Chapter 18 Boys need to be protected when they're out...
"Are you dreaming again?"
"I even saw Editor Qi being drugged by some county princess?!"
Shen Lingyue never expected that her casual remark would actually come true.
She pondered deeply, and then it dawned on her.
"Yan Yan." Shen Lingyue grasped her shoulders, her expression solemn, "From now on, we'll sleep together every day!"
Yan Yi: ...
Oh no, her dream is over, and Little Moon has started daydreaming.
Unable to understand, she could only say, "Maybe God was afraid that we would be too lonely, so He sent me melons to eat in my dreams."
Shen Lingyue immediately put her hands together and bowed upwards.
"Gourd, gourd, gourd comes from all directions..."
Seeing her devout expression, Yan Yi could hardly contain her smile.
Who can blame her best friend for being so restless? Without novels, comics, games, movies, and TV series, she can only find amusement in the people around her.
She cleared her throat and said, "Since every dream I have has a specific meaning, should we help Editor Qi avoid being schemed against?"
Shen Lingyue thought about it, but unlike last time when she helped Zheng Chunyun, she did not immediately agree.
"What if Editor Qi himself is willing?"
She put forward a bold hypothesis: "Given his family background, the fastest way for him to make a name for himself in the imperial court would be to marry a noblewoman—no matter which county princess you see, she would at least be the daughter of a prince, which would be prestigious enough, right?"
This isn't her being petty and judging others by her own standards. Throughout history, countless powerful figures have risen to prominence thanks to their fathers-in-law, and no one has called them gold diggers.
Shen Lingyue shrugged. "We should respect other people's fates and not ruin his plans."
Yan Yi thought about it carefully, "But if Editor Qi is interested in currying favor with the county princess, the two families can just discuss marriage directly. Why resort to such a tactic as drugging someone?"
Shen Lingyue blinked. "That makes sense."
Yan Yi shook her head in disapproval: "Drugging and forcing others is wrong. Regardless of whether the victim is male or female, they should all be treated equally."
Convinced by her best friend's sense of justice, Shen Lingyue suggested, "How about this, I'll go sound out Editor Qi's opinion tomorrow? If he's truly a man of integrity, vowing never to marry..."
Shen Lingyue snapped her fingers. "Then we will protect his innocence!"
*
The Hanlin Academy's offices were located near the Yuhe Bridge on East Chang'an Street, separated from the Imperial Palace by only one wall.
Scholars could enter the palace directly through a side passage to lecture the emperor and princes on the classics, making it convenient for them to be summoned at any time.
Shen Lingyue carried the food box to the guard at the door and said politely, "My surname is Shen, and I am Zhao Yun, the compiler of the Imperial Academy. Could you please ask him to come out and say a few words to me?"
Seeing that Shen Lingyue was dressed in fine clothes and was obviously an official's wife, the guard nodded in agreement, "You register in the register first, and I'll go get someone."
Soon, Zhao Yun came out, looking completely bewildered. "Cousin, you were looking for me?"
He's almost thirty this year, and he only sees his little cousin Shen Lingyue during holidays. He really doesn't understand why she would suddenly come looking for him.
"Big cousin, I need your help."
Shen Lingyue generously handed over the food box, then pulled Zhao Yun a few steps away before whispering, "Could you help me arrange to meet Qi Xiuyuan, the editor who passed the Hanlin Academy exam this year? I have a few questions for him."
Zhao Yun: !
He hesitated for a moment before tentatively speaking, "Cousin, I remember that the Emperor bestowed a marriage upon you to the Marquis of Changning's family, and you're getting married next month, right?"
It's not appropriate for you to suddenly come looking for a newly appointed scholar like this, and do it so secretly.
"Yes, but what does that have to do with me talking to Qi Xiuyuan?"
Shen Lingyue urged him, "Please help me this once, I really have something very important to tell him."
Zhao Yun was at his wit's end, but he couldn't resist his little cousin's persistent pleading.
