Chapter 44 The Child Is About…to be born

The next morning, Old Madam Wang went to the Su residence. She first sought out Madam Li.

Madam Li hadn’t expected Old Madam Wang to come around to this idea again. “Old Madam, are you saying you wish Young Master Wang to marry Chaoyang? They would make quite a good match.”

When Old Madam Wang heard Madam Li respond this way, she knew there was hope for this matter.

Given Tang Chaoyang’s current poor reputation, being able to marry into the Wang family was already a stroke of good fortune.

Madam Li smiled and pretended to ponder for a moment before saying, “I still need to discuss this with the elders in the family and also with Chaoyang herself. After all, we cannot make this decision for her—this is her life’s great matter. As her elders, we must ask her opinion.”

Old Madam Wang nodded slightly, her face wearing a satisfied smile. “Naturally.”

She stood up to take her leave. “I will wait for your good news.”

Madam Li instructed Nanny Zhao to see Old Madam Wang out, while she herself hurriedly called her senior maid inside and told her to go to Lanting Court to inform Tang Chaoyang to come to Rong’en Hall.

When Tang Chaoyang arrived at Rong’en Hall, she hadn’t even had time to curtsy before Madam Li took her hand.

Madam Li smiled at the Su Old Madam and said, “Mother, Old Madam Wang wishes to propose marriage for her youngest son and Chaoyang.”

Old Madam Su’s sharp eyes turned to Madam Li. “Who did you say? Wasn’t she asking you to inquire about the Li family’s girls?”

Tang Chaoyang raised her brows slightly, a little surprised that they were plotting to marry her off.

Madam Li explained in a soft voice, “Old Madam Wang changed her mind. She is now sincere about wanting Wang Quan to marry Chaoyang.”

When Old Madam Su heard this, her eyes narrowed faintly, and her tone carried a trace of cold displeasure. “No. Her son is rumored to bring death to his wives. If he wants to marry Chaoyang, there’s no way.”

“……”

Madam Li looked at Tang Chaoyang and motioned for her to sit down before she began analyzing: “Wang Quan’s household is clean. He teaches at the capital’s academy. If Chaoyang married him, the two of them would live quietly together here in the capital.”

And there would be no mother-in-law constantly summoning her to fulfill filial duties—though this was something Madam Li could not say in front of Old Madam Su.

She continued, “The only blemish on him is the reputation for dooming his wives. I had someone look into his previous two wives. The first insisted on going out in the rain to burn incense and died in a carriage accident. The second was already frail from birth and unfortunately caught a chill after marriage and passed away.”

“Mother, for our current circumstances, his conditions really are quite good,” Madam Li finished, then turned to Tang Chaoyang. “Chaoyang, you should let go of Prime Minister Fei. Find a man who can be with you in the future.”

Old Madam Su gave Madam Li no face at all and said blandly, “Our Chaoyang is such a good girl. Even if she’s to marry, it should be to a man of good reputation. A man who brings bad luck to his wives is out of the question.”

Madam Li silently complained in her heart—With Chaoyang’s current ruined reputation, you still think she can find a man of good repute? Old ladies can really be fanciful!

Tang Chaoyang felt warmth in her heart at her grandmother’s protectiveness.

She said to Madam Li, “Aunt, please convey my refusal to this marriage proposal. I still have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave.”

Madam Li was faintly displeased. Such a good marriage and she refused it outright. Does she really think she’s still an unmarried maiden?

Tang Chaoyang didn’t say anything more. She gave her grandmother and Madam Li a curtsey, then turned and left.

She truly did have things to do. She still hadn’t finished drafting the plan regarding the people’s food and livelihood.

Because it involved so many aspects, she often had to pause and think deeply.

She had never been an especially clever person. Only because she had her past life’s experience did she have these insights today.

In a little while, she planned to visit a bookshop to buy a few travelogues and local customs books.

The previous evening, she had already told her grandfather and grandmother that she wished to move out of the residence and live at Wutong Courtyard.

