Mrs. Shen had never intended to accept the marriage proposal from that so - called Young Master Qin. Moreover, the information she had sent someone to inquire about showed that this Young Master Qin came from an ordinary family, yet he was fond of currying favor with the powerful. It was very likely that his proposal to marry Shen Zhen was because he had heard that Shen Miao was going to be the concubine of the Fourth Prince. He probably thought that if he married Shen Zhen, he could find someone to flatter in the future.
After learning about this situation, Mrs. Shen was even more reluctant. Shen Miao was the apple of her eye. The marriage she had painstakingly planned for Shen Miao could not become a stepping - stone for others.
So when the matchmaker of Young Master Qin came to propose marriage again, Mrs. Shen rejected the match within less than a cup of tea.
When Young Master Qin learned that the marriage proposal had failed, it was within his expectation. Anyway, it was easy to deal with a woman. All he needed to do was to ruin her reputation.
Although he had nothing to do with Shen Zhen, it didn't stop him from framing her. Once the rumors spread, the effect would be the same.
One day, Qin An went out to drink with some of his good - for - nothing friends. After the drinking session, on his way home, he was ambushed in an alley. Someone covered his head and beat him up with clubs.
Qin An was beaten so badly that he lay on the ground for a while before he could sit up. When he lifted the sack off his head, he didn't need to think to know who wanted to teach him a lesson.
The alcohol in Qin An immediately wore off. He trembled as he got up from the ground. Instead of going home, he went to the Han Mansion in the east of the city.
The next day, as soon as Shen Zhang finished school, he was blocked in the academy.
The leader was the second son of the vice - minister of the Ministry of Personnel. There were also several other wealthy young masters, including Qin An. However, compared with his dashing appearance a few days ago, Qin An looked rather disheveled today.
Not only were the bruises from the two punches Shen Zhang had given him a few days ago not fully healed, but today he was also black - and - blue all over his face. His arm was tightly bandaged and hung on his chest.
"Shen Zhang, you've really got some nerve! You even dared to beat the people under me. Do you not want to stay in this academy anymore? If you don't want to stay, I can send you packing right now!" That Young Master Han, dressed in a blue brocade robe, looked down at Shen Zhang with contempt and disdain. As he spoke, he tapped on Shen Zhang's desk threateningly.
Shen Zhang didn't even want to pay attention to these people. After he packed his bookcase, he put it aside, then slowly stood up and looked at Young Master Han and his group.
"I didn't do it!"
"Don't try to argue with me. Who else would take revenge on me if not you?" Qin An, with one arm hanging, looked at Shen Zhang angrily and said.
"How would I know? Maybe you've done too many bad things in your daily life, and someone wants to teach you a lesson!" Facing so many people, Shen Zhang still remained calm and composed. He wasn't even a bit afraid.
"You... Shen Zhang, stop pretending. I know it was you who did it! No one else but you would do this! Isn't it because I went to your house to propose marriage to your sister that you're angry with me? You're afraid that I'll talk nonsense everywhere!"
"But let me tell you, I've really said it!" At this moment, Qin An had the idea of throwing caution to the wind. He had already received the promise from Young Master Han, so he wasn't afraid of Shen Zhang's revenge at all.
"Come on, everyone, listen up! From now on, Shen Zhang is my brother - in - law. You should be polite to him in the academy!"
Qin An was now standing on the table and shouting loudly to the scholars who hadn't left yet: "I fell in love at first sight with Miss Shen San, Shen Zhang's younger sister. We're a perfect match, a natural couple! In the future, I hope my brother - in - law will show mercy and not oppose me, his brother - in - law. And don't stop our relationship either!"
"I'll always remember my brother - in - law's great kindness! Please give your approval!"
Qin An just stood on the table and publicly slandered Shen Zhen's reputation in front of a dozen scholars.
Looking at Qin An's smug face, Shen Zhang couldn't hold back and punched him again.
But this time, the other side outnumbered him. As soon as he threw a punch, he was stopped. Shen Zhang shook off the hands that were holding him and said to Qin An, who was covering his face, "Qin An! If you dare to talk nonsense again, I, Shen Zhang, will never let you go!"
Shen Zhang had used a lot of strength in that punch. After being hit, Qin An lost a tooth. He spat out the blood in his mouth and said to Shen Zhang, "Never let me go? Haha! Shen Zhang, let me tell you, I'm going to say it. I'll not only say it in the academy but also all over the capital! Shen Zhang's younger sister is my sweetheart!"
Shen Zhang immediately flew into a rage. Although his arms were held on both sides, he still kicked Qin An hard in the stomach.
Qin An covered his stomach, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead due to the pain. But looking at Shen Zhang, whose face was full of angry veins, he still provoked him and said, "You don't need to punch me one after another. Shen Zhang, if you dare, come and kill me!"
"Come on! I'm right here waiting for you to kill me! I'd like to see if you have the guts!"
Facing Qin An's provocative behavior and his insult to his sister, Shen Zhang really wished he had a knife in his hand so that he could kill Qin An right now.
This thought only flashed through his mind for a moment. Shen Zhang quickly regained his composure and got rid of such a crazy idea.
"Let go of me!" Shen Zhang roared at the people who were holding him. Seeing that he was in a fit of rage, those people didn't dare to offend him and quickly let go of their hands.
"Qin An, let me tell you, there's a saying that those who do many unrighteous deeds will surely bring about their own doom! You'd better watch out for yourself in the future!" After leaving this sentence, Shen Zhang left.
"Humph! He's just a coward!" The leading Young Master Han looked at Shen Zhang's back contemptuously and said, "He's just a concubine - born son. What's there to be proud of!"
Qin An quickly stepped forward to flatter him and said, "Brother Han, a person like Shen Zhang can't be compared with you at all. You're the legitimate son of Lord Han and are highly regarded by him. He's just a son of a concubine who grew up in a village and is unpopular!"
Young Master Han was quite pleased with Qin An's words. He patted Qin An on the shoulder and said, "You've been working hard recently! Come on, let's go drinking in the Ten Thousand Flowers Tower today. I'll treat. Let's get drunk!"
"Okay, Brother Han. Since you're treating, I'll not be polite!" Qin An covered half of his face and said to Young Master Han.