Because she was preoccupied with the matter of that prince, Shen Meng’s preparation speed was very fast. She didn’t even choose the thin porridge she liked very much for breakfast. Instead, she wrapped a fragrant fried dough stick and two golden spring rolls in oiled paper, put two soup-less vegetable buns inside, and went straight to the carriage.

She wasn’t talkative normally, sometimes in a hurry, she wouldn’t even say a word to Liang Jue. But perhaps because of the quarrel last night, Liang Jue always felt that today’s atmosphere was particularly awkward.

When Shen Meng stepped out of the door, he should have been sitting at the table drinking porridge, but after two sips, he couldn’t taste the slight sweetness he usually enjoyed in the porridge at all.

He also picked up a mouthful of refreshing cold dishes, but they didn’t taste as good as usual, leaving him with no appetite. The ingredients were naturally the freshest, and the chef was still the same as before, so it wasn’t the cook’s fault that the taste wasn’t as good as before, it was just his mood was so bad that he couldn’t lift his spirits for the time being.

Estimating that Shen Meng was about to get on the carriage, he suddenly stood up.

The servant who was serving him by his side was startled and asked hastily, “Is today’s breakfast not to your liking, sir? What would you like to eat? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it immediately.”

“It has nothing to do with you.” Liang Jue said abruptly and hurriedly walked outside.

When he stepped out of the door, Shen Meng had already walked for a while. He looked around and didn’t see Shen Meng’s figure. Still unwilling to give up, he lifted the hem of his clothes and ran towards the gate of the mansion.

When he reached the gate, he immediately saw Shen Meng’s tall and handsome figure. She was standing in front of a carriage saying something, it didn’t seem like she were about to leave.

He breathed a sigh of relief and slowed down, but still quickened his pace, walking briskly to Shen Meng’s side. “Wife…” He smiled, about to greet her, but his voice abruptly stopped after uttering two words.

Standing on the carriage, bowing towards him, was none other than Du Zhi, whom Shen Li had mentioned before intending to bring over.

Perhaps wanting to disgust him, Shen Meng’s thoughts of stirring up this little courtyard were too strong. Shen Li had just mentioned this matter yesterday, but today he had actually had Du Zhi brought over.

Perhaps because life after marriage was not going well for him, Du Zhi had become much thinner compared to two years ago. He wasn’t afraid to begin with, but now he looked like he had lost all the flesh from his face and body.

Although married, his wife was already dead. Perhaps subconsciously avoiding his married status, he had even tied his hair like an unmarried man today.

Du Zhi was not adorned with colorful jewelry, just a simple wooden hairpin to secure his hair. When he came over, he wore a simple plain white shirt, which made his already fair skin even whiter. Afraid of looking unhealthy, he had also applied some light lip color, making him look fresh and spirited.

Shen Meng, as a woman, was definitely not as sensitive to dressing up as a man. Despite Du Zhi looking very simple from head to toe, Liang Jue, as a man, could tell at a glance how much effort this person had put into this outfit.

Du Zhi obviously noticed Liang Jue’s gaze and said with a smile, “Brother-in-law, long time no see. You’re up really early, are you planning to see my sister off?”

Liang Jue’s face immediately darkened, his tone icy, “Don’t call me ‘Brother-in-law’. I, Liang, cannot afford to be connected with Young Master Du.”

If Du Zhi was just an ordinary person who liked Shen Meng, Liang Jue wouldn’t have given him a hard time considering he was Shen Meng’s cousin. But unfortunately, they had past conflicts, and Liang Jue hadn’t forgotten the things Young Master Du had done to him.

Du Zhi immediately showed a very sad expression. He was already petite, and after enduring so many hardships, he seemed even more pitiful. Without saying much, just one expression, one glance, easily evoked sympathy: “Brother-in-law, why do you say that? I know I’m not well-liked, but I haven’t said anything.”

Shen Meng expression slightly darkened. When she didn’t smile, she exuded a sense of dignity without anger. Now, with a serious expression, it was clearly a sign of anger.

Liang Jue felt wronged in his heart. After all, it wasn’t him scheme on Du Zhi, he think Shen Meng had forgot about his grudge. Now, just a few words from Du Zhi could anger him.

