room.
Old Master Lin knew Duan Yi Chen had not left, but he had never seen him after the Disguise Arts. Still, who else would eat at the same table with his granddaughter?
The Eldest Master’s leg had healed well. Following Divine Physician Luo’s advice, he walked a little each day. After hearing about the Cloud Mountain Temple fire, he came to ask what happened and met his parents on the way.
He looked at the young man and asked: “Yan’er, who is this young master?” It was already dark outside. Why was there a man in Yan’er’s courtyard?
Suddenly the bird’s nest soup no longer tasted good. Xia Meng Yan started to rise, but Duan Yi Chen moved quickly to support her and said: “Why are you getting up? We are not outsiders.”
Xia Meng Yan wished she could cover his mouth. Even if they were not outsiders, men and women should not touch: “Be quiet.”
Duan Yi Chen lowered his head, looking wronged.
Xia Meng Yan glanced at Nanny Song. The nanny understood, led Chun Yue out, and closed the door.
Xia Meng Yan introduced with care: “Grandfather, Grandmother, Uncle, this is Duan Yi Chen. He is, for now, my servant boy.” She signaled for Duan Yi Chen to remove the Human-skin Mask.
Duan Yi Chen peeled off the mask, moved his jaw, and looked at Old Master Lin as he said: “I have long exchanged letters with Old Master. Today, we finally meet.”
The Eldest Master’s eyes widened. Duan Yi Chen, the Eldest Princess’s only son, had become Yan’er’s servant boy? That could not be right. Did Father know?