Chapter 15: Successful Exams and Wedding Night
After sitting in silence for a while, Duan Yingying found an excuse to leave.
Mo Xiang found some ice cubes, wrapped them in a handkerchief, and applied them to Shen Anan's ankle to reduce the swelling.
In fact, it was just a little strained, not swollen, just a slight burning pain.
"Miss, that Miss Chen must have done it on purpose. How could a lady from a noble family be so unruly?"
"Yeah." Shen Anan responded indifferently, his eyes falling on several rough-robed scholars who were walking together not far away.
Those clothes were probably the most impressive things they had, but unfortunately they were so crude among the officials who were surrounded by gold and jade.
"Brother Ye Yang, now that you have a beautiful woman in your arms, this is truly the day for you to pass the imperial examination and spend your wedding night with your loved ones."
"Okay, stop teasing me." The man surrounded in the middle shrugged and lowered his brows, looking a little listless.
"What's going on with that woman? Is she really pestering you?"
Zhang Yeyang gave his classmate a bitter smile, "I don't know either. She said she had nowhere to go and refused to leave. Otherwise, she would commit suicide. You know my place. There is only one room that can barely keep out the wind and rain. I can't just watch her sleep on the street with a child."
"But she was a refugee, and before she met you, she was sleeping on the streets," said the scholar who had teased him before.
Zhang Yeyang was stunned.
"You, I'm afraid you've been plotted against. I've said before that being too kind can lead to trouble. Now that you've just passed the imperial examination, you've been entangled by a woman with a child. How are you going to get out of this situation in the future?"
"Brother Li has a point." Someone echoed, "Brother Ye Yang, kindness should be done in a proper way. Don't hurt yourself. I think you should just be cruel and drive the mother and son away. Even if you give them some silver, it's better than sacrificing the rest of your life."
"Yeah, if you continue to get involved, you won't be able to get rid of it even if you want to."
"I'm afraid it won't be easy. The woman has a child with her. She finally grabbed Brother Ye Yang as a lifeline. How could she give up so easily?"
"That's right. Anyone who is not a fool knows that even if she can't become the principal wife of Brother Ye Yang in the future, she can at least become the concubine of an official. Her life will be much better than before."
Everyone frowned, racking their brains to come up with ideas for Zhang Yeyang, "Brother Yeyang, what do you think?"
For a long while, no one heard Zhang Yeyang's response.
When I turned around, I saw that he had fallen behind the team at some point, and was staring at a certain place in a daze, his face flushed and looking embarrassed.
Several people followed his gaze towards the pavilion in the garden and were all stunned.
For a moment, everyone tried hard to search for the description of the fairy's appearance in the book.
They were stunned by the woman's dignity and good manners in her every move.
Shen Anan took a sip of tea, and the discussions around her ears suddenly stopped. She raised her eyes to look at the group of scholars, and happened to meet Zhang Yeyang's gaze which was looking straight at her.
Out of politeness, she curled her lips and smiled back.
Like a blooming peony, it is so gorgeous that it dazzles the eyes.
Someone took a deep breath and whispered, "The lotus is not as beautiful as the beauty's makeup. The wind blows through the water palace and the pearls and jade are fragrant. I always thought that the saints were exaggerating, but I didn't expect there really is such a beauty."
Zhang Yeyang suddenly came back to his senses from that smile, took a few quick steps and pushed his friend, "Don't look at it, don't offend the girl."
A few people had to look away reluctantly.
This is the Yongning Marquis' Mansion. The girl there is well-mannered and definitely does not come from an ordinary family. She is not something that a mere Jinshi like them can aspire to be.
Zhang Yeyang pulled a few people and walked forward in a trance.
One person asked, "Brother Ye Yang, do you know that girl just now?"
Zhang Yeyang paused and lowered his head slightly, "It can't be said that we know each other, we just met once by chance."
"Oh?" Several people became interested and started asking questions.
Zhang Yeyang naturally wouldn't say anything, and said solemnly, "That's Commander Shen's daughter, how can we discuss it? How can I be qualified to get to know her?"
