Chapter 35 She was supposed to be mine.
Shen Anan glanced at the soiled document, her almond eyes flickered, her lips gently raised, and she asked casually.
"Brother, what do you think of this marriage?"
The gloom in Shen Changhe's eyes quickly faded away, and he returned to his calm state. However, the hand holding the wolf-hair brush gradually exerted force until the pen shaft broke in his palm.
He threw the wolf hair brush behind the document as if nothing had happened, where Shen Anan couldn't see it, and spoke in a flat tone.
"It's hard to say what a girl you've never met is like."
Shen Anan, "Are you happy with that?"
Shen Changhe seemed to pause, pursed his lips slightly, and said after a while, "It's all right."
"I'm going to get married anyway, so it doesn't matter who I marry, as long as mom likes me."
Anyway... there is no woman that he must marry.
For some reason, a slender and graceful figure suddenly flashed through his mind. The wet dress was clung to her curvy body. Her little face was porcelain white and misty, and she looked at him with gratitude.
"Brother."
"Brother."
Shen Changhe suddenly came back to his senses and looked at Shen Anan in a daze, "What's wrong?"
"My mother asked me to ask you, do you have someone you like?"
Shen Anan stared at him, her eyes scrutinizing.
Shen Changhe frowned, and suddenly retracted his wrist bone that was resting on the edge of the table, and shook his head without thinking, "No."
An accident, a girl whose name he didn't even know, shouldn't count, and he couldn't demand a reward for his kindness.
"Really?" Shen Anan asked again.
"For example... the girl you saved on Mid-Autumn Festival."
The look in the eldest brother's eyes and his reaction when he looked at her were far from innocent.
Shen Changhe's heart suddenly slowed down for a moment, then beat rapidly again, but was quickly suppressed by reason and turned into a stagnant pool of water.
"Don't talk nonsense. We just met by chance. Maybe the girl has already been engaged. If you spread the news, it will damage her reputation."
The physical contact between the two in the water was almost naked, which was not allowed among aristocratic officials. If he used this as an excuse to ask her to marry him, wouldn't that be taking advantage of someone's misfortune?
Besides, it was just a random thought that popped up suddenly, and he didn't mean it that way.
"All right."
Shen Anan nodded and stood up from the chair. "Then I will report it to mother truthfully. Big brother, just focus on your official duties and wait to be the groom."
Shen Changhe felt annoyed for no reason and said "hmm" softly.
In the past few years, he was really annoyed by the urging, so he decided to get married early to comfort his mother and save her from nagging him every day.
Thinking of this, he called out to Shen Anan who was walking to the door, "Have you ever met that girl from the Lin family?"
Shen Anan blinked, looking at the irritability between his elder brother's eyebrows, and shook his head calmly, "I glanced at him from a distance, but never talked to him. What's wrong? What's the problem, elder brother?"
"Send someone to find out about the girl's character."
Since you are going to live with her, it is better that she has a gentle and virtuous temperament, and not be a troublesome person, otherwise there will be chaos after you marry her.
Shen Anan nodded, "Don't worry, big brother. Mom has inquired about it. She will definitely meet your requirements for a wife."
Shen Changhe choked, unable to find any excuse for a moment, so he could only nod his head lightly and said no more.
Shen Anan walked out of his study, turned around, closed the door and left.
Shen Changhe tried hard to suppress the discomfort in his heart and picked up the document to read it, but for some reason, he was in an extremely irritable mood and even read the document with some anger. He had to put the document down and stood up to go to the window.
It was already dark now, and the evening wind was much stronger than during the day, and it felt biting when it blew on people. However, Shen Changhe was completely unaware of it. He stood there until the servant reminded him to rest, and then he suddenly realized that it was already late at night.
——
late at night.
The study in the Fourth Prince’s mansion.
The candlelight was bright as Xiao Yuan buried his head in his desk, handling official business. A thick stack of documents and secret letters had piled up. The only sound in the silent study was the rustling of the pen on the rice paper.
Qingfeng pushed open the door and reported in a low voice, "Master, Prince Ling sent someone to ask what position should be given to the Jinshi named Zhang?"
Xiao Yuan paused in his writing action.
Looking at the ink stains on the document, he frowned, placed the wolf hair brush next to the inkstone, and looked up.
Qingfeng couldn't help but shiver when he was looked at by his master, and stepped back subconsciously. He said that it was unnecessary for Master Ling to ask for his master's opinion on such a trivial matter.
He is just a low-ranking scholar, and he is not worthy of reporting to his master.
He was just about to tell Ling Shizi to let him decide for himself, but Xiao Yuan suddenly asked, "Where does he want to go when he submitted his wish?"
"Stay in Beijing."
Qingfeng whispered.
"Stay in Beijing." Xiao Yuan repeated, and suddenly the image of Shen Anan smiling gently at him on the bridge on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival appeared in his mind.
