Edited by Tnyhy

Chapter 82: Buying and Selling (Part 2)

In the horse carriage, Shen Miao was still lost in thought and one did not know what she was thinking about, and Jing Zhe and Gu Yu dare not disturb her train of thought and thus kept quiet. Actually they also did not know what kind of business Shen Miao came over to do. It was obviously a pawnshop but they did not know what was actually pawned. Since Shen Miao did not talk about it, the two maids would also not shoot their mouths’ off.

But after passing by a place, Gu Yu said with a smile, “It is Guang Fu Zhai in front. Since it had been a long time since one came out, why not let this servant buy some snacks from there?”

Guang Fu Zhai’s snacks had always been sought-after and at the moment it was not the time when it was the most crowded so there was no harm in buying some. Even though Shen Miao herself did not really like to eat them, Luo Xue Yan and Shen Qiu do. Shen Miao nodded her head, “Go then.”

Gu Yu jumped off the carriage and headed to Guang Fu Zhai herself.

Mo Qing and the few of them surrounded the horse carriage and because they were all tall and hefty, they were somewhat eye-catching so those people who passed them would give them a second glance. Shen Miao opened up the curtains for ventilation but her vision was attracted by another person.

That person most likely also came out from Guang Fu Zhai and was carrying a bag of snacks. When the person’s eyes just nicely met Shen Miao’s, one could not help but be slightly stunned.

It was Pei Lang.

Shen Miao had not been to Guang Wen Tang for a long time, since she did not want a reputation of a talented female nor getting scholarly honour. In these days, she was busy with her things and forgot that there would be such an encounter. She looked at Pei Lang and suddenly smiled as she nodded her head in the horse carriage.

Pei Lang was stunned for a moment. In fact, Shen Miao was his student. Ming Qi looked upon the respect one had for teachers, not counting Xie Jing Xing, all the students would treat him respectfully. But Shen Miao’s nod gave Pei Lang a wrong impression as it seemed that he was looking up to Shen Miao and she was even higher than he was.

Before he had time to respond, Shen Miao had already put the curtains down. Mo Qing and the few of them who noticed his line of sight, were looking at him vigilantly.

Pei Lang stood rooted in place. This kind of rude action would made him, who was arrogant to the bones, angry. But he did not know for what reason, other than feeling of not knowing whether to laugh or cry, there was no other feelings that came out of it. Most likely it was because of Shen Miao’s strong performance lately that made him felt that if Shen Miao was like the rest of those students and acted obediently, he would not be used to it.

Pei Lang shook his head and could only walk away.

Feeling that the gaze from outside the horse carriage looked away, Shen Miao’s eyes hang down as she looked down to her cuffs. Towards Pei Lang, she had complicated feelings as she hated his nonchalance on the matter of Fu Xiu Yi’s treatment of Wan Yun and Fu Ming but also knew that Pei Lang was only doing what he thought was loyalty to the monarch. The resentments in the previous life was over and even though there was still uses for Pei Lang in this lifetime, she should not be tangled up in the matter. It was just that there was some uncomfortableness in her heart.

As she was thinking, Gu Yu had returned after buying the snacks.

Upon returning to the Shen residence, the skies were not considered dark and since Shen Qiu also lived in the Western courtyard, Shen Miao planned to send the snacks to Shen Qiu. Just as she walked to the main hall, she coincidentally meet Ren Wan Yun supporting Shen Qing as they walked out. Ren Wan Yun looked at Shen Miao as if there were knives in her eyes and Shen Qing looked extremely maliciously at her, that even Gu Yu and Jing Zhe could not help but shudder as they went up to protect Shen Miao.

“Fifth daughter did not go to Old Furen for greetings these days.” Ren Wan Yun brought the matter up, “Could it be that one intended to be an unfilial grandchild?”

Shen Miao swept a glance at her. Ren Wan Yun was now like a mad dog, biting whoever it sees. On one hand she feared Shen Xin and Luo Xue Yan and on the other hand she has not resigned to Shen Qing’s misfortune, thus she could only do some superficial little actions.

But Shen Miao was not scared after all. She was not afraid of that reputation at all and smiled gently at Shen Qing, “Second Shen now still have the energy to manage my matters and not afraid that Eldest Sister would feel hurt. The Empress’s bestowment is quick and one have to enter the Prince residence next month. Second Shen have to also teach Eldest Sister some matters after all the family is not an ordinary one but a Prince of First Rank.”

Finishing, she walked away with Jing Zhe and Gu Yu without even turning back.

Ren Wan Yun was so angry that her body started shaking. These days the more she was angry, the more she felt her mind was in chaos, that she did not have time to deal with those YiNiangs that Shen Gui doted even more lately. Shen Dong Ling, borne by Wan YiLiang, who had the image of delicate, without backing and always behind a closed door, started to cook for Shen Gui from time to time. With Shen Qing as an example, she was even more obedient. And that Wan YiNiang coaxed Shen Gui very well, and it was Ren Wan Yun and Shen Qing whose days were unlike before.

All of this was due to Shen Miao. Otherwise with Ren Wan Yun’s means, how would that lowly Wan YiNiang, who was managed by her since the beginning, be able to become so arrogant now.

