Su Mei’s words left the two men red-faced and flustered. Lin Yian covered his face with his sleeve for a long moment, unsure how to get her to leave. Fortunately, Wu Zisen was quick-witted. He used the promise of taking her to town to buy storybooks as a bargaining chip and dragged Lin Yian along to accompany her. Only then did she reluctantly return to her room.
No sooner had Su Mei left than Liu Si seized the cover of night to sneak into the Wei Duke’s Household again. Even with Shi Tou nearby, he did not hide. He rushed to Lin Yian and asked, “That little girl that night, was she the Su family Third Miss?”
Earlier that afternoon, Liu Si had received a letter secretly delivered by Lin Yian. He was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped.
Lin Yian glanced at Shi Tou, who looked startled by the visitor, and first reassured him, “Do not make a sound. Stand guard at the door and make sure no one comes close to discover anything.”
Shi Tou nodded in a daze, glancing back at the narrow-eyed Liu Si every few steps.
Liu Si threatened, “Move faster or I will knock you out, carry you away, and sell you. Even your Third Master cannot save you!”
Shi Tou nearly lost his shoes in fright.
“Why scare him like that?” Lin Yian glanced at him.
Liu Si listened to the closing door and asked again, “Is everything in your letter true?”
“When have I ever joked with you?”
Liu Si’s pupils contracted, still unable to fully process the news. “This is so thrilling… I did not expect you, Lin Third Master, to have such a romantic fortune. Very well, with Zhongyi Marquis as your father-in-law, your stepmother will have to rely on you.”
“Liu Si,” Lin Yian said, his expression gradually growing serious, “put aside these messy thoughts. I have no such intentions and will never have them. Taking advantage of someone is no different from an animal.”
“Lin Third Master, are you out of your mind? She is like this, her reputation ruined, and you will not marry her? If you worry about the Zhongyi Marquis, I can ask my father to help arrange the match.”
Liu Si stared at him in greater shock.
Lin Yian remained silent. In his mind, he saw Su Mei smiling sweetly at him and calling him husband. She was innocent and endearing.
But that was no reason to be moved. Acting on it would only disgrace her. He could not be so despicable.
“Set aside those thoughts,” he repeated, holding firm to his stance. “I only asked you to help because I feared her reputation would be ruined. My stepmother has the means to ensure the Su family cannot reverse the engagement. I am concerned that before hearing from the Zhongyi Marquis, something else might happen. We must act quickly to end the engagement so she can leave the Lin family as soon as possible.”
“I thought you were rushing to end the engagement because you wanted to marry her. Fine, we cannot destroy the Yu King, so we might as well solve one more problem.”
Liu Si said no more. Over the years, he knew Lin Yian’s character perfectly. All instructions were clear, requiring only a finger to act. This task, of course, deserved his help.
“I will deliver the items to your stepmother first thing tomorrow morning,” Liu Si said earnestly, patting his chest.
Lin Yian’s expression softened, and he smiled faintly. “Thank you, Liu Si. I will remember this favor.”
“If someday you invite me to your wedding, you will not need to return this favor.”
Liu Si could not help speaking again, but Lin Yian shot him a cold glance. Liu Si hurriedly said he was leaving and added, “Do not regret it later.”
“I will not.”
Liu Si went off reluctantly. Lin Yian remained still, leaning against the bedpost. Shi Tou returned to the room and watched him quietly.
Under the warm glow of the lamp, the young master wore plain clothing and appeared as smooth and refined as jade. On closer look, however, the corners of his eyes drooped in despair and his long, thick lashes lacked vitality.
Their Third Master was sorrowful.
Shi Tou could not explain why he was so certain, nor why the Third Master was sad, but he felt the same heaviness in his heart. He sat on the floor, hugging his knees, silently keeping watch.
Night deepened. Some fell into long dreams, while Su Qin sank into endless fear.
She had entered the Wei Duke’s Household full of hope, only to be met with the harsh reality.
Princess Jiaxi sat in a dimly lit room, the only light coming from a single lamp. The sound of slaps repeated continuously.
Su Qin was forced to kneel, her mouth covered. One older woman held her mouth shut and struck her repeatedly, twenty times before releasing her.
Princess Jiaxi looked at her teary, runny-faced expression with disgust and ordered the handkerchief removed from her mouth. “Do you finally understand what you are?”
Su Qin finally had a chance to speak but first spat blood. Her face hurt too much to cry or talk. She had never imagined Princess Jiaxi would strike her immediately instead of negotiating.
Should she not have been allowed to speak, explain, and then be accepted? She could have helped in family matters, resolved Lin Henglǐ’s issue with Su Mei, and held leverage over Su Mei’s madness, yet Princess Jiaxi struck her.
Had her mother’s letter failed to explain clearly?
Su Qin trembled in fear, her vision blurred.
The letter from Madam Du was clear, but the mother and daughter’s plans were exactly what Jiaxi hated. After being affronted by Wu Zisen in the morning, the fury was vented entirely on Su Qin.
