After buying the books, Jin Shanyao returned to Top Scholar Tower at 7 PM. Just as she took out her key, she heard someone calling her from around the corner.
Song Henian walked out with a young boy, his eyes full of smiles. He placed his hand behind his youngest son and secretly pushed him forward.
Song Zhiyan's ears turned red, and she avoided eye contact.
Jin Shanyao her head in confusion, "You two, are you here for divination? Or to buy talismans?"
Song Henian smiled and replied, "To be honest, Miss Jin, my son is a child I had late in life. He has a good figure, good looks, and his character goes without saying."
Now that I'm eighteen, but my love star hasn't moved yet, so I brought it here for you to see."
Jin Shanyao her head, a sense of unease creeping into her mind. Was it really so difficult for men and women in the capital to get married? Was the God of Marriage perhaps discriminating against people from certain regions?
Hmph, the tree really looks down on me.
When spring arrives and flowers bloom, she will unleash a strong wind on Lush Mountain and Hat Mountain, ensuring that all plants successfully conceive!
She grumbled inwardly as she led the person into the house.
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci had already lit the oil lamps and each picked up a book to read.
Jin Shanyao said gently, "You've played all day, it's time to rest."
Meng Anci: "Okay, I'll read this and then go to sleep."
Today, Miss Fu mentioned that there is a place in the capital called the Imperial Academy, which is a sacred place for the children of the imperial family and Aristocratic Clan families to study.
This realization ignited a raging fire within him. Now, he was determined to defeat not only the students of Qingzhou Prefecture, but also the students of the Sheng Dynasty.
The road ahead is long; how can we break through the encirclement without giving it our all?
Meng Anci a small person with a great determination... so much so that for the next few years, his life was filled with darkness.
Song Henian praised the boy for being so ambitious, then pushed Song Zhiyan in front of Jin Shanyao. He wasn't exaggerating, but Fu Congzhao was just as outstanding as his son.
Hmph... Women all like gentle, refined, considerate, and caring people.
He's got this game in the bag.
Jin Shanyao fine writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. "Young Master's birth date and time."
" Song Zhiyan, Miss Jin can just call him Zhiyan," Song Henian nudged his youngest son, signaling him to cheer up; this battle could only be won, not lost.
Song Zhiyan thought his father was being ridiculous. The imperial examination was just around the corner, and instead of studying, he was dragging him to have his fortune told.
He wrote down his birth date and time and handed it to Jin Shanyao, saying, "Let's calculate my future."
Song Henian remained silent. As for the matchmaking... what it entails isn't important; what matters is the observation.
Jin Shanyao at the paper and smiled, "Young master, your career is going smoothly; there's no need to be overly anxious."
Just as Song Zhiyan breathed a sigh of relief, his father pinched his waist hard, making him furrow his brow in pain... It must be said, the gentle and delicate young man had a certain charm when his brows were slightly furrowed.
Unfortunately, Jin Shanyao was just a tree, and she couldn't see the man's beauty by staring at him. She blinked her big eyes and stared at Song Henian.
Song Henian's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Miss Jin had taken a fancy to him? This wouldn't do; he couldn't betray his wife. Song Henian's face flushed red.
"Miss Jin, although I was quite beautiful when I was young, I'm now over sixty, so perhaps it's best to stop now."
Jin Shanyao eagerly awaited Song Henian's payment, only to be met with the dismissive "Forget it," which seemed like a blatant attempt to renege on the debt.
She said sternly, "Lord Song, although you are Madam Su's father, the fortune-telling fee is fifty taels, not a penny less."
Song Henian froze... No... She... Oh my God, I've lost all face! He quickly pulled out a fifty-tael silver note and slammed it on the table.
"Miss Jin, it's not what you think... My Song Household owns fertile land and estates; we won't renege on our debts."
Jin Shanyao, not believing him... The old man had already said, "If we don't count it, what's the point?"... To impose karma on her for no reason, who could bear it?
Song Zhiyan, suppressing a laugh, blushed deeply. He finally understood why his father had insisted on bringing him to have his fortune told; it turned out his father was looking into his destiny.
