Chapter 56 Why Does She Absolutely Have to Get Married?

She added, "Master, the imperial examination is approaching, so please focus on your studies and preparation."

*

Jiang Zhi has been recuperating at Chuntang Garden for the past few days.

Upon hearing that Jiang Yunqian had been brought back, although she appeared to be unharmed, she seemed to have lost her soul and would only respond after being called several times.

Wang Yuru searched for famous doctors all over the capital but none of them could help her. They could only say that she was too frightened and needed to rest and recuperate. They said that she might recover on her own after a while.

This period became the most pleasant time for Jiang Zhi, as Wang Yuru was busy treating Jiang Yunqian and had no time to cause her trouble.

As she was in charge of the Jiang family's household affairs, she had the small kitchen send a lot of ginseng soup and tonics to Shen Ci'an so that he could prepare well for the exam.

On the day Shen Ci'an went on his scientific expedition, she personally sent a carriage to deliver the items and prepared many warm supplies for him.

That day, Jiang Zhi's leg had almost fully recovered, and she was sitting on the veranda writing when Qing Xing rushed in, her face beaming with joy, "Congratulations, Miss! Young Master has passed the imperial examination!"

Jiang Zhi wasn't surprised to hear this.

Just like in his previous life, Shen Ci'an's efforts paid off, and he finally got what he wanted.

There must be many people congratulating him now, so Jiang Zhi didn't want to join in the fun. She waited until the next day before bringing the prepared things to Zhizhixuan.

But as soon as they stepped into the courtyard, they sensed that something was wrong.

Shen Ci'an stood with his back to her, still wearing his usual blue robe, holding something in his hand, frozen in place like a statue.

"Master," Jiang Zhi stepped forward to offer her congratulations, "I have come here today to offer my congratulations on the fulfillment of your long-cherished wish. May I ask if I may have a cup of your celebratory tea?"

Shen Ci'an remained silent and did not speak.

This was completely different from his usual attitude towards her.

Jiang Zhi was puzzled and walked up to him. "What's wrong, Master?"

Her gaze fell on what Shen Ci'an was holding in his hand.

It was a seemingly ordinary, slightly yellowed handwritten scripture. Jiang Zhi examined it closely, and her heart sank.

This is a scripture she copied by hand and offered before her mother's spirit tablet. She has been going up the mountain to pay homage to her mother every year since her mother passed away.

She looked up at him in surprise, "How come you have this, Master?"

Shen Ci'an's expression was calm and still, his pupils seemed to have just regained focus as he unfolded the scriptures in his hand for Jiang Zhi to see.

"The young lady is extremely filial to her mother. The scripture she copied is beautiful and graceful, each character is full of spirit and is filled with piety and respect." His voice was as faint as the clouds in the sky, so ethereal that it was impossible to catch.

"It's a pity that such good calligraphy is not from my daily teachings, and it is on par with my own as a teacher."

Jiang Zhi's delicate brows furrowed as she saw Shen Ci'an's cold gaze fall upon her.

"So, Miss, you've been lying to me from the very beginning, haven't you?"

Jiang Zhi pursed her lips, "Master, I..."

"How could I be worthy of being called Master by the young lady?" Shen Ci'an's self-deprecating voice rang out, "Such good calligraphy is beyond my reach, so why should the young lady condescend to practice at my Zhizhi Pavilion?"

Jiang Zhi felt utterly overwhelmed.

She was already very careful in her daily life and never showed it in front of Shen Ci'an. Even in her own Chuntang Garden, she wrote in Shen Ci'an's handwriting.

However, since her mother had taught her calligraphy when she was young, she dared not be careless and upset her mother, so she had to put in her best effort when copying scriptures.

She asked him, puzzled, "How did this scripture end up in the Master's hands?"

Shen Ci'an closed his eyes and sighed deeply, "Today I went up the mountain to fulfill my vow. I remembered that your mother's memorial tablet was at Puzhao Temple, so I thought I would go over and offer incense and leave. I never expected to make such a discovery."

"I, Shen, possess nothing of value and live a life of poverty. I wonder what could possibly be of interest to you, Miss?"

