The group returned to Dunyang City. Night had quietly fallen, the streetlights were dim, and the carriage rumbled along the stone-paved road. Listening to the noisy sounds of the marketplace outside the carriage, Cui Shenghe made a decision in his heart.
"Cui Jiu, I need to meet with Song Huaixi. Go and make the arrangements first."
Cui Jiu responded and left. Cui Shenghe looked at Zhao Zhi, about to speak, when he heard her say, "Brother, I'll go with you. Don't worry, I won't bother you. I know about Song Huaixi's situation. Third Sister and I will wait outside the courtyard so she won't see us."
Seeing her resolute expression, Cui Shenghe nodded.
The night was deep, and moonlight shone through the sparse clouds. Cui Shenghe stood outside Song Huaixi's courtyard, his mind heavy with worries.
Upon hearing the news, Li Ye was already waiting at the door. When he saw Cui Shenghe, he was about to bow when Cui Shenghe stopped him, saying, "Shh, don't scare her."
Li Ye nodded and led Cui Shenghe into the courtyard. Cui Jiu, Zhao Zhi, and a group of guards waited quietly outside.
Stepping into the courtyard, a mixture of the fragrance of flowers and herbs and the smell of medicine wafts over you, and the courtyard is kept very clean.
Song Huaixi was dressed neatly, with her hair in a simple bun. She sat on the steps with empty eyes, muttering to herself in an empty corner, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, completely unaware that someone had come to visit.
"Miss Song, Miss Song." Li Ye called softly twice, and Song Huaixi finally snapped out of her daze and slowly turned her head towards him. She grinned at Li Ye and said, "You've come."
Li Ye nodded, then pointed awkwardly at Cui Shenghe and said, "This young master is my best friend. Could you say a few words to him? I'll go make some tea."
"Okay." Song Huaixi nodded, as obedient as a marionette.
"Please sit down." She patted the stone steps beside her and greeted Cui Shenghe with a smile. "Brother Li said that I was in a fire before and my eyes were affected by smoke, so my eyesight isn't very good. Please don't mind."
Cui Shenghe took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and slowly approached. He gently sat down beside Song Huaixi and casually asked, "Does Miss Song like Li Ye?"
"No, Brother Li is my savior." Song Huaixi seemed no different from a normal person at this moment. Cui Shenghe became suspicious, wondering if the scene he saw when he entered the courtyard was something she deliberately staged for outsiders.
"Then, Miss Song, do you have someone you love?" Cui Shenghe glanced at Li Ye, who was hiding in the kitchen making tea, and asked in a low voice, "Miss Song, I am Cui Shenghe. I once presented you with a cup of tea called 'Shefu Tea.' At that time, you and my aunt Cui Mi were enjoying the tea together. Do you still remember that?"
Song Huaixi's eyes suddenly lit up. She slowly turned around and stared at Cui Shenghe for a long time before murmuring, "Cui Shenghe, Cui Mi, Mi'er, my Mi'er... You've come to ask about her, haven't you?"
Cui Shenghe's heart tightened. He knew who "she" referred to—his aunt, Cui Mi. He nodded, his voice low and firm: "Yes, I need to know everything about her and you."
A complex expression flashed across Song Huaixi's face—regret, pain, and relief. She clutched her head, shaking it in anguish, "I know nothing, I know nothing!" Suddenly, she stood up, forcefully rubbing Cui Shenghe's face, which bore a striking resemblance to Cui Mi's, tears streaming down her face. "Mi'er, don't worry, even if I die, I...I will never tell them your secret!"
Suddenly, Cui Shenghe shook the copper bell in his sleeve, and Song Huaixi's eyes gradually became unfocused, as if she had lost her bearings. Her hands slowly and limply fell to her sides, and she appeared completely dazed.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
