TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 100: He Is the Culprit; He Is the Savior

Chapter 100: He Is the Culprit; He Is the Savior

The middle-aged scholar laughed as he prattled on.

Chen Rong held the sachet in her hand feeling tumultuous inside. Why, this was a love token. Before, she could say that her being close to Wang Qilang was for self-preservation. But she had accepted his jade ornament last time, if she were to take his sachet this time, wouldn't she be saying that she had accepted this man?

Both of her hands shook. One hand wanted to hug the sachet to her bosom. He was Lang'ya Wang Qi; even as his concubine, splendor and wealth would never be far from her. The other hand wanted to refuse the gift. So what if it was the Wang House in Lang'ya? Was she even good enough? Not being good enough would only bring heartbreak. Had she not tasted the consequences of this in her previous life?

At the thought of her past life, the beautiful dream along with all of her longings went away as fast as they had come.

Seeing the scholar turn away, Chen Rong hopped down from the carriage and ran up to him. She put the sachet back into his hand and gave him a hasty curtsy. "Ah Rong of the Chen House is but a humble girl," she tremulously began. "I am unworthy of Qilang's personal item. Please take it back." Then without looking up, she turned and ran back to her carriage, fleeing in panic even though she had been the one to dole out the rejection.

The scholar raised an eyebrow, stared after her back in surprise, and at length looked down at the sachet. "There's a girl in this world who is indifferent to Qilang? Now that's interesting." He then turned around, hummed a song and returned inside.

The carriage began moving.

Outside the carriage, Old Shang, who did not know that Wang Yi had mentioned matrimonial ties to Chen Gongrang, began to mutter: "What is Lang'ya Wang Qi thinking? He isn't willing to take my mistress yet he gives her his sachet. Does he just want to play around with her?"

His muttering made its way to Chen Rong's ears. She was leaning absently on her seat, hands in a knot. Her beautiful face glowed one moment, then fell dejectedly the next, apparently conflicted...

The wheels clopped on the snow. Silvery moonlight filtered onto Chen Rong through the curtain slit.

After some time, she raised the curtain to let the chilly wind sober her troubled heart. By the time her cheeks grew red, tranquility had gradually been restored to her eyes.

When the carriage headed for the side entrance, she looked to the front gate and suddenly said, "Let's go to the main entrance."

"Aye." Old Shang drove the vehicle around a bend and to the front gate.

As he drove, he curiously looked back at Chen Rong. Against the moonlight and snowy background, her lips were drawn into a stubborn line. He suppressed his curiosity and did not open his mouth to ask.

It took about half an hour to get to the front gate from the side gate.

Once this half hour had passed, abashment and joy had both disappeared from Chen Rong's face, replaced by a clarity in her eyes.

When the carriage got closer to the front gate, Chen Rong poked her head out and gazed to where the gatemen stood. It didn't take her long to see the upright and temperate Zhang Xiang, humbly dressed, among the strapping guards.

The carriage slowly approached them.

Everyone turned to look when they heard the rolling carriage, some lighting up at the sight of Chen Rong.

This had included Zhang Xiang. He fixedly stared at her with a smile of admiration in his eyes.

Chen Rong returned his gaze.