Dandy Escapes From Marriage - Chapter 54

After getting off the sedan chair, Liu Shu supported the unsteady Shen Ke into the Liu family’s residence. Several elder brothers were murmuring in the main hall, discussing something unknown. 

 

As soon as they saw Liu Shu bringing a man inside, mocking voices immediately arose.

 

“You little brat are asking for trouble? Mr. Shen is still in our house, and you dare bring this wild man here?”

 

“If you mess around, don’t drag us down with you. Quickly throw this wild man out!”

 

“Even though Young Master Shen from the Shen family is not particularly handsome, he’s more than suitable for you. Considering his background and yours, there’s still some match.”

 

“Come to think of it, haven’t I seen that Young Master Shen from the Shen family since we finished dinner?”

 

The group glanced at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and shook their heads.

 

“Are you finished?” Liu Shu asked expressionlessly, “If you’re done, make way. Don’t be like annoying dogs blocking the road.”

 

“Who do you think you’re talking to like that, little brother? Do you believe I—” 

 

“I’m the one who’s going to marry into the Shen family. Watch your words and actions.” Liu Shu suddenly smiled.

 

The four men were stunned, looking at him incredulously. After a while, the eldest brother asked, “Are you really going to marry into the Shen family?”

 

“Yeah, considering his background and mine, if he can appreciate me, it’s my good fortune.” Liu Shu sneered contemptuously, giving them a disdainful glance, “How you treat me in the future, think carefully about it yourselves.”

 

The group remained motionless, seemingly pondering the situation.

 

At this moment, the person who had been groggy all along slowly raised his head, staring directly at the four of them.

 

Hiss—

 

This lad really had a unique temperament!

 

Just as the four were astonished by his appearance, they heard him ask, “What makes you look down on him, considering your backgrounds? Though we come from the same roots, why do you single him out?”

 

“No, you have no right to speak here. Get out while Young Master Shen from the Shen family isn’t here, or you’ll regret it.” The fourth brother threatened harshly.

 

“I am Young Master Shen from the Shen family.”

 

The four men were dumbfounded for a while, then waved their hands, “Go, go, go, stop acting drunk here.”

 

“Ah Ke, let’s go.” Liu Shu couldn’t be bothered with them anymore, supporting Shen Ke as they prepared to walk towards the inner courtyard, only to run into Old Master Liu.

 

“Why are you still standing here instead of resting? Are you going to guard the door?” Old Master Liu scolded them, then saw Shen Ke and immediately greeted him warmly, “Young Master Shen, did you go out to play with Xiao Wu? Come back and rest properly.”

 

The four were astonished, and the fourth brother asked in a low voice, “Father, is he really Young Master Shen? Isn’t Young Master Shen supposed to be different? How did he end up like this?”

 

“Shut up.” Old Master Liu quickly lowered his voice and reprimanded him.

 

“Wait.” Shen Ke turned around and pointed at them, “You four, for your misconduct, each of you will copy the Book of Ethics five hundred times.”

 

The four men looked at Old Master Liu in horror. Old Master Liu said, “What are you looking at? Do as he says and copy it!”

 

The four: “”

 

Soon after, Lu Yuerju and Mrs. Shen also returned to the mansion and went to their respective rooms.

 

A moment later, Mrs. Shen planned to find Shen Ke for a chat, but didn’t see him in the guest rooms. After asking around, she found out he had been taken to Liu Shu’s room.

 

Mrs. Shen’s eyebrows twitched. She pressed her chest, took a deep breath, and then asked a servant to bring her over to fetch him back.

 

But who would have expected that as soon as she reached Liu Shu’s door, she saw a woman eavesdropping by the door.

 

The two women stared at each other. Lu Yuerju smiled awkwardly and pointed to a nearby seat.

 

Mrs. Shen shook her head.

 

Lu Yuerju silently invited again.

 

Mrs. Shen pretended to compromise, took three steps forward, approached the door, and heard Liu Shu’s voice inside, “Alright, alright, wash your face and go to sleep.”

 

“Where are you going?” Shen Ke, lying drunkenly on the bed, asked.

 

“I’m going to get you a glass of water.” Liu Shu sat on the edge of the bed, preparing to get up, but was pulled back. With one hand propping up the bed edge, he looked down at him.

