It Was A Fake Marriage, But Jiu Qian Sui Took It Seriously - Chapter 42

Under the pavilion, the moon hung high in the sky, and beneath it stood a pair of stunning individuals, like characters from a painting.

The evening breeze tousled Shen Qing Li’s loose hair, a small strand brushing against Jun Mo Ran’s face, tickling him slightly.

She thought he was referring to Lu Yuan, so Shen Qing Li touched her hair and gently shook her head.

Since learning that her outer garment was in his possession, she had no fear anymore—just rumors, after all.

Jun Mo Ran took out a jade pendant and held it out to her.

“If anything like this happens again, just take my jade pendant and go to Jingzhao Yin. You can also use it to ask anyone in my manor for help,” Jun Mo Ran lowered his head and said quietly, “… It will be more convenient to find me directly.”

The jade pendant was about the size of an infant’s fist, pure white with a finely carved eagle on it. The eagle’s eyes were inlaid with tiny rubies.

Shen Qing Li hesitated for a moment but did not reach out to take it.

It felt like she and Jun Mo Ran were growing too close. He helped her again and again, yet she couldn’t repay his kindness… She didn’t want to become entangled with him further.

Jun Mo Ran noticed her hesitation, sensing something different about her tonight, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was different. He lifted his eyes to look at her: “What’s wrong?”

“It’s not that,” Shen Qing Li’s voice was soft like flowing water, “… I owe you too much, and I fear I can never repay you.”

She was stepping into another level—not just the Ninth Prince, not just His Highness… but you.

Jun Mo Ran’s lips curved upward, his brows lifting in joy at the slight change in her attitude. His voice was filled with amusement: “Don’t worry. There will naturally be times when I need your help in the future.”

“Take it.” His tone was firm, leaving no room for refusal.

He lifted Shen Qing Li’s hand, and placed the jade pendant in her hand.

Jun Mo Ran then turned and picked up a small food box from the stone table, which Shen Qing Li had noticed when she first entered the pavilion.

“Here are your things.”

Her thing? Shen Qing Li quickly realized he was referring to the outer garment. Now that the case was over, there was no need for this piece of evidence anymore.

She quickly picked it up, her eyes glistening while staring at him.

The leaves rustled, and a few drifted to the ground.

Jun Mo Ran reached up and picked up a fallen leaf from her head.

A faint scent of sandalwood drifted into Shen Qing Li’s nose as his sleeve brushed past. She took a small step back, her heart fluttering, but when she saw the leaf in his hand, she sighed in relief.

Jun Mo Ran smiled faintly and said, “You should rest early. You’ve had a long day.”

Shen Qing Li didn’t run off like usual; instead, she stood there, staring at him, and gently called out, “I still have something…”

Tonight, she seemed unusually obedient and gentle, stirring something in his heart.

Jun Mo Ran tilted his head, his gaze resting on her cherry-like lips and his voice deepening, “What is it?”

Shen Qing Li bit her lip and asked, “Did Lu Yuan… really was fed to your pet?”

Jun Mo Ran’s eyes darkened. “He dares to bully you like that; feeding him to my Black Dog is the lightest punishment. What? Are you trying to defend such a person?”

If she showed any softness toward that scum… he will truly, truly might just be driven to madness.

His originally gentle demeanor shifted to something colder.

Shen Qing Li quickly lowered her voice, “It’s not that; I’m just worried…”

“With me here, you have nothing to worry about.”

Shen Qing Li’s voice dropped even lower: “Your reputation has already been a bit problematic these past years, and with what happened in the streets recently, it might anger the Head Emperor… and he might cause you trouble.”

Jun Mo Ran’s frozen expression gradually melted, and the previous hint of joy returned to his eyes.

“So… Are you worried about me? ”

Shen Qing Li’s face flushed. She lowered her head, her expression unreadable.

“Don’t worry. Whatever I do, the Emperor will always have his eyes on me. One more matter won’t make a difference.”

His words were so gentle, but to Shen Qing Li, they only deepened her concern. Was it true that he wasn’t in a good position in the court, and the Emperor was always targeting him?

How could she help him?

***

The next morning, Shen Qing Li went to her mother’s room.

Nanny Su was kneeling at the side, and Shen Qing Li immediately understood the reason for her presence.

She recounted everything that had happened at the fabric store, and Chunhua, kneeling beside Nanny Su, added a few points from time to time.

Of course, the more sensitive parts were left out. She only mentioned that thanks to a tree branch, her fall wasn’t dangerous and that Jun Mo Ran’s guard, Yun Sheng, had been the first to find her, rescuing her in time. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries at all.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yingwan was filled with fear and sorrow. “I can’t believe these people could be so cruel.”

After her emotions has settled, she asked Nanny Su and Chunhua to get up and reminded them never to hide such things from her again. She then sighed and began to worry about Shen Qing Li’s marriage.

After what happened yesterday, although Shen Qing Li was innocent, it was still a scandal, and even if she hadn’t done anything wrong, just being associated with it could cause problems. In the short term, no reputable families would approach them.

Shen Qing Li, however, wasn’t concerned at all. After all, she didn’t want to marry, and she comforted her mother, saying that things would happen naturally.

“What do you mean by ‘let things happen naturally’? A woman’s marriage cannot be delayed. By your age, I had already conceived you.”

Jiang Yingwan stood up, took a portrait from the shelf, and said, “This is a scholar I had in mind, named Jiang Chen. He’s from Datong County, not far from Shengjing. Though he’s distantly related to the Jiang family, he’s a good match. I had someone look into him, and his character is quite good. Take a look.”

“…”

Just as Shen Qing Li was thinking of how to decline, a servant came to report, “Madam, Miss, Manager Qian is here.”

Manager Qian came regularly to report the accounts. Recently, they had acquired many new properties and shops, so Manager Qian had been coming more frequently.

For the first time, Shen Qing Li felt that Manager Qian seemed particularly kind.

Jiang Yingwan had originally wanted to manage the accounts herself, but Shen Qing Li was worried about her health and didn’t let her do it. Since she was capable, she didn’t insist and instead was asked to go to the study to check the accounts.

The people recommended by Jun Mo Ran were all good workers. Even Manager Qian spoke highly of them.

The accounts, which would usually take several days to sort, were cleared in just two days, with no mistakes in the data. The new estate managers and shopkeepers seemed to be doing well.

Shen Qing Li felt much better, finally having some things go her way.

That day, with nothing else to do, Qing Li with Chunhua went to visit their family’s clothing store in the city and to show the shopkeeper the new styles she had designed for the upcoming winter season. Seasonal changes always brought a rush of business to the store.

As soon as they entered, they ran into Jiang Yuying and the Minister of Rites’ daughter, Zhou Mianxiu, who were chatting as they looked at the clothes.

Zhou Mianxiu spoke softly, but her words were unpleasant: “… I initially felt sympathy for Miss Shen being rejected, but after hearing about what happened recently, I finally understood. Brother Zhi Li had his reasons. Which man would want to publicly share that he had been deceived? Wouldn’t he just swallow his anger? ”

“Miss Shen may be beautiful, but she seduced the servants…”

Just as Jiang Yuying was about to respond, she suddenly locked eyes with Shen Qing Li’s frosty gaze, and a chill ran down her spine.