Chapter 31 Shen Tang's Plan to Leave
Chapter Thirty-One: Shen Tang's Plan to Leave
Shen Tang fell ill and was given several doses of medicine, but her high fever persisted.
When Meng Huaiyan found out, he was furious and summoned people from the Imperial Medical Academy.
Physician Li was an old doctor in the Imperial Medical Academy with superb medical skills. After taking Meng Huaiyan's pulse, he said, "It's nothing serious. It's just that he's emotionally distressed and his liver qi is stagnant."
"I'll prescribe some medicine for you to drink. Her diet should be light and balanced. She'll be better in a few days."
Meng Huaiyan breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you very much, Physician Li."
Then he called to Qingyang, "See Physician Li off."
Physician Li slung his medicine chest over his shoulder and said, "Your Highness is too kind."
The medicine was quickly brewed, and Meng Huaiyan helped Shen Tang up so she could lean against him.
Ayun stepped forward to feed him the medicine, but Meng Huaiyan took the bowl from her and said, "You can go out now, I'll feed him."
Ah Yun frowned, refusing to leave. The man was unmarried and the woman was unmarried; how could a young lady like Ah Yun possibly maintain her reputation if they were alone together in a room?
"Your Highness, this is against the rules."
Meng Huaiyan glanced at her.
Ayun felt a chill run down her spine from his gaze, but she stubbornly refused to leave.
"Listen to the pines."
Hearing the noise, Tingsong pushed open the door and came in.
Meng Huaiyan gave a signal with his eyes.
Seeing this, Ayun immediately became anxious and cried out, "I won't leave! Tingsong, let me go!"
Tingsong covered her mouth and dragged her out.
Meng Huaiyan frowned slightly. Shen Tang's maid was loud and boisterous, not meticulous in her actions, and not very smart.
However, he is quite loyal.
It seems we need to arrange for a few suitable and meticulous people to take care of her.
Meng Huaiyan picked up the spoon and tested the temperature in his mouth. Seeing that the temperature was suitable, he gently lifted her chin and fed her the medicine.
Shen Tang vaguely felt the bitter taste in her mouth, and instantly frowned, almost subconsciously turning her head to spit out the medicine.
He unconsciously muttered, "It's so bitter, I don't want to drink it," while his hands flailing wildly.
If Meng Huaiyan hadn't been quick-witted and agile, he would have almost knocked over the medicine bowl.
"......"
This adult is afraid of taking medicine.
Meng Huaiyan sighed, somewhat helplessly.
He took the medicine bowl, drank a large gulp himself, and then held her chin tightly with one hand, feeding her the medicine.
The bitter taste of the medicine instantly filled their mouths. Shen Tang struggled because of the bitterness, but Meng Huaiyan held her down firmly, forcing her to swallow it all.
After doing this several times, the bowl of medicine was finally emptied.
Meng Huaiyan laid her down and tucked the blanket in. Perhaps because there was still a bitter taste in her mouth, Shen Tang frowned and hummed as if expressing her dissatisfaction.
Meng Huaiyan couldn't help but chuckle, stared at her for a moment, and then lowered his head to place a gentle kiss on the corner of her lips.
Shen Tang's illness finally improved after three days.
These past few days, Meng Huaiyan has been coming to her place every day. She expressed her dissatisfaction, but he shut her down with, "We've been in the same bed before, what's the point of saying it's against the rules now?"
Shen Tang was frustrated, but there was really nothing she could do about it.
That day, Meng Huaiyan brought two maids over, saying he wanted to take care of her.
"Take care of"? That sounds nice, but it's more like surveillance!
Shen Tang immediately slammed her cup down in anger: "I don't need it! Who wants your fake kindness!"
Meng Huaiyan's face instantly turned ugly, and he stared at her with anger.
Has he spoiled her too much, allowing her to offend him time and time again?
Shen Tang confronted him without backing down, and the room fell silent, the air thick and suffocating.
The maids and servants knelt on the ground, and the timid ones even trembled uncontrollably.
Shen Tang looked at it and suddenly felt a little tired. She turned her eyes away and said, "Whatever you want, do whatever you want."
Meng Huaiyan looked at her tears and remained silent.
