Chapter 158
Chapter 158: Rejected
Even if she were foolish, Madam Jia could hear the malice in Madam Meng’s words, and she thought: [Is she trying to use Xia Meng Yan to shame the Lin Family, or to control Xia Meng Yan’s marriage? Either way, she has bad intentions.]
No matter what others say, Xia Meng Yan still carries Lin Family blood; an outsider has no right to insult her. Madam Meng came begging for help yet mocked Lin Family people, and Madam Jia felt: [She really looks down on us.]
She was about to argue, but Xia Meng Yan shook her head at her. Xia Meng Yan smiled, a cold light flashing in her eyes, and she thought: [I heard the Meng Family dares to act wild in Man Lin City because they latched onto powerful people in the capital. I used to think it was gossip, but from how Madam Meng talks, some of it might be true. She hides behind the mask of concern while taking cheap shots. Does she think I’m easy to bully?]
Xia Meng Yan spoke with a calm smile: “Madam Meng, you worry too much. Even if I never marry, I have enough silver to last several lifetimes. As for the bad rumors outside, they come from jealousy. After all, who wouldn’t want this life: wealthy, pretty, with a son, and no in-laws, no husband, and no concubines to deal with.”
Seeing Madam Meng blink in surprise, Xia Meng Yan smiled even sweeter: “Days this good are not for everyone.”
Madam Jia almost sprayed her tea and thought: [She really dares to say it.] But when she considered it, it did make sense.
Madam Meng forced an embarrassed smile. She had thought Xia Meng Yan looked gentle, but this girl had thorns; no wonder she was divorced even while pregnant. Madam Meng decided: [A troublemaker like her should leave Man Lin City sooner rather than later.]
Catching the disdain in Madam Meng’s eyes, Xia Meng Yan spoke lazily: “There’s a saying: when the mother has money, the children rise high; when the father has money, the children come by the dozen. I guess the child in my belly also wants me to be rich.”
Everyone in Man Lin City knew Master Meng was a womanizer. He kept more than a dozen concubines in his back courtyard, and his sons and daughters were too many to count on two hands.
Madam Jia snorted and hurried to dab her mouth with a handkerchief, and she thought: [Where does she find these crooked sayings.]
Just then Nanny Sun returned. After giving a proper greeting, she looked at Madam Meng and said: “Old Master says the Divine Physician is only staying at the Lin Family for a time. If the Divine Physician agrees to go, the Lin Family will not stop him. But if he refuses, the Lin Family will protect his safety.”
Madam Meng rose with a smile: “Of course. Please take me to him.”
Nanny Sun glanced at Madam Jia; seeing Madam Jia nod, she led Madam Meng toward the Restful Virtue Pavilion.
Once Madam Meng left, Madam Jia sighed at Xia Meng Yan and spoke like someone who had seen much of life: “Meng Yan, don’t be fooled by her smiles. She is petty and holds grudges, and after what you just said, she may hate you for it. I know you have suffered since the divorce, but everyone suffers in this world. As long as you get the result you want, you can ignore the process.”
She had now seen clearly that Xia Meng Yan never let herself take a loss, and she wondered: [Who did she inherit this temper from.]
Hearing the concern in Madam Jia’s voice, Xia Meng Yan smiled and explained: “Thank you for the reminder, Maternal Aunt. I lost my temper for a moment. I won’t do that again.”
If Madam Meng hadn’t looked at her with such open dislike, she wouldn’t have made those pointed remarks.
Madam Jia relaxed and spoke with authority: “Good. I’m running the Lin Family now. If you need anything, just send someone to me.”
Xia Meng Yan nodded: “Thank you, Maternal Aunt.”
As they spoke, Nanny Sun came back. Not seeing anyone behind her, Madam Jia asked in puzzlement: “Where is Madam Meng?”
Nanny Sun replied: “She left.”
Madam Jia frowned and asked: “The Divine Physician wouldn’t agree?”
Nanny Sun nodded: “She didn’t even get to see him. The Meng Family came in a big way this time and said if the Divine Physician nodded, he could name any condition.”
Madam Jia then looked at Xia Meng Yan, and Xia Meng Yan was also surprised. She thought: [Who is he to make the Meng Family talk like that.]
Madam Jia warned softly: “Be careful when you meet people from the Meng Family in the future.”
Xia Meng Yan inclined her head. The Meng Family had been refused, and they surely wouldn’t let this go.
Madam Meng climbed into her carriage, and her warm face turned cold as she snapped: “What is Xia Meng Yan to me? I only mentioned her child, and she dared to talk back at me.”