Although there might also be factors of them having a silent quarrel, he still felt very sad. Even the strongest person can be hurt by emotions. He lowered his head slightly, a mist forming in his eyes involuntarily.

Shen Meng’s lips moved, “Liang Jue, he is indeed not your relative, so you don’t have to call him brother-in-law.”

She was Du Zhi’s sister, as long as Liang Jue was her legitimate husband, Du Zhi could call him brother-in-law. By saying this, she clearly didn’t acknowledge Liang Jue as her legitimate husband.

When Liang Jue heard this, he felt even colder. He was originally cold because he hadn’t eaten, and the cool morning breeze had caused a slight goosebumps on his exposed skin, but now he was cold because of Shen Meng.

My stomach feels cold, and so does my heart and lungs.

Du Zhi has always loathed Liang Jue. When Liang Jue took away his supposed wife, he felt both jealous and resentful towards him. When the Liang family used tactics against him, his jealousy had turned into pure hatred.

Seeing Liang Jue’s weakness today made him feel extremely satisfied. However, when Shen Meng’s lips curled up slightly, she spoke up to finish her previous statement: “Of course, you don’t need to call me sister either, I can’t bear it.”

Unexpectedly, she was defending herself. Liang Jue raised his head in astonishment, his dilated pupils resembling a startled cat.

After saying this, she turned around, stepped on a stool, and got into her own carriage. It was almost time, and she didn’t want to miss the auspicious hour.

Shen Meng completely ignored Du Zhi, not even sparing him a glance. She grabbed onto the horse’s mane and, with the help of the carriage maid, stepped onto her own carriage.

When Shen Meng told the carriage maid to whip the horses, Liang Jue lifted the curtain and sat inside. He lost his balance, stumbled, and his body lurched forward.

He fell into a decent position, Shen Meng didn’t move, so he fell directly into her arms. Although Liang Jue wasn’t heavy, his bones were quite hard, especially his head, which bumped directly into her chest, despite the soft cushions in front.

However, Shen Meng wasn’t particularly well-endowed, and she still felt sore from the impact.

When the carriage stabilized, Liang Jue straightened up, grabbed Shen Meng’s knees to steady himself. After settling down beside Shen Meng, he finally came to his senses and rubbed the sore spots on his body.

Shen Meng coughed twice, then lifted her head and stared at the spot where they had collided for a while, suppressing her embarrassment and reaching out her hand, “Let me rub it for you, it’ll feel better.”

In the end, being young and agile, after rubbing it a couple of times, Shen Meng felt annoyed. She grabbed Liang Jue’s thin arm, “That’s enough, it’s not very painful. Just sit still.”

When she let go of his hand, Shen Meng quickly withdrew her own, thinking about the sensation of his touch just now, not sure if it was disappointment or relaxation, she let out a soft “oh.”

Liang Jue asked her in a low voice, “Why did you speak to Du Zhi like that just now? After all, he is your cousin.” Although he was a relative from Shen Li’s side, in terms of status, Shen Li was indeed Liang Jue’s legitimate father, and she shouldn’t have been so disrespectful.

“I was being polite to him. Aren’t you going to be upset again?” She sighed softly, “Your wife still has a good memory, and since I promised you before, I won’t go back on my word.”

Back then, when Du Zhi plotted against Liang Jue, although it was Liang Jue who suffered the damage, she, who had regarded Liang Jue as her predetermined legitimate husband, had also been harmed.

Moreover, Du Zhi didn’t use fair means, but rather despicable and malicious tactics.

At that time, she interceded out of consideration for the many years of kinship, but by opening her mouth, she had already settled the score with Du Zhi.

Liang Jue murmured softly, “You never say anything. I thought you had forgotten.”

His voice was so low that Shen Meng sitting face to face with him could hardly hear what he said clearly, “What did you say just now?”

Liang Jue shook his head, a smile appearing on his face, his eyes curved like crescent moons, the smile clear, like the sun after the rain, “Nothing, just happy.”

After this brief exchange with him, Shen Meng withdrew her gaze again. Naturally, she had to uphold her husband in front of others, but she also hadn’t forgotten that she was still in a cold war with Liang Jue, so she couldn’t be too warm towards him either.

