kvmb Chapter 239 Keeping the Appointment: Those Who Get Close to Me Will Become Unhappy
Chapter 239 Keeping the Appointment: Those Who Get Close to Me Will Become Unhappy
Shen Qingtan pressed her index finger to her lips, signaling Tingxue to be quiet, and led her to the outer room.
"Did Second Aunt go to Xiyuan?"
Shen Qingtan asked in a low voice.
“The Second Madam didn’t enter the West Garden. I guess she was on guard and only went in after she was sure everything was alright.” Tingxue said softly, “Young Master Pei went to the West Garden to paint, and Miss Wan’er from the Third Branch was also there.”
Shen Qingtan asked in surprise, "Sister Wan?"
Tingxue nodded: "Young Master Pei left for half an hour before Miss Wan'er arrived. She hasn't left the West Garden since."
A thought flashed in Shen Qingtan's eyes. After the guards of the West Garden withdrew and she left the Duke's Mansion, the Second Madam reappeared near the West Garden. It was basically certain that the Second Madam had something hidden in the West Garden.
When Pei Wuyan went to the West Garden at this time, was he really painting, or was he using painting as an excuse?
If Pei Wuyan went to the West Garden alone, Shen Qingtan would not suspect that he had ulterior motives.
The fact that Zhao Wan also went is enough to suggest that something is amiss.
Prior to this, Zhao Wan had expressed her concerns, fearing that marrying into a family of Pei's social standing would leave her feeling insecure.
She was shy, but very clear-headed.
Knowing their situation, and even more so, knowing what kind of life they want to live.
A girl like that would never secretly associate with Pei Wuyan before their marriage is arranged.
Once discovered, it will damage her reputation. Not only will the marriage be a done deal, but she will also be at a disadvantage after marrying into the Pei family.
After all, the Pei family had exploited her weaknesses.
Shen Qingtan had previously suspected that Pei Wuyan had a close relationship with the second wife, but she did not have any conclusive evidence to prove it.
It is now confirmed that Pei Wuyan is from the second branch of the family.
He was covering for the second wife.
Besides, Pei Wuyan also harbored his own selfish motives.
Pei Wuyan's trip to the capital to meet Zhao Wan revealed that the two families were interested in forming a marriage alliance.
However, the old lady was still observing Pei Wuyan's character and had not yet made a decision.
Pei Wuyan invited Zhao Wan to paint in the West Garden, coordinating with the Second Madam from the inside, so that no one would suspect anything.
Even if she became suspicious and led a search, upon receiving this information, she would not lead a search to protect Zhao Wan's reputation.
If she disregarded Zhao Wan's reputation and decisively led people to find fault with the Second Madam, thus uncovering Zhao Wan's secret meeting with Pei Wuyan, it would facilitate their marriage.
This was exactly what Pei Wuyan wanted.
Thinking of this, Shen Qingtan frowned.
“How could Miss Wan’er meet with Young Master Pei in private?” Tingxue muttered. “If Young Master Pei has bad intentions, he will harm her.”
Shen Qingtan sighed softly, "I guess I had no choice in the matter."
Thinking of the situation of the third branch of the family, Tingxue felt somewhat sorry for Zhao Wan. She asked, "Are you going?"
Shen Qingtan looked into the inner room, her mind preoccupied with Zhao Yi's condition.
But she was unwilling to let the second wife escape this calamity.
Shen Qingtan hesitated for a moment, then decided to go to Gu Changsheng to inquire about Zhao Yi's situation.
As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Gu Changsheng walking slowly towards her, dressed in a white robe that exuded a cool and elegant aura.
"Brother." Shen Qingtan noticed that his eyes were covered by a thin veil, the plain white fabric making his face appear even paler and more fragile than when she had seen him in the front hall earlier that day. That unease welled up in her heart again, and she asked once more, "You look very unwell. Are you hiding something from me?"
"No." Gu Changsheng shook his head slightly: "I just didn't sleep well."
"Really?" Shen Qingtan was still uneasy. "Academician Chen is also in the manor. Should we have him take your pulse?"
