Chapter 30 Breaking one of his hands
Chapter Thirty: Breaking One of His Hands
The carriage sped smoothly along the road, and Meng Huaiyan looked at the person opposite him with dark eyes.
"I'm only giving you fifteen minutes, or you know what will happen."
Meng Huaiyan's words, laced with warning and threat, rang in Shen Tang's ears. Shen Tang frowned upon hearing them, but still obediently agreed.
She knew the man wasn't joking; he was never a soft-hearted or kind person.
That night, she never expected that she would actually agree to let her see He Jinzhou.
Perhaps it was because her attitude that day was too resolute, or perhaps he was genuinely worried that she would die.
The man finally relented.
Shen Tang is a person who cherishes her life. Even during the most difficult times in her previous life, she never thought of suicide.
Having finally been reborn, she was even less likely to commit suicide.
That night, she didn't know what was wrong with her. She seemed to have fallen into some terrible emotion: despair, helplessness, and resentment. She was like a caged beast that couldn't break free.
For the first time, I had the thought that death would be good, that death would end suffering.
If Meng Huaiyan were to truly reject her one day, she might actually stab herself in the neck with the hairpin.
Later, when she came to her senses, she realized how frightened she was.
Although the wound on her neck didn't hit any vital organs, Shen Tang had gone to great lengths and stabbed her quite deeply. She had been applying medicine for the past two days, and the wound was probably scabbing over, so it was both itchy and painful.
She raised her hand instinctively to scratch, but Meng Huaiyan stopped her.
"Don't grab me."
Shen Tang brushed his hand away, a look of annoyance flashing in her eyes, but she didn't try to grab him again.
The carriage soon arrived at the outskirts of the city. Shen Tang lifted the curtain and saw a familiar figure in the pavilion not far away.
Shen Tang got off the carriage and was about to head towards the pavilion when Meng Huaiyan stopped her and grabbed her wrist.
The man's palms were burning hot, and when they touched her slightly cool wrists, it felt as if they were being burned.
Shen Tang no longer concealed her annoyance and almost instinctively tried to shake off his hand, but failed.
"Let me go!"
Meng Huaiyan seemed oblivious to her expression, and his grip tightened even more.
He leaned forward and held her tightly in his arms, his cold, deep eyes fixed on the man in the pavilion.
He then lowered his head and whispered in her ear, and from the perspective of the pavilion, they looked like a pair of lovers whispering sweet nothings to each other.
Meng Huaiyan nuzzled her earlobe with his nose, noticing the person in his arms flinch slightly, and couldn't help but chuckle: "I'll wait for you here."
Sensing that the force binding her loosened, Shen Tang immediately withdrew from his embrace.
He turned around and strode quickly toward the pavilion without hesitation, but the closer he got, the more his steps faltered.
He has lost a lot of weight.
His already handsome figure now appears even more frail.
He stood there, a familiar, gentle smile on his lips.
He called her, "Miss Chen."
Almost instantly, Shen Tang's tears fell.
My heart ached with bitterness, and my throat tightened, preventing me from speaking.
Tears fell uncontrollably, like pearls on a broken string.
Looking at the woman in front of him, who was crying her eyes out, He Jinzhou felt as if a huge hole had been torn in his heart, and the cold wind was raging inside, making him so painful that he could hardly stand up.
He didn't tell Shen Tang that he had actually met her long before they even met.
The first time was at the flower banquet of Lady Yongning. He couldn't describe how he felt when he saw her. He only remembered that his heart was pounding wildly and his whole body trembled as if he were being electrocuted.
The second time was at the lantern festival during the Dragon Boat Festival. She just rushed into her arms, and everything on the street paled in comparison to her.
He wanted to talk to her a little more, but her friend quickly pulled him away.
He thought he would never cross paths with her again, after all, she was the niece of the second master of the Duke's mansion, while his family background, abilities and status were not outstanding, and he could not even get close to the Duke's mansion.
But to his surprise, fate smiled upon him. On the day the engagement was confirmed, he was so happy and excited that he couldn't sleep all night.
But now, it has all come to naught, a pipe dream that has ultimately vanished...
He tasted rust in his mouth, gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and forced a smile as he comforted himself, "Don't cry, look at me, I'm standing here perfectly fine."
Shen Tang's crying did not stop because of his words; instead, she cried even harder.
She thought he would blame her, but he didn't. Instead, he comforted her and said he was fine.
How could someone who had been in the Zhao prison be unharmed? Looking at his pale and emaciated face, she dared not even imagine how many wounds he had.
Guilt washed over her like a tidal wave, and her words, weak and feeble, could only repeat to herself again and again: "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
He Jinzhou felt as if his heart was being torn apart, and he could no longer maintain the smile on his face.
Even the wounds on my body started to ache faintly.
Those few days he witnessed the methods used in the imperial prison, and it was a living hell.
But they wouldn't give him a quick death. Every time he fainted from the pain, he would be immediately woken up by being splashed with water, and then a new round of torture would begin.
Just when he thought he was going to die in the imperial prison.
He was released.
His engagement to her was called off.
When he first woke up, he couldn't accept it and struggled to go find her, but his mother stopped him.
His mother held him tightly, her voice hoarse: "Zhou'er, don't go, we can't fight the Meng family."
"What can you change by going? Haven't you suffered enough in prison?"
"You're my only son. What will I do if you die?"
In just two or three days, my mother looked as if she had aged more than ten years, with a few strands of white hair mixed in.
He Jinzhou seemed to be stung by that white light, and stopped struggling, his heart filled with desolation.
Yes, what can he do if he goes? He can't change anything.
He's so useless; he makes his mother worry and he can't protect Shen Tang.
He Jinzhou raised his hand and gently wiped away her tears: "It's not your fault. I'm the one who should apologize."
Seeing this, Qingyang, who was not far away, felt a chill run down his spine and warned, "Young Master He, please be mindful of your behavior."
Upon hearing this, He Jinzhou restrained himself and withdrew his hand, staring intently at her as if trying to etch her image deeply into his mind.
This might be the last time they meet.
Qingyang's urging voice rang in their ears, reminding them that the time had come.
Fifteen minutes was far too short; they didn't even have time to say goodbye properly.
He Jinzhou took a step back, a gentle smile appearing on his face, and bowed, saying, "Miss Chen, please take care."
*
Inside the carriage, Shen Tang sat quietly in the corner, her expression blank.
Meng Huaiyan took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, but Shen Tang brushed it away without any politeness.
"Don't touch me!"
Meng Huaiyan's eyes darkened: "What? He can touch me, but I can't?"
Shen Tang turned her head away, ignoring him.
Meng Huaiyan turned her face around, not with much force, but it was enough to keep Shen Tang from breaking free.
He took a handkerchief and wiped the spot where He Jinzhou had touched her inch by inch until red marks appeared on her face before he withdrew his hand.
"Chen Tang, I'm not a good-tempered person, so don't keep making me angry."
"You can't afford the consequences."
Shen Tang felt frustrated and wanted to slap him hard, but she didn't dare.
She bit her lip and said, feeling frustrated, "Okay."
The carriage arrived at the Duke's mansion quickly. Shen Tang got off the carriage and hurried towards the Begonia Courtyard, as if some monstrous flood was behind her.
Meng Huaiyan stared at her retreating figure, his expression unreadable.
After a moment, he instructed Qingyang: "Break one of He Jinzhou's hands."
Qingyang glanced subconsciously in the direction Chen Tang had left, and accepted the order.
Just as he was about to leave, Meng Huaiyan called out to him: "Be discreet and don't let Shen Tang know."
Qingyang: "Yes."
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