Chapter 66: Unwed Fornication

Tang Chaoyang did not wish to run into those young noblewomen and gentlemen again, so she returned directly to her side chamber.

Madam Li, seeing her come back so soon, secretly wondered to herself—had she and Wang Quan already finished their discussion so quickly?

Old Madam Wang looked Tang Chaoyang over once before getting up. She still intended to go ask her son how the conversation had gone.

She rose to her feet. “Madam, I will go for a little walk.”

Madam Li stood to see her off.

Tang Chaoyang cast a quick glance at Madam Li, then at Old Madam Wang, and in that instant she understood everything.

So this trip to Chengqi Temple today must have been arranged in advance by her aunt and Old Madam Wang.

The purpose was clearly to have her meet with Wang Quan again.

Tang Chaoyang felt momentarily helpless. In a few days, she would be moving out of the General’s Estate anyway.

Originally, she had only told her grandmother about leaving the Su family, but now she felt she truly ought to let her aunt and the others know when she returned home.

Nanny Zhao murmured a few words in Madam Li’s ear. Madam Li looked surprised. “Master Wuwei has returned from his travels? That is such a rare opportunity—I will go and try my luck.”

Master Wuwei’s name was renowned. He was famed far and wide for his uncanny divinations.

He traveled without fixed abode, only offering guidance to those fated to meet him.

“Chaoyang, wait here for Miao’er and the others.” Madam Li departed with Nanny Zhao.

In her heart, she was calculating that if she could receive a word of guidance from Master Wuwei, perhaps she could find an excellent marriage prospect for her own daughter.

*

Meanwhile, in another side chamber, Old Madam Wang and Wang Quan were speaking.

“How did your talk with Tang Chaoyang go?” As soon as she sat down, she asked.

Wang Quan shook his head, his voice dispirited. “We only spoke a few words before those noblemen and ladies appeared. But…Mother, I can sense that Miss Tang has no wish whatsoever to agree to this marriage.”

He sighed in resignation.

He wasn’t so foolish that he couldn’t feel Tang Chaoyang’s vague rejection.

Seeing her son’s crestfallen expression, Old Madam Wang frowned slightly.

Her tone grew cold, tinged with displeasure. “Hmph, she’s just a divorced woman. Is she worth all this pining? If she won’t accept, why waste your time and thoughts on her? I will have someone find you another woman with an unsullied reputation.”

Tang Chaoyang really didn’t know what was good for her—refusing her son again and again.

Old Madam Wang was determined to see what kind of man Tang Chaoyang thought she could marry in the future, if not her son!

Wang Quan also knew he could not keep clinging to this. It would damage his dignity.

Since today’s talk had come to nothing, he had no choice but to give up.

“I will leave it to Mother’s judgment.”

Hearing her son say this, and seeing he was finally willing to let go, the old lady brightened. “Good. I will go to the main hall to offer incense. Once I’ve done that, we can go back down the mountain.”

Wang Quan intended to accompany her, but she waved him off—she still had matters to consult the divination lots about.

Left alone, Wang Quan sat in the side chamber. Before long, his servant knocked and entered.

“Master, just now a maid came and handed this note to me.” The servant respectfully held out a slip of paper.

Wang Quan took it, his face full of puzzlement.

He quickly unfolded the note. On the paper were the words:

Master Wang, meet me in the south chamber.

The signature at the bottom was simply a single character: Tang.

Miss Tang wanted to see him?

Seeing that “Tang,” Wang Quan’s heart gave a little thump. His first thought was of Tang Chaoyang.

But would she really take the initiative to invite him to meet?

He was full of doubt.

Just a short while ago, behind the temple, Tang Chaoyang’s attitude had clearly shown she had no interest in this match. Now, she was sending him a note?

The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. He asked the servant, “Did the maid say anything?”

The servant kept his head respectfully lowered. “No, Master. She delivered the note and hurried away. I did not ask further.”

Wang Quan frowned. Perhaps Tang Chaoyang had changed her mind and was willing to give him another chance?

Suppressing his misgivings, he decided to go to the south chamber to see for himself.

He took the servant along, not concerned that anything untoward would happen.

“To the south chamber.”

Master and servant asked a little monk where it was and followed the directions to the south chamber.

At the door, Wang Quan knocked. He heard Tang Chaoyang’s voice from within.

His heart leapt.

It really was her!

He told the servant to wait outside. After smoothing his clothes, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The chamber was filled with the scent of women’s powder, mingled with the temple’s incense.

Tang Chaoyang sat with her back to him, her black hair draped down to her waist, making her slender figure appear even more delicate.

Wang Quan walked forward eagerly, his eyes taking on a faintly dazed look.

His gaze blurred with a sort of entranced longing. He murmured softly, “Miss Tang…”

That woman slowly slipped off her outer garment, revealing her smooth, bare shoulders…

It felt to Wang Quan as though he were dreaming, as if his body had sunk into warm bliss.

He didn’t know how much time passed before the dream ended.

When he opened his eyes and sat up, he saw his own disheveled state—astonished and bewildered.

In the air lingered an unusual, faint fragrance.

Wang Quan realized that he was holding something. When he lifted his hand, he saw it was an embroidered undergarment, decorated with twin lotus blossoms.

The fabric still bore the scent of powder from a woman’s skin.

His first thought was that he had been set up.

He could not believe Tang Chaoyang would invite him here to commit such unwed fornication.

Wang Quan knit his brows and quickly got out of bed, dressing. He called the servant inside.

As soon as the servant entered, Wang Quan demanded, “Did you see clearly who it was that left this room just now?”

The servant nodded. “Yes, Master. It was Miss Tang.”

“You are certain?” Wang Quan questioned again, unable to believe it.

“I am certain,” the servant confirmed solemnly. “I heard the door open and turned to look, and I saw Miss Tang coming out.”