Shen Yuning quickly stepped forward. "Xuanzhi, what are you doing?"
Xuanzhi's thin lips were tightly pursed, and his whole body exuded a murderous aura. It seemed that the next second, the hand holding Chen Wenwei would reach out to choke his neck and take his life on the spot.
That was why he held on so tightly with one hand. He was afraid that if he moved even slightly, he wouldn't be able to control himself and would kill the man in front of him.
Shen Yuning couldn't pull him away. Angrily, she shouted, "Xuanzhi, are you crazy? That's Lord Chen, the local magistrate of Yun County!"
Xuanzhi stiffly turned his face away, his angry expression unchanged. "He dared to take liberties with you!"
Shen Yuning was furious. She slapped his wrist hard, forcing him to let go of Chen Wenwei. Then she scolded, "Adults are talking. How could a child eavesdrop? Get out!"
Xuanzhi was stunned. Then his eyes turned slightly red. He took a step back but refused to leave. Standing stubbornly behind Shen Yuning, he still glared fiercely at Chen Wenwei.
Having no other choice, Shen Yuning bowed to Chen Wenwei awkwardly. "Lord Chen, my younger brother is really ignorant. But he was just too worried about protecting me. I hope you won't blame him."
Chen Wenwei looked at Xuanzhi suspiciously. After a long while, he remembered that when he returned to Yun County last year, his subordinates told him that after Shen Jingui almost sold Shen Yuning to the Wan family, everyone in the Zhang family was very protective of Shen Yuning, afraid that she would be bullied by others.
Most likely, Xuanzhi was the same, afraid that he was deliberately trying to take liberties with Yuning.
It wasn't that he didn't suspect any romantic relationship. But Xuanzhi had been running around to find a solution for his matter recently and had been very considerate and caring. More importantly, although Xuanzhi was quite tall now, his face still showed a childish innocence. He was just a child. How could he understand matters of the heart?
He waved his hand and coughed awkwardly a few times. "I don't blame him. Xuanzhi was just worried about you. But Sister Yuning, what I told you was all from the bottom of my heart. There's not a single bit of falsehood."
Shen Yuning felt the coldness around the boy behind her. She patted his hand comfortingly as if to soothe him. Then she forced a smile. "Lord Chen, no, Brother Chen. You also said that we've known each other since childhood, like siblings. Since we're siblings, there can't be any other feelings. You're kind to me because of our childhood friendship..."
"Sister Yuning..."
Chen Wenwei took a step forward. Immediately, Xuanzhi stepped in front of him, still glaring fiercely at him.
Shen Yuning forced a laugh. "Brother Chen, you know my current status. How could your Chen family accept a merchant's daughter?"
"I don't mind."
"But I do." Shen Yuning lowered her eyes and said softly, "Brother Chen, I do mind. I'm sure you've heard a bit about how I left the capital that day. I mind others saying that I'm trying to climb up the social ladder. I mind them saying that I'm of low status but trying to become a phoenix on a high branch. I mind all of it."
Chen Wenwei opened his mouth, wanting to persuade her, but couldn't say a word. Did Shen Yuning really care about status and rumors? He clearly knew that she didn't. But she deliberately said that she did. It was because she didn't want to return to the capital, and more importantly, she didn't want to bear the innocent ridicule and slander for him.
Because she didn't like him.
Shen Yuning walked around Xuanzhi and bowed her head. "Brother Chen, in this life, I, Shen Yuning, only want to live a peaceful life and raise Yuanbao well. I don't want anything else."
Chen Wenwei staggered back and slumped into a chair. After a long period of silence, he tremblingly picked up the cold tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp.
After Chen Wenwei left, Shen Yuning glared angrily at Xuanzhi. "Xuanzhi, you're always so reckless. Fortunately, that was Lord Chen, a kind and understanding official. Otherwise, with your unruly behavior and attempt to harm an official of the court, you'd lose your head several times over."
However, despite her painstaking and long - winded words, Xuanzhi remained calm, as if lost in thought. It was obvious at a glance that he hadn't listened to a single word.
Shen Yuning was so angry that she simply flung her sleeves and ignored him. She just wanted to go to the backyard to check on Ye Cuigu and Yuanbao.
Xuanzhi called out to her again. "Yuning... Did you reject Chen Wenwei because of your status?"
"What?"
Shen Yuning was blank for a moment. When she realized what he meant, she was even more confused. "Maybe."
Xuanzhi asked again, "What about before? If you were the young miss of the Xue family before, would you like him?"
Shen Yuning glared at him impatiently. "There's no 'if'. There's no such thing. And back then, the grandmother of the Xue family had already arranged a marriage for Xue Yuning. How could she have a secret love affair with someone else on her own initiative?"
Xuanzhi was slightly stunned and didn't know how to respond for a moment.
Shen Yuning mumbled, "There's no Xue Yuning in this world anymore. I'm Shen Yuning, the owner of Shen's Embroidery Workshop. Now I only think about how to open the embroidery workshop all over the Great Zhou. Don't think about my marriage anymore. I won't marry until I meet someone who truly suits my heart."
Seeing that Shen Yuning was mumbling and about to go out, Xuanzhi quickly followed. He blocked her way and asked again, "Then... What kind of person is the one who truly suits your heart?"
