Chapter 15 Meng Huaiyan was displeased
Chapter Fifteen: Meng Huaiyan was displeased.
When the carriage was still a quarter of an hour away from the Meng residence, Shen Tang suddenly called out to Qing Yang to stop the carriage.
Qingyang instinctively tightened the rope: "Miss Chen, what's wrong?"
"I have to go separately from the Crown Prince."
As Shen Tang was about to get up and get out of the car, Meng Huaiyan stopped her.
"Why?"
Shen Tang spoke up, and Meng Huaiyan explained, "We've both been missing for several days now, and we don't know what the Meng family is saying to the outside world."
"If someone with ulterior motives sees the two of us on the same carriage and adds fuel to the fire, who knows what kind of rumors will spread."
"It would damage your reputation, so to be on the safe side, let's go our separate ways."
Shen Tang's words were sincere and she knew how to be tactful.
Logically, he should be very happy.
But seeing her avoiding him like this, Meng Huaiyan felt inexplicably uncomfortable, and his lips involuntarily tightened.
His words carried an unspoken sarcasm: "I had no idea Miss Shen could be so sensible and perceptive."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang suddenly remembered all the things she had done before, and her expression became somewhat embarrassed.
She used to like Meng Huaiyan, regardless of the occasion.
Wherever Meng Huaiyan was, she would definitely make sure to show her presence in front of him.
Sometimes, when there are many people around, they will even deliberately do some actions to show that they are very close, as if they are afraid that others will misunderstand their relationship.
Shen Tang felt incredibly embarrassed when she thought about the stupid things she had done in the past.
But things are different now.
Shen Tang touched her nose guiltily: "Oh dear, well... I was just young and didn't know any better, hehe."
Meng Huaiyan glanced at her, his eyes unfathomable.
Seeing that Shen Tang's eyes were darting around and that he didn't dare to meet his gaze, he snorted coldly.
He said to Qingyang, "Keep going."
Qingyang accepted the order, and the carriage resumed its smooth journey.
Shen Tang dared not speak, only muttering to herself.
This time she took the initiative to avoid suspicion, so if any rumors spread, it won't be her fault.
The carriage soon arrived at the Meng residence, and Shen Tang was eager to return home.
After getting off the carriage and saying goodbye to Meng Huaiyan, he hurriedly went to his aunt's courtyard.
My aunt and Ayun must have been terribly worried about me being missing for so many days.
As soon as Shen Tang arrived at the entrance of Pear Blossom Courtyard, Madam Shen heard the commotion and rushed over.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she hugged Shen Tang tightly and burst into tears, as if trying to control herself: "You scared me to death, you scared me to death!"
"Thank goodness you're alright!"
Shen Tang was affected by Shen's emotions, and her nose also felt a little sore. She raised her hand to wipe away her aunt's tears and gently comforted her, "I'm fine. I'm sorry for making you worry, Aunt."
Madam Shen was still somewhat worried. She cupped Shen Tang's face in her hands and looked her up and down, asking, "Are you injured?"
Shen Tang took her hand and spun her around in a circle: "Look, I'm fine, I'm not hurt."
Seeing her lively and energetic self, Madam Shen wiped away her tears and finally felt relieved.
Ah Yun watched from the side, tears streaming down her face. She and Miss had grown up together since childhood and had never been separated for such a long time.
If anything happens to the young lady, she doesn't want to live either.
Seeing A-Yun like this, Shen Tang almost burst into tears again, which she had managed to suppress earlier.
She waved to Ayun and said with a smile, "Come here and let me give you a hug."
Upon hearing this, Ayun rushed over and hugged Shen Tang tightly in her arms, bursting into tears as if she could no longer hold back.
*
Princess Qinyuan's residence.
Meng Huaiyan knelt down and bowed, saying, "Father, Mother, your son is unfilial and has caused you both worry."
The Duke quickly helped him up, his face full of worry: "How are you feeling?"