Though the elders were reluctant, they understood her and agreed.

However, her grandmother hoped she would stay another half month, because the old lady truly couldn’t bear to part with them—especially Fei An’an, who was clever, lively, and sweet-mouthed. The elderly simply adored him.

**

Wang Quan hadn’t expected he would run into Tang Chaoyang at the bookshop.

He felt this must be fate between them.

The woman stood beside a bookshelf, lightly turning the pages, her figure graceful and slender.

Wang Quan instinctively adjusted his clothes. He waited until Tang Chaoyang finished buying her books and walked out of the shop before he followed her. “Miss Tang.”

Tang Chaoyang stopped, turned her head, and saw a man wearing white robes.

“Miss Tang, I am Wang Quan.” He bowed to her.

Tang Chaoyang was a little surprised—so this was the man her aunt had spoken of who wanted to marry her. “Young Master Wang.”

She didn’t want to converse further.

Liu’er stepped forward, blocking Wang Quan and shielding Tang Chaoyang as she left.

Wang Quan hadn’t expected she would just walk away like that. Could it be she didn’t yet know that he wished to propose marriage?

He couldn’t help calling out, “Miss Tang, please wait a moment. I have something I wish to say to you.”

Tang Chaoyang, who had walked a few steps, frowned slightly.

Seeing that there was no one else around, Wang Quan finally spoke. “My mother already visited the Su family this morning. I sincerely wish to marry you.”

He bowed respectfully again.

Tang Chaoyang really hadn’t expected that despite her terrible reputation as a woman without any virtue, there was still someone who wished to marry her…

She turned and returned the bow, replying calmly, “Young Master Wang, I appreciate your kindness. However, I have already refused this matter to your family.”

Having spoken, she inclined her head slightly to him and turned away without hesitation.

Wang Quan stood there, utterly stunned.

She had rejected him? Why?

Meanwhile, Tang Chaoyang was just about to board her carriage when she suddenly stopped in her tracks. She had seen a man’s back that looked very much like Fei Yan’s.

The man wore a black robe and was walking into a narrow alley.

Fei Yan rarely wore black robes.

Tang Chaoyang remembered that before, she had also seen that middle-aged man and the blue-robed man outside the bookshop.

She pressed her red lips together and instructed Liu’er to wait in place.

Quickly, she climbed into the carriage and untied her outer garment. She took the cushion from the seat and tied it around her belly.

She put on a veiled hat and, now appearing heavily pregnant, stepped down from the carriage.

Liu’er stared at her young mistress in astonishment.

Tang Chaoyang had no time to explain. She told Liu’er not to follow, then walked toward that alley herself.

Liu’er paced anxiously in place.

The alley was secluded and quiet. Tang Chaoyang rested her hands on her big belly and stepped softly inside.

There were houses on both sides of the alley.

It was rather long.

The man in the black robe stopped at the door of one of the houses. He turned his head and looked at the woman approaching slowly, her belly prominent.

Only then did Tang Chaoyang notice he was wearing a mask engraved with a harpy eagle motif.

She pretended to be frightened, stopping in her tracks. Her hands cradled her belly as though unsure whether to go on.

The man no longer looked at her. He lifted his hand and knocked on the door. When the door opened, he went inside.

Tang Chaoyang waited until the door closed. Then she calmly continued past, walking forward.

Just then, she suddenly felt a chill at her throat.

A sword was abruptly laid across her neck.

The black-robed man was in front of her before she knew it.

“Following me?”

His voice was low and lazy, completely different from Fei Yan’s voice.

But he could have disguised it.

The cold blade pressed lightly against her skin, as though the slightest movement would slit her throat.

Tang Chaoyang pinched her voice into a thin, trembling thread of fear. “No…no…I was just going home…”

Her hands instinctively covered her belly, as if protecting the child inside.

The black-robed man’s eyes already held killing intent.

Suddenly, Tang Chaoyang let out a quavering cry, her voice choked with tears.

“The baby…is about…to be born…”