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

Chapter 47 Jealousy Never Disappears
Madam Cui smiled calmly from the side, never expecting that her seemingly shameless son would be so easily embarrassed. He really was a brat.

After the meal, Cui took Lin Feiyun and Daniu to Aunt Lin's house, leaving Bai Wanqing and Lin Yunche alone to talk.

Because of what Da Niu said at the dinner table, Lin Yunche didn't dare to look up, afraid that his gaze would make Bai Wanqing's face burn again.

Looking at the usually arrogant man with his head down, Bai Wanqing couldn't help but think about the purpose of her trip.

"Did Master Huang make things difficult for you?" Bai Wanqing pursed her lips. She had never thought that Master Huang was an easy person to talk to.

"No!" Lin Yunche's voice was a little hoarse.

“But after Master Huang returned from Linjia Village, his attitude changed drastically. I thought it was because you agreed to some conditions he had agreed to.” Bai Wanqing secretly observed the expression on Lin Yunche’s face.

Why is it that this guy just keeps blushing, without showing any other unusual expression?

"Hmph! You're overthinking it. What conditions could a poor boy like me possibly negotiate with the Huang family?" Lin Yunche said impatiently. "Don't worry! Since I've agreed to marry you, I will naturally keep my promise!"

"As for the rest, don't ask anymore."

Seeing Lin Yunche's inner resistance, Bai Wanqing stopped asking. In short, she had already made up her mind that no matter what happened, she would face it together with Lin Yunche.

After returning from Linjia Village, Bai Wanqing went directly to the century-old pharmacy.

Although she hadn't been learning from Old Man Luo for long, Bai Wanqing could clearly feel that her medical skills had improved significantly compared to before.

Even Old Man Luo praised her with great satisfaction: "You are more talented than your mother!"

"Alas, it's a pity," Old Man Luo deliberately left his words unfinished in front of Bai Wanqing.

"What's a pity?" Bai Wanqing asked, looking up.

"It's a pity you're getting married soon, and you probably won't be able to travel around with this old man like me anymore!" Old Luo said with a wistful expression.

Bai Wanqing smiled and said, "Then please follow me, Master Luo. Wherever I go, Master Luo will follow me, isn't that fine?"

Old Luo's eyes lit up. "Do you really believe that? Your mother got married back then, but she disappeared without a trace. You're probably just trying to make this old man happy by saying that!"

"Besides, even if you were willing, your husband's family wouldn't agree to you marrying him!"

Bai Wanqing thought of Lin Yunche's appearance, a smile playing in her eyes, "He won't! He'll be willing."

Old Luo hissed, goosebumps rising all over his body. "That would be the best!"

Wouldn't he be able to keep eating his grand-disciple's noodles and enjoying his grand-disciple's blessings, and most importantly, he could also study all the precious medicinal herbs from the snow-capped mountains in his grand-disciple's medical clinic? How wonderful!

Old Man Luo returned to the backyard satisfied, not forgetting to tease his grand-disciple before leaving, "You look better in men's clothing than most of the young masters in our county!"

After hearing this, Bai Wanqing glanced at the men's clothing she hadn't had time to change out of and was somewhat speechless. After all, no young lady would casually wander around in men's clothing. So, was Master Luo really praising her?
Time flies, and before she knew it, it was evening. Bai Wanqing finished organizing the last of herbal records and prepared to go back.

On her way back, Bai Wanqing overheard two passersby talking about Meng Zhan.

"How come I heard that Lord Meng and the daughter of the Prefect of Liuzhou are engaged?"

"They're engaged! No wonder he insisted on divorcing the eldest daughter of the Bai family back then. Was he already with her then?"

"Hey! You can't just say things like that. I heard that they divorced because the eldest daughter of the Bai family was disrespectful to her mother-in-law, and it has nothing to do with these things."

"Tsk tsk, only you would believe that. But this time the Meng family has really climbed up the social ladder, unlike us ordinary folks."

"You still speak so carelessly. Aren't you afraid of offending Lord Meng and then suffering the consequences?"

The two noticed Bai Wanqing while they were talking, immediately fell silent, and then went their separate ways.

Bai Wanqing smiled gently. Meng Zhan's current situation and future had nothing to do with her anymore, so why were they avoiding her like this?

The news of Meng Zhan's appointment as the Assistant Prefect of Huaizhou spread throughout Huai'an County the next day!

The Meng family's rented house was also overwhelmed with visitors, almost all of them offering congratulations. Madam Fang couldn't stop smiling; after so many years, she had finally waited for this day.

"Zhan'er! When are we moving to Huaizhou?"

Fang was happy now, but as the mother of the Assistant Magistrate of Huaizhou, she still lived in such a small house. Today, when the neighbors came to visit, she still felt a little embarrassed.

She wanted to move to Huaizhou Prefecture as soon as possible.

Meng Zhan had just returned from Huaizhou and was very tired, but out of consideration for his mother, he patiently replied, "Soon, the official documents for taking up the post have been issued, and we can move there on a chosen date."

"Did they allocate you a house?" Fang asked, concerned about her living situation. "Yes, they did. After all, I'm a fifth-rank official, how could I not have a house?" Meng Zhan said, feeling somewhat relieved. He knew that most of his fellow graduates had only been assigned to minor local positions as seventh or ninth-rank officials.

