Holding Hands
My dear husband...
I don’t know if it was because Taishi Zheng called him this last time when he was poisoned, but now whenever Cui Zhijun hears these four words, he shudders and feels that he is about to be in big trouble.
Cui Zhijun stretched out his hand reluctantly.
He just exerted some force secretly, and Zheng lost her balance and clung to the car door.
"Ouch."
Zheng knew it was Cui Zhiyun's mischief, but before she could turn around and confront him, Cui Zhiyun pretended to get into the car and said, "Oh? Madam, why didn't you stand firmly? You were so careless. Come, I'll help you in. Remember to be more careful next time."
"?"
Taishi Zheng was shoved into the carriage by Cui Zhijun without even having time to resist. She watched the people around her do their evil deeds without batting an eyelid, and she kept muttering to herself, "Cui Zhijun! I never knew you were such a bad guy!"
Sitting across from each other in the car, Taishi Zheng folded her arms, her face puffed up like an angry pufferfish. She stared at Choi Jik-yeon in silence, her resentful eyes piercing him like they were about to bore a hole through him.
Cui Zhijun looked up at him and asked, "Why are you looking at me?"
Cui Zhijun asked seriously, as if what happened just now had nothing to do with him at all.
Despicable person.
Seeing this, Zheng snorted and turned her head away, ignoring him.
It looked as if she wasn't going to say another word to this wicked man until she got off the bus. Choi Jik-jun couldn't help but laugh at her expression, but his smile was fleeting. He gave the man before him a gentle glance before hurriedly leaving the window.
-
The carriage started moving, heading east from Bo's Mansion into Liangmen, and arrived in front of Xuande Tower.
Tai Shi Zheng lay quietly by the window and looked out.
She felt as if she had just passed by here yesterday, but when she looked back, it had been exactly seven years since the saint passed away.
Behind the Xuande Tower stretched the majestic, sprawling palace. That was the Imperial Palace, where she had lived for the past ten years, a place that felt like home yet wasn't. Then, across from it, the Imperial Street, where the provincial government offices stood, stretched. On either side of the Imperial Street were two long corridors, one facing the Right Gate of the Imperial Palace, the other the Left Gate.
In the past, the late emperor loved to walk around here, just to see the elegance of the capital and the various aspects of the market.
He said that was called sharing happiness with the people.
But don’t the forks at both ends that block pedestrians still separate the world?
Later, the tenth brother ascended the throne.
He ordered the forks to be collected and encouraged everyone to set up stalls under the corridor and do business. From then on, regardless of rain, snow or sunshine, the corridor on Imperial Street was bustling with activity, never ceasing. This corridor, like the emperor in the palace, protected the people of Yuanliang.
Taishi Zheng looked out and saw the hustle and bustle of the corridor. This world was full of joy.
But all this seemed unfamiliar to Cui Zhijun. Although he was an official appointed by the imperial court, he always frequented the Imperial College outside the Suzaku Gate. Books were his foundation. As for the path to the highest position in the government outside the Xuande Tower, he felt no trepidation.
That's why Cui Zhijun could close his eyes and ignore the "peak of the blue sky" far away outside the window.
-
"Madam, Mr. Hermit. We have reached the left corridor. We can only go here. You two can get off the car--" The driver's shouting fell into the carriage.
The two people's two minds were interrupted.
Taishi Zheng looked back and met Cui Zhijun's gaze. She imitated Cui Zhijun's expressionless face and said, "What are you looking at?"
Cui Zhijun didn't respond. He just wanted to stand up, but Taishi Zheng, who had stood up first, pushed him back. But the next second, the culprit fell into the arms of the person he had bumped into, sitting firmly on his lap.
What's this new trick?
Cui Zhijun sat in a messy state, holding the person in his arms with his thighs, not daring to move.
Taishi Zheng sat on Cui Zhijun's lap in disbelief, her scalp tingling with embarrassment. She had only intended to squeeze him out of the way, then slip out of the car first, avenging her earlier grievance. Who could have imagined that in the end, she'd suffered the consequences of her own actions, and he'd taken advantage of her.
What should I do? Should I say something?
-
At this time, Fu Yuanzi was waiting outside the carriage, and he dared to open the curtain and urged: "My wife, my husband, why haven't you two——"
The three people looked at each other, but two of them were in embarrassment.
Cui Zhiyun and Taishi Zheng both looked away.
