Records of Noble Ladies
"I've heard you have a copy of the Young Master's Record!"
Qi Guanlan was drunk, so Xiao Shun invited the princess, who was like a Buddha, to sit down. As soon as she sat down, she said something astonishing.
Wen Ruo cursed Zhao Heng under her breath, then chuckled awkwardly, "I was just joking with Young Master Zhao."
"How about I pay you to compile a record of noble ladies?"
Five hundred taels!
"..."
Wen Ruo was somewhat tempted, but that was all; a noble lady was not someone she could meet whenever she wanted.
"One thousand taels, I'll find someone to help you."
Wen Ruo looked at her and stammered, "Who is it?"
"Guanlan".
Wen Ruo bit her lower lip, her expression somewhat troubled. "Young Master Qi is extremely clever, and he is also a prince. I'm afraid it's not feasible to use this as a pretext to find him a wife."
Even you can't do anything about him, so what can I do? Money is hard to earn, and she doesn't lack money right now. Although she felt regretful, Wen Ruo still backed down.
Wen Ruo was having second thoughts, but Rong Jing's eyes lit up with confidence. "You're so smart, you can definitely do it. I'll cover for you if anything goes wrong."
"This is the deposit." The gold bracelet was placed on the table; it was decorated with lotus flowers and flying fish, exquisite and expensive, and Wen Ruo couldn't take her eyes off it.
"If he marries, I'll give you a thousand taels of silver as a matchmaker and appoint your mother as an official matchmaker. You might even be entrusted with the Crown Prince's marriage. If that also goes through, I'll have His Majesty grant you an official position. What do you say?"
Princess Rongjing extended her palm, "Let's make a vow with a high five!"
Wen Ruo looked up at the roof and seemed to hear the sound of loose tiles. Normally, she would worry that a thief would smash a big hole in it at any moment.
However, at this moment, a windfall was falling from the sky, and it would be foolish not to take it, so Wen Ruo made her move.
"mother!"
Qi Guanlan groggily raised his face, immediately grabbed Princess Rongjing's hand, pressed it to his face, and tears streamed down his face involuntarily. "Mother, I'm heartbroken."
Wen Ruo missed her target, looked down awkwardly, and stared blankly at her palm. Was this fate, a reminder from heaven not to get involved in troubled matters? "Maybe I should just give up."
Qi Guanlan held Princess Rongjing's arm, tilted his head on her shoulder, and sobbed a few times.
Princess Rongjing glared at him angrily, but finally had no choice but to drag him away.
It's finally quiet tonight.
That night, Wen Ruo had a dream. She dreamt that she was wearing official robes and was tied up with ropes. The sun was so strong that she couldn't open her eyes. She staggered and looked miserable. She could only vaguely see a horse's tail and a familiar carriage next to her, exactly the same one that had stopped in front of the shop before.
Qi Guanlan was still on the other end of the rope, riding Little White like he was walking a dog.
Wen Ruo rubbed her temples with a headache and touched the sides of her neck. She was sweating profusely despite it being the middle of winter. "God must be so afraid that I'll go the wrong way."
Wen Ruo wiped her face, pushed open the door to the room next to her. Shi Liu Niang was still asleep, but the effects of the medicine had worn off. Her legs were immobilized, and she was moaning in her sleep from the pain. Wen Ruo fed her some medicine, and she fell into a deep sleep again.
Wen Ruo returned to the bookstall and found only tables and chairs leaning against the wall. "Shopkeeper, hasn't the scholar next door come?"
"He didn't come."
Wen Ruo slowly returned home with the soup. There were no visitors or errand runners. The mahogany octagonal table was unusually empty, with only her and Mr. Yi present. Mr. Yi looked sorrowful and ate his buns absentmindedly, even slower than her.
"Sir, you should drink less alcohol."
I still haven't recovered after sleeping all night.
"Sir, is something troubling you? If you don't mind, you can tell me about it, and perhaps I can help you think of a solution."
Mr. Yi suddenly raised his eyelids, a hint of surprise in his eyes, and hurriedly said, "I wasn't talking nonsense, was I?"
