dodder flower
Looking at the man who was completely drunk, but whose face showed genuine panic, Cui Shenzhi nodded with a stern expression.
Qiao Siyu then entered the side room, curtsied, and said, "I am the second daughter of the Qiao family, the royal merchant Qiao family that won the promise of a thousand pieces of gold."
"So you wanted to use this promise of a thousand pieces of gold to get by my side, but then you felt that Ping An was in your way, which is why you scared her into saying those words?"
"Young Master, you misunderstand," Qiao Siyu explained with a smile. "As you've already said, you're just a royal son-in-law. What use would I be to you?"
"Besides, regardless of whether I have someone I love, just look at how you treat your wife like a precious gem. If I dared to do anything to her, wouldn't the grass on my grave be a meter high by this time next year?"
Cui Shenzhi neither said yes nor no, but simply ignored Qiao Siyu, gently took Ping An into his arms, and softly coaxed Ping An to drink two more cups of pear blossom wine. Only after Ping An had drifted off to sleep did he look up at Qiao Siyu.
Qiao Siyu understood and lowered her voice to continue, "I am now the designated next head of the Qiao family, so naturally I have to think about the future of the Qiao family. The Qiao family has risked most of its wealth for this promise of a daughter's wealth. Although you are not the same as before, the Qiao family should still get something back, right?"
"But seeing is believing. How can I know if you will keep your promise if I don't see you in person? Just when I was thinking about how to get closer to you, Lin Yimo came to my door and asked me to help him mediate between you and me. But I couldn't completely reconcile you, so I made up a pitiful story to get to your side."
"So what Madam said is just her opinion. Neither Lin Yimo nor I ever intended to interfere between you and Madam, to sow discord between you and Madam, nor did we ever intend to do anything to Madam. Please see this clearly, young master."
Cui Shenzhi glanced down at Ping An and said with a displeased expression, "Mediate, but not completely?"
“Yes,” Qiao Siyu nodded. “Lin Yimo noticed that the madam had some misunderstandings about the young master and wanted me to mediate. In this way, the young master would remember his kindness. Even if he is not promoted, he will at least be rewarded. As your favorite minister, his future will naturally be bright and successful.”
"But if we completely clear up the misunderstanding, wouldn't it be a one-off deal? That would be a loss. That's why Lin Yimo specifically instructed me to reconcile, but not completely. We have to let the misunderstanding persist until the day it can no longer bring any benefit."
Cui Shenzhi's face darkened as he thought about the trust he had placed in Lin Yimo.
He snorted coldly and said, "Lin Yimo would actually tell you something like this?"
“Of course.” Qiao Siyu smiled, her eyes crinkling as she thought of Lin Yimo: “Because Lin Yimo didn’t know I was a member of the Qiao family. He only thought I was a pitiful orphan girl who had been sold to a brothel and had no one to rely on. He was completely unguarded around me.”
"And what about you? What do you want?"
Upon hearing this, Qiao Siyu put away her smile and straightened her expression, saying, "The Qiao family wants to exchange a promise worth a thousand pieces of gold for an imperial edict. As long as the emperor's bloodline is still sitting on the throne, the Qiao family will remain the leading imperial merchant for generations, and its position will be unshakable."
After saying that, Qiao Siyu blinked, and her expression returned to its playful state.
"As for me... I can help you find the reason for your misunderstanding with your wife and help you clear up the misunderstanding. However, I hope that you will take my trouble and effort into recognizing me as your sworn sister and grant me the title of princess. After all, my beloved only cares about power. If I cannot help him, he will not be willing to marry me no matter how much he likes me."
Without hesitation, Cui Shenzhi asked, "Lin Yimo?"
"yes."
"Since you like Lin Yimo, why did you reveal his schemes against me? Aren't you afraid I'll punish him?"
Qiao Siyu shook her head.
"Lin Yimo told me that you are a person who distinguishes between public and private matters. Although he plotted against you, it was only for personal reasons. As long as he is still a capable minister, useful to the country, and has not done anything detrimental to the people, you will not punish him."
Cui Shenzhi's face darkened further, because Lin Yimo was indeed right.
"But have you ever thought about why I need your help? Ping An is my wife. If she has some misunderstandings about me, I will naturally explain them clearly. Why do I need others to interfere?"
“Because those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly.” Qiao Siyu chuckled lightly. “What you say makes some sense, young master. In principle, matters between husband and wife should not be interfered with by outsiders. But young master, if I may be so bold as to ask, do you know what your wife has misunderstood? And what caused this misunderstanding?”
Choi Shin-ji choked up.
After a long while, he said reluctantly, "I agree."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, but before that, there is something I would like to ask," Qiao Siyu said solemnly, her expression serious. "Young Master, do you truly love Madam as a person? Or is it that you love... only 'Madam'?"
Upon hearing this, Choi Shin-ji felt a sense of foreboding.
He frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
When Qiao Siyu entered her area of expertise, she became more confident, and her aura even subtly overshadowed Cui Shenzhi.
