Chapter Thirty: She's as Slender as You
Shen Qingnian had already chosen her jewelry and was ready to go back. She was afraid that if she stayed at Guanlan Residence any longer, gossip would spread.
Besides, she also wanted to leave the manor to go and find Xiao Huaiyi.
But upon hearing Xie Yanzhi say this, Shen Qingnian said, "Your Highness, this is a gift you gave to your beloved, I cannot wear it."
Xie Yanzhi raised an eyebrow: "How am I supposed to know if this bracelet fits or not if you don't try it on?"
Shen Qingnian forgot that the size of the bracelet depends on the size of the opening.
If I had known, she would have chosen the gold hairpin with the ruby.
She looked down and saw that her wrist was quite thin; most girls probably couldn't wear it.
"She's just as thin as you."
Xie Yanzhi seemed to sense her doubts and uttered this sentence.
Shen Qingnian pointed to the hairpin and said, "If you're worried that the bracelet won't fit, this ruby gold hairpin will also be good."
"Okay, then I'll take them all."
No sooner had she finished speaking than the golden hairpin landed on Shen Qingnian's head.
"Put the bracelet on."
Xie Yanzhi handed the bracelet to Shen Qingnian.
This bracelet was sent to Shen Qingnian by the shopkeeper after Xie Yanzhi estimated her wrist size.
Shen Qingnian looked at the aggressive Xie Yanzhi and didn't bother arguing with him. Anyway, he was the kind of person who wouldn't care about others.
Shen Qingnian put on the jade bracelet and found that it was almost the same size as her wrist, a perfect fit.
At this moment, Gu Lingyu was quietly lying on the door of Guanlan Residence, staring intently into the house.
Today her mother wants her to move back to the Marquis of Xinyang's residence, and she wants to come and say goodbye to her cousin Yanzhi.
But as soon as she arrived, she saw Shen Qingnian wearing that imperial concubine bracelet. Upon closer inspection, she noticed several trays of jewelry next to it! Cousin Yan had given Shen Qingnian so much jewelry.
Over the years, her cousin has never given her a single gift.
Gu Lingyu stomped her foot, flung her handkerchief, and said fiercely, "Shen Qingnian, you just wait!"
The maid Xiangcao urged, "Miss, let's go quickly, Madam is calling us."
Gu Lingyu felt that she hadn't gone in to say goodbye to her cousin yet.
Looking at her face, which was contorted with anger, Xiangcao dared not let her in. If she angered the young master, the young lady would surely be upset and take it out on her.
After thinking for a moment, Xiangcao said to Gu Lingyu, "Miss, if you go in now to say goodbye to the young master, he may not feel anything."
"But if you leave quietly like this, when the Crown Prince finds out, he will surely wonder why you left without saying goodbye, and he might even come to your residence specifically to ask you for an explanation."
"Wouldn't that give you and the Crown Prince a chance?"
Gu Lingyu felt there was some truth to it, and left indignantly.
Xie Yanzhi looked at the ruby and gold hairpin on Shen Qingnian's head. The red gemstone shone faintly in the light, making Shen Qingnian's skin appear even whiter.
The golden hairpin adorned her jet-black hair, giving her an air of nobility, making her look every bit the lady of a prestigious family.
The jade bracelet on her wrist, lustrous and translucent green, made her wrist appear even more slender and added a touch of gentle grace.
It turns out she looks so good even wearing these bright and colorful items.
Shen Qingnian took off the jade bracelet and hairpin and put them back in the wooden tray. She curtsied and said, "Your Highness, if there is nothing else, I will go back now."
"Hmm," Xie Yanzhi replied calmly.
Xie Yanzhi thought that he couldn't give her the jade bracelet and gold hairpin yet.
Given her strong-willed nature, she wouldn't be willing to follow him without a proper status, which is why she rejected him last time.
Xie Yanzhi thought that in a few days, when everyone in the manor was together, he would announce in public that he would take her as a concubine, giving her enough face. He thought she would be happy then.
