Ruyi Residence.
The red candle crackled softly, and the flame flickered.
Shen Tangning raised her eyes and carefully examined the restless person opposite her. As a notorious playboy in Yanjing, Chi Yan was indeed born with a handsome appearance.
He was exceptionally handsome, with eyes as black as lacquer and lips as red as rouge. He possessed a refined and elegant demeanor, with a natural grace and a romantic spirit that was somewhere between a boy and a young man.
He was just too lazy. Look at him, lounging in his chair, with no proper posture. His flirtatiousness turned into frivolity and dissipation.
Not to mention that he spent his days indulging in street life, cockfighting, dog racing, and extravagance. In an era where everyone sought fame and fortune, he repeatedly failed the imperial examinations, achieving the glorious feat of failing three times.
Thinking of this, a look of unspoken difficulty appeared in her eyes.
The second master was born out of wedlock and had no great abilities. He only held a sixth-rank sinecure in the court, which was obtained by the second mistress with a large sum of money. Therefore, it seemed only natural that Chi Yan was incompetent.
If he were just a spendthrift and wasteful, it wouldn't cause her so much trouble; it's not like her family can't afford to support such a good-for-nothing.
In her previous life, less than three years after she married Chi Jingyu, Chi Yan met with an accident...
Since then, the second wife has been disheartened and has never recovered.
Shen Tangning lowered her eyes, concealing the myriad thoughts within them.
She decided to observe further. If Chi Yan was truly an incorrigible spoiled brat, then being a widow wouldn't be so bad.
Chi Yan felt uneasy under her gaze, as if he were being pricked by needles.
Unable to bear the awkward atmosphere any longer, he sat up slightly and tentatively suggested, "How about... I sleep in the study?"
God knows, the study was the place he least liked to go! He would only go there reluctantly if his mother held a knife to his neck.
But it's still better than sitting here staring at each other!
He thought his suggestion was good and stood up happily, but Shen Tangning gently raised her eyes and said, "Stop."
Chi Yan's smile froze, and he slowly turned around: "Is there anything else?"
She raised her hand and put down the teacup, tapping it lightly on the table, which made his heart tremble.
Chi Yan looked up in horror and saw that Shen Tangning's eyes were red and tears were rolling down her cheeks. He was shocked!
How does she manage to cry so easily?!
Her voice was slow, as if filled with countless grievances: "Do you know that I should have been the enviable Crown Prince's wife, but I married a good-for-nothing playboy like you, and my life is ruined!"
Chi Yan suddenly widened his eyes and blurted out, "You just said I was a good person in Grandmother's courtyard!"
Shen Tangning wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, her eyes filled with resentment: "Do you even believe that yourself?"
"..."
Unconsciously picking at the auspicious cloud pattern on his robe, Chi Yan pursed his lips and said in a pitiful voice, "Then what should we do? How about... we get a divorce?"
Shen Tangning gave a slight sneer: "Then I might as well strangle you right now, and then hang you with a rope!"
Chi Yan shuddered, thinking to herself, "She really is extremely ruthless!"
He swallowed hard and forced a smile: "Don't be impulsive. So what do you want to do?"
Shen Tangning raised her tear-filled eyes, but her tone was very calm: "Chi Jingyu and Shen Xiwei have been secretly in love for a long time, and they were the ones who orchestrated today's marriage swap. Anyway, I can't swallow this, can you?"
Chi Yan nodded subconsciously, but under Shen Tangning's sharp gaze, he quickly shook his head, too dumbfounded to look at her.
He simply gave up on himself, saying in a self-deprecating tone, "What can I do? If she doesn't want to marry me, can I force her to? My elder brother is the heir apparent, what can I use to compete with him?"
Shen Tangning didn't miss the fleeting loneliness in his eyes, her gaze shifting slightly: "Fate is in your own hands. If you don't fight for it, how will you know if you can win?"
Chi Yan had never been trusted like this before, and he felt inexplicably embarrassed. He rubbed his hands together and coughed lightly, "Then what do you think I should do?"
Shen Tangning said, enunciating each word clearly: "Study hard and pass the imperial examinations."
Chi Yan: "..."
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