Chapter 42
Xu Xuan's idea was to move out, not come back, and not disturb their time together.
He even came up with a reason for Shen Yao's actions.
"Recently, due to the seditious books, the imperial court has been cracking down on printing shops. Many corrupt officials have taken the opportunity to extort money, causing the bookstores to be on the verge of bankruptcy. In Dashilan, many shop owners are transferring their shops."
Xu Xuan asked Shen Yao to open a study in Dashilan, using this as an excuse to live outside.
“I am currently injured and cannot accompany you to look at shops. You should go back to your parents’ home first and look around with your brother. If you find a suitable one, have Shen Fan sign the contract, and I will make up the difference later.”
Xu Xuan spoke calmly, as if he were only recounting an ordinary matter, but the truth was that he favored his concubine over his wife, disregarded etiquette and law, and drove his legal wife out of the house.
Shen Yao was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say. An indescribable pain welled up in her heart. His indifference, selfishness and ruthlessness had subconsciously stimulated the nerves of this body and awakened the sleeping soul.
Yuan Shenyao loved Xu Xuan to the core.
But Shen Yao was different; she didn't love Xu Xuan, so in just a moment, her expression changed from disappointment to excitement.
I can live legally and legitimately outside, and I'll never have to suffer here again.
What is that?
It's freedom!
A free world!
She thanked Xu Xuan!
Xu Xuan, you don't know, the woman you love has betrayed you, but I will never tell you.
Go ahead and cause all that trouble, turn the world upside down, and make a complete mess of things!
I'm not going to care anymore!
*
Shen Yao acted very quickly. After obtaining Xu Xuan's permission, she hurriedly returned to the Shen family. It happened to be Shen Fan's day off, so she told her brother about opening the study and made up a reason, saying that Xu Xuan opened the study because of official business.
Although Shen Fan was puzzled, he couldn't ask too many questions since his brother-in-law was on official business. So the two of them took some money and went for a stroll in Dashilan.
Xu Xuan is right. Because of the matter of the demonic book, there are many people from the Imperial Guard, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Military Command who take the opportunity to extort money. There are also some local ruffians who take the opportunity to blackmail shop owners. If they don't pay or pay too little, a letter of complaint will lead to a search by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Shop owners, not wanting to cause trouble, often settle out of court by paying money. But with wave after wave of people, even the richest shop owners can't withstand repeated exploitation.
A shop owner was reported for underpaying a local thug. He was imprisoned for several days before his family ransomed him. Just then, his father passed away, which is why he was able to sell the shop.
Shen Yao chatted with him and learned that the bookstore mainly sold books for the imperial examinations, such as the Four Books and Five Classics and annotated versions; selections of eight-legged essays, such as "The Complete Records of Imperial Examinations," and compilations of excellent examination papers for candidates to imitate. In addition, popular novels, vernacular stories, and operas were also sold.
Seeing that Shen Yao was interested in taking over the shop, the shopkeeper led the two to the cellar in the back of the house. When the cellar was opened, Shen Yao was shocked.
The cellar was filled with banned books, including erotic novels such as "Jin Ping Mei," "Xiu Ta Ye Shi," and "Ru Yi Jun Zhuan."
"Young lady, don't look down on these storybooks. They are very popular, especially among the scholars of the academy."
He also shared his experience, saying that when he saw young men buying books for the imperial examinations, he would recommend romance novels and love stories, guaranteeing that every recommendation would be successful.
This is a street-front shop with a front store and a back residence. It also employs several staff to print books, and there are dedicated people selling books at the front desk. When Shen Yao took over, she only needed to be the manager behind the scenes.
The brother and sister completed the signing of the contract and the reporting to the government office in just one afternoon.
Next came the matter of housing. Shen Yao originally wanted to live directly in the back of the shop, but Shen Fan said that the shop was a noisy place and it would be inconvenient for a beautiful woman like her to live there.
So Shen Yao moved into her father's outer residence, which was not far from Dashilan. The residents were all wealthy and powerful, so the area was very safe.
"I never imagined that my father would keep a mistress."
Just like her brother at first, Shen Yao was deeply shocked.
When Miao Niang learned that Shen Yao had come to stay, she didn't say anything. After all, the house belonged to the Shen family, and she had no right to manage it.
But since they were living under the same roof, Shen Yao didn't stay for nothing. She bought many gifts for Miao Niang to show her respect. Having received gifts, Shen Yao was kind, and Miao Niang reciprocated with equal respect.
The two sides can be considered to be getting along peacefully.
After finishing their business here, the brother and sister hurried towards the inner city before Zhengyang Gate closed.
On the way, Shen Yao suddenly remembered the day she met Miss Zhao, so she asked, "Brother, how were you and Miss Zhao? Did you get along well?"
"She is well-educated, gentle, and virtuous. We... are alright, I guess."
It's alright, just passable. I'm not particularly satisfied, but I can't find any major faults either. Now, as long as the Duke of Xin's mansion agrees to this marriage, Shen Fan's wife is settled.
Do you know Zhao Lian's wife?
Shen Yao suddenly heard her brother ask her a question.
Now I understand. The two share secrets, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them allies.
Shen Yao nodded and asked, "Does brother know him too?"
"I don't know her. But when we met that day, I noticed that Madam Guo's speech and mannerisms were very... straightforward, unlike many other young ladies I've met."
He finished speaking, sighed, and lamented, "It's like a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung."
Shen Yao thought so too.
People tend to try to compensate for what they lack by writing it in their names. The character "廉" (lian) implies upright character, which is precisely what Zhao Lian lacked.
Guo Niangzi's father was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and he was very particular about "propriety." How could he possibly betroth his daughter to Zhao Lian?
