Chapter 32 Is there something you're hiding from me?
Chapter Thirty-Two: Is there something you're hiding from me?
It wasn't until she returned to the Begonia Courtyard that Shen Tang's heart finally settled down.
My back was soaked with cold sweat, which felt very uncomfortable sticking to my body.
She wasn't as calm as she appeared on the surface; inside, she was terrified.
Fortunately, the eldest princess still had some reservations, and she believed that the girl was sensible and genuinely wanted to leave.
During dinner, Meng Huaiyan, whom we hadn't seen for several days, suddenly arrived.
Shen Tang's heart pounded wildly, and she felt uneasy.
As expected, as soon as Meng Huaiyan sat down, he asked, "I heard you went to the Princess's place today?"
Shen Tang's hands unconsciously clenched: "Yes."
Is something the matter?
"It's just a routine visit."
Meng Huaiyan remained silent after hearing this, and Shen Tang didn't know whether she believed him or not.
Meng Huaiyan's expression remained calm, revealing nothing, which only made Shen Tang more uneasy. The entire meal was filled with anxiety for Shen Tang.
After finishing his meal, Meng Huaiyan took a box out of his sleeve and handed it to Shen Tang.
"This is for you, see if you like it."
Shen Tang took it and opened it. Inside was a necklace made of pearls, with a jade pendant featuring auspicious cloud patterns. The design was exquisite and the workmanship unique, clearly indicating its high value.
Thank you.
Meng Huaiyan looked at her expression and asked, "What? Don't you like it?"
"No, it looks great."
Yingluo was indeed very beautiful, but the thought that he had sent her made it hard for Shen Tang to muster any interest.
"Try wearing it."
Shen Tang sat in front of the bronze mirror. It seemed to be Meng Huaiyan's first time putting jewelry on someone, as his movements were a bit clumsy, and he had to fasten it several times before he could do so.
Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Shen Tang thought Meng Huaiyan had excellent taste; the pearl necklace suited her temperament perfectly.
Meng Huaiyan stood behind her, looking at her in the mirror with a satisfied expression.
"It looks great and suits you perfectly."
Shen Tang forced a smile.
Meng Huaiyan had official business to attend to, so he didn't stay there for long.
As he was leaving, he suddenly asked Shen Tang, "Is there anything you're hiding from me?"
Shen Tang's pupils contracted slightly, and his heart suddenly panicked. Had he discovered something?
But if he found out, his reaction shouldn't have been like this.
Shen Tang pinched her palm to steady herself and replied, "No."
*
Leaving the Duke's mansion was no small matter, and it was only right and proper to inform my aunt.
Shen Tang carefully recounted the recent events to Madam Shen, who was shocked, angry, and incredulous.
She said the engagement with the He family was going well, so why was it called off so suddenly?
Unexpectedly, this was all Meng Huaiyan's doing. She was just about to ask him what the current situation was between them.
Upon hearing Shen Tang say that he was leaving the Duke's mansion, he slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "You're simply being ridiculous!"
"Where can you go if you leave the Duke's mansion, you're just a weak woman?"
Her aunt had always been indulgent and doting on her; this was the first time she had ever seen her aunt get angry at her.
Shen Tang was startled by her, but she had already made up her mind to leave the Duke's mansion.
"The world is vast, but there's always a place for me."
"Tang'er." Madam Shen held her hand, both angry and anxious, and said earnestly, "You are young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. You don't know how treacherous people are outside. You are a woman, do you know how dangerous it is?"
"I know."
"You knew you were going to go out?!" Shen said angrily.
“Aunt, you should know very well that the Crown Prince will never marry me. If I don’t leave, am I supposed to stay and become his concubine or a mistress he can’t be seen in public?”
Shen was momentarily speechless, unsure of what to say.
The title of a concubine in a noble family sounds nice, but in the end, she is nothing more than a plaything; even a concubine has such a low status.
Not to mention the even more disreputable concubines or mistresses; if the crown prince were to marry a wife later, he would inevitably have to dismiss the women in the household to save face for his future mistress.
If the mistress of the house is kind, she can take the money and leave peacefully; but if she is ruthless, she might not even lose her life.
"There must be other ways. You...you wait a bit, let's talk about it when Second Master comes back."
“Aunt, no need. I don’t want this to cause discord between the eldest and second branches of the family. In that case, the old lady will take her anger out on you. Besides, I have already told the Princess that I want to leave, and she has agreed.”
Shen instantly exploded, her usual gentle and kind demeanor completely gone: "You...you...are you trying to drive me crazy?"
"Fine, you've got a lot of ideas. I can't control you anymore. Since you've made up your mind, why bother talking to me?"
Shen angrily shook off her hand, tears streaming down her face.
She was angry at her for acting on her own initiative, felt sorry for her for being so sensible, and was even angrier at herself for being unable to change the situation as her aunt.
She felt ashamed that she couldn't protect her.
Shen Tang was also feeling bad, but she didn't know how to comfort him, so she could only remain silent.
This was the first time Shen Tang had such a big argument with her aunt, but she didn't regret it.
This Duke's mansion held painful memories for her; she felt suffocated and miserable, and all she wanted to do was get away from it.
Even if life after leaving the Duke's mansion is difficult and unpredictable things may happen, she will never regret it.
*
Three days later, the eldest princess sent word that the Meng family would be going to a villa in the suburbs of the capital to escape the summer heat the day after tomorrow.
In previous years, the summer retreat would be held later in the year, and Shen Tang knew that this meant she was about to leave.
Fearing suspicion, Shen Tang didn't dare bring too many things.
When you're traveling, the most important thing is to have money. As long as you have money, you won't have trouble buying things.
The amount of silver notes from the last sale of the paintings was too large, so Shen Tang dared not put them all in one place. She sewed them into the lining of her clothes and hid some in her embroidered shoes.
The night before departure, Shen Tang carefully checked her luggage and household registration to make sure there were no problems before finally lying down in bed.
I didn't sleep well that night. I felt anxious and uneasy, fearful of the unknown future and worried about whether I could leave safely the next day.
Although the eldest princess was there to help, leaving tomorrow would not be a problem, she still felt uneasy when she thought of Meng Huaiyan's probing questions from the past two days.
She got up very early the next day. Because she hadn't rested well, Shen Tang looked a little listless and lacked energy.
Ayun applied makeup to cover up some of the makeup, which finally made her look more energetic.
This summer retreat will last for about a month at the villa, so the lady and young lady brought an unusually large amount of things.
At the main gate, maids and servants busied themselves carrying their masters' belongings onto the carriage, creating a lively scene.
Shen Tang stood aside, waiting quietly.
Suddenly, a maid tripped and fell into her arms. Shen Tang instinctively reached out to catch her, and as their hands clasped, something suddenly appeared in their hands.
Shen Tang was slightly startled, but she kept a straight face and tightened her grip on the thing in her hand.
After the maid apologized to her, she withdrew in a state of fear and trepidation.
When no one was looking, Shen Tang quietly opened the note in her hand, which read:
"At Hai hour (9-11 PM), at the West Gate."
Just as she had predicted, they were going to arrange for her to leave.
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