Chapter 153
Chapter 153: The Secret Comes Out
Madam Jia turned and saw Lin Qing Wan and Xia Meng Yan behind her, eyes widening as her face went pale. Thinking of what she had just done, she stammered: “Qing Wan, Meng Yan, why are you two here? When did you come?”
To be caught meeting a man at night by her own daughter and niece, how could she face anyone in the future?
Lin Qing Wan did not answer. She gestured toward the courtyard and said: “Father and Second Aunt are outside. Mother, when you did this, did you not think it might be a trap?”
Color drained and returned to Madam Jia’s cheeks. She wanted to explain, but the words felt weak. Trap or not, if the eldest master caught her here, the result would be the same.
“I was wrong,” she whispered. “I did not think the second branch would be watching us. Luckily you found this in time.”
Xia Meng Yan sighed, thinking: [Even now, she has not suspected Zhao Tong Bin.] She said: “Maternal aunt, this trap was set for you from the start. Second Madam is also being used.”
Madam Jia paused, then understood and asked: “You mean someone wants to profit from the fight?”
Xia Meng Yan nodded and said: “A few days ago, Qing Wan and I saw a maid gossiping in front of Second Madam. That maid dropped hints that you and Zhao Tong Bin met at Cloud Mountain Temple, so Second Madam started digging. Tonight she must have had you followed. She only wants power, but the person behind her might want something worse.”
If Madam Jia was ruined, the Lin Family would likely divorce her. Then either Concubine Su would rise, or a new main wife would be brought in. Xia Meng Yan could not yet tell which outcome that person wanted.
A chill ran along Madam Jia’s back. She had not expected so many layers behind this.
Seeing her mother so helpless, Lin Qing Wan looked to Xia Meng Yan and asked: “Cousin, is the inside set?”
“Do not worry,” Xia Meng Yan said: “Our people are already in place.”
Inside the yard, Second Madam shouted into the house with barely hidden delight: “Elder sister?in?law, come out quickly. Do not keep elder brother waiting.”
If tonight went her way, she thought, she would become the head madam of the Lin Family. So what if Madam Jia’s birth family was better than hers? She had caught her with a handle now.
Eldest Master stood in the courtyard, a dangerous chill around him. Second Madam had sent word that Madam Jia was meeting Zhao Tong Bin at night. He had not believed it at first. Then he heard from the steward that the two had met at Cloud Mountain Temple a few days ago and even spoke alone. A man’s pride had clouded his mind and brought him here. Standing there now, he felt regret. Whether true or false, coming like this insulted Madam Jia. If it was false, how would they live as a couple afterward?
Seeing his dark face, Second Madam grew even more pleased. Her people had seen Madam Jia and Nanny Sun leave the back gate of the Jia Family and follow them all the way into the Zhao Family home. With her people around the house, there was no way out.
The door opened, and Zhao Tong Bin stepped out as he said: “Master Lin, breaking into my humble house at midnight with a crowd, for what purpose?”
Before the eldest master could speak, Second Madam said first: “We are here for my elder sister?in?law. Young Master Zhao, please ask my elder sister?in?law to come out and return to the manor with us at once.”
Zhao Tong Bin was handsome, handsomer even than Second Master. Madam Jia was lucky, Second Madam thought with a spike of envy. Before marriage she had flirted with Zhao Tong Bin, and after marriage she had a respectful in?law family and a life without worry. She had both people and wealth. Why should she have everything?
Frowning, Zhao Tong Bin asked in puzzlement: “Madam Lin is missing. Why come to my house? Do you think Madam Lin is here?”
Eldest Master said nothing, hands tight behind his back.
Second Madam snorted and said: “People from Lin Manor saw elder sister?in?law come here with Nanny Sun. Do not deny it. Before things get too big, have her come out.”
From the shadows, Xia Meng Yan admired Second Madam’s upside?down logic. She had come to catch adultery in the act and still had the face to say “before this gets big.” Was that supposed to be mercy? She signaled to a Shadow Guard to check whether there were more people hidden nearby.