Fu Yuanzi's hand, lifting the curtain, froze in mid-air, her mind racing. What was going on? The carriage wasn't big enough for the two of you? It was so embarrassing, and you had to hug me? Wait, what was going on with this ambiguous atmosphere...
Fu Yuanzi was shocked when he thought of this, and suddenly realized.
It’s over, it’s over.
If she disturbed the couple's fiery passion, her career as a personal maid would be over.
No, let’s go back to our hometown and farm…
Fu Yuanzi lifted the curtain, rehearsing her ending, showing no intention of retreating. Cui Zhijun gently nudged Taishi Zheng, signaling her to leave. Taishi Zheng lowered her eyes and tugged at Cui Zhijun, refusing to back down or give in.
The two were in a stalemate.
An idea struck Taishi Zheng. She thought, why not embarrass herself to the bitter end and see who was more embarrassed? Without a word, she flirted seductively around Cui Zhijun's neck, frightening him so much that he retreated repeatedly.
The next second, Zheng reached out and imitated the charm she learned from the storybook, gently patted Cui Zhijun's chest, and said coquettishly: "Hateful, you look so serious on weekdays, but I didn't expect you to be such a gentleman, so impatient~"
As soon as he finished speaking, Cui Zhijun's astonished expression froze in front of Tai Shizheng.
like……
She is more embarrassing...
Taishi Zheng's face flushed red, and she sat in silence for a long time. Only after lowering her head and pushing Cui Zhijun aside did she walk out of the carriage in a daze. Fu Yuanzi could clearly see that smoke was coming out of Zheng's head.
"Madam, are you okay?" Fu Yuanzi asked.
Taishi Zheng, however, stood there empty-headed. Fortunately, Cui Zhijun could still withstand her teasing. But seeing Cui Zhijun approaching from the carriage, he glanced at the bustling surroundings, not daring to meet Zheng's eyes. He asked in a deep voice, "We're at the Imperial Street now. Where are you going?"
Seeing that he spoke first, Tai Shi Zheng calmed down a lot. She weakly pointed in the direction of the Secretariat.
Cui Zhijun didn't say anything more, just said: "Let's go."
Taishi Zheng nodded, and Cui Zhijun lifted his foot. Fu Yuanzi, however, looked in the direction they left and didn't follow. She had accompanied Zheng here before, but from now on, it would be Cui Zhijun's turn...
-
In the left corridor, Tai Shi Zheng and Cui Zhijun walked slowly through the crowd, one in front and one behind.
Zheng's depressed mood was gradually dissipated by the various kinds of goods sold around her. She began to walk around and look around, but saw dried fruits and bacon over there, screens and paintings over here, fortune tellers in front, and portrait painters in the back.
This made Taishi Zheng very happy.
But as they walked, Cui Zhijun felt something was wrong. Why was there no movement from the person behind him? He suddenly turned around, but Taishi Zheng was no longer in sight. Cui Zhijun subconsciously called out, "Taishi Zheng."
But no one answered.
All that was left around was the chaotic hawking and bargaining.
"Taishi Zheng?"
Cui Zhijun panicked and began to turn around and push through the crowd to look for him. It wasn't until he spotted a familiar figure squatting in front of a group of lively and adorable puppies, staring blankly at them, that he finally felt relieved.
The person is here...
Cui Zhijun hurried over. He should have been angry at her for leaving without saying goodbye, but he chose to stand quietly beside Taishi Zheng, not disturbing her. What was there to be angry about? As long as she was found... She was just a playful person.
"Mother-in-law, you take such good care of these puppies." Tai Shi Zheng squatted in front of the bamboo fence and scratched the puppy's head, completely unaware that Cui Zhijun was standing behind him.
The old woman selling it looked at the young man in brocade clothes behind Zheng and said, "Madam, do you like it? Why don't you ask your husband to buy one for you?"
"My...husband?"
Taishi Zheng withdrew her hand from petting the dog and looked up, only to see Cui Zhijun appear above her head, looking down at her. Zheng was stunned for a moment, then she remembered that she had just run away to look at the dog and had completely forgotten to tell Cui Zhijun.
What can I do...
Wouldn't he be angry?
Tai Shi Zheng was afraid that Cui Zhijun would get anxious, so she quickly smiled and said, "What a coincidence, my lord."
