I have suffered enough in my previous life, my cousin will never marry me

Chapter 45: Robbery
"No...it's not very convenient." Ji Yunze's eyes only saw that person alone, and he responded absentmindedly.

The morning light rubbed the rouge into the bluestone slabs of Changle Street. Ye Wanshu's skirt was faintly visible in the gaps between the crowd. Ji Yunze looked at the jade-colored shawl three steps away, and was so anxious that even the top scholar's brocade robe was wrinkled.

Fearing that she would disappear from his sight again, Ji Yunze desperately squeezed out of the crowd, his almond-shaped eyes fixed on the place where Ye Wanshu was standing.

But once the Minister of Revenue spoke, the others also rushed to talk to him and refused to let him go out.

Ye Wanshu stood there and listened for a while. They were all here to propose marriage, from officials in the court to merchants and gentry, all vying for the top scholar.

It was not advisable to stay in such an occasion for long, so she pulled Qin Chulin and turned around quickly.

"girl."

Ji Yunze was so anxious that he didn't know what to do. He was so crowded that he had no patience left. He could only bow and say, "Thank you all for your kindness. I already have someone I like. Bye, please make way."

After he finished speaking, he quickly squeezed out of the crowd with the officials clearing the way, and ran straight towards Ye Wanshu.

"Miss, I wanted to go to the Duke's Mansion to return the money to you, but I was afraid of bothering you, so I..."

A clear voice pierced through the noise. Ji Yunze had just opened his mouth incoherently, but half of his handsome face had already turned red, which made Ye Wanshu feel a little amused.

"It's just a trivial matter, sir, don't worry about it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Yunze hurriedly shook his head: "For the young lady and the Duke's Mansion, this matter may not be worth mentioning, but for me, it is like a rebirth. If it weren't for the young lady's generous help that day, I wouldn't be where I am today."

He immediately took out a silver note and asked the officer to bring a box. Ji Yunze introduced them one by one in a very serious manner.

"This thousand taels of silver is to repay you, young lady. You have given me all your jewelry. The box contains the thank-you gift I have chosen for you. Do you like it?"

As soon as he opened the box, a dazzling multicolored light came out. Ye Wanshu took a closer look and saw that it was a complete set of gold-wire head ornaments inlaid with many pearls and agates. The workmanship was extremely exquisite and it was obvious that it was worth a lot of money.

“This I…”

Ye Wanshu was about to refuse when Ji Yunze suddenly looked embarrassed. "I know you've lived in the Rongguo Mansion since you were a child, and you've seen everything, no matter how precious. It's just that we met by chance, and you're so kind to help me. I have to thank you no matter what."

"You have misunderstood, sir. I am not from the Duke of Rong's Mansion."

When they heard that it was not someone from the Duke of Rong's Mansion, those who had just tried to kidnap the bride came over again.

"Hey girl, you're not from the Duke of Rong's Mansion, what are you doing here? Aren't you ruining everyone's fun?"

The Minister of Revenue immediately gained confidence and hurried over to pull Ji Yunze: "Master Ji, as long as you are willing to marry my daughter, I will guarantee you a bright future."

Another bloated man was not to be outdone: "Master Ji, I am the richest man in Lin'an. Even the needs of the Duke of Rong's Mansion and the Queen Mother are all provided by my family. If Master Ji marries my daughter, I am willing to give you a million in private property as a dowry. I will also introduce you to the young master of the Duke of Rong's Mansion and help you rise to a high position in the world."

Everyone started to chatter and fight for the number one scholar. Ji Yunze's eyes remained fixed on Ye Wanshu, and he was indifferent to the enthusiasm of others.

"Mr. Ji, the person you just mentioned as your crush is not this girl, right?"

Glancing at Qin Chulin who was being protected by Ye Wanshu, the middle-aged man who claimed to be the richest man immediately showed disdain on his face.

"This girl isn't from the Duke of Rong's mansion, and she has a child. I'm afraid her life will be very difficult. What future can you expect from marrying her? You've just started your official career, so you can't be short-sighted. You must think more about your future."

