Did the third place winner regret it today?

Chapter 33 Revised

Mrs. Shen arranged a marriage for her son in Huaixi, and she and Shen Ti took a boat back north. The wind and water were favorable at that time, and the boat went very fast, and they returned to the capital in a month.
Her parents-in-law have passed away. Now, apart from some relatives and elders, there is no one to look after her in her own home. This is the most comfortable state for a woman.
It’s no wonder that her sisters-in-law and brothers and sisters from her natal family all envy her.

When Lord Shen returned home in the evening, Mrs. Shen had already recovered and met him with a rosy complexion.
Lord Shen knew at a glance that things would go smoothly.
"Are your father-in-law and mother-in-law in good health? Are your uncles well?" The couple had not seen each other for two or three months. They showed concern for each other and finally asked, "Which niece of yours is engaged?"

"All is well, all greetings to you." Mrs. Shen answered his question while helping him undress, "I have engaged my third brother's fourth daughter."
After that, he hurriedly explained: "It's not because she is the third room that we booked her, it's because this child is really good."

After Lord Shen changed into his casual clothes and the couple sat down, Mrs. Shen told her husband about the trip to Huaixi and added, "…it was exactly her. Because of this matter, we haven't arranged a marriage yet. I saw that this child has a really good personality, which is exactly what we want. It's simply destined."
Lord Shen asked, "The rebellious son didn't do anything inappropriate, did he?"

Madam Shen angrily said, "What a rebellious son. If other families had such a rebellious son, they would beg for him. But you have to be so harsh on him."
Lord Shen said calmly, "Don't let him become arrogant just because he won the third place in the imperial examination. Entering the government is only the first step. If he is still unclear, he will definitely get into big trouble in the future. It is better for him not to enter the government from the beginning."

"Puh, puh, puh! Stop talking nonsense!" Mrs. Shen couldn't stand hearing this. "I made a wish in front of the Bodhisattva, my son, you will definitely achieve great things and become a prime minister!"
Lord Shen smiled and shook his head.
The couple had not seen each other for a long time. Lord Shen held his wife's hand and wanted to say a few words to her, but the maid outside reported: "The young master is here."
Lord Shen had no choice but to let him go. He coughed and said, "Let him in."

Mrs. Shen arranged to cut clothes before she left, so that when she returned, it would be the right time for the season to change. Shen Ti wore a newly cut summer shirt with bamboo leaf pattern on the sky-blue gauze base, which was scented with the elegant Sanyun fragrance, giving people a sense of coolness in the hot summer.

Of course, another possibility is that the boy’s eyes and brows are cold, which gives people a cold feeling.
Mrs. Shen turned around to look, and sure enough, it was not only Shen Ti who was emitting a cold air - Lord Shen's eyes, which had been gentle just now, also turned cold when he saw his son.
When the father and son met, it was like two ice basins in midsummer.
It was so cool that Mrs. Shen just wanted to hold her forehead.

"Greetings, father." Shen Ti bowed meticulously.
"Get up." Lord Shen nodded. "Is the trip going smoothly?"
Shen Ti stood up and smoothed her skirt: "It went well. Mother has arranged for me to marry my fourth cousin from my third uncle's family, just as my father wished."

After hearing this, Mrs. Shen wanted to hold her forehead with her hand.
As expected, Lord Shen said in a deep voice: "My wish is to choose a good match for you from the ladies in the capital. This marriage is the result of your willful behavior. You know whose wish it is."

Shen Ti was about to speak, but Madam Shen stood up to smooth things over: "As I wish, as I wish, come on, stop talking. It's all settled, so instead of arguing, you two should get down to business."
"You, didn't you say you were going to report to the Imperial Academy tomorrow? Go back and prepare what you need."
"You, go to Huaixi to pay your respects. There are many things waiting to be discussed with you."
"Just do whatever you need to do."

Shen Ti actually wanted to say something, but the admonition that Yin Shi had Changchuan convey suddenly rang in her ears -
[Don't go against your parents, it's useless. All the conflicts with your parents will be blamed on others.]
[First of all, he has to make himself stronger. Otherwise, what's the point of going against his parents here? It will only make others disappointed in him. ]
[Don't make a fuss. The more you make a fuss, the more people will treat you like a child. The more stable you are, the less likely others will make decisions for you.]
[If you want to be an adult, learn to compromise first. Those who stick their necks out and talk back to their parents are all children.]

Shen Ti regretted it.
They were scholars who often debated, and Shen Ti always won. Just now, when he was arguing with his father, he habitually retorted.
Thinking of Yin Shi's advice at this moment, he suddenly felt that just as she said, it not only had no practical effect, but also made his parents disappointed in him and made him look immature.
What my cousin said is all right.
Shen Ti pursed her lips. He was wrong.

Lord Shen snorted softly, but still gave his wife face and stopped nagging about the matter. He just said, "Master Liu likes to test people. When you go there tomorrow, he will definitely test you. You better prepare well."
Shen Ti lowered her head slightly: "Don't worry, father."
He made a concession, and Mrs. Shen breathed a sigh of relief. Lord Shen was also slightly satisfied.

Shen Ti raised her head: "Then Feng..."
Lord Shen said, “Of course, I will wait until you are married before bringing her into the room.
He said sternly, "You are married now, and it's settled. Don't worry about it anymore. Focus on your career. Your runner-up, Yang Hanlin, has returned a few days ago. Liu Xueshi has arranged for him to take turns and show his face in front of His Majesty. The exam is held every three years, and only now are you fresh and hot, and His Majesty is a little interested in you. When the next exam comes in three years, you will be nothing."
Shen Ti was taught: "Son understands."

