After the delicate and soft-spoken wife gave up, the aloof and powerful minister embraced her and sh

Chapter 73, Part 2: Dislike Based on Appearance

After lunch, Wen Jiayue left the mansion.

It was still a quarter of an hour's journey to Yuan's restaurant when the weather turned bad, and snowflakes began to fall.

It wasn't too far from the Yun residence, so whether it was at Yuan's or here, it didn't matter. Wen Jiayue simply decided not to go any further.

Seeing a jewelry shop by the side of the long street, she told the driver to stop.

As soon as she entered the shop, the drowsy shopkeeper immediately woke up.

The lady's attire was unremarkable, but her overall air of grandeur was undeniable. She was also followed by many guards, clearly indicating that she was a lady from a wealthy and powerful family.

The shopkeeper quickly stepped forward, beaming, and said, "Madam, please take your time choosing. Just call me if you need anything."

Wen Jiayue nodded and picked up a pair of white jade earrings carved in the shape of crescent moons.

The shopkeeper immediately praised, "Madam has excellent taste. These earrings are the only pair in the entire city of Chang'an. Look at the jade and the craftsmanship, they are truly superb."

As she spoke, she glanced at Wen Jiayue's appearance and sincerely praised her, "Madam, you are stunningly beautiful and gentle as water. Jade suits you best."

Wen Jiayue smiled; she just thought that the jewelry related to her name was especially beautiful.

"I want this."

Seeing how generous the lady was, the shopkeeper immediately beamed with joy.

"Madam is so generous; she bought it as soon as she saw it."

The shopkeeper was very talkative, and once he started talking, he couldn't stop. He continued, "There's a young lady who has always wanted to buy this pair of earrings, but she doesn't have much money. Every time she comes, she just looks at them."

Wen Jiayue was taken aback: "I have indeed stolen someone else's love."

She doesn't lack earrings; she only took a liking to this one because it was carved with the moon. Whether she buys it or not is irrelevant.

It would be a bad thing if a girl lost her favorite jewelry because of this.

Seeing her hesitate, the shopkeeper cursed himself for being too talkative.

But the words were already spoken, and there was no use in regretting them. The shopkeeper asked without much hope, "Madam, do you still want it?"

Wen Jiayue paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes."

What's the point of passing it around? Since she's taken a liking to it, it's hers.

The shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief: "Alright, I'll wrap it up for you right away."

The snow outside was getting heavier, and pedestrians were hurrying by. Wen Jiayue continued to select items.

The shop is small, and the jewelry is ordinary, displayed in a scattered manner, but there are a couple of decent pieces.

Wen Jiayue picked them up one by one to admire them. The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Madam has a keen eye. These two items are my prized possessions."

The shopkeeper couldn't stop talking and continued, "Speaking of which, all these pieces of jewelry were sold to me by a young lady. By the way, the earrings you bought are exactly what she wanted to buy."

Wen Jiayue asked curiously, "These two pieces of jewelry could be exchanged for fifty pairs of earrings, why doesn't she buy them?"

Seeing that the lady was interested, the shopkeeper became even more talkative, clicking his tongue in admiration.

"She sold her jewelry to pay for medical treatment. It's pitiful; she has no money to buy medicine."

Wen Jiayue's breathing became slightly labored. Was she seeking treatment? She didn't have money for medicine?

That Miss Yun is a frail person, could she be her?

Although she knew the chances were slim, Wen Jiayue still asked, "Which family's young lady is she?"

The shopkeeper assumed it was a casual question and replied, "I don't know. That young lady is a woman of few words and rarely speaks, but her surname seems to be... Yun?"

Wen Jiayue's eyes widened in disbelief; it really was that Miss Yun!

After the initial excitement, she quickly calmed down.

Even if we knew this, what good would it do?

Is she going to say that she feels great sympathy for this Miss Yun and is therefore prepared to donate some silver to her?

However, is the Yun family really that poor that Miss Yun has to sell her jewelry to buy medicine?

As far as I can remember, after Miss Yun entered the palace and gained favor, she treated her family very well, often giving them gifts or summoning them to the palace to talk.