"It's actually from Captain Shen's family?"
Several people were surprised. They knew that the girl was of noble status, but they did not expect her to be so distinguished.
Those who had been asking questions earlier were now all silent.
It was indeed impossible for the daughter of the Shen family to know Ye Yang, and that kind of family background was definitely not something they could discuss.
Several people left the garden from the fork in the road and returned to the front yard. However, Zhang Yeyang was very confused and looked back absentmindedly several times.
"I, I feel a little uncomfortable in my stomach. You guys go back first, I'll be back soon."
Several people looked at Zhang Yeyang, without any doubt, and left.
After they walked away, Zhang Yeyang struggled for a while and finally returned the same way he came.
On the other side, Xiao Yuan came out after talking to the princess and met the eldest son of Yongning Marquis, Ling Chenyi.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time, and you finally came out." Ling Chenyi was different from Xiao Yuan's coldness. He had the gentle air of a scholar.
"Where's Li Huaiyan? It's rare that I didn't see him following you today."
Xiao Yuan, "My aunt invited half of the ladies in the capital today. How could he still have the heart to follow me?"
Ling Chenyi curled his lips and smiled, "How could he afford to hook up with those girls? He is becoming more and more lawless."
As they talked, they walked towards the round lake pavilion in the back garden.
"Today's chrysanthemum viewing banquet is half for you. You should choose carefully later. Even if you can't finalize the candidate for the Fourth Prince's consort, you should have an idea in your mind."
Xiao Yuan frowned when he heard this and said, "I'm not in a hurry. What we should be anxious about now is Hua Sheng's marriage."
Ling Chenyi was silent for a moment. "Among those Jinshi, there is only one person whose character and talent are acceptable. We have to wait and see. Let's talk about it later."
Xiao Yuan nodded.
Ling Chenyi brought the topic back to him, "The third young lady from the Duan family is here today. She is your junior sister, and she is well-known for her talent and good family background. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that she likes you. I think she is a very suitable candidate."
"There are so many suitable people, and there is more than one person today." Xiao Yuan said calmly.
Ling Chenyi tilted his head and looked at him, "Which family are you referring to? Fourth cousin, do you have someone you like?"
"No." Xiao Yuan stood beside the water pavilion, looking at the shimmering lake.
"I mean, she's not the only one with a good family background."
Ling Chenyi frowned and thought for a while, "Besides her, the only one of the right age is Miss Chen from the family of the Minister of War who is barely qualified... Are you talking about her?"
Xiao Yuan glanced at him and said nothing.
Ling Chenyi felt a slight chill in his body when he was looked at by that gloomy look.
Did he say something wrong?
Suddenly, a voice was heard from the other side of the waterside pavilion, "This place is much quieter. The girls in the garden are chattering and always peeking at you."
Most importantly, the look in his eyes was not very friendly.
"Yeah," Shen Anan walked across the middle of the waterside bridge, sat on a stone pier and looked down.
The lake water is clear and you can faintly see koi swimming back and forth. The colorful colors add a bit of vitality and interest to the lake.
"Whose girl is that? She's really pretty. How come I've never seen her before?"
Xiao Yuan's eyes fell on the woman on the stone pier and he said calmly, "She is from the Shen family."
Ling Chenyi was stunned, and the amazement in his eyes turned into shock, "She is the eldest daughter of the Shen family who rejected your marriage proposal at the palace banquet?"
He did not attend the banquet that day, but heard many people mention it.
Xiao Yuan frowned, "Noble Concubine Shen was just wishful thinking and didn't make it clear, so how can she refuse the marriage?"
"...That's true." Ling Chenyi smiled awkwardly, but his eyes were fixed on the slim woman.
I have to say that this girl from the Shen family is extremely beautiful.
Xiao Yuan caught sight of Ling Chenyi's infatuated gaze, and his dark eyes darkened instantly, "You are just a shell, when did you become so superficial?"
