Ex-lover and unfaithful man
Did I pay?
The owner felt as if a thousand pounds were weighing him down and dared not utter a sound. Wen Ruo suddenly looked at the broker, who was huddled to the side. Suddenly being stared at by everyone, the broker broke out in a cold sweat. She wiped her forehead and gritted her teeth, saying, "Not yet."
"Did you hear that?"
“I appreciate Young Master Zhao’s kindness, but I didn’t pay in advance and my offer wasn’t as high as Young Master Qi’s. I run a small business and don’t consider myself to be a person who is… extravagant, bullies the weak, pretentious, or utterly bored.”
She kept her eyes straight ahead, a faint smile playing on her lips, yet each word she uttered was clear and articulate, leaving no room for error. Qi Guanlan's ears turned bright red. He straightened his knees, which had unconsciously bent, and sneered, "Why aren't you pretending anymore!"
I told you she was lying to me, and now she doesn't even lie anymore. When it comes to being hypocritical, Cao Xi can't even come close.
"Today, during the game of pitch-pot, I saw that Young Master Qi was willing to help others achieve their goals, showing elegance without being vulgar. I suppose I misjudged him. Since Young Master Qi wants to buy a shop, I won't disturb him any longer." She turned to the broker, indirectly criticizing him: "The young master wants to buy a shop, and you're not going to help him with the arrangements? What if you tire out Young Master Qi's precious legs? How will you ever face anyone in the capital again?"
Zhao Heng's smile deepened, and he bowed his head in a respectful greeting: "I have learned my lesson. I was rude just now. I will see you off, young lady."
"Wait!"
"I'll trust you one more time," Qi Guanlan said, standing with his hands behind his back. His mind was racing, and when he was deep and aloof, he exuded an air of superiority that could intimidate many people. "I was just testing you. The streets are not a good place to stay. Without backbone and cunning, you'll fail quickly. I do like to help others achieve their goals, so I'll sell this shop to you."
He threw a knife across the shop owner's face, and it landed on Zhao Heng. This guy was always good at pretending to be polite and refined, and he couldn't be outdone. The shop owner was startled when Zhao Heng glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and hurriedly said, "Five hundred taels, deal!"
After saying that, he quickly handed the land deed and house deed to Wen Ruo, secretly relieved. After that, he didn't care about Wen Ruo anymore. If she wanted to hit or scold him, he wouldn't get involved, because it would shorten his lifespan!
"Young Master, the officials are here to register you!" The clerk was sweating profusely from running. The officials grabbed the seal and ran after him. Upon seeing the distinguished guest, they immediately took out the prepared documents and handed them to Young Master Qi for a look.
"Wait! I don't have five hundred taels right now!"
He was so capricious that Wen Ruo felt a slight tremor in her heart. Not to mention that she didn't have the money right now, if he forced her to sign and her handwriting was exposed, she couldn't imagine what the consequences would be.
Qi Guanlan waved his hand dismissively and said, "I'll pay for it for you first. You can pay me back later. Xiao Shun, take the master to the mansion to collect the money."
The official breathed on the area, but Qi Guanlan didn't utter a sound. He quickly found an empty spot and stamped the red seal again without blinking.
This was completely different from her usual behavior when she would ask people for favors repeatedly, pleading and begging until they were practically glued to their chairs, dragging her feet and looking at them with disdain.
The broker left with a beaming smile, carrying his reward, while the owner, who had only earned a pittance, couldn't stop grinning. His high cheekbones gleamed with oil, and he had lost all his former kindness.
Having been forced to buy and sell again, Wen Ruo was completely exhausted. The young master was not easy to deal with. With her eyes closed and her mind in a daze, she stopped the sedan chair in front of an inn, paid the money, and went upstairs without looking back.
The light was just right. Wen Ruo stood by the window, her gaze falling on the two people through the crack. They still hadn't left. She looked at the copper basin by the door, a smirk playing on her lips, and suddenly opened the window.
