Did the third place winner regret it today?

Chapter 34

Suddenly there was a noise outside the door, Feng Luoyi hurriedly wiped the tears from her face. Just as she was about to get up and go out, her maid Zhaoxiang came in with a bad look on her face.
Feng Luoyi paused and asked, "Where is the young master?"
Zhao Xiang sighed, "The master refused to come. He said he would come to see you tomorrow after he finishes his business."

Zhaoxiang is not a maid of the Shen family, she is a maid of the Feng family.
The Feng family did something bad, and Feng Luoyi's mother died in prison. The Shen family bought Feng Luoyi out of consideration for their engagement. At that time, many women prisoners and slaves were locked up next door waiting to be sold. Zhaoxiang saw Feng Luoyi and called her loudly.
Feng Luoyi begged the Shen family, and the Shen family's steward bought the incense as well.

She originally wanted to give Feng Luoyi to her elder sister who was married in Beijing, but her brother-in-law's family was so heartless that they made her elder sister "sick" and refused to take her in.
Lord Shen planned to spend some money to send her back to her hometown and hand her over to her clan.
Unexpectedly, Shen Ti came back at this time.

He was originally studying abroad, and according to his original plan, he should have returned later. But when he saw the court bulletin and learned about the bad things happening in his fiancée's family, he immediately rushed back.
Then the young man stood in front of Feng Luoyi and protected his ex-fiancée behind him.

Feng Luoyi was shocked when she heard that Shen Ti didn't come to see her today: "Why didn't he come? He has to do some work tomorrow? What about today? Why didn't he come today?"
Obviously, in the past, she had always been able to invite him when she sent her maidservant to do so.
How come everything changed after a trip to Huaixi?
She asked repeatedly, "Has his marriage been arranged? Have you asked?"
Shen Ti came to see her before going to Huaixi.
[I may have to get engaged.] He told her at the time, [I won the third place in the imperial examination, and my father has agreed to let my mother choose a wife for me from her family. Girls from small places don’t have much experience or talent, so they don’t dare to bully you.]
[Luo Niang, I... can only do this. ]

Although her Shen Lang is sincere, he is young after all, and he has no choice but to obey his parents' orders.
During the time he was in Huaixi, Feng Luoyi had no idea how many times her pillow was wet with tears.
Obviously, she should be the wife of the third place winner.

"Yes." Zhaoxiang had already asked Changchuan about it. "It's a cousin of his maternal family in Huaixi. Changchuan said that this cousin is very beautiful."
"What else?" Feng Luoyi asked.
"She said she was a nice person."
"Have you asked whether her father and brother have any achievements?"
"I asked, but Changchuan didn't know either. What could a kid like him know? I still have to ask Pingmo, or... I'll think of a solution another day?"

Changchuan is the book boy beside the body. He is still young and can walk around the inner courtyard. Pingmo is the most useful attendant beside Shen Ti. He is working outside and does not enter the inner courtyard. If Zhaoxiang wants to see him, she has to go out the second gate.
Feng Luoyi thought about it and said, "Don't go. I'll ask Shen Lang myself later. We should be careful with our words and actions in the Shen family."

Shen Ti's parents didn't want to keep her, they always wanted to send her away.
It was she who cried and begged Shen Ti, saying that she was born in the capital, her hometown was thousands of miles away, and she had no close relatives in the clan. If she went back, she didn't know how she, a girl who had been deified, would be treated. Only then did Shen Ti resist her parents and keep her.
She knew very well that her status was different now, so she stayed in this small courtyard and did not go out casually, let alone appear in front of Shen Ti's parents.
If there was any problem, they would send a maid to ask Shen Ti.

Only before, he would definitely come, listen patiently, and comfort her.
Why don’t you come now?
Could it be that Huaixi and his fiancée really fell in love with each other when they first met?
Feng Luoyi was in a panic and her pillow was wet with tears all night long.

The next day, Shen Ti went to the Hanlin Academy and first met with Bachelor Liu.
Scholar Liu stroked his beard and looked at him with a smile. The top three winners in the previous two subjects were only handsome in appearance, but this year there was finally a truly handsome top three winner.
Sure enough, he was tested.

When they reach the level of the top three in the imperial examination, academic matters are not difficult for them.
The old scholar and the new Hanlin discussed the matter, and the old scholar was very satisfied.
"Jiyun." The old scholar praised Shen Ti for a few words, and suddenly changed the subject, "I heard that you are not engaged yet?"

As soon as Shen Ti heard him, she knew that he wanted to be a matchmaker. Ever since the Feng family had gone bad, many people wanted to be his matchmaker. When he won the third place in the imperial examination, people knew that he had no marriage plan, and there were even more people who wanted to be his matchmaker.
Shen Ti told Master Liu: "It has just been booked."
"Alas, I am one step too late." Liu Xueshi sighed, "Whose daughter is she?"
"She is not from the capital. She is my cousin from my uncle's family."
"What position does your uncle hold now?"

Shen Ti did not hide anything and said frankly: "My maternal family is just a country gentry family, and my grandfather and uncle have no official titles."
Mr. Liu was a little unhappy when he heard this.
In fact, it was none of his business, but the Shen family was a scholarly family with several generations of Jinshi (imperial examination candidates). Shen Ti himself was even a third place winner, so it was easy for him to find a capable father-in-law.

The purpose of marrying a wife is to marry the father-in-law.
He actually only betrothed the daughter of a local squire. Scholar Liu couldn't help but feel sorry for Shen Ti, thinking that Lord Shen was too indulgent to his wife and had delayed his son's marriage.
He sent someone to tell the person who asked him to be the matchmaker: "Go and tell them that Shen Jiyun is already engaged. It's too late for us to say it. What a pity."

Shen Ti is now a Hanlin editor, a seventh-rank official.
After leaving the scholar's place, he went to look for his superior, who smiled and said, "You came at an unlucky time today. Yang Shilu is on duty in the palace today."
The runner-up in the same exam as Shen Ti was named Yang Fu, with the courtesy name Shilu.
The commander was pleased with Shen Ti's youth, handsomeness, and talent, and he advised him, "You should also show your face to His Majesty as soon as possible. His Majesty likes new blood the most."
After three years, a new batch of top three candidates will appear, and the previous batch will no longer be new.

Shen Ti remembered that his father had said something similar.
In the past, everyone was concerned about his study and learning, but now the focus has shifted to his career.
Even his cousin Yin Shi, a woman in the inner house, told him that he must be a good official, and a high-ranking one, so that he could have a say in front of his parents and protect his loved ones.

Although Shen Ti has not yet been crowned, once he has entered the official career, he can feel that many things are no longer the same as before.
You are an adult now.
The young Hanlin put away his pride, bowed respectfully, and thanked his superior for his kindness: "Yes."

"By the way, Jiyun, I seem to have heard that you are not engaged yet?" asked the superior.
"..." Shen Ti said, "Just ordered it."
"Oh, okay then, hey."

Shen Ti knew that those who could ask the Hanlin scholars to act as matchmakers were all officials in Beijing.
Before he entered the government, he was the "child of the Shen family", and all the matchmakers went to his parents. Now that he has entered the government, of course he still has to get his parents' approval, but people can naturally bring it up in front of him.

Young successful candidates had to be removed from the list of successful candidates, let alone a successful candidate in the third place. In the short time since the report was published, two people had already expressed their intention to propose marriage to him.
At this moment, Shen Ti began to understand the pressure her parents were facing.

Under this kind of pressure, most people would eventually compromise. When I think of this, I am glad that my mother gave me a compromise suggestion during the dispute between him and my father, and betrothed my cousin from my uncle's family.
Since the wife comes from a low-class family, Luo Niang will be under much less pressure.
Right, what he did was right. The first day of his career passed peacefully. When he returned home after work, the man at the door smiled and said, "Madam has asked several times whether Hanlin has returned."
The servants at home also began to call him "Hanlin". Shen Ti nodded: "I'll go right away."
Without going back to change clothes, he went directly to Mrs. Shen.

Mrs. Shen had been looking forward to his return all day.
How could a mother not be worried on the first day of her child's growth and entry into the government? The maid finally came to report: "The young master is back."
Mrs. Shen was overjoyed: "Hurry up and ask him to come in."
He also warned: "Remember to change your words next time."
The maid smiled and said, "Yes."

The curtain was opened, and a young man wearing a black gauze hat and a green official robe with a gauze bottom was seen. He lowered his head slightly and stepped in.
The Hanlin editor was actually a very low-ranking official with a low salary, so his uniform was a low-ranking green robe.
However, Hanlin was the emperor's literary attendant, often accompanying the emperor, in charge of drafting imperial edicts and documents, and often involved in confidential matters, so they were expensive.
Therefore, although Hanlin is noble, his future is limitless. Although he wears green robes, no one dares to look down on him.

Official robes had a set pattern and designated qualified tailors, but officials had to make them themselves. Therefore, officials of the same rank had the same patches on their robes, but the materials used varied greatly depending on the officials' family backgrounds.
Mrs. Shen used breathable and light gauze to make summer official uniform for Shen Ti, which was comfortable and refreshing to wear.
Seeing him, Mrs. Shen smiled and pinched his sleeves: "Come here quickly, let me take a good look."

Shen Ti had no choice but to stretch out his arms and turn around to satisfy his mother's request.
"It's really beautiful." Madam Shen pulled him aside and asked, "How was your day? How was the Hanlin Academy? Is there anyone who is bullying others by relying on their seniority?"

After being an adult in the Hanlin Academy for a day, I didn't expect to be treated as a child by my own mother when I returned home.
Shen Ti's face tightened: "Mother, the Hanlin Academy is in charge of imperial edicts, decrees, and imperial edicts, and there are many confidential matters. Mother, please don't ask about it in the future."
"Oh." Madam Shen covered her mouth, "Your father told me to do that, I forgot."
She said angrily, "I didn't ask around. I was just worried about the first day. You know there are corrupt officials everywhere. They are the most annoying."

