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

Chapter 22: He was stuffed into a sack!
So, in the following days, Madam Chen was busy spreading the news that Bai Wanqing was being arranged to marry. Bai Wanqing, on the other hand, was studying medicine and taking time to accompany Furong, unaware that Madam Chen was going to arrange a marriage for her.

Meanwhile, Meng Zhan had already received Liu Feifei's fifth letter urging him to propose marriage.

Meng Zhan had a headache. He replied to Liu Feifei's letter, trying his best to soothe her emotions. Didn't he want to propose marriage immediately? But he needed money!

Thinking of this, Meng Zhan came to the back street again. He had been coming here for the past few days, and the girls here had all gotten to know this great talent.

"Oh! It's Young Master Meng! Are you here today to see our Miss Piaopiao too?" The woman swayed her hips, almost touching Meng Zhan's chest.

Meng Zhan didn't hide the disdain on his face, but he still patiently asked, "Is Miss Piaopiao here today?"

He had already written more than a dozen poems in the style of Piaopiao, the girl from Mufeng Pavilion. These past two days, Piaopiao had been singing his poems, so Young Master Du must have heard them too. But why hadn't he shown up yet? Meng Zhan was frustrated.

"Here! She's here!" A young maid ran out from Mufeng Pavilion. Meng Zhan recognized her; she was the maid who served Wen Piaopiao. "Young Master, you've finally arrived. A distinguished guest has come to the young lady's room. He said he wants to see you."

Meng Zhan's eyes lit up, and he followed the maid into Mufeng Pavilion.

He was led to a private room on the second floor. He had been there once before; it was Wen Piaopiao's bedroom. Wen Piaopiao usually didn't let him stay there when he was writing lyrics.

As soon as he entered, he saw a noble-looking young man dressed in brocade white robes, holding a jade fan and looking at the poem he had written. He only looked up when he heard the noise at the door.

"You must be Brother Meng?" The young nobleman stood up and greeted Meng Zhan warmly.

Meng Zhan feigned surprise, his face showing confusion, "Who are you?"

Young Master Du smiled and said, “My surname is Du and my given name is Huan. I am sorry to be waiting for Brother Meng here today. I just heard Brother Meng’s poems these past few days and was very impressed. That’s why I asked Piaopiao to arrange this meeting. I hope Brother Meng will not take offense.”

"Of course not! I'm overjoyed that Brother Du appreciates my poems. After all, true friends are hard to find, and kindred spirits are even harder to come by!" Meng Zhan's magnanimous attitude made Du Huan like him even more.

The two ordered some food and drinks and began drinking in the room.

"I never expected Brother Meng to be a Jinshi this year. My apologies for not being more discerning!" Young Master Du was increasingly impressed by Meng Zhan's talent, and considering Meng Zhan's upcoming status, he decided to sincerely befriend him.

"Brother Du, you flatter me. I have also read your poems. Your talent is no less than mine. If you were to take the imperial examination, your ranking would definitely be higher than mine." Meng Zhan flattered Du Huan, but in his heart he did not take him seriously.

How could someone from a merchant family compare to a genuine scholar like him? Even if Du Huan were to take the imperial examination, he certainly wouldn't be as good as him.

Du Huan was flattered by Meng Zhan's praise and immediately began to call Meng Zhan his brother.

"Brother Meng, if you need anything in the future, just tell me. I, Du, will definitely do my duty without hesitation." Du Huan was clearly a little drunk.

Meng Zhan readily agreed, "Then I'll have to rely on Brother Du's help a lot from now on!"

Both of them drank quite a bit during the meal. Du Huan was already staggering from the alcohol, and Meng Zhan helped him out. When Du Huan's servant saw that his young master had drunk so much, he immediately brought the carriage over.

"Brother Meng, come again tomorrow, and we'll drink until we drop." Du Huan said as the servant helped him into the carriage, still making the invitation to Meng Zhan.

Meng Zhan readily agreed, and Du Huan then left in the carriage, satisfied.

Having finally established a connection with Young Master Du, Meng Zhan was overjoyed. The dowry of tens of thousands of taels was an astronomical figure for a family like his, but in Du Huan's eyes, it was nothing more than the cost of a few meals.

Once they became more familiar with each other, he could ask him for a loan so he could propose to Liu Feifei, which would secure his official position. Everything seemed to be going more smoothly.

The night wind was a bit chilly, and as Meng Zhan walked along the road, the cold wind made him feel much more energetic.

His route home inevitably passes by the casino, but there weren't many people there today, probably because it was too cold.

Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly felt everything go black, and then a sack was put over his head.

Without saying a word, a flurry of punches came flying at him.

"Who are you! Why are you hitting me!" Meng Zhan struggled in the darkness, but the man didn't seem to have any intention of letting him off easily. He punched and kicked him a few more times before leaving.

Meng Zhan finally managed to remove the sack from his head, only to find that the person had already disappeared.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes flashing with malice. He'd better not let him know who did it.

Yan Dahuzi jogged all the way back to his place. Ever since he lost to Bai Wanqing at the gambling den, he had been utterly disgraced.