No wonder my parents said that my aunt's family was very unhappy about this arranged marriage. That Second Young Master Pei is an uneducated and unruly person...
Well, as a member of her family, he couldn't be so heartless as to ruin his cousin's happiness.
In just a few breaths, Zhao Yun had already imagined countless remedial measures to be taken after the truth came out.
He nodded solemnly and resolutely, "I promise you."
Zhao Yun told Shen Lingyue to wait in a small alley behind the Hanlin Academy.
Shen Lingyue played idly for a while with the willow branches hanging in the corner of the wall, pulling them down and flicking them back up.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a green figure appeared around the corner.
Qi Xiuyuan, dressed in the blue robe of a seventh-rank civil official with a mandarin duck embroidered on his chest, wide sleeves and a leather belt around his waist, stepped into the alley in the sunlight. His whole body seemed to be plated with a layer of broken gold, giving him the appearance of an immortal.
That's why they say clothes make the man; Shen Lingyue has a bit of a uniform complex.
Shen Songyi is truly ungrateful. How could he just give up such a handsome and outstanding civil official like that?
How foolish!
Wouldn't it be better to eat two extra bowls of rice every day while looking at this face?
...Oh, Qi Xiuyuan's family probably doesn't have that much food.
Shen Lingyue snapped back to reality in a second. Cough cough, good looks are good looks, but they really can't fill your stomach.
"Miss Shen San."
The wisp of blue cloud stopped in front of her.
Qi Xiuyuan stood a meter away from her and nodded slightly. "Brother Zhao said you wanted to see me about something?"
Qi Xiuyuan was still confused on his way here. He didn't seem to have any connection with Miss Shen.
Aside from that day at the Shen family's house, when she tripped and fell flat on her face in front of him...
Was she here for this reason?
"Miss Shen, rest assured, I was just visiting the Shen family that day to discuss the classics with my two brothers. I didn't see anything else, and nothing happened."
Qi Xiuyuan considerately hinted that he would never publicize her embarrassing incident.
"Huh? Oh... well, that's not what I called you here to talk about."
Shen Lingyue realized what was happening, waved her hand, and hesitated for a moment, "I came to ask you..."
She tried hard to organize her thoughts, figuring out how to subtly elicit information without revealing the "secret" Yan Yi had dreamt of.
"If, I mean if."
She hesitated before speaking: "There is a young lady of noble birth and powerful family who admires you and is willing to defy societal norms and use any means necessary to be with you... If you marry her, you can rise rapidly in your career and have a smooth official career. Are you willing?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Xiuyuan suddenly took several steps back.
Shen Lingyue: ?
Qi Xiuyuan lowered his head, avoiding her gaze, and said in a serious tone, "Mingzhi is grateful for Miss Chen's kindness, but you are already engaged. His Majesty's words are law, and you must not act rashly and implicate your family."
Don't drag him into this.
Shen Lingyue: ? ? ?
"Pah!" she stomped her foot angrily. "When did I say I was interested in you?!"
Qi Xiuyuan: ...Do you want to recall what you just said?
After calming down, Shen Lingyue was so angry that she wanted to slap herself.
What she just said seemed a bit ambiguous...
But she couldn't openly say that someone was trying to drug her, could she?
It's so hard to be a good person these days!
She snorted, deciding to throw caution to the wind: "Then let me ask you, do you want to marry someone you love, or someone of high status who can help you rise to the top?"
Qi Xiuyuan replied without hesitation: "Naturally, it's the former."
"Okay, that's enough."
Shen Lingyue walked out of the alley with a stern face. As she passed by him, she reluctantly said, "Just a friendly reminder, boys need to take care of themselves when they're out and about. Don't eat or drink anything you shouldn't. Got it?"
"……good."
Even after Shen Lingyue got into her car and left, Qi Xiuyuan still didn't understand why she had come to see him.
