Weirui turned around in surprise and saw a boy of about ten years old. Like her, he was standing on tiptoe trying to look at the book. The boy was dressed in a moon - white long gown. The belt around his waist was inlaid with jewels, and the jade pendant that pressed the corner of his skirt also looked extremely valuable. At first glance, he was a young master from a wealthy family.
The clerk behind quickly stepped forward. He stole glances at the two guests. Naturally, he was partial to the wealthy - looking young master, but since they were both customers, he didn't dare to offend this young lady either.
He bowed and scraped, saying, "I'm really sorry. The Collection of Duke Tai's Case Judgments has long been a rare copy. We only got this hand - copied version recently, and there's only one of it. However, in a month or so, a few more copies will arrive. Esteemed guests..."
This meant that there would be more copies later, but only one of them could get it now, and they had to decide for themselves.
Hearing this, the fair - faced young master hesitated slightly. He bowed to Weirui and said, "Miss, I'm really sorry. Since it's not easy for me to come out, and I really like this book, I wonder if the miss could part with it."
After thinking for a while, he added, "I'm willing to pay double the price as compensation."
Originally, Weirui didn't really have to have this book. She was just curious. Seeing the eager look on the young master's face, she was about to give it to him. However, his latter words seemed a bit condescending.
She frowned and asked, "Do you think you're superior just because you have money?"
The young master half - opened his mouth, not knowing that he had said something wrong. He then continued, "Miss, do you think it's too little? Well, this book costs four taels of silver. I'll compensate you ten taels. How about that?"
Hearing this, Weirui became even angrier. This person was so strange. Buying a book was just buying a book. Why did he act as if others were all philistines?
Just as she was about to get angry, she heard a gentle voice behind her.
"Han'er."
The young master's body trembled slightly. He looked up at the man behind Weirui, bowed, and called out, "Uncle."
Weirui also turned around. Seeing the man wearing a silver mask, she bowed and said, "Young Master Zidu."
Zidu nodded and returned a half - bow. "Miss Weirui, this young master rarely goes out and is not well - versed in the ways of the world. He didn't mean to overpower others with money on purpose. Please don't blame him, Miss Weirui."
Seeing Zidu's gentle apology, Weirui didn't care anymore. She immediately smiled and said, "I see. Weirui doesn't want to take something someone else loves. Young master, please take it."
She thought to herself that she had heard there was a young master in the Zhu family, about the same age as her, but he was weak and sickly. This young master said he rarely went out. Could he be that young master? However, this young master in front of her seemed younger than her, and he looked healthy, not like someone who was sick.
She didn't think much about it and walked to the other side to look at other books.
After looking for a while, Weirui felt bored and was just about to leave when the clerk who had been following her stepped forward. "Miss, are you not satisfied with the books here? There are some light - reading books over there. If the miss is willing, you can take a look."
Light - reading books were just for killing time. Her aunt had always taught her that light - reading books were useless and told her not to read them. She originally wanted to refuse, but then thought that she had nothing to do anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to take a look.
Just as she stepped up the stairs and walked over, she heard a few scholars huddled together talking.
"I've heard that Lady Shen is as beautiful as a celestial being, with a graceful figure. She's also very approachable. She used to be a pampered young lady from a marquis's mansion."
Weirui frowned and looked at the lecherous - looking man. Discussing a young lady in public like this was really indecent.
These people were all scholars who were going to take the imperial examination this year. It was a pity that they were all wearing the guise of scholars but didn't study hard. Instead, they came here to read such miscellaneous books. It was obvious that they were not good people.
One of them, who was dressed the most华丽, seemed to know more. "She's a Lady of the Township. We scholars are not worthy of her. Don't worry about whether she's beautiful or not. There are many high - ranking young masters lining up to propose marriage to Lady Shen."
"Oh, really? I've heard that her background is quite low and she's the daughter of a merchant. Why aren't the high - ranking families嫌弃?"
The gorgeously - dressed man waved his fan and chuckled. "You don't understand. The noble Cheng family. The eldest son of the Cheng family was once engaged to the second daughter of the Xue family. Why hasn't he married for so many years after breaking off the engagement? It's because of his former fake fiancée. He's waited for so many years. How could he give up easily? Besides, what's the background of the Chen family? Although the fourth young master of the Chen family is a concubine - born son, he was raised by the first wife. He's no different from the eldest son. He's also highly regarded by the emperor. He's already twenty - five. Why hasn't he married? It's also for this stunning Lady Shen of the Township."
The people around all gasped in surprise. "What kind of charm does this Lady Shen of the Township have? How could she make those noble young masters so infatuated?"
The gorgeously - dressed man looked mysterious and laughed. "Lady Shen of the Township has her own charm. In my opinion, Lady Shen of the Township and the fourth young master of the Chen family are the most compatible. They used to work together in Yun County. One was an official and the other was a merchant, but they supported each other and gradually got to where they are today. Such a relationship is unparalleled. As the saying goes, true love is born in adversity. The fourth young master of the Chen family and Lady Shen of the Township have gone through a lot of hardships to get to where they are today..."
As they talked, they slowly walked deeper into the bookstore. Weirui couldn't hear them clearly, so she stopped listening.
