Su Xiaoqi’s back straightened as she thought about what she had done since arriving here.
A gust of autumn wind swept through the alley, carrying a hint of coolness.
She felt a bit cold and gently rubbed the back of her hands.
Just then, a pair of warm hands reached out, taking her slightly cold hands into their palms and giving them a gentle squeeze.
Feeling the faint, rough calluses on the palm, Su Xiaoqi’s heart skipped a beat. She raised her head and discreetly sized up the owner of the hands.
The sun was setting in the west, casting its light on Shen Yun’s profile, making his face appear alternately illuminated and shadowed. His features became more defined, and his countenance even more refined and handsome.
He was truly good-looking.
Even at a moment like this, Su Xiaoqi couldn’t help but praise Shen Yun’s appearance.
“Brother-in-law… no, Young Master Shen, you heard everything. The person you married is a fake. She is not the one you were betrothed to.”
Hearing Su Yurou’s panicked revelation, what was initially just speculation among the onlookers suddenly became clear.
Some began to embellish the story in their minds.
The Su family, a wealthy and benevolent household, had disdained the Shen family because they had fallen into ruin, despite the prior betrothal.
Unwilling to marry their daughter to Shen Yun, they found a beggar on the streets and raised her in their home for several months, intending for her to impersonate the Su family daughter and marry Shen Yun.
To everyone’s surprise, Shen Yun, who had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations for the xiucai degree, seemed to be divinely blessed after marrying Su Xiaoqi.
First, he topped the list in the academy examinations, and then he achieved the top rank of Jie Yuan in the provincial examinations.
“Who I am betrothed to is not important. What matters is that I married Xiaoqi.”
“You… you… it’s the command of parents and the words of a matchmaker! You… you are… cohabiting without a formal introduction. It’s against the rules.” Su Yurou resorted to invoking the rules.
“Hmph, this Miss Su is quite arrogant. Not only did her family arrange a substitute bride, but they are also relentless in picking on others.”
Su Xiaoqi opened her mouth to defend herself, but Shen Yun tightened his grip on her hand and pulled her into his embrace, announcing loudly:
“You are mistaken. Xiaoqi and I were married with full ceremony, with three matchmakers and six sponsors, and a marriage certificate to prove it.” Although the provisions were rather humble, the procedures were correct.
Su Xiaoqi looked at him in surprise. It was the original host who had married him, and she had not fully absorbed the original host’s memories.
Therefore, she knew nothing about what he was saying.
But for some reason, seeing someone so concerned about his reputation, adhering to the principles of a gentleman, and publicly debating with a young woman like Su Yurou…
Her heart warmed.
“Before, I was unaware that my wife was not a member of the Su family, and I treated you all as my in-laws with respect.
Now that my wife is no longer a member of the Su family, there is no need to maintain this kinship. I ask that Miss Su no longer block my wife’s path without reason in the future.”
Shen Yun’s words, without any reservation, directly rebuked Su Yurou for her impolite behavior.
“Young Master Shen… you… you…” She was speechless for a long time.
What else could she say? Others’ ears were not deaf, and their eyes were not blind.
They had heard and seen what they needed to.
Su Yurou suddenly regretted her actions today. She regretted coming here because the Gu family had invited most of the merchants from Mianzhou city, but had excluded their family.
Her heart filled with resentment, she had decided to find Su Xiaoqi to cause trouble, threaten her, and inquire about the whereabouts of the jade pendant.
Standing on the ground, she felt as if everyone around was looking at her, and her face burned.
Su Yurou, in her more than ten years of life, had never encountered such a situation.
Anger and shame stabbed her heart like thorns, causing it to ache with every beat.
“Miss, Miss Zhao asks you to get into the carriage.” Ye Cao, enduring the scrutinizing gazes of the crowd, reluctantly stepped forward to pull Su Yurou.
