Chapter 41: Making an exception and letting Shen Shuwei become the adopted daughter of the Marquis
Luojing's annual flower show is naturally lively. Not only are the flowers in full bloom lined up on the streets, but the streets are also bustling with people and the shouts of vendors fill the air with noise.
Shen Zhiyang was thinking about the blessing lanterns by the river, so he took Shen Zhang away early, saying that he wanted to grab a good spot and light a lantern for everyone in the Shen family.
Only the brother and sister Shen Shuwei and Shen Heng were left, each of them carrying a peony-shaped lantern as they walked around.
Chen Heng was walking back after buying a string of candied haws. He was about to hand it to Chen Shuwei and ask her if she wanted some when he was suddenly bumped into by someone on the shoulder. His hand holding the candied haws shook and rubbed against a dark brocade robe.
Chen Heng knew he was wrong and was about to pull out his handkerchief to apologize to the other party, but he didn't expect a cold sneer to be heard.
"I was wondering who was this shabby, dressed like a beggar, but it turns out to be from the Shen family." Chu Yunlan stared at Chen Heng and Shen Shuwei, who was not far away, with malicious intent, and reached out to brush off his robes. "You're not even paying attention when you walk. This young master's clothes are worth sixty taels of silver, and you've soiled them like this. Can you afford to pay for it?"
Seeing that it was Chu Yunlan, Chen Heng frowned slightly, "What do you want?"
"What do you want, sir?" Chu Yunlan chuckled, and pointed at a stain on his brocade robe. "It's such a good day for a poor beggar like you to come and interrupt me, and I still think it's bad luck. Pay me back with this dress, and then bow to me and apologize, and I'll let you go."
The Marquis of Jingning's Mansion boarded the Third Prince's big ship, and the Marquis of Jingning also received rewards from the Emperor in front of the emperor. Naturally, Chu Yunlan, the legitimate son of the Marquis, had a higher status. With a group of friends flattering him outside, he wished his eyes could reach the sky, and spoke more arrogantly than before.
Chen Heng raised his eyes and looked at him, "Mr. Chu, didn't you rinse your mouth before going out? Your mouth stinks."
“You——” Chu Yunlan didn’t expect that Shen Heng dared to speak to him like this, and his face suddenly turned pale.
At this moment, he caught a glimpse of Chen Shuwei walking towards him, his mind was in turmoil, and he raised his chin arrogantly, "Chen Shuwei, you have been living such a poor life since you left the Marquis' Mansion. You can't even afford a piece of cloud brocade. The servants in the Marquis' Mansion are all dressed better than you."
Chen Shu glanced at him sideways, his eyes fell on his clothes, and he sneered.
This is to curry favor with the Third Prince. When he gets some good things, he wears them on himself to show off. He has also forgotten the hard days a few days ago when the mansion could not even afford a few hundred taels of cash.
Seeing that Chen Shuwei remained silent, Chu Yunlan felt even more proud. "If you regret it now, it's not too late. I can convince my father to let you live in the mansion as an adopted daughter, and take care of Xinrou's household chores and the shop and farm. I can also introduce those princesses and county ladies you know to Xinrou. Xinrou is gentle and docile, and will definitely be more likable than you."
"There's just one thing. After you return home, you are not allowed to compete with Xinrou for anything, and you are not allowed to go beyond Xinrou. After all, Xinrou is my most beloved sister."
Chen Shu raised his eyebrows slightly. "You mean to give me the status of an adopted daughter of a marquis, and let me go back gratefully to continue to work for you like a slave, and all the gold, silver, wealth and good reputation I get will belong to Chu Xinrou, and I won't be allowed to have any say in it?"
"The Marquis' Mansion is no longer the same as it used to be. Others can't get in even if they want to. You are marrying up if I give you the status of an adopted daughter of the Marquis' Mansion." Chu Yunlan had an arrogant look on his face, as if he had given Chen Shuwei a great favor and she shouldn't be ungrateful.
In fact, selfishly speaking, he didn't want Chen Shuwei to return home. Xinrou was kind-hearted and never competed with others. Chen Shuwei would only bully Xinrou in the mansion.