His index finger unconsciously turned the ring on his thumb. He lowered his eyelids and did not speak for a while.
Qingfeng hurriedly whispered, "Prince Ling said that if the master doesn't like him, there happens to be a vacancy for a county magistrate in his hometown, which is more than enough for his rank, and it can also be regarded as a reward this time."
He looked up at his master cautiously. Although he didn't know why his master couldn't stand a low-ranking scholar, Master Ling was different from Master Li, so what he said must have a basis.
Xiao Yuan glanced at Qing Feng coldly, but rarely did he refute him.
For some reason, he really couldn't stand that scholar.
"Um."
He uttered a syllable, threw the ink-stained document aside, and picked up the next one to unfold it.
Qingfeng didn't quite understand what his master meant, and walked a few steps hesitantly in the room, but after looking at his master's expression, he was too scared to ask any more questions.
What does this "hmm" mean? It should mean... that you agree with Master Ling's suggestion.
He smacked his lips and turned to leave, but Xiao Yuan's cold and sad voice suddenly sounded again, as if asking a casual question.
"Where is the scholar's hometown?"
Qingfeng immediately stopped and turned back, "It looks like it's from Jiangnan."
Xiao Yuan raised his head suddenly, his usually dull and dark eyes suddenly became cold and sinister, and the pen in his hand broke in his palm as he unconsciously clenched his fingers.
Qingfeng's back was covered with cold sweat, and he swallowed nervously, "Master, is there any problem?"
In just a moment, Xiao Yuan quickly restrained his expression.
"Where is Jiangnan?"
Qingfeng was bewildered, with cold sweat dripping down his forehead. Jiangnan was so vast, and he was busy all day long, so how could he bother to check the specific hometown of a Jinshi.
"I will check it out right away."
Xiao Yuan didn't say anything else.
He lowered his head and continued to read the documents.
Qingfeng immediately stepped out and hurried to check.
Qing'an, who was serving as a clerk in the room, didn't even dare to breathe.
Fortunately, Qingfeng was very fast and returned in less than a cup of tea.
"Master, I have found out that Zhang Yeyang comes from a remote mountain village in the south of the Yangtze River. His family has been farmers for generations. His parents passed away long ago, leaving only his younger sister who is being fostered by relatives."
Xiao Yuan knew all that happened later on the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Seeing that his master was silent, Qingfeng remembered what Master Ling had said and tried to probe, "Zhang Yeyang's hometown is about a few hundred miles away from where Miss Shen grew up."
It’s not close, but it’s not far either. The two of them should have had no intersection before.
Xiao Yuan wrote furiously, as if he was not listening.
Qingfeng pursed his lips, wondering if he was doing something unnecessary. Why was he as weird as Master Ling? The master was always indifferent to everyone, so why would he be any different to Miss Shen?
It was obvious that the two were enemies. Qingfeng bowed and was about to retreat. This time he was smarter and slowed down his pace when he reached the door of the room, for fear that his master would speak again out of the blue.
Sure enough, just as he was about to take a step forward, Xiao Yuan's voice came again.
"Send them to the small counties around Jiangnan, which are richer and more extensive."
Qingfeng was stunned for a moment, then took the order and retreated.
Ling Chenyi was not surprised at all when he heard Xiao Yuan's meaning. Instead, he curled his lips and chuckled.
Qingfeng was afraid of saying something wrong, so he humbly asked for advice, "Master Ling, what does my master mean by this?"
Ling Chenyi flicked his sleeves, stood with his hands behind his back, and spoke in a calm and meaningful tone.
"It means that you can't stay in Beijing, and you can't be too close to where the Shen family girl grew up. The farther you throw it, the better."
It is easier to achieve political achievements in a richer and more extensive place. Within three years, Zhang Yeyang will be promoted as a reward for his surrender. But three years later...
The situation in the capital is changing rapidly. What will happen even if I come back?
Qingfeng was startled and his mind immediately became much clearer. His master actually... actually fell in love with the girl from the Shen family?
After finishing all the official business, it was already late at night, but Xiao Yuan had no intention of resting. Seeing that his master spread out the rice paper and seemed to be in the mood to paint, Qing'an hurriedly continued to grind the ink.
"Except for the bamboo painting that fell into Miss Shen's hands, the master hasn't painted for a long time."
The pen Xiao Yuan was dipping in ink suddenly sank, and the pen body slid in and was stained with ink.
Qing'an quickly took out the pen with a handkerchief and took it out to clean it. He thought that his master seemed a little abnormal today and absent-minded, especially when Miss Shen was mentioned.
When he came back after washing his brush, a rough outline had already been drawn on the rice paper. It was well-proportioned and judging by the curves, it should be a woman.
Qing'an was so surprised that he couldn't come back to his senses for a long time.