Meng Huaiyan respectfully replied, "It's nothing, just minor injuries."
The eldest princess, standing to the side, held Meng Huaiyan's hand and looked him up and down with great interest. In just a few days, he had lost so much weight.
The eldest princess frowned, a surge of anger rising in her heart. She rebuked Qingyang and Tingsong behind her, "How exactly did you take care of the young master, leaving him alone in such a dangerous situation!"
When Qingyang and Tingsong saw the princess's anger, they immediately knelt down and said, "It was our dereliction of duty. Please punish us, Your Highness."
Seeing this, Meng Huaiyan spoke up to persuade her, "Mother, it has nothing to do with them."
"How can it not be their business? Their duty is to protect your safety. If they failed to protect you, it's their dereliction of duty, and they should be punished!"
Seeing his mother's stubbornness, Meng Huaiyan's face darkened slightly, and he called out heavily, "Mother!"
The princess stared at him intently, her eyes filled with anger. Meng Huaiyan also refused to back down, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Seeing this scene, the Duke sighed and said to the Princess, "You are clearly very worried about your son. He has finally returned safely. Why can't you talk things out instead of getting angry?"
The eldest princess waved her sleeve and turned her face away: "Who's worried about him? Look at the good son you've raised."
"Now she's learned to talk back, and she doesn't even listen to me anymore!"
Seeing how angry she was, the Duke stepped forward, took the princess's hand, clapped his hands to comfort her, and then winked at Meng Huaiyan.
Meng Huaiyan understood immediately, bowed respectfully, and prepared to leave.
But the eldest princess called out to him, her tone stern and imposing: "Yan'er."
"Being soft-hearted is a big no-no."
Meng Huaiyan paused slightly, lowered his brows, and respectfully replied, "Yes, son will remember."
Seeing that Meng Huaiyan had left, the Duke quickly helped the Princess to sit down: "Yan'er is still a child after all, so there's no need to be so strict with him."
"Besides, he just went through a life-or-death experience and finally came back safely. We should care more about him."
Upon hearing the Duke's words, the eldest princess's voice suddenly rose: "Child? He's almost of age, he's no longer a child."
"Besides, am I wrong? Shouldn't the servant be punished for causing him such serious injury?"
The Duke softened his tone: "After all, they grew up together, and besides, they were injured protecting Yan'er and haven't fully recovered yet..."
The eldest princess scoffed, "So what?"
She grew up in the palace and has experienced everything. Being soft-hearted and giving in will only make people think she is easy to bully and that anyone can step on her.
Human nature tends to bully the weak and fear the strong, and to fawn over the powerful and trample on the weak.
Only when you reach a high enough position that makes them fear and be wary of you will they submit to you and dare not harbor any other thoughts.
As her eldest son, Meng Huaiyan is destined to enter the cabinet and assist the monarch in the future.
She would never allow her son to be a soft-hearted, womanly person.
Prince An dared to so openly attack his son this time; did he really think they were easy to bully?
They were nothing but ants who, by chance, received divine favor and tasted power, and began to forget their true identity.
They should be taught a lesson so they remember their place.
A glint of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes as she said, "I'll go to the palace tomorrow."
The Duke put his arm around her and said, "Alright, be careful tomorrow."
The eldest princess sneered, "They don't have the guts to lay a hand on me."
The two fell silent for a moment.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. The eldest princess stepped out of the Duke's arms, her face regaining its usual composure: "Come in."
Fu Dong pushed open the door and came in: "Your Highness, the Tianqi and Danshen soup you ordered to be made for the young master is ready. Shall we bring it to him now?"
The eldest princess turned her eyes away, still feeling somewhat upset about the scene just now, and said to the Duke, "You personally deliver it to him."
She hesitated for a moment before speaking, "By the way, ask him if anything has happened between him and that Shen Tang these past few days..."
When Shen Tang was mentioned, a look of disgust flashed in her eyes. A woman of lowly status who tried to climb the social ladder was truly repulsive.
