Chapter 38 Finally, I can leave the manor.

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Finally, I can leave the manor.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Meng Huaiyan finally relented and agreed to let her leave the mansion that day.

Overjoyed, Shen Tang immediately wrote to Wang Xi, inviting her to meet at Yuzhu Pavilion the next day.

She never expected that Meng Huaiyan would be there the next day. No wonder he agreed to let her leave the mansion so easily. Shen Tang's heart sank to the bottom.

Shen Tang's expression was easy to understand; Meng Huaiyan was somewhat displeased with her disdain for him.

But since it's a holiday today, he didn't want her to be unhappy.

He took the veil from Qingyang's hand and carefully put it on her: "Come with me for a walk later, and then I'll let you go see your Miss Wang."

During this period, the servants reported to Meng Huaiyan in detail everything she ate and did each day.

Therefore, he was not at all surprised that she had made an appointment with Wang Xi.

Hearing that he could see Wang Xi again today, Shen Tang was happy again.

He never expected that when Meng Huaiyan said he would accompany him shopping, it would actually be to visit jewelry shops and women's clothing stores.

Shen Tang wasn't very interested in these things now. When Meng Huaiyan asked her if she liked them, Shen Tang would just nod perfunctorily.

With the meeting time with Wang Xiyue fast approaching, Meng Huaiyan remained enthusiastic and showed no sign of stopping.

Shen Tang was anxious, and just when she thought Meng Huaiyan was going to go back on his word, Meng Huaiyan finally said that she could leave.

She added, "Don't stay out too late. Youlan will stay with you and protect you."

Shen Tang nodded hurriedly and left in a hurry.

When she arrived at Yuzhu Pavilion, she was a quarter of an hour late. Wang Xi finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her: "I thought you wouldn't be able to come today."

She thought she wouldn't be able to come today, but thankfully Meng Huaiyan kept his word.

Wang Xi took her hand and entered the teahouse. The waiter warmly greeted them: "Gentlemen, what would you like to drink?"

Wang Xi tossed him a silver ingot: "Find a quiet private room and serve your signature tea."

"Alright." The waiter led them upstairs: "This way, sir."

Once seated in the private room, Wang Xi finally couldn't help but ask her about the situation: "What's going on between you and Meng Huaiyan?"

"Weren't you engaged to the He family? Why did you suddenly break off the engagement?"

"Now she's even engaged to Meng Huaiyan? And it was an imperial marriage? What's going on?"

Faced with Wang Xi's barrage of questions, Shen Tang felt somewhat helpless: "You've asked so many questions, let me answer yours first?"

Wang Xi urged, "Answer them all, quickly, quickly!"

Shen Tang took a sip of tea and slowly told Wang Xi about what had happened during this time.

Despite all the events that had occurred, Shen Tang finished recounting them in just a few words.

After hearing this, Wang Xi's eyes widened, and she slammed her hand on the table in anger: "Is Meng Huaiyan out of his mind?!"

"When you liked him before, he looked down on you like nothing was right. But when you insisted on kissing him, he resorted to underhanded tactics to force you."

"He really thinks he's someone important, that everyone should revolve around him!"

Startled, Shen Tang quickly stepped forward and covered her mouth, gesturing with her eyes towards the outside: "Keep your voice down."

This Youlan ear is extremely well-formed. If he were to tell Meng Huaiyan what Wang Xi had said to him today, given his vengeful nature, it could potentially harm the Wang family.

Wang Xi, however, was not afraid of trouble. She removed Shen Tang's hand from her mouth and said, "What are you afraid of? If he has the ability to do it, why would he be afraid of what people say?"

Shen Tang: "......"

"How can Meng Huaiyan be so twisted? He even tried house arrest. No wonder I couldn't get in touch with you before."

"I came to find you, but the gatekeeper wouldn't let me in! I'm so angry!"

Wang Xi stood with her hands on her hips, pacing back and forth in the room in anger.

Shen Tang felt dizzy from being turned around: "Okay, stop for a moment. Getting angry is bad for your health. Have some tea."

Wang Xi sat down indignantly: "How can you be so calm? Aren't you angry?"

“Of course I’m angry,” Shen Tang sighed. “But what can anger do? It doesn’t change anything. I might as well just let it go.”

"Life goes on, and I don't want to make things harder for myself."

Shen Tang wasn't wrong, and she understood the logic, but she still felt indignant on her behalf.

Although her father held the rank of second grade official, in terms of official position, he was one grade higher than Meng Huaiyan.

But now it is a time of peace, and the Great Liang has always valued civil officials over military ones. Her father is now just a figurehead with no real power.

If she were to go head-to-head with the Meng family, she would definitely have no chance of winning, and her father would not agree to a direct confrontation with them.

Wang Xi collapsed onto the table, wailing in pain. She watched helplessly as her friend was bullied, unable to lend a helping hand, and felt incredibly frustrated.

Looking at her, Shen Tang wanted to laugh, but then he suddenly noticed a conspicuous red mark on her neck.

She hadn't noticed it before because of the collar, but now that Wang Xi was leaning on the table with her head tilted to the side, revealing part of her neck, she finally saw it.

Shen Tang stepped forward and pointed: "What happened to you here?"

Wang Xi instinctively reached up to cover her neck, her expression instantly turning somewhat unnatural: "Probably some kind of bug bite, ha... haha..."

"You know, there are so many mosquitoes in the summer, haha..."

Shen Tang: "......"

If Wang Xi's evasive gaze hadn't been so obvious, she might have actually believed it.

However, seeing that she clearly didn't want to talk about it, Shen Tang didn't want to pry.

After finishing their tea, the two strolled around the streets. Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and there was no curfew. The streets were bustling with people and very lively.

Shen Tang suddenly recalled the scene of the last Dragon Boat Festival and couldn't help but feel a little dazed, as if it were something from a past life.

Shen Tang remembered Meng Huaiyan's instructions to go back early, so she didn't wander around for long.

Although Wang Xi was somewhat dissatisfied with Meng Huaiyan's actions, she knew that if she went against him, Shen Tang would be the one to suffer.

I had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

When Shen Tang returned to the Begonia Courtyard, she was so shocked by what she saw that her eyes widened instantly.

On the octagonal table in the room, gift boxes were piled up, densely packed like a small mountain.

"What's going on?" Shen Tang asked Qiao'er, who was standing beside him.

Qiao'er: "It was sent over by the young master."

Shen Tang stepped forward and opened the boxes on top. They looked familiar, and upon thinking back, she realized that they were all the ones Meng Huaiyan had helped her try on that evening.

She was in a hurry to leave, and when asked if she liked it, she just nodded perfunctorily; she didn't even look at the jewelry and clothes closely.

Unexpectedly, Meng Huaiyan bought them all.

"......"

Looking at the pile of things in front of him, Shen Tang felt a headache coming on. He said to Qiao'er, "Let's put them in the storeroom."

Qiao'er: "Yes."

——

Can you guess who did the scar on Wang Xi's neck?