flstandardbreds Chapter 182 Each takes one step back
Chapter 182 Each takes one step back
The carriage was parked outside the teahouse, and Wen Jiayue and Shen Fuhan got into it.
No one spoke first; only the dull rumble of the carriage passing by could be heard.
After a moment of silence, Shen Fuhan asked, "Why did you leave the manor today?"
Wen Jiayue replied casually, "Didn't I just say I wanted to go out for a walk?"
Shen Fuhan asked again, "You really didn't buy anything?"
Wen Jiayue nodded perfunctorily; she didn't want to talk to him any more right now.
Moreover, she didn't want him to know that she was there to buy a birthday gift.
Last year I prepared for a whole month, but this year I only prepared for one day. The difference is too great. What if he has too many thoughts about it?
Life goes on, we can't let things get too ugly.
She didn't intend to bring up the matter on the pleasure boat again; it was a good thing that both sides compromised.
Shen Fuhan didn't say anything more. After the carriage had traveled some distance, he lifted the curtain, glanced at it, and said calmly, "Stop the carriage."
Wen Jiayue was taken aback, assuming he had something to do and needed to get off the carriage, and wouldn't be going back to the mansion with her, so she didn't pay any attention to it.
Unexpectedly, Shen Fuhan said, "You get out of the car too."
Wen Jiayue asked, puzzled, "What are you doing?"
"Let me take you to buy some jewelry."
Wen Jiayue: "..."
In his past life, he had never taken her to a jewelry shop.
What is this supposed to be, compensation for seeing him and Li Zhilan in private?
She did not refuse and got out of the car decisively.
Since it's not her money, she can buy whatever she wants.
This jewelry shop was much larger than the one she visited today; it was the extremely famous Wanzhen Pavilion in Chang'an.
As soon as we entered the shop, the shopkeeper, with great perceptiveness, came to greet us.
"What kind of jewelry would you like to buy for your wife, sir? Our shop has everything you could want, and if you don't find anything you like, we can even make one to order."
Shen Fuhan raised an eyebrow slightly. Custom-made?
He didn't ask any questions, but he kept the matter in mind and followed Wen Jiayue.
Wen Jiayue glanced down at the dazzling jewelry and chose a gold-threaded jade bracelet.
She tried it on, looked it over, and said, "Wrap this up."
The shopkeeper was taken aback. She hadn't even had a chance to praise this lady yet, and she had already ordered it without even asking the price?
However, seeing that the two of them had an extraordinary air about them, and that the lady's hair ornament was quite valuable, the shopkeeper did not hesitate and instructed the maid to wrap it up.
Wen Jiayue then took a fancy to a safety buckle and a silver bracelet, which would fit Zhaozhao perfectly, and said, "I'll take these two too."
Thinking of Shen Chengyao, she chose a larger silver bracelet.
There was also an agate jade bracelet that looked perfect for Shen Funian, so she took it.
After selecting several more pieces of jewelry, Wen Jiayue took a fancy to a silver hairpin with dangling pearls.
The shopkeeper quickly brought over a bronze mirror for her to try on.
Seeing herself in the mirror, she was slightly taken aback. She had almost forgotten that she still had the hairpin that Li Zhilan had given her.
She pursed her lips, took it off, and put the silver hairpin in her hair.
"These are all I need." Wen Jiayue clutched the hairpin in her hand and didn't put it on again.
Shen Fuhan paused, then asked, "Are you really not going to buy it?"
Wen Jiayue looked at him suspiciously, as if he thought she hadn't bought enough.
She probably knew the price of these pieces of jewelry; any one of them could provide a commoner with enough to live comfortably for the rest of their life.
Shen Fuhan was silent for a moment, then said, "Let's settle the bill."
Wen Jiayue didn't care how much silver he paid and got into the carriage first.
She stretched out her hand, and the exquisite and beautiful hairpin lay quietly in her palm, faintly carrying the fragrance of Li Zhilan.
