"Miss Shen."
A handsome young man with refined features came up with a teapot and replaced the one they had finished drinking from.
Shen Ning nodded slightly: "Thank you."
The young man pursed his lips slightly, as if he wanted to laugh but restrained himself: "You're welcome."
Li Xuan's gaze followed the man, and she keenly noticed something: "This person... looks a bit special. Where did you find such a handsome person to be a waiter?"
Shen Ning: "He's not a waiter, he's a scholar on his way to take the imperial examination. He's helping me copy books, and I'm providing him with food and lodging."
Li Xuan raised an eyebrow: "The candidate has a limitless future. With his looks, it wouldn't be surprising if he were ranked third in the imperial examination."
After saying that, he winked at Shen Ning and said, "What, you look down on those spoiled brats in the capital and are planning to raise one yourself?"
Shen Ning: "......"
Princess Chang Le's own marriage was a mess, but she was quite interested in Shen Ning's marriage.
“I just saw that he was in a predicament and that my study had just opened and I needed manpower, so I recruited some people. I didn’t mean anything by it. But now that you mention it, I think it’s a good idea.”
"Find a promising but poor scholar to marry into the family, I'll earn money to support his imperial examinations, and the children will bear the surname Shen. Tsk, what a great idea."
Li Xuan's face darkened: "I was just teasing you. How come you've already thought about what the child's surname will be?"
Shen Ning chuckled: "Isn't the point of marriage to have children? Or is it for love?"
Li Xuan was speechless, but at the same time curious: "Don't you have someone you like?"
Even she, doesn't she still have Li Shaobai whom she can't forget? What girl doesn't dream of love?
Qin Zhuo's face flashed through Shen Ning's mind, but she felt that it wasn't love, but at most an appreciation of his appearance.
"Currently, no, but I don't think there will be. A couple is just living together. He works hard and becomes an official to protect the family, while I earn money to support the family, manage relationships, and help him rise in rank. We have a division of labor, share the benefits, and don't need too much emotion."
Li Xuan: "......"
Ah, should she say that Shen Ning sees things too clearly, or is she just a blockhead who doesn't understand?
After chatting for a while, Shen Ning and Li Xuan went to find Du Yunzhi for dinner. She had managed to get some beef today and specially made a beef hot pot for them to eat.
Xue He came out carrying the copied book and saw the two leaving together. His gaze fell on the white figure, and he couldn't come back to his senses for a long time.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper jokingly said, "Isn't our boss beautiful?"
Xue He snapped out of his daze and blushed instantly.
The shopkeeper couldn't help but chuckle: "Our boss is one of the most beautiful women. She's beautiful, kind-hearted, and capable. She's a rare gem. When her father was alive, she was a proper daughter of an official. You have a good eye, lad."
Xue He was extremely embarrassed: "Shopkeeper, please don't tease me. I'm just grateful to the owner for helping me, I didn't mean anything by it."
"I understand." The shopkeeper saw through it but didn't say anything. The young man was shy and couldn't be teased too much.
Xue He was so embarrassed that he wanted to run away, but he couldn't help but ask, "Why did the shopkeeper say that the owner used to be a daughter of an official? Did something happen?"
The shopkeeper fiddled with the abacus before saying, "The owner's father was the former Minister of Works, Lord Shen. Four years ago... it's been almost five years now. He died at the hands of bandits while on official business. His Majesty posthumously conferred upon him the rank of First Rank and buried him there. It was a glorious official residence. Unfortunately, the other members of the Shen family were not capable enough to inherit this glory and could not uphold the family's honor. In the end, the owner, a woman, had to take charge of the household."
Xue He's expression shifted slightly: "But the master doesn't look very old."
The shopkeeper thought for a moment and said, "She should be nineteen years old by now."
Xue He: So it turns out she doesn't just look young, she's actually quite young.
But her calm, composed, and unflappable demeanor didn't seem like that of a young girl at all.
The shopkeeper sized up Xue He's face, a hint of calculation creeping into his mind: "Miss Xue is a woman with a tragic fate. You'll understand if you try to learn more about her."
Xue He didn't refute, and hurriedly left with the book in his arms.
The shopkeeper chuckled and shook his head: "Youth is reckless, but youth is also a good thing."
----
Du Yunzhi's beef hot pot was especially fresh and spicy. In winter, there is nothing more enjoyable than a group of friends sitting around a stove eating hot pot, drinking and chatting.
Princess Chang Le was also infected by this atmosphere, and when she talked about the fun things she had to do while hunting, her smile became even more genuine.
Princess Chang Le was very enthusiastic when it came to hunting, but she still had some regrets this year: "I used to go hunting in the autumn, but this year I was delayed for many days because of my wedding. Then Shen Ning had an accident. I can go hunting in the winter, but I'm afraid Aning's body can't handle it. Let's go hunting together next year when spring is in full bloom."
Shen Ning chuckled: "Alright, whatever you say. When you go hunting, I'll keep watch for you."
Du Yunzhi glanced at her: "We're going hunting, not stealing. Why are you keeping watch?"
Li Xuan couldn't help but laugh: "A-Ning is ashamed of her archery skills, so please give her some face."
Shen Ning deliberately put on a long face: "Do you think I have any face now?"
The group burst into laughter instantly, filling the room with joy.
After eating and drinking their fill, as dusk approached, they went their separate ways home.
Mo Xue'er ate too much, and even while riding in the car, she had to hold her slightly protruding belly to prevent herself from throwing up.
It was painful to look at, but Shen Ning laughed heartlessly: "Let you be greedy."
Even if it tastes good, you shouldn't eat it to death. You might feel good for a moment, but now you're suffering, aren't you?
Even so, she still asked Mo Xue'er to come over and gently massage her stomach to help her digest.
Just as I was massaging Mo Xue'er, I suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves passing by.
As if sensing something, Shen Ning slightly lifted the curtain, and just then a familiar carriage passed by her. A pale white hand hung down by the window, and the gems on it were truly dazzling.
Without a doubt, it is Qin Zhuo.
She wouldn't mistake these hands or these gems.
Putting everything else aside, this flamboyant hobby does give him the air of a spoiled brat.
Just then, the curtain opposite her opened, revealing a strikingly handsome face. He squinted slightly, casually sizing her up: "Still out wandering around in this cold weather?"
The tone sounded like a reprimand at first glance.
Shen Ning: "I'm just having a get-together with Princess Chang Le, and I'll be heading back soon."
The answer was so neat and proper, it was incredibly well-behaved.
Qin Zhuo's eyes darkened slightly. He rubbed the gemstone on his ring with his fingertips, remained silent for a moment, and then raised his hand: "Let's go."
Qin Zhuo's carriage accelerated, quickly widening the distance, as if they had just passed each other.
Shen Ning touched her chest. Tsk, why did she feel this nervous feeling, like she was about to be caught by her elders for going out late? How strange.
The carriage stopped in front of the Shen family's house. Just as Shen Ning was about to go inside, someone jumped out from behind a stone block: "Sister."
Shen Ning paused, recognizing the person who approached: "Shen Yan."
Shen Yan looked around and gestured for Shen Ning to go inside.
Shen Ning hesitated for a moment, but still let her in.
She wouldn't help Shen Yan anymore, but she could listen to what Shen Yan had to say.
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