Chapter 84 - Who Else Could You Marry?

The man walking downstairs wore a sapphire blue rounded embroidery design robe with a white belt. He appeared handsome and dignified. He rarely smiled, and looked very indifferent.

Shen Ziqiao stared at him in shock. The sunshine shone into the window and on his body coincidentally, like a layer of golden light enveloping him. He looked at her, a glint of light flickering past his deep and pitch-black eyes.

“Eh? Young Master Qi is here too.” Luo Zhaohua already greeted Qi Zheng carefreely.

Shen Ziqiao thought that she should be more polite to him since he had saved her before. She smiled splendidly at him.

Qi Zheng’s bottomless and pitch-black eyes brightened slightly. He walked towards them.

“Young Master Qi is here to choose a birthday present as well?” Luo Zhaohua smiled and asked.

“I’m just here to take a look.” Qi Zheng said politely, his gaze landing on Shen Ziqiao’s pretty face. He curled the corner of his lips up a bit. This girl wasn’t hostile towards him anymore. It must be because he helped her at the store last time, so she really cleared off the debt.

How could she do that? He didn’t agree.

“Young Miss Luo, the golden embedded pearl and green jade earrings are ready. Do you want to take a look?” The shopkeeper of Jinxiu Pavilion saw Luo Zhaohua, this familiar customer, and immediately came to greet her.

Luo Zhaohua was delighted. “It’s already ready? Let me take a look quickly.”

She turned around to say to Shen Ziqiao, “I’m going over to grab the set of earrings first. I’ll come back later to choose a bracelet with you.”

Before Shen Ziqiao could reject, she already went up the second floor with the shopkeeper.

Qi Zheng looked down at her and noticed that the girl’s features seemed to be more beautiful and cuter than the first time he had seen her.

“Are you going to the palace for the empress’ birthday banquet?” He asked softly, his deep and hoarse voice was like rich wine, enchanting.

Shen Ziqiao was stunned for a moment after hearing his gentle tone. Then, she nodded blankly. “Yeah.”

Seeing her expression, Qi Zheng felt strangely satisfied. “Let me choose a gift with you.”

“Ah? It’s fine. Xiao Hua is here with me.” Shen Ziqiao thanked him for his offer. Naturally, it was better to choose a gift with someone of the same gender. They would be able to talk about a lot of details then.

“She doesn’t know what Her Majesty likes.” Qi Zheng said, reaching for Shen Ziqiao’s wrist and pulling her to the private room on the second floor. He indicated for the shop assistant to take out all the jadeite bracelets in the store.

“Third Miss!” Hong Yu glared at Qi Zheng’s hands. How could this person treat her Third Miss like that?

Shen Ziqiao glared angrily. “Qi Zheng, what do you want to do now? Are you trying to use me again?”

She thought that this man was going to use her, and then abandon her again.

Qi Zheng was mad. The grip on her wrist tightened. “When did I use you?”

“Then let me go first. Men and women need to keep a distance. Who knows what people are going to say about me if they see me like this. My reputation has been bad from the start. I definitely won’t be able to marry anyone in the future. Stop making it worse for me.” Shen Ziqiao glared at his hands, thinking about how many people had seen them like this. She’d definitely be cursed by Old Madam Shen again when she returned home.

“Who else do you want to marry?” Qi Zheng’s gaze darkened. He let go of her hands and asked indifferently.

Shen Ziqiao humphed. “What does this have to do with you?”

Qi Zheng smiled. “Who else could you marry?”

He was looking down at her! He made it seem like she really couldn’t get married.

“Qi Zheng, don’t be too excessive.” Shen Ziqiao said angrily.

Glancing at her angry expression, Qi Zheng was in a great mood.

Qi Zheng sat by the tutor chair and appeared relaxed and carefree, not guilty about the troubles he had brought for Shen Ziqiao.

“Come here and sit. I have to tell you something.” Qi Zheng pointed at the tutor chair beside him, indicating for her to sit.

If she walked over just like that, she’d be losing face. Shen Ziqiao looked to the side, refusing to go over.

“You want me to drag you over?” Qi Zheng smiled and asked.

Shen Ziqiao glared at him angrily. “What exactly do you want? Don’t you know that men and women need to keep a distance? I’m still a young unmarried woman, okay? Even I...know I should keep a distance. Don’t you know?”

She knew that Qi Zheng had done this on purpose!

What sort of lady would shout at a man, claiming that they’re a young unmarried woman that couldn’t get married? Qi Zheng’s smile grew, and he couldn’t contain his excitement. “Come over.”

Shen Ziqiao angrily tossed the teacup on the table over at him. “Bastard!”

Qi Zheng easily grabbed her teacup and suddenly stood up. He glared at her, reprimanding, “You dare to toss this at me?”

She suddenly felt pressured when the tall figure loomed over her. She recalled that he was a master with many unknown capabilities, so she immediately shrunk back. “You’re the one being too excessive.”

“Why are you still acting like a kid? You hit people so frequently. How are you like a girl in any way?” Qi Zheng laughed, slowly walking to her.

Although Hong Yu was afraid of Qi Zheng, she immediately summoned her courage to stand in front of Shen Ziqiao seeing that he was walking to her master, afraid that he might hurt her.

Shen Ziqiao pulled Hong Yu to the side and glared at Qi Zheng fearlessly. “What’s it to you whether I act like a girl or not?”