Qi Guanlan immediately looked up and saw Miss Xiyou standing by the window, smiling charmingly. "Young master, after following me for so long, did you lose your mind and do something so outrageous? Should you wash your face and calm down?"
After Wen Ruo finished speaking, she picked up the copper basin and pretended to pour it out, saying, "You're so nosy, you made me waste my money."
Passersby detoured around the area, sighing inwardly at the decline of morality, lamenting the existence of such dissolute rich young men, and praising the woman's good temper.
"She's going to splash you too, looks like you're nothing special!" Qi Guanlan calmly pulled him into the water. "Not so!" Zhao Heng raised his jade fan to cover the lower half of his face and said nonchalantly, "I'm here to stop you, afraid that you'll act rashly and offend the beauty again."
A moment later, the two figures finally disappeared from the roadside, but the pleasure in the boudoir next door came unexpectedly.
"Meow."
She mischievously imitated a cat in heat, her voice immediately becoming more subdued. To the sound of faint music, she quickly removed her makeup and changed her clothes. Her eyes were drooping for a long time, and her forehead was slightly sore. With her eyes half-closed, she swaggered out of the inn.
On the whole street, only a crooked tree grew in front of her house, almost reaching the wall. Two years ago, she was worried that the wall would collapse in heavy rain, so she had someone cut it down, leaving only a wooden stump with an extremely smooth surface, which could be used to rest and chat with Pomegranate's mother.
The old locust tree in the middle of the road, which would take two people to encircle, was now just bare branches. People who couldn't bear to throw things away had left them on the old, useless carts under the tree. The aunt next door was rummaging through them with a stick, occasionally hugging them to her arms while cursing something about junk.
"Why do you look so pale?" Shiliu Niang sat at the door, wearing a newly made autumn dress, chatting with the aunt next door. There were sunflower seed shells all over the ground. She was obviously surprised to see Wen Ruo come home.
Wen Ruo picked up a bamboo broom from the wall and swept the sunflower seed shells into a small mound. "I'm a little tired from running. What are you guys chatting about? You seem to be having so much fun?"
"Oh, it's all because that girl from the Princess's residence made a fool of herself again today. Those spoiled brats, all they do all day is do one thing. I heard that girl is incredibly beautiful." The aunt glanced at Wen Ruo with envy and said sourly.
“You’ve found a good daughter. She’s so filial. Look at her figure, she’s sure to find a good husband. She’s not getting any younger, is she? Why is there still no news? The government must be coming to urge her to marry soon, Aunt Pomegranate. I have to say a few words to you about this.”
It was a cliché, one that Wen Ruo had heard countless times. "I'm going on a blind date tomorrow. My mother has already asked someone to find one for me."
The woman gave an awkward smile, grabbed a large handful of sunflower seeds, and made an excuse to leave.
"You're not learning anything good. With that mouth of yours, you'll be lying to people until you die." Shiliu's mother glared at her, then limped back into the courtyard with her basket in hand. She grabbed Wen Ruo's waist and said angrily, "What happened? Where did you get all that money? Don't cause me any trouble. I want to live a few more years."
"It hurts! Mother, aren't you going to pick a husband for me? Without my family's support, I wouldn't dare marry into even the best family. Do you want me to marry a lowly servant?" Wen Ruo jumped to the side, rubbing the last bit of soft flesh on her waist, and said nonsense. Her mother's strength was not small either.
"You're quick-witted and have a strong opinion; I can't argue with you!"
Before Shiliu Niang could even process what was happening, Wen Ruo found a sedan chair and carried her around to browse the shops. In just one day, they had visited all the shops on Pingmin West Street, but there was nothing of interest to them.
The two then arrived at the bustling East Street. As expected of a place favored by noble families, the two streets were worlds apart. Many rumors originated from this street, what a pity!
My appetite has also increased!
Wen Ruo thought it over carefully, then secretly dismissed it. Miss Zhou didn't owe her any favors, and besides, she rarely left her home, so she probably wouldn't have any say in business matters.
