Chapter 64 The Cold War: Creating Amusement for Themselves
"Me? I'll lead you astray?"
Cui Ying's almond-shaped eyes widened in astonishment, as if she had heard something unbelievable. She almost laughed in anger, her delicate cheeks quickly flushing red, and her slender neck and bare shoulders also glowed with an angry red.
"How did I corrupt you?" She stared directly at Xiao Qiyu, her eyes seemingly burning with fire. "You have to explain yourself clearly today!"
The rich fragrance of flowers filled the air between the two on this autumn night.
Xiao Qiyu's gaze uncontrollably fell on Cui Ying's skin, which was flushed red with anger.
He inexplicably recalled that night when they were entangled on the bed after being drugged with aphrodisiacs, her skin flushed with a similar fiery blush...
His Adam's apple bobbed violently, his teeth clenched, his jawline taut, as if he wanted to blurt out: You kissed me, hugged me, ripped off my clothes, set me ablaze without realizing it, and then, when I was already suffering, you let me stumble upon you naked. Isn't that enough of a "corruption"?
These words lingered on his tongue several times, only to be suppressed by reason. Xiao Qiyu tried his best to control himself, no longer recalling those chaotic and intense scenes, and finally coldly uttered: "You know best what you did!"
He bent down and picked up the ancient book he had finally found, which contained a map of the landscape of southern Xinjiang, and then strode away.
"I know you, you big idiot!"
Cui Ying was so angry she was practically fuming. She stretched her arm out from under the covers, grabbed a pillow, and threw it at his back, yelling, "You come back here!"
Outside the door, Xiao Qiyu suddenly stopped in his tracks.
The chirping of insects rustled in his ears, the autumn moon hung high above his head, and the rich fragrance of flowers and plants in the courtyard surrounded him.
Cui Ying told him to go back?
She wanted him to go back?
The boy's frantic heartbeat was soothed as if by a gentle breeze, and his sharp figure on the ground seemed to soften a bit.
"Come back and close the door behind you!" Cui Ying cursed.
Xiao Qiyu's relaxed back instantly tensed up again. He took a deep breath and actually turned back.
His face was grim, one hand gripping the scroll tightly, the other hand holding the door shut with a heavy bang.
"You're crazy!" Cui Ying was so angry that her whole body was burning up. Unable to vent her anger on the culprit, she took it out on the other pillow, pounding it haphazardly with her fists.
"Say it! What did I ever do to you! Xiao Qiyu, you bastard! You bastard!"
...
The two never saw each other again after the argument.
Xiao Qiyu seemed to have taken root in the front study, and even when he went to the Bodhi Hall to pay his respects, he made sure to avoid the same time as Cui Ying.
Cui Ying was happy to have some peace and quiet, spending her days playing with the cat, admiring the flowers, and researching new recipes in the small kitchen. The only downside was that Xiao Shu and Xiao Wan were both at school, so there was no one to eat, drink, and play with.
But she seemed born to enjoy herself; even when there were few people around, she could create her own fun.
She ordered her servants to build a swing in the open space of the garden. When it was cool in the morning and evening, she would wear light and comfortable clothes, sit on the swing and play, and have her maid push her up.
When she got tired of playing on the swing, she would set up a fishing rod by the pond, lie on the balustrade, and fish for koi while watching the water ripple.
At midday, the sunlight was intense, and the wind and water were calm.
Cui Jin held a round fan and gently fanned Cui Ying, asking softly, "Miss, have you been troubled by something lately?"
A cool breeze was blowing. Cui Ying looked at the still fishing rod, looking a little sleepy, and said lazily, "Worries? No, what worries could I have?"
Cuijin: "But I always feel that you are not in a good mood."
Cui Ying said seriously, "I'm not in a bad mood. I've just grown up and become more mature. Isn't that what the elders all say? People become more mature after they grow up and won't be as boisterous as they were when they were little."
Cui Jin nodded, wondering if she was overthinking it: "Is that so?"
Cui Ying: "I don't know, I'm just talking nonsense."
Cui Jin: "..."
Cuijin: "Miss, in my opinion, you should reconcile with your son-in-law. This cold war should have a time limit. How can a newlywed couple stay in separate rooms for so long? If this gets to the old lady's ears, I'm afraid she will worry again."
Moreover, Cuijin could see clearly that her young lady cared about her husband. Although she was swinging on the swing and fishing and laughing happily, her eyes were always vacant, and her mind had long since wandered off somewhere else.
This carefree young lady probably didn't even realize that her heart was being swayed by her "arch-nemesis."
"Huh? What did you say?" Cui Ying put her hand to her ear, pretending to be exaggerated. "It's too windy here, I can't hear you. Can you say it again?"
Cui Jin sighed helplessly, knowing that repeating it a hundred times would be useless. Suddenly, an idea came to her mind, and she changed her words, saying, "What I mean is, I heard people in the front courtyard talking this morning. This morning, His Majesty discussed with his ministers and issued an edict to abolish the Jiaofangsi. From now on, all the female relatives of criminal officials will be sent to the Yeting as slaves."
"Really?!"
Cui Ying heard it clearly instantly, and her eyes lit up.
Cui Jin smiled and said, "Can you hear me now, Miss?"
Cui Ying threw down her fishing rod and almost jumped for joy, pacing back and forth excitedly, clapping her hands and shouting, "This is wonderful!"
Although being exiled to the Yeting Palace was also bitter, it was a world of difference compared to being sent to a filthy place like the Jiaofangsi. At least they wouldn't have to suffer humiliation. Moreover, the Yeting Palace was part of the inner palace, so the Zhao family mother and daughter might be able to find an opportunity to meet Zhao Shuren, who was also in the Cold Palace.
