Chapter 27: Everyone in the world is pitiable

In three years, having traveled across most of Dayong, Xie Zian really hadn't encountered such a thing.

Unexpectedly, someone would admire his broad-mindedness!

Then, I shall impose on you, brother!

Although this scholar dressed ordinarily, he was neither humble nor arrogant; facing Xie Zian's invitation, he accepted it calmly.

No need for courtesy; we are both wanderers of the world—why must we have known each other before meeting?

What you say makes sense, brother; I was the one who was rude—I'll punish myself with a cup!

The scholar lifted the wine pot, poured himself a cup, drank it in one gulp, and was very forthright.

Satisfying!

Xie Zian clapped his hands, 'Young master will keep you company with a cup!'

Just like this scholar, he filled his cup and drained it in one gulp.

You, brother, are also a forthright person!

Today, I'll tell you about this imperial uncle!

The scholar immediately began to speak.

Xie Zian listened with great interest, as if listening to a storyteller.

Xie Lu stood beside him, his gaze rather strange.

Because the matters the scholar spoke of, both he and Xie Zian had experienced them, but at the time they did those things purely because his family's young master had a momentary lapse of judgment, without any deeper meaning.

Not bad, not bad; this imperial uncle truly possesses a heart for the world, a rare extraordinary man!

Praising oneself—is that acceptable?

Xie Lu sat beside him, feeling embarrassed for his family's little ancestor.

Could it be that he isn't worried about exposing his true self before this scholar someday, which would be awkward?

It's obvious that Xie Zian doesn't have such thoughts.

……

While Xie Zian and the scholar Zhang Weizheng were happily chatting, inside the Shen family mansion, Lady Lu, accompanied by her stewardess, was conducting the first round of selection on the maidens brought by the matchmaker.

First, appearance must be good; just this alone can eliminate at least ninety percent of the candidates.

Second, they need not be versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but at least they must be literate.

Finally, their family background must be simple and unblemished.

And this is merely the preliminary selection.

After everyone had been reviewed, Lady Lu selected thirteen individuals.

'Go call Seventh Miss over, so she can come take a look!'

Since these are maidens being chosen as Shen Yunyao's dowry attendants, they ultimately must satisfy Shen Yunyao.

Lady Lu does not like Shen Yunyao, but regarding her marriage, she will not be perfunctory, nor will she let Shen Yunyao be left out.

She also hopes that Shen Yunyao will someday help her brothers Shen Zhengun and Shen Zhengyi.

The mother-daughter affection is thin; Lady Lu has no intention of mending it.

She knows she has no standing to demand anything of this young lady, so she does not insist.

Moreover, the more aloof she is, the more it highlights the sibling affection between Shen Zhengun and Shen Zhengyi for Shen Yunyao.

Parental love for children entails planning for the long term.

Unfortunately, Lady Lu loves only her two sons.

When Shen Yunyao was notified to go see the maidens prepared for her dowry, she was actually quite shocked inside.

Miss!

'The lady still cares about you!'

Cuiyu, upon hearing this news, was delighted.

Shen Yunyao couldn't bear to disappoint the maiden, so she didn't refute, but instead followed the stewardess beside Lady Lu to the front courtyard.

The thirteen maidens wore dull gray clothes, but their spirits were good; each was full of vigor, fearing they'd be eliminated.

'Take a look, pick a few that are pleasing to the eye.'

'Let's pick eight first!'

As soon as Lady Lu spoke, the maidens remaining on site became nervous.

Picking eight means that five will be eliminated.

Once eliminated, they will be sent back to a distant place, and in the future no one knows who will buy them.

Although both are servitude, being able to work in a household like the Shen family means not only higher wages but also more opportunities.

Being a servant compared to becoming a concubine of the master is worlds apart.

Yes!

Shen Yunyao answered with a sound, then looked at the row of standing maidens.

In terms of appearance, after Lady Lu's selection, there's not much left to pick.

What Shen Yunyao values more is looking at these people's eyes.

She actually doesn't know what kind of person can thrive in a place like the Xie family, but at least they cannot be timid and hesitant.

After a round of selection, Shen Yunyao chose eight maidens whose eyes looked sharp and lively.

'Good, these eight maidens—first take them back to your quarters!'

After Shen Yunyao finished selecting the people, Lady Lu directly had her take them away.

Shen Yunyao didn't say much more, had Cuiyu greet the maidens to follow, and turned to take her leave.

Her small courtyard is tiny; besides her bedchamber, a study, and the side room where Cuiyu lives, the rest is just a storage room.

These eight maidservants entered her small courtyard; how to place them is a problem.

However, Shen Yunyao did not ask; she simply obeyed the order.

After Shen Yunyao led the people away, Madam Lu looked at the paper in her hand, which listed thirteen names, five of which were marked—these were precisely the five maidservants Shen Yunyao had selected and left behind.

"Send them back!"

Madam Lu picked up the paper in her hand and told the nearby granny to get to work.

"Please, madam, grant mercy!"

When the grannies stepped forward, trying to send these five maidservants away, one of them suddenly knelt on the ground and began kowtowing to Madam Lu.

Seeing this, Madam Lu furrowed her brows, and her face turned somewhat unsightly.

The scene before her eyes evoked an unpleasant memory.

Once, out of soft-heartedness, she had kept a maidservant, but later that maidservant stabbed her in the back and climbed into Third Master Shen's bed.

"Throw them out!"

Madam Lu sank her face and spoke coldly.

Now she will not indiscriminately bestow kindness.

There are many pitiful people in this world; she herself is pitiful—what right does she have to pity others?

Upon hearing Madam Lu's words, the nearby rough maid hurried forward, dragged the kneeling, pleading maidservant up, and hauled her all the way to outside the Shen family gate.

During this, the maidservant kept weeping and pleading.

However, no one paid any heed.

……

At the wine tavern, Xie Zian, half-drunk, happened to glance toward the Shen family gate and saw that maidservant being dragged out by two rough maids.

"Tsk tsk, what's going on here?"

Xie Zian narrowed his eyes, intensely curious.

Zhang Weizheng glanced aside, curled his lip, and said, "It's just the wailing of someone who failed to change their fate—nothing worth being curious about!"

"Speak!"

Xie Zian looked toward Zhang Weizheng.

"This time, Third Madam Shen is selecting maidservants for her daughter's dowry; if selected, for these maidservants sold by their parents, it would undoubtedly be a leap from lowly status to great fortune."

"Even if not selected, being retained by the Shen family would still be good."

"Those people earlier were simply rejected outright, so they might as well accept their fate."

"This maidservant, I suspect, was initially selected, but later, for some reason, was rejected again—she must be unwilling to accept it."

"Brother Zhang, don't you find her pitiful?"

Xie Zian watched the nonchalant Zhang Weizheng and suddenly realized that this Brother Zhang was actually quite extraordinary.

"Everyone in the world is pitiful; what right do I, a humble person, have to pity others?"

"Furthermore, if I pity others, who will pity me?"

(End of chapter)