Chapter 104.4: The Elder Brother Sends the Betrothal Gifts, The Next Day the Younger Sister Withdraws From An Engagement

“Last night, his book boy[1] had returned to inform us, saying Min boy had gone to discuss his studies with a good friend, and won’t finish anytime soon, thus will just rest over there for the night and return in the morning. We waited left and right, but never saw him, and since we didn’t know where exactly he stayed over at, we could only bring the things over first. But the time is getting more and more late, yet he still hasn’t appeared.”

Wu-shi also began getting anxious. If one misses this opportunity, one will need to wait another three years. Although he was only sixteen, and would only be nineteen in another three years, among the exam candidates, he would still be among the youngest batch, but for third girl, it was a whole different story. If he takes the exam now, in two years, the person third girl will marry would more or less be an official. But if he takes the exam three years later, then two years from now, he would still be a scholar graduate. How wronged would their third girl be?

Seeing that there were less and less people, the Gong Courtyard[2] gates were also about to close.

“He’s come, he’s come, old master, old madam, master, madam, young master has come.” The several servants that were scattered all over the place finally brought good news. The family that was originally still frowning in worry immediately lightened up. It was good that he made it in time.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Chen Zheng Min moved very quickly, practically running over. However, when he got closer, everyone finally noticed, his complexion wasn’t too good. Compared to the youth, who on normal days, always carried a gentle smile, this while, he was instead unusually stiff and cold. Moreover, his eyes even carried a fierce hatred, and not only that, his clothes were also wrinkled.

“Min’er, Min’er, this, what’s wrong?”

Chen Zheng Min took the things from the servant boy’s hand, “Grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, don’t ask right now, this can’t be explained clearly in a few words. Let’s talk after I finish taking the exam, I’m going in first.” Afterwards, without turning back, he walked towards the Gong Courtyard entrance.

Everyone all looked to each other in dismay, this………

Compared to the people of the Chen family, Wu-shi’s expression was actually quite unsightly. If she didn’t see wrong just now, then on Min boy’s collar, that was clearly a red mark, and moreover, seems to be bite marks. It’s not like she was still an unmarried young maiden, would she not know what that was?

Very good, Chen Zheng Min, when you’d gotten engaged with third girl, how pleasant were your words back then, yet now, going out and fooling around, and even on the day before the exam, at such a critical time. Never mind using his own future prospects to play a joke, that was his own business, but what did he take our family’s third girl as?

(T/N: Wu-shi is a really good aunt, well, she technically should be called a normal aunt, but that is so rare in cnovels.)

Just when she was about to lash out, the Chen family instead turned to see the book boy walking over with his head hanging.

Chen third old master had him dragged over at once, “Speak, what exactly happened? Last night, didn’t you return to say that your young master was discussing knowledge with a friend? Discussed into this sorry appearance?”

That book boy had a sullen look, “Old master, this little one, this little one doesn’t know why things turned out like this either……..”

Suddenly, a delicate burst of laughter sounded from a horse carriage. It was precisely the horse carriage that had slowly followed behind the book boy just now. At first, no one noticed, even thinking that it was just passing by, but looking at it now, it was clearly coming for them. The horse carriage’s curtains were lifted open; there were three people inside. The two on the outer side were clearly servant girls, and the one in the back, lazily leaning against the carriage, was a fiery red figure, even carrying three part seduction.

This made the men all subconsciously avert their eyes. Whose family’s daughter was this? In board daylight, under the public eye, just like a woman from a brothel, without the least bit of etiquette, scandalous.

The girl laughed again, “Chen third old master, rather than asking this little book boy, why not just ask this junzhu. After all, everything was all planned by this junzhu.”

Junzhu? How did Min boy get involved with some junzhu? Including Wu-shi, they had all just entered the capital not long ago, and really didn’t know which family’s junzhu was this. However, since she dared to address herself as such, then naturally she wasn’t fake. “Greetings junzhu.” As a junzhu, she didn’t know shame, but they couldn’t not know etiquette.

“You’re excused, in the future, we’re all one family. It’s not good to always be this formal.” The person in the carriage smilingly replied.

“What one family?” The people of the Chen family were all a bit dumbstruck, while Wu-shi’s gaze looked as if she wanted to devour someone.

“Oh my, could it be that big brother Min didn’t tell you all just now, last night, we already……….” She had a half real, half feigned, bashful look.

The Chen family only felt everything go dark before their eyes, nearly fainting.