 

“I’m not thirsty.”

 

Chapter 54

 

Liu Shu lowered his gaze and rolled his throat slightly, “I’m a bit thirsty.”

 

Before he finished speaking, a large hand pressed against the back of his head, and he fell into his arms, lips meeting in a light, misty kiss, warming the air around them.

 

Suddenly, Liu Shu heard a noise outside the door. He quickly raised his head, “Who’s out there?”

 

Footsteps hurriedly retreated. Liu Shu got up to catch the person, but forgot he was still holding Shen Ke’s hand. With a tug, he pulled Shen Ke towards the edge of the bed.

 

Shen Ke didn’t check his balance, leaned back, and fell off the bed.

 

“Ah Ke!”

 

The next day, when Liu Shu opened his eyes, he found Shen Ke already up. Rubbing his eyes sleepily, he asked, “Isn’t your head hurting?”

 

“Not really, just a slight buzz, not a hangover.” Shen Ke was dressed neatly, exploring his room.

 

“Does your butt still hurt?” Liu Shu asked again.

 

Shen Ke replied, “It’s nothing serious.” A little bit.

 

The room was spacious, filled with all sorts of curious and ancient artifacts. He picked up a smoking pipe at random and asked, “Do you use this?”

 

“No, this was something I won in a bet with someone before. They said it’s a treasure left from the previous dynasty.” Liu Shu rolled out of bed, ran over in three steps, and introduced it.

 

“This is fake, you’ve been deceived.”

 

Liu Shu felt thunderstruck.

 

A servant knocked on the door, entering with water to assist Liu Shu in dressing.

 

Shen Ke stood by, watching lazily as the maid opened her arms and hands, and the maid helped him put on his clothes and bent over to help him put on his shoes. Another maid handed him a twisted handkerchief, which he returned after wiping his face. Finally, another maid specially tied up his hair, and when he opened the cabinet, there were dozens of jade crowns and hairpins.

 

Even the jade hairpin was so much, why was there only one set of clothes?

 

He threw this question out, and Liu Shu looked at him with more confusion: “Don’t you fit all your clothes in one room?”

 

Liu Shu took him to the next room, pushed open the door, and inside were hundreds and thousands of closets, filled with clothes.

 

Shen Ke: “”

 

Up to now, he finally had a true understanding of Liu Shu’s past days, couldn’t help feeling deeply moved: “How did you endure for so long in the countryside?”

 

“Of course, it’s because of you. Only by enduring hardships can I pursue my beloved!” Liu Shu held his hand and kissed him.

 

“Cough!”

 

The two turned their heads and saw Lu Yuerju leading Mrs. Shen past. They hurriedly called out, “Mother.”

 

“What are you still standing here for? Go have your meal.” Lu Yuerju said.

 

“We’re going.”

 

Liu Shu pulled Shen Ke and ran towards the direction of the main hall. After running a few steps, Shen Ke subconsciously rubbed his butt from the fall last night.

 

Mrs. Shen: “”

 

Lu Yuerju smiled awkwardly, “Sister, since this matter has already happened, then we…”

 

“We must get them married as soon as possible.” Mrs. Shen said.

 

During breakfast, four pairs of naked eyes stared straight at them.

 

After a night of consideration, the elders didn’t show the same panic and absurdity as they did last night, but instead kept scrutinizing them.

 

Master Liu and Lu Yuerju seemed more satisfied the more they looked at Shen Ke, while Mrs. Shen’s gaze was more complex.

 

“Don’t look at me like that, quickly eat. Uncle and Aunt, try this, it’s a specialty snack from Jinling.” Liu Shu enthusiastically served them food, smiling, “I’m sorry for the embarrassment last night, but I promise to behave properly from now on. You can all supervise me!”

 

“I heard from your mother about your affairs in the countryside, and naturally, I trust Ah Ke’s judgment. You’re a good child,” Mrs. Shen said, taking out a jade pendant from her bosom and handing it to him, “This is a jade pendant left by Ah Ke’s grandmother for her son-in-law.”

 

Liu Shu looked surprised at the jade pendant, turned to Shen Ke, who nodded. He immediately gratefully accepted it, “Thank you, Aunt!”

