That's it?
Chi Yan scrutinized her expression, his question laced with a hint of probing: "You...aren't angry?"
She glanced at me, somewhat puzzled: "What are you angry about?" Suddenly realizing something, she smiled and said, "I know you have your difficulties."
No one expected that the other side had planted a spy by the Crown Prince's side. If Chi Yan knew about this and didn't report it, then he would be the one in trouble.
He relaxed completely, as if a burden had been lifted, and then she slowly added, "I'm still very angry about what happened that night."
Chi Yan's expression stiffened, and he immediately sat up straight: "Ah, then, how do you want me to make it up to you?"
Shen Tangning glanced at him but didn't say anything.
*
Chi's mother was invited to a banquet and asked Shen Tangning if she wanted to go too.
Upon hearing that they were all ladies of similar age to Chi's mother, Shen Tangning politely declined, smiling and saying, "I have some things to attend to. Mother, please go ahead and have fun."
It wasn't a refusal; she had asked Wenqi to investigate the matter, and she had made some progress. Besides, she really wasn't interested in these banquets.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Chi stopped insisting and happily went out the door.
Shen Tangning called Wenqi over: "Tell me, what did you find out?"
Wenqi specially prepared a booklet and handed it to her: "Young Master Pei's travel routes are very regular. He likes to go to places like bookstores and teahouses, and often talks with people on high towers, discussing current affairs."
Shen Tangning's eyes flickered slightly as she ascended the high tower, a place where brilliant minds gathered and friends made through literature, highly sought after by contemporary scholars.
She didn't speak, so the question about chess had to continue.
Hearing a question, Shen Tangning stopped her: "Young Madam Pei often goes to the pharmacy, is she not in good health?"
Wenqi hesitated for a moment, then shook his head: "I don't know yet."
She temporarily suppressed her doubts, listened for a while longer, and then formed a general idea in her mind:
Perhaps she could start by getting close to this Mrs. Pei.
...
About an hour later, Shen Tangning heard Xue Qing mutter the news that Chi's mother had returned.
She was somewhat surprised: "Mother's back so soon?"
If you went to a banquet and to admire the flowers, why did you return in such a short time? Did something happen along the way?
To show her concern, she made a special trip to Chi's mother's courtyard.
Chi's mother looked very strained: "It's nothing. I just felt a little dizzy halfway there, so I went back first."
Noticing her evasive gaze, Shen Tangning instinctively felt that she was lying, but since the other party was unwilling to say more, she considerately did not expose her. After chatting for a while, Shen Tangning left.
As they walked, she asked Xueqing, "If I remember correctly, Mother attended a banquet at the Xuanping Marquis's residence today?"
“If you remember correctly, Miss, that’s right.”
Remembering Chi's mother's strange behavior earlier, Shen Tangning lowered her eyes and said, "Go and find out what happened at the banquet?"
...
That evening, Mr. Chi noticed that his wife's expression was unhappy and finally couldn't help but ask, "I wanted to ask you during dinner earlier, what's wrong with you today? Why are you so irritable?"
Mother Chi clenched her fists and said to him without any restraint, "A bunch of snobs! I thought they were kindly inviting me to admire the flowers, but they're trying to find ways to put me down!"
Mr. Chi was quite puzzled: "What makes you say that?"
"Then the Lady of Xuanping, she immediately started bragging about having a grandson. I didn't think much of it at first, but then the topic suddenly shifted to me. She said that Tang Ning and Ayan had been married for over a year, but there was still no sign of pregnancy."
The more Chi's mother thought about it, the angrier she became. She cursed, "Bah! They have to meddle in other people's affairs. They're really meddling in other people's business!"
After a moment of silence, Chi's father touched his nose and said, "Perhaps they didn't mean any harm by saying a few words."
Mother Chi glared at him, her eyes blazing with anger: "If it were that simple, it would be fine, but she actually said she would marry her cousin to Ayan as a concubine. Her words implied that we would be the ones who benefited. Do you think I don't know what she's up to?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
