Chapter Fifty-Seven: I Just Have to Keep Bothering Her
Xie Yanzhi said in a deep voice, "I will not marry her."
"But I will give her some things to rely on, so that she will have no worries about food and clothing."
It's not impossible for him to marry her, but if he marries someone of such low status, the old lady will definitely find him a noblewoman from a high-ranking family to be his concubine.
I'm afraid she'll get involved in the shady dealings of the inner quarters, and in the end, she'll only harm her fiancée.
It would be better to settle her properly, let her find an ordinary marriage, and let her live a peaceful life.
Shen Qingnian already knew the outcome and was not surprised by Xie Yanzhi's answer. Ultimately, he still thought her status was too low and unworthy of the Marquis's mansion.
"The Crown Prince called others untrustworthy, but now it seems he is no different."
"Don't compare me to others." Xie Yanzhi didn't want to pay attention to Shen Qingnian.
All he wants to know now is who that person is.
The two were engaged, but it's unknown whether they have any proof of the engagement.
Thinking of this, Xie Yanzhi looked at Shen Qingnian and asked, "Who exactly is that person?"
Seeing his anxiety, Shen Qingnian said calmly, "I don't know who he is either."
Xie Yanzhi frowned. "Shen Qingnian, are you playing me?"
Shen Qingnian struggled free for a moment, a hint of annoyance in her voice: "I truly don't know who he is."
"The fact that I can still provoke the Crown Prince proves that the other person is indeed more powerful than the Crown Prince. Otherwise, why would I dare to provoke you instead of him?"
Xie Yanzhi could easily tell that Shen Qingnian was being sarcastic. He grabbed Shen Qingnian's wrist, his brows furrowed, clearly annoyed.
But Shen Qingnian didn't even know who the other party was. Either she was lying to him, or this marriage was not simple!
"What exactly is going on with this marriage? How come you don't even know who your fiancé is?"
Shen Qingnian said, "My mother only said that one day she suddenly received a letter from my maternal grandfather saying that he had arranged a marriage for me with his good friend surnamed Yang."
"Later, on his way here, my maternal grandfather's boat was capsized by the waves, and the marriage was never known."
Shen Qingnian glanced at Xie Yanzhi. She hadn't lied; their marriage was indeed arranged by Xie Yanzhi's maternal grandfather and her maternal grandfather together.
According to my mother, the two of them were friends for many years. Xie Yanzhi's maternal grandfather, Yang Mingxiu, was a local scholar who ran a school.
Shen Qingnian's maternal grandfather, Su Chi, rented a shop next to the school to sell incense beads.
The two spent their time drinking tea and playing chess together, and later they arranged a marriage between their families' younger generation.
Of course, at that time Xie Songyan was not yet the head of the Marquis's mansion, and Xie Yanzhi was not yet the heir apparent.
Upon hearing Shen Qingnian's explanation, Xie Yanzhi released her wrist, noticing that it was already somewhat red.
He couldn't help but think that at times, her skin was just as delicate, turning red at the slightest touch.
"Do you know if you two have exchanged birth charts or written a marriage certificate?"
If either of these two conditions is met, then the engagement must be called off; if neither is met, then it's just empty talk and there's nothing to worry about.
“My maternal grandfather mentioned in his letter that the birth charts had been exchanged.”
Shen Qingnian recalled her mother's words: "Nian'er, the man you are engaged to is named Xie Yanzhi. The two families have already exchanged betrothal gifts. You can go and look for him, but I don't know if you can find him."
Su Wanyun said something else, the gist of which was that if Shen Qingnian finds that person in the future and is willing to marry him, that would be the best outcome.
If one is unwilling to marry, one must take back the marriage certificate, and then the two will have no further connection in their future marriages.
But looking at Xie Yanzhi's expression, she realized he was unaware of his engagement, so how could she possibly get the engagement certificate back?
"Then how did your mother know that you shouldn't mess with that person?" Xie Yanzhi asked again.
“My mother once sent people to look for the Yang family in the place where my maternal grandfather lived, but they found no trace of them in the surrounding area.”
Xie Yanzhi understood that someone who could completely erase all traces of life was definitely not an ordinary family.
Just like the Marquis's mansion back then, the people sent by the old lady dismissed the surrounding neighbors when the father and son set off to return to the capital, making it impossible for him to go back and find even a trace of his memories.
Seeing Xie Yanzhi lost in thought, as if pondering something, Shen Qingnian's face lit up with a sly smile.
She wanted to give him an unknown, so that he wouldn't feel at ease accepting her.
After all, which man would want his wife or concubine to be engaged to someone else and then marry him?
Perhaps Xie Yanzhi will think about finding out the truth first, which would delay the matter of taking a concubine for some time.
Shen Qingnian added, "My mother told me about this engagement because she was afraid that one day someone would come to our door with a marriage certificate, so that I would be prepared."
"But don't worry, cousin, if you take me as your wife, it won't be considered stealing someone else's wife."
“Anyway, that person won’t want me.” Shen Qingnian said, glancing at Xie Yanzhi.
Xie Yanzhi looked at Shen Qingnian's face with a cold gaze. What kind of despicable act is this, stealing someone else's wife!
Shen Qingnian actually associated him with such vulgar and low-class language!
He also understood that she ultimately did not want to become his concubine.
However, he would investigate her marriage arrangements thoroughly.
Xie Yanzhi's gaze was too much for Shen Qingnian to bear. She turned her head away, not daring to meet Xie Yanzhi's eyes, afraid that he would see through her thoughts.
For some reason, Xie Yanzhi always felt that she was hiding something from him.
Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and said coldly, "Shen Qingnian, get ready on the seventh day of next month."
No matter who the betrothed is, she shouldn't try to delay.
He will not let go of Shen Qingnian.
Shen Qingnian didn't expect that even after she brought up marriage, Xie Yanzhi still wouldn't budge an inch.
She gained a deeper understanding of Xie Yanzhi.
She couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. Xie Yanzhi wasn't lacking in women, yet he insisted on pestering her.
"Cousin, I'm tired and want to rest." Shen Qingnian said as she lay down, pulled the quilt over herself, closed her eyes, and pretended to be asleep.
Xie Yanzhi felt a little annoyed by Shen Qingnian's indifferent attitude towards him.
But her face seemed even paler than before, and she had lost her vitality.
Thinking that she must be tired, and too lazy to talk to her, he got up and went back to Guanlan Residence.
After Xie Yanzhi left, Shen Qingnian opened her eyes. She was a little anxious. There were only a few days left until the seventh day of next month. What should she do?
At this moment, Ling'er walked in cautiously, holding a paper package in her hand, and stood excitedly in front of the bed: "Miss!"
Shen Qingnian sat up and leaned against the pillow, asking with some confusion, "What's wrong?"
Ling'er handed over the pine nuts in her hand: "These are pine nuts that Brother Ping'an gave me."
It turned out that Ping An gave it to her.
Seeing Ling'er's happy expression, Shen Qingnian smiled and said, "I won't eat it, you can eat it yourself."
"No, Miss, look inside carefully." After saying this, Ling'er cautiously looked around, afraid that the young master might return.
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