CH 17

Ming Zhu had nothing to do, so she began to count her small treasury. She was a bit embarrassed, the only money she had was twenty taels. This money wasn't even enough to cover the expenses to travel all the way to Jiangnan.

Chapter 17

(6.3)

Ah Ruo made her a pot of flower tea and brought it to the table, seeming as if she wanted to say something.

Ming Zhu drank the flower tea while sitting under the sun and became sleepy from the exposure to the sun, so she lazily leaned against the pillow and dozed off.

Ah Rou looked at the miss's serene little face, while feeling really sad in her heart. She spent most of the year working in the woodshed and although the work was hard labor, but she had a good relationship with the people there and was able to inquire about a lot of news.

Ah Rou knew her own young lady, she was both kind and soft-hearted, if someone was a bit good to her, she would remember that kindness a lifetime. Previously, the crown prince had also been quite good to the young lady. Although the young lady didn't admit with her mouth, but Ah Rou also knew that the young lady was moved by the crown prince, for she previously stayed up two nights to make a peaceful charm, in order to prepare it in time for the crown prince's birthday and let people send it over.

Unfortunately, she fell in love with the wrong person. The only thing the crown prince loved about her was her looks.

"Miss ......"

Whether the pain was short or long, it was going to be painful anyway, so Ah Ruo steeled her heart and said, "His Highness is going to marry Miss Ru."

Ming Zhu laughed, "I know."

Yesterday, Ming Ru already came personally to her door and told her about this matter.

Ah Ruo added, "Miss, how about asking the prince to let you go?"

Ming Zhu let out a low sigh and said perfunctorily, "Hmm. I will ask him."

She won't, she knew that Zhao Zhi would not agree to it at all.

Ah Rou saw that she was being perfunctory and misunderstood that she was reluctant to leave the prince, so she became even more annoyed with him in her heart.

Ah Rou did not dare to tell her the conversation she heard back then when she was behind the rocks, for she was afraid that the lady would be upset. No one would feel too good when they hear their beloved man belittle their birth origin.

Ah Rou would always say whatever she wanted to say in front of Ming Zhu, "Miss, the crown prince is not even half as good as Wei gongzi."

Wei Chiyu came from a poor family, but he was very good as a person. Even if he was poor, he would often buy expensive snacks for her lady, and the money he'd earn by copying books, he would spend it all to buy hairpins and bracelets for her lady.

It wasn't easy at all, but after making a name for himself, he used all his family resources as the bride-price and was going to marry her young lady, according to all the rites, as the main wife, but against all odds, the crown prince stepped in.

Whenever Ah Rou thought about it, she wanted to vomit blood.

Ming Zhu's expression froze, "There's no use talking about this now."

Ah Rou said, "Wei gongzi succeeded the jinshi examinations. If miss had married him properly back then, you would have been able to live a good life."

(TL's note : the jinshi examinations are the highest level of examination, first session is held in the capital, second session is held before the emperor)

Ming Zhu lifted her eyes as she asked, "He succeeded the jinshi examinations ?"

Ah Rou nodded her head.

How nice. Ming Zhu felt happy for him from the bottom of her heart. Wei Chiyu treated her well enough in the past, but she and he weren't meant to be.

Ming Zhu couldn't help but ask more, "So, has his family moved?"

Ah Rou shook her head and replied, "No, they're still living in the back alley."

Just as Ming Zhu asked and got the answer, she instead began to feel sad, she lowered her little face and said despondently, "I haven't had time to return the jade bracelet he gave me."

It was a token left to him by his mother and was offered to her as the bride-price.

When the marriage was annulled, the Ming family returned the more than a dozen chests that served as the bride-price to him. The only thing that she didn't have a chance to give back was the jade bracelet that was already in her hands.

When the sun was setting, someone at the front of the house sent word that the crown prince had left the court.

Ming Zhu's heart jumped, wondering why he was coming over again? She hurriedly closed her mouth. She could not and dared not mention Wei Chiyu's name in front of Zhao Zhi.

Zhao Zhi seemed to be in a good mood, this morning he was invited by a friend to go to a tea-house in civilian clothes, and accidentally bumped into the legitimate eldest daughter of the Ming family dressed as a man.

The scholars in the tea-house were making couplets.

Ming Ru unexpectedly made a big show by matching several difficult couplets in a row.

She was extremely surprised to run into him, curtsied, and pleaded in a small voice, "Your Highness can never expose me, if my father finds out that I sneaked out, he will definitely punish me severely."

Zhao Zhi promised her that he would not say anything.

Ming Ru smiled, "Then, thank you in advance, Your Highness."

As Zhao Zhi casually hummed, Ming Ru took the liberty of sitting down beside him and asked for a cup of tea to drink.

Zhao Zhi also did not drive her away, sipping his cup of Maojian tea, he said, "You make good couplets."

Ming Ru was very humble, "The crown prince has over-flattered me."

After it was over, Ming Ru took her leave first.