“Although this junzhu fancying big brother Min is his honor, and also your Chen family’s honor, you all don’t need to be this elated either. After all, my father doesn’t like this kind of ‘relying on the wife’s influence and climbing up’ thing very much.”

The people of the Chen family were directly trembling in anger. How did their Min boy attract such an arrogant and shameless woman?

“Sigh, right now, there’s no need to say this much either, still need to go to the Luo Manor first.”

“What is junzhu going to the Luo Manor for?” Wu-shi coldly asked.

“What for? Of course it’s to look for Luo Jing Wan that slut to take back the marriage contract. I’m already big brother Min’s person, don’t tell me she still wants to marry big brother Min? However, if she comes to be big brother Min’s concubine, and in the future, nicely serve this junzhu, this junzhu can also be exceptionally magnanimous, allowing big brother Min to have her as a concubine.” The smile on her face was particularly bright.

Chen third old master chest heavily heaved up and down, nearly about to lose his breath. The whole family was quite scared, but the girl on the horse carriage instead looked as if she was seeing a joke, smiling exceptionally offensive to the eyes. “Let’s go, to the Luo Manor.”

The horse carriage’s curtains were placed down, and under the driver’s whip, the horse started moving again.

Chen third old master relaxed his breathing, “Quick, to the Luo Manor.” That woman wanted to wreck havoc upon the Luo family. They naturally can’t ignore this. Exactly what sin did their family commit?

“Third uncle, I’ll take my leave first then, return to go inform mother and them.” Wu-shi’s complexion wasn’t pretty, however right now wasn’t the time to lash out at the Chen family.

“Alright, quickly head back first.”

Wu-shi got on the horse carriage. Her servant girls followed in after her, while Luo Rong Wei’s personal servant boy returned on his own. She had the driver hurry along, moving as quickly as possible.

Rushing the entire way, Wu-shi finally returned to the Luo Manor a step ahead of that junzhu. Without a second word, she urgently charged straight towards the main courtyard. Fortunately, there were quite a few people present, including Jing Wan. Wu-shi hesitated for a moment, but still directly said it. After all, later when things get out of hand, what one should know and what one shouldn’t know will all become known.

“Mother, third girl and Min boy’s marriage afraid won’t………” Not waiting for the crowd to respond, Wu-shi had everything poured out in one breath.

This news made everyone listening in the room all dumbstruck. To think there was even this kind of person in the world, and moreover, they were honored as a junzhu. When they looked towards Jing Wan, their gaze unconsciously carried a bit of pity. Luo Old Madam further forgot how to breath almost. Previously, she’d kept feeling that Wan Wan’s marriage might not go smoothly, originally thinking that since she has gotten engaged, everything will all settle. Yet, in the end, something still happened!

Jing Wan hurriedly reached out, helping Luo Old Madam soothe her breathing, “Grandmother, grandmother, don’t worry, it’ll be fine, it’ll be fine.”

Luo Old Madam’s breath had just soothed out a little, when the people below came to report that there was a self-proclaimed junzhu at the gates, that attitude extremely arrogant and unreasonable, shouting to see third miss. And in reality, what that something junzhu was repeatedly shouting was actually ‘Little slut Luo Jing Wan’.

This naturally alarmed everyone in the entire manor.

When the woman saw everyone show up, she further started cursing more vulgarly.

Jing Wan stood next to Luo Old Madam, watching Li Ru Yu point to her with the whip, calling her a slut, a lowly spawn, at every breath.

Aside from a certain few from the third branch, not one didn’t have an ugly look on their face. Each and every one all hated they couldn’t tear apart her mouth.

Rather, it was Jing Wan, this involved party, that appeared particularly calm. In fact, her expression didn’t even change in the slightest.

“Little slut, don’t you see this junzhu gracing you all with one’s presence, still not bringing tea and pouring water to serve me?”

Jing Wan nodded, “Junzhu is right, indeed needs to be served.” As she said this, she walked down from the steps.

What did Jing Wan say? Did they hear wrong? Could it be that she feared the other party’s status?

“Someone, close the gates, have junzhu’s two servant girls invited down, and serve nicely with good tea and water.”

[1] I tried to think of other ways to translate this term, but seems the most literal way fits best. Typically a child servant that serves their master in studying, like helping them read and write.

[2] Gong Courtyard – Also known as the ‘exam shack’ or examination hall; this is the testing site for imperial exam candidates. Below are pictures from various ones in history. The one in Beijing doesn’t exist anymore I think, but there are a few other ones like in Jiangnan that are still intact and preserved.