Chapter 5 (Revised) depicts her shy eyes, her blushing...

Shen Yunzhi naturally didn't believe the reason given by Cui Lizhu.

What you can't get from her, you can get from Cui Hong.

"Li Zhu, the Seventh Princess, and Miss Liang are all around the same age and have known each other since childhood. However, Aunt Zhu comes from a merchant family. After the Seventh Princess found out, she mocked Li Zhu. After that, Li Zhu and Aunt Zhu got along very badly. Whenever the two met, they were like oil and water, always arguing and bickering."

Although Aunt Zhu was not from a prominent family, the Zhu family was a wealthy silk merchant family.

Moreover, as the daughter of the King of Chu, Cui Lizhu was granted the title of Princess of Danyang. How could she bear to be ridiculed by the Seventh Princess?

Shen Yunzhi had only known that Cui Lizhu and the Seventh Princess were at odds, but had not investigated the matter in detail.

Having learned of their entanglement today, she nodded seriously and asked, "What about Miss Liang?"

"As for Miss Liang, it's probably related to her brother." Cui Hong shook his head and chuckled. "Li Zhu admires her brother and feels that no woman in the world is good enough for him. Therefore, she finds all the young ladies who admire her brother displeasing."

"In the end, it's just childishness."

Cui Hong said, "Li Zhu is just like that. If she is impolite, I hope my cousin will not hold it against her."

Shen Yunzhi also shook her head.

How could she possibly contend with the daughter of the Prince of Chu and the Princess of Danyang?

And later, Choi Yeo-joo will find out that she will do as she wishes and no longer get close to Choi Hoe.

Having gained a general understanding of the grudges between Cui Lizhu, the Seventh Princess Cui Xuan, and Liang Zhi, Shen Yunzhi had a better grasp of the situation.

She didn't worry unnecessarily about things that hadn't happened yet, but she did notice that many things were changing after she made different choices.

Despite drinking the calming soup, Shen Yunzhi still didn't sleep well at night.

In her dream, a giant black snake with white spots coiled around her. At the end of the dream, the black snake transformed into Cui Huai, his tall figure looming over her, his eyes cold, his fingers gripping her chin, his voice even colder: "Cousin Zhi, you can't escape."

Shen Yunzhi hated this kind of dream.

Waking from her dream, she listlessly got up, ate breakfast, and took Qiuyue to the back garden of the Prince's mansion to pick flowers, which she would use to blend incense later.

He liked the fragrance that Cui Huai didn't like.

In springtime, the back garden of the Prince's Mansion is a riot of color with hundreds of flowers in full bloom.

Shen Yunzhi and Qiuyue returned to Yunxi Courtyard with two large baskets of fresh flowers, only to hear from an old woman that Madam Zhou had come to visit that day.

My aunt didn't send anyone to invite her.

Having confirmed this, Shen Yunzhi remained calm and first worked with Qiuyue to process the fresh flowers they had picked.

It took another half an hour for the Princess of Chu to send someone to invite her.

Mrs. Tuesday has already left.

Princess Chu said to Shen Yunzhi, "Madam Zhou came to apologize for what happened yesterday and also wanted to reconcile. She hoped that you could meet with Zhou Liulang again, but your aunt has already declined on your behalf. Your aunt also did not accept the apology gifts she brought, so as not to cause any misunderstandings between them."

Shen Yunzhi thanked her aunt for her trouble.

Princess Chu smiled again and said, "The one who saved you yesterday was indeed the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."

"It's quite a coincidence that he grew up alongside your cousin."

"If it were anyone else, it would be most appropriate for your aunt to take you to express your gratitude, but since it is Prince Liang, it would be just as good to have your cousin take you to express your gratitude. They have a close relationship, and being too formal would only make them feel distant. Just be yourself."

"No need, Aunt. How could I trouble Your Highness?"

Should Cui Huai take her to express his gratitude? Shen Yunzhi felt a chill run down her spine when she recalled the suffocating feeling of riding in the carriage with Cui Huai yesterday, and she just wanted her aunt to give up the idea.

Cui Huai, who had just stepped in, heard her words.

He barely glanced at Shen Yunzhi, as if he hadn't heard anything: "Mother, is there something you need from me?"