How absurd!
*
Shen Yao returned to the Xu family and showed the contract to Xu Xuan. Xu Xuan ordered someone to bring the money, but Shen Yao refused, saying, "I will run the study myself, and all the profits will belong to me."
Since we're going to divorce in the future, this is a good opportunity to divide our assets and make our relationship completely separate from his from now on.
Xu Xuan didn't think that much about it; since Shen Yao didn't want money, he couldn't be bothered to care.
"Although you live outside, you should not overstep the proper etiquette for married women."
The implication was that she should behave herself, not have an affair, and not cuckold him.
Ah, men want it all.
Shen Yao felt utterly disgusted, as if she had swallowed a fly. She said in a deep voice, "I understand."
After speaking, she couldn't wait to leave the room; if she stayed any longer, she would have vomited.
She walked away gracefully and decisively. Xu Xuan watched her retreating figure, wanting to say something, but his throat tightened, and he couldn't utter a single sound. He could only stare blankly as she left.
My heart suddenly started racing.
He didn't know why, but it felt like he had lost something very important, something he could never get back...
That night, Shen Yao and her maid tidied up the room, preparing to welcome a wonderful new life; while Xu Xuan lay alone on the bed, silently waiting for Liu Ru for half the night, but still no one came back.
The night was heavy with dew, the bare branches swayed, and the shadows of the trees danced, creating a scene of quiet solitude.
Xu Xuan fell asleep without realizing it.
Strangely enough, he never dreams, but tonight, for the first time ever, he actually dreamed.
It was a prison cell, dark and damp, and probably cold, because he saw a woman huddled in a corner, her arms wrapped around her knees, her hair disheveled and covering her face.
He approached, and the woman looked up at him with a detached expression.
The jailer unlocked the cell, and he went inside, stared down at the woman, then threw out a white silk ribbon, said something, and walked out of the cell.
With his back to the woman, he seemed afraid to look at her, yet he couldn't help glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.
It was a pair of bare feet standing on a stool. A moment later, the stool tipped over, leaving the feet dangling in mid-air, swaying incessantly...
I curse you, may you be childless and die a horrible death!
When Xu Xuan woke up, a voice echoed in her mind, as if it came from the depths of her soul, carrying an unforgettable pain that soared straight to the heavens.
He should remember what the woman looked like, but now he has completely forgotten it, only remembering the feeling, the unbearable pain.
He wept, his face covered in tears, tears that wouldn't stop flowing, as if he wanted to turn all the blood in his body into tears, to let them flow out and be released.
Xu Xuan didn't know why; she only knew that she was feeling down, upset, and nauseous.
As the sky brightened, layers of white fish belly churned up. Xu Xuan endured the pain and got up to change her clothes.
The servant brought hot water, and Xu Xuan quickly washed up. He limped out of his room, having been bedridden for several days before he could barely get out of bed and walk. Xu Xuan wandered around the courtyard a few times, and was about to return to his room when he suddenly heard a noise coming from the east courtyard.
He walked over and saw Shen Yao loading clothes into the car.
The large and small boxes filled an entire carriage, along with many bundles that had nowhere to go, so the maids carried them in their hands.
"Shall we leave now?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Xu Xuan was stunned.
He had always wanted Shen Yao to leave, but now, a faint sorrow suddenly welled up inside him, enveloping him.
Shen Yao was busy directing the maids and servants to carefully put away the gold, silver and valuables. Upon hearing this, she only lifted her eyelids and glanced at Xu Xuan, but in her heart she despised his two-faced nature.
He was so forceful last night, telling her to leave, but now he acts like he's reluctant to let her go. Who is he pretending to be all lovey-dovey for?
"Yes, the sooner the better."
Shen Yao's tone was cold.
"Have breakfast before you leave, I..."
“No need.” Shen Yao looked up at him. “Moving is a lot of work. It’s a long distance from the inner city to the outer city. When we get to the new house, we still need to tidy up the rooms. I really don’t have time.”
Shen Yao really didn't want to talk to him anymore.
A servant was carrying a large box with a bronze mirror on top of it. However, when the box was being loaded into the cart, the mirror was accidentally knocked to the ground with a "crack".
Shen Yao was startled and hurriedly went forward to pick it up, but the bronze mirror was already broken in two. Shen Yao felt very sorry, as she quite liked this bronze mirror.
Fearing the shattered bronze mirror might hurt someone, Shen Yao threw it into a corner.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the bronze mirror, emitting a dazzling light. The light refracted several times before finally shooting precisely into Xu Xuan's eyes.
He suddenly closed his eyes, and some images flashed through his mind. Just as he was about to grasp the fragments of information, he heard Shen Yao's voice, "I'm leaving."
Xu Xuan opened his eyes and looked at her. Under the sunlight, the woman had bright eyes and white teeth, and a faint halo was cast on her fair skin. She was like a fairy, aloof and beautiful.
*
At Master Shen's outer residence, Miao Niang had already tidied the rooms. When Shen Yao's carriage arrived, she helped unload the goods. In just one morning, all the luggage and belongings were arranged, and the missing furniture was purchased one by one in the afternoon.
To celebrate the start of their wonderful life, Shen Yao invited Miao Niang, servants, and maids to dine at Fu Gui Lou. They chose a private room, ordered a large table full of dishes, and enjoyed drinking and playing drinking games.
At the same restaurant, not far from Shen Yao, the "Red Powder Beauty Club," in which Zhao Lian participated, had grown from the initial fifty people to more than three hundred in just a few days.
These sons of officials, idle all day long, yet fearing nothing more than peace and chaos, began to disregard the laws and regulations of the dynasty and openly challenge etiquette and order as their numbers grew.
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