For several years, the master had only painted landscapes. Even when Miss Duan San asked for a painting on her birthday, the master never gave her a painting. But now he actually took the initiative to paint a woman.
He stared at the scroll without blinking, trying to figure out which noble lady his master was painting.
But... until Xiao Yuan put down his pen...
"Master, Master, did you forget to draw your facial features?"
No, it’s the four officials.
There was only a pair of clear eyes on that oval face.
Although there is no nose and mouth to set off her features, one can still see the tenderness and weariness in her eyes. Her eyes are curved in a half-smile, as if she is looking at her lover.
Xiao Yuan didn't say anything. He lowered his eyes and stared at the scroll for a long time, with unknown emotions surging in his eyes.
There was an indescribable possessive desire that was clamoring and churning in his heart. A strong thought came to his mind, as if this woman was supposed to be his.
What followed was the scene of her talking and laughing with the man next to her, and a strange emotion called jealousy began to roll in her chest.
Does anyone believe in past lives and present lives?
He raised his dark eyes, turned his head and looked out the window, and he seemed to slowly believe it.
At this moment, he urgently wanted to know where his delusion and familiarity with her came from, and why she was malicious towards him.
He remembered her saying that she had known him for a long, long time.
——
When Mrs. Shen learned that Shen Changhe had no objection to the marriage, she was extremely happy and immediately began to prepare. The Shen family was filled with joy and were waiting for the day of engagement.
Shen Anan hardly left the yard these days. It was not because she was not concerned about Shen Changhe's marriage, but because she always felt that it seemed to be going smoothly and somewhat unexpectedly.
Mo Xiang closed the door, walked quickly into the room, and said to Shen Anan in a low voice, "Miss, I found where Mr. Zhang is staying."
She raised her head from the book, her clear eyes floating in the serenity, "I think it's time to step down from my post in the court. Let's go out for a walk."
After reporting to Mrs. Shen, Shen Anan took Mo Xiang out the door.
Uncle Zhong drove the carriage all the way towards the cosmetics shop that Mo Xiang pointed out.
A quarter of an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of the shop. Shen Anan gave Mo Xiang a look, and Mo Xiang immediately took out a silver ingot and stuffed it into Uncle Zhong's pocket.
"It will probably take the girl a while to choose. You can go to the teahouse and have a cup of tea first. You don't have to wait here all the time."
Uncle Zhong refused directly, "No, Madam has asked me to stay with you all the time."
He glanced towards the cosmetics shop, somewhat wondering how the girl, who had just returned to the capital, could know so much about the shop.
Mo Xiang wanted to persuade her again, but Shen Anan stopped her and turned back to walk into the cosmetics shop.
Unable to shake off Uncle Zhong, Shen Anan took a symbolic walk around the cosmetics shop, picked up some things at random and came out.
Uncle Zhong asked her respectfully, "Miss, do you want to go back home?"
Shen Anan lifted the car curtain and glanced at the restaurant not far away.
"It's not easy to come out here, let's have dinner first and then come back."
Uncle Zhong immediately agreed and drove towards the restaurant that Mo Xiang pointed to.
"Huh." A carriage passed by the Shen family's carriage. Li Huaiyan jumped off the carriage and stared at the carriage that stopped at the restaurant in front.
A woman quickly got out of the carriage and approached him, "Mr. Li, what are you looking at?"
"What's your relationship with that girl?" She spoke with full of jealousy, and squinted her eyes at the noble girl who walked into the restaurant.
Li Huaiyan looked up at the restaurant sign, narrowed his eyes, and suddenly remembered Ling Chenyi's mumbling a few days ago.
That Zhang Yeyang seemed to live in that restaurant.
"I have something else to do, so I'll leave first. Please go in and pick whatever you want. I'll put it on my account."
The woman refused and put her arms around Li Huaiyan's waist in broad daylight and started to act coquettishly. He had only been caring for her for a few days, and she hadn't gained any benefits yet, so why was she getting tired of him so soon?
Li Huaiyan frowned and his nonchalant face became serious. The woman was so scared that she immediately let go of his hand.
Li Huaiyan strode onto the carriage and said to the driver, "Let's go to the Fourth Prince's Mansion."
The driver pulled the reins and left quickly, leaving the girl alone there. She gritted her teeth in anger and turned into the cosmetics shop.
At the entrance of the restaurant, Mo Xiang sent Uncle Zhong away again, "The girl suddenly wants to eat the preserved fruits from the West Street shop. Please, Uncle Zhong, go buy some for her."
Uncle Zhong glanced at the crowded restaurant and felt a little worried.
"Uncle Zhong, don't worry. The girl and I won't go anywhere. We'll be waiting for you here."
He nodded hesitantly, turned around and left quickly, thinking about leaving and coming back quickly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
