In her previous life, Chu Yuning did not participate in this year's imperial examination.
Because he was worried that he wouldn't get a good ranking, he studied diligently for another three years before going to the capital to take the exam.
In this life, Chu Yuning was expelled from Ziyun Academy, and his academic performance was far worse than in his previous life. He was worried that he would not pass the imperial examination, so he had no intention of participating in this year's spring examination.
Why would someone suddenly want to go to the capital to participate in the imperial examination?
Shen Yuan couldn't tell whether Chu Yuning lied about leaving the Zhao family because she needed money or if she really went to the capital. She asked anxiously, "When did your cousin go to the capital?"
Wang Jinzhu: "It was the first day of the eleventh lunar month, more than two months ago, when he passed away."
It takes at least three months to travel from Jian'an to Kyoto, including the winter, twelfth, and first months of the lunar calendar. This means that Chu Yuning should be able to reach Kyoto by the end of this month.
If he had taken a carriage, it would probably have been even faster.
With her plans disrupted, Shen Yuan suddenly felt a strong sense of unease.
"We... have answered so many of your questions, can you give me a string of cash?" Wang Jinzhu tugged at the hem of her clothes, cautiously sizing up Shen Yuan, her tone full of probing.
Shen Yuan glanced at Wang Jinzhu and Wang Mingzhu, who were emaciated from the torment, and took out two strings of cash from her sleeve.
Wang Jinzhu and Wang Mingzhu's eyes lit up instantly, looking at Shen Yuan with hope.
Shen Yuan didn't give it to them directly.
Back then, it was a single sentence from her that easily changed the lives of Wang Jinzhu and Wang Mingzhu.
But Shen Yuan didn't think she had done anything wrong.
He didn't think he had harmed Wang Jinzhu and Wang Mingzhu.
The people who harmed these two children were clearly their sexist father, their mother who was imprisoned, their ruthless maternal grandparents, and their greedy cousin.
She merely added fuel to the fire.
Thinking of this, Shen Yuan said, "I heard that your mother used to do everything she could to help Chu Yuning get a career in government so that she could provide you with protection."
"But now that Chu Yuning has passed the imperial examination, why won't they let you go home?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Jinzhu and Wang Mingzhu raised their heads and said, "Cousin said that once he becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination, he will take us all to the capital. From then on, we will be daughters of officials, even more noble than the daughters of wealthy families!"
The two sisters spoke loudly, indicating that they completely believed Chu Yuning's words.
Shen Yuan chuckled, then handed the two strings of cash to Wang Jinzhu and Wang Mingzhu without saying anything more.
"Take it! One string per person!"
"Th...thank you!"
Wang Jinzhu and Wang Mingzhu took the money and left happily.
After they left, Madam Tian shook her head and said, "This Chu Yuning is really something. No wonder people say that scholars are eloquent. He can make the Zhao family do whatever he wants with just a few words!"
Shen Yuan lowered her eyelids. Not only the Zhao family, but also she in the past, had been completely fooled by Chu Yuning's sweet words.
Madam Tian then said, "Yuan'er, you go back inside to have some tea and fruit. I'll go kill a chicken and send these two girls away so we can have a proper meal."
Shen Yuan quickly stopped Tian Shi, "Auntie, don't kill the chicken yet, let's do it next time!"
After a pause, Shen Yuan explained, "I suddenly remembered that I have something to do and need to get back to the city quickly!"
"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry? You don't even have time to eat?"
Ms. Tian was very disappointed: "I had some cured pig's trotters drying before the New Year, just in case you came and I stewed them for you. Why are you leaving already?"
Shen Yuan patted Tian Shi on the shoulder and laughed, "Let's eat it next time! Anyway, I can come back to eat it anytime I want!"
After saying goodbye to He Tianshi and Xiao Huzi, Shen Yuan left Chu Family Village with Xiao Ling and Xiao Jinmeng.
On the carriage back to the city, Xiao Jinmeng looked at Shen Yuan with a puzzled expression.
When Mingming came to Chujia Village, her older sister Yuanyuan gave her and her brother some clothes to take with them, planning to stay at the Tian family's house for one night and then return to the city the next day.
Why are you suddenly rushing to the city?
Moreover, judging from Sister Yuanyuan's solemn expression, it seems that something terrible has happened. What could it be?
Xiao Jinmeng couldn't understand, so he turned his questioning gaze to Xiao Ling.
Xiao Ling gave Xiao Jinmeng a reassuring look.
The three of them remained silent the entire way.
The carriage quickly arrived at Jian'an City. After returning to the pharmacy, Shen Yuan was the first to jump off the carriage. Without even bothering to tie up the horse, she rushed up to the second floor.
Seeing Shen Yuan's agitation, Granny Liu couldn't help but ask, "What happened?"
Xiao Ling shook his head; he didn't know exactly what had happened either.
But he knew it must be related to Chu Yuning.
Xiao Ling helped tie up the horse and then went into the pharmacy.
Not long after Shen Yuan climbed up to the second floor, she came down carrying a heavy bundle on her back. She also took off all the velvet flowers from her head, tied her hair up high, and changed into a simple men's outfit.
He looks like a handsome young man.
Xiao Ling frowned upon seeing her attire. Was Shen Yuan going on a long trip?
Just as he was thinking this, he heard Shen Yuan instructing Granny Liu, "Granny, I have to go on a long trip. Please take care of the pharmacy during this time."
"Where are you going? How long will you be gone?" Granny Liu asked.
Shen Yuan said, "It will probably take two months, but don't worry, I'll be back as soon as possible!"
Granny Liu's expression changed: "Two months? That long? Where are you going?"
"I..." Shen Yuan said vaguely, "I plan to open a Baicaotang in Yanbei. I'll go to the north to see if there's a suitable place to open a shop."
Granny Liu: "Isn't there a need to rush into opening a shop? Besides, it's too dangerous for a girl like you to go to Yanbei alone!"
Shen Yuan was feeling anxious. Seeing that Granny Liu was stopping her, she became even more agitated.
All she wants now is to get to the capital as quickly as possible.
She was determined to find out exactly what was going on.
Seeing Shen Yuan's brows furrowed, Xiao Ling said, "I... will go with A Yuan."
Shen Yuan turned to look at Xiao Ling, whose expression darkened slightly, as if he had made up his mind, but his concerned gaze remained fixed on Xiao Jinmeng.
Shen Yuan asked in surprise, "What are you going to do? You finally found your sister and now you've settled down here. You should stay in Jian'an City to take care of Tian Tian!"
If we accompany him to the capital, wouldn't all the peaceful days we've finally achieved become nothing but a mirage?
Shen Yuan couldn't understand why Xiao Ling would take such a big risk.
Isn't he afraid those people will come after him again?
But Xiao Ling said, "I'll stay with you so that you can rest assured."
Xiao Jinmeng also said, "Brother, Sister Yuanyuan, you don't need to worry about me. I can live with Grandma at the pharmacy and help look after it!"
"No need! I can hire a team of bodyguards! As long as I pay, they'll escort me safely!"
Shen Yuan refused Xiao Ling's offer without hesitation. She handed the key to her money box to Granny Liu: "Granny, I will ask a bodyguard to escort me, so you don't need to worry about me! During this time, you must take good care of yourself. If you need money, just take out the money box locked under my bed. There is a lot of spare money in it!"
After saying that, Shen Yuan didn't care whether Granny Liu agreed or not, and got into the carriage with her bundle on her back.
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