Chapter 151
Chapter 151: Not a Good Person
Lin Qing Wan cursed under her breath: “What is Zhao Tong Bin, to dare scheme against my mother.”
If this spread, true or not, her mother would carry a bad name.
She grabbed Xia Meng Yan’s arm in fear and asked: “If you knew Zhao Tong Bin’s plan, why did you still let them meet?”
Xia Meng Yan patted her hand and smiled a little, though the smile made a bad feeling rise: “There is no such thing as guarding against a thief every day. Now that he has set his sights on your aunt, he will not stop. If we block him today, he will come again tomorrow.”
“I get it,” Lin Qing Wan said, “but this is a busy place. Aren’t you afraid of gossip?”
“It is the younger half-sister’s death day. Sister and Brother-in-law meeting is normal. What gossip can that make?”
Lin Qing Wan faltered. That did sound reasonable.
Seeing she was still worried, Xia Meng Yan’s eyes grew gentle: “Do not worry. I have already sent people to investigate Zhao Tong Bin.”
Hearing that, Lin Qing Wan’s eyes reddened. She hugged Xia Meng Yan and said in a rush: “Cousin, I am so glad you are here. Otherwise I truly would not know what to do.”
Elder Brother was at the academy. Younger Brother was still small. Concubine Su was watching like a hawk. If Mother ended up in trouble, she would have no one to consult.
“Your aunt is soft-hearted. People use her, but she is a good person,” Xia Meng Yan said. [But for a family head, being soft-hearted is not a good thing.]
In the pavilion, Madam Jia looked calm, but the kerchief in her hands was twisted into a rope. Zhao Tong Bin’s eyes were full of concern as he said: “I heard the Lin Family’s Eldest Master favors a concubine, and that you are not doing well there. Is it true?”
A faint line appeared between Madam Jia’s brows. She did not dare look at him and answered at once: “Those are only rumors. The Eldest Master treats me well.”
“Yun Xiang,” Zhao Tong Bin said, stepping closer with a hand half raised, “there are no outsiders here. You do not have to lie to me. I can tell how you are.”
Madam Jia backed away in a flurry and glanced around, lowering her voice: “What are you doing? Both of us are married. Mind your distance.”
His lifted hand fell slowly, his gaze aching: “If you were happy, I would never disturb you. But seeing you unhappy, I cannot hold back.”
“So you bribed someone in my courtyard to send me a letter,” Madam Jia said quietly. “Do you know what would happen to me if someone found out?” No one knew how shocked she had been when she saw his name at the end.
“What do you want? Speak plainly.”
He swayed, as if struck. He had only wanted to see if she was well, yet in her heart he had become someone with another purpose. He swallowed his bitterness and said: “My mother has always held on to the past. Not marrying you is the regret of her life. Now she is very ill. Before she goes, she wants to see you once more.”
“What happened to Aunt?” Madam Jia had not expected he came for his mother.
Zhao Tong Bin’s mother had always treated her well. After learning of his affair with her half-sister, the woman had even struck him in anger.
Seeing that she remembered his mother’s kindness, warmth rose in his chest as he said: “Mother’s health was always weak. After I got into trouble, it grew worse. Two years ago the physicians said she had no more than three years. A few months ago she caught a chill, and now…”
Madam Jia saw his rimmed eyes and felt a tug of pity. [If not for me, Father would not have dismissed his father or suppressed him. Aunt would not have lacked money for medicine.]
“I understand,” she said. “In two days, I will visit Aunt.”
Joy broke over his face, and tears slipped free. He turned his head to wipe them away quickly and said: “I thank you for Mother. Since your status makes this difficult, should we…”
“Do not worry. I will find a way,” Madam Jia said. She knew she could not openly visit the Zhao Family.
Just then, Nanny Sun stood outside the pavilion. Seeing people pass by, she raised her voice and said: “Madam, the abbot has asked for you.”
Madam Jia nodded and walked away with her.
Ling Hua watched her go, reluctant.
Zhao Tong Bin came to her side and stroked her head: “Do you like Aunt?”
