It Was A Fake Marriage, But Jiu Qian Sui Took It Seriously - Chapter 17

Jun Mo Ran stared at the worn-out plum blossom platform in front of him, seemingly lost in thought. “Do you know Lady Shen just broke off her engagement? If even a whisper of gossip spreads, there will be no place for her in Shengjing. Life is hard for women. Think carefully before speaking.”

Yun Sheng felt a pang of guilt. “Yes, Master, you are right. I will remember your words.”

Even if he had to endure punishment in the shadow guard camp, a hellish place, he would willingly accept it if it meant keeping his master’s favor.

Jun Mo Ran said no more and motioned for Yun Sheng to rise. He then walked alone toward the fruit trees.

Yun Sheng followed cautiously. Recently, his master’s temper had been more gentle than before. If it were in the past, Yun Sheng would have been thrown into the shadow guard camp for speaking carelessly, but now it seems his master has slowed down.

Shen Qing Li, having just turned back to the plum blossom platform and overheard Jun Mo Ran’s cold and firm words—that there was no personal affection between them, only the favor of her late father. She hurried back to her courtyard.

When she had broken off her engagement, she had never considered remarrying, nor had she imagined anything further with Jun Mo Ran. But she had at least hoped they could remain as old friends. Hearing him speak so coldly, saying that he helped her only because of her father and nothing more, it felt like something inside her had shattered.

Perhaps she had been too greedy, hoping for more. It was already rare for him to help her in the first place, considering their relationship through her father. Yet, the moment she heard his words, her heart felt heavy, as though she had been expecting too much.

Understanding the situation didn’t make the pain disappear. Despite knowing better, her chest still felt tight at his cold dismissal.

She spent the whole night tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The next day, she dragged her weary body to visit her mother.

Jiang Yingwan, thinking her daughter was exhausted from taking care of her, expressed concern: “Doctor Yang has already said that my condition is stable. You need to rest more; there’s no need to come to my room so often. Tomorrow, let Zhi Li accompany you to go out and buy some things to cheer you up.”

Shen Qing Li watched her mother’s condition improve, and she knew it was time to tell her about the broken engagement. But for now, there were other matters to handle.

She would need to visit the shops to inspect them and also check on the estates and farmlands the Marquis’s residence had returned to her. She would tell her mother about the engagement later.

After having breakfast with her mother, Shen Qingli told her about her inspection plans. Jiang Yingwan, feeling sorry for her daughter but clueless about business, asked her to take her personal steward, Nanny Su, along. The estate was not like a shop; it was inconvenient for a girl to deal with some coarse men, and Nanny Su’s presence would be helpful.

Shen Qingli nodded in agreement and returned to her room to organize the accounts. Chunhua, on the other hand, was busy packing for her departure.

“Miss, these things…” Chun Hua held her wedding dress, bedding, and the clothes and shoes she had sewn for Jiang Zhi Li, looking distressed.

These were all things that Shen Qingli had made with her own hands, every stitch carefully crafted.

Seeing the pile of things, Shen Qing Li felt a surge of frustration. Without saying a word, she grabbed a brazier and set the pile of items on fire, watching as they burned to nothing.

Her heart felt a little lighter, the heaviness easing. She had already asked Manager Qian to prepare the estate outside the city. Once it was ready, she would take her mother there, severing ties with the Marquis’ residence.

After finishing this, Shen Qing Li focused on looking over the accounts sent by the Marquis’s residence.

She flipped through several books at random, and unsurprisingly, each one had discrepancies. She didn’t intend to pursue these issues. She would consider them the “rent” for the six years she and her mother had stayed there.

Once they moved out of the Marquis’s residence, she and her mother would owe them nothing.

But then, the thought of debt lingered in her mind—how would she repay the debt she owed him?

She closed the account books, turned to Chun Hua, and said, “Bring me the ledger from the storeroom.”

The many treasures collected by her grandfather were all left to Shen Qing Li. When she first entered Shengjing, the Emperor had rewarded her with numerous valuable items to appease the soldiers and families of the martyrs.