Wen Ruo shook her head, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief. "It's been a long time since I've had a drink, I'm a bit rusty. This is how I am when I'm drunk."
He chuckled twice, then calmly put down his bowl and chopsticks. "I'll go and prepare your medicine. Don't be careless."
Wen Ruo considerately refrained from pressing further, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, sir."
After the meal, she took out the "Young Master's Record," tore off the page about Fu Jingjiang, and placed it on the table to examine it closely. On the surface, this man came from a simple family, lived with his aunt, had no messy hobbies, and was aloof and proud. In other words, he was not an opportunistic or cunning person.
Three days later, Wen Ruo arrived at Leng Hua Lou with the booklet in her hand and went straight up to the second floor. There was a maid at the door who waved to her when she saw her. Wen Ruo looked at the sign next to the door frame, where a white jade zither was hanging straight up, seemingly unafraid of being stolen.
As soon as Wen Ruo entered, she saw a zither stand. "Wen Ruo, come here quickly."
A hint of surprise rose in Wen Ruo's eyes. She had thought it was just her dignified nature. "Miss Xue Rong, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
"It's alright. I heard you weren't feeling well, and I'm already very grateful that you came." Miss Sun's wide, azure sleeves were tied with white ribbons, and she was stirring a large white jade plate with a spoon in her hand. There were also two rows of light green lotus leaf dishes on the table.
She beckoned familiarly, hooking a wooden stool out with her foot, "Sit."
Seeing is believing, and she suddenly became quite interested in the Record of Noble Ladies.
Wen Ruo sat to the side, watching her piece things together. Even though she had never seen Miss Sun's skills before, she now knew that everyone has things they are not good at.
"Try it."
"I'm taking medicine, but the doctor said I can't."
The spoon went into Miss Sun's mouth, and she frowned, clearly having failed again.
Wen Ruo smiled and handed Fu Jingjiang's page after she finished her work. "Miss Xue Rong has good taste."
Miss Sun read the booklet with a smile, but when she turned the page, her smile froze on her face. "The martial arts world?"
“He has an aunt whom I have met. She is a little mentally unstable. The doctor said she would get better. However, when my mother helped her wash up and change her dressings, she noticed several sword scars and fresh wounds on her back. I only have my suspicions.”
"However, I asked the stall owner. He sells calligraphy and sits for most of the day without ever blushing at his customers. He doesn't have any enemies. I'll ask him more clearly once his aunt recovers so I can feel at ease."
Miss Sun took her hand and said, "It's so kind of you to be sick and still worry about me. I really don't know how to thank you enough."
A bell rang on the table, and a maidservant brought in some things. From a distance, the sweet aroma of Linglong Milk Tea could be smelled. "I heard you like sweet things."
"Try it, the chef's skills are naturally beyond my reach."
Wen Ruo smiled awkwardly. Miss Sun was truly understanding.
While Wen Ruo was eating, Miss Sun stood leisurely by the window, which faced the main street and offered a panoramic view. "I think it's Prince Anping at the entrance."
Wen Ruo paused for a moment without saying a word. Princess Rongjing's bracelet was still in her room, but she hadn't contacted her again since. There was no definite answer as to whether she would do it or not; it seemed like she was waiting for her.
"It looks like Qi Guanlan is about to come in?"
"It is an honor to have the Prince of Anping grace our humble abode with his presence." Zhao Heng, dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, wore a warm smile and showered the door with compliments. He stretched out his long legs and stood boldly in front of the door, more effective than a wooden stick.
Qi Guanlan rolled his eyes. "Do you think I wanted to come? Wen Ruo's eyes are still not cured. Why did she have to come here of all places?"
"So you're looking for Miss Wen. What a coincidence, she's chatting with Miss Sun. Why don't you bring up some of her favorite pastries? Miss Sun is very generous; she ordered more than a dozen kinds."
"Miss Sun?"
Qi Guanlan's face flushed red and then turned pale. After a pause, his deep voice rang out, "Wen Ruo, well done."
His jaw tightened, and he clenched his fists with a forced smile, his knuckles cracking. "You've got guts."
After spending a few days chanting scriptures and eating vegetarian food as a monk, he came to keep the appointment to prove to Buddha that all his previous illusions were false, that his heart was as still as water, and that he would never be moved by romantic feelings.
