Chapter 425: Chapter 424: All You Did Was Stir!
Shen Hua had never thought about relying on Wang Xu, to form a relationship with his father. But given the serendipitous circumstances, since she had saved Wang Xu, why not go with the flow and gain the protection of a Magistrate?
The two were not mutually exclusive.
But she had never thought it would be in this way.
She was still an unmarried girl, who would want to become her stepmother!
Listen, does that make any sense?
Moreover, with her intelligence, her future son would surely not be like Wang Xu!
Seeing that Magistrate Wang was about to step forward briskly to suggest the ritual tea for recognizing kinship, she suddenly turned and ran away.
After returning to the house, Shen Hua was still so angry that she couldn’t calm down.
"How could the Wang Family’s family teachings be like this? Was that saving someone? I clearly got myself involved in a mess. He’s younger than me, but still taller than me."
Xiaoqi couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle: "It’s not a big deal. Each family has its own teachings passed down from the ancestors, and all descendants must accept and follow them."
"Lady might not know, but Magistrate Wang actually has three stepmothers."
Shen Hua paused mid-step, her gossip-hungry heart igniting. She pursed her lips and leaned in slightly towards Xiaoqi.
"Three?"
No wonder he didn’t stop Wang Xu from what he said.
"Indeed, one is an ordinary old woman who has passed away. Magistrate Wang personally took care of her funeral, showing even more filial piety than her own son."
"The second is a young girl, from an incident that happened more than a decade ago. He was robbed while on the road during the Imperial Examination and she helped him out. Only then was his name announced on the list, otherwise, he wouldn’t have had the silver to go to Shengjing."
The Imperial Examination happens once every three years. If one fails to pass, they have to endure another three years. What could happen during that time? What will be the situation in three years? Who can guarantee it?
"Was that girl younger than him?"
"Doesn’t she need to go pay her respects by kowtowing during holidays now?"
Wang Xu should not be the only one missing a screw; his grandmother had four!
What others have, he doesn’t. But what others don’t have, he does!
"That’s not necessary."
Xiaoqi revealed: "She has been taken into the household and is now Mr. Wang’s Mama."
Shen Hua suddenly fell silent.
Magistrate Wang’s moral views obviously did not align with girl’s. But... there was an inexplicably provocative undercurrent.
She couldn’t help but rub her hands together, yet pretended to be nonchalant as she casually said: "Marrying his stepmother, this sort of thing is likely to be criticized. Da Qi’s rules are stern; people have long been bound by various frameworks and rules, even if there is no blood relation, it’s too shocking for conventional morality."
The girl was well aware that compared to the unspeakable and secretive deeds that could take days and nights to fully discuss within those large family mansions, this was nothing at all.
The more glamorous the surface appears, the uglier and more bestial the interior is. Not to mention those who dare to do but only meekly refuse to acknowledge their actions.
What one loves, instead of regretting and reminiscing throughout the long road of life, is better to seize without hesitation.
Only by living without regrets can one be true to one’s youthful self.
This Magistrate Wang, also earned a bit more respect from Shen Hua.
"That’s true, but Magistrate Wang moves from place to place for his appointments, probably to avoid people knowing about this part of his marital history."
Shen Hua’s curiosity was piqued by Xiaoqi, and she turned her head to ask: "And the third one is?"
"It’s a porcelain vase."
The girl gasped in shock, her voice involuntarily rose three notches: "A vase?"
"Correct."
"Once, Magistrate Wang was the target of an assassination attempt, and a dagger coated with poison was thrown at him. It looked like he couldn’t dodge it when suddenly a vase falling from above smashed onto the assassin’s head, killing him instantly and spilling blood."
"The vase shattered too. But Magistrate Wang values sentimentality, so he collected all the pieces and personally glued them back together. Now, it’s placed in the Wang Family Ancestral Hall, receiving incense offerings every day."
This whole family... what kind of people are they!
Shen Hua, indeed! I admired him too soon!
As they were speaking, they saw Aunt Sun approaching quickly, having heard the commotion.
"My lady."
Shen Hua smiled and waited for her to come closer. After exchanging greetings, she asked.
"What do you think about the embroidery lady from Hengzhou, Aunt Sun?"
Aunt Sun was about to mention this too, hastily responding: "Several experienced old embroiderers have techniques quite different from Su Embroidery, but they adapt quickly and only need some guidance. As long as they are dedicated, with a bit more time, they won’t be lacking."
Shen Hua had seen the works of these embroidery ladies; most were of wild beasts. They could be considered exquisite, yet some lacked a certain charm.
Often, this was the most fatal flaw.
Charm is the soul of embroidery.
She pondered for a brief moment.
In three more months, it would be the time for the Su Embroidery exhibition in Fengzhou. This was also why Shen Hua was in a rush to have the embroidery ladies expedite their work.
By then, famous embroidery businesses from all over Da Qi would gather here.
Fengzhou City wasn’t large. However, the Su Embroidery exhibition was held here year after year, not in the Emperor’s feet at Shengjing, all because of the Shen Family Embroidery’s presence here.
Shen Qu must have already prepared for the role of the host.
After this time.
In the following years, Fengzhou would continue to host exhibitions, but it would definitely not be Shen Qu’s snatched Shen Family Embroidery.
"Set up another courtyard for them to teach, as embroidery requires a calm mind. If it disrupts the progress of our backyard embroiderers, it would not be worth the loss. We will have to trouble Aunt Sun to take extra care."
"Yes."
Aunt Sun had this in her plans as well.
"Some of the girls also show great promise. I thought there’s no need to rush; let them observe and learn more, assisting on the side, and come to understand it on their own."
"There are many rooms in the mansion, so accommodation is also convenient. If Madam finds it feasible, we can have them sign the contracts afterward."
"Do as you see fit."
Shen Hua was tired from the journey, weariness evident in her eyes, and Manager Sun promptly urged her to rest inside.
Shen Hua, however, was preoccupied with another matter.
"How’s the coffin shop business?"
Soon, she displayed a hint of anger.
"Not a single one sold?"
Thus, the following scene unfolded:
The girl’s face was frosty, and the stone table was covered with bottles and jars found in Xiaoqi’s room.
Just the colors alone numbered over twenty.
She opened the jar lids, poured all the powders into a basin, and mixed them evenly. Feeling it was not enough to vent her anger, she ran to the flower garden.
Yicui followed, only to see Shen Hua holding something in her hand, a flash in her eyes. Everyone looked at each other, not expecting Yicui to stop her.
The girl threw the clod of earth in her hands into the basin.
Seeing her complete this, Yicui approached and gently used a damp handkerchief to wipe the dirt from the girl’s hands.
"These past days, Li Si and his lot are still loitering on the streets, our store has no business, and the one across has no business either."
Yangyang retorted: "Shen Qu having no business serves him right!"
She herself is different, of course!
"What Madam said is correct."
Shen Hua suddenly looked up, declaring fiercely, "Watch me poison him to death!"
Yicui finished wiping her hands, then tucked a lock of the girl’s hair behind her ear: "That would be Shen Qu’s good fortune."
Shen Hua found these words pleasing.
"Hmm."
She added pretentiously: "It’s my poison."
"That shows Madam’s capability."
Xiaoqi listened to the conversation between mistress and servant: ??
All you did was stir it!!
And now it’s Madam’s?!
Perhaps her resentment was too deep. Shen Hua, that bandit, looked over proudly with her delicate little face, gleaming with complacent triumph.
"It’s much more powerful than the little poisons Xiaoqi used to make."
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