If I cannot die, then this marriage proposal is not entirely unworthy of a second look.
It is just that high-ranking, wealthy families have many rules, and it is impossible for Prince Jing to have only Yuan'er.
Gu Minglan had suffered a great setback because of Shen Shiqian.
She hoped even more that her Yuan'er would take in a live-in son-in-law and establish her own household.
But if Yuan'er liked him, then she, Gu Minglan, would put in more effort.
She would rebuild the Gu Family's businesses so that Yuan'er would have a safety net.
Shen Qingyuan finished her tea, thought for a moment, and gave a very objective assessment.
"Prince Jing? He is a big trouble, but he is very wealthy, generous, capable of endurance, and his life is not meant to end yet."
When he was about to die, he met her, Shen Qingyuan.
Isn't that proof that his life is not meant to end yet?
Shen Qingyuan felt that her summary was very spot on.
To Gu Minglan, however, it did not feel that way.
It seemed that Yuan'er had a rather high opinion of Prince Jing.
Before Gu Minglan could ask further, Shen Qingyuan had already finished her snacks.
She stuffed the silver banknotes in her hand into Gu Minglan's grasp.
"Mother, have Steward Zhao exchange thirty thousand taels for supplies to donate to the border, and keep the rest."
According to the rules of the Xuan Sect, half of the money earned by the Ancestor Master's disciples must be donated.
The extra five thousand taels can be considered as accumulating some merit for that unlucky fellow, Prince Jing.
In the past, half of what Shen Qingyuan earned would either go to orphanages or be given to charitable halls.
Now that there is a channel for it within the family, the merit does not need to go to outsiders.
Over so many years, Gu Minglan had long since grown accustomed to this and agreed without hesitation.
She called for Steward Zhao and packed up the remaining twenty thousand taels in silver banknotes and the token.
The carriage called by the shop assistant had also arrived.
Gu Minglan and Shen Qingyuan headed toward the Shen Mansion.
If they were fast, they could still make it in time for dinner.
It was just unclear whether the Shen Mansion had saved any food for the two of them.
In the pawnshop, only the shopkeeper, holding the thirty thousand taels, was left sighing.
Sigh, Miss was right; the Young Miss is truly a little goddess of wealth.
In one go, she donated an entire year's worth of the pawnshop's profits.
Shopkeeper Zhao had not been in the back courtyard earlier and did not know that this was earned by the Young Miss.
He only assumed that Miss was increasing the stakes so that the Duke of Zhenguo would help.
✦✦✦
In the Shen Mansion's dining hall, dinner was nearing its end.
Shen Shiqian sat at the head of the table, sipping his soup in a leisurely manner.
Sitting below him were Lady Liu and her eldest daughter, Shen Qingyao.
Today was not a day off, so the sons were still at the academy.
The table was a mess of cups and plates, clearly having been eaten for quite a while.
Lady Liu picked up a piece of fish for Shen Shiqian, having already removed all the fish bones for him.
"Master, you said that Yuan'er caused a scene in the mansion today and then turned around and left.
She hasn't returned yet; could it be that she was afraid and ran away?"
Shen Shiqian frowned slightly and set down his soup spoon.
"Afraid? I see that rebellious daughter as fearing nothing in heaven or on earth."
Just after returning, she had cursed him, her own father, to his face at the main gate.
It was fortunate that he had been kept by The Emperor for a while today and returned a bit late.
Otherwise, if other officials leaving their posts had seen it, they would have laughed him to death tomorrow.
But even though he said that, he still felt somewhat restless inside.
If that rebellious daughter really had run away, he would have to let his precious Yao'er perform the Wedding for Luck.
Lady Liu had been by Shen Shiqian's side for many years and saw through his thoughts at a glance.
She quickly signaled her daughter.
Shen Qingyao set down her chopsticks and stepped forward to hold Shen Shiqian's hand.
"Father, if Elder Sister is truly unwilling to marry, it is fine for Yao'er to marry instead."
Shen Shiqian looked back and saw Shen Qingyao's eyes slightly red, forcing herself to stay calm.
"The imperial decree cannot be defied. Father has raised Yao'er for so long; Yao'er cannot let Father be in a difficult position."
Shen Shiqian was very pleased with Shen Qingyao's obedient and sensible demeanor.
Immediately, he remembered how his eldest daughter had cursed him.
