Chapter 89: Chapter 42: Guan Jingshuo
Yueyao regarded the two youths as nothing, walking straight towards Ma Chengteng. Following behind, the Attendant Student carried more than a dozen books. The books previously selected had already been sent to the checkout counter.
The young man clad in a jewel-blue brocade robe couldn’t help muttering when he saw Yueyao didn’t speak, “Cousin, strange things happen every year, but this year seems especially full of them. What does a young girl need so many of the Four Books and Five Classics for? She doesn’t have to take the imperial examinations. Just seeing those books gives me a headache.” The books that the Attendant Student was holding were all for the imperial examinations.
Although the young master in dark clothes was also surprised, he said with a smile, “You can’t talk nonsense. There’s no rule saying that only men can read the Four Books and Five Classics.”
Ma Chengteng introduced the two young men to Yueyao, “Yueyao, this is the Heir Apparent of Marquis Yongding and the Ninth Young Master from Duke Ning’s Mansion.” The Ma Family, previously also a Marquis, had interactions with these illustrious families and even intermarried, making them relatives. Now, although they had lost their nobility title, the Ma Family hadn’t completely declined, and the connections were still there, even though they had become much more distant.
The young man in the jewel-blue brocade robe, upon hearing Ma Chengteng’s words, said in surprise, “You’re the Third Miss of the Lian family?” He had heard of the Lian family’s Third Miss early on. Rumored to have a gift for painting, considered by Jiangnan’s number one painter to have been a pity she was born a girl; otherwise, there would be a successor. This remark had spread to the Capital City, and everyone knew that the Lian family had produced a talented lady.
When Yueyao heard Heir to Marquis Yongding, she was momentarily stunned. She had heard too much about Guan Jingshuo in her previous life.
Guan Jingshuo was born into a noble family, his father being Marquis Yongding and his mother the legitimate eldest daughter of Duke Ning’s Mansion. He was conferred Heir soon after birth, truly born with a silver spoon. And yet, he displayed none of the arrogance one might expect from a child of an illustrious household. He was instead modest and studious, diligent and hardworking. Coupled with exceptional intelligence, he ranked first in the children’s examination at twelve, becoming the case leader, and topped the provincial examinations at thirteen, claiming the title of the top scholar for Capital City. Many said the Princely Heir would pass all three levels of the imperial examinations in succession. Unfortunately, an accident led to his death at the age of fourteen; he fell from a horse.
If Yueyao hadn’t overheard those filthy matters in Nunnery, she surely would have believed it to be an accident. But now, looking back, whether it was truly an accident is questionable. One should know that in families like theirs, the horses are well-trained. Normally, even if there are drums and gongs playing nearby, the horses wouldn’t get agitated and wild. So, whether it was an accident or not, only heaven knows.
Thinking of such a talent dying amidst conspiracies and scheming, Yueyao couldn’t help but scrutinize the young Marquis Yongding Heir before her. Although he looked youthful, his stature was tall and straight, with a face like a handsome jade sculpture, eyebrows like ink paintings, and a pair of eyes so dark they seemed as if they could drip water.
Looking at Guan Jingshuo, people said the Heir to Marquis Yongding had no arrogance, yet Yueyao felt it wasn’t that he lacked arrogance, but that he kept it concealed within. Just like now, even as he stood quietly there, he was exceptionally elegant and charismatic, exuding an aura of noble purity and leaving others feeling naturally ashamed in his presence.
Yueyao sighed heavily in her heart; it truly was a pity. Without that conspiracy, perhaps the Great Yuan Dynasty would have seen two monstrous talents who achieved a first-place ranking in all three levels of the imperial examinations.
Young Master Ning, Ning Shaoming, seeing Yueyao’s infatuated expression, became displeased, “Hmph, even though my cousin has a reputation for talent and is handsome and suave, you don’t have to look at him with such infatuation! I’ll have you know, my cousin has high standards and wouldn’t fancy…”
Ma Chengteng’s expression darkened immediately. Although he didn’t know why Yueyao was looking at Guan Jingshuo, he trusted in his niece’s character. Ning Shaoming’s words were slandering his niece’s reputation, which was utterly indecent. He snorted coldly, “Young Master Ning seems to have quite a way with words?”
Ning Shaoming turned an unsightly color on hearing Ma Chengteng’s remark. Had he spoken wrongly? Was the woman not here acting lovestruck? Otherwise, why would she be staring at his cousin?
Guan Jingshuo, seeing that Shaoming was about to retort, decisively stopped him, “Shaoming, talking in a bookstore is unbecoming.” Did this brat not see that although Miss Lian’s gaze lingered a bit long on him, it was filled with admiration and a touch of pity aside from surprise? Although he didn’t know what the lady was feeling pity for, he knew for certain she hadn’t been lost in her gaze towards him.
Ning Shaoming reluctantly closed his mouth.
Guan Jingshuo pulled Shaoming to apologize to Yueyao. Ning Shaoming, with a reluctant face, said, “You want me to apologize? What right have you?”