After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 151 Entangling
After shooing everyone away, Meng Zhan pulled Yang Peiran back to his room.

He was already very tired today. Not only was he summoned to the underworld by Lord Hai as soon as he arrived at the yamen, but he was also made difficult by Miss Hai. He had been on tenterhooks all day, and he really didn't have the strength to coax Yang Peiran right now.

"Peiran, I'm too tired today. Can we talk about it when I get back?" Meng Zhan said, rubbing his temples and barely able to lift his eyelids.

Yang Peiran suddenly laughed.

"You're tired? You only spent half a day at the Hai family's house with Miss Hai, how can you be tired? Or are you tired because you went to great lengths to please Miss Hai?" Yang Peiran looked at Meng Zhan with indignation.

Meng Zhan slightly raised his eyes. "Pei Ran, I went to the Hai family on official business. Don't say that."

Yang Peiran smirked: "Business? That sounds nice, but everyone knows what you're really up to!"

Meng Zhan was already exhausted, and he was annoyed by Yang Peiran's sarcastic remarks, but he still patiently explained.

"Peiran, you've misunderstood me. It's really not what you think. It's just official business. Lord Lin isn't here, so Lord Hai ordered me to take Miss Hai back to her hometown for a visit."

Upon hearing this, Yang Peiran felt a strong sense of alarm.

"What? Lord Hai wants you to take Miss Hai back to her hometown for a visit?"

"Why you? Why not someone else?" Yang Peiran questioned.

Meng Zhan sighed. It was all because Lin Yunche made him take the blame for him.

"Because Miss Hai wants to visit Huai'an County, and in this Huaizhou government office, only Lord Lin and I are from Huai'an County."

"Peiran, don't overthink it."

Yang Peiran pouted, "Are you telling the truth? You're not just eager to go and accompany Miss Hai?"

Meng Zhan disliked Yang Peiran's mouth the most; he was always aggressive and kept asking probing questions.

"It's true, it's true, I would never lie to you!" Meng Zhan fought off his sleepiness and hugged Yang Peiran.

Although Yang Peiran still had doubts, seeing Meng Zhan's good attitude, he was no longer as angry as before.

"That's good! Let me tell you, you can't take a second concubine besides me."

Yang Peiran still felt a little wronged when she thought about this. Although she was from a branch of the Yang family, she was still a member of the Yang family!
Back then, Yang Yan's brother had already told her that he would have her marry into the Lin family.

If she becomes Lin Yunche's concubine, and Lin Yunche inherits the title of Duke in the future, she will not be looked down upon because of her status as a concubine.

However, despite his brother mentioning it to Lin Yunche several times, Lin Yunche refused to agree. But the patriarch of the Yang family said that the northern region could not be without members of the Yang family.

Only then did they settle for second best and let her marry Meng Tongzhi as a concubine.

You have to understand that she was actually unwilling at first. Even if she couldn't marry into a noble family as a wife, she didn't want to be a concubine!
But she had little influence in the Yang family and was just a pawn. If her brother Yang Yan told her to marry, she had to marry!

Fortunately, after meeting Meng Zhan, she found him to be handsome and polite. She thought that with the Yang family's support, he might be able to live a good life in the future.

Moreover, the Liu family had recently lost power and without her maternal family's backing, Liu Shi was merely occupying the title. Especially after she married into the family, she felt that her thinking was correct.

Fang, the mother-in-law, almost never set foot in Liu's courtyard, let alone care about the children Liu gave birth to.

Since she entered the household, her husband Meng Lang has almost never set foot in Liu Shi's courtyard, nor has he shown much concern for the children Liu Shi has given birth to. She has repeatedly shown affection for Liu Shi in front of her, but Liu Shi has not reacted at all, which shows that the relationship between Liu Shi and Meng Lang has truly broken down.

She is now living a much happier life in the Meng family than she did in the Yang family, and she doesn't want some young lady from the Hai family to suddenly appear and cause trouble.

Therefore, she is asking Meng Zhan to promise not to take any more concubines.

Meng Zhan didn't see anything wrong with taking a concubine, but his career now depended on the Yang family's support, and he couldn't afford to offend Yang Peiran.

"Alright, alright! I'll do whatever Peiran says," Meng Zhan said with a smile.

Yang Peiran was overjoyed to see that Meng Zhan had actually agreed. "Then Peiran was wrong to misunderstand Meng Lang today. Please don't be angry with Peiran."

Meng Zhan reached out and stroked Yang Peiran's head. "Silly girl, how could I be angry with you?"

"Alright, it's getting late, and I have to get up early for work tomorrow, so let's go to bed early." Meng Zhan said, pulling Yang Peiran onto the bed.

He comforted her and helped her lie down, then covered them both with blankets.

Yang Peiran was still worried, "What if Miss Hai takes a fancy to you, Meng Lang?"

Meng Zhan had never thought about this question before, because no young lady would make such a fuss over a young master she had taken a fancy to, and Miss Hai looked aloof and arrogant.

She would never stoop to being a concubine.

“Then she’s too late. I already have Peiran, and I have no other desires in this life,” Meng Zhan said rashly.

Yang Peiran, however, was quite taken with this and, satisfied, let Meng Zhan go, and the two of them finally fell asleep.