He said that a man should establish his career before starting a family, and his father used to agree with that. Why has he suddenly changed his mind?
He rose, bowed to Jin Shanyao, and hurriedly left with his father.
Jin Shanyao quickly put away the fifty taels of silver notes and closed the door. That was close... she almost got a wasted fortune telling session.
She walked to the desk, closed the two children's books, and said seriously, "Remember, even acquaintances cannot be completely trusted."
When it comes to money, you have to be careful to avoid being cheated out of your money, understand?
The two little ones listened in a daze, but kept nodding.
The following day, Lu Chi and Fu Congxi accompanied Jin Shanyao shopping.
"Boss, what do you think of this? It's a perfect pair, let's take it back to Qing He and Qing Yang," Fu Congxi, holding up a pair of silver bracelets. The bracelets had subtle patterns on their surface, making them beautiful yet understated.
Lu Chi's gaze fell on Fu Congxi, his eyes filled with undisguised doting affection. Fu Congxi glared at him and, as Lu Chi suggested, gave Qing He and Qing Yang two packets of pastries.
But Fu Congxi disagreed. After all, Fu Congxi didn't want to neglect those who had helped him during his lowest point.
She called out to the shopkeeper, "Two pairs of these identical silver bracelets, please."
"Alright..." The shopkeeper was grinning from ear to ear when, just then, a gasp came from outside the door.
"Oh, Sister Fu. Are you... picking out jewelry?"
The person who arrived was Wei Mingzhu, Lu Mingche Lu Mingche's cousin and fiancée.
Jin Shanyao's interest was piqued instantly. Knowledge was coming to life! This was practically a palace intrigue drama. She pulled her two children to sit down on the side.
He whispered to Meng Anzhi, "This is a rare opportunity, learn something..."
Meng Anzhi nodded emphatically, her gaze fixed on the group of people, while Meng Anci took out a booklet from her bag and borrowed the shopkeeper's pen and ink to write down the key points.
Ever since he lost a game of pitch-pot at the night market, he's been trying to regain his sense of self-worth in front of his aunt, and now the opportunity has come.
Fu Congxi recognized the person who had arrived and sneered, "Prepare some gifts as a token of my gratitude."
Wei Mingzhu picked up the pair of silver bracelets, feigning surprise, "Oh, this style... I'm afraid it wasn't given to a maid? Sister Fu, not to be rude, but even if my cousin is short on money..."
You can't just use a maid's things to get rid of yourself. If word gets out, people will think the Lu Household doesn't like you at all.
Upon hearing the word "cousin," Lu Chi's face immediately turned cold. He snatched the bracelet from the shopkeeper and handed it to her, saying, "Wrap it up." He then looked at Wei Mingzhu.
"Xie Li, are you hard of hearing? Oh... I forgot, it seems like most Wei Household aren't very good at hearing."
Wei Mingzhu's face turned ashen with rage. "You bastard! No wonder your aunt wanted to kill him; now she wants to kill Lu Chi too!"
Fu Congxi glanced at Wei Mingzhu and said to Lu Chi, "I'm telling you, you can't just tell the truth, it's so hurtful."
Wei Mingzhu pointed at the two of them, her eyes filled with resentment, "Just wait and see... when you two get married... the Marquis won't be there. You'll be bowing to the ancestral tablet instead."
Lu Chi's eyes were like knives, which frightened Wei Mingzhu into taking a half step back.
"Not going? Perfect. My wedding, Lu Chi, doesn't need anyone else to join in the fun."
Since you keep talking about ancestral tablets..." He took a step closer, "Then go back and tell your dear aunt to clean the ancestral hall properly."
"After all, once she dies, her memorial tablet will be placed behind my mother's... And there's something else I need to remind you: loose lips sink ships. The memorial tablet you're talking about is for the Empress's own sister."
Wei Mingzhu panicked completely. Her aunt and the Empress were fighting to the death, and she absolutely could not afford to give anyone cause for gossip at this critical juncture.
"Sister Fu, you're busy, I have to go now," she said, not daring to look at Lu Chi, and fled with her maid.
She even forgot to pick up the jewelry she had ordered.