Chapter 21

Chapter 21: She Actually Cared About Him That Much

Sheng Zhi Wan gave a light laugh.

When Ting Lan understood what Sheng Zhi Wan meant, Ting Lan’s eyes turned red at once. “How could she be like that? Princess, she…”

Ting Lan’s voice rose with anger. “Princess shouldn’t have kept her. Princess should have sent Huan Zhu back to the palace, or dismissed Huan Zhu entirely!”

“What was there to fear?” Sheng Zhi Wan said. “We already decided to divorce, didn’t we?”

Besides, if Sheng Zhi Wan did not keep Huan Zhu, who would fight Meng Yang like dogs tearing at each other?

In her past life, when Sheng Zhi Wan had been critically ill, Meng Yang had tried to win Huan Zhu over by promising Huan Zhu a Concubine position.

Huan Zhu had been the person Sheng Zhi Wan trusted most in her previous life. Huan Zhu first swapped out Sheng Zhi Wan’s medicine, making Sheng Zhi Wan’s condition worse and worse. After Sheng Zhi Wan discovered it, Huan Zhu even forced Sheng Zhi Wan’s mouth open and poured…

In the last few days of Sheng Zhi Wan’s life, there had not been a single Maid by her side.

Sheng Zhi Wan had dragged herself out to gather some snow, then melted it into water.

Sheng Zhi Wan waited for a long time.

That was when Huan Zhu came. With a casual flick of her foot, Huan Zhu kicked over the broken Talent Cup Token and said, “With Princess’s current status and reputation, every day Princess stays alive is another day Princess drags the Heir Apparent down. Princess might as well leave early and be done with it. Princess should not drink this water.”

Every single scene from her past life stayed carved into Sheng Zhi Wan’s heart. Compared to that, making Huan Zhu wash chamber pots was nothing at all.

That night, right after Sheng Zhi Wan fell asleep, Sheng Zhi Wan dreamed again of many old events.

In Vermilion Pavilion Courtyard, Qi Shu Xian still had not slept.

When Qi Shu Xian learned that Sheng Zhi Wan had returned to the residence and gone straight back to Ping Lan Residence, and that Sheng Zhi Wan had even gone to bed right away, Qi Shu Xian’s face turned dark.

Qi Shu Xian had thought Sheng Zhi Wan went out to buy things to apologize to Mother and Eldest Sister. Now it seemed Qi Shu Xian was wrong.

Qi Shu Xian asked, “Are you sure Sheng Zhi Wan already rested?”

“This servant confirmed it,” the Maid replied. “The lights in Ping Lan Residence were already out.”

“Good.” Qi Shu Xian stood up. “Very good.”

Qi Shu Xian strode out.

“Was the Heir Apparent going to Ping Lan Residence?” someone asked.

“No.” Qi Shu Xian glanced in that direction, impatience flashing in Qi Shu Xian’s eyes. “I’m going to Wei Yang Courtyard.”

If Sheng Zhi Wan wanted to make trouble, then fine, she could. Qi Shu Xian wanted to see how long Sheng Zhi Wan could hold out.

Wei Yang Courtyard was the small courtyard Meng Yang received after entering the residence. That place had been left empty before. Only after Meng Yang moved in did it gain the name Wei Yang Courtyard.

Qi Shu Xian was not surprised. After that incident, Qi Shu Xian had already investigated Meng Yang’s background.

Meng Yang’s grandfather had been a Licentiate. Meng Yang grew up beside her grandfather, studying and learning to read and write, so it made sense that Meng Yang could come up with a name like Wei Yang Courtyard.

When Qi Shu Xian arrived, only a twelve- or thirteen-year-old little Maid guarded the entrance.

The little Maid froze when she saw Qi Shu Xian and was about to announce him, but Qi Shu Xian stopped her with a single look.

Qi Shu Xian’s gaze dropped to the little Maid’s outer robe. The clothing looked familiar. After thinking for a moment, Qi Shu Xian remembered that it had been the one Meng Yang wore on the road back from Cang Nan.

Qi Shu Xian frowned.

Inside, Meng Yang practiced calligraphy in a thin underlayer. When Meng Yang saw Qi Shu Xian enter, Meng Yang looked startled and quickly hid what she had been writing behind her back.

“Th-the Heir Apparent,” Meng Yang said, her voice trembling. “Why did the Heir Apparent come?”

Qi Shu Xian looked past her. “What were you writing?”

“Nothing…” Meng Yang tried to crush the paper into a ball.

But Meng Yang’s movements were nothing compared to someone trained in martial arts. In a flash, Qi Shu Xian had already snatched the paper away before it could be destroyed.

Meng Yang’s face flushed. Meng Yang tried to grab it back, but Qi Shu Xian had already unfolded the crumpled paper.

When Qi Shu Xian saw his own name written all over it, Qi Shu Xian froze.

Qi Shu Xian did not even move when Meng Yang threw herself against him.

Meng Yang hurriedly pulled away and stood up. Meng Yang crumpled the paper again and tossed it aside. “Didn’t the Heir Apparent promise the Princess that the Heir Apparent would never see me again? The Heir Apparent… shouldn’t have come.”

Under the dim, yellow lamplight, Meng Yang looked thin and fragile.

The sallow look that came from Meng Yang’s background had faded after months of care, leaving a gentle beauty behind.

Qi Shu Xian’s eyes lingered on Meng Yang’s face.

Unlike Sheng Zhi Wan’s breathtaking beauty that carried a sharp, overbearing edge, Meng Yang’s features looked smoother and softer. With that frightened expression, Meng Yang seemed especially pitiful.

That brief touch from a moment ago also dragged Qi Shu Xian back to the scene of that night.

The thought lasted only an instant before Qi Shu Xian closed his eyes.

Qi Shu Xian loved Sheng Zhi Wan. Even if Sheng Zhi Wan was not understanding, even if Sheng Zhi Wan was jealous and petty, and even if Sheng Zhi Wan threw tantrums over a single woman and went to the palace to accuse him.

Sheng Zhi Wan even made Qi Shu Xian lose the title of Ping Yan General.

When Qi Shu Xian saw Sheng Zhi Wan step down from the carriage in court robes, Qi Shu Xian truly almost struck her.

Qi Shu Xian could not understand where Qi Shu Xian had treated Sheng Zhi Wan poorly. It had only been a woman he slept with after being drugged. How could Sheng Zhi Wan refuse to let it go?

Sheng Zhi Wan even slapped Eldest Sister and angered Mother until Mother fainted.

Qi Shu Xian was furious.

In that anger, Qi Shu Xian had even thought about truly doing something with Meng Yang, making Sheng Zhi Wan regret it and suffer. But now that Qi Shu Xian was really here… forget it.

Sheng Zhi Wan was still Qi Shu Xian’s Wife.

Sheng Zhi Wan had a terrible temper and was spoiled and unreasonable, but Sheng Zhi Wan also suited Qi Shu Xian’s heart the most.

At worst, Qi Shu Xian would use this incident to make Sheng Zhi Wan learn a lesson. Once Sheng Zhi Wan suffered enough and learned, Qi Shu Xian could discipline Sheng Zhi Wan a little more, and Sheng Zhi Wan would eventually become the obedient, gentle Zhi Wan from before.

As Qi Shu Xian thought about it, Qi Shu Xian still felt a trace of guilt toward Meng Yang.

Qi Shu Xian did not expect Meng Yang to care about him this much.