Chapter 92 Farewell (Part 1)

Zhuang Wan also heard about the arranged marriage between Shen Yi and Princess Wu Jing.

She was having lunch at the time and was surprised for a long time: "Did Princess Wu Jing take the initiative to ask for marriage?"

"I guess so." Qiu Tan said, "Princess Wu Jing won first place. The Queen Mother said she liked her and wanted to keep her in our Da Zhao. So the Emperor arranged a marriage for her and asked her who she liked. Princess Wu Jing pointed to Lord Shen."

Qiu Tan laughed as she spoke, "Miss, you don't know, but Lord Shen was stunned at the time. The Queen Mother said he was so happy that he was stupid."

"Really?" Zhuang Wan always felt that it didn't seem right.

A few days ago, Chen Yi asked her how to make someone remember him. Without asking, she knew that the friend he was talking about, who he had met a few times, must be a woman, and definitely not Princess Wu Jing.

So, this marriage might...

Zhuang Wan put down her things and said, "Where is Princess Wu Jing? I'll go see."

She went straight to Princess Wujing's residence, but the maids said that Princess Wujing had not returned yet.

"Do you know where he went?" Zhuang Wan asked.

Princess Wu Jing's maid shook her head: "The princess left on horseback and didn't allow us to follow. I don't know where she went."

"oh."

Zhuang Wan returned with regret, and halfway through she thought of Jiang Baohe, so she turned and went to Jiang Baohe's residence.

But strangely, Jiang Baohe was not there either.

"Sister Jiang hasn't come back yet. I didn't see her at lunch. Maybe she went to see her mother?" said the noble lady who lived with her.

Zhuang Wan nodded and finally returned to her own courtyard.

She sat in the pavilion, silently gazing at Lianyin Lake. The lake was quiet and vast, just like her mood at the moment.

The enthusiasm fades, and the sadness of parting is scattered all over the floor.

Although she had spent quite some time in the capital, she had the good fortune to make a few close friends. The road ahead was long and uncertain, and it would undoubtedly be a lonely journey.

Qiu Tan moved a stool to sit beside her and do her needlework, while she talked about the polo match she had seen that morning. She had invited other maids to watch the polo match that morning, and she had been excited since returning.

"Miss, you didn't see it. Princess Wu Jing is so amazing. She won so many balls by herself."

"Her riding skills are also very good. No one else can catch up with her."

"And Miss Jiang from the Xiayang Marquis's Mansion. I heard that Miss Jiang was a polo expert in the past..."

Zhuang Wan listened indifferently, and suddenly felt a little nostalgic for such noisy sounds.

Qiu Tan continued to chatter on and on, and finally, he mentioned Pei Xingju.

"Lord Pei also went there later," she said.

Zhuang Wan's eyelashes twitched as she asked softly, "Isn't his leg injured?"

"It should be fine now. I saw Master Pei even go up to the stands."

Zhuang Wan didn't say anything.

After a while, Qiu Tan put down her needlework and said, "Miss, there are some things I don't know whether I should say or not."

"If you don't know yourself, it's best not to talk about it."

"......" Qiu Tan pursed her lips: "This slave girl must tell you."

She said, "Although I don't know what the conflict is between the young lady and Master Pei, I can see that Master is extremely unwilling. I heard that he hasn't eaten much in the past two days."

"Who told you that?"

"It's the beginning of summer."

Qiu Tan added, "Lixia is sad too. Why did the young lady chase Lixia and Jingzhe away for no reason? They didn't do anything wrong."

Zhuang Wan sighed, "Silly boy, how can she leave the palace without sending those two away?"

But she couldn't explain herself, so she made up a story: "Since Pei Xingju and I have broken up, it's of course not right for me to use his maid anymore. Otherwise, think about it, who will pay the monthly salary, Pei Xingju or me? I'm so poor, I can't afford it."

Qiu Tan suddenly realized: "Yes! Miss is really thoughtful."

Her thin eyebrows knitted together, as if she had made up her mind: "But it doesn't matter. When I earn more money for you in the future, you can give them a monthly salary."

Zhuang Wan smiled. Qiu Tan was simple and innocent. She hoped she would always be so simple.

"Qiutan," she thought for a moment before saying, "remember what I said. No matter what happens in the future, you must run the shop well for me. If you encounter any difficulties, go find Shopkeeper Su of Furong Cloth Shop, or go find Guard Lu. Guard Lu will help you."

Qiu Tan looked at her blankly for a moment, then nodded heavily: "I understand. I will definitely work hard to make money!"

Zhuang Wan smiled and pinched her fair cheek.

Time flew by, and an afternoon passed in a flash. The setting sun fell over the lake, casting a crimson glow on the water. The ladies who had gone out to watch the men's polo match returned one after another. As they passed, they glanced at Zhuang Wan, then put away their smiles and went back inside.

Zhuang Wan turned her gaze back, and for some reason, she suddenly became anxious as evening approached.

She didn't know what she was so anxious about.

After a while, he stood up suddenly and said, "Qiutan, come with me to the kitchen."

She wanted to prepare a last dinner for Pei Xingju, as a farewell party, and also as her last compensation to him.

.

There was a cool breeze, dim lights, and the sky was still glowing with rosy clouds. The lights in Pei Xingju's residence began to be lit.

The lights have been lit early these days. I heard that Lord Pei doesn't like the dark, so he ordered his servants to light the lights early.

At this time, Lord Pei and several officials were discussing matters in the study. No one knew what they were discussing, but occasionally some sounds of dispute could be heard.

When the servants finished lighting the lamps and were about to leave, they met Zhuang Wan walking up from the corridor carrying a food box.

Her figure reflected in the sunset looked unreal.

One of them rubbed his eyes and saw that it was indeed Zhuang Wan whom he had not seen for many days. He was immediately happy and turned around to knock on the door.

There was a knock on the study door, and the discussion stopped abruptly.

The servant outside said excitedly, "Master Pei, Master Pei, Miss Zhuang is here."

Miss Zhuang is here...

The officials in the room looked at each other in bewilderment. Just come if you want, why bother reporting this specifically? Could Miss Zhuang's affairs be more important than the court's?

These servants are becoming more and more unruly!

Lord Ji opened his mouth to continue the previous topic, but was suddenly interrupted by Pei Xingju.

"Everyone, it's getting late. We'll discuss this matter tomorrow."

Master Ji was bewildered: "No, we just arrived and were only halfway through the discussion..."

Pei Xingju raised his hand to rub his forehead, looking a little tired, then smiled and said, "Everyone, please go back."

“..........”

Everyone looked at each other, understood each other tacitly, and could only bow and leave.

Zhuang Wan waited outside for a while until everyone had left, then she walked to the door carrying the lunch box.