“Manman, Dr. Chen’s medical skills are not as good as mine.” Gu Changsheng said helplessly, “I know my own body well, it’s nothing serious.”
Shen Qingtan wanted to persuade him further, but then Gu Changsheng said, "I will recover my complexion after a few days of rest. If I do not recover by then, I will listen to you and have Imperial Physician Chen take my pulse."
Shen Qingtan felt a little relieved: "You can't lie to me, or I'll get angry."
A faint smile appeared on Gu Changsheng's lips: "Brother would never lie to you."
Shen Qingtan breathed a sigh of relief: "Second Master, have Chen Yuanshi watch over things here. You should rest well and not push yourself too hard."
“Alright.” Gu Changsheng said coldly, “I’ll check on Zhao Yi’s condition first.”
Shen Qingtan held his hand, preparing to lead him up the steps.
The moment I touched his sleeve, I noticed his subconscious avoidance.
She paused for a moment, then withdrew her hand without making a sound.
A silence fell over the room.
Gu Changsheng said calmly, "Manman, there is a difference between men and women."
He failed to protect Manman back then, which led to her being taken away and separated from her family for fourteen years.
My grandmother also passed away because of this.
He left the Gu family to find Manman and met his master there.
To cure his eyes, his master went to the mountains alone to collect herbs and fell off a cliff.
Everyone who gets close to him will become unhappy.
He didn't want her to be unhappy anymore.
Shen Qingtan nodded, then, realizing he couldn't see, lowered her voice: "I forgot, we've grown up."
Gu Changsheng's fingers twitched slightly. He remained silent for a long time before finally going into the room to take Zhao Yi's pulse.
Shen Qingtan stood beside him: "Brother, how is Second Master?"
"His condition is stable, and he probably won't wake up tonight." Gu Changsheng remembered meeting her outside and asked, "Are you leaving the manor?"
Shen Qingtan frankly admitted, "I have some personal matters to attend to."
Gu Changsheng replied, "It's fine for Dean Chen to stay and watch over him."
Once Shen Qingtan confirmed that Zhao Yi's condition was stable and that he would not wake up tonight, she felt relieved and planned to return to the Duke's mansion.
At this moment, Liu Yue came in from outside, glanced at Gu Changsheng, and handed the letter in her hand to Shen Qingtan.
Shen Qingtan recognized the handwriting on the envelope as belonging to Zhao Jue.
She frowned and opened the letter.
The envelope contained a letter and a red wishing ribbon.
When Liu Yue saw the ribbon, her expression changed drastically: "Second Madam, what is this...?"
When Shen Qingtan saw the ribbon, she was reminded of a long-forgotten memory.
When Zhao Jue went to war, the Second Madam invited Madam Shen to take her to the temple to pray for a peace charm.
There is a thousand-year-old tree in the temple, covered with ribbons of wishes from worshippers.
She prayed for her parents' good health, her second brother's success in the imperial examination, and her third brother's safety and well-being.
Madam Shen said, "Tan'er, why don't you pray for Jue'er's safety while you're at it?"
She prayed for several people, and then also prayed for Zhao Jue's safety, tying the ribbon to a branch hanging from a large tree.
The ribbon that Zhao Jue sent was not the red ribbon that she had tied to the tree years ago; it was probably meant to remind her of this old story.
Shen Qingtan only glanced at the contents of the letter before crumpling it into a ball.
She glanced at Liuyue and instructed Tingxue, "Prepare the carriage."
-
A horse-drawn carriage slowly came to a stop in a small alley not far from the West Garden.
The second wife held a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, turning the beads one by one. As time passed, she turned the beads faster and faster.
Just by listening to her voice, you could tell she was restless and agitated.
With a "snap," the Buddhist prayer beads broke, and the beads shattered and fell to the ground.
The second wife's eyelids twitched, and she suddenly opened her eyes.
Just then, someone outside the carriage said, "Madam, Second Mistress received a letter from Third Master and has gone to keep her appointment."