Once the two sisters had walked away, Shen Mingzhuang finally distanced herself from Pei Jingzhou.
"I am His Majesty's tutor. I have been away from the Imperial Study for quite some time now. If I do not return soon, I fear I will displease His Majesty. Young Master Pei, we shall meet again someday."
He had only taken two steps when he heard Pei Jingzhou's somewhat anxious voice behind him.
"Wait a moment."
He took a deep breath and continued, "I will ask my father to come and propose marriage tomorrow. Please marry me."
Shen Mingzhuang was taken aback.
Given their earlier conversation, Pei Jingzhou's proposal to marry her now seemed somewhat out of place.
Shen Mingzhuang slowly met his gaze, sighed helplessly, and said, "Young Master Pei, I'll pretend I never heard that." Then he turned and left the artificial hill.
Pei Jingzhou's hand remained outstretched in mid-air, and he didn't come to his senses for a long time.
Summer skies are always unpredictable; just moments ago the sky was cloudless, but now it has turned gloomy.
In the sweltering heat, the cicadas' chirping sounded particularly jarring. When Shen Mingzhuang returned to the study, Hou Linghai stood at the door with his head down, looking somewhat grave.
Upon seeing Shen Mingzhuang return, he smiled and called out "Shen Fengmo." Shen Mingzhuang paused, then took two steps behind the pillar in perfect unison. Hou Linghai then said, "His Majesty is in a terrible mood. Consort Song happened to come and bring some refreshments, and she's still kneeling in the hall."
Is Jiang Wang getting angry?
Shen Mingzhuang thought of the news he had just heard in the Imperial Garden. Could it be about Princess Jiayuan's marriage? Judging from Jiang Yanxin's words, Jiang Wang should be happy to see it happen.
After all, the Empress Dowager was eyeing the family covetously, so it would be ideal if Princess Jiayuan could marry into a wealthy but powerless family.
But why get angry?
After thanking Hou Linghai, Shen Mingzhuang straightened her official robes before entering the study with proper posture.
The study was completely silent. Tan Yonglin was helping Jiang Wang grind ink when he saw Shen Mingzhuang come in. He was almost ready to call out, "Grandma, you're finally back!"
Song Jingxi knelt on the ground, her forehead touching the ground, and the two palace maids behind her also prostrated themselves on the ground. Jiang Wang had a cold, devilish face, his eyelids lowered, and he was reviewing memorials on the dragon table with a purple wolf-hair brush. When he saw Shen Mingzhuang return, he didn't even give him a glance.
Since entering the palace, Shen Mingzhuang had never seen Jiang Wangsheng so angry. Seeing that Tan Yonglin did not dare to utter a word, he also remained silent, sheepishly took the ink stick from Tan Yonglin's hand, and quietly began to grind the ink. However, his heart was pounding like a rabbit.
Jiang Wang probably wasn't angry with her. She had only gone out for a short while, and Tan Yonglin was there.
“Chen Fengmo”.
Jiang Wang suddenly looked up, his sharp, razor-sharp gaze sweeping over her. Shen Mingzhuang suddenly felt the nervousness of being called on by a teacher in school; her hands paused, and she hurriedly knelt down. Her knees touched the hard, cold jade floor, and she stammered, "Your Majesty, please forgive me..."
"Abandoning one's post without authorization will result in a one-year salary penalty."
"Huh?" Shen Mingzhuang earns thirty taels of silver a month. She's only been working for a few days, and they've already deducted a year's salary? She felt a pang of heartache and glanced at Jiang Wang. Jiang Wang's face was icy cold. Seeing that she still dared to look at him, he was still not satisfied. "A ten-year salary deduction."
Shen Mingzhuang simply couldn't believe it!
So, he's going to work for Jiang Wang for free for ten years? Does having imperial power mean you can do whatever you want? Anyone who doesn't run away is a coward!
She dared not speak her anger, and hung her head in resentment, secretly cursing what undeserved misfortune she had suffered.
Song Jingxi raised her head slightly, glanced quickly at the Emperor, and sneered inwardly. Ten years' salary? His Majesty must be joking. Will Shen Mingzhuang even live for ten years?
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