"Very good," the Minister of Revenue took over, "Master Ji, if you are willing to marry my daughter, I can introduce you to the Prime Minister as soon as possible. It will be of great benefit to your career."

Listening to the noise around her, Ye Wanshu couldn't help but take a closer look at the richest man in Lin'an and the Minister of Revenue. They were both unfamiliar faces. She was afraid that they were not well-known figures in the Ji family and the Duke of Rong's Mansion. She had never seen them before.

She had also heard about the idea of ​​a man being chosen as a husband under the list, and she couldn't let the number one scholar ruin his fortune, so she remained silent from beginning to end. This made Ji Yunze extremely anxious, and he stared at Ye Wanshu with genuine eyes. Since he had been asked about it, he simply admitted it and spoke his mind directly.

"I don't care whether she is the eldest daughter of the Duke of Rong's mansion or a girl from an ordinary family, I just want her."

Halfway through his words, sweat had already appeared on his nervous forehead.

But ever since they last parted, the shadow of this girl has been lingering in his mind every day, so today he must say everything he wants to say without any regrets.

"My life was saved by you, young lady. Ever since I met you, I have made two wishes in my heart: one is to pass the imperial examination in my youth, and the other is to spend the rest of my life with you. If you don't abandon me, I will come to your house and ask for your hand in marriage immediately."

Glancing at Qin Chulin, he hurriedly added, "I will treat this child as my own. Today, I swear in front of all the people of Lin'an City that I will never break my promise."

Ye Wanshu saw that the top scholar was starting to get confused because of these people, and he probably said this just to help himself out of the predicament.

Although she wanted to marry an ordinary man, it was not easy for her to agree to the number one scholar so hastily.

To avoid embarrassing him in public, Ye Wanshu simply said, "My home is quite far from here. Young Master, please focus on your official duties first and don't delay important matters."

After saying that, she just took the banknote and smiled at him: "I'll take the banknote."

Then, he led Qin Chulin away.

Ji Yunze watched her walk away with reluctance, wanting to chase after her, but gradually realized that he seemed too abrupt in his haste, so he could only watch her leave.

The noise was still ringing in his ears, but Ji Yunze suddenly felt empty in his heart. After being reminded several times by the officials, he jumped back on his horse and recalled everything that had just happened. It was as if he had just had a big dream.

I guess she also felt that she was too abrupt.

I really don’t know when I will see her again.

Everything that happened on Changle Street was seen by Gu Tingchen who was sitting in Chunmanlou in the distance.

"So the man Wanwan is hooking up with is actually this top scholar?" He snorted disdainfully, his fists clenched and crackled. "How dare a poor boy from a humble family snatch a woman from me? He's simply courting death."

The vicious look frightened the servant beside him, so he had to try his best to please him.

"He's just a top scholar, what's so great about him? I heard that His Majesty only appointed him as a sixth-rank editor. Young Master, you were promoted to a second-rank official upon entering the court, in charge of the Imperial Guards. How can he be compared to you?"

Gu Tingchen was not pleased at all and threw all the melon seeds in his hand into his face: "Asshole, who am I to compare myself with me?"

Just as he had vented his anger, a group of women came running over excitedly, saying with an infatuated look on their faces, "It's actually the young master, you haven't been to Changle Street for a long time..."

"roll."

Gu Tingchen's words were concise and to the point, and one word scared away all the women.

He stood up angrily and went downstairs while asking the servant, "Where does that poor boy live?"

The servant reported cautiously, "I heard that His Majesty values ​​this man very highly. He just posted the notice today and has been rewarded generously, including a house in the south of the city. I believe he will move there today."

"So he's the one the old emperor values. I don't know where you, a nerd who can't even ride a horse, got the guts to snatch my woman."

Gu Tingchen curled his lips in a cold smile and shook his head in disdain: "It seems that he has been living too comfortably in Lin'an. Let's go to the south of the city to meet this nerd and let him experience the ups and downs of Lin'an City."

(End of this chapter)