Gao Xun rubbed his hands together, gazing at her beautiful face, his voice softening slightly: "I've already heard from Aunt Ning that you're not engaged yet. That's perfect, as am I... Sister Zhu, I'm very grateful for your life-saving grace yesterday, and I hope you can give me this opportunity..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Jiayu interrupted him: "I haven't promised myself to anyone because I don't like them; you're not married because no one wants you. Young Master Gao, the reasons for these two things are different and shouldn't be confused."
She was still smiling, but the look in her eyes was no longer gentle; instead, it had turned cold.
Gao Xun's expression gradually turned ugly. He was about to speak when Zhu Jiayu interrupted him, saying, "It was just a joke. Young Master Gao won't mind, will he?"
She smiled slightly, pursed her lips, rubbed her temples, and said, "I suddenly feel a bit of a headache. I guess it's because I was out in the wind by the pond for too long yesterday. So I won't stay here with you any longer, young master. Please make yourself at home."
After she finished speaking, she stood up gracefully and left without caring about Gao Xun's reaction.
Gao Xun stared at her retreating figure for a long time, then pressed his tongue against his teeth and let out a cold laugh.
He originally thought that since Zhu Jiayu had an aunt who was the wife of Tong Zhengshi, it wouldn't be a disgrace for him to marry her. And since her family background was so lowly, he figured that if they became husband and wife, she wouldn't dare to boss him around. That's why he used the excuse of thanking her to test her thoughts.
But to my surprise, she was really being unreasonable.
She's just a merchant's daughter. Does she really think that just because she has a lucky aunt, she can rise to a high position and become a phoenix?
He kicked the table leg hard, left the Zhu family with his servants, and went to Fuyun Teahouse to drink with his friends.
In the midst of his drinking and revelry, he couldn't help but sigh: "After Wei Qinglou rectified the brothels last time, my old man kept telling me not to go there again, for fear that Wei Qinglou might go crazy again someday."
Upon hearing this, his friend scoffed, "I've heard that Miss Zhu is as beautiful as an angel. With her by your side, why would you still be thinking about prostitutes or brothels?"
After he finished speaking, the three or five young men in the private room all laughed and asked Gao Xun how he could be so ungrateful for his good fortune.
They all knew that Gao Xun had gone to the Zhu family today to test Zhu Jiayu's feelings, and none of them doubted that he would return empty-handed.
After all, although Gao Xun was unruly, his family background was what it was, and he was born with a dignified and upright appearance. In addition, he had honed his skills in the ways of the world over the years. Over the years, many courtesans, noble ladies and socialites, although they appeared to be upright on the surface, had long been entangled with him in private and were infatuated with him.
In their eyes, Zhu Jiayu was nothing more than the daughter of a merchant who had just come to Yujing from a remote place. She was a pitiful little thing who had mistakenly wandered into this prosperous place. Even if she had some cunning, how could she resist Gao Xun's superficial tricks?
Hearing their banter, Gao Xun's eyes darkened for a moment, but he quickly downed a cup of sake and said slowly with a smile, "You can't say that. Everyone has their own perspective."
"From what you're saying, Brother Gao, has it been successful?"
Gao Xun put down his wine cup, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.
Seeing the curious yet envious gazes directed at him, he straightened his back, curled his lips into a smile, and shook his head, saying, "Nothing special."
"How can it be nothing more than this?" someone else asked.
Gao Xun closed his eyes, seemingly savoring the moment. After a while, he sighed, "Like a dead fish, completely lacking the charm of her face."
...
"Miss?" Outside the private room, a pretty maid looked at the girl in the apricot-colored dress in front of her, wondering why she had suddenly stopped.
The people in the private room were still talking loudly, but it was all vulgar language. She didn't know why her young mistress, who seemed so otherworldly, would be interested in listening for so long.
This young lady was none other than Song Jiangmei.
She frowned and said to the maid, "You don't need to come with me later. Go and find out who's in this private room and who else went to the Zhu family mansion in Zhaohua Lane."
Upon hearing this, the maid whispered "yes," turned around, and went downstairs to ask the waiter for directions. Song Jiangmei, on the other hand, walked forward to the private room she had arranged to meet earlier.
She hadn't expected that someone would deliver a gift to Zhu Jiayu before she even had a chance to decide what to give him.
...
In the evening, a fine and luxurious carriage slowly drove along Yong'an Street and stopped in front of the Zhu family mansion in Zhaohua Lane.
Song Jiangmei led Fuyao down from the carriage, climbed the steps, and knocked on the gate of the Zhu residence.
Upon hearing the knock on the door, Zhu Jiayu, who was swinging on the swing in the yard, told Lüzheng to stop and invite the guest in.
Green Kite opened the door and, seeing the person who came in, exclaimed with great joy, "Miss Song!"
Seeing old friends in the vast capital city made Lüzheng very happy, and she was also happy for her young mistress.
Now her young lady has friends in Yujing.
Upon hearing Lüzheng's voice, Zhu Jiayu stood up from the swing. When Song Jiangmei asked Lüzheng, "Is your young lady in the manor?", she gracefully walked up to Song Jiangmei and smiled, "It's been a long time, Amei."
Song Jiangmei smiled and said, "Yes, it's been a long time."
The two walked hand in hand toward the backyard, chatting and laughing.
Song Jiangmei scolded, "If I had known you were Madam Ning's niece, I shouldn't have refused the invitation from the Ning family that day. You're really not being fair. Since you came to Yujing, why didn't you write to tell me? I had to ask around a lot before I found out that Miss Zhu from the Ning family was the Miss Zhu I had been longing for."
Zhu Jiayu smiled and said, "I originally planned to inform you after things stabilized so we could catch up properly, but I never expected you to find me before me. How have you been in Yujing these days?"
She took Song Jiangmei's hand, looked her up and down, and sighed, "You've lost weight."
After Song Jiangmei returned to Yujing, she did not have a good time. Her stepsister, Shang Yundie, targeted her at every turn, and her stepfather and mother would question her every few days about Song Qingzhang's death. They refused to believe that he would do such a foolish thing. Later, they finally gave up and started to plot against her again, wanting to marry her off to the Shang family to gain more benefits.
But she shouldered all of these burdens. She never felt tired while going through these things. Her only belief was that she had to survive well in Yujing, make a name for herself, and be able to help Zhu Jiayu in the future.
But now, Zhu Jiayu had only said a few words, and she almost couldn't hold back anymore. She felt a lump in her throat and didn't even dare to blink, afraid that if she blinked, tears would flow out, which would be too embarrassing.
It would make her seem too naive and immature.
She took a breath and asked Zhu Jiayu, "Have you gotten into any trouble lately?"
Zhu Jiayu was taken aback by her question and asked doubtfully, "No, right?"
She felt that she had been very well-behaved since arriving in Yujing.
The only minor incident involved Gao Xun, but that idiot Gao Xun didn't seem to realize that he had been kicked into the water by her. Instead, after being rescued, he was very grateful to her.
Although, in her view, the way he expressed his gratitude was somewhat like repaying kindness with enmity.
But this doesn't really count as causing trouble, does it?
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