Chapter 38 – Prime Minister Fei! What Are You Doing?

After making many inquiries, Madam Wang finally learned about Tang Chaoyang’s situation.

This Tang Chaoyang was not only Prime Minister Fei’s ex-wife but also had a rather poor reputation. Even the Empress Dowager had personally said she lacked any virtue as a woman.

Upon learning this much, Madam Wang no longer considered marrying her youngest son to Tang Chaoyang.

The woman she wished her son to marry was the illegitimate daughter of the Assistant Minister of Revenue, and as it happened, Li was the legitimate daughter of that same Assistant Minister. Madam Wang planned to ask Li about the family’s intentions.

Tang Chaoyang and Su Ling did not remain in Rong’en Hall for long.

After they left, Madam Wang finally turned to Li and said earnestly, “I came here today because there is something I’d like to ask the Madam for help with.”

Li responded in a gentle tone, “Madam, you are too polite. If there is something you need, just say it. I will do all I can to help.”

Madam Wang asked tentatively, “My youngest son, Wang Quan, has had little luck in marriage. Lately, I have been thinking it’s time to arrange a reliable match for him. I heard that the sixth daughter of the Assistant Minister of Revenue’s family is at the right age. Madam, would you be willing to help me inquire discreetly?”

Li fell silent.

She had thought Madam Wang had come about Tang Chaoyang, but it turned out she was here for her family’s illegitimate younger sister instead.

The Wang family was the match Li had painstakingly selected for Tang Chaoyang, even having someone bring up Tang Chaoyang’s name to Madam Wang.

As Tang Chaoyang’s maternal aunt, Li was not so heartless that she would entirely disregard her niece.

She certainly had her own considerations, but she was still trying her best to find Tang Chaoyang a good future.

After much investigation, Li had come to feel that Wang Quan was quite a suitable match for Tang Chaoyang.

Wang Quan had decent looks and was currently a teacher at an academy in the capital. His household was clean and orderly.

The only drawback was that he had already married twice, and both wives had died young. Rumor held that he carried a “fate that overcomes wives.”

This was precisely why, despite Wang Quan’s otherwise decent circumstances, no one dared easily marry their daughter to him.

Li thought that since Tang Chaoyang had divorced Fei Yan and her reputation in the capital was poor, while Wang Quan had this ominous rumor attached to him, the match might nonetheless be a good one for them both.

Madam Wang was waiting for Li’s answer.

Li felt as if she were spitting blood, but she could only smile and say, “I will go home tomorrow and ask about my sixth sister.”

*

When Li returned to her rooms, she sighed softly and raised her hand to her forehead.

After she sat down, she said to Nanny Zhao, “Nanny, the Wang family is impossible now. Madam Wang is probably dissatisfied with Chaoyang. This marriage is likely finished.”

Nanny Zhao, seeing her mistress troubled, quickly comforted her. “Madam, perhaps there is still a chance. If the young lady’s birth characters match the Wang young master’s, Madam Wang may reconsider.”

Li hesitated slightly upon hearing this. She truly could not find a more suitable household than the Wangs at present, so she felt a bit torn. “Let’s wait and see. My younger sister will never agree to marry into the Wang family—who would dare wed their daughter to a man rumored to kill his wives? Unless the Wangs choose a girl of very low birth.”

“Madam Wang did not look like someone who wants her son to marry a lowborn woman,” Nanny Zhao remarked.

Li smiled faintly. “Indeed.”

Perhaps, with some maneuvering, there really was a chance to match Tang Chaoyang with Wang Quan.

*

Meanwhile, Madam Wang returned to where her youngest son was staying in the capital after leaving the General’s estate.

When Wang Quan came home from the academy, he was immediately called over by his mother.

“Today I went to the Su family to visit Old Madam Su. While I was there, I mentioned your marriage to the First Madam.”

Madam Wang took the tea her son handed her and went on with a smile, “I heard that the First Madam’s sixth sister is about your age, has a gentle disposition, and is in good health. I’ve made inquiries—she’s a fine young woman.”