 

Lu Yuerju kicked Master Liu under the table. Master Liu whispered, “When my mother passed away, you weren’t even in the family yet, so there’s nothing left behind.”

 

Unable to send such a deep gift, Lu Yuerju had to take a practical approach. She went back to her room and brought out a box, placing it in front of Shen Ke. Opening the lid, she said, “This is also a token of our goodwill. Please accept it.”

 

Inside were rows of gold ingots, each topped with silver notes worth ten thousand taels, stunning the three members of the Shen family.

 

“You can’t use this, we haven’t even started the process of discussing engagement gifts and dowries,” Mrs. Shen hurriedly closed the lid.

 

“This isn’t an engagement gift or dowry, just a token of our meeting. It’s rare for our Liu Shu to meet someone he sincerely likes, so we’re giving a modest gift, which is only right,” Lu Yuerju said.

 

What a modest gift! Mrs. Shen felt a little dizzy.

 

Shen Ke said, “Aunt, I appreciate your kindness, but this…”

 

“If you want to be with Liu Shu, then accept this,” Lu Yuerju sighed deeply, “I know more than anyone that Liu Shu can be a bit of a rogue.”

 

Liu Shu whispered, “Is she still not his biological mother?”

 

“We haven’t had time to control him on weekdays, our only requirement for him is to live happily, he’s used to being wilful, and I’ve never seen him suffer before, let alone see him doing business, wearing clothes that he doesn’t usually wear, yelling at neighbors, taking care of the people around him, and keeping his rebellious temper, and I’ve never seen him suffer before.” Lu Yuerju solemnly pushed the box to him again, “I’m the one who gave him life, and you are the one who let him have a new life, so this is also a thank-you gift for making him so good, and thank you for wanting to marry him.”

 

As she spoke, her eyes slowly turned red. Liu Shu guessed that she was thinking about the bad omen about herself, as long as she hadn’t safely crossed the age of eighteen, she would never let her heart down, and so the good feelings and apologies for the Shen family had made her more than grateful.

 

“Just take it, this thing is nothing to our family,” Liu Shu urged.

 

Shen Ke thought for a moment and said, “Thank you,” and accepted it generously.

 

The Shen family was originally scheduled to return to the capital today, but they did not expect that the cancellation of the divorce would turn into a good thing. Since they had come together, they decided to stay for another day and discuss how to manage the marriage with the Liu family.

 

“We’ve prepared the betrothal gifts,” Lu Yuerju smiled, “Liu Shu told me early that he wanted to marry Ah Ke, so I came back to prepare, and I didn’t expect it to come in handy.”

 

“This betrothal gift?” Shen Yanqing was slightly surprised and a little embarrassed. “Even if it is a betrothal gift, it should be our family’s responsibility.”

 

“Yes, yes, we have prepared the dowry.” Master Liu immediately smoothed things over and gave Lu Yuerju a meaningful look.

 

After a brief thought, Lu Yuerju thought of the intricacies. Almost forgot that the Shen family is an aristocratic family in Beijing. If they want to marry their son to a businessman’s illegitimate son, it will inevitably be ridiculed. The fact that they don’t care about Liu Shu’s identity and allow them to marry is already a lucky thing. This superficial effort still needs to be coordinated privately, but she looked triumphantly at Liu Shu, and said to herself: Indeed, my good son!

 

After three books and six rites, they continued to discuss the matter of matchmakers and guests.

 

“As for matchmakers, I have a proposal…” Shen Ke had just started speaking when a servant came in and interrupted.

 

“Master, Madam, there’s someone outside looking for you, saying it’s sent by the young master.”

 

Master Liu and Lu Yuerju looked at Liu Shu in puzzlement. Liu Shu raised his head and was even more puzzled, “I’m here myself, why would anyone be looking for Dad and Mom?”

 

“The man said he was entrusted by the young master to bring something back to the two elders.”

 

Liu Shu remembered for a moment, suddenly looked at Shen Ke, awakened and said, “I gave a piece of amber pendant to the general brother, who came to Jinling to ask my mother for some money to buy good clothes for my future bride.”

 

Shen Ke stopped and his eyes were deep: “Who is the bride?”

 

“Of course it’s you, can  it be me?” Liu Shu asked sincerely