Chapter 1. Just Arrived in the Capital, Fearing the Future Primary Husband May Not Agree……
The capital in March is most known for its gentle spring rain and cool green stone steps.
Putting away the oil-paper umbrella dotted with water droplets, Su Jin took shelter under the eaves of a street-side shop. As soon as she lifted her head, she was met with the majestic palace walls in the city.
Vermilion colors danced, along with the jade pavilions hidden within.
Just looking from afar, one could feel the overwhelming grandeur, pressing down so that one could hardly breathe.
Su Jin gazed for a while before finally shifting her eyes from the dizzying vermilion walls and emerald tiles. Her gaze fell on her newly made cloth shoes, and her expression turned wry, somewhat embarrassed.
After several days of continuous travel, the once-good indigo shoe uppers had turned a grayish white, with water stains spreading in circles, like a child’s scribbles, a complete mess.
The hem of her clothes had also been gifted by the spring rain, stained with some fresh mud.
Su Jin couldn’t help but frown. After noon, she still had to pay a visit to her mentor, Grand Tutor Shen.
After all, this journey to the capital from Yangping was at the invitation of her mentor. She couldn’t lose her manners here.
But aside from the gifts bought earlier, the travel money in her pocket was almost gone. Where could she afford new clothes and shoes?
Su Jin sighed, turned and broke off a willow branch that had just sprouted tender leaves. Finding a corner, she dipped it in the newly fallen rainwater and slowly wiped the stains on her shoe uppers.
After rubbing for a while, she finally managed to clean them up properly.
The falling raindrops had unknowingly wet half of her shoulder in the meantime.
“Quick, come here, there’s still room to shelter from the rain!”
As the rain grew heavier, a man’s voice drew near.
In a moment, three young men took shelter under the eaves, each in silk robes and jade crowns binding their hair.
Just as they settled, they suddenly noticed Su Jin standing in the corner. They hurriedly used their folding fans to cover their faces, only leaving some sidelong glances to secretly observe her.
The raindrops under the eaves dripped steadily, striking the ground like falling jade beads, making one’s heart gradually unsettled.
Su Jin had always been quiet and reserved since childhood. Apart from studying, she had rarely spoken to or met with men, let alone stand here being looked at.
No matter how composed she appeared on the surface, her reddened earlobes couldn’t hide the panic in her heart.
Her feet loosened, and she rushed straight into the rain carrying her bundle, leaving behind the lonely oil-paper umbrella leaning against the wall without its owner.
The young men under the eaves were stunned at first, then suddenly burst into laughter.
One of them, dressed in a red robe, teased, “In the capital, we often see pampered youths, but rarely encounter such a shy woman. I guess she must not be married yet.”
“Hmph, married?” The young man in a moon-white robe next to him raised an eyebrow, put away his folding fan, and said with extreme disdain, “Look at her attire, so rustic. She clearly comes from a poor background. No wonder she became as flustered as a monkey after being looked at a few times.”
“You can’t say that. I think she looks refined and gentle. She might be a scholar coming to the capital to study at Qingshan Academy. If she passes the spring examination next year with high honors, she might become a noble lady with an official rank.”
“Noble lady? You think any commoner can become one just like that? But speaking of this.” Another eye roll, and the young man who had just put away his folding fan glanced at the person beside him who had been silent all along, deliberately provoking, “Song Zhi, I heard you’ve been going to Qingshan Academy often lately. Have you found a noble lady to be your wife-master?”
“A Liang, what nonsense are you talking about! Song Zhi has been betrothed since childhood, this is something both you and I know.”
“They say betrothed, but after all, that family moved away from the capital first, and now there’s no news. It’s not surprising if Song Zhi has other thoughts.” The young man called A Liang’s face turned cold, glaring at the silent Song Zhi, “Otherwise, how could he shamelessly cling to Miss Xu?”
The red-robed young man frowned.
The Miss Xu that A Liang mentioned was a scholar at Qingshan Academy. After half a year of study, her literary talent and character were well-known. Many young men in the capital had developed admiration for her.
“A Liang, I didn’t go to Qingshan Academy for Xu Wei.”
Walking slowly to where she had just stood, Song Zhi, who had been silent for a long time, unusually didn’t argue with A Liang. He carefully picked up the oil-paper umbrella from the ground.
Whether it was an illusion or not, there seemed to be a lingering warmth on the umbrella handle. Gripping it, he could still feel the ‘Su’ character carved on the handle.