“Mother.” Shen Qing, who was beside her, pulled her hand. These days she had suffered all kinds of indifference treatment that her previous arrogant temper had reduced quite a lot, but the maliciousness and hatred in her eyes did not lessen as she said with clenched teeth, “Do not worry. Tolerate a little. Wait till I enter the Prince of First Rank residence, even if one had to stake this life, I will make Prince Yu take action on Shen Miao. I will definitely not let her live well.”

Because Shen Qing was already pregnant, the Empress bestowed the marriage to be held next month so that the matter would be easier to handle early. In such a short time and moreover because it was an Imperial decreed, Ren Wan Yun had no way out of it and could only watch as Shen Qing jumped into the fire pit.

“Qing-er must not be afraid.” Ren Wan Yun said, “Your Older Brother will return soon and Yuan-er is the most intelligent. When he return, he will definitely think of ways to ruin that little slut.” Shen Yuan would also rush back to attend Shen Qing’s wedding and Ren Wan Yun’s eyes flashed. Now she was isolated and helpless, if it was not because of Shen Yuan Bo listening to Old Furen’s words to please her, one would be afraid that even that old woman would not help her.

When Shen Miao returned to the West courtyard, she was surprised to see Shen Qiu was waiting for her in there. Seeing her return, Shen Qiu then released a sigh of relief and gave one round of checks before saying, “Why go for so long? One would think that something had happened.”

“At the feet of the Emperor and in the bright daylight, whoever takes action mean that they are fools.” Shen Miao passed to him the snacks, “Bought it on the way back. For you.”

Shen Qiu was surprised for a moment and was somewhat touched as he took it. This time coming back, Shen Miao attitude to him changed and it made him particularly happy.

“Why is Father and Mother not in?” Shen Miao asked.

“Just returned to the capital and need to socially interact with colleagues.” Shen Qiu looked around and said, “Younger Sister was not in today. These few days Father has been in conflict with Second and Third Shu and just now Old Furen severely scolded Father.”

“Father is in conflict with Second and Third Shu?”

Shen Qiu saw the look on Shen Miao’s face and said after some thoughts, “Younger Sister, you also know that because of the matter of the ancestral hall, Father and Mother are somewhat dissatisfied with Second and Third Shu. Naturally they did pay attention to them, most likely Old Furen was anxious and thus reprimanded Father.” Speaking till here, Shen Qiu could not help to show an expression of unfairness, “Old Furen’s heart is just too biased. What wrong do Father have? Second and Third Shu did not take good care of you in the residence and even I am angry about it, let alone what Father feel.”

Shen Qiu did not use ‘Grandmother’ but ‘Old Furen’, apparently also had some misgiving for Old Shen Furen.

After finishing that sentence, Shen Qiu could not help but look at Shen Miao’s expression. Shen Miao was after all raised by Old Shen Furen all these years and previously when he returned, he saw her being very respectful to Old Shen Furen. Shen Qiu had said those words in impulse and was unable to predict if Shen Miao would dislike this.

“Close and distant relatives are different. What more the blood flows is after all not one’s own.” Shen Miao said indifferently, “Naturally there will be discrimination.”

“Ha.” Shen Qiu was happy to find himself an ally, “Exactly. Father showed to her filial respect because of Grandfather’s sake, and he had done so much for all these years. To even scold Father for being unfilial…”

“It was not only because of Second and Third Shu that she scolded Father.” Shen Miao said, “One fear that this was related to Father not bringing out the money that His Majesty had bestowed.” Old Shen Furen was one who loved money as much as one’s own life, and this time Shen Xin was so extremely angry that he retained the rewards for his own use, and moreover Shen Miao also did not propose to send the money over. As time went on, Old Shen Furen naturally could not sit still and had to thicken her skin to come finding fault.

“This is really…” Shen Qiu wanted to say some stuff but felt that it was not appropriate to say it in front of his Younger Sister so he repressed it, “So what about it! Its father’s stuff, he will give to whoever he wants!”

“Correct, so let her carry on scolding. As long as it is passable on the surface and do not bother about her, she would not be able to come up with any tricks. But Father’s temperament is overly straight. Some things have to be patient on the surface. When the opportunity comes, naturally there will be an outlet to vent one’s anger.”

Shen Qiu found that Shen Miao’s words were somewhat strange but faintly understood something and smiled, “One year of not seeing, Younger Sister’s temperament has gotten much stronger.”

Shen Miao did not express a comment and saw that Shen Qiu had already opened up the paper back and put a big piece of snack into his mouth and chewed it up, “The Ding capital snacks is just so good to eat. How could there be such a fine thing in the Northwestern desert?”

Shen Miao quietly watch him eating and asked gently a moment after, “How does Eldest Brother view loyalty?”

“Loyalty?” Shen Qiu spoke without even lifting his head, “Naturally is being devoted to the monarch, dedicate oneself to the service of the country, killing the external enemies, dominating the entire land and becoming the pillars of the nation.” Finishing speaking, he asked Shen Miao, “Why does Younger Sister ask this?”

“Nothing.” Shen Miao shook her head and lightly said, “Eat up.” Her eyes were at deep thought but there was a flash of sadness.