Chapter 35 No need for you to trouble yourself.
Chapter Thirty-Five: No need for your trouble.
Shen Tang was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and didn't even want to speak.
She silently followed Meng Huaiyan's footsteps, but the further she walked, the more she realized that this was not the way back to her courtyard at all.
Where are we going?
"I need to go back to the capital to attend court. I'm worried about leaving you here alone."
"......"
What are you worried about? Are you worried that the princess will harm her? Or are you worried that she will run away?
He really thinks too highly of her. With that imperial decree of marriage, where could she run off to? Besides, she wouldn't dare to run away anyway.
Disobeying an imperial decree could result in a death sentence and implicate one's family, or even the extermination of nine generations of one's relatives, even though she didn't have a good impression of her father and stepmother.
But I don't want to be burdened with so many lives for no reason.
She wanted to leave, but she didn't want to be a wanted criminal, living in fear and homelessness for the rest of her life.
Even though Shen Tang was unwilling, she knew that it was difficult to change Meng Huaiyan's decision, so she had no choice but to resign herself to her fate and get into the carriage.
So much happened that night, it was exhausting. Soon after getting into the carriage, Shen Tang felt her eyelids getting heavy.
I don't know when I finally fell asleep.
In a daze, she realized that she seemed to be picked up. She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
A gentle voice came from beside my ear: "Sleep."
Shen Tang gave up struggling and fell into a deep sleep.
When I woke up the next day, it was almost noon.
Shen Tang called out to A Yun, and the maid outside the door heard the noise and pushed the door open to come in: "Miss, this servant will help you with your washing and dressing."
It was an unfamiliar face. Shen Tang frowned, then remembered that A Yun had been taken away by Meng Huaiyan's men last night.
"Who are you?"
Upon hearing the question, the maidservant respectfully replied, "My name is Qiao'er, and I was sent by the young master to serve you, Miss."
Upon hearing that it was sent by Meng Huaiyan, Shen Tang couldn't help but ask, "Then do you know where A-Yun is?"
Qiao'er shook her head: "The young master only instructed me to take care of you, Miss. I don't know anything else. You can ask him yourself after the young master finishes court."
Shen Tang couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.
After washing up, Shen Tang came out of the room and discovered that all the maids and servants in her courtyard had been replaced.
It's obvious who did this.
What's worse is that she can't even leave the yard now.
Shen Tang was so frustrated and angry that she couldn't even eat lunch.
Seeing that she had barely touched her chopsticks, Qiao'er advised, "Miss, please eat some more."
"I can't eat anymore, let's take it away."
Qiao'er had no choice but to order the people to remove it.
In the evening, Shen Tang was nestled on the chaise lounge reading a storybook when Meng Huaiyan came over.
Shen Tang glanced at him but ignored him.
Seeing her so rude, Qiao'er anxiously called out, "Miss."
Meng Huaiyan raised his hand, and Qiao'er quietly bowed and withdrew.
"I heard you didn't eat much at noon?"
Shen Tang scoffed coldly: "What? Now, not only is the young master restricting my freedom, but he's even going to control whether I eat or not?"
Knowing that she was angry with him because he wouldn't let her leave the courtyard, he knew he was wrong to do so. But given past examples, he was still worried and needed to keep a close eye on her.
It was rare for Meng Huaiyan to explain to anyone, "It's not that I want to control you, it's just that you're not feeling well, and not eating properly is bad for your health."
What a hypocrite! She's like this because of him, and now he's acting all high and mighty.
Shen Tang gritted her teeth and said, "I know my own body well, so there's no need for you to worry about me!"
Meng Huaiyan: "..."
This was the first time Meng Huaiyan had been treated so rudely, and he felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Seeing that she kept her eyes on the storybook and didn't even glance at him, he became even more annoyed. Was the storybook really that interesting?
He stepped forward, snatched the book from her hand, and flipped to the cover: "The Mad Young Master's Fierce Love: Where Can the Arrogant Maid Run Off To?"
Meng Huaiyan: "..."
Shen Tang: "..?!"
Shen Tang's face flushed instantly. She had just picked up a book when she saw Meng Huaiyan arrive, and who knew the name would be so embarrassing? She cried out, "Give it back to me!"
Meng Huaiyan's lips curved slightly, a playful smile on his face: "I didn't expect you to like this kind of thing."
Shen Tang was both embarrassed and annoyed. She snatched the sketchbook and shoved it into the desk: "It's none of your business!"
Seeing how embarrassed and annoyed she was, Meng Huaiyan stopped teasing her and told Qiao'er that they could start setting out the meal.
Because Meng Huaiyan was there, the dinner was prepared to be extremely lavish, but Shen Tang had little appetite.
When Meng Huaiyan placed another shrimp in her bowl, she finally couldn't help but say, "I can't eat anymore."