With a huge weight lifted from her heart, Cui Ying felt much easier to breathe, and her mood instantly brightened. She lifted her skirt and was about to run away.
Cui Jin hurriedly asked, "Where are you going?"
Cui Ying turned around, her face beaming with a smile: "Of course we should go back and open a jar of fine wine! It would be a shame not to celebrate such a wonderful occasion with a drink!"
If Xiao Wan were here, she would surely weep with joy upon hearing this news.
Cui Ying walked back along the garden path with light steps, pondering which jar of wine would be most appropriate for the occasion.
Just as she rounded a cluster of hibiscus in full bloom, she saw Qin Wan standing under the flowers, carrying a small flower basket and carefully picking fresh blossoms, her profile serene and beautiful.
Cui Ying was in a great mood and everything looked pleasing to the eye. She immediately called out to Qin Wan, "Sister Qin, you're picking flowers. I was just about to go back for a couple of drinks. Would you like to come and have some with me?"
Qin Wan looked up at the sound and saw Cui Ying. A shrewd glint flashed in her eyes. She smiled gently and said softly, "Sister-in-law, how could I refuse your kind invitation? I will naturally accept your kind offer."
“That’s perfect, I’ve finally found someone to drink with.” Cui Ying stepped forward and took her arm. The two chatted and laughed as they walked toward Qiyun Pavilion.
...
Front study.
Beside the desk stood a huge sand table.
On the sand table, the mountains and rivers of southern Jiangxi are meticulously simulated, with several small flags representing different forces scattered on it.
Xiao Qiyu held a slender bamboo pole in his hand, repeatedly deducing the attack route. He seemed to have encountered some insurmountable problem. His thick eyebrows were furrowed, his thin lips were pursed, and his expression was focused. His profile appeared particularly cold in the sunlight streaming in from the window, and his sculpted face was full of solemnity.
Just then, Jin Feng's voice could be heard outside the door, accompanied by a woman's whisper.
Jin Feng pushed open the door and entered, bowing as he reported, "Young Master, the Young Madam has brought you food. Shall we let her in?"
Xiao Qiyu paused slightly in his grip on the fishing rod. Although his gaze remained fixed on the treacherous ravines on the sand table, a rare light shone in his eyes. Without looking up, he uttered a single, brief word: "Advance."
The autumn wind subsided, and a moment later, the door opened with a soft creak.
Qin Wan walked lightly into the study. Before coming, she had specially changed into a bright light green dress and adorned her hair with a newly picked hibiscus flower, which made her even more beautiful than the flower.
She walked to the desk, gave a graceful curtsy, and said in a gentle and melodious voice, "Seventh Brother."
Xiao Qiyu's expectations were suddenly dashed, and he didn't even raise his head.
The veins on the back of his hand throbbed faintly, and he felt like he must have seen a ghost to think that Cui Ying would personally come to bring him food.
As if sensing Xiao Qiyu's displeasure, Qin Wan softened her voice: "Sister-in-law, you had a few drinks with me just now and drank a couple more cups of wine. Now you are unable to move around easily and you are worried that my brother has not eaten yet, so you specially sent me to bring him some wine and food. In the end, my sister-in-law is still thinking about my brother."
After saying this, he took the food box from the maid and personally took out several side dishes one by one, arranging them neatly in the empty space on the desk.
After finishing the arrangements, she did not leave immediately. Instead, she stood quietly to the side, her hands folded in front of her, looking docile and hesitant.
Xiao Qiyu was focused on working out the sand table and didn't look at her.
After a moment, Qin Wan seemed to have mustered her courage and spoke softly, "I've heard that you and sister-in-law seem to have some disagreements lately. Actually, I just want to say a few words of justice for my sister-in-law. She comes from a high-ranking family and grew up in luxury, so she's inevitably a bit naive and carefree. Sometimes she might not be so considerate of others. You, brother, are broad-minded and insightful; you should be more tolerant of her."
Her words were earnest, seemingly trying to exonerate Cui Ying, but in reality, they were all implying that Cui Ying was arrogant, willful, and lacked a sense of propriety.
Xiao Qiyu finally shifted his gaze from the sand table to Qin Wan's face.
Even if a scion of a prominent family like him is displeased, he must maintain proper manners and not lose his composure in front of outsiders.
“I have heard that your father, Prefect Qin, has been fond of wine since he was young,” Xiao Qiyu said in a light, even calm, tone, “and this has caused quite a few troubles.”
"Once, while he was drunk, he even broke into his own kitchen and forced himself on a maid who was tending the fire, resulting in her becoming pregnant and giving birth to a daughter."
His voice was calm and emotionless; he was simply stating a fact that everyone knew.
Qin Wan's face turned deathly pale instantly, all color drained from her, and even her lips trembled slightly.
Her birth mother's background had always been a source of deep sorrow for her. She studied poetry, literature, music, calligraphy, and painting so diligently that she could become a true lady of a prominent family in the eyes of others, rather than the daughter of a kitchen maid.
At this moment, her sore spot was cruelly touched by her beloved.
Qin Wan forced herself to maintain her composure and looked back at Xiao Qiyu, but her voice had become sharper, unlike her gentle tone just now. She sneered, "What do you mean by saying this, brother? These are all family matters of the Qin family. Why should you have the right to comment?"
“So.” Xiao Qiyu’s eyes were cold as he looked at Qin Wan.
He didn't care about the backgrounds of the people standing in front of him; he only knew that if he was disgusted by them, he would disgust them back.
"Even if Cui Ying and I have a huge argument, it is still a private matter between my husband and me."
He parted his lips slightly, his jade-like face exuding authority, his phoenix eyes sharp and unapproachable:
"And who gives you the right to comment?"
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Author's Note: I'm finally getting to the turning point where the emotions reach their climax, so I'm typing away like crazy!!
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