Xie Yanzhi looked at the several trays of jewelry. He would send them all to her on the day he took her as his wife, so that she could dress up nicely.
His people cannot be shabby.
As Shen Qingnian walked along the road, she carefully considered the recent events that had occurred.
First, Ling'er injured her foot, so she couldn't keep her appointment because she was looking for Ling'er.
After that, Xiao Huaiyi did not go to Wanbao Temple to keep their appointment.
Xie Yanzhi then took her to a restaurant to secretly watch Xiao Huaiyi and Diewu together.
All of this seemed to be designed to prevent her and Xiao Huai from meeting, or rather, to prevent them from being together.
Who would do that? Was it Xie Yanzhi? Shen Qingnian was also puzzled. If it was Xie Yanzhi, then why would he arrange this marriage for her?
Shen Qingnian thought for a moment and then came up with an idea.
The back gate of the Marquis's residence.
Shen Qingnian found the coachman from that day. She walked up to him, and the coachman looked at her with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
They probably didn't expect Shen Qingnian to come looking for them again.
Shen Qingnian said to the coachman, "Brother coachman, did you deliver the message I asked you to give to Young Master Xiao the other day?"
The coachman feigned composure, scratched his head, and asked, "I brought it, what's wrong?"
"Because he didn't come to the appointment. I was thinking that maybe my brother had the wrong person. Young Master Xiao has a red mole under his eye."
The coachman rolled his eyes and comforted Shen Qingnian, saying, "Yes, the person I delivered the message to has a red mole under his eye; he's definitely a person of importance."
Shen Qingnian seemed to be thinking after hearing this: "Oh, then he must have been delayed by something. Thank you, brother."
Shen Qingnian curtsied and turned to walk back, but her hands unconsciously clenched her sleeves.
As expected, Young Master Xiao did not receive her message. The coachman lied, because Young Master Xiao did not have a red mole under his eye.
Either the coachman took the money but didn't deliver the message, or someone bribed the coachman, but who could it be?
For a moment, Shen Qingnian couldn't sort out her thoughts.
She felt suffocated, and a deep sense of powerlessness washed over her.
She's just a cousin who freeloads; some people are giving her far too much credit.
How much trouble could she possibly cause, especially since she never even dared to dream of anything? Why would anyone treat her like this?
After much deliberation, Shen Qingnian realized that the most important thing right now was to meet with Xiao Huaiyi.
But how can she see Xiao Huaiyi? Either he comes, or she goes.
But who knows when Xiao Huaiyi will come? What if he doesn't come at all?
If I go out to look for him, how will I get out? And where will I find Xiao Huaiyi if I do get out?
Their own Shallow Moon Abode has been burgled, and it seems someone is secretly preventing the two of them from meeting.
I'm afraid my whereabouts are being watched now, and it won't be so easy for me to leave the mansion.
As they walked, they arrived at Qianyue Residence, where Shen Qingnian saw Ling'er sitting under a flowering tree, eating pine nuts.
Upon seeing Shen Qingnian return, Ling'er hopped over on one leg, exclaiming, "Miss, you're back!"
Shen Qingnian patted Ling'er's head and said affectionately, "Hmm, you little glutton, you're eating again. Where did you get these pine nuts?"
“This was bought by Brother Yuanqing. Ling’er doesn’t eat alone, this is for Miss,” Ling’er said, and then took out a packet of pine nuts from her sleeve.
"Here, Miss, please eat." Ling'er handed over the pine nuts.
Looking at the pine nuts handed to her, Shen Qingnian couldn't help but think: Did Yuan Qing buy these? That's right, Yuan Qing had mentioned some things about Xiao Huaiyi before, so perhaps Yuan Qing knew where to find Xiao Huaiyi.
Shen Qingnian suddenly had a bright idea and looked at Ling'er: "Yuan Qing bought you pine nuts, why don't you give him some treats in return?"
"Huh?" Ling'er looked bewildered. The young lady's smiling gaze made her feel a little uneasy.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