Ling Chenyi smiled when he heard this, "It's pleasing to the eyes. Beautiful things always make people feel relaxed and happy, and they can't take their eyes off. Besides, you have never known her before, so how do you know that she is just a pretty girl, not a talented and beautiful woman?"
Xiao Yuan sneered, his face visibly gloomy.
He knew that she was restless and dressed in a seductive way because she was afraid that other men would not see her and wanted to seduce them.
"Hmm?" Ling Chenyi suddenly narrowed his eyes. "That scholar, is he this year's new Jinshi? Why is he here?"
And it seems that they are going for the girl from the Shen family. Do they know each other? still……
If Xiao Yuan's expression was just gloomy just now, now it was eerie and extremely ugly.
"He is the candidate my mother chose, but..." Ling Chenyi raised his eyebrows and looked at Zhang Yeyang who was walking towards Shen Anan nervously, "Could they have some private affair?"
If this is true, this person... no, these two people, are not good people, so they should not dirty his mansion.
"Shut up." Xiao Yuan's voice was sharp, and his sharp eyes stared at the two people on the water pavilion.
They all practiced martial arts and could hear the conversation between the two clearly.
Seeing Shen Anan's gentle and graceful smile towards the scholar, Xiao Yuan felt a chill all over his body.
She was aggressive towards him but behaved well with other men. Her eyes seemed to be almost thread-like when she blinked so much.
Xiao Yuan pursed his thin lips into a straight line and tightened his fingers unconsciously.
"What a coincidence, Master Zhang is here too."
Zhang Yeyang nervously tugged at his sleeves, "No, I, I came here specifically to see you."
He stopped two steps away from Shen Anan, fearing that he might offend her.
"Thank you for your advice that day, young lady."
It’s a pity that he didn’t understand it at the time, and now it’s too late.
Shen Anan smiled and said, "It's just a small favor, Mr. Zhang, don't worry about it."
Zhang Yeyang stared at her smile blankly and curled up the corners of his mouth.
It's not like he had never met young ladies from official families before, but none of them was as gentle and kind as the woman in front of him. There was no contempt in her eyes, and every word that Young Master Zhang said was very polite and touched his heart.
"I just listened to a few words and I think what my friend said makes sense. Kindness should be done in a proper way and should be done in a proper way. What do you think?"
Zhang Yeyang reacted and lowered his head in embarrassment and guilt. "Miss, you are right. I will deal with that woman as soon as possible. Don't worry, Miss."
His tone was like he was swearing, but he realized something was wrong and hurriedly explained, "I, I didn't mean that. I meant..."
"I know, you don't have to mind it, sir." Shen Anan smiled faintly, "There are many people watching today, if you have nothing to do, you should go to the front yard."
"Oh, yes, yes." Zhang Yeyang stepped back a few steps. "I was inconsiderate, please forgive me, young lady."
After saying that, he left without looking back, his steps hurried and messy.
"It's so interesting why this young man blushes when he speaks." Mo Xiang said with a smile.
Shen Anan also curled his lips. Among the children of officials, it might be difficult to find such an upright and clean man. He was just too kind.
But if you can distinguish right from wrong, it's not bad. After all, love is ethereal and life is long, so it all depends on your conscience.
Thinking of this, her eyes moved and an idea came to her mind.
Ling Chenyi's sharp gaze slowly converged and turned gentle again.
"Mother has a pretty good eye and decent character, but... he looks like he might have other thoughts about Miss Shen."
"Tsk." Xiao Yuan sneered, "He's not worthy of it."
The corner of Ling Chenyi's mouth twitched, and he tilted his head to glance at Xiao Yuan.
He just said that he wanted to marry his sister to that scholar. Is it really okay for him to say that?
But after knowing him for more than ten years, he thought he knew him well. "You seem to have a lot of problems with that scholar. Why? Has he offended you?"
"No."
If he had offended him, he would still be alive today.
Xiao Yuan glanced coldly at Chen Anan who was sitting on the stone pier, then turned and left, his back revealing a chill.
Ling Chenyi raised his eyebrows, then shook his head in confusion and followed.
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