Chapter 83 Offering a Pledge of Allegiance

Wen Hengzhi took the umbrella and was slightly taken aback. He didn't dare to accept it, saying he was afraid it would affect Shen Shuqing's reputation.

But after the mother insisted, he accepted the umbrella.

Sinking chain.

Chen Lian looked at the umbrella and chuckled.

Wen Hengzhi waited outside Shen Shuyuan for four hours.

Chen Lian thought he was going to be turned away, thinking that this person was just all show and no substance, unable to even get an invitation through.

They had already planned to have him sent back to Baizhou.

Unexpectedly, Wen Hengzhi succeeded.

This even softened Shen Shu's heart, and she gave him an umbrella.

"Hengzhi, your self-inflicted injury scheme was brilliant."

I never expected that his sister would fall for this.

It seems that he made the right decision to bring Wen Hengzhi over, and he is now more confident in his plans.

Wen Hengzhi smiled calmly and said nothing more.

Although Shen Shu offered him an umbrella, he didn't think she would have any affection for him.

Instead, it made him feel like he had been seen through.

Wen Hengzhi now only feels that he is controlled by Chen Lian, simply because he can only rely on him.

if...

Will he be able to find a new backer?

Shen Lian wanted to kill his sister, but didn't Shen Shu do the same?

If he can help Shen Shu bring down Chen Lian, wouldn't that be considered a pledge of loyalty?

...

On the eve of the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet.

Tang'er, seeing that the housekeeper was preparing clothes for Shen Shuming to wear the next day, asked, "Housekeeper, will Miss take me with her tomorrow?"

Madam Fang glanced at her and said, "Tang'er, with your current health, what if you bump into something while you're out? So you should stay in the manor and guard the courtyard. Don't even think about running around."

Upon hearing this, Tang'er felt displeased and muttered under her breath.

"My body doesn't hinder anything. Other young ladies go out with several maids, so what's wrong with taking me along?"

Tang'er thought for a moment and then said ingratiatingly.

"Aunt Fang, please talk to the Second Miss for me and ask her to take me there. My health isn't the main issue, but... I'm almost three months pregnant. I wonder when the Miss will find me a reliable doctor?"

If Shen Shu finds her a doctor and makes her identity public, then she can go to the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet openly and legitimately, instead of staying in the mansion.

Tang'er had considered going to find a doctor herself, but while doctors were easy to find, those who kept their mouths shut were not. If a doctor let slip that she was almost three months pregnant instead of just over a month, the old master would definitely beat her to death.

Therefore, Tang'er can only rely on Shen Shu now.

Mrs. Fang naturally understood the deeper meaning behind her words: "There's no rush, you can go down now."

Upon hearing this, Tang'er could no longer contain her dissatisfaction. They wouldn't take her to the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, nor would they find her a doctor.

"If we wait any longer, my belly will become obvious."

She returned from the Duke's place today, and the Duke has already become suspicious, saying that she has been eating too much lately, as her waist has gotten bigger.

Tang'er was quite frightened, fearing that the Duke would notice something amiss.

She had thought that Shen Shu would help her to the end, find her a doctor as soon as possible, give the child in her womb a proper status, and let everything proceed according to plan.

But Fang's mother's words, "It's not in a hurry," were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing most of her hopes.

"Could it be... that the Second Miss is going to back out?"

Seeing Tang'er taking advantage of her kindness, Madam Fang angrily said, "How could the Second Miss go back on her word? Don't you know your place? Don't think that just because you're pregnant you can rise to the top. If it weren't for the Second Miss, you would have died long ago. How could you be enjoying such wealth and luxury here?"

Mother Fang's words pierced Tang'er's heart.

She clutched her chest, tears welling in her eyes, but she stubbornly held them back.

"Aunt Fang is right, I was too impatient."

Tang'er wiped away her tears and walked out of the courtyard, feeling more and more unwilling to accept it.

The lady treated her like a pawn, but wasn't the second young lady the same way?

She bit her lip, thinking that she couldn't just sit and wait for death, after all, Shen Shu wasn't the only one who could go to the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet and find a doctor for her.

Inside the room.

Watching Tang'er's angry departure, Madam Fang said, "Second Miss, I told Tang'er everything you instructed me to say, but Tang'er is very proud and dares to be dissatisfied with you. Now I don't know where she's going to run off to."

Shen Shu chuckled lightly: "Let her be."

That's about enough fuel for the fire.

...

Tang'er slipped through the dog hole into the room with the chain.

Upon seeing Tang'er, Chen Lian immediately hugged her tightly: "What? It's not even dark yet, and you can't wait any longer?"

Tang'er broke free of the heavy chains: "Young master, I didn't come here for this."

"The palace is holding a grand chrysanthemum appreciation banquet tomorrow. The Second Miss refuses to take me with her. I wonder if the young master would be willing to take me with him?"

Tang'er thought about it for a while, but still didn't tell anyone about the child. After all, she had a deep impression of the kick Chen Lian gave her in the stomach.

She didn't dare to reveal the truth until she was absolutely certain.

Chen Lian chuckled: "Now you know how good I am, right? How about it, aren't you still happier living in my courtyard?"

Tang'er forced a smile, but didn't utter a single truthful word.

“What you say is true, young master. If it weren’t for the Duke taking me away, why would we have to sneak around like this, forcing me to stay in the Second Miss’s courtyard every day, and even seeing you is difficult?”

"The second young lady is quite aloof. I've been so good to her, but she didn't even take me to the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet."

Upon hearing this, a hint of smugness flashed in Shen Lian's eyes: "If you want me to take you to the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, that's not impossible, but you'll have to show some sincerity."

Tang'er smiled knowingly and threw herself into Chen Lian's arms.

Chen Lian reached out and hugged her, touching her a few times before realizing something was wrong: "Tang'er, what has Shen Shu been feeding you? Your waist is getting rounder and rounder."

Tang'er stiffened for a moment, then softened and said calmly, "Does Young Master dislike me? I've just had a better appetite lately, and I've gained some weight. If Young Master doesn't like it, I'll just eat less in the future."

Chen Lian chuckled and pinched her waist, and the two of them started fooling around on the bed.

A light drizzle was falling outside the window, and no one noticed that someone was standing under the back window.

Wen Hengzhi smiled and immediately felt that God had been kind to him.

If he doesn't take advantage of this opportunity that's presented to him, wouldn't he be wasting God's good intentions?

...

The next day.

Shen Lian got up and went out, and Wen Hengzhi appeared behind him.

"You scared me to death! Don't you make any noise when you walk?" Chen Lian shouted.

Wen Hengzhi smiled enigmatically: "Please forgive me, young master, but I have important matters to discuss with you."

Chen Lian said irritably, "What important things could happen at today's chrysanthemum appreciation banquet? The most important thing is that you've managed to get your hands on my sister."

Wen Hengzhi smiled faintly: "Young master and I have the same idea. I came here for this very reason. I ask for your help."