When the clerk wanted to lead her over, she shook her head. "Forget it. I don't like those. Do you have writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones? I want to buy some for my younger brother."
The clerk quickly led her up the stairs on the other side. There were all kinds of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on display, of all grades.
Weirui immediately saw Young Master Zidu sitting at the table writing, and beside him, quietly reading a book, was the young master named Han'er.
She stood there and watched for a while, then couldn't help laughing softly.
Zidu was startled by her laughter. He looked up and asked, "What are you laughing at?"
Weirui stepped forward and bowed. "Sorry, I was rude. I remembered my aunt at home. She always mistakes Young Master Zidu for my uncle. I didn't understand before. I thought you were very different from my uncle. Why did my aunt always make a mistake? Today, seeing your posture while writing, it's really a bit similar to how my uncle taught me before."
Zidu put down his brush. He still looked gentle. He waved to her to come over and handed the writing to her. "Look at my writing. Is it similar to your uncle's?"
Weirui shook her head and then laughed again. "The writing is not similar, but the posture is. It's just similar. You're not my uncle."
There was a hint of interest at the corner of Zidu's mouth. "Why are you so sure?"
Weirui shrugged and pointed at the timid scholars huddled in the innermost part. "Did the young master hear those people just now talking about my aunt's marriage?"
Zidu nodded. "I heard, of course."
Weirui laughed again. "If Uncle Xuanzhi heard someone slandering my aunt like this, he would have rushed up long ago."
Zidu's expression was hidden behind the mask, so it couldn't be seen. His words were as gentle as ever. "Maybe your uncle was young before. Now that he's grown up, he shouldn't be as impulsive as when he was a child."
Weirui said seriously, "It's not like that. My uncle has feelings for my aunt. Even if he's grown up and mature, he won't get angry because of this. How could he be indifferent when hearing words about my aunt getting engaged to someone else?"
Zidu's hand holding the paper seemed to tremble slightly. It was a long time before he looked up at her and nodded slightly. "You're right."
...
The Mansion of the Lady of the Township welcomed a new guest. Shen Yuning came to the hall in confusion. Looking at the former aunt - in - law who had never been very polite to her, she really didn't know what the woman meant.
The Xiao family was once a century - old noble family, but unfortunately, each generation was worse than the last. Now the Xiao family had declined. When Shen Yuning was a child and followed Lady Xiao back to her natal family, Lady Xiao always had to give all kinds of good things to the Xiao family just to get a little smile from the aunt - in - law, Lady Xiao. At that time, Shen Yuning often advised Lady Xiao, saying that the Xiao family was really insincere. They wanted the benefits from the marquis's mansion but still looked down on others in a superior way. It was really ugly. As a result, she was scolded by Lady Xiao, who said she was ungrateful.
Later, when they found out that she wasn't a daughter of the Xue family, the entire Xiao family sneered at her. They couldn't wait to drive this fake young lady out of the house on behalf of the Xue family.
She wondered what Lady Xiao was here for now.
Lady Xiao looked gentle. She chatted with Shen Yuning for a while, then praised Weirui for being good - looking, just like Shen Yuning when she was a child. She even told one or two interesting things about Shen Yuning when she was a child, as if she wanted to mend the torn relationship.
Shen Yuning adhered to the attitude that if someone treated her with a smile, she wouldn't be too cold to them. So she could talk a few words with this former aunt - in - law.
Maybe seeing that Shen Yuning was quite easy to talk to, Lady Xiao heaved a long sigh of relief and then smiled as she got to the point. "By the way, your second cousin is really promising. Since he entered school, the teachers have always praised him for his progress. They said he will surely have a bright future. Well, he's going to take the imperial examination this year. The ladies all assert that he will surely pass the autumn imperial examination and become a juren."
Shen Yuning didn't have much impression of this second cousin. He seemed to be studious, but he was too gentle and weak. He didn't like to greet people when he saw them. She nodded and reluctantly congratulated, "In that case, I should congratulate Lady Xiao."
Lady Xiao talked non - stop about her promising second son, saying a lot of things about his bright future. Shen Yuning felt as if her ears were getting calloused.
Maybe seeing Shen Yuning frequently looking at the sky, Lady Xiao felt a bit embarrassed. She changed the topic and sized up the Mansion of the Lady of the Township. There was a hint of contempt in her eyes. "Your Mansion of the Lady of the Township, although it was bestowed by the emperor, is a bit small. With so many people, it seems a bit crowded. And I've heard that the manors you got are in bad locations and don't yield much."
Shen Yuning said calmly, "The emperor's grace is boundless. Yuning always keeps it in mind. How could I be picky about the mansion and the manors? Moreover, my current life is much better than before."
The contempt in Lady Xiao's eyes became even stronger, but she still smiled and said, "Oh, I've heard for a long time that you've suffered a lot these years and appeared in public too often. Now you can't even get married. Yuning, don't blame your aunt - in - law for being talkative. When a young lady reaches a certain age, she always has to find a good family to marry into. Your current situation is not what it used to be. You can't be too choosy. Our Xiao family, although it has declined, still has its foundation. Once my second son passes the imperial examination, he will soar to great heights. Many people would envy such an opportunity!"