Chapter 34 – Who Would Be Willing to Marry Her?

The East Courtyard of the Zhennan General’s Estate was where the main branch of the Su family lived.

Madam Li had already spent a long time comforting her second daughter. At last, she managed to coax her into calming down.

“Ling’er, don’t cry anymore. It was my fault. Next time, I won’t let you and your sister take Tang Chaoyang to any gatherings.”

Su Ling’s eyes were red and swollen from crying, her voice choked with misery.

“You have to mean it. Today, Sister and I were truly shunned by everyone because of her. From now on, no one will ever speak to us again. It’s so humiliating.”

After Tang Chaoyang left West Lake earlier, the noble ladies who remained deliberately excluded Su Miao and Su Ling.

Whatever amusements those young ladies arranged, they refused to let the Su sisters join in.

How could the two of them ever show their faces at another gathering?

Although Su Miao hadn’t cried, her expression was equally unpleasant.

She was young and thin-skinned.

Su Miao spoke calmly to persuade her, “Ling’er, let’s go back. It’s late, and Mother needs to rest.”

Su Ling knew she shouldn’t keep disturbing her mother. She gave a reluctant bow and followed her sister out of the room.

Once the sisters had left, Madam Li pressed her fingers to her brow and sighed.

Originally, she’d only allowed her daughters to take Tang Chaoyang along so that the Old Madam would have fewer complaints about her.

She hadn’t expected it would end up with her own daughters being ostracized.

Madam Li’s face was full of regret.

Tang Chaoyang really no longer had any place in the capital’s social circles.

Granny Zhao quietly poured tea for Madam Li and softly tried to console her.

“Madam, noble ladies always have their rivalries. The young misses have the Su family behind them.”

Madam Li took a sip of tea and sighed helplessly.

“As long as Tang Chaoyang remains in the Su household, Miao’er and Ling’er will continue to be implicated.”

Who asked fate to turn out this way? The most favored noble lady in the palace was Dong Xinrui’s aunt. The other young ladies didn’t want to offend the Empress Dowager, so naturally none of them were willing to associate with the Su sisters anymore.

Granny Zhao said gently, “Madam, shall we…find another match for the young mistress? Forgive this old servant for overstepping.”

Once Tang Chaoyang was married, she would no longer be staying under the Su family’s roof.

Madam Li did wish she could marry Tang Chaoyang off, but it was difficult.

“Who would be willing to marry her? Unless she became the secondary wife of some low-ranking household.”

Granny Zhao thought of the bag of gold that person had secretly slipped her and was more than happy to say a few extra words.

“Sometimes even as a secondary wife, one can still meet a decent man. Madam could take your time to look around.”

“The young mistress is still young. She ought to have a husband who knows how to care for her in cold and warmth alike.”

Madam Li was silent for a while, then finally made up her mind.

“So be it. Even if it’s a humble family, I will help her look for a suitable match.”

**

Night had fallen deeply.

In a side courtyard of the Cheng Qinwang Manor.

Several physicians had been summoned to Young Master Qin’s chamber.

Inside, Young Master Qin’s complexion was as pale as paper, his breath weak.

He couldn’t stop coughing and had already coughed up fresh blood.

The Cheng Princess Consort clutched a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hands, her fingers trembling slightly.

Her lips moved in a continual murmur. No one knew how many times she had recited scripture, praying to the Buddhas to spare her son’s life.

“Amitabha…please, Bodhisattva, please bless my child…please…”

The old nurse who attended her came in with a grim face and spoke in a low voice.

“Princess Consort, someone has fainted in Plum Blossom Courtyard. His Highness has sent for a physician to attend to them.”

Hearing this, the Princess Consort stopped her chanting. Her eyes were bloodshot.

All these years, she’d worried endlessly about her son’s health. Though she was only in her early forties, her hair was already half white.

“Let them get out!”

Of all times to faint, she had to pick this very moment! Worthless woman!

The Princess Consort’s hatred for that mother and son in Plum Blossom Courtyard was so deep her gaze turned ice-cold.

Plum Blossom Courtyard housed Prince Cheng’s favored concubine, Concubine Mei.

The second young master, who had recently been taken away by the Embroidered Guard, was her son.

At this moment, Concubine Mei finally came to slowly in Plum Blossom Courtyard.

Tears hung on her lashes, and her frail figure nestled against Prince Cheng’s side.

Her eyes were red and swollen. Crystal tears slid down her cheeks, making her look all the more delicate and pitiful.

Her fingers clutched the prince’s sleeve tightly.

“My lord…when will Ah Yu be allowed to return?” Her voice trembled with deep worry. “This concubine truly fears for him…”

A trace of helplessness flickered in Prince Cheng’s eyes.

“Don’t cry anymore. About Ah Yu…the Embroidered Guard won’t release him for the time being.”

He was still hesitating over whether to use the death-exemption medallion to save his second son. After all, the medallion was the Wang manor’s last line of defense.

Concubine Mei bit her lip and sobbed softly, perfectly measured in her restraint. She didn’t press him further.

At that moment, a maid who had been sent to the side courtyard to fetch a physician returned, her face full of anxiety and dread. She dropped to her knees.

“Young Master has fallen seriously ill. The Princess Consort refuses to let the doctors leave.”

Prince Cheng frowned. Fallen ill again?

Hearing this, he began to feel apprehensive. If the eldest son died of illness, and the second son also perished, the Wang manor would have no successor.

In Prince Cheng’s embrace, Concubine Mei lowered her gaze to hide the fleeting glimmer of a smile.

The eldest young master’s illness was flaring up at just the perfect time. How excellent.

If he died, all the better. Then His Highness would surely save Ah Yu.

In the side courtyard, Dafugong, who was in charge of caring for the young master, handed a letter to the Princess Consort.

“Princess Consort, a few days ago, someone gave this letter to this servant. This servant already showed it to the young master.”

Inside, the letter held a single sentence: To cure your illness, go to the last house in Vermilion Bird Lane.

Over the years, Young Master Qin had consulted countless doctors.

Each time ended only in disappointment.

When he read this letter, he could only smile bitterly and shake his head.

He hadn’t yet decided whether to pin any hope on it again, but before he could think clearly, the illness flared up tonight.

The Princess Consort read the contents of the letter, and immediately ordered her trusted nurse to personally go to Vermilion Bird Lane to find that person.

Whether it was true or false, she had to try!

When Concubine Mei heard that the Princess Consort had sent someone to fetch another doctor, she smiled faintly and thought nothing of it.

No matter how many physicians they brought, it would be useless.

Young Master Qin’s illness—no one could save him.