Chapter 22 Disregarding propriety and behaving frivolously
His face was cold and stern, and he spoke without any mercy, "Since Miss Jiang doesn't want the silver notes, there's no need for further words. If you don't leave, I'll have to send someone to 'invite' you away."
Jiang Yunqian's face turned ashen, but unwilling to give up the hard-won opportunity, she could only grit her teeth and make a final struggle: "If Prince Xie really wants to express his gratitude, I see that the Nuo opera is in full swing on the street. Why don't you come with me to enjoy the opera and stroll around the streets..."
Xie Qi looked at her coldly, "It is already too much for the two of us to be alone in a room, let alone stroll in the street together. I would like to ask Miss Jiang to have some self-respect."
Jiang Yunqian felt short of breath.
She clutched her chest tightly, but couldn't calm the surging feeling of suffocation.
He actually told her to have some self-respect.
This was because they felt she was unchaste and acted frivolously, which was even more humiliating than a slap across the face.
"Please, Miss Jiang." Xie Qi's attitude was as cold as ice.
Jiang Yunqian finally couldn't bear to stay any longer. She stomped her foot angrily, wiped away her tears, pushed open the door, and ran downstairs.
Xie Qi stood at the window, his palm caressing the familiar jade pendant, feeling utterly confused.
He needed to see Miss Jiang as soon as possible to find out what was going on.
Jiang Zhi watched from afar as Jiang Yunqian tearfully boarded her carriage and left. She guessed that Jiang Yunqian must have been rebuffed by Xie Qi, and a cold smile crept onto her lips.
"Miss, stay close." A familiar, clear voice came from beside her. Jiang Zhi looked up and saw Shen Ci'an's face, which was filled with worry.
"There are just too many people on the street right now. It would be a real problem if we got separated." He had only taken a few steps when he turned around and found that Jiang Zhi was standing still. There were so many people around that he almost bumped into her. He had no choice but to go back and get her.
"Understood, Master." Jiang Zhi smiled brightly and immediately followed.
Shen Ci'an had been coaxed and pleaded with by Jiang Yunqian for a long time before agreeing to go out with her to watch the Nuo opera. He couldn't let such a precious time be wasted on Jiang Yunqian.
Jiang Zhi followed behind Shen Ci'an, slowly walking and strolling with the crowd.
Suddenly, Shen Ci'an felt his sleeve being tugged, and Jiang Zhi's muffled voice came, "Master..."
Shen Ci'an turned his head to look, but suddenly met a ferocious mask with a blue face and fangs!
"Haha, did I scare you?" A small, cunning face peeked out from behind the mask.
Shen Ci'an was both amused and exasperated. "Nonsense, why are you still acting like a child?"
"The teacher is so calm," Jiang Zhi pouted in disappointment, "I don't feel any sense of accomplishment at all."
Surrounded by a bustling crowd, Shen Ci'an hadn't experienced such a relaxed moment in a long time, and a smile couldn't help but appear on her lips. "Then I'll trouble Miss to let me know in advance next time, and I will certainly cooperate well."
"Then what's the point?" Jiang Zhi sniffed.
Suddenly, a cheer erupted from the crowd. A Nuo demon wearing a beast-head mask leaped into the air from the brazier, sparks flying everywhere, and cheers rose and fell. The crowd pushed and shoved to disperse. Jiang Zhi was bumped from behind, lost her balance, and stumbled forward, falling into Shen Ci'an's arms.
"Be careful," Shen Ci'an instinctively reached out and caught her, leading her back several steps to avoid the noisy crowd. He checked her over, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Jiang Zhi straightened up from Shen Ci'an's embrace and patted her chest, still shaken.
With so many people here, it would be no laughing matter if someone pushed over and trampled on.
Shen Ci'an realized that he was still holding Jiang Zhi and immediately let go of her. "I was in a hurry and offended you. Please don't take offense, Miss."
"It's alright, it's alright. If you really feel bad, then buy one of those for me." Jiang Zhi's gaze was already drawn to a huge wishing rack not far away.