Thinking about it was pointless, so he shook his head and turned back to the Hanlin Academy.
Unexpectedly, their seemingly secret meeting was witnessed by people in a two-story building across the alley.
The young man standing by the window lowered his binoculars, a hint of amusement flashing across his handsome face.
"Pei Er's fiancée is having an affair with the newly appointed Hanlin scholar? Hahaha, I have to tell him right away."
*
Shen Lingyue returned home and asked Shuangxu to call her second brother, He Rong, over.
He Rong quickly came over from the outer courtyard. "What can I do for you, Third Miss?"
Shen Lingyue dismissed the two maids and closed the door before asking in a low voice, "Are there any places in the capital, like ghost markets, that sell things for doing bad things?"
He Rong's eyes flickered slightly. "There are some, but those places are mostly filled with all sorts of shady characters, a dirty place that's not suitable for someone of your status."
He thought Shen Lingyue was just bored and wanted to visit the ghost market, but he couldn't bear such a big responsibility.
Shen Lingyue shook her head: "I'm not going."
Her voice lowered even further, "I wanted you to help me buy some... that kind of medicine."
Which one?
"That's the one."
After hinting for a while, seeing that He Rong still hadn't reacted, Shen Lingyue hurriedly said, "It's an aphrodisiac!"
He Rong's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and she knelt down with a thud. "Third Miss, this is absolutely unacceptable!"
The third young lady is about to get married. If something scandalous happens at this time, he, his sister, and the rest of the family will not be able to pay for it with their lives.
Shen Lingyue sighed, “It’s not like I’m going to use it. I bought it… for self-defense, yes, for self-defense!”
She pleaded and begged, practically swearing an oath to heaven, before He Rong finally agreed, half-believing and half-doubting.
"I've never bought this harmful stuff before, I'll have to go out and ask around."
"Then you'd better hurry up and make sure you buy it by the day after tomorrow at the latest."
Shen Lingyue added, "Buy more, let's start with two jin."
Two jin?!
He Rong almost collapsed again after managing to lift her knees.
Is the Third Miss buying aphrodisiacs or heroin?
Before he could refuse, Shen Lingyue slipped a silver ingot into his hand, her tone sincere.
"He Rong, you and Shuang Xu are my most trusted right-hand men. As long as you do your job well for me, you'll have food to eat as well as meat to eat in the future!"
He Rong's face showed a look of gratitude, "Okay, I will definitely get it done for Miss San!"
After seeing He Rong off, Shen Lingyue still looked quite beautiful.
It's surprising that she has the potential to be a boss at such a young age. Look at the big, round pie she's painted!
*
Time flies, and the annual Tong'an Princess Cup matchmaking event, eagerly anticipated by young men and women in Beijing, is finally here!
The banquet was held at a villa on Qiyun Mountain outside the city. Before dawn, Shen Lingyue was stuffed into a carriage by two maids. Adorned with jewels, she leaned against the carriage window and continued to sleep.
Shen Songyi did not go with her; she rode in another car alone.
Shen Lingyue was happy to see this happen. After all, it would take two hours for the carriage to leave the city, and she didn't want to be squeezed into a small space with someone she disliked, staring at each other—it was too painful.
Fortunately, the wheels were made of rubber, otherwise the road would have been even bumpier.
Shen Lingyue never forgot to thank Emperor Xiao Taizu in her dreams; her fellow villager had truly brought blessings to them, the later generations!
After the carriage left the city, the sun gradually rose higher. Shen Lingyue, having barely had enough sleep, lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside, letting out a surprised exclamation.
"So many people?"
All that could be seen was an endless stream of carriages in front of and behind the Shen family's carriage, moving forward little by little like ants carrying food.
Most of those riding in the carriages were women from various families, while young gentlemen would occasionally ride by on horseback, looking quite dashing.
Shen Lingyue peered through the car window with an envious look on her face, "I want to ride a horse too."