Princess Chu explained to Cui Huai about Liang Zhengting saving Shen Yunzhi yesterday, and then said, "Considering that you and Prince Liang grew up together and have a special relationship, there is no need to be too formal. I was thinking of having you take your cousin to the Liang family to express your gratitude. I wonder if Huai'er can find the time these days?"

Cui Huai sat down in the armchair and twirled his thumb ring: "My son is going out to see him later."

The Queen Consort of Chu nodded and smiled: "That is just right."

"Prince Liang was skilled in calligraphy and painting."

"I happen to have a Chengni inkstone in my small storeroom. Please take it with you as a thank-you gift when you leave later."

Princess Chu then gave instructions to Shen Yunzhi.

Since a thank-you gift had already been prepared, there was no room for refusal. She could only follow her aunt's arrangement and go with Cui Huai to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Forced to board Cui Huai's carriage once again, Shen Yunzhi sat upright by the carriage door, just like the day before.

But today, all the carriage windows were wide open.

A cool breeze blew into the carriage in gusts, lifting the curtain. It caused stray hairs to stick haphazardly to Shen Yunzhi's cheek, which she repeatedly brushed aside and tucked behind her ears, tirelessly.

She needed Cui Huai's permission to close the carriage windows, but she didn't want to talk to him.

Moreover, the wind was blowing so that one could hardly smell the usual cool fragrance on Cui Huai.

Cui Huai felt that the entire carriage was filled with the sweet fragrance of flowers and fruits emanating from Shen Yunzhi, even stronger than yesterday.

Even with such a strong wind, the fragrance couldn't be dispersed.

His gaze was fixed on the book in his hands.

After reading a few lines, some unpleasant images inexplicably flashed before my eyes, so I frowned and closed my eyes.

Since that night when he was driven by the drug to do something outrageous, and repeatedly smelled a sweet fragrance identical to that on the handkerchief, Cui Huai found that his previously self-assured self-control had become fragile. He had never been interested in matters between men and women, but in recent days he had frequently lost control.

But it is clear that the person who caused trouble that day was Aunt Ye.

It has nothing to do with Shen Yunzhi.

Cui Huai composed himself and banished the strange images from his mind.

The two of them endured it for a while.

A quarter of an hour later, the carriage arrived at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Cui Huai took Shen Yunzhi to see Liang Zhengting.

In the lush, verdant Liang family garden, amidst the birdsong and fragrant flowers, atop a rocky artificial hill, in a pavilion, Shen Yunzhi bowed respectfully to Liang Zhengting, the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo, and said softly, "Thank you for your righteous rescue yesterday, Your Highness. This is a small token of my gratitude; I hope Your Highness will accept it with a smile."

Qiuyue stepped forward, holding a sandalwood box.

She placed the box on the stone table and stepped back behind Shen Yunzhi.

Liang Zhengting smiled and returned the greeting: "It was nothing, Miss Shen, you're too kind. Since you're Brother Cui's cousin, you're no stranger to us."

Cui Huai smiled faintly: "Inside is a Fangchengni inkstone, personally selected by my mother. You can use it."

Liang Zhengting then stopped refusing and accepted the gift as a token of his gratitude.

He invited Shen Yunzhi to sit down and then said with a smile, "Brother Cui broke his promise yesterday, but I never expected to meet Brother Cui's cousin."

Liang Zhi, who was also in the pavilion, smiled gently: "Yes, no wonder I felt so close to Miss Shen when I saw her yesterday. It turns out she is Brother Huai's cousin." She poured tea for Shen Yunzhi. "With such a connection, I would be unwilling not to become friends with Miss Shen."

Shen Yunzhi just smiled.

She picked up her teacup and slowly took a sip of tea, her expression impassive, but a sense of doubt arose within her.

She met the Liang siblings in the peach blossom grove at Jianchun Pavilion yesterday.

Cui Huai also sent her over to Jianchun Pavilion.

But Cui Huai broke his promise?

His actions were highly unusual in Shen Yunzhi's eyes.

In the eyes of the world, Cui Huai has always been a refined and noble young man, a reputation stemming not only from his unparalleled good looks but also from his noble character and unwavering commitment to keeping his promises. Cui Huai is an extremely trustworthy man, yet yesterday he broke his promise for the first time ever.

Shen Yunzhi glanced at Cui Huai subconsciously, but after a moment, she snapped out of her daze and quickly looked away.

