The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 295

The stone lions in front of the Qiu residence had their mouths wide open, as if mocking Zhao Minglang's hesitation.

He remembered the third brother's mockery of him and couldn't help but laugh.

Yeah, what is he afraid of?
He wasn't afraid of taking exams, and he never backed down when facing the emperor in the palace examination. So why was he afraid to see the girl he liked?

At least I'm a newly appointed top scorer!
He straightened his clothes for the third time, his fingertips touching the warm jade pendant in his sleeve—a tradition of the Zhao family.

Every child is given a jade pendant to wear after birth.

After reaching adulthood, these tokens are used as betrothal gifts when a man and woman become engaged.

He originally planned to wait until his mother came to the capital before proposing marriage, but recently some people and things have really bothered him.

The third brother is right; now that he's single, he's a piece of easy money in Beijing.

The late emperor's princess was observing mourning rites and couldn't catch him, but there were so many imperial relatives and powerful officials who were all eyeing him.

Which family doesn't have a legitimate daughter, a concubine's daughter, or an adopted daughter?

It's a blessing to have your eye on me.

If you refuse, it means you don't want to be on his side.

So what if he's the top scorer in the imperial examination?
Are newcomers necessarily more capable than veterans?
Before he even enters officialdom, he will be ostracized and constantly given the cold shoulder.

Therefore, some things cannot wait.

The moment the door knocker clicked, Qiuyan stood under the eaves, the velvet flower he had bought that morning at the flower market still tucked into her hair. The twin lotus blossoms on her embroidery hoop were just one stitch away from completion when the silk thread suddenly slipped into the wind. Qiuyan tried to catch it, but grasped only air.

Looking at the silk thread, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

She missed again this time!
Yes, he's the top scholar in the imperial examination, so dazzling, how could he possibly be interested in a girl like me who's past her prime?
He said he has a girl he likes.

Did he accompany that girl to stroll around the streets, see the lanterns, and buy books and cosmetics?
Did he enjoy tea with that girl, composing poems and painting together...?

I'm so envious of that girl!
"Miss, ma'am."

Lan'er, the maid, rushed over.

"what's up?"

Qiu Yan, whose mood was already not very good, frowned as she watched the girl being so unruly.

"Miss, Young Master Zhao has arrived at the manor."

What does it have to do with me if Young Master Zhang, Young Master Wang, Young Master Li... comes here?
He just wanted to become his disciple.

"Miss, it's Young Master Zhao! The top scholar, Young Master Zhao!"

Lan'er said excitedly.

what?
"The top scholar, Young Master Zhao, is the second brother of Miss Xiao's husband. He's the Young Master Zhao who applied medicine to your sprained ankle."

Although Lan'er is young, she is not stupid.

She understands her daughter's thoughts perfectly well.

It's him?

Qiu Yan's heart skipped a beat.

"Has he come to visit his father?"

"No, Master is not home. He went out to meet some friends," Lan'er said. "He visited Madam and said he wanted to see Miss."

"see me?"

Qiu Yan's heart began to pound uncontrollably again.

Why would he want to see me?
"Yes, he was talking to the madam. I heard it and ran to inform you, Miss. Quick, quick, quick, I'll help you with your hair and makeup."

"Miss, this dress looks even better on you."

"Miss, please wear this hairpin."

"Miss, please use this bottle of fragrance."

"Miss……"

Several maids surrounded Qiuyan and started to fuss over her.

In the past, swallows would not cooperate.

But today is an exception.

There is a saying that a scholar will die for one who understands him, and a woman will adorn herself for one who appreciates her.

Regardless, she wanted to be beautiful for him just once.

She stood before him, dazzlingly, for just that one time. After all, she felt a little awkward during their first meeting.

If time could turn back, I would love to return to the moment we met. I would have gracefully bowed and softly said, "Greetings, my lord."

But now...

Haha, whatever, seeing each other is better than not seeing each other at all.

God knows, her heart had already fallen for him.

Even though she knew he had a girl he liked, she was still so foolish as to not be able to forget him.

Just as she finished dressing, Ling'er, the head maidservant of her mother, came to invite her.

“Miss, I think Young Master Zhao’s request to see you must be to ask for your hand in marriage.”

The lady originally sent a maid to invite her, but Ling'er saw that something was wrong and immediately ran over herself, wanting to give her mistress a heads-up.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Who proposes marriage by going to your door?"

Hearing the words "marriage proposal," Qiu Yan felt a little happy, but when she thought about how he had made it clear at the banquet at the Xia residence that he already had a girl he liked, how could that lucky girl be her?
Moreover, there was really no reason for her to propose marriage herself.

“Miss, there are no elders in the Zhao family now. It might be more sincere for Young Master Zhao to come in person.”

"Don't talk nonsense."

Qiu Yan felt a mix of shyness, annoyance, anticipation, and unease.

He walked into the hall and saw his mother talking to him.

"Yan'er greets Mother."

Autumn swallows gracefully stepped forward to greet them.

"You child..." Madam Qiu almost spat out the tea she had just drunk.

She had never seen a girl like this before.
His politeness made her feel somewhat unfamiliar.

"This is the top scholar, Young Master Zhao Minglang."

"Qiuyan greets Young Master Zhao."

"Miss Qiu is too kind."

Zhao Minglang quickly stood up, stepped aside to avoid her bow, looked up, their eyes met, and he gazed at her with deep eyes.

Qiu Yan almost forgot to breathe and quickly blushed as she looked away.

"Young Master Zhao, I have something to attend to, please excuse me for a moment."

It is said that a mother-in-law's love for her son-in-law grows stronger with each passing year.

Madam Qiu felt the same way about Zhao Minglang.

I never expected my silly girl to be so lucky.

The top scholar came to visit her, which surprised her somewhat.

Even more surprisingly, he stated his purpose directly.

He admired his own daughter, and since his elders had not yet arrived in Beijing, he specially went to their home to propose marriage on his own behalf.

Madam Qiu sensed his sincerity, but also respected her daughter's wishes. When he suggested seeing Yan'er, she readily agreed.

Just look at my daughter's outfit, look at her... this silly girl, she's finally found her spring.

The daughter who had been rejected by her husband finally found a good son-in-law, and Madam Qiu couldn't suppress the smile on her face as she hid behind the hall.

"Miss Qiu, I don't know how to speak."

With the girl he admired right in front of him, Zhao Minglang mustered his courage and handed her a jade pendant: "I want to give this to you."

"what?"

Who gives gifts to others so easily?
"One cannot accept rewards without merit. What is the meaning of this, Young Master Zhao?"

"I admire Miss Qiu and wish to marry you properly. Rest assured, we will be one and only for life, and I will never take concubines or maids."

"You..." Qiu Yan had never seen anything like this before, and her face immediately turned red with embarrassment.

"Miss Qiu, what do you think?"

"You..." Qiu Yan was both annoyed and amused: "I will listen to my mother."

After saying that, he turned around and ran away.

However, she clutched the jade pendant tightly in her hand.

She thought she would lose something, but it suddenly came into her hands. How could she bear to give it up?