If he let Shen Qingyao marry Prince Jing.
In the future, he would have to send Shen Qingyuan to be the Crown Prince's Concubine.
Judging by that rebellious daughter's attitude, if she became the Crown Prince's Concubine, he would certainly not get a single benefit.
Thinking this way.
Shen Shiqian patted Shen Qingyao's hand.
"My good Yao'er, how could Father bear to let you marry Prince Jing for a Wedding for Luck? My Yao'er deserves the best man in this world."
The best man, naturally, was the high and mighty Emperor.
The Emperor did not wish to hold a selection, and the future Emperor would be the same.
Having received such an answer, Shen Qingyao was satisfied.
She nodded obediently: "Daughter will listen to everything Father says."
Shen Shiqian asked Lady Liu again.
"Didn't you send people to follow them? Where did they go?"
Lady Liu had long finished eating and was sipping tea.
"Those two went to the pawnshop in the west of the city. Speaking of which, they even pawned my bracelet."
Shen Shiqian was stunned. Gu Minglan was, after all, the daughter of a wealthy merchant in the past.
How could she have fallen to the point of going to a pawnshop, and pawning Lady Liu's bracelet at that?
"What is going on?"
Lady Liu sighed.
"When my personal nanny went to pick up that girl this morning, she saw how pitiful she was and gave her the silver bracelet I had rewarded her with.
Who would have thought that before it was even warm, they would go to the pawnshop to exchange it for silver."
Shen Shiqian's eyes showed even more displeasure.
Gu Minglan was indeed a spendthrift who only knew how to waste money.
When she went to the countryside, she had also taken a portion of her dowry with her.
To have spent it so quickly shows she didn't inherit a shred of her father's business acumen.
"Why haven't you gone to bring those two back yet?"
Just then, a voice came from outside.
"Who are you looking to bring back?"
Shen Qingyuan, with her mother in tow, strode into the dining hall.
Two servants followed behind her.
"Miss, slow down, the Master and Madam are having dinner."
The servants had been beaten by Shen Qingyuan during the day and now did not dare to truly stop her.
They only chased after her and shouted that, just to show they had done their job.
Shen Qingyuan did not even look at the two servants, walked straight to the table, and scanned the empty plates.
"Yo, finished eating so quickly?"
She turned her head and shouted to the outside.
"Clear this table and bring another dinner."
Shen Shiqian's face darkened, and he picked up his soup bowl and set it down heavily.
"Rebellious daughter, kneel down!"
Shen Qingyuan ignored him completely, pulled Gu Minglan along, and sat straight down on the nearby grand armchair.
"Scum Father, if you have something to say, just say it. Kneeling back and forth hurts the knees."
Just kidding, she, Shen Qingyuan, kneels to heaven, to earth, and to her Master.
There is no way she would kneel to this cold-hearted Scum Father.
Shen Shiqian's chest heaved with anger, and he pointed at Shen Qingyuan, his voice trembling.
"You rebellious daughter, you dare to defy me like this? I am your own father!"
Shen Qingyuan picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for her mother first.
"I know, no need to say it again. Mother, drink some tea."
Gu Minglan took a sip.
Having sat in the carriage for so long, she was indeed a bit thirsty. Yuan'er is still so filial.
"Yuan'er, you should drink some too."
Although she had eaten some pastries, she must be hungry too, so she should drink some tea to pad her stomach.
"Okay."
Shen Qingyuan responded obediently and reached out to pour herself a cup of water.
Before she could pick it up, a hand reached out from the side and grabbed the teacup.
"Elder Sister, Father is talking to you."
After saying this, Shen Qingyao intended to pretend to knock over the cup and splash all the tea onto Shen Qingyuan.
Shen Qingyao was accustomed to currying favor with Shen Shiqian and knew that her father was currently displeased.
She wanted to step forward and teach this ignorant elder sister a lesson on her father's behalf.
And incidentally, let her know who the real Master of this house is.
Just as the teacup was being tilted by Shen Qingyao.
Shen Qingyuan reached out and used a clever bit of force to flip the teacup over.
The tea in the cup went straight toward Shen Qingyao.
Shen Qingyao did not have time to pull her hand back and was splashed directly by the tea in her own hand.
She stood there, soaking wet and stunned.
Gu Minglan could not help it and let out a "pfft" laugh first.
✦✦✦