“I do.”
“If you behave, you can see her again in a few days.”
From the side room, Xia Meng Yan and Lin Qing Wan watched Madam Jia leave. Soon after, Zhao Tong Bin took Ling Hua and left Cloud Mountain Temple. Song Mo knocked and came in, repeating every word of their talk.
“He wants Mother to go to his house?” Lin Qing Wan hissed, wishing she could stab the man. He had used his daughter and now used his mother. Zhao Tong Bin was not a good person at all. “Cousin, what now? If Mother really goes to the Zhao Family, there will be no way to explain it.”
Xia Meng Yan could only worry about Madam Jia’s judgment: “This is not a place to talk. We will return and discuss it.”
They never expected that as soon as they got back to the manor, they would hear people gossiping about Madam Jia.
“I heard the concubine-born younger sister’s husband used to be the First Madam’s fiancé,” one maid whispered.
“Yes, the two sisters liked the same man,” another replied.
“The First Madam is fiery. No wonder the fiancé liked the younger sister more. But still, the First Madam is lucky. The Lin Family is so much better than the Zhao Family.”
“That is heaven and earth.”
“What are you talking about?” a voice cut in.
Lin Qing Wan was about to step out and scold them when she saw Second Madam coming with her attendants. Xia Meng Yan tugged her into the shadows.
The two maids quickly knelt and said: “Greetings to Second Madam.”
Second Madam eyed them and asked coolly: “What were you talking about?”
The maids glanced at each other, then bowed their heads and begged: “We were being chatty. Please forgive us this once, Second Madam.”
“I asked what you were saying. Do not waste my time.”
Frightened, one maid blurted out what she knew: the First Madam had left the manor to honor the concubine-born younger sister at the temple.
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Second Madam froze. She knew Madam Jia and the half-sister had never gotten along, and in past years she had not seen her make offerings. A thought flashed in her eyes and she asked: “Has the First Madam returned?”
“She has already returned.”
Second Madam leaned close to her personal maid and whispered a few words, then left with her group.
Xia Meng Yan and Lin Qing Wan stepped out from the shadows.
“Cousin, Second Aunt knows. What should we do?” Lin Qing Wan asked, her plans to persuade her mother already knocked off course.
Xia Meng Yan’s eyes narrowed: “Song Mo, go check those two maids.”
Lin Qing Wan was puzzled. Why not stop Second Aunt, and why investigate the maids?
“Qing Wan,” Xia Meng Yan said, “go back first and do not let anyone see that you already know the truth. I will have people look into the rest.”
“All right. I will do whatever you say.”
Xia Meng Yan returned to her rooms with her people.
Duan Yi Chen had been waiting at the door. Seeing her, he strode forward and said: “Why are you only back now? I woke up and you were gone.”
Xia Meng Yan looked him over from head to toe. Embarrassed, Duan Yi Chen glanced aside and muttered: “The medicine has worn off. Once I am recovered, I will go settle things with that old man.”
“You may save your strength,” Xia Meng Yan said. “No matter how many times you try, you are not Master’s match.” The name of the Divine Physician was not for show. Even a Shadow Guard could not defeat Master, much less Duan Yi Chen.
Duan Yi Chen wilted and trailed her inside.
“If you still have energy,” Xia Meng Yan said, “help me with something.” She told him everything about Madam Jia and said: “Find out how Madam Jia and Zhao Tong Bin made contact.”
Madam Jia had always kept to herself. After she married, she never contacted Zhao Tong Bin. How did they suddenly meet in a tea house?
Duan Yi Chen, bored and idle, agreed readily. He could also keep an eye on the main house.
At this time, Madam Jia still knew nothing about the new gossip in the manor. After returning from Cloud Mountain Temple, she was downcast and silent.
“Madam,” Nanny Sun said, begging earnestly, “you cannot go to the Zhao Family. If someone finds out, your name will be ruined. If not for yourself, then think of Eldest Young Master and Eldest Miss. They are reaching the age to marry. If a scandal sticks to you, their matches will be ruined.”