Chapter 318

Chapter 318: She’s After My Dad

Just as Jiang Si Ying was raging inside, a clear, gentle voice sounded: “Eldest Aunt, you really don’t need to be so polite. We’re all one family, so of course we should help each other. I only failed to notify everyone in advance because things were urgent.”

Her words were steady and reasonable, and that one line-“we’re all one family”-miraculously soothed Jiang Si Ying’s anger.

Chen Xin Yue frowned as she looked at Jiang Si Ying, feeling as if she had swallowed a fly. She had been so close to stirring up trouble, yet with a single sentence, Yu Zhi Yi smoothed everything over. [So she really came to ruin my plans!] In the end, she couldn’t sense any hatred in Jiang Si Ying toward Yu Zhi Yi for the near-slander; instead, her own hatred for Yu Zhi Yi rose another notch. Watching a perfect chance to wreck Yu Zhi Yi’s reputation slip away, Chen Xin Yue was furious.

A soft, pleasant female voice floated in: “So Second Miss has returned-how wonderful.”

Chen Ruo Lan walked gracefully into the hall and spoke gently: “Second Miss, did you come back from the city? Did you meet Madam Song?”

Yu Zhi Yi’s face shifted. [I forgot I was supposed to meet Madam Song tonight!] She didn’t actually panic. After all, Commandery Governor Song was her subordinate; even if she stood him up, he wouldn’t dare complain out loud. Still, breaking an appointment was shameful. She should find a chance to explain.

The Jiang clan didn’t know what she was thinking. The moment they heard she had missed an appointment with the governor’s madam, they grew flustered. This was the governor’s madam, not some nobody. The Martial Alliance sat within Tian’an Commandery and was under Commandery Governor Song’s jurisdiction. In the past, the governor turned a blind eye to the martial world because their interests didn’t clash, and both sides stayed in their lanes. Now the government had finally extended an olive branch-and Yu Zhi Yi had failed to show up.

Thankfully, their debt for the lives she had just saved was still warm. Though Lin Jing Xuan worried, she couldn’t bring herself to blame Yu Zhi Yi. After all, Yu Zhi Yi missed the meeting to save her sons. If not for Yu Zhi Yi, her boys would already be dead in a brothel dozens of li away.

So Lin Jing Xuan waved her hand and said decisively: “The governor’s madam isn’t petty. We’ll visit and apologize, and explain why she couldn’t go tonight. Madam Song is well-bred and reasonable; she won’t blame her.”

Chen Ruo Lan let out a small breath: “Then that’s good.”

Xiao Qing Xuan had been standing quietly by her daughter. Seeing the farce dissolve before she had to lift a finger, she gave Chen Ruo Lan a long look, then said to Lin Jing Xuan: “Sister-in-law, it’s late. I’ll take the child to rest.”

Of course Lin Jing Xuan had no objection. After the mother and daughter left, Lin Jing Xuan gave a few polite words to Chen Ruo Lan and her daughter, then departed with Jiang Si Ying and the others.

Chen Ruo Lan kept a warm smile on her face, as if she felt no slight at all. Only when the hall held just the two of them did she turn to go. Chen Xin Yue hurried to catch up.

“Mother, I don’t understand.” Once she was sure no one else was around, she asked, carefully choosing her words: “Wouldn’t it be better to announce tomorrow that people from the governor’s manor are coming?”

Chen Ruo Lan said mildly: “Tomorrow Big Brother and Second Brother will both be back. With Second Brother present, that little wretch won’t face any punishment.”

Chen Xin Yue understood. Although their uncle was the Alliance Leader, most practical power in the Martial Alliance rested in Second Master Jiang’s hands. And the two brothers were deeply close. If Second Master Jiang took a stand, Alliance Leader Jiang would smooth things over, even apologize to the governor’s manor to ease Madam Song’s anger. That would be how the men handled a sudden problem-if they were here tonight. But they weren’t.

Chen Ruo Lan knew everyone in the Martial Alliance. Lin Jing Xuan looked bold and quick, but in truth was indecisive and soft-hearted. People like that lack a true backbone. After making a decision, they waver and regret it. Today, because of the life debt, she wouldn’t say or do anything to the “little wretch.” But if fear was allowed to ferment overnight, tomorrow she’d be jumpy as a startled bird. With her emotions stirring the pot, Alliance Leader Jiang would treat the matter very seriously.

No matter how much power Second Master Jiang held, he wasn’t the head of the Alliance. If his brother and sister-in-law reached a decision together, then no matter how much he loved his daughter, he’d have to push her out.

Xiao Qing Xuan cherished this daughter like a precious jewel and would never let her be wronged. When that time came, she would clash with them. No one liked a woman who “made trouble” and lacked a sense of the bigger picture. Once Xiao Qing Xuan fell out with those people, Chen Ruo Lan could step in and take advantage.

Hearing all this, Chen Xin Yue felt awe without quite knowing why. “Mother, you’re amazing. Others plan one step at a time, but you think a hundred steps ahead.”

Chen Ruo Lan chuckled: “You still have much to learn.”

Yu Zhi Yi helped Xiao Qing Xuan back to their rooms. Seeing the lines of worry between her mother’s brows, she smiled: “Mother, don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”

She wasn’t someone who liked to show off, but given her identity, if anyone should be worried after she missed the appointment, it was Commandery Governor Song and Madam Song-though she felt no pride in that, since she was in the wrong first. She only wanted her mother to relax.

Xiao Qing Xuan sighed: “Of course I trust you, and I’m not worried about that matter. I’m worried about Chen Ruo Lan.” Her brows knit, and her tone carried clear dislike: “I don’t like speaking ill of people behind their backs, but Chen Ruo Lan’s belly is full of schemes. She cannot be truly thinking for your sake. For her to speak in your favor today is so unusual that I fear she’s plotting something.”

Yu Zhi Yi said calmly: “Her goal is my dad. If her ambitions are bigger, it’s the entire Martial Alliance. But those are long-term plans. In this case, the most she could hope for is that Commandery Governor Song and Madam Song would blame me for the missed appointment. That was never going to happen. So what else could she count on?”

The worry on Xiao Qing Xuan’s face faded. “I was overthinking!” Then she paused. “Wait-you said she’s after the whole Martial Alliance?”

Yu Zhi Yi rubbed her nose: “I’m not sure. It just seems possible.”

“!” Even a ten-percent chance was frightening. Xiao Qing Xuan couldn’t help drifting into darker thoughts: [Was that old story-Old Master Chen taking a blade for her father-in-law-also part of a scheme?]