Unexpectedly, Cui Huai keenly noticed her gaze and looked at her.

My cousin is introverted and has always been shy.

"Miss Liang's enthusiasm may frighten her a bit, but I appreciate your kindness on behalf of my cousin."

Liang Zhi was slightly taken aback, but quickly smiled and said, "Oh, that's alright."

Shen Yunzhi was completely baffled.

However, she had no intention of having much contact with Liang Zhi, the daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo and Cui Huai's future wife, so she lowered her head in a shy manner.

Liang Zhi glanced at Shen Yunzhi again without making a sound.

She pursed her lips slightly, sensing an unusual atmosphere flowing between Cui Huai and Shen Yunzhi.

Cui Huai seemed to treat his cousin quite differently.

A spring breeze swept by, and a moment of silence fell over the pavilion.

Liang Zhengting lifted his eyelids slightly and saw that Cui Huai was calm and composed, so he slightly furrowed his brows.

He knew Cui Huai's temperament and was also aware that the Crown Prince of Chu had no interest in his sister.

But that's a rather harsh remark.

His sister took the initiative to make advances, so how could Cui Huai refuse?

The two young ladies are of similar age, so what's wrong with them playing together?

"I still remember last winter when I went to the Chu Prince's Mansion to look for Brother Cui. In the distance, I saw a young lady having a snowball fight with her maid. She was making a solemn vow that she would definitely win back her face next time, full of heroic spirit. Although we only met once, I was deeply impressed. I think that young lady must be Miss Shen."

Liang Zhengting poured tea for everyone, casually recounting the scene of his first meeting with Shen Yunzhi.

Shen Yunzhi and Liang Zhengting had almost no contact, so she always thought that Liang Zhengting had no impression of her.

Upon hearing this, he was stunned for a few moments before recalling what he had mentioned.

After getting covered in snow during her first snowball fight, Cui Huai came to her rescue. Ever since then, she's been determined to impress Cui Huai, so she secretly got Qiu Yue to practice with her.

But after that winter, no one asked her to have a snowball fight anymore.

I didn't realize it at the time.

Only now do I realize how incredibly foolish I was.

Shen Yunzhi gave an awkward, dry laugh: "Please excuse my poor son, Prince Liang."

"I only find Miss Shen to be genuine and utterly adorable, and I have absolutely no intention of mocking her." Liang Zhengting's voice was gentle and soothing, like a spring breeze. "I wonder if Miss Shen later got what she wanted?"

"Never..."

Shen Yunzhi picked up her teacup, pretending to lower her head to sip the tea in order to cover up her embarrassment.

Cui Huai's gaze fell on Shen Yunzhi, taking in her shy eyes and blushing cheeks.

The beauty of peach blossoms just beginning to bloom on a branch is precisely because of Liang Zhengting's vibrant presence.

He glanced at the teacup in front of her, where a faint red lipstick mark was imprinted on the rim.

It was inexplicably glaring.

After drinking two cups of tea in the pavilion, Cui Huai and Liang Zhengting left briefly to attend to their business. After carefully accepting the rare book Cui Huai had brought, Liang Zhengting and Liang Zhengting left the study and chatted casually about Shen Yunzhi on their way back to the pavilion.

"Is this the cousin Danyang mentioned who's always bothering you?"

Liang Zhengting laughed and said, "Your cousin from the Shen family doesn't seem like the kind of person who's persistent and clingy."

Cui Huai recalled the pastries and sachets that had been forced upon him. Although he did not agree with Liang Zhengting's judgment, he did not want to discuss Shen Yunzhi behind his back, so he remained noncommittal about what Liang said.

Seeing this, Liang Zhengting added, "And I feel like you take good care of your cousin."

Cui Huai's expression remained unchanged, and his voice was calm, making it impossible to discern his thoughts: "My mother knew I was coming to see you, and asked me to bring her here to express her gratitude on my way. I should not refuse."

Liang Zhengting smiled faintly.

"How many young ladies in the entire capital can ride in Prince Cui's carriage even once?"

Cui Huai ignored Liang Zhengting's sarcastic remarks.

He remained calm and replied, "It is proper for men and women not to touch each other. Unless there are special circumstances, how can one casually share a carriage with someone?"

A note from the author:

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A new version with some deleted, revised, and rewritten plot points (10.4)

New chapters will be updated starting October 5th [Hugs]