The next day, Meng Zhan was woken up by a servant from the Hai family.

"Master, Master, Miss Hai sent someone early this morning. Are you up yet?" The servant called out anxiously from the doorway of Meng Zhan's bedroom.

The servant's voice wasn't loud; he was genuinely afraid of waking the lady of the house.

Meng Zhan was too tired yesterday and didn't wake up no matter how long the servant at the door called him, but he did wake up Yang Peiran.

Yang Peiran naturally didn't want her husband to be called away by another woman so early in the morning, so she snorted coldly and didn't call Meng Zhan.

The servant stood at the door, sweat beading on his forehead. What was he to do?
If he were to delay the adults' business, he would definitely be in deep trouble. But if he were to offend this Lady Yang, he would be in even worse shape.

The servant stood at the door for a while, then reluctantly ran to Madam Liu's courtyard. "Madam, please go to the front yard quickly. The Hai family has arrived and is looking for Master," the servant reported to Liu Feifei from the courtyard.

Liu Feifei had just finished feeding her eldest daughter and was now taking her for a walk in the courtyard. Looking at the servant in front of her, Liu Feifei asked, "If you're looking for the master, go look in the master's courtyard. What are you doing here?"

The servant hung his head, but refused to leave.

Liu Feifei immediately guessed what was going on, "You've got a good plan."

"You want me to fall out with that Yang woman, so that the master won't have a reason to sentence you to death, right?"

The servant was startled by Liu Feifei's words and looked up sharply, only to meet her probing gaze.

"Madam, I was wrong. I really had no choice. I have a family to support, and they all depend on my wages here. If I am kicked out, my family will not be able to survive," the servant said, kneeling on the ground.

Liu Feifei raised her hand. "Who said we were going to kick you out? We just wanted you to understand whose side you really belong to. Once you understand that, you naturally won't be kicked out."

The servant looked up at Liu Feifei, then immediately lowered his head again.

"I am naturally Madam's man. Please help me out of this predicament."

Liu Feifei stood up with a smile, "That's it?"

The servant looked bewildered; what exactly did the lady mean?

Xiao Cui couldn't stand it anymore and reminded her, "Tell me everything you know, otherwise how can Madam help you?"

The servant then understood and recounted how he had gone to the Hai family with Meng Zhan the day before.

Looking at her baby daughter in swaddling clothes, Liu Feifei felt a chill in her heart, but then she thought about it again and felt something was amiss.

"What would Miss Hai be doing going to a county town for no reason?"

“She’s seen everything in such a big city as Beijing!” Liu Feifei asked.

The servant wiped the sweat from his brow. "Madam, I don't know."

After a moment's thought, Liu Feifei made a bold guess. "Alright, you wait outside the door. I'll go and call the master right away."

The servant felt as if he had been granted a pardon upon hearing this and quickly withdrew.

"Xiao Cui, find someone trustworthy to tell Madam Lin that Miss Hai is going to Huai'an County. I'll go and call the master," Liu Feifei said, getting up.

Xiao Cui asked, puzzled, "Madam, didn't you say we wouldn't get involved in the Meng family's affairs anymore?"

Liu Feifei smiled and said, "Of course, but this is clearly no longer just a matter for the Meng family."

"He's ruthless, and my heart is dead. But I have to fight for a way out for my daughter!"

"Do you expect the Yang family to give my daughter a good life in the future?"

Xiao Cui immediately understood, "Madam, don't worry, Xiao Cui will go right away."

After Xiao Cui left, Liu Feifei also went to Meng Zhan's bedroom. Sure enough, several servants were already standing at the door, and even the steward had come. Yet, no one dared to knock loudly.

It seems everyone has witnessed Yang's arrogance!

As soon as Liu Feifei arrived, she pushed the door open and walked in without even saying hello.

Yang Peiran was secretly pleased. If Miss Hai angered Meng Zhan and refused to let him accompany her, that would be even better, so she wasn't in a hurry.

But she never expected that someone would be so bold as to break down the door.

"Ah!" Yang Peiran pointed at Liu Feifei at the door and screamed, "You...you're shameless!"

Yang Peiran's voice was extremely loud, and even Meng Zhan, who was fast asleep, was woken up.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Meng Zhan was clearly startled by Yang Peiran's shout just now, and sat up to look around.

Then they saw Liu Feifei standing quietly at the door, looking at the bed.

"Liu, what are you doing! When did you become so ill-mannered?"

"What kind of place is this? You just come here like that!"

Meng Zhan was clearly annoyed and immediately lashed out at Liu Feifei.

But Liu Feifei snorted, "Husband, look at what time it is now. The Hai family has come looking for us. Are you still going to stay here and not get up?"

Meng Zhan suddenly realized that the sky outside the window was indeed already bright.

He slapped his forehead. "Oh no! Oh no! Why didn't you call me sooner?"

Meng Zhan was busy getting dressed, but Yang Peiran pulled him back, saying, "Meng Lang, that was terrifying! Feel how my heart was pounding with fear."

Meng Zhan had no time to pay attention to Yang Peiran. He put on his clothes and went to see the Hai family without saying a word.

Yang Peiran felt humiliated and his expression turned sour.

"Liu, do you think you can win back Meng Lang's heart like this? Humph! You're dreaming!"

(End of this chapter)