National Division

Chapter 56 Xue Zhihua: She wasn't mistaken about this person!
Shen Xian chatted with Lin Jing for a while, then entrusted the affairs of his household to Lin Jing for the time being, and planned to go to the Pei residence.

Before leaving, see if you can get the Crimson Essence Pill from Pei Shen.

He can buy it with silver.

Thinking this, he instructed his servant Ah Xin to prepare a carriage and head to the Pei residence.

Pei Mansion, Octagonal Pavilion —

Surrounded by water on three sides, with lush green lotus leaves in the pond and slender white rockery, a gentle breeze blows, and the lake and mountain scenery complement each other beautifully.

Pei Shen was reading a Taoist book in his hand. He had a fair complexion and a gentle demeanor.

Zhang Yan, the son of a wealthy merchant surnamed Zhang, picked up a blue-and-white porcelain teacup, took a sip of tea, and sighed, "I never expected that Magistrate Liu would fall like this."

Registrar Pei Renjing was naturally not in the mansion. With Magistrate Lu dismissed and Assistant Magistrate Liu imprisoned, the affairs of the county suddenly fell on Registrar Pei and Shen Bin.

Pei Shen said in a complicated tone, "I heard from my father that Mu Zhi contributed a lot to this matter, and it was also the Vermilion Bird Division of the imperial court that encountered such illegal activities."

“You really can’t judge a book by its cover. He doesn’t seem like a man of any substance most of the time,” Zhang Yan said.

Pei Shen sighed, "The Shen family of Lanxi is, after all, a prestigious family. How could any of their children be fools? They are just wise in their own way."

“Indeed, that day he answered the abbot so fluently, I felt that this person had been hiding his true abilities all along.” Zhang Yan said thoughtfully, “I was wondering, after years of lying low, did he suddenly reveal his talent because he was after that quota for the state academy?”

“It’s hard to say.” Pei Shen shook his head and said, “However, I heard from my father that something happened to Prefect Lu. Judging from the situation, all the places in the state academy should have been handed over to the state to send someone to take the exam.”

He was merely a member of a collateral branch of the Pei clan of Hedong, and could not be accepted into the high-ranking families of the three religions. He could only obtain the qualification to practice the Dao through the imperial examination.

This time, he absolutely has to succeed. Otherwise, if he keeps dragging it out until he's twenty, he'll have no chance at all on the three lists of Heaven, Earth, and Man.

Zhang Yan lamented, "Even if one were to take the exam to enter the prefectural school, and then go through the metropolitan and palace examinations to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), it would still be difficult."

“It’s difficult. The path to immortality and the path to martial arts are no less difficult.” Pei Shen gently stroked the Taoist book in his hand, picked up a small pebble from the table, and flicked it towards the lake.

But as the wind swept across the lake, more than twenty stones were instantly skipped across the water.

This demonstrates the young man's impressive martial arts skills.

"Therefore, the most difficult things in the world must be done by starting with the easiest, and the greatest things in the world must be done by starting with the smallest. Thus, the sage never strives for greatness, and thus he is able to achieve greatness."

After saying this, the young man picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

Although the boy was only fifteen or sixteen years old, his every move already showed some of the refined elegance of his father's aristocratic manner of sipping tea and discussing philosophy.

While the two were talking, a servant entered the pavilion and reported, "Young master, it's the son of County Magistrate Shen. Young Master Shen is here to see you."

Pei Shen was overjoyed upon hearing this.

Zhang Yan also stood up and laughed, "It really doesn't stand up to being talked about."

"Come with me to see him."

Pei Shen said this, then got up and left.

……

……

On the other side, Xue Zhihua also settled Princess Qing and her daughter down for the time being, and they sat down to talk again.

Princess Qing said softly, "Miss Xue, I would also like to trouble you to inform the Princess and see if she can help with Tianxia's marriage, considering that we are both members of the imperial family."

Li Tianxia was, after all, a member of the imperial family, and her title of Princess Anyang had not been stripped. As the head of the imperial clan and a woman, the eldest princess was able to take care of her.

Xue Zhihua frowned slightly and said, "I also learned about the Lu family's previous reneging on the engagement in the capital. The Lu family's actions are despicable and are like kicking someone when they're down."

Because it involved Lu Zixu, who was on the list of immortals and humans, Xue Zhihua had heard some gossip about it.

Princess Qing said softly, "I don't ask Tianxia to marry into one of those prestigious families, but she can't be someone who is neither good at literature nor martial arts. Young talents on the Qilin List and sons of noble families are too popular, so we don't have any expectations."

Xue Zhihua said softly, "Let's wait a bit. After what happened to Prince Qing, many people avoid him like the plague."

If one marries Princess Anyang, then one will have a rebellious Prince Qing as a father-in-law. Which young and promising man would be willing to get involved in such a mess?

Li Tianxia listened from the side, her delicate face filled with sadness.

Just then, a nanny entered the room and said, "Princess, we just caught a little girl. She's acting suspiciously and we don't know what she's trying to spy on."