“It means exactly what it says,” Qiao Siyu took a few steps closer, pointed at Ping An and said, “Judging from how cautious you are, do you think that Madam is a dodder that needs to be carefully protected? But do you know that dodder is not a delicate and harmless thing? It… can absorb the host’s nutrients and even kill the host.”
"If Madam really needs your careful care as you think, then, with all due respect, she wouldn't have lived to see you. She would have long since perished in the cold palace. Don't you think so?"
As if anticipating the possibility that Ping An might pass away early, Cui Shenzhi subconsciously tightened his grip on Ping An, causing Ping An to groan uncomfortably. He quickly loosened his grip slightly and adjusted Ping An's position in his arms to make her more comfortable.
Qiao Siyu watched Cui Shenzhi's actions with a hint of envy in her eyes.
Why can't Lin Yimo be as frank and unreserved in his affection for Ping An as Cui Shenzhi is towards her? He clearly likes her, but he refuses to face it. He says he wants to marry Cui Lingxian and is afraid she will get in his way. He even gives her a house and a shop, saying he wants her to help Cui Shenzhi and Ping An with their affairs, but he also hints that she should think about herself. What an awkward man.
Qiao Siyu tried hard to suppress the bitterness in her heart, and sighed softly, saying, "So, young master, do you really like Madam? Or do you only like the way Madam is in front of you? You need to decide first so I can know what to do."
Cui Shenzhi looked at Ping An, who was sleeping peacefully in his arms, but did not answer.
Qiao Siyu knew that what she said was a bit harsh, but these things had to be clarified. After all, dealing with sincerity and pretense requires different approaches.
"Young master, I don't believe you didn't notice something was wrong."
“Young Master knows about the relationship between Lin Yimo and Lu Fengping, so I learned a lot about Madam from Lin Yimo. For example, Madam appeared by your side as a pitiful orphan who grew up in the cold palace and had no one to rely on. But you think Madam, who grew up in such a background, is innocent and kind and needs your care. There must be some reason for this.”
Cui Shenzhi thought of Guo Shu and the blood-written letter that now seemed full of doubts, but he said nothing. He simply lowered his eyes and looked at Ping An's face without uttering a word.
Qiao Siyu could tell that Cui Shenzhi was hiding something, but she wasn't angry. She just sighed inwardly and continued, "Lu Fengping also told Lin Yimo that after he entered the palace as a royal physician, the Madam used him more than once to separate you from that prince. Naturally, this was so that you could only see her. In other words, from the very beginning, the Madam's approach to you was not pure and she had ulterior motives. Are you really not bothered by this?"
"I don't know anything more than that, but I think that Madam's scheming must go beyond this. Otherwise, you wouldn't be so deeply in love with her, nor would you be so convinced of her simple, weak, and vulnerable appearance, as if she needed to be taken care of."
"So, young master, is the lady you like the real one, or the lady you see?"
Cui Shenzhi did not answer, but silently carried Ping An and boarded the carriage back to the palace.
*****
Sitting in the carriage returning to the palace, Cui Shenzhi, as always, carefully protected Ping An in his arms, preventing her from bumping or falling, but his heart was filled with complex emotions.
Actually, he wasn't unaware that something was wrong; he simply deliberately ignored it.
Since returning from Nanzhou, his world has been in chaos.
First, Ping An had an accident, then he discovered the true face behind Shen Meiwu's loving facade, learned that Fu Yunjin's suffering and death were related to Shen Meiwu, and then learned that everything about him was fake, that he was not Cui Shenzhi, the son of Cui Sugong and Fu Yunjin, but 'Cui Chenzhi', a name known only to Cui Sugong and Shen Meiwu.
His father was not his father, but the enemy who wiped out his entire family; the respected elders were not elders, but the culprits who caused all the trouble; his mother was not his mother, and he was not a prince. Everything he possessed did not belong to him, but was imposed on him by others, a 'gift' stained with the blood and tears of his family.
The only thing he truly possessed, the only thing that belonged to him, was his love for peace.
That's why he was willing to risk his life to seek justice after ensuring the safety of his family.
But Ping An used a lie to hold him back, giving him that last shred of will to live, which is why he chose to survive and has come this far.
Therefore, he was unwilling and dared not delve into those oddities, fearing that if he thought too much, he would become like Gu Xi, whom he first met in Nanzhou.
—Gu Xi, who lost everything and felt utterly hopeless.
He was able to save Gu Xi back then, but now he doesn't know who can save him.
Just as Cui Shenzhi's mood was getting worse and his mind was getting more and more confused, Ping An seemed to sense something, snuggled up in his arms, and rubbed against him with a satisfied look on her face.
Seeing Ping An's unconscious actions, which were full of dependence and trust, Cui Shenzhi smiled.
He lowered his head and kissed Ping An's face, his eyes full of doting and tenderness.
“Ping An, no wonder you still feel uneasy no matter what I do. After all, I haven’t even faced my own heart, so how can I say that I am sincere towards you? It’s just a lie. Give me some time, and I will sort out my feelings and give you an answer. I promise that no matter what the outcome is, I will never let you suffer.”
Because Ping An was drunk and in a daze, she couldn't respond. She just stayed obediently in Choi Shin-ji's arms, like a clingy cat.
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