Chapter 67: He Dispelled What Stirred in His Heart

Madam Li still had no chance to meet Master Wuwei.

After eating a vegetarian meal, they descended the mountain.

As soon as Tang Chaoyang got into the carriage, she leaned against the soft couch to rest. She felt somewhat tired and simply lay down to sleep.

Nanny Wu sat beside her, watching her anxiously. She lowered her voice and asked, “Miss, how is the wound? Does it still hurt?”

Tang Chaoyang kept her eyes closed and nodded faintly, her tone calm. “It’s all right, it doesn’t matter. Nanny, don’t worry.”

The medicine she’d prepared herself was quite effective. She estimated the wound would heal in another two days.

Seeing her mistress forcing herself to endure, Nanny Wu’s heart ached. In the past, if Miss so much as bumped herself, she would run to Young Master Fei and coquettishly complain of the pain.

Since returning from Hancheng, she had never once heard Miss act spoiled or call out that something hurt.

Nanny Wu took a thin quilt from the chest and gently covered Tang Chaoyang, tucking it in.

“Miss, have a good rest. Once we’re back at the manor, this old servant will reapply your medicine,” she said softly.

Tang Chaoyang gave a faint hum of acknowledgment and closed her eyes.

The carriage had only gone a few steps when it suddenly stopped.

Nanny Wu lifted the curtain slightly to see what was happening.

She saw Wang Quan walking toward them. He came to stand beside Tang Chaoyang’s carriage.

In the carriage ahead sat Madam Li and her two daughters. Su Ling curiously lifted her curtain and stuck her head out to look behind.

Standing there, Wang Quan gave a respectful cupped-hands salute.

“Miss Tang, please rest assured. Three days from now, I will personally visit the General’s Estate to propose marriage.”

Tang Chaoyang, who had been resting inside, instantly darkened her expression at those words.

She sat up in one motion, pulling at her wound. Her brows pinched in pain as she flung open the curtain.

Her gaze was cold as she stared out at Wang Quan.

“Master Wang, I have already refused you,” she said icily, her face full of displeasure.

Wang Quan froze at her reaction. Then his face flushed red, and he forced a smile.

He bowed again and said, “Miss Tang, I am sincerely devoted and willing to give everything for you. In three days, I will call in person to propose.”

He didn’t wait for her reply and turned to leave in haste.

“Stop right there! I have not agreed to this marriage!”

Tang Chaoyang’s eyes were flushed with anger. What nonsense was he spouting?

Nanny Wu was trembling with rage herself. Was this Wang fellow out of his mind?

Along this road, it wasn’t just the Su family’s carriages. Many other family carriages were also passing.

Quite a few people had heard what Wang Quan said.

Servants quickly ran to report to their masters what had just happened.

Nearby was the carriage of Nan Qingqing’s party.

The princess’s carriage was large, and inside sat three noble young ladies.

One, dressed in fine brocade, raised her brows slightly and murmured to the young lady beside her, “Master Wang is going to propose to Miss Tang.”

The younger girl covered her lips and gave a soft laugh. She whispered back, “Master Wang is certainly devoted, but I heard he lost two wives already. He’s supposedly hard-fated and brings death to his spouse.”

Nan Qingqing held her teacup, laughing lightly in surprise. “Those two have quite the matching reputations.”

The noble lady who had spoken first lowered her voice further. “My maid was near the south chamber and saw Tang Chaoyang coming out with her clothes in disarray. The way she was walking…Master Wang was inside too.”

Since she herself was unmarried, she didn’t dare say certain words too plainly. Her cheeks flushed red.

The simpler of the girls asked innocently, “What about the way she was walking?”

No one answered her question.

But Nan Qingqing, who understood perfectly, was stunned that Tang Chaoyang dared act so boldly.

She suppressed her emotions and said coldly, “Debased. Shameless.”

*

At that moment, Madam Li and her daughters were also discussing what had just happened.

Su Miao looked at her mother in disbelief, her eyes wide. “Mother, does this mean Cousin agreed to marry into the Wang family?”