In her previous life, horseback riding was a luxury sport, and as a college student who was not yet financially independent, she simply did not have the extra savings to enroll in the course.
She had originally planned to go to the grasslands with Yan Yi for their graduation trip. She had heard that there were horseback riding and photo opportunities there, charged by the hour, which she might be able to afford.
Unfortunately, it all went down the drain...
But it seems there's still a chance?
Shen Lingyue racked her brains: Yan Yi's heartless father is a military general, so the Zhou family should have horses, right?
If the Zhou family doesn't agree... perhaps she can persuade her dear mother to buy her a horse as part of her dowry?
Come on, being able to ride a horse is so cool!
Shen Lingyue watched longingly as those young masters, dressed in fine clothes and riding spirited horses, galloped past with unrestrained elegance.
It was as if she had nails stuck in her buttocks; she kept wriggling.
The carriage moved forward at a snail's pace, which was quite irritating, so she simply lifted the curtain completely to let the air in the carriage freshen up.
Qingchan took out a water pouch from under the seat and poured her a glass of mint water, "Miss, soothe your throat."
Shen Lingyue drank two cups in a row before she could calm down the burning sensation in her heart.
She suddenly remembered, "I told you to bring plenty of water before you left, are you all ready?"
“Yes, yes, I brought three large bags.” Qingchan pulled open the chair partition to show her, then asked, puzzled, “Princess Tong’an is hosting a banquet, so there must be plenty of tea prepared in the villa.”
Shen Lingyue said with a profound expression, "I call this being prepared for any eventuality."
When the Shen family's carriage finally entered the mountain and slowly stopped in front of the villa gate, it was already 10 a.m.
As soon as Shen Lingyue got out of the car, she couldn't help but jump around a few times.
Four hours! It doesn't even take her this long to take a bus back to her hometown during her vacation.
No wonder people in ancient times didn't like to travel far...
As Shen Lingyue was moving around on her own, she heard a soft voice behind her: "How rude."
Turning around, Shen Songyi walked gracefully towards them, supported by her maid. She covered her face with a fan, and the jeweled hairpin in her hair swayed gently, displaying a beautiful, flowing beauty in the sunlight.
It seems that Aunt Liu has brought out all her treasured jewelry for this blind date.
Shen Lingyue snorted, but instead of stopping, she raised her arm and made several large turns before suddenly waving it at Shen Songyi.
"oops!"
Shen Songyi was startled and dodged to the side inadvertently, stepping on the maid's foot. The two of them ended up huddled together, looking quite embarrassed.
She was so angry that she pointed at the person with her fan, "You—"
"Second sister, stop dawdling at the door, or the carriage behind you might hit you."
Shen Lingyue glared at her, then stood on tiptoe and peered back. When the Zhou family's carriage finally came into view, and she saw Yan Yi leaning out of the carriage window, she immediately waved excitedly.
As soon as the carriage came to a stop, Yan Yi pushed open the door, and Shen Lingyue ran over and pulled her out of the carriage.
Before the two could speak, a young girl emerged and gave them a suspicious look.
Yan Yi coughed lightly and released her hand. "This is my second younger sister, Zhou Yanling."
"Which 'ling'?" Shen Lingyue asked curiously, "The 'ling' of 'spirited' or the 'ling' of 'exquisite'?"
"Neither."
The girl nimbly jumped off the carriage, slightly raising her chin, "It's the goose feather from the goose feather knife."
Shen Lingyue clapped her hands: "A good name."
She sounds like the daughter of a military general.
She looked Shen Lingyue up and down: "So you're the Third Miss Shen who's going to be my eldest sister's sister-in-law? I'm warning you, don't you dare bully her, or I'll definitely get revenge for her."
How could that be?
Shen Lingyue raised their tightly clasped hands, her smile growing even brighter. "We've both turned over a new leaf and made peace. From now on, we'll definitely be the most harmonious best sisters in the entire capital!"