This illness must be difficult to cure, and the Yun family must have gone bankrupt trying to treat Miss Yun.

Thinking of this, Wen Jiayue felt a little envious. Her family... well, never mind.

Wen Jiayue sighed softly, then caught a glimpse of the earrings and suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

"Since this is what that young lady requested, I will give it to her. When she comes next time, please trouble the shopkeeper to give it to her."

The shopkeeper was taken aback for a moment, then sighed, "Madam is truly kind-hearted. I will definitely tell that young lady about this when she arrives."

Wen Jiayue nodded slightly: "Thank you for your trouble."

After much deliberation, the shopkeeper finally asked, "May I ask if you, madam, may I reveal your identity?"

Wen Jiayue had been waiting for these words, and slowly opened her mouth: "The Marquis of Jing'an's residence, the Wen family."

Regardless of when Miss Yun comes next, it's still a first step, which is much better than nothing.

The snow fell for a full hour before gradually stopping.

Wen Jiayue went to Yuan Ji again, bought some pastries, and then returned home.

The streets were covered in snow, and the road back to the manor was difficult to travel. We walked and stopped along the way, and it was completely dark when we finally arrived at the Jing'an Marquis's manor.

As Wen Jiayue alighted from the carriage and was about to step onto the steps, Ruyi exclaimed excitedly, "Madam, what a coincidence! The Marquis has returned as well!"

She pointed in Shen Fuhan's direction, but Wen Jiayue didn't even glance at it, focusing on walking.

"Just pretend you didn't see it," she said, carefully stepping onto the stairs while lifting the hem of her skirt. "Be careful not to fall."

The snow on the steps had already been cleared away, but it was still a bit slippery due to the cold weather.

Ruyi quickly went to help her up and asked in a low voice, "Madam, did you and the Marquis quarrel again?"

The house was quite quiet last night; there was clearly no arguing.

“No,” Wen Jiayue said, frowning. “I just don’t like him.”

She and Shen Fuhan didn't get along last night, so naturally they disliked each other today.

Ruyi turned around and glanced back, then shushed, "The Marquis is right behind us."

Wen Jiayue wasn't afraid of him hearing it, but seeing that Ruyi was scared, she stopped talking about it.

Footsteps approached from behind.

A pair of black boots embroidered with dark blue auspicious cloud patterns stepped steadily over the same step.

The owner of the black boots spoke up: "Why are you back so late?"

Wen Jiayue didn't want to answer; wasn't it obvious?

However, seeing that Shen Fuhan seemed determined to walk alongside her if she didn't answer, she had no choice but to speak.

"The roads are difficult to travel in the snow. I walk slowly. Your Excellency has had a long day, so please return to your residence first."

Shen Fuhan did not rush forward, but continued to walk slowly with her.

Almost simultaneously, she took a step, and he took a step.

No one spoke, but a loud shout came from behind.

"Sister! Brother-in-law!"

Wen Jiayue frowned and looked at Wen Ruohuan, who had appeared out of nowhere.

"Why are you here?"

Wen Ruohuan said aggrievedly, "I can't enter the Marquis's residence. I heard that my sister left the residence today, so I have no choice but to wait for you here."

She lifted the hem of her skirt and walked forward, but as she walked, her path veered off course, gradually tilting towards Shen Fuhan.

Shen Fuhan glanced at it and said indifferently, "I'll go back first."

Seeing him turn to leave, Wen Ruohuan became a little anxious.

"Brother-in-law, may I enter the mansion?"

"If you let me in, your sister definitely won't stop me."

"Brother-in-law! Oh dear..."

Wen Ruohuan took three steps at a time and stepped up the stairs, gritted her teeth, and pretended to slip.

She reached out, about to grab Shen Fuhan's sleeve, her heart pounding.

She didn't believe her brother-in-law would stand by and watch her die; if only he could play the hero and save the damsel in distress...

Unexpectedly, in the next instant, Shen Fuhan dodged, and she missed her target, landing face-first on the steps.