Madam Li was equally surprised. She had thought Tang Chaoyang would refuse again. “Master Wang certainly seems earnest.”

Su Ling pursed her lips in a mocking smile. “Tang Chaoyang is nothing but a divorced woman now. To find a gentleman like Master Wang, who truly wishes to marry her, what more can she expect? She doesn’t know what’s good for her.”

Su Miao no longer had the energy to caution her sister about speaking with some sense of proportion.

The carriages returned to the General’s Estate.

When Tang Chaoyang alighted, her face was still unpleasant.

She quickly strode to Madam Li and spoke in displeasure.

“Aunt, I have not agreed to marry Wang Quan. I will have Nanny Wu go to the Wang family to make things clear and avoid any misunderstandings.”

Madam Li was startled.

“You didn’t agree? Then how dare he say such things openly on the road?”

Tang Chaoyang rubbed her forehead and said with some helplessness, “I don’t know why he would do this. I never gave him any promise at all.”

Su Miao, standing to the side, also frowned.

“Cousin, there were other family carriages nearby. Word may already be spreading.”

“If people start adding embellishments, this will get even more troublesome.”

Madam Li, who had been the matriarch for many years, realized at once this was a serious matter. She looked around, then spoke in a grave voice. “Let’s go back to the East Wing to discuss it further.”

Tang Chaoyang first asked Madam Li where Wang Quan was lodging. Once she learned the address, she ordered Nanny Wu to deliver her message to him.

Madam Li did not stop her.

Su Ling smiled indifferently. “Cousin, why not simply agree to Master Wang? If you do, it will shut all the gossip, and you won’t have to be troubled any longer.”

Tang Chaoyang glanced sidelong at Su Ling. Her lips curved in a bright, radiant smile.

Seeing her smiling, Su Ling grew frightened she’d be drugged again. She darted over to hide behind Su Miao.

Madam Li heard her daughter’s suggestion and felt there was some merit in it.

When they reached the East Wing, the maids helped them remove their cloaks and served tea, then withdrew.

Madam Li began to persuade gently.

“Chaoyang, listen to me. Although Master Wang has a reputation for ‘bringing death to his wives,’ that is surely exaggerated. His two former wives’ deaths had nothing to do with him. His household is very proper, and if you marry him, you won’t be mistreated.”

As she spoke, she watched Tang Chaoyang’s expression closely.

But Tang Chaoyang’s eyes already carried a touch of cool detachment. She looked steadily at Madam Li and said earnestly,

“Aunt, I do not wish to marry.”

Seeing her niece’s determined attitude, Madam Li could not say more and had to drop it.

Su Ling pursed her lips. She thought—so stubborn now, but when the rumors start, she’ll have nowhere to cry.

“Cousin, Master Wang is already an excellent match. If you refuse him again, it will be even harder to marry in the future.”

Tang Chaoyang gave Su Ling a fleeting glance and smiled faintly. “I never planned to marry again.”

**

In the afternoon, Ling Guyong went to Zhuque Lane.

Only when he arrived did he learn that Doctor Tang was unavailable for acupuncture today.

He turned away indifferently and left the courtyard.

Ling Yi felt that something was…odd about his master’s mood today.

Returning to the palace, Ling Guyong bathed and changed into an under-robe.

He wore a lightweight garment, utterly unbothered by the cold. The robe was half open, revealing a hard-muscled chest.

After sitting down, he poured himself a cup of wine.

“Ling Yi, have you ever thought about women?”

Ling Yi stepped forward, kneeling respectfully on one knee.

“My lord, this subordinate has never thought about women. My duty is to protect you.”

Ling Guyong did not drink the wine in his hand. He seemed lost in thought.

“Something that blossoms for a moment and is gone. I do not allow anything beyond my control to exist.”

He dispelled the ripples that had stirred in his heart.

Setting down the cup, his voice was calm as he asked,

“What did you find out about those women from the Western Hu kingdom who were offered to the late Emperor?”