Since Xiao Ling returned, Chu Yuning didn't show her face all day, and even ate her meals in her room, basically making her invisible.
In the afternoon, Jiang Yuchen sent a cartload of food, clothing, and other necessities, as well as two boxes of tea specifically for Shen Yuan.
It's top-quality tribute tea; I don't know where Jiang Yuchen got it from.
Although the packaging is simple, a faint aroma of tea wafts out as soon as you open the tea box. The buds are delicate and the leaves are covered with fine hairs.
In her previous life, Shen Yuan had only seen this kind of tea at the princess's residence.
Shen Yuan knew that this tea was special and dared not serve it to the guests, so she asked Granny Liu to put it away.
Most of the items inside the carriage were for Xiao Jinmeng, including rouge and face powder, beaded hair ornaments that girls like, and some interesting little trinkets.
In addition, Jiang Yuchen also prepared several brocade quilts, which were made of the finest Tianshan cotton and silk.
Shen Yuan knew without a doubt that Jiang Yuchen must not have slept very well last night. After all, when had the young master ever slept on such a hard bed and covered himself with such a rough quilt?
Shen Yuan accepted the quilt and, together with Granny Liu, changed all the bedding in her room, Granny Liu's room, and Xiao Ling and his sister's room.
In addition, a small room was set aside for Jiang Yuchen on the second floor, and new bedding was laid out.
Although Jiang Yuchen might not actually come to stay, she should reciprocate by giving him so many gifts.
Three days later, Shen Yuan finished decocting the last dose of medicine and personally delivered the bowl to Chu Yuning's room.
She pushed open the door, and Chu Yuning, who was lying on the bed, quickly put down what she was holding and sat up.
Shen Yuan glanced at it casually and narrowed her eyes when she saw that Chu Yuning had put down a scroll of books.
She put down the medicine bowl and asked casually, "Are you studying so hard to prepare for next year's imperial examination?"
Chu Yuning shook her head. "I am penniless and cannot afford a carriage. If I want to participate in next year's imperial examination, I have to set off this month. It will take three months, and I can barely make it to the capital after the New Year to take the exam in February."
"But I am currently ill and cannot bear the travel, so I cannot go to the capital or participate in next year's imperial examination. Reading is just a way to comfort myself and pass the time."
Hearing Chu Yuning's sigh, Shen Yuan was stunned for a moment.
In his previous life, Chu Yuning also passed the imperial examination in the autumn, but he did not participate in the spring examination the following year.
Because at that time, in order to save enough money for Chu Yuning's trip to the capital, she carried a medicine basket to Nanlu Mountain. There was a medicinal herb on Nanlu Mountain called Crane Blood Flower, and one flower could be sold for one hundred taels.
Chu Yuning needed at least five hundred taels of silver for her journey to the capital, but Shen Yuan couldn't raise that much money, so she set her sights on the Crane Blood Flower.
But that time she went into the mountains, she not only failed to find the Crane Blood Flower, but also got lost and injured her leg, making it impossible for her to collect the herb.
She felt guilty for a long time because of this incident, feeling that she was the one who prevented Chu Yuning from participating in the imperial examination the following year.
But Shen Yuan later learned that even without her, Chu Yuning would not have been able to participate in the imperial examination the following year.
Because he never intended to participate in the imperial examination the following year.
He worried that he would not be able to participate in the palace examination and win the top prize, becoming the new top scholar appointed by the emperor.
Although they were all Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), the top three had completely different circumstances. Therefore, Chu Yuning wanted to lie low for three years before going to the capital again.
Unexpectedly, Chu Yuning's thoughts in this life are exactly the same as in the previous life.
He always has his own calculations and will choose the path that is most beneficial to himself.
He said that the capital was far away and he had no money, but in reality, he was the same as in his previous life.
In his previous life, he worried that he would not be able to pass the imperial examination with top honors. In this life, he is worried that he will not even be able to pass the metropolitan examination with the highest honors. That is why he made an excuse not to go to the capital to participate in next year's imperial examination.
But this is good, because it allows her plan to proceed as scheduled.
Chu Yuning needs three years to enrich her knowledge, and she also needs three years to accumulate more connections and financial resources to try her luck and take a gamble.
"What are you thinking about?" Chu Yuning suddenly spoke, her tone slightly raised. "You seem quite happy to hear that I can't participate in the Spring Examination?"
Shen Yuan chuckled and said frankly, "Chu Yuning, I'm happy as long as you're not doing well."
"Then why do you keep me here, treat my illness, and prepare medicine for me? Isn't this a sign that you still have feelings for me?" Chu Yuning retorted.
Shen Yuan seemed to have heard something very funny, smiled, and ignored him.
Chu Yuning felt that she had guessed Shen Yuan's thoughts, which was why she was speechless. Her tone became even more certain: "You said you hate me, so you are taking revenge on me and can't stand to see me doing well."
"Hate is based on love; the deeper the love, the deeper the hate. If you stop loving, you can let go of the hate in your heart, but you can't let go of your hatred for me, and you can't let go of me either!"
"You still like me, don't you?"
Chu Yuning looked at Shen Yuan with unwavering determination, but the hand that was tightly clutching the blanket by the bedside betrayed his true feelings.
Shen Yuan did not answer Chu Yuning's question, but instead picked up the medicine bowl and smiled at him.
"It's time for your medicine!"
Chu Yuning took the bowl of medicine, and Shen Yuan said again, "This is the last bowl of medicine. After you finish drinking it, pack your things and go back! I don't have enough rooms here, so I can't keep you!"
Chu Yuning stared at the medicinal soup in the bowl and suddenly asked, "What kind of medicinal ingredient did you use?"
Shen Yuan paused for a moment, then replied, "It's an exclusive secret recipe, and I will never reveal it to anyone."
After saying that, Shen Yuan turned and left.
Chu Yuning stirred the medicine in the bowl. Although he had left a spoonful of the medicine a few days ago and fed it to the stray cat outside the back gate of the yard, the cat was still fine, proving that Shen Yuan had not poisoned the medicine.
But for some reason, he always felt uneasy when he took the medicine.
But then she thought, if Shen Yuan really wanted to poison him, she could have done so back in Chu Family Village when the plague struck.
But she didn't.
She definitely couldn't bring herself to do it.
Outside the courtyard, Shen Yuan carried out the small medicine pot that Chu Yuning used. She scooped out all the dregs from the pot and buried them at the base of the wall.
She piled up a thick layer of soil to ensure the dregs of the medicine were completely buried before returning to the pharmacy.
Chu Yuning said that the reason she hated him so much was because she couldn't let him go.
She really couldn't let him go.
Perhaps others can forgive and forget those who have wronged them.
Let's part ways amicably and wish each other well.
But she can't.
She can't let go of the person who betrayed her sincere heart; she can't let go of him, so she won't let him go either.
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