Qi Guanlan remained calm and said, "Move aside."
"You'd better not come in, you'll scare my guests."
Zhao Heng glanced at him up and down, then blocked his way again with his long leg, which he had just pulled back. "Why are you acting like you're possessed by a ghost? You were all smiles just now, and then your expression changed in the blink of an eye."
Zhao Heng took out a mirror and stood in front of him, chanting "Demons and monsters, leave quickly!" Qi Guanlan looked at himself in the mirror and left without saying a word.
Zhao Heng turned over in the mirror and looked at himself, exclaiming in surprise, "It's that useful?"
"You're leaving already? I thought Qi Guanlan would come looking for you." Wen Ruo looked at her, puzzled. "Why would he look for me? I didn't run away."
Miss Sun smiled slightly, "Isn't Young Master Qi still repaying a debt of gratitude?"
Wen Ruo felt that something was strange, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Miss Sun sat back down in front of her, revealing her refined and elegant demeanor. She smiled without showing her teeth, but her tone was still playful. "I was just kidding."
"I finally got out, and I got a little carried away. Please don't take offense."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Xue Rong."
Wen Ruo nodded gently. She wasn't very familiar with dealing with this kind of person, but since they wouldn't have any further contact in the future, it wouldn't hurt to do it once in a while. After exchanging a few more words, she took her leave.
The maidservant saw her out and then closed the door. A voice called out "Miss," and Miss Sun let out a soft laugh, as if it were a snort coming from her nose, tinged with sarcasm and disdain.
Wen Ruo thoughtfully held onto the handrail and descended the steps one by one.
Zhao Heng came out from beside the stairs again. Before he could speak, Wen Ruo didn't even lift her eyelids. Her voice was as cold as if it had just broken through the ice, and she said, "I'm not going."
“I didn’t say anything.” Zhao Heng choked for a moment, then curled his lips into a playful smile. “You’re going to find Qi Guanlan? I advise you not to. He’s so angry he looks like he’s about to bite someone. It wouldn’t be good if you startled him.”
Wen Ruo said irritably, "I'm not looking for him either."
However, Zhao Heng did remind her.
Wen Ruo strolled around for a while, then turned a corner and went back to the old house. The lock on the front door was open. She instinctively held her breath, looked around, found a wooden stick, hid it behind her back, and quietly pushed the door open a crack.
The main house door was properly closed, and the courtyard looked exactly as it had been before Yan'an Temple. There were no footprints at the entrance; the footprints simply turned a corner at the entrance.
Crabapple tree? Qi Guanlan?
Wen Ruo breathed a sigh of relief and quietly went inside to see what he was up to.
"Young master, what are you burying?"
Qi Guanlan stiffened, slowly stood up, hid the item in his sleeve, and stomped his foot a few times. At the familiar spot, Wen Ruo exclaimed, "My golden walnut?"
Qi Guanlan's lips were pressed together, turning pale, and his tone was distant, "What do you mean 'your'? Does it respond when you call it?"
Wen Ruo's throat tightened. Just a few days ago she was crying and sobbing, but now she couldn't utter a single decent word. "Who said it was money to buy my life? Who said I could dig it myself when I woke up?"
"Who was it that said they would listen to me? Who was it that said they wouldn't lie to me?"
Wen Ruo looked at him, "When have I not heard of this?"
Qi Guanlan felt as if his heart was blocked, and he laughed angrily, "You mean, I'm being unreasonable?"
Wen Ruo took a deep breath and frowned, saying, "I don't understand what you're angry about."
Qi Guanlan stammered, unable to speak. He stomped his foot, and a hole appeared in the freshly turned soil under the crabapple tree, bearing witness to his pent-up anger. "What were you doing just now?"
"Go to Lenghua Tower to see Miss Sun!" Wen Ruo said confidently. Her confinement order had been lifted, so why should she be afraid of you if she wanted to come out and have some fun?
"You invited her, and then you invited me. What do you mean by that?"
I didn't invite you.
"lie."
Qi Guanlan coldly uttered two words and then turned and left.
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