She carefully examined them, noting down the five chosen items on a piece of red paper, each one a rare treasure in its own right.

Jun Mo Ran, with his noble status, had seen countless fine things in his life. However, he occasionally gave gifts or rewards, and those were always things that could be put to good use.

Shen Qing Li’s calligraphy was smooth and flowing, unlike the restrained style most people showed.

She had started learning to write late, and this handwriting was still the same as the one he had given her to practice during her calligraphy lessons.

“Tomorrow morning, send the items on this list to the Jiucheng Residence, and tell them it’s my thank-you gift to the Lord Jiu Qian Sui.”

Chun Hua clicked her tongue, holding the list and heading to the storeroom to collect the items. Even one of these treasures would be enough to sustain a family of six for a lifetime.

The last traces of sunlight disappeared from behind the clouds, and the room grew dim.

Shen Qing Li sat at her desk, lost in thought, with a feeling of emptiness in her heart. She had now severed all ties with him, and it seemed they would never have any more interactions.

Once her mother was fully recovered, they would travel and see the world, no longer confined to this small space.

As for him… She would keep him in her heart, like a brother, wishing him well and praying for him.

The next day, she woke up a bit later. She still stuck to her morning practice, but instead of going to the bamboo grove, she practiced in her small courtyard. The yard was too narrow to use a soft whip, so she practiced a set of martial arts forms instead.

Having decided to stand on her own, she knew she needed to have the ability to protect herself. She not only practiced alone but also required the servants in the courtyard to practice with her.

After finishing a set of punches, Chun Hua, who had been sent to Jiucheng Residence, returned with a few young servants.

“Why are you back so soon?” Shen Qing Li asked as she took the handkerchief from Chun Hua, wiping her face as she inquired.

Chun Hua replied, “I hadn’t even reached Jiucheng Residence when I ran into the Lord Jiu Qian Sui coming back from court. I handed him the list, but he only kept the list and sent the items back with me.”

“He kept the list but didn’t accept the items?” Shen Qing Li was puzzled. What did that mean? “Did he say anything?”

Chun Hua nodded. “He said, ‘Leave it as Lady Shen’s dowry,’ and then walked away. I saw he seemed a little displeased, so I didn’t dare to follow him.”

“Could it be that our gift didn’t meet his expectations, so he’s unhappy?” Shen Qing Li’s mood darkened. If even such precious items weren’t to his liking, the Lord Qian Sui’s thoughts were hard to fathom.

The feeling of frustration resurfaced in her chest. She put the handkerchief down and silently walked to her room. As she reached the doorframe, she said lightly, “Just put the items away for now.”

It seemed that he truly didn’t want any more connection with her, not even accepting the gifts she had sent.

She would take it as a favor from him and her late father’s relationship. This gratitude… If it couldn’t be repaid, then so be it.

Shen Qing Li put the matter aside and decided to focus on inspecting the shops and estates today.

She set off with Chun Hua and Nanny Su in a carriage to the largest restaurant in Shengjing, the Sihuo Tower, to meet with the shopkeeper Qian. Manager Qian was a trusted assistant her grandfather had left her, and she respected him greatly.

Manager Qian presented the accounts for the month, which Shen Qing Li placed aside. In a gentle tone, she said, “Grandfather Qian, with your help in overseeing things, there’s no need to worry. I’ve come today to ask when the repairs on the estate outside the city will be finished, and I also need to borrow a few more people. I’m planning to visit each of the estates, and this task may not be an easy one. It would be best if some skilled people could join me.”

Chun Hua had already informed Manager Qian about the situation in the Marquis’s residence, and he, sympathizing with Shen Qingli, said, “The people are already prepared and ready to go with you to the estates. The repairs at the outside estate will be finished in about ten days. Would you like to have a plaque made for the estate?”

Shen Qing Li thought for a moment before responding, “Let’s call it the Shen Residence. Have the calligraphy of my grandfather’s former work engraved on it.”

This way, she honored her grandfather’s legacy and gave a sense of continuity to their new home.