Chapter 2. The gentleman is like an immortal, he couldn’t care less about having any relationship with her!…

“Why should Shen Lang care about him!”

Since Gu Zhi had chosen her primary husband, it had been a long time since Shen Yuan had smiled and spoken to her like this. Even though they went out together today, it was only due to her status as the imperial daughter.

Now the gentleman was smiling, far surpassing the gentle spring breeze.

Gu Zhi couldn’t help but reach out to pull his sleeve, her expression softening considerably.

A beauty is still a beauty, even when angering others. With just a smile, who could stay angry?

Gu Zhi’s infatuation was undisguised. Shen Yuan looked at her, brushed his sleeve, and lightly spat, “You’re confused again, aren’t you? With so many people around, what are you daydreaming about?”

His tone was cold yet gentle, like striking jade or piercing stone. Hearing it, Gu Zhi’s heart loved him even more.

“I always say that in the capital, Shen Lang is still the best.”

Taking advantage of Shen Yuan’s inattention, Gu Zhi quietly pinched his fingers hidden in his sleeve, quickly withdrawing before the gentleman could get angry. With a serious face, she cupped her hands and said loudly, “Thank you, Young Master Shen, for today.”

She mounted her horse gracefully, not forgetting to cast flirtatious glances around before finally looking at Shen Yuan, the corners of her mouth turned up, quite pleased with herself.

Shen Yuan lowered his eyes, and only after the sound of hoofbeats had faded into the distance did he raise his head and sneer.

The crowd around had long since dispersed.

Su Jin looked at the bundle thrown in the corner of the vermilion gate, sighing inwardly. She only hoped that Shen Yuan wouldn’t notice it, so she could pick it up after he went inside.

Creak-

The sound of hoofbeats had just faded when the vermilion gate behind him opened in response.

Now the door opened even wider.

Several servants revealed ingratiating smiles, bowing their heads to welcome Shen Yuan, “Young Master.”

“Mm.”

Just as his jade-white boots were about to lift, they suddenly stopped, “What’s that?”

Following Shen Yuan’s gaze, a servant in an oriole-colored outer robe quickly walked over, carefully examined it and picked it up, “Young Master, someone left a bundle here.”

“It must be one of Mother’s careless students again.” Shen Yuan had seen this situation before.

Since his fifteenth birthday, students from Qingshan Academy would occasionally leave things at the manor gate, then use it as an excuse to visit.

Shen Yuan despised this in his heart. If they could put half the effort they used on these tricks into their studies, the Great Jin would already be brimming with talent.

Instead of how it was now, worrying his mother to the point of graying hair.

“Young Master, what about this bundle?”

“Just put it in the gatehouse as usual, lest it truly gets lost and causes trouble.”

Su Jin stood waiting at the street corner for a long time. Seeing the servant take the bundle straight into the manor, she felt even more embarrassed. The xuan paper inside was meant to be given to her mentor, so it was natural for it to enter the Shen manor.

But the bundle also contained her last bit of travel money and her seal.

Without these two things, she feared she wouldn’t even be able to enter Qingshan Academy, let alone pursue her studies and official career.

Her face flushed red as she gently knocked on the door ring of the Shen manor.

“Who are you?”

Unlike the servant who had opened the door earlier, this time it was a rather stout old woman. Su Jin immediately felt more at ease and briefly explained her purpose.

The old woman, after all, had been nurtured in a scholarly family. Although her appearance was rough, her words were respectful, showing no trace of snobbery.

She retrieved the bundle from the gatehouse and handed it to Su Jin, kindly advising, “Young lady, be more careful next time. The capital may look peaceful, but there are still those who take advantage of others.”

“Thank you.”

Su Jin cupped her hands and presented the visiting card she had been carrying for a long time, “As a student newly arrived in the capital, I’ve come to pay my respects to my mentor. I hope you can inform her.”

“So you’re a scholar lady.”

The old woman’s words had barely fallen when several well-dressed maids came from inside, gently guiding Su Jin in.

Passing through the rockery and fish pond in the courtyard, along the corridor and through several doors, they finally arrived at a large hall. The plaque above was neatly inscribed with two characters: Qing Jing (Clear and Quiet).

“Miss, please have some tea and rest here. The madam has just risen from her afternoon nap, this servant will go and inform her now.”

Su Jin nodded, taking a sip of tea to moisten her throat before carefully surveying her surroundings. In the spacious hall, there were no antiques to be seen, but plenty of books and paintings.

Several rows of bookshelves were packed full, without a single duplicate.