Chapter 123 Arrange a Marriage
Qi Zimo left the shop and walked towards the Imperial College. When he reached the door, he suddenly saw two familiar figures.
The feeling of disgust suddenly emerged uncontrollably.
"What are you doing here?" she said coldly to her stepmother Wei.
Qi Delong was standing behind Wei, impatiently picking his ear with his little finger.
The disgust in Qi Zimo's eyes was like ice and snow in the north wind, cold and sharp. She stood on the bluestone road of the Imperial College, her plain and elegant Confucian skirt rustling in the autumn wind.
A trace of embarrassment flashed across Wei's face. She forced a smile, trying to hide her uneasiness: "Mo'er, the Imperial College is a national treasure. As a daughter of the Qi family, it is such an honor for you to study here. Your brother and I came to see you out of good intentions."
Qi Zimo's eyes flashed with sarcasm. She knew that what her stepmother Wei said was just a polite remark. Since her father passed away, Wei took Qi Delong and occupied the family property, and ignored her and her mother's situation. If she had not been diligent and studious and was able to enter the Imperial College, she would have been forced to drop out of school or even forced to marry.
"Good intentions? I don't think so." Qi Zimo said coldly, "The Imperial College does not welcome you."
Qi Delong was picking his ears out of boredom. He didn't want to follow Wei to such a boring place. When he heard Qi Zimo's words, he was even more disgusted. He curled his lips and said disdainfully, "She's just a woman, yet she dares to be so arrogant. If my mother hadn't said that this is a place for scholars and we can't cause trouble, I would have let you know how powerful our Qi family is."
Qi Zimo frowned. She didn't want to get too entangled with Qi Delong, but his words touched her bottom line. She turned around and looked at Qi Delong firmly: "Qi Delong, if you dare to talk nonsense again, don't blame me for being rude. The Imperial College is a place of learning, not a place for you to run wild."
Seeing this, Wei hurriedly pulled Qi Delong's sleeve, signaling him not to continue. She knew Qi Zimo's temper very well. If she angered her again, the situation would be difficult to handle. She forced a smile and tried to smooth things over: "Mo'er, you misunderstood. Delong is young and ignorant, and he talked nonsense. Don't take it to heart. We came here specially to visit you today. After all, you are also a member of our Qi family."
Qi Zimo sneered: "Qi family? I'm afraid I'm no longer worthy of being called a member of the Qi family. Mother, if you have nothing to do, please go back. I still have homework to review."
The smile on Wei's face gradually froze. She didn't expect Qi Zimo to be so heartless. She took a deep breath and tried to stay calm: "Mo'er, I know you have a grudge against us, but after all, blood is thicker than water. We are a family. Your father's spirit in heaven would not want to see us being so cold to each other."
When Qi Zimo mentioned her father, her eyes changed slightly, but she soon regained her composure. She knew that what Wei said was true, but she couldn't stand what Wei and Qi Delong did. She took a deep breath and said, "Mother, let the past be the past. I am living a good life now and don't need your concern."
A trace of disappointment flashed in Wei's eyes. She didn't expect Qi Zimo to be so resolute. She sighed and said to Qi Zimo, "Mo'er, are you really willing to treat us like this?"
Qi Zimo did not answer, she just turned around silently and continued to walk towards the Imperial College. Wei and Qi Delong looked at each other, helplessly, and could only turn around and leave.
……
The next day, Wei came again.
"Is there anything wrong?" Qi Zimo asked coldly.
Wei hesitated for a long time before he opened his mouth and asked about her birth date.
As a stepmother, of course she couldn't remember the birthday of Qi Zimo, this burden.
Qi Zimo's eyes flashed with contempt, and she sneered in her heart. She had long been accustomed to Wei's alienation and hypocrisy. She spoke slowly, in a calm tone: "What's the importance of the date of birth? Does my stepmother want to celebrate my birthday?"
Wei's expression was somewhat awkward. She had not expected Qi Zimo to be so perceptive in her thoughts. She forced a smile, trying to hide her embarrassment: "Of course not, it's just... there are some things that require your birth date."
Qi Zimo frowned slightly. She keenly felt that there was some meaning in Wei's words that she had not noticed. She looked at Wei deeply and said lightly: "Then please speak frankly, stepmother."
Wei hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "Actually... I want to arrange a marriage for you."
Qi Zimo was stunned. She didn't expect Wei to bring up such a thing. She looked at Wei, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes, and then she said calmly: "Does stepmother think I am qualified to marry into a wealthy family?"
Wei's expression was a little complicated. She coughed lightly, trying to hide her embarrassment: "Of course, you are from my Wei family. No matter whether you are rich or poor, noble or humble, you are the daughter of my Wei family."
Qi Zimo smiled coldly. She knew that Wei's words were full of hypocrisy. She looked at Wei and said indifferently, "So, stepmother, do you think I would be willing to marry you?"
Wei was a little embarrassed by Qi Zimo's straightforward question. She looked at Qi Zimo, not knowing how to answer for a moment.
At this time, Shangguan Zhengming, the Dean of the Imperial College, walked in. He looked at Qi Zimo and Wei and smiled slightly: "Qi Zimo, have you finished your homework today?"
Qi Zimo retracted his gaze and said calmly, "It has been completed, Master Siye."
Si Ye nodded, and then said to Wei: "Madam, the Imperial College is a place for studying, please do not disturb the students' studies."
Wei was gagged by Siye's words. She could only smile awkwardly and said to Qi Zimo, "Then you study hard. I'll leave first."
Looking at Wei's leaving back, Qi Zimo's eyes flashed with a hint of complexity.
At night, Qi Zimo sat alone in the room, looking at the moonlight outside the window, with a lot of thoughts in her mind. She knew that Wei came this time to marry her off, but she had her own plans.
At this moment, Liu Mengmeng walked in, looked at Qi Zimo, and said with a smile: "Why are you sitting here in a daze alone?"
Qi Zimo looked at Liu Mengmeng and smiled slightly: "I'm thinking about something."
Liu Mengmeng sat next to Qi Zimo. She looked at Qi Zimo and asked with concern, "What's bothering you so much?"
Qi Zimo looked at Liu Mengmeng deeply, then slowly said: "My stepmother wants to arrange a marriage for me."
Liu Mengmeng was stunned. She looked at Qi Zimo and asked in surprise: "Is this true?"
Qi Zimo smiled slightly, she looked at Liu Mengmeng and said lightly: "Yes, but I have my own plans."
Liu Mengmeng looked at Qi Zimo. She knew Qi Zimo's strength and determination. She smiled and said, "I believe in you. No matter what decision you make, I will support you."
Qi Zimo looked at Liu Mengmeng, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes.