northernbook Chapter 269 Fulfilling the Promise
Chapter 269 Fulfilling the Promise
Shen Mingzhu looked at the small fried fish in Zhao Jue's bowl, lying perfectly intact on the porcelain white plate, without touching it.
Even if it's just to pretend to take a bite.
"Third Master, when you were returning to the capital in triumph, you encountered bandits on the way. While you were suppressing the bandits, you unintentionally came to our village."
“Our place is a poor, remote area where we make a living by growing crops. Families with sons go hunting in the mountains, then collect some mountain products to sell. Once they have saved enough money, they go to a matchmaker to buy a child bride.”
“They bought me from a matchmaker. They were afraid I would run away, so they put iron chains on my feet. I tried to run away several times, but without exception I was caught and brought back, and each time I was beaten more severely than the last.”
“I told them that my family was very wealthy and that if they would take me home, my family would definitely pay them.”
"They asked me where my family lived and what kind of business I did. I can't remember many things, except that there was an osmanthus tree in the backyard of my house, and under the osmanthus tree was a water vat with a hole in it. Other than that, I only remember that my surname was Shen and that my father was an official."
“No one believed me; instead, they laughed at me for daydreaming.”
"Only you." Shen Mingzhu's calm voice finally showed a hint of emotion as she softly said, "Only you believed me, rescued me, and took me to the capital to find my parents."
The family that bought her knew that Zhao Jue was no ordinary person. Fearing that she would cause trouble, they locked her in the house and forbade her to show her face.
They only let her out after Zhao Jue finished eating and left, allowing her to go to the river to wash her clothes.
As fate would have it, she met Zhao Jue by the river and asked him for help.
Zhao Jue frowned, recalling this past event.
He's not one to meddle in other people's business and he hates getting into trouble.
From the beginning, he had no intention of saving Shen Mingzhu.
After all, her identity is highly suspicious, and it remains to be seen whether she was a child bride who was bought.
At the last minute, he changed his mind.
Because Shen Mingzhu spoke a few words of official language and some of the rules of wealthy families.
If she were a native country girl, she certainly wouldn't speak Mandarin or understand the strict rules. Moreover, the iron chains on her feet clearly indicate that they were to prevent her from escaping.
This further confirms that Shen Mingzhu was abducted.
Zhao Jue's doubts were dispelled.
Even though Shen Mingzhu was sallow-faced and extremely thin at that time, her striking beauty could still be vaguely discerned.
Especially her clear, pure eyes, which possessed an innocent and simple charm untouched by the world. Such women, untouched by worldly affairs and not yet corrupted by its ways, were deeply loved by the officials of the capital.
He then had an idea: to take Shen Mingzhu back to Beijing and help her find her family.
If her family background is truly as she claims, it could help him expand his network.
If she is lying, she will be kept in another courtyard, trained by someone, and then given away as a slut.
He took her to the capital, and as she listened to the shouts from the street vendors, she uttered the name of a street.
Zhao Jue asked Shen Mingzhu a few questions and guessed that she had lived in Qingyi Lane when she was a child.
Since this area was inhabited by high-ranking officials and nobles, he intentionally took Shen Mingzhu for a walk around Qingyi Lane, hoping that she would still remember her family home.
Unexpectedly, Shen Mingzhu pointed to the Chengen Marquis's residence and said that this was her home.
She said she remembered that when she was a child, she was naughty and poured ink into the mouth of a stone lion, which stained the stone ball black.
Zhao Jue often visited the Marquis's residence and was unaware that the stone lions had ink in their mouths. However, he remembered that there was an osmanthus tree in the backyard of the Marquis's residence, and there was indeed a broken water vat under the tree.
He dismounted and examined the stone lion closely, and sure enough, he found traces of ink remaining in the lion's mouth.
The ink stains were old and had a vintage feel to them, unlike freshly spilled ink.
Furthermore, the surname mentioned by Shen Mingzhu also matches, and an answer is about to be revealed.
Nevertheless, Zhao Jue did not believe that Shen Mingzhu was the daughter of the Marquis of Chengen; on the contrary, he became suspicious.
He suspected that Shen Mingzhu had been bribed to deliberately ask him for help, then reveal information about her background step by step, and finally deceive him by saying that she was the daughter of the Marquis of Chengen.
If she is the daughter of the Marquis of Chengen, then who is Shen Qingtan?
Zhao Jue was convinced that Shen Mingzhu had ulterior motives and was deliberately getting close to him in order to sabotage his marriage alliance with the Marquis of Chengen.
Thinking of this, he took Shen Mingzhu to the Marquis of Chengen's house, deliberately letting him recognize her, so as to expose Shen Mingzhu and find out who was behind her.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Madam Shen secretly examined Shen Mingzhu and confirmed that Shen Mingzhu was indeed the daughter of the Marquis's family.
From that point on, things spiraled out of his control.
"You rescued me and brought me back to the capital, allowing me to be recognized by my ancestors, and promised me that you would never betray me for the rest of your life." Shen Mingzhu smiled as she said this, "I took it seriously, thinking that we would grow old together."
He was born into nobility and was highly likely to become the heir of the Duke's mansion. She, on the other hand, although born into a noble family, had lived in the countryside and had never received a proper upbringing.
She felt very inferior and was afraid that she was not good enough for him, so she was cautious and obsequious in front of him.
It was clear that Zhao Jue needed something from the Marquis's mansion, but she could never muster the courage to stand up for herself in front of him.
What did she ultimately gain?
“You broke your promise, abandoned me, and abandoned the child.” At this point, Shen Mingzhu’s tone suddenly changed, and she became agitated: “I have nothing left, and even this place to stay was given to me by Shen Qingtan.”
Her pride and dignity, which she had maintained in front of Shen Qingtan, were completely crushed.
Shen Mingzhu could not imagine that while she was living a painful and wretched life in the shadows, Zhao Jue was marrying another woman, enjoying high office and great wealth, and living a life of great success.
That's worse than killing her.
Zhao Jue realized something was wrong, abruptly stood up, and quickly walked towards the door.
The door was tightly shut and locked from the outside.
Zhao Jue's expression changed drastically. He kicked the door and pounded on it, but the door didn't budge. Only the dull thud of the brass lock hitting the door could be heard.
His forehead veins bulged, and his eyes were filled with rage. He walked up to the table and grabbed Shen Mingzhu by the neck.
Zhao Jue roared in fury, "You vile woman, what exactly do you want to do?"
He was very strong, and he wanted to strangle Shen Mingzhu.
Shen Mingzhu couldn't breathe and struggled painfully for a while before grabbing his hand that was choking her neck and loosening his grip slightly.
"Third Master, you said you would grow old with me and never leave me." Shen Mingzhu said these words with difficulty, and pushed the oil lamp on the table to the ground: "I just want you to keep your promise."