At least we didn't quarrel this time.
After Shen Ti left, Madam Shen was very happy and boasted: "Look, getting engaged makes things different."
What bothered her most in her daily life was the arguments between the father and son, neither of whom would give in. It was not an exaggeration to say that her son was extremely talented and well-read. Talented people were arrogant and would not easily bow their heads. This was called character in others, but in her own family, it was just a headache.

Lord Shen thought to himself that this was not the first time Shen Ti was engaged. But Shen Ti did seem different today. After returning from Huaixi's trip, she had learned to bow her head.
The world of knowledge is naturally beautiful and ideal, but the real world is rough and harsh. Learning to bow your head is the first step in learning how to be a human being.
Those who are about to enter officialdom have finally shed their immaturity and pride and are beginning to look mature.
Lord Shen was very pleased. But he did not forget to instruct Mrs. Shen: "Have someone keep an eye on him and Feng, and don't do anything before the marriage."
Mrs. Shen praised her son even more: "I asked someone to watch him. He has not gone there since he came back today. He waited to see you first. He has read the books of saints, so how could he not understand this truth?"
Lord Shen nodded, finally feeling satisfied.

Shen Ti walked back, reflecting on herself all the way.
Today, his father looked at him differently. It turned out that he had acted too impulsively in the past. Was he really regarded as a child by his father?
He was a child prodigy since he was young, and was praised wherever he went. He was far ahead of his brothers in terms of knowledge, and he always looked down on others. Even when facing his father, when he felt that he was not wrong, he would argue with reason.

Until he met Yin Shi, he told him mercilessly that his behavior was that of a child.
He was quite surprised, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt that she was right.
It will have to be changed later.

When he returned to his residence and stepped into the yard, he saw a maid sitting on a bench in the corridor of the main house, talking to Changchuan.
Hearing the noise, everyone inside turned around and saw that it was Shen Ti who came back. Changchuan called out, "Young Master."
The maid had already stood up, walked down the steps in three or two steps to Shen Ti, and bowed hurriedly: "Master, you are back."

Shen Ti nodded and asked, "Has she been okay these past few months? Has anyone in the mansion treated her badly?"
"No, no one in the mansion dares to treat the young lady badly." The maid said, "It's just that the young lady often cries at night, hoping that the young master will come back soon. She always has trouble sleeping."
The maid begged: "Sir, the young lady is waiting for you, can you go and see her?"

But Shen Ti returned home in the afternoon and has not visited Feng Luoyi until now, because he has thought it through clearly.
Yin Shi had said in his exhortation, "Any conflict with your parents will be blamed on someone else." If he lost his temper and went to visit Feng Luoyi right away, his father would definitely be disappointed.
His father's disappointment would not cause any substantial harm to him; it would only turn into anger towards Feng Luoyi.

The more Shen Ti thought about it, the more he realized that Yin Shi's advice was right.
He actually had no ability to protect Feng Luoyi now. She was already a government slave, and if her parents wanted to beat, kill, or sell her, he could not stop them.
It’s just that he and they haven’t gotten into that kind of fight yet.

But if he continued to go against his father, or did more things that disappointed and angered his father, it would be hard to say. They would not really kill or sell her out for the sake of their old friendship, but they could still send her away.

"I won't go over today." Shen Ti rejected the maid's plea, "I will go over to see her tomorrow after I finish my work. Tell her to relax and have a good rest. If she needs anything, come and tell me."

The maid's disappointment was reflected in her eyes.
But Shen Ti had no obligation to explain more to a maid. He had to establish his career first and satisfy his parents before he could better protect Feng Luoyi.
The maid could only take her leave and turn back.

After entering the house, Shen Ti asked Chang Chuan: "What were you talking about just now?"
Changchuan answered truthfully: "Sister Zhaoxiang asked me about this trip back to Huaixi."
"Did you say that?"
"said."

No one specifically told Changchuan not to tell anyone, and besides, a happy event like the young master's engagement shouldn't be hidden or kept secret, so when Zhaoxiang asked about it, Changchuan told the truth.
Shen Ti nodded.
Knowing this first and being mentally prepared will make it easier for him to talk about this matter when he goes to see her tomorrow.
Feng Luoyi would definitely be sad, but he did his best.

In a remote courtyard in a remote location of the Shen family's house, Feng Luoyi, the daughter of a former doctor of the Ministry of Rites who had fallen on hard times, lived.
She had prepared herself with great anticipation, her clothes were thin and plain, her hair was simple, and she looked very pitiful.
Feng Luoyi looked at herself in the mirror. She used to be a lady and a socialite, but now she was a lowly person and had to rely on the pity of others to survive.

Lord and Madam Shen bought her back with the intention of sending her back to her hometown to her relatives. By sending her back, they would have done their utmost to treat her well and would no longer have to worry about her.
As for whether she would be treated well by her relatives in the future and who she would marry, it was none of their business.
Thinking of this powerless fate, Feng Luoyi couldn't help but shed tears.
Fortunately, she still has Shen Lang.

Shen Ti, Shen Jiyun, the dazzling third place winner in the imperial examination, and her former fiancé.
He was willing to protect her behind his back in the face of his parents and tell them that he still wanted to fulfill the engagement.
To protect her from the wind and rain.
It’s just hateful that there is a distinction between the good and the bad, and the law of the country cannot tolerate it.

(End of this chapter)