Princess Jiaxi sneered at Su Qin’s inability to speak. “That is my eldest grandson. How could I allow someone like you to taint him? Even if Su Mei withdraws from the engagement, it does not concern you.”
It was delusional. With that poisonous ambition, she could never enter the Wei Duke’s Household. Such a woman would be a disaster in the inner quarters.
Su Qin could not believe what she heard. Lin family would not allow Su Mei to end the engagement?
Why? Su Mei had gone mad, accepted another as her husband, yet the engagement would not be broken?
She did not understand, nor did she realize Princess Jiaxi wanted power from the Su family, not Su Mei herself.
Of course, Jiaxi would not explain to a fool. The cruel smile at her lips carried a finality. “You may come to the Duke’s Household. I will show you the way. I plan to find a good match for my concubine-born son. Tomorrow you will be sent to him. Decide what to do yourself. Otherwise, if your father learns you seduced Henglǐ, your status as a Su family eldest daughter will be gone.”
Concubine-born son, what concubine-born son?
Su Qin shivered as it took her a moment to understand.
Lin Yian, the concubine-born son Princess Jiaxi referred to, was the same Lin Yian Su Mei had mistaken for her husband. Jiaxi intended to force Su Qin to him.
“No, Princess…” Su Qin was genuinely terrified, regretting her naive intentions, and struggled to plead.
Princess Jiaxi did not waste further time on her. She stood and left.
The opening and closing doors sealed Su Qin’s despair. She collapsed unconscious from shock.
“Your Highness, keep her detained. Madam Du may act rashly and reveal everything,” Hui Momo said, uneasy, as she left the remote courtyard where Su Qin was held.
“Her daughter is in my hands. Only if she goes mad would she dare reveal it. If Zhongyi Marquis learns, he will expel them both from the Marquisate. She will not dare,” Princess Jiaxi said confidently, dismissing the mother and daughter.
She let Lin Yian and the pair handle themselves. Though not revealed by him, she would ensure he could not harbor any intentions.
Once Lin Yian and Su Qin were bound by circumstance, her husband could not consider a concubine-born son over his beloved legitimate daughter.
What had been a problem to handle Lin Yian became effortless.
“Tomorrow morning, send someone to check on the Yu King’s situation,” she instructed, genuinely concerned.
Hui Momo noted the concern but remained silent, remembering the instructions.
At dawn, Su Qin was awakened.
An older woman, following Princess Jiaxi’s instructions, explained everything. Su Qin had understood overnight she could not resist. She might even risk her life. Her stepfather would blame her completely.
When asked if she understood, she nodded without hesitation. She needed to leave first before considering anything else. Fear of being destroyed by Jiaxi compelled her to comply.
The older woman secretly brought her into the guest quarters, changed her attire, and prepared her to deliver breakfast to Lin Yian.
Yet fate did not follow plans. Though Su Mei had not risen yet, as they arrived, Su Mei’s voice was heard inside. The woman hurriedly pulled Su Qin back.
“Isn’t this the breakfast delivery? Why are you leaving?” Zi Kui asked, noticing someone outside. She immediately ran after, realizing it was Su Qin.
Zi Kui, furious at Su Mei’s misfortune, then at Su Qin, slapped her.
They stopped near the window. Su Qin screamed. Su Mei peeked outside, startled by Zi Kui’s raised hand.
“Zi Kui sister, what happened?” Su Mei asked, confused.
“Miss, this is her fault. She shamelessly seduced people, causing you to fall like this!”
Zi Kui was agitated but refrained from mentioning Lin Henglǐ.
Su Mei’s expression changed immediately.
Seduce? Seduce whom? Her husband?
“Guards, tie her and throw her far away!”
Trying to covet her husband? As if she could!
Su Mei stood with authority.
Su Qin panicked and tried to flee, but the guards overpowered her and knocked her out.
As they prepared to carry her away, Su Mei’s eyes flicked and she snorted, “Something is wrong. How did she get in? Bind the fleeing older woman and interrogate her too.”
The older woman, nearly escaping, was caught and tied before Su Mei and Lin Yian.
Lin Yian’s gaze darkened, realizing how Su Qin had entered. Only his stepmother could have allowed her in. What was her stepmother’s intention?
Princess Jiaxi had arranged for Su Qin to be brought into the courtyard but paid little attention, confident, focusing on the Yu King.
Half an hour later, the older woman, bruised and battered, was thrown to the door by the Su family guards. She scrambled inside crying, “Princess, terrible news. Su family Third Miss bought five courtesans and sent them to the Duke, claiming to honor him!”
Princess Jiaxi froze. Honor whom?
“What happened?” Hui Momo scolded, demanding clarity.
The older woman trembled. Another report came with an unsigned letter tied to the Yu King.
Princess Jiaxi set the older woman aside and scanned the letter. What she found was evidence of the Yu King accepting bribes. She staggered back in shock.
Meanwhile, Su Mei was furious, slapping the table. “Bring five more beauties. Send them all to the Duke!”
Lin Yian, drinking tea, choked and coughed.