Chapter 46: Thunderbolt
No!
What does she mean?
Could it be—damn it!
Yan Bei’s heart sank.
He had forgotten a fatal matter!
Back then, before he could tell her his identity, she had left the divorce letter and walked away.
And he was a relative of the Du Family, and at this moment, he was still a guest of honor at the Du Family’s banquet!
The most fatal thing was that when he had concealed his identity and stayed by her side for a long time back then, the very next day after he disappeared, she had been harmed! And it was by the Du Family’s hand!
Yan Bei’s face turned pale in an instant.
He tried turning his head back again, and at this look, Yue Tang was no longer glancing at him at all, but calmly drinking tea.
Yan Bei could hardly hold onto his cup now.
It’s over.
This was his real bolt from the blue!
His face changed several times in a short moment, and the Du Family father and son had long been suspicious, exchanging countless glances.
Du Minghuan had not expected Xu He’s wife to be so beautiful!
Yan Bei had never been so flustered, and moreover, the way he looked at that woman was not innocent at all. Could this widower fancy this type?
So when the atmosphere was frozen, he stepped out: “Prince, it seems you want to talk more with Lord Xu. Boyun, come over and have a cup of tea with the Prince?” Then he smiled obsequiously at Yan Bei: “It’s quiet in the side room, good for talking.”
Yan Bei glanced at him.
Idiot!
If he kept the Xu fellow here, how would others look at Yue Tang?
Then he would surely have another charge added to his name!
Du Minghuan felt awkward from the glance, laughed it off, and waved at Xu He to return to his seat.
Xu He returned with sweat all over his forehead, turned his head to glance at Yue Tang, only feeling that she was really useless. Since she had come, she didn’t even come forward to pay respects to Prince Jingyang, sitting there so steadfastly, as if this were her territory.
But he couldn’t say it out loud, so he held it in.
Yue Tang withdrew her thoughts, smiled at him: “No need for me here, I might as well go to the other officials’ families to help you probe the Du Family’s intentions.”
Without waiting for his response, she stood up, raised her head to look again at the child next to Yan Bei at the head seat, pursed her lips, then retreated using the attendants as cover.
Xu He’s greatest use to her had already been fulfilled; what remained was that the person behind the Du Family still had designs on him.
But the crisis had already arrived; it wouldn’t be a pity to abandon now!
Earlier, she had been afraid of attracting the Prince’s Mansion people’s attention, so it was inconvenient to leave.
Now that Prince Jingyang’s background was all exposed, what was there left to worry about?
She could not stay here any longer; Yue Tang no longer needed to avoid Yan Bei, but for now, she had to guard against Du Minghuan.
If the Du Family knew her identity, they would absolutely strike to kill.
And since Yan Bei had already posted notices all over the city looking for her, it meant he already knew her identity. Even if he hadn’t told the Du Family the name “Wang Huan” before, no one could be sure he wouldn’t say it later!
So they not only had to leave the Du Family quickly, but also evacuate the Capital City first!
“Quickly send the message to Wei Zhang, have them meet us at the front courtyard gate, we’re leaving immediately!
“After going out, have Xiao Huo go to Luoyang to find He Shi! Hand over the five hundred taels of silver given by the Xu Family to her; it’s what she deserves!”
The terrain had been scouted before coming, so naturally the route could be quickly grasped during withdrawal. At a time like today, taking the main road while they hadn’t reacted yet would actually have greater odds of success.
Lan Qin nodded quickly, took out a small ebony whistle about an inch long from her sleeve, and blew three short and one long notes, following her footsteps.
But just past the passageway, Yue Tang stopped again!
“What’s wrong?” Lan Qin asked in a low voice.
Yue Tang looked at several children playing not far away: “Just now Yan Bei brought a child too; did you see?”
Lan Qin nodded: “I saw; that’s the Prince’s Mansion’s heir apparent, he looks extremely like him.”
Yue Tang turned around: “That child is about the same age as A Li.
“And back then when I asked him if he had married, he said he hadn’t, nor was there any betrothal.
“Do you think he was lying to me about that, or was it true?”
Lan Qin thought back for a moment and instantly understood: “You mean that child—could very well be A Li? That would make him our Prince Duan’s Mansion’s young heir apparent?!”
“I don’t know!” Yue Tang gripped the railing with both hands. “But I have to know!
“Back then we only inferred that A Li definitely wouldn’t survive, but to be precise, we never saw him die with our own eyes, did we?”
Lan Qin held her hands: “If that child really is our Prince Duan’s Mansion’s young heir apparent, then Prince Jingyang is very suspicious!
“If that conspiracy had nothing to do with him, how could the young heir apparent just happen to be by his side?”
“So I have to go back.” Yue Tang gazed intently toward the garden. “Guessing is useless; I have to ask him face-to-face for the answer.”
“But…”
Lan Qin hesitated, but soon nodded: “Let’s go!”
Going back was indeed dangerous.
But she also knew that no one could resist a mother’s concern for her child!
……
If there was anything more terrifying than a wife changing men as easily as changing clothes, it must be being regarded by one’s wife as the wife-killer!
Yan Bei’s heart was in turmoil.
With Yue Tang leaving the table, he became even more unable to sit still.
After randomly meeting a few officials who brought their children to see A Li, he followed them back to the garden.
He wandered around but still didn’t see Yue Tang.
Gao An, afraid he would chase after someone else’s wife, arranged things at Begonia Hall and hurried into Chang Xuan.
He just happened to brush past the guard whom Yan Bei had sent to look for Yue Tang.
Closing the door, he saw Yan Bei’s face dark.
Gao An stepped forward: “You saw Madam safe and sound with your own eyes; shouldn’t you be happy?”
Yan Bei sneered: “I would like to be happy, but how could she let me? Even if I jumped into the Yellow River now, I couldn’t clear my name.”
Gao An understood the stakes and could only comfort: “Back then Madam chose the Prince; there must be a reason. With the bond of husband and wife, maybe things aren’t that bad.”
“You’re overthinking.” Yan Bei glanced at him.
He still kept that divorce letter perfectly preserved.
Gao An fell silent.
Comforting a dejected man was also a technical job.
Yan Bei straightened up: “We haven’t found her yet; she must have left. Quickly send someone to the Xu Family.
“How could she stoop to match with Xu He?
“What if Xu He clings to her?
“Why hasn’t the main banquet started yet?
“Once we eat, we leave quickly!
“Go find her and explain clearly!”
Gao An hurriedly said: “It’ll start right away.”
Yan Bei paused, then said: “Call Xu He over!”
Just as he finished speaking, the guard who had just gone out came back panting and knocked on the door: “Prince! Madam Xu requests an audience!”
Yan Bei turned his body like he was electrocuted: “Which Madam Xu?”
“It’s the Top Scholar’s Wife!”
Yan Bei stopped, then walked to the doorway, took a deep breath, and opened the door with both hands.
Yue Tang stood under the door, hands behind her back, standing tall and graceful like a straight pine sapling.
Yan Bei stepped over the threshold.
She looked at his splendid robes and said calmly: “Prince Jingyang.”