Cui Zhijun still looked calm and collected. He raised his head and stopped looking at the person in front of him. Tai Shizheng stood up obediently and said to the old lady, "My house is too small to support such a creature. I really can't take care of your business. I'm sorry, mother-in-law..."
After Zheng finished speaking, she narrowed her eyes and smiled, then pulled Cui Zhijun away and went back into the crowd.
After brushing past countless people, Taishi Zheng suddenly spoke up, "You can't find me, are you worried? Sorry, on the way here, it was Yuanzi and I who were stopping and walking. I'd forgotten I was married and no longer able to do whatever I wanted on my own. But don't worry, my dear, I won't leave your sight without a word again."
Cui Zhijun turned his head and looked at him. He wanted to answer without any hurry, but for some reason he just hummed lightly and ended his words.
He didn't even try to shake off the arm that Taishi Zheng was holding.
But as she pulled, Zheng seemed to feel a little tired, and she gradually let go of Cui Zhijun.
Cui Zhijun felt a moment of loss, but it was only a moment before his loss gave way to panic. Zheng tightly grasped his palm. Zheng said, "Let's hold hands and walk together. This way we won't get tired and won't get lost. You can also control my wandering gaze~"
When Taishi Zheng held his hand, she didn't think too much about it. She was just afraid that he would run away. But she accidentally made Cui Zhijun panic.
She is the nemesis of this cautious young man...
It was the first time Cui Zhijun had been held by the palm of his hand like this, but he couldn't let go hastily. If he let go hastily, wouldn't it just confirm his panic? So, Cui Zhijun had no choice but to pretend to be calm and hold hands with him.
But the feeling was subtle, the noise from the street gradually fading. Cui Zhijun's entire senses were focused on the palms he held with Taishi Zheng. Her hands were so soft. Her hands were so warm.
So this is what holding hands means.
"Madam, how much is this longevity chrysanthemum?"
Cui Zhijun and Taishi Zheng unknowingly walked up to a woman who was picking flowers. He looked at Taishi Zheng with confusion, "You want to buy flowers?"
Taishi Zheng nodded, and Cui Zhijun asked again, "Why did you buy flowers?"
"Send it to someone."
Zheng was reluctant to let go of Cui Zhijun's hand, so after getting the flower-picking girl's response, she used her other hand to carefully select the chrysanthemums in the basket.
He handed the zithers one by one to Cui Zhijun.
Seeing this, Cui Zhijun responded to Zheng's question and moved the palm she was holding and said, "Taishi Zheng, you can actually let go and take your time choosing. Since it's a gift, you should choose carefully."
"I don't want it." Zheng shook her head, rejecting his request. "My dear, look quickly, look quickly. Is this the best color? Or should I try a few more colors? Should I buy one bouquet? Or two?"
Cui Zhijun was helpless about her roguery.
In this way, the sight of the two of them sticking together while embroidering made the embroiderer laugh continuously.
Fortunately, Cui Zhijun responded to everything, and soon he and Zheng picked a whole bunch of longevity chrysanthemums of matching colors.
Tai Shi Zheng nodded, and Cui Zhijun wisely took out the money.
Zheng said goodbye to the flower-picking lady, and the couple continued walking towards the Ministry of Chancellery.
Finally, after coming out of the fork in the left corridor, Tai Shi Zheng led Cui Zhijun to stop in front of a towering building that could be called a building.
"We're here." Tai Shi Zheng reminded.
Cui Zhijun looked up and slowly read out the four characters: "Jingling West Palace." But this was where the imperial court enshrined the portraits of the emperors and empresses from the ancestors onwards. Why did she bring him here?
Cui Zhiyun had no solution.
Taishi Zheng wordlessly pulled him forward and knocked on the door of Jingling West Palace. Then, the eunuch on guard peeked through the door and saw Taishi Zheng and hurried out to greet him, saying, "Young Prince, you're here."
Cui Zhijun was a little surprised to see the visitor being so respectful.
But since Tai Shi Zheng brought him here, it must have been intentional. Since Tai Shi Zheng didn't say anything, he didn't ask.
Cui Zhijun simply followed her footsteps and stepped into the magnificent Jingling West Palace. However, Taishi Zheng was no longer chattering like she was outside. She lowered her brows and walked quietly towards a magnificent palace.
Until, standing under the high palace, the servants retreated one after another.
Zheng finally let go of Cui Zhijun's hand, put on a smile before crossing the door, and said in a serious tone: "Saint, my new son-in-law and I have come to see you——"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
