When she looked over with a smile, she looked like a young man. However, in her clear eyes, there was a deep meaning hidden, making people unable to see through her.
When interacting with her, one felt like they were walking on a tightrope on a cliff. They couldn’t tell if she was a friend or foe.
Pei Lang turned his head. “What do you think?”
Shen Miao smiled. Her smile was pure, as if she was really happy that she had done something good. She said, “I think it’s good. Even if that son of Magistrate Pei finds out about his sister’s whereabouts and comes to buy her freedom, I’m afraid Miss Pei won’t be willing to accept his goodwill because she still resents her father for abandoning her back then. Instead, she will try to ruin her life.”
Pei Lang did not speak.
“Some people in the world are originally jade, but after being in a pile of stones for a long time, they will become stones. Some people will never bow even if they are only an inch away from falling off the cliff. I heard that although Magistrate Pei was convicted of a crime, he did not beg for mercy. I think the children he raised will also inherit his character. Tell me,” Shen Miao looked at Pei Lang, “would that girl rather live as a noble lady who no longer has a home to go back to or as a prostitute?”
“After saying so much.” Pei Lang sneered. “What do you want me to do?”
“Mr. Pei, you’re very smart. I knew I couldn’t hide it from you. That’s right.” Shen Miao praised Pei Lang generously before saying, “Mr. Pei, you’re talented and knowledgeable. Why don’t you enter the officialdom?”
“Shen Miao!” Pei Lang suddenly shouted. It was unknown what Shen Miao said had hit his sore spot, but he immediately became excited. Even Jingzhe and Gu Yu were startled and looked at him. Pei Lang said angrily, “Don’t even think about it!”
“Mr. Pei, don’t get worked up just yet. Why don’t you let me finish?” Shen Miao smiled and said, “Perhaps you are frightened by the story I told you just now and felt that in the bureaucracy, if one is not careful, one will die without knowing why. After becoming an official, you probably won’t be as carefree as you are now.”
Pei Lang gradually regained his composure and became that gentle scholar again.
“But Sir, you are alone now. You don’t have a family, so there’s no need to worry about putting your family at risk. Moreover… in this world, the higher one stands, the more they can do. If you want to protect someone, being a teacher is not enough. Although you can have a lot of students in the world, but…” Shen Miao raised her cup calmly. She was clearly smiling, but in an instant, there was a coldness in her eyes. She said,” When something really happens, even your beloved students will cut ties with you.”
“You can only rely on yourself.” Shen Miao’s voice seemed to be bewitching, even more bewitching than the erotic songs in the Treasure Fragrance Chamber.
“Who taught you to say these words? What’s the purpose? What good will it do him if I become an official?”
Shen Miao smiled. Pei Lang was someone who cared about nothing else other than teaching. However, every time he engaged in a discussion, he could always grasp the point immediately. In her previous life, Fu Xiuyi tried his best to rope in Pei Lang as his aide and even promoted him to become the state preceptor. It wasn’t just a coincidence.
“Mr. Pei, why do you ask what good it will do to others but not yourself?” Shen Miao did not answer him. Instead, she took a roundabout way and replied indifferently, “When you become an official, you’ll get rich and marry a wife. The one who benefits in the end will only be you.”
