Chapter 1: Broken Engagement

Sponsored Content

“Junior sister Shu, give me back the jade ruyi.”

Just as she arrived at the drawing room, Murong Yun Shu heard those words coming from Fang Hongfei.
She was startled for a few seconds before she managed to react.
The jade ruyi was the Fang family’s heirloom.
Ten years ago mother Fang had gifted it to her as an engagement token.
Now he came by himself to demand it back…

“As compensation, I’ll give you a treasured sword.” Fang Hongfei raised a hand, motioning for the attendant behind him, who was holding a big open brocade case, to hand it over to her.

Murong Yun Shu swept her gaze over the treasured sword, but didn’t receive it.
She said indifferently, “No need.
The jade ruyi originally belonged to the Fang family.
Returning it to you is a matter of course.”

“After all it’s me…causing you a loss.”

“You don’t have to feel guilty.
I’m not taking your precious sword not because I’m blaming you, but only because I’m worried that one day you’ll come with a cleaver to exchange for this treasured sword and waste everybody’s time.”

Hearing her words, Fang Hongfei was deeply embarrassed.
“You… What do you mean by that?”

Murong Yun Shu raised her left eyebrow, asking leisurely, “Is there anything else?”

“…No.”

“Then take care.
I won’t see you out.”

“Junior sister Shu…” Fang Hongfei was about to chase after her, but he was blocked by Murong Yun Shu’s personal maid.

“Young hero Fang, the exit is that way.” Lu’er pointed at the gate as she spoke.

“I know that, I wanted to…”

“Young hero Fang, have a good day.”

“I still haven’t…”

“Someone come see the guest out.”

“You… Good! Since your Murong House doesn’t put my Mingjian1 Manor in your eyes, in the future don’t blame me for ignoring you in danger!” After bitterly spitting out this sentence, Fang Hongfei left in a huff.

“Miss, I’m afraid there’s a deeper meaning behind what Fang Hongfei said when he departed,” Lu’er said with a heavy heart.

Without any worries, Murong Yun Shu flipped through an account book with one hand and worked the abacus with the other.
She spoke firmly, “Let him.
Which dog doesn’t bark a few times before biting?”

“That’s right, he’s just a dog.
Wait, no, even dogs are better than him! A dog wouldn’t come to break off an engagement immediately after the master passes away.” Lu’er was full of righteous indignation.

“I also wouldn’t get married to a dog.”

Sponsored Content

“……”

“Kicking a man when he’s down is a very common phenomenon, there’s no need for resentment.” Murong Yun Shu kept her indifferent appearance as she concentrated on her calculations.
It seemed like nothing could interest her aside from the account book.

Her mistress’ way of enduring in silence saddened Lu’er.
“Ey, if master was still around, who in Jinling would dare bully our Murong House or our young lady…”

Hearing that, Murong Yun Shu’s slender fingers paused over the abacus.
She slowly raised her head and her pair of bright eyes stared fixedly at her as she spoke in a serious tone, “Even if dad isn’t around, there still won’t be anyone who dares to bully Murong House.”

“Miss…” Lu’er burst into tears.
The young lady finally grew up, she grew up2!

Murong Yun Shu cast a sidelong baffled glance at the bawling Lu’er, then lowered her head to continue doing the accounts.
After working the abacus a few times, she paused again and said, “Go see a doctor.
If you have no money, take some from the accounts office.”

Lu’er was clueless.
“Why should I see a doctor?” She wasn’t ill!

“Eye disease.”

“……” She had no eye disease, but her internal injury was very heavy.
Lu’er gazed at her honorable mistress and sighed deeply.
Even if she grew up, it was still the same young lady.
Whatever she said was extraordinarily out of this world.

**

Murong House ran banks and jewelry stores.
Murong Yun Shu’s father, Murong Qing, had a hand in both the legal and illegal business worlds.
Under his management, Murong House’s Huifeng banks were spread around the whole country, practically monopolizing the entire market.
The jewelry stores ‘Qian Bian Wan Yin’3, that had their signboard engraved with golden letters, enjoyed a great reputation everywhere and were favored by nobles and high officials.

Before Murong Qing passed away, Jinling’s Murong House was a symbol of wealth and power.
The main hall was always bustling like a marketplace with everyone rushing in like ducks.
Within five short days after his death, the banks received a massive amount of requests to cash in on bank notes, the jewelry stores were gloomy and completely deserted.
Everyone believed that Murong House would decline from now on, without a chance of recovery.
Nobody came to curry favor, flatter, or offer courtesy again.
No one wanted to be associated with them, lest they get cheated out of money.

To a certain extent, Murong Yun Shu was happy about that.
Her natural disposition was calm and she wasn’t fond of crowds.
When her father was still alive, she rarely showed her face in front of people.
That was also one of the reasons that outsiders were confident Murong House would decline.
How could a sheltered young lady, who never took a step out of the house, support a business?

However, the people of Murong House knew that this seemingly delicate young woman was very business-savvy.
The only issue lay in whether or not she wished to take over the family business.

Murong Yun Shu really wanted to avoid troublesome things.
Her whole life, she only wanted to be a lazy young lady before marriage and a lazy young madam after marriage.
But the Heavens cracked a joke on her, making her simultaneously lose the protective umbrella of both her father and her husband within one week.

She didn’t have much of an impression of Fang Hongfei, only aware that he was the young master of Mingjian Manor and her future husband.
If it weren’t for this morning’s meeting, her hand-written letter would have probably already been in his hands, asking him to take over Murong House on the premise of marriage.

She truly didn’t expect him to come and break off their engagement.
In only five days, he already didn’t want to be related to Murong House because of their unstable situation?

Adjusting the cloak on her shoulders, Murong Yun Shu gazed at the night sky outside the window.
For the first time since birth, she sighed.

**

On the 15th each month, Murong Yun Shu would go to the temple to burn incense.
This month was no exception.
From very early in the morning, she was sitting on the soft sedan chair bearing Murong House’s crest, heading for Wanyun temple.
When they reached the old moon bridge, they encountered a large and grandiose bride escort procession on top of it, that obstructed their way.

“Miss, it’s Mingjian Manor’s bride escort procession.” Lu’er spoke through gritted teeth as she leaned toward the window of the sedan chair.

Sponsored Content

点击屏幕以使用高级工具 提示:您可以使用左右键盘键在章节之间浏览。

You'll Also Like