Upon hearing this, she suddenly reacted and immediately ran to the carriage, glaring resentfully in Su Xiaoqi’s direction.
She would not endure today’s humiliation in vain.
As the Su family’s large carriage departed, the alleyway suddenly felt more spacious.
With Shen Yun’s help, Su Xiaoqi got into the mule cart.
Another gust of autumn wind blew, hitting Su Xiaoqi in the face, causing her to shrink back.
She shivered, and Shen Yun pulled her into his arms. His lips brushed past her ear as he whispered softly, “I wish to find one heart, and to grow old together, never to be parted.”
His voice was ethereal, and Su Xiaoqi, caught off guard by the autumn wind, did not immediately react.
She turned her head to look at him, seeing that his lips had not moved and his gaze was calm and unwavering.
Could it be that he hadn’t said those words just now?
Su Xiaoqi was puzzled.
Just as she was about to inquire further, Du Yiyi lifted the carriage curtain and jumped in.
Su Xiaoqi quickly shifted inward, making space for her.
The carriage curtain fell, and with no more spectacle to be seen, the onlookers dispersed, somewhat unsatisfied.
Du Yiyi, however, looked at Su Xiaoqi with amusement, “Hey, that was so exciting just now.”
When she had first met Su Xiaoqi, she had already told her about her background.
It was clear that Xiaoqi had never treated it as a secret, nor was she ashamed of her common origins. Perhaps only someone like Su Yurou would fail to understand why.
“Hahaha, she probably never dreamed that you would reveal this matter so easily.”
Su Yurou’s initial words were clearly intended to threaten Su Xiaoqi into submission.
But she never expected that what she considered a major weakness was not a weakness at all for Xiaoqi.
Furthermore, she had made her personally reveal to everyone that the Su family was snobbish and materialistic.
When Shen Yun was in disgrace, their family disdained to marry their daughter.
But when they saw his success in the imperial examinations, their family had a change of heart.
In this world, there were not so many good things that happened according to their wishes!
After laughing and joking, Du Yiyi then stared intently at Su Xiaoqi for a few moments.
Her gaze then shifted to Shen Yun’s face.
Su Xiaoqi watched her eyes dart back and forth between her and Shen Yun, feeling curious.
Then she saw Du Yiyi looking at her slyly and saying, “Oh, right, where are you two going now?”
“Majiang Lane.”
“Back to the estate.”
Two voices rang out simultaneously. The answers were diametrically opposed, showing no sign of coordination.
The former was spoken by Shen Yun.
The latter was spoken by Su Xiaoqi.
After speaking, she looked at Shen Yun and blinked her eyes somewhat awkwardly.
“Aren’t we going back?” Shen Yun had clearly stated when he went to the Gu family to pick her up.
“Changed my mind temporarily.” Shen Yun, his expression unchanged, turned to Du Yiyi. “The Majiang Lane ahead is a famous snack street in Mianzhou city. Since it’s your birthday today, I wanted to take you for a stroll. Miss Du, would you like to join?”
Shen Yun’s first words were directed at Su Xiaoqi, while the latter were addressed to Du Yiyi.
Du Yiyi was not someone who would fail to understand the unsaid.
Shen Yun’s invitation, while outwardly polite, was clearly a polite dismissal.
He had explicitly stated that it was Xiaoqi’s birthday and he wanted to celebrate it with her. How could she impose herself?
If she were to be a third wheel, it would spoil the occasion.
She winked at Su Xiaoqi and shook her head, “I won’t go today. Xiaoqi, you can accompany me some other time.” She then turned to Su Xiaoqi and said:
“Xiaoqi, have a good time with Brother Shen, remember all the delicious food and drinks, and then we’ll head straight there.”
Su Xiaoqi chuckled, “Yiyi, you’re using me as a food taster.”
Du Yiyi pouted, thinking to herself: I’d love to go with them, but with Brother Shen’s watchful gaze, forget it, forget it! I can’t afford to provoke him!