Chapter 259: Proposal
Shen Mingzhu held the heavy purse, with a flash of surprise in her eyes.
She knew very well that Zhao Jue did not have much money, and neither the Duke's Mansion nor the Luo family was willing to help them.
Zhao Jue has no job, so where does the money come from?
Shen Mingzhu heard footsteps and looked over. She saw the second master hurried over and quickly put the purse into his sleeve pocket.
The Second Master saw Shen Mingzhu standing alone at the door, with no sign of Zhao Jue. He asked, "Is Jue'er back?"
"The Third Master's return home was like a sign in at the office. He only saw each other once and then left again."
Shen Mingzhu covered her hands with her sleeves, suspecting that Zhao Jue's money came from illegal sources.
He gave her all the money, so he went out to get more money?
"Leaving again?" The Second Master glared at him and said impatiently, "Mingzhu, how much silver do you have? Give it to me first. When Jue'er comes back, I'll ask him for the silver and then return it to you."
When he woke up today, he would never see Yue Niang again.
The brothel owner said that a rich young man had taken a fancy to Yue Niang and would redeem her in five days.
Now Yue Niang is no longer allowed to receive guests.
The brothel owner also said that he was Yue Niang's benefactor and that Yue Niang had feelings for him. If he could raise enough money to redeem her within five days, he would let Yue Niang go with him.
The second master wanted to redeem Yue Niang, but he had no money in his pocket.
Selling this house would be enough to redeem Yue Niang, but the title deed is in Zhao Jue's hands.
He wanted to get some money from Shen Mingzhu and ask the brothel owner to make some concessions and let him see Yue Niang.
"Father-in-law, I don't have any money either." Shen Mingzhu touched her bulging belly and said pitifully, "I don't have enough money to buy the baby's things. If Third Master can't borrow money, the baby will be born without clothes to wear."
The second master looked at Shen Mingzhu's big belly and touched his nose embarrassedly.
Shen Mingzhu ignored the second master and turned back to the yard.
There was no need to delve into the source of Zhao Jue's money, as long as she had money to spend, that was enough.
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Zhao Jue came to Wuping Lane with a heavy heart. He looked up at the closed door, not knowing what reason he should have to see Yue Niang.
Suddenly, the door of the mansion opened.
When he saw Yue Niang coming out of the house with her maid, surprise flashed in his eyes, as if he had not expected such a coincidence.
Yue Niang was surprised: "Sir, why are you here?"
Zhao Jue lied, "You gave me too much as a thank you gift. I came here specially to return the silver to you."
Although he said so, he did not take out any money.
"How can I take back something I've given away?" Yue Niang said disapprovingly, "That little bit of silver means nothing to me."
This was originally an excuse Zhao Jue made up, and he didn't continue Yue Niang's words. Otherwise, if he couldn't pay the silver, there would be no end to the matter.
He inquired, "I noticed you didn't look very happy when you came out. Did you encounter any difficulties?"
Yue Niang put away her smile, glanced at the house behind her, and walked silently towards the alley entrance.
Zhao Jue followed her slowly.
After exiting the alley, Yue Niang paused and said with a sad look, "My aunt and her family moved away, leaving behind a housekeeper. The housekeeper treated me warmly and attentively. But when he learned I was an orphan, his attitude changed drastically, and he said my aunt had given him the house."
"Why would my aunt give the house to a servant of hers? He's clearly taking advantage of you, an orphan with no one to rely on, and trying to cheat you out of your money."
The maid Qiao'er said angrily, "He said that if you don't give him money to buy the house, he will move out as soon as possible. He also said that he has a grandson who is about your age. Isn't he asking you to marry his grandson?"
At this point, Qiao Er said, "Pah!" "A toad wants to eat swan flesh."
"Qiao'er." Yue Niang called out softly, glancing at Zhao Jue secretly, and said embarrassedly, "I plan to buy a house and move out."
"This is your first time in the capital, and you're unfamiliar with the place. Buying a house won't be easy." Zhao Jue seized the opportunity and said, "If you trust me, I'll arrange it for you."
"Sir, I don't know anyone else except you." Yue Niang said with trust: "I gave you silver as a reward, but you thought it was too much. It shows that you are a gentleman."
At this point, Yue Niang said a little embarrassedly: "Am I bothering you too much?"
"No." Zhao Jue smiled and said, "It's a small matter."
"Forget it, I won't bother you anymore." Yue Niang looked at Zhao Jue with a bright gaze: "You can help me temporarily, but you can't help me forever. I have to stand on my own feet. I'll take care of the house matters myself."
Zhao Jue frowned. Before he could speak, Yue Niang continued, "I'm helpless in the capital, holding a fortune that everyone covets. If I can't even afford a house, I can't protect this fortune."
At this point, Yue Niang smiled and said, "Master, thank you for your kindness. Meeting you is the only blessing I have ever had in the capital."
Zhao Jue looked at her petite and fragile figure. She was obviously alone, trapped in a fire pit, with no one to rely on, but she still showed her strong side.
"Actually, there's another way to resolve your current predicament." Zhao Jue seized the opportunity and proposed to Yue Niang: "Marry me, and all the problems you're facing will be solved."
Yue Niang was stunned.
"Your carriage lost control, and you met me. Isn't this a match made in heaven?" Zhao Jue stared at her with deep eyes and said sincerely, "If you marry me, I will never let you suffer any injustice and will protect you for the rest of your life."
Yue Niang looked at his handsome face. His expression was very sincere, as if as long as she married him, she would have someone to rely on.
She seemed moved by his words, her eyes filled with tears, and she almost wanted to agree to him immediately. But the next moment, she hesitated, as if she had some reservations.
"I... I'm just an orphan without parents. If I marry you, I won't be able to help you at all. Instead, I'll become a burden to you."
Yue Niang shook her head gently and bit her lip: "Sir, you should marry a virtuous wife who is of equal status..."
She wanted to marry him, but was afraid of being a burden to him. Even the light in her eyes dimmed, and she looked even more fragile and pale.
"I'm marrying the woman I love, not her family background." Looking at her like this, Zhao Jue curled his lips slightly: "I saved you, so logically, you should marry me."
Yue Niang suddenly looked at Zhao Jue, her lips trembling, still worried.
"Don't overthink it. Only incompetent men would rely on women." Zhao Jue saw that she was hesitant and hadn't made up her mind, so he made a decision on his own: "I'll ask a matchmaker to propose to you tomorrow."
"Young Master..."
"My last name is Zhao, and I'm the third child in my family. You can call me Sanlang." Zhao Jue's deep eyes were filled with a hint of tenderness. "What about you?"
Yue Niang was blushing and made up a fake name: "My parents call me Yu Niang."
"Yu Niang..." Zhao Jue chewed her name between his lips and teeth, and said in a particularly intimate and ambiguous way: "It suits you very well."
Yue Niang blushed and her heart beat fast, and she didn't dare to look at him again.
Zhao Jue looked at her blushing cheeks, which were both shy and innocent, making her particularly charming and beautiful.
At this moment, he felt that marrying her was not too difficult.
After leaving Wuping Lane, Zhao Jue hired a matchmaker and asked her to propose to Yue Niang early the next morning.
After all matters were dealt with, Zhao Jue returned to the Zhao family and planned to talk to Shen Mingzhu.
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