"Let me go." Yu Qingchan's maid, Lüzhu, her small face tense with nervousness, tried to break free from the arms of the two maids and then led them into the living room.

Li Tianxia and Xue Zhihua, along with Princess Qing, exchanged a glance, unaware of what was going on.

Princess Qing scolded, "You must not be rude!"

The princess's voice was soft and sweet, like sugar; although she was scolding, her voice was pleasant to hear.

Then, Princess Qing looked at the maid with a bright smile on her beautiful face and asked, "You are a maid from the Shen family, aren't you?"

Green Pearl stammered, unsure how to answer. Xue Zhihua approached, looked Green Pearl up and down, and said, "I've seen the maids of the Shen family before, she shouldn't be one of them."

Xue Zhihua had no idea who Yu Qingchan was in the back courtyard of the Shen family, because Xue Zhihua had only been there for a day.

After Shen Xian took a bath and Xue Zhihua witnessed a scene she shouldn't have seen with her divine sense, Xue Zhihua stopped using her divine sense to explore randomly.

It is impolite to do this when you are staying at someone else's house.

Green Pearl steeled her resolve and said, "I am a maid from the Shen household. Let me go. My mistress is waiting for me to return and report."

It turned out that when Green Pearl saw Yu Qingchan looking worried about the arrival of people in the mansion, she took it upon herself to go and find out the reason. Little did she know that the servants in Prince Qing's mansion were far more vigilant than ordinary people.

Xue Zhihua was also somewhat surprised: "Miss?"

Green Pearl said, "My young lady is Mr. Shen's fiancée."

Xue Zhihua: "..."

The people inside the room looked at each other in bewilderment.

Princess Qing smoothed things over, saying softly, "Since they are from the Shen family, it's good that things have been explained. Let's go back now."

Xue Zhihua's beautiful face held a faint smile as she teased, "How come I don't remember Shen Xian having a fiancée?"

Green Pearl was very anxious and said, "This is the marriage certificate. My young lady came the day before yesterday, and this marriage was arranged long ago."

Xue Zhihua looked at the servant beside her and said, "Go and ask the other servants in the Shen household."

The maidservant obeyed and left.

A short while later, the maid said, "Miss, I asked the servants of the Shen family. She is their fiancée. They said she came from the capital and sought refuge with the Shen family after falling on hard times. I heard she is a blind girl surnamed Yu."

The Shen residence naturally had servants, and during the two days that Yu Qingchan had lived there, some news naturally circulated.

Princess Qing's beautiful, alluring eyes showed a thoughtful expression as she asked, "From the capital, people from the Yu family?"

"Does the Princess recognize her?" Xue Zhihua asked.

Princess Qing sighed and said, "The prince mentioned that the blind girl from the Yu family is quite remarkable. It is said that she has double pupils and cannot see far. The Yu family has sought medical treatment for her a few years ago and even came to our mansion. I remember that she was engaged to the Shen family of Lanxi back then, and it was a topic of discussion in the capital for a while."

“That matches up. This house belongs to the Shen family of Lanxi.” Xue Zhihua smiled and said softly.

When Green Pearl realized that her background had been exposed, her face turned as pale as paper.

Xue Zhihua said, "The Yu family is involved in a treacherous case, and the blind girl from the Yu family has come to seek refuge with her in-laws."

As he spoke, he looked at Green Pearl and asked, "The engagement hasn't been called off?"

The tone of the inquiry was ambiguous, whether it conveyed expectation or disappointment.

When the matter was mentioned, Green Pearl said softly, "When Miss came to ask, County Magistrate Shen said that we should discuss it at length. Young Master Shen agreed, saying that the Shen family of Lanxi would never break their promise!"

These words left those present with mixed feelings.

Li Tianxia stood there, her handkerchief clenched tightly in her hand, her delicate face flushed red.

Princess Qing remained silent for a long time, only her ample bosom heaving with the turmoil of her emotions.

Everyone present knew that taking a long-term plan meant delaying things, but Shen Xian insisted on taking on the responsibility.

What kind of personality does this person have?
Compared to the case of Lady Lu of Fanyang who broke off the engagement after her incident, the difference in their actions is immediately apparent.

Xue Zhihua remained silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "These are the words he could say. However, it's not easy for County Magistrate Shen to be a father."

She wasn't mistaken about this person!
Whether she comes or not, she remains steadfast in her principles.

It was worth it for her to plan his future.

Princess Qing said in a soft, gentle voice, "I met this young man Shen before. His demeanor is chivalrous and upright. He is indeed a great man."

Li Tianxia stared blankly into space, her pearly teeth biting her pink lips, which were already showing signs of turning white.

Xue Zhihua said softly, "Alright, let her go back."

The two maids released Green Pearl and let her go.

Xue Zhihua turned to look at Princess Qing and her daughter, and said, "Madam, Tianxia, ​​you can stay here without worry."

Princess Qing nodded and smiled, "I feel much more at ease now."

Xue Zhihua said, "I will be returning to the capital in a few days."

Princess Qing hummed in agreement and said nothing more.

(End of this chapter)