Chapter 333 (1/2)

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t.i.tle: The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir

Chapter 333 - What do you think of my daughter? (2)

Ji Man was eating when she heard Zhu Shuyou say, ”Teacher Ji, I heard that you're not married yet.” Ji Man almost spit out the food that she was chewing. She hurriedly stood up and said, ”This one isn't in a hurry to start a family.”

Ning Yuxuan was nearby and making small talk with a group of court officials. Zhu Shuyou glanced over his way, then he stretched his hand out and pulled Ji Man to the side.

As it turned out, this tendency of abruptly pulling people to the side was a hereditary habit for the Zhu family.

Looking at Ji Man with a good-natured expression, Zhu Shuyou said, ”Teacher Ji, as someone that's part of Marquis Moyu's household, you'll likely to have bright prospects in your future. I heard that you also have a family business?”

Ji Man cleared her throat. ”... This one has a relative that's a grain merchant.”

Zhu Shuyou nodded. ”It's about time for the rice that's being used for the tribute to be changed. We've always been using rice from the Li family. But, actually, rice from any merchant family would be okay too. Teacher Ji, would your family be able to do this business?”

Ji Man gasped. This was the rice that would enter the palace! Looking at him with a somewhat guarded gaze, she said, ”Sir Zhu, your favor is too high. This one is just from a small merchant family...”

a.s.sistant Minister Zhu chuckled. ”There's no need to be so self-effacing. Once the rice becomes tribute rice, does it matter if it came from a small merchant family or a large one? Won't its price increase by a hundredfold either way? Actually, speaking of this matter, it's quite the coincidence. The decision for choosing which merchant to buy the rice from is under my purview. I'm also familiar with the people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”

The discussion had already gotten to this point, so Ji Man frankly asked, ”Sir, is there something that you would like this one to do?”

Since he was willing to give out such a fatty piece of meat, then the help that he wanted couldn't be small. Ji Man didn't guess wrong. What he wanted really wasn't something insignificant.

Zhu Shuyou opened his mouth and straightforwardly asked, ”Teacher Ji, since you don't have a wife, what do you think of my daughter?”

Ji Man had seen parents worried about marrying off their daughters, but she had never seen something like this before. How horrible exactly was Zhu Yurun that her father had to pay such a high price in order to marry her off?

Ji Man wanted to cry, but she didn't have tears. She wasn't a man. Even if you wanted to give her the imperial harem, she still couldn't marry a woman.

”I know that this isn't an issue that can be rushed, so you can take your time to consider this.” Zhu Shuyou patted her shoulder and said, ”After all, my daughter is really...” Zhu Shuyou trailed off with a sigh.

Honestly, Zhu Yurun wasn't ugly, so Ji Man couldn't understand. Why would she have such a difficult time getting married?

---

On the way back, Ji Man asked Ning Yuxuan her earlier question.

Looking as if he had just stepped into dog p.o.o.p, Ning Yuxuan said, ”He wants you to marry his daughter?”

Ji Man nodded. ”It's probably because I have such a gentlemanly appearance.”

”You can't marry her.” Ning Yuxuan interrupted her. With a blackened expression, he said, ”I won't even bring up the fact that you're a woman. Even if you're a man, Zhu Yurun isn't someone that you can marry.”

”Why?” Ji Man was somewhat surprised.

Ning Yuxuan sternly answered, ”She's an unclean and faithless person. She's not even married yet, and she's already pregnant. You should keep your distance from her.”

Ji Man slightly furrowed her brow. She recalled Zhu Yurun's physical state. As it turned out, she wasn't actually chubby. It was just a sign that her pregnancy was progressing well.

If a woman got pregnant out of wedlock in ancient times, she would either hang herself out of shame or be cursed at so badly by other people that she would become scared of going outside. Ji Man didn't think Zhu Yurun was unclean and faithless. There were plenty of single mothers in modern-day. However, that Miss Zhu had seemed very cheerful and easy-going. Her large eyes had looked quite lively. It was pretty good that Zhu Yurun could maintain such a healthy att.i.tude.