If it weren't for my second brother's sake, I would have kicked her out long ago.
A cold glint flashed in her eyes; it was best if nothing happened between them.
The Duke took the soup from Fu Dong's hand and nodded.
Meng Huaiyan left Qinyuan and headed straight for Qingyun Courtyard.
No one spoke the rest of the way. Seeing the young master's gloomy expression, Ting Song asked with some concern, "Young master, are you alright?"
Meng Huaiyan stopped in his tracks, feeling as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart.
For some reason, Shen Tang's image suddenly appeared in my mind.
He looked towards the direction of the Begonia Courtyard, wondering what Shen Tang was doing at that moment.
But in an instant, he looked away and asked Tingsong, "How's the investigation going?"
Tingsong respectfully said, "The assassin confessed that they were ordered by Tingminglou."
This Minglou was a famous brothel in the capital, and ordinary people didn't even have the right to enter. Those who frequented it were all wealthy and influential officials and nobles.
Moreover, everyone entering and leaving wore masks, making it very mysterious.
If it weren't for this assassination attempt, I would never have known that Minglou was actually connected to Prince An.
This Minglou building is indeed a good place to collude with officials and cover one's tracks.
Meng Huaiyan's expression turned cold: "Continue the investigation!"
Tingsong accepted the order: "Yes."
Having been delayed for several days, Meng Huaiyan had a mountain of official business to attend to, but he had no intention of resting and buried himself in dealing with it.
A moment later, Tingsong reported that the Duke had arrived.
Meng Huaiyan put down his pen and bowed to the Duke, saying, "Father."
The Duke smiled and helped him up, saying, "There's no need for us, father and son, to be so polite. Your injuries haven't healed yet, so please sit down."
Then she took out the soup prepared by the princess: "This is something your mother asked me to bring to you. Try it?"
Meng Huaiyan reached out and took it. The soup inside was still steaming, with a bright color and a fragrant aroma, except that it was topped with chopped green onions.
Meng Huaiyan showed no sign of anything amiss and picked up the soup bowl to drink it spoonful by spoonful.
The Duke, watching from the side, said, "That's just your mother's personality; she actually cares about you a lot."
Concern? Meng Huaiyan scoffed inwardly and put down his soup bowl.
Is she genuinely concerned about him, or is she using concern as a pretext to control him?
Meng Huaiyan replied indifferently, "Perhaps."
Looking at his expressionless face, the Duke sighed inwardly. There was always more respect than intimacy between them, unlike the harmonious atmosphere in other families.
After much hesitation, the Duke finally spoke, "These past few days you've been spending time with that Miss Shen..."
Although the Duke did not finish speaking, Meng Huaiyan understood his unspoken meaning.
His expression already showed a hint of impatience: "Did Mother ask you to inquire about this?"
A hint of embarrassment flashed across the Duke's face. Although it was the Princess who had asked him to ask, he also wanted to know in his heart.
He had seen Miss Shen from afar once or twice. She was quite pretty, but her background was rather low.
Meng Huaiyan suddenly recalled that kiss with the bitter taste of herbs, and his expression froze slightly.
He said calmly, "There's nothing between her and me."
The Duke breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then you should get some rest and take care of yourself. I'll be going now."
Meng Huaiyan stood up: "Respectfully seeing off Father."
Seeing that the Duke had walked away, Meng Huaiyan could no longer suppress the nausea in his stomach and vomited up all the soup he had just drunk.
Hearing the commotion, Tingsong hurried in and poured a cup of tea.
Meng Huaiyan reached out and took it, then rinsed his mouth carefully, finally getting rid of the nauseating taste.
After tidying up the room, Tingsong noticed that the young master's complexion was not good and advised him, "Young master, you should rest early."
Meng Huaiyan hummed in agreement, but his hands, still busy with official business, didn't stop.
Tingsong sighed softly and silently withdrew.
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