When he taught her calligraphy, she must have secretly mocked him for being a know-it-all and overestimating his abilities.

Is it fun to treat him like a fool?

Even when he proposed to her, she probably laughed at him, thinking he was a toad trying to eat swan meat, a snobbish opportunist trying to climb the social ladder.

Shen Ci'an felt as if a large hole had been torn in his heart, and a cold wind was blowing straight in.

The joy of being the top scorer in the college entrance examination could not erase the bitterness and suffocation in my chest.

“Master, I have never looked down on you. I know your character,” Jiang Zhi was still trying to explain. “I, I have always admired you and didn’t know how to get close to you to do so.”

She lowered her head and obediently admitted her mistake, "I was wrong, teacher."

Shen Ci'an looked at her cautious demeanor, which was no different from when she was being scolded by him, but he still couldn't accept her deception.

“Miss, there’s no need to say anything more. Any feelings built on lies are like a mirage, teetering on the brink of collapse, and will not last long. As for what I said before—” Shen Ci’an took a deep breath, “I’ll pretend I never said it. From now on, Miss, you don’t need to condescend to come to my Zhizhi Pavilion.”

Jiang Zhi looked up at him in shock.

Although she used the excuse of practicing calligraphy to get close to him, she never had any intention of hurting him.

"Does the Master really intend to be so heartless?"

Shen Ci'an turned his back to her, no longer looking at her. "How can I believe Miss's words now?"

"I understand, Master."

You can't force someone to have a sweet treat, and you can't force them to have one.

Now that he knows about this, there's no point in trying to marry him anymore.

She accepted her loss, so he can't be blamed.

"It was my fault to begin with, I'm sorry, teacher, I will definitely not bother you again in the future." Jiang Zhi quickly calmed down, her face showing a distant politeness, "I haven't congratulated you on passing the exam yet, teacher. This is a sachet that I embroidered myself, wishing you a bright future and great success."

Jiang Zhi took out a sachet from her bosom, and just as she was about to hand it over, she took it back and smiled helplessly.

"However, I think the Master will not accept my gift again. I was presumptuous."

She put the sachet back into her bosom, took a step back, and bowed respectfully to him.

"Thank you for your guidance these past few days, Master. I am deeply grateful. Farewell."

After she finished speaking, she didn't look at Shen Ci'an's expression anymore, and turned to leave.

Shen Ci'an stood frozen in place, and when he heard that there was no more movement behind him, his handsome face showed astonishment and disbelief.

She just left like that.

Is there not even a further explanation?

He clearly only wanted her...

Shen Ci'an felt as if he had been hit hard with a hammer, his face even more gloomy than the sky before a storm.

After leaving Zhizhixuan, Jiang Zhi played with the sachet in her hand, feeling only mockery.

See? As expected, what you gain through cunning will eventually be lost.

She was too naive.

"Young Miss, what's wrong?" Qingxing, who was waiting outside the courtyard, noticed that her complexion was off and asked her with concern.

Jiang Zhi gave a slight smile. "It's nothing. You don't need to come to Zhizhixuan anymore."

Qingxing nodded. "Yes, since the young master has become the top scholar in the imperial examination, he naturally won't be living in the Jiang family mansion. I heard that the emperor has bestowed a house upon him, so he should be moving out soon."

It's better to move out; out of sight, out of mind.

"Miss, would you like to take a look at those shops?" Although Qingxing didn't know what had happened, she still noticed that Jiang Zhi was in a bad mood, so she tried to distract her with something else.

Jiang Zhi was stunned, then suddenly realized what had happened.

Yes, why does she insist on getting married?

She now has a house, a shop, and banknotes. Even if she never marries, she and Qingxing can live a good life together. Why should she beg for a relationship that doesn't belong to her?

Thinking of this, Jiang Zhi immediately felt relieved.

"Okay, let's go to Beilifang and see our spice shop."

However, before Jiang Zhi could leave, an imperial edict arrived from the palace.

The Empress will hold a blessing banquet in the palace tomorrow and has ordered Jiang Zhi to attend.

Jiang Zhi knew that this was the banquet the Crown Prince had mentioned when she went to the palace to express her gratitude last time, the banquet for choosing the Crown Princess.