In order to show his filial piety, Shen Qu specially set up a Seventh Feast. Every seven days, he would offer food and wine as a sacrifice, chant scriptures, and exorcise spirits. There had to be seven sets.
He had also earned a good reputation as he planned.
Shen Hua did not want to look at a hypocrite. On the day of the banquet, she carried her bamboo basket and left.
Inside the bamboo basket were the scriptures she had copied these days. She planned to burn them as a memorial to the dead.
According to the customs of Fengzhou City, she was not allowed to go to the grave for the first seven days. Shen Hua simply went to the main road in the suburbs. That was the place where Shen Wei had to pass when he went out of Fengzhou City to do business.
Because she would leave and return early, she did not bring Yi Cui along this time.
The carriage traveled steadily.
She sat in a daze. After a long time, she lifted her skirt and got off the carriage.
The air in the suburbs was fresh, and Shen Hua's lips curled into a smile. She turned around and instructed the coachman, "I recall that there's a peach pastry within a five-kilometer radius of the main road. The stall owner runs an open-air business. Father likes to eat that food. Go and buy some."
The coachman hesitated, not daring to leave Shen Hua alone. "Mistress, you need someone to serve you."
Shen Hua glanced at the girl who was holding a horse a few feet behind her and poking her head out.
She pointed with her fingertip. "It's fine. I know Third Lady Zheng."
There were few people in the suburbs. She looked around, found an empty space, and squatted down. The lighter was prepared. Soon, a fire was flickering.
"Hello, Shen Hua."
The woman with her arms crossed behind her groaned.
Shen Hua was not in a hurry to get up. She only looked at the rice paper turned into ashes quietly.
Her uneasy heart gradually calmed down with the crackling sound of the fire.
"Miss Mi, why did you follow me all the way here?"
Zheng Qianyu said angrily, "Do you know that Crown Prince He is now engaged to the Zhou family? That Zhou Zhizhi was very boastful at the engagement banquet. Now, everyone knows that she will be the Elementary Scholar's wife in the future. Alright, she can have fun pretending."
In Fengzhou City, she disliked Shen Hua the most, and Zhou Zhizhi was second.
If Shen Hua was said to be a sickly and pretentious flower of wealth, then Zhou Zhizhi was a little white lotus who feigned elegance.
Sometimes, this little white lotus was even more disgusting than Shen Hua.
Was Elementary Scholar He Chu blind?
Look at her! Zheng Qianyu! How was she not more suitable to marry than Zhou Zhizhi?
"Shen Hua, that Zhou Zhizhi has always been at odds with you. Seeing that the two of them are engaged, are you going to take this lying down?"
Shen Hua originally could not accept it.
As long as she wanted to, she could ruin the He family, but she did not.
Crown Prince He was like a villain, and Madam He was shrewd and unreasonable. Perhaps Zhou Zhizhi would not be estranged after marrying for a year and a half, but what if Crown Prince He could not take a step forward from Elementary Scholar?
Would Zhou Zhizhi, who thought so highly of herself and wanted to be the wife of a High Scholar, be able to live with this?
Zhou Zhizhi did not like doing chores. The He family's cooking, boiling water, and sweeping were all done by Mother He. After a long time, surely Mother He would complain about her.
The He family's days would probably be chaotic.
"This is a godsend."
Zheng Qianyu watched in anticipation as Shen Hua pulled out a slender finger. Her eyes finally had the childishness that a fourteen-year-old girl should have…
"In terms of looks, it's me, you, and lastly, Zhou Zhizhi."
When Zheng Qianyu heard this, she was displeased. "You're wrong. Shouldn't I be first?"
"Don't interrupt!"
Seeing this, Zheng Qianyu took a step back.
"Alright, alright. Zhou Zhizhi, that little white lotus, will still be the last."
Shen Hua pulled out another finger.
"In terms of knowledge, it's me, you, and lastly, Zhou Zhizhi."