Qi Zheng smiled and shook his head. He then said in a low voice, “When you enter the palace, don’t casually offend people nor should you tell anyone everything. Just be good and stay by Lady Luo’s side. Don’t run around or cause trouble. Also, don’t be that close to Third Miss Sheng, understand?”

Ah? Shen Ziqiao didn’t think that Qi Zheng was going to talk to her about this. She froze for a moment.

He was worried for her...

He was actually worried for her! Plus, why did it feel a bit ambiguous? She must’ve been overthinking.

Qi Zheng knitted his dashing eyebrows seeing how stunned she saw. He asked in a deep voice, “Did you listen to my words?”

Shen Ziqiao was startled, and immediately snapped out of her trance. Her face flushed and she murmured in a low voice, “I heard it.”

Hong Yu smiled foolishly by the side.

Actually, Young Master Qi and Third Miss look like a couple together.

How could the Ninth Prince compare to Young Master Qi?

Qi Zheng’s gaze became brighter when he saw Shen Ziqiao’s flushed face. In a straight face, “Don’t act like you’re unwilling to accept this. You don’t think before acting and you’re simple-minded. You might get in trouble if you’re not careful. The imperial palace is different from the other places. Be careful. You don’t need to be so polite in front of the empress, okay?”

She didn’t understand why she didn’t need to be that polite in front of the empress.

Shen Ziqiao was stunned as she thought about this. Then she puffed up her cheeks and exclaimed, “How am I simple-minded? You’re the simple-minded one!”

Qi Zheng laughed out loud. Because of this smile, he appeared much younger and easier to approach.

“What’s so funny?” Luo Zhaohua’s delicate voice appeared by the door, glancing at Qi Zheng and Shen Ziqiao curiously.

“Luo Xiaohua! You’re supposed to come pick a present with me!” She actually left her behind to look at some sort of earrings. Shen Ziqiao neglected her flushed face and walked over to poke Luo Zhaohua’s face unhappily.

Luo Zhaohua smiled embarrassed. “I came to choose a gift with you now, did I not?”

Coincidentally, the shopkeeper walked in with the shop assistants, carrying countless brocade boxes in.

“Young Master Qi, Third Miss Shen, these are the best jadeite bracelets in Jinxiu Pavilion. You two can take a look.” The shopkeeper opened each of the brocade boxes. In it contained exquisite and colorful-looking bracelets.

Shen Ziqiao didn’t know how to choose the right jadeite. She looked at Luo Zhaohua and asked in a low voice, “Which one is better?”

Qi Zheng picked out a tender green jadeite bracelet in a considerately small brocade box. His gaze flickered as he said, “Choose this jadeite bracelet.”

The shopkeeper gave Qi Zheng a thumbs up. “Young Master Qi, you have great taste.”

Shen Ziqiao took the bracelet from his hands. The surface seemed smooth and bright. The quality of the jade was exquisite and transparent. There were no flaws. Even she, someone that didn't understand jades knew this was good.

Good things were usually expensive.

She was poor, okay!

“How about...we choose another one…” Shen Ziqiao said in a low voice.

Luo Zhaohua tugged her. “This one. Shopkeeper, send it to Shen Family.”

That shopkeeper agreed carefreely. He smiled at Shen Ziqiao and asked, “Third Miss Shen, do you want to choose other pieces of jewelry? We got some new golden hair pins with all sorts of different styles. You’d definitely look even more beautiful after wearing them.”

Shen Ziqiao glanced at him sideways. “Do I look ugly right now?”

Qi Zheng chuckled lowly. Shen Ziqiao rolled her eyes at him.

In the end, Shen Ziqiao did choose some accessories. After all, she couldn’t look poverty-stricken when she entered the palace.

Qi Zheng left after choosing the bracelet for Shen Ziqiao.

On the way back, Shen Ziqiao asked Luo Zhaohua curiously, “Is the bracelet that Qi Zheng chose really good?”

Luo Zhaohua lowered her head and fiddled with the earrings she just obtained, saying absent-mindedly, “Obviously the bracelet is of great-quality. However, that’s only second to whether the empress likes it or not. He knew that she would definitely like it.”

“Why?” Shen Ziqiao was even more curious.

“He is the empress’ nephew. Why wouldn’t he know? He knew what the empress likes best.” Luo Zhaohua smiled and said.

Ah! Qi Zheng was the empress’ nephew? It was hard to conceal her shock. This was the first time she heard that Qi Zheng was the empress’ nephew.

Since he had the empress as his backer, why did he act stupid all these years?

Shen Ziqiao thought gloomily.

Not long after she returned to Shen Family, Jinxiu Pavilion’s people sent the bracelet over. Shen Ziqiao had the head of the accounts office pay the bill. Then she went to look for Shen Zikai while carrying the bracelet worth a few thousand silver taels.

Shen Zikai complimented her great taste. Even more, she knew to pick a bracelet that the empress would like.

Only Madam Zhou cursed Shen Ziqiao for spending so much money.

Old Madam Shen was also angry. Shen Ziqiao was the one in charge of the household right now. The head of the accounts office was also swapped out. Even if she wanted to control Shen Ziqiao’s expenses, she couldn’t.

Although the silver taels came from the family, Shen Ziqiao thought that it was better for women to carry money on them. No matter what, she needed to get back her dowry as soon as possible!