Wang Quan showed a trace of bitterness. “Mother, are you referring to the Su family under the Commandery Duke who guards the South? I believe the First Madam’s family is the Assistant Minister of Revenue?”

Madam Wang nodded. “Yes, precisely the Assistant Minister’s family.”

“Mother, the Assistant Minister will never agree to marry his daughter to me—a man with the reputation of ‘dooming his wives.’ Not even if she’s illegitimate.” Wang Quan was truly helpless.

At his words, Madam Wang’s smile faded a little.

Wang Quan’s voice was gentle but tinged with exhaustion. “I know you wish for me to start a family, but with this reputation, who would ever willingly approach me? Least of all the Assistant Minister’s sixth daughter.”

Madam Wang felt her heart sink, but she still refused to give up. “I don’t believe it. If it comes to it, we will simply marry the Everlasting Grace Marquis’s daughter, Tang Chaoyang. Her maternal family is the Sus, and she herself is already divorced.”

“Tang Chaoyang?” Wang Quan exclaimed in surprise. “Prime Minister Fei’s ex-wife? This…”

He was also afraid of provoking retaliation from Prime Minister Fei.

Seeing his expression, Madam Wang knew exactly what he was thinking. She slowly said, “I suspect that Prime Minister Fei’s current wife would be delighted to see Tang Chaoyang remarried.”

The older, the wiser.

Madam Wang sipped her tea lightly. “Today at the Su estate, I saw Tang Chaoyang. Although she’s divorced from Prime Minister Fei, she struck me as composed and steady. If it weren’t for the Su family behind her, I wouldn’t even consider her. But this is a last resort. I still hope you can marry a better woman. If nothing else, we will find a girl of humbler birth.”

Wang Quan understood his mother’s deep love for him. He stood and bowed to her. “This is all my fault. I’ve burdened you, Mother.”

**

Tang Chaoyang still knew nothing of Li’s plans to marry her off. She returned to her Lanting Courtyard and set about preparing medicinal herbs to soak in wine.

After she finished those tasks, she hurried out to fetch Fei An’an from the academy.

“Miss, the road ahead has been sealed off. The carriage can’t get through,” the driver reported.

Tang Chaoyang frowned slightly and told Liu’er, “Go see what’s happening up ahead.”

Liu’er obeyed and quickly climbed down.

Moments later, she returned to the carriage pale and trembling, her voice shaking. “Miss, Prime Minister Fei was attacked! There are soldiers everywhere… and… and so many corpses on the ground.”

She had never seen so many mangled bodies. Liu’er clapped a hand over her mouth, ready to retch.

Tang Chaoyang handed her a preserved plum to suck on, then stepped down from the carriage. She instructed the driver, “I’ll walk through the alley to the academy. You circle around with the carriage and meet me there.”

She didn’t want her son to wait outside for her. Walking through the alley would be faster than having the carriage detour.

Liu’er hurried to follow her.

As soon as Tang Chaoyang stepped down, she saw Fei Yan standing calmly, sword in hand. With a smooth flick of his wrist, the blade sliced through an assassin’s arm.

Blood spattered instantly.

The assassin collapsed with a cry of pain, but Fei Yan’s face didn’t show the slightest emotion.

Tang Chaoyang watched the scene and then turned her gaze away indifferently, taking Liu’er into the alley.

She used to think Fei Yan’s martial skills weren’t much.

But in her past life, when she had hired assassins to kill him, not a single one had ever returned.

Only then did she realize this man’s skills were quite formidable.

What she still couldn’t understand was—since he was so capable, how had she so easily kidnapped him to force a wedding?

Ever since the middle-aged man and the scholar in blue appeared, Tang Chaoyang had thought of many things.

But for now, she could not unravel this mystery.

Fei Yan seemed to sense something. He turned just in time to see Tang Chaoyang’s back as she prepared to slip into the alley.

His sword flew from his hand, the blade whistling through the air and burying itself in the wall of the alley.

Liu’er gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth.

Tang Chaoyang, nearly scared out of her wits, stared at the sword in the wall. She turned back to glare at Fei Yan, her face dark.

“Prime Minister Fei! What are you doing? Blades have no eyes!”