He was different. He had Liu Feifei and the merits that Prefect Liu had given him. He didn't need to go through those small positions to hone his skills. He could become a sub-prefect of the fifth rank right away, which meant he had to work much less hard than his peers.

Thinking about this, Meng Zhan felt that his decision was worthwhile, and Bai Wanqing would never bring him such an opportunity.

Thinking of Bai Wanqing, Meng Zhan felt a pang of sadness for some reason. "Mother, I heard that Wanqing is engaged?"

Upon hearing Bai Wanqing's name, Fang gritted her teeth in anger. "Hmph! That ruthless woman has finally gotten her comeuppance."

"I heard that a few days ago, Master Huang wanted to take her as a concubine. It was all about to be arranged, but Master Huang refused and took her third sister instead."

"I was just saying, how could anyone want a divorced woman, especially a wealthy family like Master Huang? It turns out it was a misunderstanding; they probably wanted the third young lady of the Bai family."

"She couldn't get into the Huang family, so I heard she just found a poor family. I think that poor family is from Linjia Village. Tsk tsk, we all know what Linjia Village is like. She can only marry into a family like that." Fang felt a surge of satisfaction.

Meng Zhan frowned but said nothing, after all, Bai Wanqing had indeed been very ruthless before.

It's just a pity, a real shame that such a stunning face of hers was wasted. If he had another chance, he wouldn't be foolish enough to give up the opportunity to kiss her again.

Not only was Madam Fang pleased with the rumors circulating outside that the Huang family had taken a concubine, but Bai Qinglian herself was also quite pleased.

To outsiders, she was still a cut above Bai Wanqing.

"Miss, the manager of Jinlou Wanqingsi just sent someone to deliver a message saying that their shop has received dozens of new styles of jewelry, and asked if you would be interested in taking a look?" Xia Yu said while helping Bai Qinglian comb her hair.

"New style? Of course I have to go and see!" In the past two days, Bai Qinglian has completely accepted the fact that she is going to marry into the Huang family. As a daughter of the Bai family, whether she is a concubine or a wife, she has to have a certain status. Although concubines do not need a dowry, she has to have one. She is different.

So during this time, she was choosing her dowry. Whether it was a silk shop or a gold and silver shop, they would come to the Bai family to inform her when they had new styles. This was different from before when they were not engaged. The other party valued the Huang family's wealth more, which Bai Qinglian appreciated.

Xia Yu responded and took out all of Bai Qinglian's clothes for her to choose from. "Miss, which outfit would you like to wear today?"

These clothes were all sent over by Master Huang's men yesterday. They were all the latest styles this year, and there were seven or eight sets in total. Bai Qinglian tried on the purple fur coat and felt it was a bit old-fashioned, so she tried on the white one and was satisfied with it.

"I'll wear this! By the way, is the carriage ready?" Bai Qinglian asked, looking at herself in the mirror with satisfaction.

"Everything is ready. I had someone take it to the side gate; it'll be closer to us there," Xia Yu replied.

Bai Qinglian nodded, quite satisfied with Xia Yu's thoughtful consideration. After Xia Yu helped Bai Qinglian tidy her clothes, the two headed towards the side gate of the courtyard.

As soon as they passed through the side courtyard, they saw someone outside the side gate, but it didn't seem to be the coachman who was driving their carriage.

It's Uncle Liu. What's he doing here at this hour? And who is he talking to?

Bai Qinglian looked at Xia Yu questioningly, but Xia Yu shook her head, indicating that she did not know.

Bai Qinglian led Xia Yu over and discovered that the person talking to Uncle Liu was none other than Du Huan, the young master of the Du family.

What is he doing here? Bai Qinglian suddenly recalled what Du Huan had said in the front hall of the Bai family.

He said he was in love with the second young lady of the Bai family, so what he said wasn't an excuse to refuse; he really liked that fool Bai Furong.

Bai Qinglian's initially good mood has now vanished without a trace.

Hmph! Bai Qinglian stormed back to the courtyard, and as soon as she entered, she threw all the clothes that Master Huang had given her on the ground.

"What makes Bai Furong so special?" Bai Qinglian said bitterly.

Xia Yu also found it strange, "Yes, Miss, how could Young Master Du take a fancy to the Second Miss? You know, in what way can the Second Miss compare to you, the Third Miss? I really don't understand what he's thinking."

Bai Qinglian was even angrier after hearing this. If she had lost to Bai Wanqing, she would have felt that she could still find some excuses for herself. But now that this Young Master Du actually wanted to marry Bai Furong, she just couldn't swallow this insult.

"Miss, Miss, a young master is looking for you at the gate of the side courtyard!" A servant suddenly came to Bai Qinglian's courtyard to report.

Bai Qinglian's eyes lit up, and Xia Yu whispered beside her, "Miss, do you think it might be Young Master Du? He... regrets rejecting you back then?"

"Or perhaps those fruits and pastries were originally meant for you, Miss, and you hope to gain your forgiveness?"

Bai Qinglian's expression softened slightly. "Hmph! At least he's not blind. Let's go, let's go take a look!"

Bai Qinglian led Ruixin quickly to the side courtyard. She couldn't wait to see Du Huan and witness his regretful expression.

(End of this chapter)