Shen Yuning had just said it casually. She didn't expect him to ask so many questions. She was afraid that he would keep pestering her about this matter, so she stopped, frowned and thought for a moment. Impatiently, she said, "I don't know. Anyway, such a person hasn't appeared yet. He must be someone who doesn't mind my low status, supports my career, and is a man of integrity."
Old Man Zhang happened to pass by. Hearing this, he immediately howled, "Girl Yuning, are you deliberately trying to make it impossible for yourself to get married?"
Shen Yuning ignored the howling Old Man Zhang and the silent Xuanzhi. As long as they didn't bother her, it was fine.
She went to the backyard on her own. She saw Ye Cuigu coming out with eyes swollen like walnuts. Behind her, Yuanbao was expressionless, even a little impatient.
When Ye Cuigu saw Shen Yuning, she immediately stepped forward. After looking her up and down for a long time, she forced a smile. "Yuning... You're much more sensible than Xiaorou."
Shen Yuning didn't know if she was being sincere or just flattering. She just smiled and said, "Sister - in - law, don't cry anymore. It's a happy thing that you and your daughter are finally reunited."
Ye Cuigu sighed. She looked back at Yuanbao and whispered, "This child, Yuanbao... has been stubborn since childhood and not very obedient. You've had a hard time these years."
Shen Yuning's expression faded a bit. Seeing that Yuanbao didn't show any sign of annoyance when her mother said this, she felt slightly relieved. "Yuanbao has always been very obedient. She's good to all of us and is willing to make progress. Now she can recite the Three - Character Classic and the Thousand - Character Classic, and her calligraphy is also very good."
Ye Cuigu's mouth drooped. "What's the use of a girl learning these things? Your embroidery workshop is so famous. Why don't you teach her embroidery? She could help you in the future."
Zhang Rong walked over with Huzi in her arms. Hearing this, she immediately laughed. "Sister - in - law, you don't understand. Yuning doesn't lack embroiderers, but she lacks someone to manage the shop. It's a good thing that Yuanbao likes reading and writing. In the future, she'll surely be a good helper and can help Yuning manage the shop."
Ye Cuigu didn't say a word, but her expression was still not good. Probably she thought it was useless for a girl to learn these things.
Since they couldn't find common ground in conversation, Shen Yuning simply stopped talking. She invited everyone to the hall for dinner.
During dinner, Shen Fugui casually mentioned something about Shen Jingui. Unlike before when he always felt a bit reluctant, he didn't have much affection for Shen Jingui anymore.
The others were even less interested. They seemed to be preoccupied and buried their heads in eating.
Shen Fugui felt the atmosphere was too cold. He said to Yuanbao, "Yuanbao, from now on, you must be obedient when you're with your mother. Don't let your mother worry, okay?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked up. They looked at Yuanbao and then at Ye Cuigu, and fell silent.
Shen Fugui didn't notice. He looked at Ye Cuigu again. "Sister - in - law, what are your plans? Are you going to take Yuanbao back to your current husband's family?"
Ye Cuigu was sucking on the end of her chopsticks. Her face turned pale and then red, red and then pale. After a long time, she looked up and carefully at Shen Yuning. "Yuning... I can see that this child, Yuanbao, is very close to you. You've taken good care of her these years... How about leaving Yuanbao with Yuning?"
Shen Fugui frowned. "Are you willing to part with her, Sister - in - law?"
Ye Cuigu was stunned. She looked at Yuanbao and saw that she still looked unperturbed. Her eyes turned red again. "How could I not be willing... But my current husband's family is not easy to deal with. There are already seven girls in the family. Yuanbao won't have a good life if she follows me. Moreover, I've had a son and need to take good care of him. I won't be able to take care of Yuanbao..."
Shen Fugui's face turned terribly ugly. "What do you mean? Your current husband's family is wealthy. Having a son is not just your business. There are plenty of people to take care of him. Yuanbao is old enough. You don't need to worry too much about her. It's just a matter of keeping her by your side."
Ye Cuigu choked. "It sounds easy, but after all, it's a son. I have to be careful about everything. Yuanbao will be in an unfamiliar place if she follows me. I'm afraid she'll be shy. I... Besides, she's a descendant of the Shen family. She should be with your Shen family."
Shen Fugui stared at her with wide eyes. "Sister - in - law, your words are too much. According to what you said, I'm a son - in - law of the Zhang family and can't take care of the Shen family's child. When Yuning gets married, should we send Yuanbao back to Shenjiapo?"
"I'm full!"
Yuanbao was impatient. She slammed her rice bowl on the table and turned to leave.
Ye Cuigu quickly grabbed her. "Yuanbao, Yuanbao, mother doesn't want to abandon you. It's just..."
Yuanbao turned back to look at her and sneered. "Just what? Just that your heart is all on your son and you can't take care of me? Don't worry. If you don't want me, I don't want to follow you either. Brother Xuanzhi said he was born from a rock. I'll be the same. I'll just think I was born from a crack in a rock. From now on, whether you're doing well or not has nothing to do with me, and the same goes for me."
Hearing her daughter's cold words, Ye Cuigu's eyes immediately turned red and tears streamed down her face. "Yuanbao, mother..."
Yuanbao waved her hand away, her face full of coldness and indifference. "You're not my mother. I don't want to recognize you."
Seeing her daughter running away, Ye Cuigu covered her face and burst into tears.