Spring flowers.

Chapter 21 is a trap.
As expected, Zhang, the scholar, surrendered.

“You silly girl…” Zhang, the scholar, teased Wei Yishang, “Don’t go back on your word.”

“Just tell me your request, sir, and I’ll do whatever it takes,” Wei Yishang said with a smile.

"Then I want the full banquet at the First Floor," Zhang Juren demanded, showing no regard for whether his niece could afford it.

"Uncle, you didn't make any requests... haha... and besides, I can't do any of them."

Only then did Zhang realize that he had been deceived.

Wei Yishang meant that she had to "make" a "request," and it had to be something she could do.

"You naughty girl..." Zhang Juren looked up, about to hit Wei Yishang, but she escaped.

"Peach Blossom Wine and Beggar's Chicken are fine, sir, please don't go back on your word..." Wei Yishang ran away.

Just then, Cui'er came to inform Wei Yishang of some things.

"Miss, Scholar Ye sent someone to deliver that emerald necklace," Cui'er said, adding, "and it's of excellent quality..."

“Let Zhang Zhong take them one by one to different pawnshops… These beads are priceless, and each one is invaluable. Ye Tanhua is indeed resourceful; he looks a bit thin, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, but he has ideas.”

Wei Yishang initially thought that her partner was a bit of a bumbling fool, and that she was just a "proud and arrogant beauty".

But actually, she's beautiful on the outside, ruthless on the inside, and has her own methods. Okay, that's interesting.

Wei Yishang was somewhat interested in this partner, but not much.

"Miss, what are you doing pawning this?" Cui'er was a little confused. Her young lady clearly had money, so why was she pawning this string of beads?
"This string of beads is priceless, and I'm sure all the wealthy and powerful know that. But once it's put to use, its origin will likely be discovered very quickly, which would make it difficult to do them a favor. If I pawn the whole string, it would be too conspicuous and attention-grabbing. Only by pawning each bead individually will it be useful for what I need to do."

After Wei Yishang finished speaking, Cui'er gave her young mistress a thumbs up.

"Cui'er, take the peach blossom wine that Miss Pei brought last time to Mr. Zhang's residence, and also buy a beggar's chicken," Wei Yishang instructed Cui'er.

"Miss, your uncle is an eccentric man. Perhaps you shouldn't get too close," Cui'er said with some concern.

“What’s there to be afraid of? He’s blaming me, but I’m even more blaming him. Let’s see who he is~” A hint of a smile flashed in Wei Yishang’s eyes.

"Also, we need to find a suitable manager recently. I want to open a clothing store and a store selling exotic treasures, and we need managers for both." Wei Yishang made the following requirements: "They need to have relevant experience, good character, and be able to handle things."

Cui'er agreed, and then Wei Yishang closed her eyes to rest.

When Wei Yishang opened her eyes again, she saw Wei Yingzi's smiling face.

She tugged at Wei Yishang's sleeve and said, "Sister Chang, I've heard you're very talented in writing. Could you write me a poem?"

Wei Yishang said softly, "Second sister, I don't know how to write poetry. I only learned the basics from Sister Feng Yueqiao. It's nothing to you."

"No, no, no, one is influenced by one's company. My sister must be talented and humble." Wei Yingzi looked at Wei Yishang and didn't let go.

Wei Yishang was wondering what her second sister was up to when she suddenly heard the system speak.

[The system has detected that the host is about to face trouble. Please postpone writing the poem until tomorrow. In the meantime, have your maid secretly carve a seal. When you sign your name tomorrow, please do so in a more flamboyant and elegant style.]

Okay, so it was a setup after all...

"Second sister, how about I write to you again tomorrow?" Wei Yishang drooped her head, pretending to look pitiful.

"Fourth sister, if you don't have any talent, don't pretend..." At this moment, the third sister, Wei Mohan, spoke up. "That's right, don't embarrass the Wei family in front of all the young masters and ladies." It was the second brother, Wei Changsheng, who spoke.

The Wei family private school not only housed children from the Wei family, but also children from several other families.

"Don't worry, Sister Chang. How could someone chosen by the third-ranked scholar be lacking in talent..." Wei Yingzi deliberately steered the conversation towards Ye Mingzhen.

When Ye Mingzhen was mentioned, the young ladies all turned to look at Wei Yishang.

"That's right, Sister Chang, you have some amazing skills. How did you manage to win over that top scholar? I'm really curious..." Wei Mohan chuckled mischievously, as if she had discovered some incredible secret.

According to her character in the book, the introverted, sensitive, and somewhat dim-witted Wei Yishang would be about to explode in anger right now, but now, she is no longer herself, yet she is still herself...

“I love the First Madam and Second Sister. I can write poems whenever I want. I’ll write one for Second Sister tomorrow. But Third Sister and Second Brother, are you jealous that Second Sister asked me to write a poem instead of you? Second Sister and I have a good relationship, but you don’t need to be so jealous.”

These words made Wei Mohan lower her head, looking for an opening. She was puzzled; how had Wei Yishang, who used to be quiet and easily bullied, become so sharp-tongued?
"Third sister, Ye Tanhua and I cannot tolerate your unwarranted accusations, you young lady. This is disrespectful to the top scholar, which is tantamount to disrespecting the court and His Majesty. If this gets out, the Wei family will be implicated."

"Second brother, everyone knows you did the worst on the test. Now, people are saying I've disgraced the Wei family. Who's really disgraced here?"

Wei Yishang's words made the two people blush and lower their heads to sit at the back of the classroom.

Everyone was wondering how the girl who was usually bullied could be so strong now. She spoke with tact and gave a reasonable rebuttal.

Wei Yishang didn't notice that a man she didn't recognize had witnessed the whole thing, and his eyes held a mixture of approval and doubt.

After class, Wei Yishang and Cui'er returned to their residence. On their way back, they encountered the man from earlier that day.

"Greetings, Fourth Miss..." the man spoke first, seemingly waiting for someone.

Wei Yishang curtsied, desperately trying to recall who this character was from the book.

After thinking for a long time, she suddenly remembered that in the book, the eldest son of the Prince of Kang and others later came to the Wei family's private school.

Could it be him?

The person before me wore a pearl and jade crown tied with a red ribbon, and a long robe in crimson brocade with embroidered landscape patterns. The sleeves were white, and the cuffs were trimmed with gold thread.

"Hello, Xiao Kang Wang..." Wei Yishang guessed that the person in front of her was him and greeted him tentatively.

"You actually recognize me?" King Xiao Kang said with a smile. "It seems my charm is as strong as ever."

Wei Yishang broke out in a cold sweat.

Who recognizes you? It's only because they've read the original book and know the plot...

You're still as charming as ever, and you're not that old, are you?

This person is so narcissistic, it's terrifying.

"I have something to do, so I'll take my leave now..." Wei Yishang didn't know what to say, so she had no choice but to leave.

"Fourth Miss, don't go..." Little Kang stepped forward, looked at Wei Yishang's face, and actually splashed the cup he was holding at Wei Yishang!
"Miss!" Before Cui'er could react, Wei Yishang was suddenly soaking wet.

"What are you doing!" Wei Yishang was a little angry; this person had no sense of boundaries at all.

"So, your face... is real!"

(End of this chapter)