Not wanting to alarm the neighbors, Zhao Tong Bin walked to Eldest Master with slow steps, a hint of mockery in his eyes as he said: “Did you bring people to catch your own wife cheating? You and Yun Xiang have been married for years. She has given you sons and daughters, and you do not even have this bit of trust.”
Cold and distant, Eldest Master met the provocation without flinching as he said: “Young Master Zhao, you act like a gentleman, yet you pester another man’s wife. Everyone here is clever. Your tricks fool only Yun Xiang.”
Zhao Tong Bin’s hanging hand clenched as he hissed: “If not for you, Yun Xiang and I would already be husband and wife.”
“You truly are a scholar,” Eldest Master replied, his voice level: “You use self?deception very well. If I remember right, you betrayed Yun Xiang first. Later, when you heard the younger half sister was driven out, you regretted it and began to pester Yun Xiang again. Did you think I did not know what happened then?” He straightened his sleeve and added: “For the younger half sister’s sake, I have not dealt with you. If you bother my wife again, I will not mind making the Zhao Family disappear.”
“You would not dare,” Zhao Tong Bin said, bravado thin as his fingers shook. How did the man know the past? He gritted his teeth and said: “You only want to turn me and Yun Xiang against each other.”
“Let me remind you,” Eldest Master said, his gaze sharp as a blade grazing Zhao Tong Bin’s face: “Yun Xiang is my wife’s name. Say it again, and I will burn the Zhao Family down right now. All these years you claimed the Jia Family oppressed you, but the truth is you are not as skilled as others and will not admit it. My wife is kind and you fooled her. If you come near her again, I will make the past public. Then the Lin Family will not need to act. You will crawl out of Man Lin City on your own.”
Hidden in the dark, Madam Jia heard every word. Her body swayed, and she nearly fell, but Lin Qing Wan caught her and whispered: “Mother, you heard that. Zhao Tong Bin is trash. He lied to you and to aunt.”
Madam Jia’s eyes filled with disbelief. How could the boy she had loved in youth be so low?
Xia Meng Yan had not known her uncle already understood Zhao Tong Bin’s nature. He had not told her maternal aunt, perhaps so as not to hurt her.
Seeing the two men face off, Second Madam burst with joy. She rushed into the house, eager to drag Madam Jia out to pour oil on the fire, but Nanny Sun blocked her and said: “Second Madam, you cannot enter.”
Spotting Nanny Sun, Second Madam’s eyes lit up. If Nanny Sun was here, then Madam Jia must be inside. She snapped: “Out of my way.”
Nanny Sun held her ground and glanced back anxiously as she said: “Second Madam, my lady is not inside. You must not enter.”
Second Madam gave a cold laugh and said: “If elder sister?in?law is not inside, why can I not check? If you still block me, do not blame me for being rough.”
Trying to block her again, Nanny Sun was shoved aside.
“You cannot go in, Second Madam,” Nanny Sun pleaded.
Second Madam curled her lip. Thinking of Madam Jia cowering inside, she felt as if she could fly with glee. She lifted the curtain and started to say: “Elder sister?in?law, meeting Young Master Zhao at midnight is against all rules. Come out and—” The words died. On the bed lay Mother Zhao, and at her side was an old man, not Madam Jia. The room was tiny; one glance took it all in. There was nowhere to hide anyone.
Unwilling to accept it, she turned to the west room and found only Father Zhao and a child. She muttered: “Impossible. My people saw elder sister?in?law and Nanny Sun come to the Zhao Family. How can there be no one?”
Stepping out, Nanny Sun gave Eldest Master a proper salute and said: “This old servant greets Eldest Master.”
Eldest Master asked bluntly: “What is going on?” For some reason, learning that Madam Jia was not inside filled him with relief.
Nanny Sun explained: “A few days ago, my lady and Young Master Zhao met by chance at Cloud Mountain Temple. After learning that Mother Zhao was at death’s door, my lady ordered me to bring a physician to visit.”
Second Madam snapped: “You are lying.”