She thought bitterly: [Any woman tied to the Lin Family has luck. Their inner courtyards are clean, with very few concubines and even fewer illegitimate children. Not like me, who worries every day about those concubines.]
Her trusted nanny set tea by her hand and soothed her: “Madam, there’s no need to be angry. You were giving face not for her sake anyway. Besides, she might not even understand what you meant.”
Madam Meng took a sip, some anger fading: “If not because of that person, I wouldn’t bother speaking to Xia Meng Yan at all. Forget it. We may see each other often later, so I won’t tear the mask off yet. By the way, doesn’t Huai Ren like Lin Qing Wan? Tell him to visit the Lin Family more.”
The nanny smiled: “Young Master Huai Ren hasn’t settled down yet. I doubt he knows what liking means. I’d guess he’s only interested because Lin Qing Wan ignores him.”
Madam Meng didn’t mind; she knew her son well and said calmly: “Whether it’s desire or wounded pride, it doesn’t matter. Make sure Huai Ren marries Lin Qing Wan.”
The nanny was puzzled: “The Lin Family is rich, but the Meng Family is not poor either. If Lin Qing Wan marries in, she won’t be easy to control.”
Madam Meng understood. The Meng Family had too many concubines’ children, and her son was spoiled by her; he knew only eating, drinking, and playing. Only a capable wife could hold down the people in the household.
She explained what she had learned: “Lin Qing Wan is the second legitimate daughter of the main branch. She was raised from childhood to manage a household. I heard she is smart and able. The shops under her name make good profits. If she marries over and lives well with Huai Ren, I can trust her with the Meng Family business.”
The nanny agreed. Young Master Huai Ren disliked business, so with help, the Meng Family’s property wouldn’t fall into concubines’ children’s hands.
Madam Meng let out a slow breath: “I want Lin Qing Wan not only for the Lin Family’s wealth but also for their tie to the Xia Family in the Capital. Business alone can’t put you on the grand stage. If we want a long future, we must go into government. Xia Meng Yan’s father serves close to Emperor Xuan Ming. With that link, Huai Ren won’t have trouble entering officialdom.”
The nanny asked in a low voice: “Madam wants Young Master Huai Ren to be an official? Does Master know?”
Madam Meng sneered: “Why tell him? His mind is all on women’s waistbands.” Remembering Xia Meng Yan’s jab about rich men fathering crowds of children, she added in a cool voice: “Keep this secret. If we can’t marry Lin Qing Wan, telling him does no good.”
The nanny bowed her head: “I understand.”
When Xia Meng Yan returned to her rooms, she found Duan Yi Chen lying in a rocking chair and cutting up an apple. He grinned and said: “I sent people to check. Guess whose household the Meng Family’s ‘relative’ is serving as a concubine?”
Xia Meng Yan walked behind a screen to change out of her outdoor clothes and asked plainly: “Who?”
Duan Yi Chen tossed a slice of apple into his mouth and replied: “Right Assistant Minister of Rites, Lord Wang.”
Xia Meng Yan slipped on a home robe, thought for a moment, and said: “No wonder the Meng Family can challenge the Lin Family. So they have the Right Assistant Minister shielding them.”
The Ministry of Rites managed the Xuan Ming Empire’s dealings and trade with nearby states. If the Meng Family had boarded that big ship, of course they earned a lot.
She nodded and said evenly: “So Lord Wang has taken plenty of benefits from the Meng Family.”
Duan Yi Chen’s hands were neat as he peeled and cut the apple, then he passed a plate of small slices to her and said: “Of course. But Lord Wang hides it well. Few know of his link with the Meng Family. What do you plan to do?”
He warned her: “Now that the Meng Family jumped out, they must be tied to someone behind the curtain. With Lord Wang as their support, they’re hard to touch.”
Xia Meng Yan answered calmly: “If the enemy doesn’t move, I won’t move. I’ll wait and see their next step.”
Today the Meng Family had been rejected by Divine Physician Luo; they would surely try again. As for the Lin Family, she thought: [They need a little knock to keep everyone in line.]
She asked, voice cool: “How did the Meng Family come so fast? Who leaked it?”
Duan Yi Chen answered: “Second Master Qian.”
Xia Meng Yan hadn’t expected the second branch to keep misbehaving even after punishment. Since that was so, she decided: [I won’t save their face.] She said to Duan Yi Chen: “Tell my uncle everything you found and let him handle it.”
Very soon, she forgot about the Meng Family’s visit and went back to eating and resting in the manor. Madam Jia sent things every few days through Nanny Sun, and the Old Madam often sent food too.
But today, an unexpected guest arrived.