Chapter 139
Chapter 139: Poisoned
“Father,” Lin Qing Wan quickly wiped the tear at the corner of her eye.
Madam Jia’s heart sank. When had the Eldest Master come? Had he heard everything? She forced a smile: “Is Meng Yan alright?”
The Eldest Master glanced at his daughter’s turned back, then looked at Madam Jia with cold eyes: “Yan’er is fine. As for you, is this how you comfort your daughter?”
He had left Xia Meng Yan’s courtyard thinking the fire at Cloud Mountain Temple must have scared his daughter and came to check on her. Instead he heard Madam Jia speaking ill of Meng Yan.
“Have you forgotten that the Lin Family’s standing in Man Lin City depends in no small part on my brother-in-law’s help? Can you say the people outside are not giving the Lin Family face because of the Xia Family? And your Jia Family too. How many things have you done under the Xia Family’s name? Do not think I do not know,” he said.
Madam Jia’s little calculations were laid bare. She flushed with shame. She gripped her handkerchief and tried to soften her voice: “We are one family. Why draw such hard lines?”
The Eldest Master let out a short laugh: “When you need the Xia Family, we are one family. When you do not need them, you slander the Xia Family’s daughter. Do you think the Hanlin Chief Academician is a nobody? You are the Lin Family matriarch, not a concubine.”
On ordinary days her muddled thinking was one thing, but to speak about Yan’er like this behind her back. If Yan’er heard, she would think the Lin Family was two-faced. He always spoke straight to Madam Jia, because she never understood hints.
Being scolded in front of her daughter made Madam Jia’s face burn. With reddened eyes she said: “I was only worried for our daughter. Meng Yan has already been married. If she had to see such things, then fine. But Qing Wan is not yet married. If people know she saw that kind of thing, what will they think of her?”
“If you do not say it, who will know?” The Eldest Master felt a stab of regret that he had agreed to marry Madam Jia for his mother’s sake. He had thought her a sharp tongue with a soft heart. Now he saw she lacked sense and was unreasonable. “Do you think Yan’er did not want the Zheng Family to compensate Qing Wan? If the Zheng Family makes any move toward Qing Wan, the outside world will dig. Then the whole city will know what happened at Cloud Mountain Temple. Better to let the favor fall on the Lin Family as a whole. Outsiders will think the Lin Family holds a handle on the Zheng Family. They will not know Qing Wan’s part in it.”
Lin Qing Wan’s mood eased. The grief left her face. She said, “Cousin has already borne a lot for me and for the Lin Family. If she had not come, Father’s authority would have been handed to the second and third branches. Mother knows their thoughts better than I do. As for what happened at Cloud Mountain Temple, cousin could have stayed out of it, taken me home, and let Father and Maternal Grandfather deal with the Zheng Family. She did not. Have you never wondered why?”
Feeling she had lost face, Madam Jia muttered, “How would I know. Maybe she has some other goal.”
“Mother, you still do not get it. A woman who is violated can carry that scar for life. Even after I marry, even when I love my husband, I would think of that scene at Cloud Mountain Temple. How could I live well? Cousin thought it through. She let me strike my enemy with my own hands and made the people behind it choke on their pride. She wanted my road to be smooth so I would not hate myself later.”
For a moment, Lin Qing Wan felt as if Xia Meng Yan were her mother, and Madam Jia was only a distant bystander. She had explained everything to Father clearly, yet Mother still refused to believe.
At last, understanding dawned on Madam Jia. She remembered what she had just said and regretted it: “I was small-minded. I only thought you had not married and must not have trouble. I ignored Meng Yan.”
The Eldest Master did not care to hear excuses. He said, “Hand the household accounts to the second branch. Take time to reflect.”
He left without looking back.
Madam Jia’s knees went weak. Nanny Sun caught her. Madam Jia forgot her pride and hurried after the Eldest Master, calling for him.
Watching this, Lin Qing Wan’s heart sank to the bottom. In her mother’s heart, she was not worth a hair on Father’s head, not worth her elder brother’s career, and not worth the power of running the Lin Family inner court.
By dawn, word that Madam Jia had been stripped of household power had spread through the entire Lin Family.
Xia Meng Yan returned the account books to her uncle and slept like a rock. Nanny Song and Chun Yue, happy to see their young miss finally resting, told everyone in the courtyard to work quietly and not disturb her.
After showing his face before the Lin Family elders, Duan Yi Chen became even more fearless. He set up a lounge chair by the second gate. By day, he lay there watching the rooms. By night, he slept with a smile.
The chance Xia Meng Yan had won for the Lin Family was not something Old Master Lin and the Eldest Master wanted to waste, though they could not be too obvious. Lord Zheng was very cooperative. In less than two days he sent people with a Salt License. It was for one year, but the quota on it was the largest. For the port, the envoy delivered a token. As long as someone from the Lin Family brought that token to the docks, the steward would offer every convenience.
Old Master Lin held the token and discussed with the Eldest Master. They chose fifty reliable men from the Lin Family and posted them at the two ports.
Xia Meng Yan knew none of this. She ate seasonal fruit while Duan Yi Chen talked about outside news. Her days were more than pleasant.
During this time, the second madam and the third madam both came to visit. The second madam, now in charge of the household, was in high spirits. She did not stop smiling at Xia Meng Yan.
“You are due any day now, if you lack anything, tell me,” said the third madam. She did not leave with the second madam. She found a reason to stay.
It was not easy to send her away, so Xia Meng Yan chatted idly to see what she wanted: “Thank you, third maternal aunt.”
The third madam rarely met her. Most of what she knew came from the Old Madam. If she had not heard that Madam Jia had been put in her place because of Xia Meng Yan, she would not have lingered.
“Frankly, this might make you laugh,” the third madam said, “your third uncle is mild and has always been so-so. Last time, because elder brother trusted him, he was asked to manage a few shops for a while, but the second branch beat him up.”
The tea in Xia Meng Yan’s mouth turned tasteless. [How can a lawful wife act like a concubine, crying her troubles to a junior.] She said, “Third maternal aunt, I do not know business well…”
“You do, or elder brother would not ask you for help,” the third madam said, clutching her hand with pleading eyes. “Your third uncle ran into trouble. Help him. We will not let you help for free.”
Xia Meng Yan tried to draw back her hand and could not: “Third maternal aunt, you just said I am about to give birth. How am I supposed to help?”
“The Old Madam already told everyone not to bother you. I do not dare go against her. I only want your advice. It will not delay your rest.”
Xia Meng Yan raised a brow. The second madam had just taken over the household, and the third madam wanted her to advise on business. [Is this a challenge?] She said, “Fine. I only worry you will think my ideas childish.”
“We will not, we will not. Then it is settled. Rest well. I will come tomorrow,” the third madam said, leaving happy.
Duan Yi Chen came out from behind the screen and tucked another pillow behind her: “This is a thankless job. Why did you agree?”
“You know it is thankless. How did the third branch dare to ask?” Her body felt heavier by the day. Sometimes even breathing was hard. If Luo Jin had not said her health was fine, she would worry something was wrong. [Is my body truly alright?]
“Forget them. The lines are already cast. Whether we catch fish depends on these days. Tell our people to be careful.”
Duan Yi Chen nodded and handed her a cup of tea.
No one expected it: before dinner, Xia Meng Yan felt dizzy and nauseous, then collapsed without warning.