Chapter 35: Jiang Shiyuan Might Lie to Anyone, But Never to Young Lord Shen

The news that the Pei family would be coming to propose marriage wasn’t only relayed early to Jiang Shiyuan—it was also passed on to Imperial Consort Jiang and the entire Jiang household ahead of time.

With Jiang Shiyuan’s parents absent, Nanny Qin took it upon herself to oversee everything. She had the general’s manor thoroughly cleaned and decorated ahead of time, and all kinds of tea, fruits, and pastries were prepared.

“Marchioness Wende is a woman of great virtue and reputation. You know, it was she who arranged the match between our esteemed Consort and the late emperor back in the day. For Lord Pei to have invited her here—it truly shows his sincerity,” Nanny Qin beamed as she spoke about the engagement.

“And it’s not just the marchioness. Just look at the betrothal gifts Pei family sent—that’s what real sincerity looks like.”

“Shops and estates, silks and silver, jewels and antiques—the list of gifts…”

Hong Dou nudged Jiang Shiyuan with a knowing grin. “It’s longer than that book of family rules.”

“Miss, you’re going to be rich!”

Jiang Shiyuan couldn’t help but laugh. The lavish list of gifts delighted her, but alongside the delight came a growing sense of burden.

A burden that came from being unable to reciprocate equally.

Grand Tutor Pei was giving her far, far too much.

Jiang Shiyuan even worried she wouldn’t be able to live up to the role of Grand Tutor Pei’s wife—even if the marriage was only nominal.

“Alright, alright. It’s almost time. Hong Dou, go watch the gate. Qingliu, head to the tea room and keep an eye there. Have someone check the kitchen—make sure the pastries are ready…”

Nanny Qin reminded them all sternly, “Today is Miss’s big day. Not even the smallest mistake can be allowed. If anyone messes up—don’t blame me for turning hostile!”

“Yes, Nanny, don’t worry. Nothing will go wrong!” the servants echoed in unison.

Everyone got to work, except Jiang Shiyuan, who remained in her room, idle and unsure what to do.

She felt uneasy, nervous, and a little dazed.

The past few days had felt like a dream—nothing seemed entirely real.

Just then, while she was lost in thought, a servant’s voice called from outside:

“Miss, the heir of Marquis Wenyuan’s household has sent you a letter.”

…

At the bustling intersection, a procession of cheerful and festive riders slowly advanced, drawing plenty of attention from passersby.

Pei Ziye nudged his horse forward, catching up with the carriage ahead. With heavy dark circles under his eyes, he called out pitifully, “Uncle.”

The curtain of the carriage remained still, but a cool voice sounded from within: “Did you retrieve them all?”

Pei Ziye pulled out a bundle of talismans from his robe, looking utterly miserable. “Still missing a few.”

Yesterday, he had just been catching up with some old friends and was about to plan a lake outing when his uncle summoned him back.

Someone had tattled—revealing that he had been reselling his uncle’s calligraphy, passing them off as protective charms. That got him into trouble. He’d spent the whole night running around the city, trying to recover them one by one.

Not only did he lose all his profits, he was also about to collapse from exhaustion.

And it wasn’t even possible to get every one of them back—he’d sold too many.

“Uncle, I really read through every single one of those calligraphy pieces. They were all trivial poems and phrases. I wasn’t in it for the money. I just wanted to help those people. You have no idea how much they admire you—scholars all over revere you. They treat your words like sacred beacons of hope,” Pei Ziye tried to explain.

“Uncle, would you really destroy the spiritual guide of a struggling scholar just like that?”

He begged and pleaded. After running all night, he felt like he was going to drop dead. He couldn’t take another step.

But no matter what he said, the person inside the carriage gave no response.

Until Pei Ziye muttered under his breath, “I still promised to help Auntie find someone—how would I even have time to…”

“What person?” the voice in the carriage finally responded.

Pei Ziye’s eyes lit up. He smirked inwardly and leaned close to the window. “Did Miss Jiang not tell you? She really loves those storybooks you gave her. She even wanted to meet the author, so she asked me to help track them down.”

“You found them?”

Pei Ziye had never seen his usually aloof uncle show this much interest in such mundane affairs. His eyes widened in surprise.

“I found them, but the author refused. Won’t even agree to meet, let alone release the rights.”

The man in the carriage was silent for a while, then said, “Have Yu Liang assist you.”

Pei Ziye froze again.

Yu Liang—his uncle’s most capable aide.

He had begged to borrow him countless times, always without success. And now, without so much as a second thought, his uncle was volunteering him.

Tsk tsk tsk—

As Grandmother said, his uncle was just pretending to be indifferent.

“Then Uncle, about those protective charms—do I still need to get them all back?” Pei Ziye asked hopefully.

“Finish your proper task first.”

“Yes, sir!”

Pei Ziye let out a breath of relief, feeling instantly revived.

As he thought—once he got Auntie on his side, Uncle would be easy to handle.

While they spoke, the procession reached the mouth of Jishui Lane. Just then, the sound of galloping hooves broke through the air—

Pei Ziye looked up and saw a chestnut horse flying toward them. A young woman sat firmly in the saddle, holding her whip in one hand, her red robes billowing fiercely in the wind.

Even Pei Ziye, who rode horses daily, was stunned by her bold and dazzling presence: “So dashing. Whose daughter is that?”

Before he finished speaking, the figure was already close, and Pei Ziye got a clear look. He gasped, “Isn’t that Auntie?!”

The carriage curtain had somehow lifted at some point, and from within, a pair of deep, dark eyes watched that striking figure speed past without even a moment’s pause.

…

Jiang Shiyuan rode her horse straight to the city gates. Once outside, she headed east. After an hour, she arrived at a secluded villa.

The usually quiet estate was now filled with laughter and the sounds of music.

Shen Luchu had decided on a whim to host a “floating wine cups” gathering here, inviting all his friends from the capital, as well as the city’s most famous musical troupe.

“So this is the famous Top Scorer Talisman?” a young noble sneered, holding a yellow talisman in his hand. “Looks just like any other charm. Has the Young Lord been duped?”

Another man laughed, snatching it from him. “You have no idea who gave this to him. That talisman was prayed for by Jiang Shiyuan herself—kneeling on each step as she climbed the long staircase. She might lie to anyone else, but to Young Lord Shen? No way. She wouldn’t dare, would she, Young Lord Shen?”

Everyone turned to Shen Luchu at the head of the table.

Shen Luchu held a wine cup, his expression relaxed and indulgent. He chuckled, “She wouldn’t dare.”

There was pleasure in being flattered, and a smug satisfaction in feeling completely in control.

Beside him, Zhou Jingshen frowned. He couldn’t bear it and finally said, “Luchu, don’t go too far. Jiang Shiyuan was sincere.”

“It’s because she was sincere that I even accepted it. Otherwise, such a worthless thing—I wouldn’t even give it to a servant.”

Shen Luchu spoke carelessly, then flung the now-empty sachet aside like it was trash.

Jiang Shiyuan stepped in just in time to see this—

The protective talisman she gave to Shen Luchu was being torn apart and fought over by others.

And the sachet she’d made by hand was thrown to the ground by Shen Luchu himself.