427 Princess (1)
From the time Wang Mingan could remember, he knew one thing. Without Miss Wang, the two of them wouldn’t be around today.
Miss Wang’s kindness was like a curse that imprisoned him. He could not escape.
Even Madam Wang wanted him to take the imperial examination to avenge Miss Wang.
Sometimes, Wang Mingan wondered if his purpose in life was to repay kindness.
Even if her family had already become like this, Madam Wang still had to care about others’ well-being. Why didn’t she ask him if it hurt when he was pressed to the ground and beaten up?
Meeting Wang Mingan’s forbearing and accusing eyes, Madam Wang’s heart felt like it had been pricked by a needle.
She turned her head away, not daring to meet his gaze. She gestured. “Alright, don’t go.”
After gesturing, she pulled Wang Mingan up from the short stool and pointed at the book bag beside her, urging him to read.
Wang Mingan clenched his fists and returned to the house without a word.
After picking up the kids, Shen Yijia did not go home immediately. Instead, she turned into Chang’an Avenue.
Song Jingchen had left early and returned late these past two days, so he didn’t have time to eat with his family.
Today, he said that he would come back early. Before leaving, Shen Yijia specially asked Madam Li.
Knowing that he liked to eat crab meatballs from Ruyi Restaurant on Chang’an Street, Shen Yijia prepared to pack them up and add some dishes for dinner. For this reason, she even brought a food box.
She asked Brother Hao and the other two what they wanted to eat, but they only shook their heads.
Lin Miaomiao led a hard life. She had never been picky about food. Brother Hao and Sister Huan probably didn’t want to waste that money.
Shen Yijia thought for a moment and ordered two more dishes.
It was not time for dinner yet. There were not many guests in the Ruyi Building. After waiting for less than 15 minutes, the waiter brought back the food box.
The three dishes cost two taels of silver.
Shen Yijia’s heart ached a little, but when she thought about how it was Song Jingchen’s favorite food, she felt much better.
“Sister Piaopiao, what are you looking at?”
In the candied plum shop opposite Ruyi Restaurant, the pink-skinned boy tugged at the sleeve of the woman beside him. He looked in the direction she was looking and did not understand what was so interesting about a carriage.
Liu Piaopiao retracted her gaze. Only then did she realize that her hand under her sleeve was hurting.
The corners of her mouth curled up into a gentle smile. “I just saw an old friend.”
“Are they your friends?” Seeing that the carriage was about to leave, the boy suggested, “They seem to be leaving. Should we send someone to stop them?”
“There’s no need.” Liu Piaopiao squatted down and tidied the boy’s clothes. She smiled and said, “We’re not very familiar with each other.”
Her words and actions were so gentle that water seemed to drip from them.
The boy pursed his lips and looked around before whispering in Liu Piaopiao’s ear, “They all said that when the child in the new princess consort’s stomach is born, she’ll chase me out. I don’t want to be chased away. Can you stop her from giving birth?”
Liu Piaopiao paused and did not ask who she had heard it from. She only rubbed the little packrat’s head gently. “No, unless the baby in her stomach is gone.”
Shen Ruyun had been pregnant for more than two months, but Shangguan Pu did not let the news spread. He planned to wait until the emperor’s birthday to add to the joy.
Perhaps because they were related by blood, although the emperor was not very close to his sons, he liked his grandchildren very much.
Originally, only the people in the main courtyard knew about this matter. However, Shen Ruyun was stupid. Seeing that she had no status in Lord Jing’s residence and was close to Shangguan Pu, they determined that she was a threat.
She came to show off her pregnancy, so everyone in the residence knew about it. When Shangguan Pu found out, he was furious and grounded her in the courtyard to recuperate.
The boy lowered his eyes and muttered, “Will she not give birth if the baby is gone?”
Liu Piaopiao did not seem to hear him. She held his hand. “Alright, see what else you want to eat. Sister Piaopiao will buy you everything.”
On the way back, the carriage passed by the bookstore again. Although it was not as crowded as before, there were still many people inside.
Shen Yijia took a look and lowered the curtain. She did not like those books, but she was a little envious of the bookstore’s business. It must be very profitable, right?
“Ah, Brother Hao, why are you writing on your hand?” Sister Huan’s exclamation brought Shen Yijia back to her senses.
Shen Yijia looked over and saw that one side of Brother Hao’s palm was dark.
Brother Hao retracted his hand and explained in embarrassment, “I probably pressed my hand on it before the ink dried. I didn’t write it. I accidentally printed it.”