Zheng Qianyu could be self-centered when it came to looks, but knowledge… She cleared her throat guiltily.
"That's a little biased. How can you have the cheek to say that? Zhou Zhizhi's ancestors were officials. She studied since she was young. If I remember correctly, you were so willful that you made no less than five teachers leave."
Shen Hua clutched her chest and asked as calmly as she could, "Are you going to be outdone?"
"No way!"
Hence, under Zheng Qianyu's expectant gaze, Shen Hua pulled out another finger.
"In terms of family background, it's me, you, Zhou Zhizhi."
Zheng Qianyu nodded heavily.
The Shen family had a lot of money. The Zheng family had rice that they could not finish in their entire lives! What did Zhou Zhizhi have?
In the end, Shen Hua stuck out her pinky again.
"As for personality, I'm docile and virtuous, and you only have some small problems. As for Zhou Zhizhi, it's hard to say."
This matter-of-fact tone made Zheng Qianyu choke.
'Docile and virtuous? You, Shen Hua?'
Also, what did he mean by she had a lot of small problems?
As expected, she had her reasons for hating Shen Hua.
Under the light, Shen Hua's thick eyelashes cast a shadow. She was afraid of the cold, so she specially wrapped herself up before leaving. The fur cloak was glossy and thick.
Shen Hua's calves felt heavy and were trembling, and her voice was weak. "Not only did I not stop a person whose looks, knowledge, and family background are inferior to ours from marrying into the He family, I even congratulated them on it. That's better than harming others."
Zheng Qianyu's pupils constricted as she took a huge step back.
Shen Hua, "…"
She did not plan to extort anyone today!
Zheng Qianyu was conflicted. "But I can't just watch Scholar He jump from a sea of fire to a fire pit."
Shen Hua, the sea of fire, "…"
She locked her gaze on Zheng Qianyu. "Do you like Crown Prince He?
"Do you really think that Chu He is a popular celebrity?
"Madam He is domineering and only has this one son, but Crown Prince He is blind and follows without thinking. Although he is a scholar, he is at the bottom of the rankings. What is there to like?
"Seeing that my family is in a hurry to break off the engagement on the day my father is buried, it's obvious that they're looking for power."
Zheng Qianyu frowned and hurriedly defended her sweetheart.
"He had no choice but to obey his mother's orders. Young Master He has always been filial."
Zheng Qianyu's face turned red, but she did not shy away. "He's a gentle and considerate man, but let me say this first. Before this, I've never been despicable and shameless enough to steal your man."
However, she wanted to steal from Zhou Zhizhi!!!
Zheng Qianyu's heart was pounding, and her eyes were filled with bright light.
Shen Hua, "…"
It was so ridiculous that she almost could not breathe.
Seeing that her expression was rather odd, Zheng Qianyu hesitated and stepped forward.
"What's wrong with you?"
Shen Hua said, "I want to throw up."
"What's wrong with you? Bear with it. I'll help you to the side."
Shen Hua did not move and only looked up faintly.
"I'm sick of what you're saying."
Zheng Qianyu, "!!!"
'Will you die unless I choke?!'
She turned around and left angrily.
"Wait."
Shen Hua frowned and sighed in disappointment. She said baldly, "I sailed the winds for many years."
"Speak in human language."
"… I'm thirsty."
"You really know how to order people around. Do you think I'm a servant of the Shen family?!" Zheng Qianyu muttered, but she still went to get the water bag.
Zheng Qianyu shook it, but it was empty. She shrugged.
"That's all. Bear with it. I'm leaving."
Shen Hua looked up, and the blue sky was clear.
"I never thought I'd end like this."
Zheng Qianyu, "…"
Shen Hua looked lifeless and on the verge of death. "If I'm guilty, please let the Three Pure Ones punish me instead of some people leaving me in the lurch."
Zheng Qianyu, "…Who are you mocking?"
It was just water!
She was going to find it!!!