Chapter 87 The Unclosed Window

When Zhu Qingyan returned to Chen's house, the servants saw her and said that the mistress and the second young master were waiting for her to have dinner together.

Zhu Qingyan's heart tightened. He was a guest now, and it was not appropriate to let Madam Chen wait for him, so he hurried to the side hall.

"Madam, Qingyan is late. Please don't blame me." As he approached the side hall, Zhu Qingyan quickly apologized.

Chen Ziming didn't say anything, but looked at his mother.

Mrs. Chen did not blame him, but just took a sip of the soup in the bowl.

"The rules of our Chen Mansion are a bit complicated, and they are different from those of smaller families."

Zhu Qingyan's face felt hot, which was even more painful than being slapped in the face.

"Let's eat quickly." Chen Ziming said.

While eating, Mrs. Chen talked about Zhu Qingyan's schedule again.

"Starting tomorrow, the maid in the mansion will teach you embroidery, needlework, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as some etiquette.

As a woman, it is not enough to just be able to read. "

Zhu Qingyan felt a little uncomfortable as he listened to the clear arrangements being made for him.

Although Mrs. Chen had good intentions, perhaps she was training herself to be her future daughter-in-law.

but……

Zhu Qingyan hesitated for a long time, but finally mustered up his courage and said carefully:

"Madam, the entrance exam is coming soon. Qingyan...Qingyan still wants to focus on studying during this period of time."

Seeing that Madam Chen's mouth sank a little, Zhu Qingyan hurriedly continued: "If you can get good results in the college examination, you can also bring honor to the Chen family."

"Hmm..." Mrs. Chen's expression eased a little and she smiled.

"Okay, then it's up to you, but you have to think about the consequences yourself."

Consequences? Zhu Qingyan was stunned, but Mrs. Chen had already changed the subject.

After Mrs. Chen left, only Chen Ziming and Zhu Qingyan were left in the room.

Before Zhu Qingyan could ask any questions, Chen Ziming spoke first, with a hint of blame in his tone.

"Qingyan, you really don't have me in your heart."

Zhu Qingyan was puzzled, why did she no longer have him in her heart?

Chen Ziming said, "Your coming of age date is about the same as the college entrance examination date. Mother originally intended to arrange for someone to propose marriage to you on your coming of age date."

Zhu Qingyan was delighted, and then he heard Chen Ziming continue:

"But if you want to enter the Chen family, you have to learn those things. If you put it off now, don't regret it when mother arranges for me to marry someone else."

"You've chosen someone else?" Zhu Qingyan couldn't believe it. "If Madam Chen had taken a fancy to another girl, you would have married her without saying a word, right?"

Chen Ziming pursed his lips tightly, and after a long while he said, "Parents' orders, matchmaker's words..."

"Senior Brother Ziming!" Zhu Qingyan stood up angrily and spoke to him so loudly for the first time.

Seeing her angry, Chen Ziming had no choice but to coax her softly:

"Qingyan, of course I like you, otherwise why would I take the initiative to mention it to my mother?

Look around this house, who doesn't treat you as the future young lady? Why don't you understand?

I've done this much, why can't you make some sacrifices?"

Zhu Qingyan was suddenly speechless.

Yes, with the Chen family's family background and status, there are many women who want to marry into the family. Even if one really wants to marry the daughter of a high-ranking official, it is not a difficult task.

I am a little girl with no money and power, so it is no exaggeration to say that I am marrying above my station.

"I understand, Brother Ziming."

There was no trace of the momentum in his words.

…

During the following period of time, Zhu Qingyan worked almost non-stop.

She took the initiative to find the teaching nanny in the Chen Mansion and asked her to teach her.

Every day she would attend classes at Longchang Academy, and at night she would return to Chen Mansion to learn etiquette and the arts of calligraphy, painting, and chess.

Even on holidays, she would secretly run to Ji Wuya's thatched cottage to attend classes.

After more than a month, the dark circles under my eyes have become much heavier.

Zhu Lan was also on guard, and it didn't take long for him to discover that Zhu Qingyan was eavesdropping on the class outside the window.

However, she was not interested in getting entangled with Zhu Qingyan about these things. Learning poetry outside was not something shameful, and they never intended to hide it.

Just let her go.

…

The weather has turned cooler in recent days and everyone has changed into cotton robes. Ji Wuya is old and afraid of the cold, so he also started to burn charcoal in the house.

Students often came to see Ji Wuya, and the layout inside the thatched cottage was similar to that of a classroom, with many tables and chairs.

Zhu Lan was sitting next to the window, and occasionally he could hear Zhu Qingyan's suppressed sneezes coming from outside the window.

A cool breeze blew in, ruffling the papers on the tables near the window.

Qiao Youyou quickly grabbed the paperweight to press down the paper, then stood up and tried to close the window.

Zhu Lan looked up and smiled faintly: "It's okay, some wind blowing in will help refresh your mind."

Zhu Qingyan, who was standing outside the window, felt a tightness in his heart. If the window was closed, he wouldn't be able to hear what was being said inside.

Zhu Lan's reaction just now, could it be that... he discovered me!?

Zhu Qingyan was flustered for a moment.

Another gust of wind blew, and Zhu Qingyan, who could not feel the temperature of the charcoal fire in the house, could not help but shiver.

Humph, that Zhu Lan knew that I was freezing outside, but he didn't even bother to be polite and let me in. How vicious!

At the same time, another voice sounded in Zhu Qingyan's mind.

How can you be so useless! How can you even dream of receiving charity from the person you hate the most!

Zhu Qingyan shook his head and shook off these messy thoughts.

Anyway, she came here to learn from others.

But Zhu Lan did not close the window. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Zhu Qingyan felt a sense of gratitude in his heart.

…

Chen Ziming picked up the rice paper in front of Zhu Qingyan and read the poem on it several times, and couldn't help but exclaimed:

"Qingyan, what's wrong with you lately? Your poetry and writing have improved so rapidly that I am almost ashamed of myself!"

Zhu Qingyan lowered his head slightly and said with a smile: "Maybe I have read a few more poetry collections recently."

After all, she was embarrassed to tell anyone about the stealing of skills, especially to let Chen Ziming know.

"The nanny in the mansion told mother that you have studied well these days. Mother is very happy and you have worked hard." Chen Ziming looked at the two faint dark circles under Zhu Qingyan's eyes and said with some heartache.

Zhu Qingyan felt a sweet feeling in her heart and snuggled in Chen Ziming's arms.

After a while, she noticed that Chen Ziming was in a bad mood.

"Brother, what's wrong with you?"

Chen Ziming looked embarrassed and hesitated to speak, as if there was something extremely difficult to say.

Zhu Qingyan looked at him with concern.

"Qingyan, there is something, maybe... you need to be prepared." Chen Ziming's tone became heavy.

Seeing him like this, Zhu Qingyan knew it must be something important and nodded seriously.

Chen Ziming hesitated for a long time and said:

"The political situation is turbulent, and some things may implicate my family. If I cannot give you a life of luxury in the future, are you still willing to marry me?"

Zhu Qingyan stood there in a daze. What did he mean by this? Was something going to happen in the Chen Mansion?