But ever since Chen Shuwei left the mansion, life there had become increasingly difficult. First, there was no one to help with his homework, leading to him being repeatedly reprimanded by the White Deer Academy teachers. If it weren't for the Third Prince's involvement, he would have been expelled from the academy.
In addition, the household expenses in the mansion are now managed by his concubine sister Chu Mingyi. The food he and his mother eat is several times worse than when Chen Shuwei was around. Even the monthly allowance has been reduced from twenty taels to one tael.
He was the eldest son of a marquis's family, but he couldn't even treat his friends to a meal in a restaurant.
After much thought, he decided to let Shen Shuwei return home and continue making money for the Marquis's Mansion, so that he could resume his former life of extravagance and debauchery. Even though it was a little unfair, he would love her more than before and would never let Shen Shuwei bully her.
"Also, you must bring Divine Doctor Yun back home after you return, and find a way to clear Xinrou's reputation. Do you know that because of you, Xinrou cries every day at home, and your mother doesn't dare to go out to see guests anymore?"
"All of this is your fault. When you return home, you must kneel in the ancestral hall for a day. You can only get up when Mother and Xinrou forgive you."
"The shops in the Marquis' Mansion have been losing a lot of money recently. When you go back, take good care of them. When you start making money, give them to Xinrou so that she can win respect in front of Grandmother and Father."
Chu Yunlan said a lot in one breath, and he was sure in his heart that Shen Shuwei could not refuse the title of the adopted daughter of the Marquis' Mansion, and would definitely go back with him obediently.
After all, everyone in Luojing knew that the Jingning Marquisate had offered a good plan for flood control, and even the Third Prince and His Majesty praised it highly.
Chen Shuwei looked at Chu Yunlan with the same expression as if he were a fool. "Since Master Chu wants me to do so much, what are the benefits?"
Did the blow that big brother just hit him knock his brain out of his body?
"Benefits?" Chu Yunlan raised his chin and said disdainfully, "You are now at the age of marriage. If you stay in the Shen family, your father, a fourth-rank minister, can't find you a good family."
"But if you bear the title of the Marquis's adopted daughter, it will be different. Everyone in Luojing will look up to you. As long as you are willing to serve Grandmother as before, take good care of the Marquis's inner courtyard, and make money for the Marquis's business, I will find a good family for you."
Based on Chen Shuwei's appearance and figure, he could be sent to a prince's or marquis's palace as a concubine or successor to win over his friends and pave the way for his official career.
The more Chu Yunlan thought about it, the more he felt that this was a good thing with great benefits, and it was also a compliment to Shen Shuwei.
Shen Shuwei sneered and pulled Shen Heng over, "Let's go, big brother."
The fool has seen enough, it’s time to move on.
A marquis who only gained face in front of others by plagiarizing Chen Heng's old manuscript dared to make such big claims. He is really shameless.
After walking a few steps, Shen Shuwei suddenly thought of something and took out a piece of silver from his bosom and threw it into Chu Yunlan's arms, "Oh, this is the money to compensate Mr. Chu for his clothes. It's just a piece of ordinary silk, the material costs 20 taels per piece. I don't know where Mr. Chu bought it, but he spent 60 taels of silver."
"Young Master Chu, you have the time to dream here. Why don't you go back and clean your eyes? Otherwise, people will laugh at the famous eldest son of the Marquis of Jingning Mansion for not being able to tell the difference between good and bad fabrics."
Chu Yunlan held the silver coin in his hand with a gloomy face, and his fist creaked.
Shen, Shu, Wei! How dare she humiliate herself!
This dress was a gift from a friend of his. When it was delivered, it was boasted to be top-quality floating brocade, shipped thousands of miles from Shu County, and costing a hundred taels of silver per piece. But it turned out to be ordinary satin!
Chu Yunlan was so angry that he threw the silver coin on the ground. A little beggar who had been squatting nearby to watch the fun for a while saw this and rushed over to snatch the silver coin, and even stepped on Chu Yunlan's brocade robe.
Sure enough, this tall guy has a problem with his brain. Not only did no one pay attention to him after talking for a long time, but now he even lost the money.
Chu Yunlan looked at the corner of his robe that was stepped on and made dirty by the little beggar, and was so angry that he wanted to hit him, but the little beggar slipped into the crowd like a loach and disappeared.
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