studiobondurri Chapter 253 Falling into the water
Chapter 253 Falling into the water
"Alright, go and rest. Let me cook." Song Wenyang took the chili peppers from her and helped her sit down on the stool.
After much effort, Song Wenyang finally managed to prepare two dishes and a soup.
"Xing'er, try it."
Song Wenyang looked at her expectantly, and Shen Xing'er, not wanting to discourage him, picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks under his gaze.
"Mmm, delicious." Shen Xing'er put down her chopsticks and quickly took a sip of water where he couldn't see her.
"Is it really delicious? Does it suit your taste? After we get married, I'll cook it for you every day, okay?" Song Wenyang said with a smile.
"Okay, what brings you here today? Aren't you busy?" Shen Xing'er didn't want to talk about the food anymore, so she quickly changed the subject and asked.
“I will be taking the imperial examination the day after tomorrow. I made a special trip to see you today. If I become the top scholar, I will ask the Emperor to grant us a marriage. Is that alright?” Song Wenyang said.
"The imperial examination is the day after tomorrow? Are you confident? Are you ready? What clothes should you wear?" Shen Xing'er asked with concern.
These past few days have been so busy with the shop that I completely forgot that the day of Song Wenyang's imperial examination was approaching.
Seeing Shen Xing'er's anxious expression, Song Wenyang felt a warmth in his heart. He touched Shen Xing'er's hand and comforted her.
"Xing'er, don't worry. My stepmother has already made all the preparations for me. I was busy with social engagements the past few days and didn't see you, so I didn't have time to tell you."
"That's good. But will she harm you? You should still get checked before the palace examination." Shen Xing'er breathed a sigh of relief, but still gave her a worried reminder.
“It’s alright. She’s someone my mother used to know. I’ll introduce you to her after the palace examination. She’s been wanting to meet you for a long time,” Song Wenyang said.
"Okay, let me know in advance so I can prepare." Shen Xing'er nervously straightened her clothes, as if she were about to meet her at any moment.
“Don’t be nervous. She’s always been kind. I remember when I went to Jinling, thanks to the silver notes that Aunt Sun sewed into my undergarment, I didn’t starve to death on the way,” Song Wenyang said.
Shen Xing'er touched his hand with heartache. Although Song Wenyang spoke lightly, if no one had framed him, how could a pampered young master like him have almost starved to death on the road?
Song Wenyang noticed her distress, and he smiled as he patted Shen Xing'er's hand, comforting her with a smile.
"It's in the past."
“Yes, it’s all in the past,” Shen Xing’er echoed.
"By the way, if you were to ask the Emperor to grant you a marriage, what about your uncle?" Shen Xing'er asked.
Although his stepmother supported him and his own parents didn't object too much, would Lord Song allow his son to marry a merchant's daughter?
“It doesn’t matter. I’m going to marry you. If he wants his daughter to be his daughter-in-law, then let his second son marry her. I only live for myself.” Song Wenyang’s eyes darkened as he mentioned his father.
“Alright, as long as you don’t mind my background, I will not back down,” Shen Xing’er said.
Song Wenyang disregarded societal norms in order to marry her, so what reason did she have to back down?
"By the way, what about Kong Bingyan? Her father holds a high official position. You rejected his hints and then asked the Emperor to grant you a marriage. Will Lord Kong hold a grudge against you?"
Shen Xing'er thought of the Kong family and asked worriedly.
"The Kong family? Hmph, the Kong family is nothing to fear. He dared to threaten me, but now he's probably in trouble himself." Song Wenyang said with a rare cold smile.
"What's wrong? What did you do?" Shen Xing'er asked curiously.
“The Kong family may have already turned the tables by now.” Song Wenyang picked up his teacup and smiled slyly, like a fox that had succeeded.
How dare you cause trouble for Xing'er? You're asking for it!
the Kongs.
"Help! The Second Miss has fallen into the lake! Help!" A maid's voice rang out throughout the Grand Commandant's mansion, and soon a large crowd gathered there.
This lake has always been the pride of Lord Kong. It is located in the very center of the Grand Commandant's mansion, connecting the inner and outer courtyards. There are unnamed flowers on the lake that bloom again after one bloom fades, and they never fade throughout the year.
Every time the Grand Commandant's mansion held a banquet, Lord Kong would host the feast here. And at this moment, his second daughter fell into the lake!
"Sister! Sister! Rong'er! Who can swim? Are there any maids who can swim?" Kong Bingyan, holding a handkerchief, lay by the lake, calling out in a heart-wrenching voice. Anyone who saw her would praise her as a good older sister.
"Such a large Grand Commandant's mansion, yet there isn't a single maid who can swim?"
"Yes, if the servant rescues her, what will happen to the Second Miss's reputation? How will she find a husband in the future?"
“I can swim, and since this is a matter of life and death, why don’t I go and save this young lady?” A man dressed in a ginger-yellow robe stepped out from the crowd and said.
"This..." Kong Bingyan's tears were on her face, unsure whether she should agree.
My stepmother is on her way. If I agree rashly, will she blame me? But what if I disagree and my sister dies as a result?
"Oh dear, hurry and let this young master save us! A life is at stake right now, what does reputation matter compared to a life!"
In the crowd, one of the women spoke up loudly.
"Yes, yes, we can't swim. If we could, we would have jumped in to save this young lady long ago."
"Hurry up and make him leave. Your mother is too grateful to scold you."
Kong Bingyan had been waiting for these words. She was secretly delighted, but showed no sign of it. She gripped her handkerchief tightly and said hesitantly.
"In that case, young master, please save my sister! I will explain the situation to my father and mother. You are the benefactor of our Grand Commandant's mansion!"
After saying that, she covered her face with her handkerchief and started crying again.
The young man surnamed Jiao was so excited that his heart was pounding. If he could save her, he would become the son-in-law of the Grand Commandant's mansion!
He silently encouraged himself, then lifted up his clothes and jumped into the lake without hesitation.
Yu, who had rushed over, watched helplessly as a mysterious man jumped into the lake to save her daughter. Having lived a life confined to the inner quarters for so long, how could she not know that this was a curse placed on her daughter by someone else?
She glared at Kong Bingyan, who was crying with her face covered, and then hurriedly went to the lakeside.
Kong Bingyan felt a chill run down her spine from her glare, and involuntarily shivered, but beneath the handkerchief was a triumphant smile.
"Hmph, old woman Yu, after today, your most beloved daughter will marry a nobody, let's see what she has to offer me!"
A short while later, the man pulled Kong Bingrong, who had choked on water, out of the lake.
"Quickly, what are you standing there for? Put this on Miss!" Madam Yu coldly ordered the maids, who quickly covered Kong Bingrong with the blankets they had brought.
The men who rushed over upon hearing the news wished they hadn't seen Kong Bingrong in such a state. Rumors circulated in the capital that the second young lady of the Grand Commandant's mansion was favored; had they really seen her like this? Would Lord Kong let them off the hook?