Because of his reputation for cheating, he is now barred from entering any gambling dens.

This was his livelihood! They say cutting off someone's money is like killing their parents; without a way to make a living, he'd been living a miserable life these past few days. He'd considered revenge on Bai Wanqing, but he was a man who, after years in the gambling world, adhered to the principle of accepting defeat. He couldn't let others look down on him. Fortunately, he knew Meng Zhan was the apple of Bai Wanqing's eye, even though they were divorced. If he hit him, Bai Wanqing would surely feel sorry for him.

He wanted to make Bai Wanqing feel sorry for him, so he went all out just now and hit her hard. It was really satisfying, and of course, he felt good about it too.

Meng Zhan didn't know who had hit him. He covered his face and limped back. Recently, apart from divorcing Bai Wanqing, he hadn't offended anyone else!
Could it be that Bai Wanqing hired someone to beat him up?
Meng Zhan gritted his teeth, regardless of whether it was Bai Wanqing or not, he was determined to hold Bai Wanqing accountable.

"Meng Lang!" A carriage suddenly stopped beside Meng Zhan, and the woman inside lifted the curtain.

Meng Zhan turned his head, looked at the carriage, and recognized the woman sitting in it. "Feifei, what are you doing here!"

Liu Feifei first helped Meng Zhan into the carriage, and the two arrived at the inn where Liu Feifei was staying.

It was quite dark outside, so Liu Feifei didn't notice the injury on Meng Zhan's face. She just assumed that it was probably slippery and he had accidentally fallen and hurt his foot.

But as soon as they arrived at the inn and the oil lamp was lit, Liu Feifei was so shocked that she covered her mouth, and then her face was filled with anger.

"Meng Lang, who is it? Who hit you!" Liu Feifei was so distressed that she sent someone to fetch a doctor, worried that Meng Zhan's body might have been damaged.

Meng Zhan stopped her, saying, "Feifei, these are just superficial injuries, no need to see a doctor."

The divorce was already causing quite a stir in Huai'an County recently, and if news of him being beaten comes out, the storm surrounding this matter will finally blow over!
After all, once he marries Liu Feifei, everyone will think that Bai Wanqing hired someone to beat him up out of anger, which will create many misunderstandings, and it will be difficult to explain later.

Looking at Meng Zhan, whose head was swollen like a pig's, Liu Feifei felt sorry for him and shed tears. "You said you didn't need to see a doctor, but you're already injured like this. You should at least put some medicine on him first!"

Liu Feifei sent someone to get the medicine, and this time Meng Zhan didn't stop her.

"Meng Lang, was it Bai Wanqing who did this?" Liu Feifei asked.

Meng Zhan paused, then shook his head. "I don't know! But let's not make a fuss about this for now. We can pursue this matter after everything is settled."

Liu Feifei had originally come to inquire about the progress, but she had held back from asking earlier because Meng Zhan was injured. Now that Meng Zhan brought it up, she continued the conversation by asking, "How are your preparations for the betrothal gifts going?"

Meng Zhan looked at Liu Feifei in disbelief, but then composed himself. "Feifei, do you really need that much money? You know, my Meng family simply can't afford that much."

Meng Zhan still hoped that Liu Feifei could compromise. Although he had a way to get money from Young Master Du, that would mean owing Young Master Du a huge favor.

Young Master Du has other motives regarding this favor, and it would be best if it didn't involve borrowing money.

But when Liu Feifei heard Meng Zhan ask her to reduce the betrothal gifts again, she jumped up and exclaimed, "Meng Zhan, what did you promise me before?!"

"Whatever others have, I will have too!"

"You said you would make me the happiest woman in the world, but now it's just a mere ten thousand taels of silver as a betrothal gift, and you keep making excuses. Do you really want to marry me?"

Before Meng Zhan could react, Liu Feifei launched into a barrage of questions.

The light in Meng Zhan's eyes dimmed, but he still controlled his tone, "Of course I want to marry you, I was just asking."

Liu Feifei, however, did not think so. After all, Meng Zhan had talked to her many times about the betrothal gifts. Liu Feifei threw a tantrum and walked aside, ignoring Meng Zhan.

Even when the waiter brought the medicine in, Liu Feifei didn't take it; she had no experience in taking care of people. "The medicine's here, do you want to put some on?"

Liu Feifei pointed to the liniment on the table and asked.

Meng Zhan thought she was going to apply it for him, so he nodded, but then there was no further movement.

Liu Feifei didn't move. She looked at Meng Zhan, who was staring at her, with a puzzled expression. "I don't know how to apply it. Why don't you apply it yourself?"

Meng Zhan, whose face resembled a pig's head, was stunned for a moment, his eyes filled with disappointment.

Liu Feifei noticed Meng Zhan's displeasure and explained, "Meng Lang, have you forgotten? I'm pregnant, and there are some medications I can't take."

Meng Zhan ignored her and struggled to pick up the medicine on the table to apply it to himself.

Ouch! That really hurts!

(End of this chapter)