Chapter 29: Discussing Marriage

After Dong Qing and Shen Ruo’s personal servants closed the door and left.

Wei Jing Mo sat down and looked at Shen Ruo beside him, asking, “Now that it’s just the two of us, can you finally tell me what exactly happened?”

His expression was somewhat serious, his cold ink-black eyes falling on Shen Ruo’s face.

Shen Ruo lightly bit his thin lips, his eyes lowering slightly. After a long while, he finally spoke, “…Not long after I returned to the birthday banquet hall, a servant came to call me, saying that the young master from the Chancellor’s mansion had soiled his clothes and wanted me to bring him a set. I didn’t think much of it and took some clothes to the guest room. When I pushed open the door and went in, I called out several times but no one answered, so I was about to leave. Just as I was about to go out, the Second Princess stumbled in drunk.”

Recalling the scene, his face turned somewhat ugly, and his voice began to tremble, “Then she rushed over wanting to… I struggled desperately, and I don’t know what I grabbed, but I smashed it on her head and then ran out of the room.”

Shen Ruo trembled a bit in fear. Even with his lively and cheerful personality, a young man encountering such a thing couldn’t help but be afraid.

He really didn’t dare to imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t escaped. His whole life would have been ruined!

“After I ran out in a panic, I happened to bump into the Fifth Princess… Then… we went together.”

Shen Ruo didn’t elaborate much on what happened after he encountered Feng Bai Wei, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Wei Jing Mo didn’t focus on this point, but frowned and asked, “The Second Princess didn’t do anything to you, did she?”

Shen Ruo shook his head, “No, I ran out before she could do anything.”

Wei Jing Mo nodded in relief, his tense expression relaxing a bit, “That’s good, it’s good that nothing happened.”

A thoughtful look flashed through his calm eyes as he quickly pondered the series of events that had just occurred.

Thinking of Feng Bai Su’s unusual behavior earlier, and the second young master of the Chancellor’s mansion, he roughly deduced the course of events.

It seemed that the second young master of the Chancellor’s mansion hadn’t completely given up on Feng Bai Su, and wanted to force the issue. Then he sent someone to invite Shen Ruo over to “catch them in the act”, but Feng Bai Su, although drugged, had run out, leaving only the second young master of the Chancellor’s mansion in the guest room.

And the Second Princess Feng Bai Zhi, harboring improper thoughts towards Shen Ruo, had followed him under the influence of alcohol, but ended up entangled with Xu Kong Yue who was left in the guest room.

It had to be said that Xu Kong Yue was reaping what he sowed, while the Second Princess Feng Bai Zhi wasn’t entirely innocent either.

Wei Jing Mo also thought of what had happened in the crevice of the fake mountain earlier, and the shy and ambiguous mood gradually calmed down.

His cold ink-black eyes also became somewhat obscure.

So her closeness to him was because she had taken that kind of drug…

Thinking that if she had encountered other men at that time, she might have been equally intimate with them, Wei Jing Mo couldn’t help but feel sour in his heart.

Women are indeed animals that only think with their lower bodies!

No self-control! No restraint! Wanton! Shameless! Vixen!

He thought indignantly, saying all the bad words he knew in his heart!

——

The affair between the Second Princess and the second young master of the Chancellor’s mansion spread throughout the entire Feng Ling City after the birthday banquet at the Grand Tutor’s mansion ended.

When the Emperor learned of this, she was furious, feeling that the Second Princess Feng Bai Zhi had disgraced herself, even bringing shame to a minister’s home!

She had just been released from confinement not long ago, and now she was confined again. Even her official duties were revoked, ordering her to reflect on herself properly in Lanxi Palace.

When the Male Empress Qi heard about the Emperor’s punishment, he naturally went to plead for mercy while crying. This time, the Emperor did see him. However, not only did she scold him for spoiling the Second Princess, but she even directly confined him as well.