Shiliu's mother followed her around, worried that she was aiming too high, and advised, "You've worked as a shop assistant in a clothing store before, and I think you'd be just as good as a shopkeeper. Why don't you stick to this job? Wait until you're comfortable with everything before thinking about anything else."
"I'll think about it some more."
After Shiliu Niang's sedan chair left, she wandered alone to Zhengchun Wine Shop. When the shopkeeper saw her, his dull, lifeless green beady eyes lit up instantly. He eagerly handed her the bill, looking at her as if she were Guanyin, even exaggeratingly bowing to her. She felt a chill run down her spine and began to regret her actions.
After leaving the tavern, Wen Ruo keenly sensed that someone was following her. She circled around several corners and hid in a corner, her breathing becoming slightly rapid. Was it a plot to harm her or a murder? She glanced sideways and secretly looked over.
A panting woman stood with her hands on her hips, looking around. She was pale and thin, and had no sharp weapon in her hand. Wen Ruo felt slightly relieved. She saw that the woman's dark pupils were full of urgency, as if she wanted something.
Strange? Why would a lowly errand boy like her ask for a favor? Could it be because she looks kind? Wen Ruo pondered this with a mix of confusion and boredom, then revealed herself, "Were you looking for me, young lady?"
She took out a fine jade thumb ring from her sleeve. "Are you going to Yunjin Tower, young lady? Could you please pass on a message for me, saying that Yu Niang from Peach Blossom Town requests an audience?"
Wen Ruo laughed genuinely this time; she had seen this ring before. "How did you know?"
Yu Niang tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and explained with a complicated expression, "I've tried everywhere, but I can't get into Yun Jin Lou. The waiter in front of the wine shop said only you dare to do it."
She had willow-leaf eyebrows, an oval face, and a slender figure. Her upper eyelids were a little red and swollen, probably from crying too much every day. She was a beauty in the making. Was this the kind of girl the young master liked? However, even though her experience was pitiful, Wen Ruo dared not believe it easily. It wasn't like she hadn't been through something like this before. She had learned her lesson from her past suffering.
Xi You refused to redeem the land deed. Given the young master's fickle nature, he probably felt he had been deceived again. These past few days, she hadn't even dared to show her face, fearing she might be implicated as a scapegoat, let alone have someone of unknown origin say that the young master had wronged her. Wen Ruo paused, carefully choosing her words:
"You know I'm just a lowly errand boy. If I take something fake and try to trick the young master, I'll be in deep trouble. Forgive me for being blunt, but I probably can't help you."
Putting everything else aside, this is going to cause a huge uproar, not to mention the princess. Just thinking about that little maid, she suddenly shuddered, "Don't you dare get me into trouble."
"I am pregnant," Yu Niang said cruelly, closing her eyes.
He cheats on his wife behind her back! And he specifically targets poor people! What a scumbag! "All crows under heaven are black," how could there possibly be an innocent man among them?
"Hey you," Wen Ruo asked, her feelings incredibly complicated, "do you have any birthmarks?" Since she was pregnant, they must have been intimate more than once, so she must know exactly what birthmarks she had.
Yu Niang shook her head. "There is no birthmark."
"Thighs? Buttocks? Or any more private areas? Are you sure there's none?"
Yu Niang shook her head again.
"Girl, you're pushing me into a fire pit!" She just gave me a dressing down, and you're telling me you have no evidence against her.
Upon hearing this, Yu Niang's eyes reddened again. She knelt on the ground, clutching her skirt and sobbing uncontrollably, "Please, I was born into an honest family. My parents are gone, and I have no one to rely on. I went to their residence but couldn't find them. I'm desperate. Please, young lady, give me, give my child a way to live."
In the quiet alley, the sound of weeping was heartbreaking and touching. Wen Ruo pursed her lips and thought for a long time. Just as she was about to apologize, she looked at her thin and bony back and couldn't help but say, "I can show you the way."
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