After speaking so much, Shen Meng remembered that she hadn’t eaten her breakfast yet. She didn’t care about Liang Jue at all and just ate her own food.

The carriage was small, and she didn’t have the habit of bringing snacks. The little bit of food wrapped in oiled paper was just enough to fill her stomach.

She enjoyed her meal while Liang Jue stared at her…at the food in her hand without blinking.

When he decided to pursue Shen Meng earlier, he had set aside his breakfast. Just now, encountering Du Zhi had made him angry, and he felt incredibly upset, not even thinking about the fact that he was hungry.

Now feeling somewhat relieved, and seeing Shen Meng enjoying her meal so much, coupled with the small space in the carriage and the delicious fried dough sticks and spring rolls made with good oil, Shen Meng’s lips left a fragrant aroma in the carriage.

His Adam’s apple bobbed unconsciously as he swallowed saliva repeatedly. But moistening his mouth didn’t help much; he still felt very hungry, probably because the space was too small, and the patterns on the carriage walls weren’t pleasant to look at. He originally wanted to shift his gaze, but his eyes were fixed on Shen Meng’s hand that kept delivering food to her mouth.

One bite after another, the fragrant fried dough stick was gone, the first spring roll was gone, and only a mouthful remained of the second one… Now it was time to eat the big bun with thin skin and a lot of filling.

Liang Jue tried to sniff as if he could satisfy himself that way. But obviously, he was just deceiving himself; his honest stomach didn’t buy it. As Shen Meng finished eating the last bun, his stomach growled louder and louder.

“I can’t do anything with you. You didn’t even think to bring some food when you came out.” Shen Meng handed the last bun, still warm, to him. “Here, take it.”

“It’s alright, you go ahead and eat first. I’m not hungry.” There was food at home anyway, he could endure a little longer and eat when he got back.

“Alright, I don’t want to feel uncomfortable eating while being stared at.” Shen Meng insisted and stuffed the food into his arms, truly a person who says one thing but means another.

Although he was hungry, being from a noble background, Liang Jue ate with great refinement. However, he wasn’t slow either; it only took a short while for the oiled paper bag to be completely empty.

However, during this short period, the carriage had already stopped steadily at Shen Meng’s destination. Shen Meng leaned out first, and before getting off, she opened the curtain and addressed the carriage interior, “I’m getting off first, you can go back. If there’s anything, we can talk about it when I come back tonight.”

Liang Jue nodded as he held the paper bag, waiting for Shen Meng to get off the carriage. Then, he opened the curtain again and called out to her, “Wife, wait a moment.”

Shen Meng paused, “What is it?”

Liang Jue’s head popped out a bit more, “It’s about the Prince of Ganli. What does wife plan to do? Are you planning to meet him alone?”

“How could it be alone? I don’t understand what His Highness says, there should be interpreters with him, and there will definitely be guards.” Although the interpreter wasn’t very reliable, they could still manage.

At this juncture, the accident from the previous life shouldn’t have happened yet, so she could go earlier, and it wasn’t necessary to involve Liang Jue.

“Is there anything else? If not, I’ll go in first.”

Shen Meng was about to turn around when Liang Jue stopped her again, “Wait a moment.”

Shen Meng had no choice but to ask him, “What now?”

Liang Jue pursed his lips, still looking hesitant, but before Shen Meng could become impatient, he spoke up, “It’s about what you mentioned earlier. I agree. When do you plan to go?”

He thought for a moment, although he didn’t know how Shen Meng knew he understood the language of Ganli, if Shen Meng intended to meet the annoying prince of that backward country, it would be better for him to go along than not.

“Why the sudden change of heart?”

Liang Jue also had his temper, and he gave her a glance before returning the phrase Shen Meng often said to her, “Why do you ask so many questions? Just say when you plan to go.”

Shen Meng pondered for a moment, obviously considering.

Liang Jue pressed on, urging her, “Hurry up and decide, don’t delay the time for the appointment!”

Shen Meng reached out her hand to him, “Since you’re so anxious, alright, let’s do it today.”