As for the second young master of the Chancellor’s mansion, because of what happened at the Grand Tutor’s mansion, which became known to everyone, even though Chancellor Xu loved and indulged this son, he could only send him to the Second Princess’s palace in a sedan chair that very night.

After all, when a young man loses his purity, apart from submitting to the woman who took his body, the only other path left is to be sent to a temple to become a monk.

Moreover, there was another point: the eldest young master of the Chancellor’s mansion, Xu Kong Qing, and the Second Princess Feng Bai Zhi had already been betrothed, making him the rightful primary husband of the Second Princess. Now, with their wedding approaching, such an incident occurred, causing the Chancellor’s mansion to lose all face!

Although there were precedents of brothers serving one woman, it was rare to see a case where the secondary husband was brought in before the primary husband had even entered the household. If Xu Kong Qing wasn’t of a soft nature, Xu Kong Yue’s days ahead might not be too pleasant.

In any case, this incident not only made the Second Princess Feng Bai Zhi a big topic of conversation, but also made the Chancellor’s mansion the subject of gossip in Feng Ling City, causing people to give strange looks and snicker mockingly whenever the Chancellor’s mansion was mentioned.

——

On the evening after the birthday banquet at the Grand Tutor’s mansion, the old Grand Tutor invited the Shen couple and Shen Ruo over.

The old Grand Tutor sat in the main seat, her face somewhat serious: “Ruo’er is not young anymore, and it’s time to discuss marriage. You two should pay attention to the noble ladies in Feng Ling City, and if you find someone suitable, arrange it as soon as possible.”

Hearing this, Mother Shen and Father Shen’s expressions became somewhat stiff.

Mother Shen quickly shot a glance at Father Shen beside her. Seeing this, Father Shen gave a sheepish smile to the old Grand Tutor in the main seat and tried to decline, “Mother… Ruo’er has just come of age, isn’t it a bit too early? How could you bear to marry him off so soon?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the old Grand Tutor’s face immediately turned cold.

She knew very well the little thoughts in the minds of this couple.

Of course, she loved Shen Ruo too, but today the Emperor had specially sent a birthday gift, which made her have to think more.

To avoid unnecessary complications, after much consideration, she still felt it was best to settle Shen Ruo’s marriage early.

“No matter how reluctant we are, a young man will eventually have to marry out!”

She gave the two a warning look, “I don’t care what little thoughts you two have in your minds, but I’m telling you to put them away as soon as possible. As long as I’m still in this Grand Tutor’s mansion for one day, don’t even think about turning things upside down!”

Mother Shen and Father Shen immediately shrunk their necks, avoiding the old Grand Tutor’s gaze somewhat guiltily.

It was the quietly sitting Shen Ruo who suddenly spoke up, looking at the old Grand Tutor, “Grandmother, Ruo’er will listen to you. All arrangements will be as Grandmother decides.”

After speaking, he sat back down silently.

The old Grand Tutor was somewhat surprised by Shen Ruo’s words, after all, just two days ago he had mentioned wanting to marry the Fifth Princess. Today he suddenly changed his tune, which was unexpected for her.

A trace of satisfaction flashed through her somewhat aged black eyes.

It seems that the darling young man of their Shen family has finally grown up!

The old Grand Tutor glared at the Shen couple below once more, then turned her gaze softly towards Shen Ruo beside her, speaking gently, “Good, Grandmother will certainly choose a good wife-master for you, to let our Ruo’er live a safe, happy, and peaceful life.”

Hearing this, Shen Ruo immediately stood up. Lowering his eyes slightly, he said softly, “Thank you, Grandmother.”

After the news that the young master of the Grand Tutor’s mansion was to be betrothed spread, it immediately caught the attention of the noble ladies in Feng Ling City.

After all, this young master Shen Ruo was known as one of the “Twin Pearls” of Feng Ling City along with the eldest young master of the Northern Garrison Marquis’s mansion, Wei Jing Mo. Not only was he graceful and beautiful, but he also had a grandmother whose students were spread all over the world. He was naturally a good choice for a husband.