Oh my, I never thought there would be someone in the Zhou family who genuinely cares about her precious Yan Yan.
This younger sister, Shen Lingyue, has unilaterally accepted it!
However, Zhou Yanling looked at her with an expression as if she had seen a ghost: ...
These two are notorious rivals in the capital, how come they suddenly made up?
Something unusual must be going on!
Zhou Yanling narrowed her eyes and swung her fist at Chen Lingyue: "I'm not one to be trifled with, I'll be keeping an eye on you..."
"Alright, alright, you go in first. I need to say a few words to Miss Shen."
Yan Yi quickly interrupted the exchange of glances between the two.
"Okay, elder sister, I'll wait for you in the garden."
Zhou Yanling left, looking back every few steps, clearly still worried.
As soon as she left, Shen Lingyue pretended to be jealous and grumbled, "So that's why you don't come to see me often anymore, you have another sister now."
“She is not quite the same as her mother. She loved to stick close to the original owner of the body since she was a child, but she had no say in many things at home.”
Yan Yi explained, then assured her, "In my heart, you are number one."
"Always?"
"forever."
Shen Lingyue was pleased and pulled Yan Yi inside.
There are enough people here today, which can serve as a testament to the two of them "breaking the ice".
She wanted to hold hands with Yan Yi openly and honestly!
*
Once everyone had arrived, the host, Princess Tong'an, made her grand entrance.
As the eldest of Emperor Qingxi's many princesses, Princess Tong'an is undoubtedly very favored.
She looked to be under thirty, the most charming age for a woman. Her gold and red palace dress was luxurious and elegant, and her phoenix eyes were imposing without being angry.
She arrived in a grand procession, accompanied by a retinue of a first-rank princess, with a large retinue of attendants following behind, displaying the majesty of an imperial family.
This dignified royal princess unexpectedly possesses a gentle and pleasant voice.
As soon as he opened his mouth, his phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, exuding the affability of someone in a superior position.
"Tsk, how come there are quite a few familiar faces who came last year? It's been a year, and you still haven't resolved your marriage issues?"
Princess Tong'an shook her head, looking as if she was very regretful and disappointed.
Shen Lingyue lowered her head, suppressing a laugh. What a sharp-tongued princess.
"Father is very concerned about the marriage of you young people, and every year he asks me to act as matchmaker."
Princess Tong'an took her seat gracefully and said slowly, "Alright, there's nothing to be restricted here. You are free to wander around as you please. If you find someone you like, you can chat with them—as long as it's based on affection and within the bounds of propriety."
As she finished speaking, her voice deepened, finally revealing a touch of authority.
“Every year there are a few undignified couples… Although it is said that a gentleman is attracted to a beautiful and virtuous lady, you must not forget your place, or don’t blame me for turning my back on you.”
After saying that, she smiled and waved as if nothing had happened.
"Go have fun, everyone."
This statement is no less impactful than a physical education teacher's "Dismissed, free time."
Shen Lingyue led Yan Yi for a stroll in the garden, partly to familiarize herself with the terrain beforehand, and partly to find the three-courtyard guest house she had seen in her dream.
As she wandered around, she bumped into an acquaintance.
"Sister Zheng".
Shen Lingyue quickly stepped forward, "How have you been lately?"
A note from the author:
----------------------
Although I haven't written about the banquet yet, today's chapter is a huge 5k+ chapter (proudly hands on hips).
Tomorrow, Yuezai will do something big for you guys~
(Just between you and me, I'll be going to be a paid seller the day after tomorrow! I hope you all will support me! I'll do my best to update like crazy [doge][doge])
[A short skit about married life]
Pei Er, upon learning that his wife had met with someone else before their marriage: "Do you have someone else? [bursting into tears]"
Moon Child: What's wrong with taking a second look at good-looking people? Don't worry, I'm fake with all of them, only you are real. [Cat emoji][Cat emoji]
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