She stared at the hairpin for a long time until Shen Fuhan returned, at which point she put it away.
Shen Fuhan asked, "Did you buy the agate jade bracelet for yourself?"
Wen Jiayue didn't hide anything: "It's for my third sister."
She preferred understated colors; agate was too vibrant for her, but Shen Funian liked it.
Shen Fuhan then asked, "What about the larger silver bracelet?"
"This is for Yao'er."
She just wasn't sure if the size was right; if it was too small, she'd have to send someone over later.
Shen Fuhan remained silent.
The two remained silent on the way back to the Marquis's residence without incident.
Upon entering the main courtyard, Shen Funian and Shen Chengyao were preparing to leave.
Shen Funian thought her older brother would come back very late again tonight, but to her surprise, the two of them came back together.
"What's going on here..." Shen Funian asked in astonishment, "Didn't my elder brother go to the Dali Temple today?"
Shen Fuhan nodded and said, "I went. I accompanied the Emperor out of the palace this afternoon and happened to run into Yue'er."
Wen Jiayue hadn't heard this title in a long time, and she subconsciously trembled.
“Oh, I see,” Shen Fu said. “You’ve all had a long day, so let’s not teach Yao’er to read today. I’m leaving now.”
She clearly sensed something was off between the two of them and prepared to leave.
Unexpectedly, Wen Jiayue called out to her.
"Third sister, I... your eldest brother bought gifts for you and Yao'er."
She wouldn't steal Shen Fuhan's credit.
Shen Fuhan corrected him, saying, "We bought it together."
Shen Funian's gaze swept over them, and she gave a dry laugh.
"Thank you, brother and sister-in-law. I'll take the gift and leave now. You two can continue your conversation."
Wen Jiayue called her again.
Shen Funian didn't dare turn around to look at her older brother's expression and asked, "What's wrong?"
"If Yao'er's size is wrong, remember to bring it to me tomorrow, and I'll go to Wanzhen Pavilion to exchange it for a new pair."
"Okay, okay, I'm going now!"
Fearing she would call her back again, Shen Funian quickly grabbed her son and made a hasty retreat.
Wen Jiayue gave an order to serve the meal, but then took the things she had bought for Zhaozhao and walked towards the side room.
"My lord, please go and have your meal first. I will put the safety buckle and bracelet on Zhao Zhao and then come."
Shen Fuhan ignored her and followed behind her.
Wen Jiayue ignored him and walked straight towards the side room.
Zhao Zhao had just woken up, yawned slightly, and looked still sleepy.
Wen Jiayue affectionately pinched her little cheek and put a safety buckle on her.
She smiled and said, "We wish our Zhaozhao to live peacefully and healthily to the age of one hundred, free from illness and disaster."
Shen Fuhan glanced at the wet nurse, who curtsied and tiptoed out of the side room with a group of maids.
Wen Jiayue then put a silver bracelet on Zhaozhao's wrist.
Zhao Zhao curiously raised her hand, and the bell hanging from the bracelet rang crisply.
She glanced at the bell curiously, then bit it down with a "whoosh."
Wen Jiayue shook her head and chuckled, then removed her hand.
"Silly Zhao Zhao, it's not for eating."
Zhao Zhao looked at her in confusion, then bit the bell again.
Wen Jiayue sighed and had no choice but to take off the bracelet, planning to wait until she was older before putting it back on.
Shen Fuhan had been watching silently, then suddenly spoke up: "You bought things for Third Sister, Yao'er, and Zhaozhao."
Wen Jiayue glanced at him; wasn't it obvious?
Shen Fuhan asked, "And me?"
Wen Jiayue was taken aback: "Isn't it a bit inappropriate to use the Marquis's money to buy things for the Marquis?"
Shen Fuhan finally couldn't help but ask, "Tomorrow is my birthday, do you still remember?"