The wishing frame is about seven or eight feet tall, and many prayer plaques are already hanging among the crisscrossing dark red wooden strips, swaying in the wind under the moonlight.
"The Nuo opera spirits and ghosts hear the true voices, and the wishes on the plaques will surely come true. Miss, would you like to buy a blessing plaque and make a wish? With the protection of the righteous gods, you and your family and friends will surely be safe and well, and your dreams will come true!"
When the stall owner saw Jiang Zhi come up, he immediately greeted her warmly.
Jiang Zhi asked for a prayer plaque and enthusiastically picked up the pen and ink from the stall to write.
Although Shen Ci'an did not believe in these superstitious beliefs, he did not want to spoil Jiang Zhi's mood, so he took out a copper coin and handed it to the stall owner.
Jiang finished writing quickly and then asked Shen Ci'an to help her hang it up.
"Does the Master know what I have written?"
Shen Ci'an shook his head.
To avoid suspicion, he didn't look at what was written on it when he hung it up; it was probably a prayer for his family's safety and well-being.
Jiang Zhi winked mysteriously, "I wrote this especially for you, Master. On one hand, I wish you good health and freedom from illness; on the other hand, I wish you success in the imperial examinations."
Shen Ci'an's eyes flickered slightly.
The young lady was actually praying for him?
He was deeply moved and cupped his hands in thanks to her, saying, "Thank you. I will certainly do my best to live up to your expectations, Miss."
Seeing the two so affectionately entangled, the stall owner next to them resumed his business. "My esteemed guests, you may not know this, but the most effective item here is the marriage charm. If you hang your names on it, I guarantee you will grow old together and fly wing to wing with me!"
Shen Ci'an knew that the stall owner had mistaken them for a couple and was about to explain to him when Jiang Zhi was persuaded and immediately took out some money to give to the stall owner, choosing a mahogany marriage plaque.
When Shen Ci'an saw that Jiang Zhi had already written his name on the brush, he hurriedly stepped forward to stop her, "Miss, you mustn't!"
Although they are cousins, their social statuses are vastly different. How could they be listed on the same marriage plaque? If someone with ulterior motives were to see this in the future, not only would her reputation be damaged, but she would also be mistakenly believed to have an affair with him, thus tarnishing her reputation.
In a moment of panic, Shen Ci'an pressed down on her pen and took the marriage plaque from her hand, saying, "You must not write your maiden name on it anymore."
Jiang Zhi held the pen and looked up at him blankly. "Master, I didn't say I was going to write my name."
"Then you are..."
Jiang Zhi laughed, "I'll write it down for you first, and when you find someone you love, you can add that person's name yourself and hang it on the wishing stand. This is also my best wish for you."
"Oh, I see." He had misunderstood.
Shen Ci'an coughed lightly to cover up his discomfort, feeling a tightness in his throat and a sense of unease about what to do with his hands and feet. His ears also turned slightly red.
Jiang Zhi leaned over, smiling brightly as she stared at him, "So, Master, you actually thought I was asking for your marriage?"
Shen Ci'an turned her face away guiltily, not wanting her to see her panic, "No, you misheard."
"Oh~" Jiang Zhi drawled, clearly not willing to let him off so easily. "If you want to write it, Master, it's not impossible. After all, this is your marriage token, and you can decide what to write."
Shen Ci'an's heart skipped a beat. Did she know how much misunderstanding such words could cause?
“This is utterly absurd,” his face turned cold, his jawline taut. “Such utter nonsense is utterly unrestrained and utterly disrespectful. What kind of behavior is this?”
He was restless and uneasy, not knowing whether he was angry at Jiang Zhi's words or at his own unstable state of mind, so he turned and left.
Jiang Zhi watched as he hurriedly left like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his steps even a little unsteady, and couldn't help but purse her lips.
Today's opportunity is rare, and she doesn't want to return home empty-handed.
At the very least, she needs to make Shen Ci'an care about her.
She put on the mask in her hand, turned around, and went in the opposite direction from Shen Ci'an.
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