RPAGF Chapter 160 A glimmer of hope
Chapter 160 A glimmer of hope
Shen Fuhan neatly fastened his belt and spoke in a calm voice.
"It's nothing, please continue."
Seeing that he didn't ask any further questions, Wen Jiayue breathed a sigh of relief and recounted the whole story.
Shen Fuhan nodded and said, "He's gone, so he's gone. He shouldn't have stayed here in the first place."
He paused for a moment, then asked, "How is Third Sister?"
"she……"
He had barely uttered a single word when Shen Funian's voice came from outside.
"Big brother, I brought Yao'er here to have a lesson with you."
Her voice sounded strong and clear, just as cheerful as ever, without any change.
Su Ye's departure did not seem to affect her at all.
The two exchanged a glance and walked out the door.
Shen Funian asked with a smile, "Big brother, when do we start?"
Shen Fuhan looked her over for a moment before saying, "Let's have our meal first."
"It's my fault for coming in such a hurry," Shen Funian quickly apologized. "I rushed over as soon as I heard you were back, and forgot you hadn't eaten yet."
"It's okay, let's eat together."
Several people sat around a table and ate together.
Shen Chengyao, who usually has a great appetite, was listless and said he was full after only a couple of bites of food.
Shen Funian said with a smile, "Yao'er has a good chance of losing weight."
“I just miss Brother Su Ye,” Shen Chengyao pouted. “I’m not as cold and heartless as Mother.”
"You little brat," Shen Funian's expression immediately changed, "What are you saying!"
Wen Jiayue quickly smoothed things over: "Third sister, you should eat. Ruyi, take Yao'er to play with Zhaozhao."
Hearing that he could see his younger sister, Shen Chengyao perked up a bit and followed Ruyi.
Shen Funian glanced nervously at her elder brother, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he didn't even raise his head and was just eating in silence.
Although Su Ye had already left, she didn't want him to know what had happened between her and Su Ye.
She had come to terms with it; Su Ye was gone, and she no longer had to worry about her secret being discovered.
From this moment on, her past with Su Ye is wiped clean.
Shen Funian ate an extra half bowl of rice with a great appetite.
After the meal, Shen Fuhan wanted to take Shen Chengyao to the study.
Shen Funian said, half-instructing and half-threatening, "Listen to your uncle. No joking around, no crying, no cheating, or your uncle will spank you."
Shen Chengyao shrank back in fear and nodded obediently.
Upon hearing this, Shen Fuhan glanced at her indifferently.
"No wonder Yao'er is so afraid of me, it turns out you played a part in it."
Shen Funian said awkwardly, "It's getting late, brother, you should go quickly. Don't keep you and sister-in-law from resting."
Half an hour later, the two of them returned from urinating.
The older one looked indifferent, while the younger one looked dejected.
Shen Funian quickly went to greet him and asked, "How's your learning going? Has Yao'er caused any trouble?"
Shen Fuhan was silent for a moment, then said, "Go back and ask Yao'er. I'm a little tired."
Shen Funian then gave Wen Jiayue a look, signaling her to ask more questions.
After closing the door, Wen Jiayue asked with concern, "How is Yao'er?"
“His natural talent is average,” Shen Fuhan said calmly, “but diligence can make up for lack of talent. He might be able to pass the county-level exam and become a scholar. If he passes the provincial-level exam, it would be a stroke of good luck.”
He paused, then added, "However, it will be at least thirty years before Yao'er passes the imperial examination and becomes a Xiucai."
Wen Jiayue's eyes widened. Hearing him say this, it seemed that Yao'er was not suited to the path of the imperial examination.
As if aware of her and Shen Funian's secret thoughts, Shen Fuhan instructed, "Don't tell Third Sister about these things. I will continue to teach Yao'er."
Wen Jiayue frowned and said, "But since you've said that, I don't think Yao'er needs to take the imperial examination route. It would be better to find another way out as soon as possible."
Shen Fuhan then recalled Yao'er's martial arts training in his dream.
He composed himself and said calmly, "There are plenty of people who can pass the exams at the age of sixty, and the Marquis's mansion can afford to support them."
Wen Jiayue had nothing more to say. Since both siblings wanted Yao'er to take this path, she would not interfere.
So, the next day when Shen Funian came to ask, Wen Jiayue only said the nice things and then exaggerated a bit.
Upon hearing that her son could pass the imperial examination and become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examination), Shen Funian became incredibly enthusiastic, taking her son to the main courtyard every day.
Within two days, the news reached the old lady's ears.
She pouted and said, "I doubt it."
Granny Zhao chuckled and said, "These are the words of the Marquis. Does the old lady not trust the Marquis's judgment?"
"That's believable..."
Mentioning her grandson, the old lady suddenly remembered something: "By the way, how has Qianqian been these past few days?"
Granny Zhao said, "Miss Qianqian stays in Huanhua Courtyard every day and has never left the house."
The old lady pondered for a moment, and since today was a day off, she said, "Call her over."
A short while later, Lin Qianqian walked in nervously.
The old lady looked her over. She hadn't seen her for a few days, and her face had gotten a little fuller. It seemed she was living a very comfortable life.
"Qianqian," the old lady said affectionately, taking her hand, "are you happy staying in the Marquis's mansion?"
Lin Qianqian nodded and said sincerely, "Of course I'm happy. I've never had such a leisurely time before."
Apart from missing her birth mother a little, her life in the Marquis's mansion was extremely comfortable. She was waited on hand and foot, and more importantly, no one bullied her. It was like a dream.
The old lady then asked with a smile, "Would you like to live like this forever?"
Lin Qianqian nodded blankly.
"Since that's the case, would you be willing to become your cousin Fu Han's concubine?"
Lin Qianqian stood up in fright: "This...Grandma, this is inappropriate..."
She was always afraid of her cousin Fu Han, and didn't even dare to say a word to him.
More importantly, her cousin's wife had been so good to her, how could she possibly hurt her cousin's feelings and become her cousin's concubine!
Seeing her reluctance, the old lady immediately turned cold: "What, don't you want to live a good life anymore?"
Lin Qianqian hurriedly waved her hand: "No... I... I should go back. I've troubled you for so many days..."
“If you go back, your mother will be kicked out of the Lin family,” the old lady said slowly. “You will never see her again.”
Lin Qianqian was stunned for a moment, and her vision suddenly blurred. Only then did she realize that she had been crying without even realizing it.
She knelt down and pleaded, "Grandma, please don't! My mother is already struggling; if she's driven away, she won't be able to survive!"
The old lady snorted: "As long as you become your cousin's concubine, your mother's status will naturally rise as well. It won't be difficult to choose, will it?"
Lin Qianqian nodded with tears in her eyes: "I will listen to you, I will definitely listen to you!"
The old lady said with satisfaction, "Qianqian, I've chosen you. Don't let me down."
Lin Qianqian asked, choking back tears, "Grandma, what should I do?"
The old lady said, "Do whatever you want, I won't interfere."
Since her grandson didn't get tired of Wen Jiayue, it proves that she has some merits, and maybe he likes her just the way she is.
Although Lin Qianqian's appearance is not as good as Wen Jiayue's, her personality is six or seven parts similar, which is enough.
Lin Qianqian wiped away her tears, bowed, and turned to leave.
She didn't want to be a concubine, but she was powerless to resist.
But the person who truly holds power in this mansion is her cousin, and she needs to go find him.
Perhaps there's a glimmer of hope?