The two maids did not stay in the end.
After that big argument, Meng Huaiyan never came to her courtyard again.
Shen Tang finally had a few days of peace and quiet.
She still couldn't leave the mansion. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt like there were several pairs of eyes watching her from behind.
This feeling of being monitored made her feel frustrated and angry.
She wasn't sure what Meng Huaiyan's attitude towards her was right now.
Did he want her to be his mistress, someone he couldn't keep secret? Or a nameless, unregistered maidservant?
Neither way, Shen Tang was willing.
She wanted to leave.
She may not be able to compete with Meng Huaiyan, but that doesn't mean others can't.
*
"Your Highness, Miss Shen requests an audience."
The eldest princess paused while pruning the flowers: "What's she doing here?"
Fu Dong shook her head: "I don't know, Miss Shen didn't say."
The princess gave a light snort and continued fiddling with the flower branch in her hand: "Let her wait."
Fu Dong: "Yes."
Shen Tang waited for an hour. Fu Dong said that the princess was busy, but she knew it was just an excuse.
The eldest princess is a person of high status and great pride; she really doesn't look up to ordinary people.
When Shen Tang arrived, he knew that seeing her wouldn't be easy.
Making her stand outside and wait like this is just a way of putting her in her place.
However, in her previous life, she was often punished by the eldest princess to stand in the rules, sometimes for three or four hours at a time.
It's only been an hour, so it's easy for her.
"Miss Shen is a rare guest. May I ask what brings you to see me today?" The Princess sat at the head of the table, took a sip of tea, and said calmly.
Shen Tang curtsied and said, "Your Highness, I wish to leave the Duke's Mansion."
The eldest princess raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled: "If you want to leave, then leave. No one is stopping you. I'm not familiar with you, so there's no need for you to come and greet me."
"I really need the Princess's help to leave."
"What do you mean?"
Shen Tang recounted in detail Meng Huaiyan's recent actions, and as soon as she finished speaking, the room fell into a deathly silence.
The princess's face darkened, and she said in a deep voice, "Do you know the consequences of lying to me?"
"The Princess will know the truth about this matter once she investigates it."
The eldest princess glanced at Fudong, who then obeyed and withdrew.
Meng Huaiyan did not try to conceal his actions, and Fu Dong returned in less than an hour.
He whispered a few words in the princess's ear.
Upon hearing this, the eldest princess clenched her fists, her gaze towards Shen Tang seemingly carrying a knife.
"I underestimated you. Miss Shen, you have quite the skills."
She wasn't completely unaware that Shen Tang was pursuing Meng Huaiyan, but she knew that Yan'er wasn't interested in her, so she didn't interfere.
Unexpectedly, she was so cunning that she bewitched Yan'er and even went so far as to force the He family to break off the engagement.
"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" The princess looked coldly at Shen Tang, and at this moment she truly had the intention to kill him.
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang remained calm: "The Meng family has strict family traditions, and the relationship between brothers has always been harmonious. Although I am not of great importance, I am, after all, the second madam's niece. Killing me would indeed save trouble, but it would create discord between the eldest and second branches of the family."
“I know that I am of low status and unworthy of the Crown Prince. Now that I am taking the initiative to mention leaving, it will not only not affect your relationship with the second wife, but also will not cause discord between mother and son because of me.”
“The Princess is a wise woman. When faced with two evils, she chooses the lesser one, so you will not kill me.”
Only then did the eldest princess look at Shen Tang carefully, as if she were seeing him for the first time.
Before this, she always thought she was a vain woman who wanted to marry into a wealthy family and climb the social ladder.
Now it seems she has some cleverness, but I don't know if she is truly sensible or if it's just a tactic of feigning retreat to advance.
"I remember you always wanted to marry the Crown Prince. What? In just a few months, Miss Shen, have you changed your mind so quickly?"
"Human hearts are always fickle. The Princess grew up in the inner palace and has seen many people. She should understand this principle better than I do."
Shen Tang met the Princess's gaze, her eyes open and honest, without any pretense.
The two fell silent for a moment, the room so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
After a moment, the princess withdrew her scrutinizing gaze.
"Go back and wait for arrangements."
Shen Tang: "Yes."
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