Chapter 156
Chapter 156: Advance by Retreat
Nanny Song froze and looked toward the doorway at Song Mo, who was coming in with a centipede pinched between two twigs.
Xia Meng Yan spoke gently: “Nanny Gui, swallow this centipede and I will stop asking questions.”
Nanny Gui stared at the centipede twisting in the air and stood stiff like a post.
Song Mo pinched her neck so she could not move.
The maid beside them turned paper?white and stared at Nanny Gui in fear.
The main room went so quiet it felt like any sound would startle the centipede.
Xia Meng Yan watched Nanny Gui tremble but refuse to yield, then smiled without a sound: “Afraid? Right now Second Maternal Aunt runs the Lin Family’s household. Her trusted nanny taught a servant to seduce an honored guest of the Lin Family. If this spreads, what will maternal Grandfather and Grandmother think of the second branch?”
She walked up to Nanny Gui and curved her lips: “Show your loyalty. Whether your mistress can hold on to the Lin Family’s Head Madam seat depends on you.”
Terrified, Nanny Gui finally squeezed out her voice after a long struggle, trembling as she said: “Cousin Miss, this old servant knows I was wrong. Please, for Second Madam’s sake, spare me.”
Xia Meng Yan laughed: “Even maternal Grandfather treads carefully around this guest, yet the second branch dared to gamble. Where did you get the confidence to believe Second Maternal Aunt’s face is bigger than Grandfather’s?”
Fear and hatred mixed in Nanny Gui’s eyes. She knew she was only a servant. If this reached the Old Master, not to mention Second Madam, even Second Master could not save her. [If the Old Master hears, I am finished.]
“Cousin Miss, we are one family. You do not want to stir up the whole Lin Manor because of this. Leave a line so we can meet again in peace. You are a guest here. Why offend the second branch?”
Xia Meng Yan snorted: “Fine words. Too bad the second branch’s surname is Qian, not Lin. Maternal Grandfather could throw them out any time. Still,” she looked at Nanny Gui with an odd smile, “since you are loyal to your mistress, I should not disappoint you. Swallow the centipede, have your tongue pulled, your hamstrings cut, then be tossed back to the second branch. I think Second Maternal Aunt will treat you well for your loyalty.”
Nanny Gui’s face changed at once. The last bit of nerve drained out of her. She finally understood she had no room to bargain. Xia Meng Yan saw this and let a cold smile tug at her mouth.
Before coming to the Lin Family, she had already sent people to investigate each branch. As Second Maternal Aunt’s confidante, Nanny Gui was on that list. She had two sons. The elder was useless and lazy, still living off Nanny Gui. The younger had some skill but a cold heart; seeing his brother ask for money every day, he refused to work hard. So the whole family depended on Nanny Gui. If she lost her value, her two sons would sweep her out the door.
Xia Meng Yan gave Song Mo a look. He locked Nanny Gui in place and tried to shove the centipede into her mouth.
Nanny Gui fought with all her strength. A foul stench rose, and then her eyes rolled back and she fainted.
Nanny Song, disgusted, helped her lady step back: “Useless thing. With courage like that, she still dared to do evil.”
Covering her nose with a handkerchief, Xia Meng Yan ordered: “Invite the Eldest Master and Second Master to come.”
Song Mo took the centipede and left.
Xia Meng Yan told Nanny Song: “When they arrive, tell the two of them exactly what happened. I will go in and sit with Master.”
“Yes,” said Nanny Song as she helped her lady into the east room.
Outside, Luo Jin had heard everything. When Xia Meng Yan entered, he set down the Medical Arts book in his hands and said with dry humor: “We have not met in years, yet you still know how to scare people.”
Xia Meng Yan walked to his side with a warm smile: “Master, you always tease me. Your methods are better than mine. I am sorry to have startled you this time.” She took a thin booklet from her sleeve: “A little gift for you.”
Luo Jin saw the title and his eyes lit up: “This is the long?lost notebook of the Divine Physician.”
