Chapter 37 Dark Light
"You are so pitiful, how can we accept your money again? My name is Wen Ziyi, don't be afraid."
"Zhailang, go borrow a cart and we'll take this young lady back home."
Wen Ziyi pushed the man next to her, who frowned and stood up to borrow a car.
She looked at Jiang Qingning and said, "Can I help you up first?"
Jiang Qingning nodded: "My surname is Jiang and my name is Qingning. I live in the Ning Pavilion of the Qin Guogong Mansion on East Street in the east of the city."
She really had no strength left, so Wen Ziyi immediately helped her stand up carefully and walked towards the stairs.
The old man behind me asked, "Miss, may I ask where you were pushed into the water?"
Jiang Qingning stopped and looked back while standing on the steps.
"I only remember following the carriage for an hour before being thrown into the water and accidentally washed downstream back to the city."
If she had not followed her father and brothers to repair the river when she was young, she would not have known that there was actually a secret underground river connecting the suburbs and the city.
"With such a long river, Miss Jiang is truly a blessed person!" The old woman next to her was shocked.
"This can be, tsk tsk..."
Jiang Qingning followed Wen Ziyi ashore and was helped by Wen Ziyi to sit on the ox cart.
Wen Ziyi looked at the person who looked out of place with the oxcart and couldn't help but apologize, "I'm so sorry, this is the only oxcart we know of around here. Since you're a neighbor of the Duke's Mansion, you must have never seen this kind of cart."
Jiang Qingning shook his head. "When I was little, I went on outings with my father to the farm and saw oxcarts. One oxcart could support an entire family. It was much more practical than a flashy horse-drawn carriage."
"I'm Wen Ziyi, and my name is Wei Zhai. We came to the capital to take the imperial examination. We were supposed to leave today, but I didn't expect to meet you, Qingning, before we go."
Wen Ziyi was impressed by Jiang Qingning's understanding and happily introduced Wei Zhai.
Jiang Qingning was surprised and asked Wen Ziyi in a low voice.
"The imperial examination in the capital city ended last month, and the officials have been awarded official positions. Did Brother Wei fail?"
Wen Ziyi looked confused, as if she didn't know how to start.
Wei Zhai sneered and said sarcastically, "It's okay, Ziyi. Just say a few words to her. Those people who are blessed by the wealth and status of the heavenly family will naturally understand why I didn't pass the exam."
"Sairo!"
Wen Ziyi scolded with an unhappy look on his face, and Wei Zhai fell silent instantly.
"Is there any difficulty that is inconvenient to talk about?" Jiang Qingning asked carefully.
Wen Ziyi lowered her eyes and shook her head, "That's not true. I only said that because you're a woman, Qingning. Zhai Lang was actually on the imperial examination list, and his ranking was only on par with the top two and second place winners. However, after answering questions from that person in the palace, he was knocked unconscious by someone behind a curtain, and his identity was taken away by a powerful family."
Jiang Qingning narrowed his eyes slightly: "Then why don't you report to the police?"
"Report to the authorities? Officials have protected each other since ancient times. Haven't we reported to the authorities? But all the officials are protecting that family." Wei Zhai said coldly.
"So you just give up like that?" Jiang Qingning was puzzled.
Wen Ziyi shook her head and sighed in defense:
"Of course not. It's just that the family gave Zhai Lang fifty taels of silver to buy an official position. Zhai Lang was so angry that he threw it into the river. The other party turned the tables on us and said that we threw his silver on purpose to force us to leave the capital, so..."
"So, having become disillusioned with all the officials in the capital, you're pinning your hopes on the penny-a-light lanterns on the street, begging the river god to return the fifty taels of silver?"
Jiang Qingning shook his head helplessly, lamenting their naiveté.
Wen Ziyi shook her head: "Of course not, this is just our farewell to the prosperous capital before leaving. Zhai Lang and I are not suitable to stay here."
Jiang Qingning was curious: "So what are you going to do in the future?"
Wen Ziyi said with anticipation, "We plan to leave the capital and return to our hometown to open a small teahouse. Plus, he has the title of Jieyuan (a top scholar), so we will definitely be able to live a prosperous life in the future!"
"You're still too naive. Do you know how much money it costs to open a teahouse in a rural town? Just renting a shop in a good location would cost over a hundred taels of silver, not to mention the labor you have to hire and the cost of all kinds of tea, noodles, and snacks."
"It will take at least ten years, at most fifty years, for you to be unable to open a teahouse."
Jiang Qingning did not hesitate to break Wen Ziyi's last hope, and looked at her slightly red eyes in surprise and curled her lips.
"If you're done talking, shut up, or I'll throw you down!"
Wei Zhai frowned at her, his eyes filled with rage.
"Zhailang, don't be so rude to the noble!"
Wen Ziyi understood Jiang Qingning's hint and quickly scolded him anxiously.
"What?"
Wei Zhai couldn't believe it.
Jiang Qingning nodded and praised him generously, "You are very smart and might actually have a good business sense. I can lend you the capital and open a teahouse in the capital, but besides one necessary condition, I also need to invest in the company."
"Why...are you helping us like this?"
Jiang Qingning lowered his eyes, making it difficult to see his expression. "Good people always need to meet noble people. I can be your noble person."
Wen Ziyi and Wei Zhai looked at each other, and the latter shook his head to refuse. Just as he was about to politely decline, Wen Ziyi raised his hand to cover his mouth without hesitation.
"I promise you, what is the necessary condition?"
"I want him!" Jiang Qingning nodded and raised his hand to point at Wei Zhai.
Almost in an instant, all four people present fell silent; even the mooing old ox walked forward silently.
Wen Ziyi's expression of puffing out her chest and agreeing just now disappeared in an instant.
She stammered, "No, we're already engaged. Regardless of whether he passes the imperial examination or not, he and I are going back to get married!"
"I don't want his heart, I want him." Jiang Qingning frowned and explained.
"Cough, cough, cough, cough!"
Wei Zhai's breath got stuck in his throat and he coughed until his whole body turned red.
"Zhailang, how are you?" Wen Ziyi worriedly tried to calm him down.
Wei Zhai looked up at Jiang Qingning's determined expression, held Wen Ziyi's hand and said, "I promise you, Wei Zhai is willing to obey Miss Jiang's orders."
Wen Ziyi realized instantly that she had misunderstood. Her face flushed with shame and she wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.
"You are very intelligent. If you are persistent enough and your literary talent can be proven, there is no need to worry about not having a great career."
Jiang Qingning looked at the Duke Qin's Mansion in front of him, with an ambiguous look in his eyes.
"Don't worry, I, Jiang Qingning, always keep my word."
"Since you have agreed to become my lover, you must sign a written agreement to become my lover and live with me in Ning Pavilion from now on."
The two nodded, but there was a hint of sadness between their brows.
Wei Zhai bowed and said, "You must be a capable person since you were able to escape from the hands of the Earl of Anping safely and even have the Prince Qin and others personally help you weed and repair your house."
Jiang Qingning chuckled: "So you've heard of my deeds. You've come from so far away, but you know a lot about the things in the capital."
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