Chapter 6: I’m Getting Married — Please Mind Your Manners

Marquis Wenyuan’s Residence —

As usual, after his midday nap, Shen Luchu sat in the study reading a book.

There were just over a hundred days left until the Spring Imperial Examinations — not a single day could be wasted.

This time, he was determined to come out on top and make a name for himself.

He didn’t want to be the second anyone. He wanted to be the first!

So he told himself — yet somehow, his eyes couldn’t help drifting toward the scented sachet beside the inkstone.

Yes, in the end, he had softened and told someone to retrieve the sachet.

Jiang Shiyuan should be satisfied now.

If she kept sulking after this, she’d truly be overstepping and taking his indulgence for granted.

“Did she come by today?” Shen Luchu set down the book and asked.

The young servant, Mòyu, froze for a moment. “Who does the heir mean by ‘she’?”

It took him a second to realize exactly who his young master meant.

Mòyu was shocked.

What was going on with the heir lately?

For three years, Jiang Shiyuan had pestered him relentlessly, and not once had the heir even spared her a proper glance. But now? First, he mentioned sending her pastries. Then, just last night, he even sent someone to the Minister’s manor to retrieve her scented sachet from Miss Su Liluo.

“Is the heir feeling bored or frustrated?” Mòyu ventured.

In the past, when Shen Luchu got tired of studying, Jiang Shiyuan would always find some clever way to cheer him up.

“Actually, Miss Jiang hasn’t come by in several days. Shall I go invite her over?” Mòyu suggested.

That only made Shen Luchu more irritable.

“No need! If she comes again, block her at the door. I don’t want her disturbing my studies.”

He picked up his book again, flipping the pages with loud, agitated rustling.

The sound made Mòyu’s heart tremble — this was his master’s “angry” mode.

He was still wondering what to do when Su Liluo arrived, walking briskly into the courtyard with her maid.

Mòyu relaxed a little. If not Jiang Shiyuan, then Su Liluo was fine too.

After all, Miss Su was the future marchioness chosen by the lady of the house. The two families were a perfect match and had been in discreet talks for some time. Once the heir passed the imperial exams, the marriage proposal would be formally made. It would be a double celebration and a strong alliance between the Marquis Wenyuan and the Minister’s families.

Miss Su might not be as beautiful or as attentive as Jiang Shiyuan, but what the marquis’s household needed wasn’t a pretty, obedient ornament — it was a powerful ally.

Surely, the heir understood that too, which was why he never objected to Miss Su coming and going freely from the estate.

“Luchu, I can’t accept this hairpin. You should give it to Sister Jiang instead,” Su Liluo said the moment she stepped inside, returning the gold hairpin.

Shen Luchu looked puzzled. “What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing. I just feel that Sister Jiang really likes this hairpin,” Su Liluo replied gently.

Before she could finish, her maid interjected, “Miss, you’re being too kind again — why defend Jiang Shiyuan after all she’s done?”

“Lord Shen,” the maid turned to Shen Luchu with indignation, “today at the Guihua Banquet at the Marquis Ningde’s estate, our young lady didn’t do anything, but Miss Jiang stared at her hairpin the entire time, then publicly called her a ‘mad dog’ who snatches anything she sees!”

“She said it in front of everyone! Lord Shen, you must seek justice for my lady! That hairpin was clearly a birthday gift from you, yet somehow it became a ‘stolen’ item? My lady cried the entire way home — her eyes are still red!”

“Zhi Chun, enough,” Su Liluo scolded softly, dabbing at her eyes. “There must be some misunderstanding. Jiang Shiyuan isn’t that kind of person.”

Shen Luchu looked up — sure enough, her eyes were red. His expression darkened.

Jiang Shiyuan was becoming more and more outrageous.

Zhi Chun pressed on, “How is she not? Miss, have you forgotten? Three years ago, she pushed you into the pond in the dead of winter! She never even apologized for that!”

That incident came back to Shen Luchu as well. That winter, he had hosted a banquet for the capital’s young elite at the marquis’s estate. Jiang Shiyuan had gotten into a verbal spat with Su Liluo and ended up pushing her into the freezing water like some thug. Not only had she ruined the banquet, she had flatly refused to apologize — thoroughly embarrassing him.

The memory made Shen Luchu’s face grow even darker, disappointment flooding his eyes.

He had thought that after so many years — and after so many warnings — Jiang Shiyuan would have toned down her wild and stubborn ways.

He had overestimated her. He should have forced her to kneel back then and ground that pride out of her.

“Mòyu, go summon Jiang Shiyuan. I want her to apologize to Liluoin person.”

He would no longer let her run wild.

Mòyu obeyed but hesitated. “And if she refuses to come?”

She wouldn’t dare.

“If she refuses,” Shen Luchu said coldly, “tell her never to step foot into the Shen household again.”

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Meanwhile, the osmanthus banquet at the Marquis Ningde’s estate was wrapping up.

As the hostess, Ye Wanning was too busy to spare a moment, and Pei Zanxue had been called away to help. Jiang Shiyuan didn’t want to interrupt, so she asked a servant to relay her farewell and quietly took her leave.

Just as she stepped outside, she saw Mòyu hurrying toward her, panting.

Without any preamble, he barked, “Miss Jiang! The heir wants to see you — right now!”

Jiang Shiyuan frowned slightly.

Her aunt often said she was a stubborn person. She used to disagree, but now she understood.

She was stubborn — so stubborn it blinded her.

Blinded her to the most obvious things.

Even a servant dared to order her around like this. Who knew how low Shen Luchu must think of her behind her back?

For Mòyu to come all the way to the Marquis Ningde’s estate, it was obvious — someone had already gone running to complain first.

That was just like Shen Luchu.

She had never asked him to take her side — only to treat her fairly. But no matter how blatant Su Liluo ’s provocations were, he always pretended not to see and sided with her anyway.

“If he wants to see me,” Jiang Shiyuan said coldly, “tell your young master to send me a proper invitation first.”

Mòyu froze.

What did she just say? An invitation?

Was she saying that for the heir to see her, he had to formally invite her to a banquet?

Was the sun rising in the west today?

In the past, no matter where Jiang Shiyuan was or what she was doing, the moment the heir summoned her, she’d rush over without hesitation.

“Miss Jiang, don’t regret this later. My young master said if you don’t come today, don’t even think about stepping foot into the Marquis Wenyuan’s estate again,” Mòyu said, stiff-necked.

“That’s perfectly fine by me,” Jiang Shiyuan said flatly. “And while you’re at it, go back and tell your heir — I’m getting married. Please tell him to mind his manners and stop disturbing me.”

Mòyu’s jaw dropped so wide he could’ve fit a duck egg in it.

Had he heard that right?

Jiang Shiyuan… was getting married?!

It was like hearing a shocking secret — Mòyu’s face was full of disbelief as he turned and bolted back to the Marquis Wenyuan’s estate.