Xia Meng Yan nodded: “I know Master admires the former dynasty’s Divine Physician. I searched in secret for a long time and finally found it.”
The stern look on Luo Jin’s face melted into a childlike grin: “Good, good. You are the most dutiful.”
While they talked, harsh voices sounded in the outer room.
Unbothered, Xia Meng Yan kept chatting with her Master.
Outside, the Eldest Master said coolly: “Second Brother, the person inside is Father’s honored guest. How do you plan to handle this?”
He had known, when the Restful Virtue Pavilion sent for him, that something was wrong. He had not expected anyone to dare drug Divine Physician Luo. Showing off with blades before a master was shameful. Thankfully, Yan’er was inside calming the Divine Physician, or the result would have been terrible.
Second Master Qian had not known there was an honored guest in the Restful Virtue Pavilion. After hearing Nanny Song’s report, he wanted to pry open his wife’s head to see if it was full of mush. She knew the man was his adoptive father’s honored guest and still dared to act. Was she trying to ruin him?
He lowered his voice and said: “Elder Brother, I truly did not know. This was all Madam Qiao’s doing in secret. Please do not tell Adoptive Father.”
The Eldest Master kept a cold face and glanced at the east room: “If Yan’er wanted to make a scene, she would not have called only you and me. The honored guest’s identity cannot be exposed, but this matter cannot be swept aside.”
Hearing this, Second Master let out a breath and darted a look at the east room: “Elder Brother, you decide. I will follow your lead.”
“Hiding it from you was to prevent leaks,” the Eldest Master said with a weary sigh that held some guilt. “The one inside is the famous Divine Physician Luo of the Xuan Ming Empire. If he did not have old ties with Father, he would never have stayed at the Lin Family.”
Second Master was both shocked and pleased. He had not expected such a Buddha to sit in their hall. But another thought rose, and he tried to probe: “It is good for us that Divine Physician Luo is here. Adoptive Father kept it secret because?”
“Divine Physician Luo is eccentric. In recent years he rarely treats in person. Most cases go to his disciples. If word spreads that the Divine Physician is at the Lin Family, it will bring trouble we do not need. In the end we would lose more than we gain.”
Second Master understood at once. Wherever there are people, there is sickness. If news of the Divine Physician in Man Lin City got out, the Lin Family’s door would be trampled flat. If that angered the Divine Physician, the Lin Family would pay dearly.
He hesitated, then said: “Elder Brother, I am not being selfish, but this chance is rare. Two days ago the Meng Family’s Eldest Master was searching the whole city for a physician. Our families trade often. Why don’t we…”
“Second Brother,” the Eldest Master cut him off, “favors run out. Are you sure you want to spend the Lin Family’s favor on the Meng Family?”
Second Master fell silent. People who eat grain get sick sooner or later. If they gave this favor to the Meng Family, what would they do if a serious illness hit their own?
“You are right. I did not think it through. Do not worry, Elder Brother. I will keep my mouth shut.”
“Have Younger Sister?in?law hand over the household reins and reflect behind closed doors for one month.”
Second Master’s palm tightened, then he nodded: “All right. I will do as you say.”
After watching Second Master leave, the Eldest Master lifted the curtain and entered: “Divine Physician, forgive us for today’s offense.”
“It is fine, it is fine. You can go,” Luo Jin said, his eyes stuck to the notebook as he waved them away.
Xia Meng Yan stood and left the Restful Virtue Pavilion with the Eldest Master.
“What exactly happened?” he asked. The people in the Restful Virtue Pavilion were handpicked by him. It was impossible for the second branch to plant someone inside. There had to be more to it.
Xia Meng Yan told him her plan.
The Eldest Master relaxed, though his tone carried a mild scold: “You cannot act wild just because the Divine Physician favors you.”
“I have been in the Lin Family for two months and still have not found the Huo Family’s mole. I can only use Master to draw out the hand behind this,” Xia Meng Yan said. [She would never admit this strike first was also to keep her child safe.]