It could be said that in these few days, the main gate of the Grand Tutor’s mansion was almost trampled flat by people!

When Wei Jing Mo received the news and came over with Dong Qing and Dong Gua, Shen Ruo was embroidering a sachet in his room. Before Wei Jing Mo could clearly see what pattern he was embroidering, it was blocked by something.

Seeing this, Wei Jing Mo gave him a somewhat surprised look, but Shen Ruo just smiled and pressed his lips together without saying anything.

Seeing that he didn’t want to say more, Wei Jing Mo didn’t pay further attention to it.

He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but he always felt that Shen Ruo had changed somewhat, not as lively and active as before.

After Shen Ruo handed the item to the servant behind him to take away, he personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to Wei Jing Mo.

Then, looking at him with a smile, he said, “It’s quite rare! Why did cousin suddenly come to see me?”

“In the past, it was always me eagerly running to the Northern Garrison Marquis’s mansion.”

He blinked at Wei Jing Mo, his eyes and brows becoming lively again.

Wei Jing Mo took the tea he handed over, took a light sip, and slowly put it down. Looking at Shen Ruo, he said, “Isn’t it because I heard the news about your betrothal? I was worried, so I came to see.”

“What is there to worry about?”

Shen Ruo laughed lightly, as if amused by his words, “I’m already of age, isn’t discussing marriage a matter of course!”

But Wei Jing Mo pressed his lips tightly, looking at him seriously, “But I always feel that cousin is being forced, and it’s not voluntary.”

Hearing this, Shen Ruo just laughed, his eyelashes lowering slightly to hide the emotion in his eyes. His whole person fell silent.

Seeing his expression, Wei Jing Mo suddenly blurted out, “I heard that the noble lady from Minister Wang’s family is interested in marrying cousin. Although Lady Wang has a somewhat rigid personality, her family background is clean, and they have a family rule of not taking concubines before the age of thirty-five. If cousin marries over, you can live a peaceful life.”

Shen Ruo: “…”

He pressed his lips together and said softly, “…I don’t like rigid personalities, it’s not interesting.”

“What about the youngest daughter of the Cheng’en Marquis’s mansion? She has a simple nature, and with her elder sister to support her, she doesn’t need to worry. If cousin marries her, although you won’t have great power, you can still live a life of wealth and honor.”

Shen Ruo: “I… her personality is too simple and naive, I’m marrying a wife-master, not raising a child.”

“The noble lady from Minister Song’s family should meet cousin’s wishes, right? She has a gentle and cultured nature, is kind to others, and has admired you for a long time.”

Shen Ruo: “…”

He bit his lip and said weakly, “I heard she already has a male concubine, and there’s also a distant cousin living in her home, with whom she’s very close.”

As the words fell, he saw Wei Jing Mo’s calm eyes staring at him without speaking.

Shen Ruo somewhat evasively avoided his gaze.

Seeing this, Wei Jing Mo sighed and held his hands: “Cousin, if you really don’t want to, just say it boldly. Grandmother ultimately loves you. If you really don’t want to, she won’t force you.”

Perhaps it was the previous questioning, or perhaps it was Wei Jing Mo’s gentle words, that caused the emotions Shen Ruo had been suppressing for the past few days to suddenly burst out.

His clear black and white pupils were tinged with red, and his eyes became moist.

Holding Wei Jing Mo’s hands, he couldn’t help but cry softly, “Cousin, I, I just don’t want to trouble Grandmother. But I really don’t want to. I don’t want to marry like this.”

Shen Ruo couldn’t help but let tears flow, his shoulders shaking along.

Seeing him cry so sadly, Wei Jing Mo felt a bit distressed too.

He tightened his throat and comforted, “Alright, if you don’t want to, then we won’t marry you off.”