Meng Huaiyan frowned slightly: "You've only eaten so little, have some more."
Shen Tang was already furious, and now she was being forced to eat. The anger she had been suppressing surged up, and she slammed her chopsticks down on the table with a loud "thud".
"I've already said I'm not eating it, I'm not eating it, aren't you annoying me?!"
Meng Huaiyan's face immediately darkened. He was not a good-tempered person to begin with, and Shen Tang had offended him time and time again today. If it were anyone else, they would have been dead many times over.
But Chen Tang is different from others, and he can't use the same methods he used on others on her.
Meng Huaiyan pressed his thin lips into a straight line, staring at Shen Tang with a gloomy expression.
Shen Tang clenched her fists and met his gaze without flinching.
Meng Huaiyan was so angry he almost laughed. How come he never noticed she had this kind of guts before?
If he stayed any longer, there was no guarantee he wouldn't do something. Meng Huaiyan turned and stormed off.
Qiao'er only came in cautiously from the doorway after the young master left. Shen Tang saw that her face was pale, and she was obviously very frightened.
Looking at the large table of barely touched food, Shen Tang said wearily, "Let's put it away."
Qiao'er: "Yes."
Shen Tang slumped onto the chaise lounge, and after regaining her composure, she couldn't help but feel a little scared.
I had originally planned to find an opportunity to plead with him to let A-Yun go.
But now that things have escalated like this, it's not easy to bring it up again.
Shen Tang couldn't help but feel annoyed; she had acted impulsively.
*
Since their unpleasant parting that day, Meng Huaiyan hadn't come to see her for several days, and she hadn't had a chance to apologize.
I wonder how Ah Yun is doing now.
A few days later, it happened to be Meng Huaiyan's day off, and several women came with him.
Several people were carrying bright red silk satin, brocade and other luxurious fabrics. Shen Tang knew without asking what they were for.
Shen Tang remained silent as they took her measurements, and it was at this moment that she truly felt the urge to marry Meng Huaiyan.
The woman taking her measurements felt a little embarrassed. She had never met a woman like this before, and she was the first to have such a beautiful face and such a great figure.
She's got the right proportions—big where she should be big, and small where she should be small—with a graceful figure and exquisite curves. This prince is truly blessed.
Since the news of the imperial marriage was announced, rumors have been circulating that Miss Shen was incredibly lucky to have been granted this marriage by the emperor, like a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung.
The flowers were obviously referring to Prince Meng, and the cow dung was clearly referring to the man before them...
However, looking at Miss Shen now, she saw that she was well-mannered and graceful, and clearly a perfect match for the young master.
After taking her measurements, it was time to choose the fabric. The women were about to introduce some to her, but Shen Tang pointed to one casually with little interest: "This one will do."
The women looked at each other in dismay. How could someone choose a wedding dress without even glancing at the fabric before making a decision? This was far too perfunctory.
He didn't dare say anything more and respectfully withdrew.
Meng Huaiyan sat quietly in the hall. When she came out, he asked, "Have you made your choice?"
"Um."
What kind of wedding do you want?
"Anything is fine."
Meng Huaiyan was somewhat dissatisfied with her perfunctory attitude, but since he had forced her to marry him, it was normal for him to be a little temperamental, so he didn't hold it against her.
"The wedding date is set for two months from now. During this time, you should stay at home. If you need anything, just tell Qiao'er."
"How could it be so fast!"
In their past lives, they were forced by rumors and gossip, and it was a scandal, so the wedding was simple and quick.
But this time it was an imperial marriage, so she thought it would take at least a year and a half.
Shen Tang stared at him in shock, finding it hard to accept for a moment.
Is it fast? He still thinks it's slow, but this is already the fastest time to match birth dates.
"When you got engaged to the He family, I heard that the time you chose was the closest one. How come it's so soon for me?"
"..." Shen Tang was speechless. How could these be the same?
The two fell silent for a moment. Shen Tang glanced at his face and guessed that the man's expression was not good because the He family had been mentioned.
But if I don't ask today, I don't know when I'll see him again.
He cautiously asked, "Where is A-Yun?"
Seeing that he showed no signs of anger, she continued, "A-Yun has served me since she was a child. I'm not used to being without her. Can you let her go?"
Meng Huaiyan asked, "Wasn't Qiao'er serving you well?"
Shen Tang quickly replied, "No."
Qiao'er is a member of Meng Huaiyan's faction, so her manners and abilities are beyond question, but she is herself, and A-Yun is A-Yun; they are not the same.
"I just miss her."
Meng Huaiyan looked somewhat puzzled: "You seem to miss her."
Shen Tang was somewhat speechless. How could this person be so petty? She reminded him, "A-Yun is a woman."
He knew, of course, that Ayun was a woman; if she were a man, he would have thrown her into some remote corner long ago.
"Ayun will bring it to you tomorrow."
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