Volume One, Chapter 17: Putting on an Act to Fool the Ghosts
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There were three managers in all at Clear Rain Tower. With such a commotion erupting in the main hall, all three hurried over, Lin Xinyan among them.
For convenience, Lin Xinyan always dressed as a man while at Clear Rain Tower.
Chang Le had once mocked her for being a pheasant trying to adorn itself with phoenix feathers.
If she meant to dress as a man and pretend to be one, why did she still powder her face and paint her brows, as though terrified that others might fail to realize that beneath her man’s robes she was actually a woman?
What a ridiculous charade.
The moment Lin Xinyan saw Chang Le, her pupils contracted.
After what had happened the last time, she had witnessed Chang Le’s madness firsthand. Once Chang Le lost her temper, there was truly nothing she would not do.
“Xinyan, Second Miss Hua comes looking for trouble with you every time. You should stay back.”
Whenever Chang Le came to make trouble at Clear Rain Tower, Lin Xinyan was the one who suffered.
Though they did not know why Chang Le singled Lin Xinyan out, they were well aware of Chang Le’s overbearing nature.
Whenever someone or something displeased her, she had never been one to reason.
Lin Xinyan was actually afraid of Hua Chang Le as well, but she could not retreat now.
She knew that Chang Le had probably come to Clear Rain Tower specifically to find her. Hiding would not help.
Understanding this, Lin Xinyan faced the concern of the other two managers and shook her head with righteous resolve.
“I am a manager of Clear Rain Tower. If someone comes here to cause trouble and I shrink back merely because of her identity, how could I ever repay His Highness the Third Prince for recognizing my abilities?”
With that, Lin Xinyan stepped forward of her own accord, her expression steadfast and resolute, as though she feared neither power nor authority.
“Second Miss Hua, please stop!”
“If you persist in making trouble without reason, we will have no choice but to report this to the authorities.”
Lin Xinyan had a delicate, fragile-looking face, one that gave people the impression she might be startled by a voice raised even slightly.
Now, however, her forceful and righteous words formed a striking contrast with her appearance, creating an intense dissonance that moved the hearts of those who heard her.
Chang Le turned back to look at her. “You came at just the right time. I came here today precisely to find you.”
The people of Clear Rain Tower immediately gathered around Lin Xinyan, all of them watching Chang Le warily.
Even the guests in the main hall, who had initially been somewhat frightened by Chang Le’s behavior, began to raise their voices in condemnation once more.
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Chang Le raised a hand. “Everyone, please calm down. Eat whatever you like and drink whatever you like today. Manager Lin will pay the bill.”
Lin Xinyan had attached herself to Wei Shuoye, and Wei Shuoye had always been generous with his money. She was not short of silver at present.
But with so many guests in Clear Rain Tower, Lin Xinyan was naturally unwilling to be forced into paying such a large sum.
She had only just opened her mouth when Chang Le continued, “You had better agree. Otherwise, I will tell everyone how you called me your good elder sister and begged me to pity you, while at the same time climbing into the bed of my good elder sister’s fiancé.”
Chang Le had once helped Lin Xinyan.
Back when Lin Xinyan was serving at Wei Shuoye’s side, the other palace maids had bullied and ostracized her because of her overly delicate appearance. Chang Le had defended her and even spoken favorably of her to Wei Shuoye, arranging for her to serve at his side.
Chang Le had never imagined that someone she had helped would one day turn around and sink her teeth into her so viciously.
Lin Xinyan clenched her fists. She knew that if Chang Le said she would do something, she would certainly do it.
Chang Le had long since abandoned all concern for her reputation, but Lin Xinyan could not afford to.
The people of Clear Rain Tower were protecting her now only because they did not know of her relationship with the Third Prince and still took into consideration the favor he showed her.
But if they learned that she had seduced her master, if they understood why Chang Le was targeting her, they would no longer shield her as they did now.
Though Lin Xinyan’s heart ached at the thought of so much silver, she could only grit her teeth and endure it.
“I apologize to everyone on behalf of Clear Rain Tower for disturbing your meal.”
When the guests heard that they could eat for free, without spending a single coin, they immediately brightened. One after another, they called for the waiters and ordered more dishes.
“Come with me.”
Chang Le strode toward the rear hall of Clear Rain Tower.
In truth, she had never thought much of troubling Lin Xinyan. In her view, when a man changed his heart, it had nothing to do with which woman had seduced him. It was because the man himself was vile.
But Lin Xinyan had joined forces with Hua Zhiyu and deliberately humiliated her at Hua Zhiyu’s coming-of-age ceremony. That had truly provoked her.
Chang Le stopped beneath the corridor in the rear hall and turned to look at Lin Xinyan, who had followed her.
Lin Xinyan’s eyes were filled with wariness, and she kept as much distance between them as possible.
Chang Le let out a scornful laugh.
She had simply been too disdainful to quarrel with Lin Xinyan back then. Otherwise, the grass over Lin Xinyan’s grave would already have grown ten feet high.
“You heard me propose breaking off the engagement that day, but you should also understand that the feelings between Wei Shuoye and me cannot be erased overnight.”
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“Besides, even if Wei Shuoye and I break off our engagement, your status would never allow you to marry him.”
“I know that Wei Shuoye favors you now. But given his position, his affection can sometimes bring you not only honor and wealth, but death as well.”
“If you wish to marry Wei Shuoye—whether as a concubine, a secondary consort to the Third Prince, or even his principal wife—you must first get past Noble Consort Rong.”
Lin Xinyan’s gaze tightened. She knew perfectly well that Chang Le was telling the truth, but aside from securing Wei Shuoye’s heart, she had no other choice.
Seeing that the moment was ripe, Chang Le delivered her final blow.
“I can make it possible for you and Wei Shuoye to be together.”
Naturally, Lin Xinyan did not believe Chang Le could be so kind. “What are you planning?”
“Tomorrow, at the sixth quarter of the Hour of the Snake. Drunken Wind Pavilion, Room Well. Come if you wish. Believe me or not, as you please.”
“You will have only this one chance. If you miss it, you can forget about marrying Wei Shuoye for the rest of your life.”
Chang Le left without waiting for Lin Xinyan’s reply.
Lin Xinyan bit down hard on her lower lip and stared at Chang Le’s departing figure. She did not believe a single word Chang Le had said, but there was one thing Chang Le had been right about.
With Noble Consort Rong standing in her way, if she did nothing, she would never be able to marry Wei Shuoye in this lifetime.
And once Wei Shuoye broke off his engagement, Noble Consort Rong would likely move against her.
She had worked so hard to establish herself here. She absolutely could not allow herself to be trampled back into the mud once more.
Her thoughts racing, Lin Xinyan said a few words to one of the managers at Clear Rain Tower before leaving.
Chang Le watched Lin Xinyan climb into a carriage and called to the driver, “Old man, follow that carriage ahead.”
Lin Xinyan could not be foolish enough to believe that Chang Le truly intended to help her. But she could make use of Chang Le’s scheme to achieve her own aims.
The carriage stopped before the entrance to a certain residence. Lin Xinyan paid the fare, hurried down, and knocked on the gate.
Chang Le saw that the person who opened it was Wei Shuoye’s personal attendant.
The residence was the place where they had secretly met in the past—a hidden retreat where Wei Shuoye kept his favored woman.
Wei Shuoye had concealed the place extremely well. Chang Le had followed him several times before, yet had never managed to find it. Now, by sheer accident, she had stumbled upon it.
But she no longer cared.