Chapter 21

Chapter 21: She Actually Cared This Much About Him

Sheng Zhi Wan laughed softly.

Realizing what Sheng Zhi Wan meant, Ting Lan’s eyes instantly turned red. “How can this be! Princess, she… you shouldn’t have kept her here. Sending her back to the palace or sending her away entirely would be better!”

“What are you afraid of? Aren’t we already certain about the divorce?”

Besides, if she didn’t keep her around, who else would fight Meng Yang tooth and nail?

In her previous life, when Sheng Zhi Wan was gravely ill, Meng Yang had promised Huan Zhu the position of concubine to gain her support. And Huan Zhu—someone Sheng Zhi Wan had once trusted deeply—not only switched her medicinal herbs to worsen her illness but, upon discovery, forcibly opened Sheng Zhi Wan’s mouth and poured poison down her throat.

In her final days, Sheng Zhi Wan had no maidservants by her side.

She had struggled alone to gather snow outside and melted it into water.

After waiting for what seemed like eternity, Huan Zhu had arrived. With just a casual kick, she’d overturned the broken teacup, coldly saying, “Given your current status and reputation, every day you live is another day of burden to the heir apparent. Better to leave this world swiftly—there’s no need for you to drink this water.”

Every detail from her past life was deeply etched into Sheng Zhi Wan’s memory.

Making her clean the chamber pots was barely even a punishment compared to her betrayal.

That night, Sheng Zhi Wan once again dreamed of many past events.

At Vermilion Veranda Courtyard, Qi Shu Xian was also sleepless.

When he learned that Sheng Zhi Wan had returned directly to Pinglan Residence and immediately went to rest, his expression darkened considerably.

He had assumed Sheng Zhi Wan had gone out to buy gifts for his mother and elder sister, intending to apologize. But it seemed he was mistaken.

“You’re sure she’s already gone to bed?”

“Yes, Heir Apparent,” the maidservant confirmed. “All the lanterns at Pinglan Residence have already been extinguished.”

“Good! Very good!” Qi Shu Xian rose abruptly and strode out.

“Is the heir apparent heading to Pinglan Residence?”

“No!” Qi Shu Xian glanced impatiently toward Pinglan Residence. “To Endless Courtyard!”

Since Sheng Zhi Wan wanted to make trouble, he would let her. However, he wanted to see just how long she could hold out.

Endless Courtyard was the small yard allocated to Meng Yang when she entered the mansion. The courtyard had been left unused for some time, only receiving its poetic name after Meng Yang moved in.

Qi Shu Xian was not surprised by this naming.

After that incident, he’d already investigated Meng Yang’s background. Her grandfather was a licentiate, and she had studied literature and calligraphy by his side since childhood. It was understandable that she could give the courtyard such an elegant name.

When Qi Shu Xian arrived, only a young maidservant of twelve or thirteen stood guarding outside.

Seeing Qi Shu Xian, the girl was startled and was about to announce him, but he silenced her with a glance.

His eyes fell upon the maidservant’s outer garment, finding it somewhat familiar. After thinking a moment, he realized it was the very piece Meng Yang had worn on their return from Cangnan.

Qi Shu Xian’s brows furrowed slightly.

Inside, Meng Yang was practicing calligraphy, wearing only a thin inner garment.

Seeing Qi Shu Xian enter, she appeared startled and hurriedly hid the paper behind her back.

“He-Heir Apparent, why are you here?” Her voice trembled nervously.

Qi Shu Xian’s gaze fixed behind her. “What are you writing?”

“Nothing…” Meng Yang tried to crumple the paper, but her movements were no match for someone trained in martial arts like Qi Shu Xian.

In an instant, Qi Shu Xian had retrieved the crumpled paper from her grasp.

Meng Yang blushed deeply and desperately reached out to snatch it back.

But Qi Shu Xian had already opened the paper, freezing when he saw it covered densely with his own name. He stood motionless as the delicate girl fell against him in her panic.

Meng Yang hastily stepped back, snatching the paper again and tossing it aside. “Didn’t the Heir Apparent promise the Princess that he would never see me again? You…shouldn’t have come.”

Under the dim candlelight, her slender figure appeared fragile and delicate. The lingering yellowish complexion caused by her humble birth had faded after several months of care, revealing a subtle, gentle beauty.

Qi Shu Xian couldn’t help but gaze at Meng Yang’s delicate face.

Unlike Sheng Zhi Wan’s stunning and fiercely elegant beauty, Meng Yang’s features were soft and graceful. Coupled with her frightened expression, she looked unbearably pitiable.

That brief, accidental contact just now made him recall that night…

Yet he quickly shut his eyes against the memory.

He did love Sheng Zhi Wan.

Even though she wasn’t understanding enough, was easily jealous, had a difficult temperament, and even reported to the palace because of another woman, costing him his promotion to General Pingyan.

Seeing her step down from the carriage in her court robes, Qi Shu Xian had almost struck her in rage.

He couldn’t understand—how had he ever wronged her?

Meng Yang was just a woman who had been drugged, and yet Sheng Zhi Wan had stubbornly refused to let the matter go, slapping his elder sister and angering his mother until she fainted.

Qi Shu Xian was genuinely furious!

In his anger, he’d thought of retaliating by truly doing something with Meng Yang to make Sheng Zhi Wan regret and suffer. But now that he’d actually come here—he hesitated. After all, she was still his wife.

She might be spoiled and arrogant, but she was still the one he loved.

At worst, this incident would teach her a lesson. With proper discipline and guidance, she would eventually become the gentle and obedient Zhi Wan he once knew.

Yet, looking at Meng Yang now, Qi Shu Xian felt a pang of guilt.

He hadn’t imagined that Meng Yang would actually care this deeply about him.