"Sister..." After finishing the meal, Shen Shu approached Shen Ning, hesitating for a long time before finally uttering, "Sister, could you please not get married?"
Shen Ning's lips twitched slightly, but fortunately the steam from the teacup concealed the sarcasm in her eyes.
"What's wrong? Are you reluctant to part with me?"
Her words were offensive, but seeing Shen Shu's expression stiffen made her feel much better.
Shen Shu bit her lip and forced a smile: "Of course I'm reluctant to part with you, sister. If you get married, you'll belong to someone else's family..."
She wasn't concerned about other people's families, but rather that it was the Wei family, wasn't she?
Shen Ning took an elegant sip of tea and sighed with feigned helplessness: "I'm also reluctant to part with you, but the marriage to the Wei family was arranged by Father, and I have to abide by it. I am the eldest sister, and this is my responsibility. I can't let anyone go in my place."
Shen Shu's heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly looked up at Shen Ning, only to see that Shen Ning seemed to be just casually remarking.
What was said in jest was taken to heart by the listener, not to mention that Shen Shu's intentions were not pure to begin with.
Yes, my sister didn't like Brother Wei that much to begin with. Brother Wei liked her, so why can't she go in my sister's place?
The engagement was between the Wei family and the Shen family. She was also her father's daughter, and the engagement could have been between her and Brother Wei.
Let her marry him; wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?
"Sister!" Shen Shu's heart was filled with excitement, and her voice involuntarily rose: "Could you let me...?"
Shen Ning opened a gold-embossed notebook and turned her head upon hearing this: "What's wrong?"
Her eyes were gentle and she had a faint smile. She looked like a very patient and gentle older sister, but Shen Shu finally noticed her elder sister's appearance.
She knew her elder sister was pretty, but Shen Ning always dressed in an old-fashioned way to appear mature, which made people overlook her appearance.
But today's outfit is like a pearl dusted off, making the whole room shine.
For a moment, Shen Shu actually felt jealousy, jealous of her elder sister's gorgeous beauty.
She thought it was beautiful. If Brother Wei saw his elder sister like this, would he change his mind?
No, Brother Wei likes me. He says she's the kindest and cutest.
"Sister... what are you looking at?"
With her eyes lowered, Shen Ning looked even more gentle, serene, and graceful in the hazy light.
"My parents prepared the dowry list for me a long time ago."
She added regretfully, "I have many imperial gifts here that I can't exchange for money, but marrying into the Wei family would make me look more respectable."
A gift bestowed by the Emperor!
Previously, the family had not received many imperial gifts, but when Shen Shu thought of the blood coral, kingfisher feather headdress, and the pair of jade lions that were sent when the imperial edict arrived three years ago, she remembered that they were precious items that money could not buy, as they were not only valuable but also honorable and respectable.
His palms clenched tightly, his heart filled with resentment.
My older sister has a dowry prepared by our parents and she's also taking those imperial gifts with her. What about her?
She's sixteen, old enough to get married, so why doesn't she have anything?
The resentment was almost tangible; it was hard for Shen Ning to pretend she couldn't see it.
Her gaze fell upon the name and birth date written on the first page of the dowry list—Shen Shu.
How could she not consider her sister's lifelong happiness when she was so devoted to protecting her blood relatives with all her heart and soul?
Fearing that the second wife would cause trouble after he relinquished his power to manage the household, he naturally wanted to make proper arrangements for her before she got married.
Gifts bestowed by the emperor cannot be bought or sold, and those who break them will be punished. It is an honor, but also a shackle. Shen Shu could not keep them, so Shen Shu's dowry list included the Shen family's most profitable shops and the estate with the best feng shui, as well as other miscellaneous items.
She originally intended to give these to her younger sister on the eve of her wedding.
She had given it to Shen Ning in her previous life, but Shen Shu didn't even look at it and left with a long face. She didn't show up the next day when Shen Ning got married, and later... the dowry list was never used.
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Shen Ning is very busy every day. She has to keep a close eye on the affairs of the mansion, and she can't make any mistakes, both inside and outside. She also has to guard against the second branch of the family.
It's time to settle the shop's accounts, and I also need to check on the estate whenever I have a spare moment.
Starting a business is difficult, but maintaining it is even more difficult.
Especially considering her status as a woman and the burdens she carried, she dared not relax for a moment.
As Shen Ning examined the account books, she recalled the embezzlement that would later be uncovered, and how her managers had all taken advantage of her youth.
"Water that is too clear has no fish." She knew that she should give people appropriate benefits, but these people were too greedy.
Yu Zhu brought in tea from outside: "Miss, Young Master Wei has arrived."
Shen Ning looked up and saw the man waiting in the corridor from her window. He was dressed in an indigo spring robe, with a slender figure like bamboo. He looked somewhat thin, but he exuded the scholarly air of a learned man and was very refined.
Wei Congwen.
A wave of disgust washed over her. Apart from the Shen family, the only person Shen Ning could feel such revulsion from was Wei Congwen.
A hypocrite with a sanctimonious facade, a cowardly liar.
"Ask her what she came for."
She didn't want to see this person.
Yu Zhu hurriedly went out and came back in after a brief conversation: "Miss, it was Madam Wei who sent him to deliver something to you personally. It looks like a booklet to me."
Shen Ning didn't let him in, and got up and walked out.
Stepping out the door, she saw a young Wei Congwen. He was handsome and upright, and although he looked a bit thin, his scholarly air gave him a touch of elegance, making him a true young talent.
Upon seeing Shen Ning emerge, he gave a slight bow: "Miss Shen."
His every word and action reflects self-discipline and propriety; everyone who sees him would praise his excellent upbringing.
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