Shen Ti said, "Don't worry, mother. The Hanlin Academy is different from other places."
The brilliant scholars and elites of the world selected through the imperial examinations are all gathered in the Hanlin Academy. If there are corrupt officials here, the officialdom will be hopeless.

Mrs. Shen sighed, "You even speak differently now."
Clearly, he was still a child yesterday, and even when he was in a bad mood, she just wanted to coax him or scold him. Today, when he put on his official uniform, his face was tense, and he inexplicably brought pressure to people.
The child is an official now, and now Mrs. Shen has to listen carefully to what he says. It really makes a mother feel proud and sad.
Shen Ti could also sense the subtle difference in his mother's attitude towards him.
That's good, he thought.

After calming his mother's nervousness and anxiety about his first day in officialdom, Shen Ti returned to his own yard.
The maid stepped forward and reported: "Zhaoxiang came to see me twice. She asked when Hanlin would be back and when she would go to see Miss Feng."
While the maid was talking, another maid came forward with her casual shirt on her arm. Shen Ti had already opened his arms and was ready to let the maid undress him, but after hearing this, he paused and suddenly stopped the maid's hand: "Don't change clothes first, take a towel and wipe my face."

The maid passed a wet towel to Shen Ti, who washed her face and hands, threw the towel back, turned around and called out, "Changchuan."
The only person who could run after him in the inner courtyard was Changchuan. When Changchuan heard the call, he quickly ran from the corridor to the main door: "Hanlin!"
"Let's go." Shen Ti said, "Let's go to Miss Feng's place."

Shen Ti walked in front, and Changchuan followed behind, looking at Shen Ti's green robe and laughing secretly.
In the past, the first thing he did when he came back was to change into his casual clothes, but today he didn't change his clothes at all. Hanlin, who was so old, was the same as him, wearing new clothes to show off in front of Miss Feng.

Shen Ti walked in a corridor with walls on both sides, lowered her head and brushed her robe sleeves.
There is power in the rules.
When the country was first established, it was even strictly prohibited for merchants to wear silk. It was gradually relaxed over the past hundred years, and now merchants can wear silk and satin as long as they can afford it.
However, official uniforms have strict hierarchy, and colors, patches, belts, and hanging gifts are all not allowed to be changed arbitrarily.

Shen Ti had been reading since childhood and was familiar with this strict hierarchy from books. However, it was not until today when he put on a green robe that he truly realized its power.
Wearing it, you will be an adult even if you are not yet 18 years old.
Feng Luoyi often cried until her pillow was wet, all because he did not give her enough sense of security.
If he went to see her in his official uniform, and let her see that he was now an official, she would surely feel relieved.

When we arrived at the remote courtyard, we saw Zhaoxiang from afar. She was craning her neck to look out the gate.
I saw Shen Ti from afar, and she disappeared suddenly.
Shen Ti knew that she was running in to report to Feng Luoyi. He quickened his pace and walked over quickly.

She stepped into the yard, let down her clothes, and when she looked up, she saw Feng Luoyi standing at the door of the main house.
She was dressed in simple and plain clothes, with a slender and graceful figure, ethereal eyebrows and eyes like a painting, and watery light in her eyes, looking at him.
In front of Feng Luoyi, Shen Ti felt completely different from in front of others. Even across the yard, he could feel how much she needed and depended on him.

He didn't really know her well.
After he got engaged, he went out to study and traveled, and was away from home for several years. Sometimes when a letter came from home, it would also be forwarded to her. In this way, there would only be one or two letters a year.
Originally, his family had already made arrangements for when to leave and when to return to Beijing. But when he suddenly heard about the bad things happening in her family, he made a decision on the spur of the moment and rushed back to the capital.
That was the year before last.

Then he negotiated with his parents and argued. In the end, everyone compromised and his father promised that if he passed the imperial examination, he would go to Huaixi to find him a wife as his mother had asked.
This is the biggest concession my father has ever made.

Before that, Feng Luoyi had always been placed in this remote courtyard, far away from him.
He would also come to see her, but as young men and women do, he would never stay too long, for fear that he would say something unpleasant that would damage her reputation and make his parents even more unhappy.
It was not until he took part in the autumn examination last year and the spring examination this year that he won the first place, the second place and the third place in the imperial examinations respectively, and went to Huaixi with his mother to get engaged.

So actually, they are not familiar with each other.
But ever since the engagement, or ever since something bad happened to the Feng family, Shen Ti has regarded Feng Luoyi as his responsibility.

There are countless people in the world who pursue profit and avoid harm, and who break their promises and betray their principles, but he, Shen Ti, Shen Jiyun, cannot be such a person.
Her family was ruined, she was in a low position, and she had no one to rely on. He couldn't just spend some money to send her back to her unfamiliar hometown thousands of miles away and get rid of her easily.
This is not what a gentleman should do.

(End of this chapter)