Chapter 102 Chapter 102 End of the text
Chapter 102
Recently, Chen Liuniang has frequently visited Cui Shunying's residence. When the two girls get together, they either appreciate chrysanthemums and drink tea, or play chess and chat.
Chen Liuniang even asked Cui Shunying about Queen Su's temper, and seemed to be extremely interested in Su Li.
To gather more intelligence and to tip off Su Li, Yang Da made a point of following Cui Shunying, secretly observing the young lady from the Chen family. It was unclear whether Yang Da was simply partial to Su Li, or if this was simply the truth. He felt that no matter how young Chen Liuniang was, or how slender she was, she couldn't compare to Su Li's beauty!
Although Yang Da was a rootless eunuch, he had been a man after all. He knew that all men in the world were fickle and easily bored with the old and easily attracted by the new.
Su Li is already twenty years old. I wonder if in the eyes of Your Majesty, Queen Su is considered old and ugly.
The most uncomfortable thing is Choi Sun-young’s attitude!
The eldest princess is clearly close to Su Li, but she is so two-faced. On the one hand, she tries to win over the commoner-born Empress Su, while on the other hand, she secretly gets close to Chen Liuniang, the new concubine who is about to enter the harem. It is really chilling.
After Chen Liuniang happily returned home with the box of Peony Cream, Yang Da couldn't help but ask with resentment, "Your Highness, your actions are truly unkind and disappointing to Madam Li!"
Cui Shunying was stunned when she heard this. Her beautiful eyes rolled around, and after a long while she asked, "Why are you talking about Sister Su?"
Yang Da curled his lips. "You're not the one who said that Madam Li has suffered so much, and you told me to be more attentive in my future service... Your Highness, on the one hand, pities Madam Li, and on the other hand, tries to win over this young lady from the Chen family who is about to enter the palace. Isn't that the way you act, a traitor and a fence-sitter?"
Yang Da is a smooth and experienced man. He has never stood up for anyone like this before.
He saw that Cui Shunying had a good temper, and in a moment of anger, he actually defended Su Li.
Cui Shunying was a little surprised by such loyalty and courage.
When you think about it, Su Li is really charming, and she can make everyone around Cui Jue lean towards her.
Well, even Choi Sun-young herself couldn't help but treat Su Li affectionately.
Hearing Yang Da mention Chen Liuniang, Cui Shunying chuckled twice: "Don't wrongly accuse my brother. Liuniang has nothing to do with my brother, but she has something to do with me!"
Yang Da didn't understand.
"My royal brother intends to win over the Langshan Chen clan and resolve past grievances. Since he's unwilling to expand his harem, he naturally wants the Marquis of Yan to marry the princess. My brother from the Chen clan and I are childhood sweethearts, well-matched, and know each other well... Since they're seeking an arranged marriage, I should volunteer."
Cui Shunying is more insightful than other young ladies. She doesn't believe in love. As a daughter of the Cui family, as long as the family can continue to prosper, it doesn't matter if she sacrifices a marriage.
Moreover, as long as Cui Jue's kingdom and people are stable, no one will dare to bully her, the eldest princess.
If she and Chen Heng were really not in harmony, she would not restrict Chen Heng from taking concubines in the future, and Chen Heng would not have to care about her taking a few lovers in the princess's mansion.
Since Cui Shunying is interested in this political marriage and wants to go all out, she will of course treat Chen's sister-in-law well and invite her to her house more often to appreciate the flowers.
Yang Da's reaction was a bit surprising...
Before Cui Shunying could ask him any more questions, Yang Da felt his legs go numb after hearing the whole story and he collapsed into the seat dejectedly.
Yang, the experienced steward, suddenly broke out in a sweat, his back felt numb, and he muttered with dull eyes, "It's over, it's all over..."
Doesn't that make him a treacherous villain who "lies about military intelligence and sows discord between the Emperor and Empress"?
How could the emperor spare his life? !
Before Yang Da could come up with a plan to apologize, a cold voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"What's over?"
The clear voice was brought closer by the wind, like a ghost pressing against one's back, making people feel inexplicably creepy.
Yang Da was trembling all over, as if facing a great enemy. Goose bumps appeared on his arms, and even his neck was covered with white sweat.
Yang Da tremblingly turned around and humbly knelt before the man in the black robe with crane pattern, "Your Majesty..."
Cui Jue lowered his eyes, a gloomy expression on his face. He said coldly, "Report everything related to Madam truthfully. If you have concealed anything... Yang Da, you will die as an apology!"
Yang Da was so frightened that tears came out. He could not stand Cui Jue's fierce questioning, so he quickly revealed that he had sent the letter privately.
As soon as Yang Da finished explaining the whole story, Cui Shunying gave him a look of deep sympathy and pity.
Yang Da's heart skipped a beat.
Sure enough, the next moment, Cui Jue shot him a fierce glare that seemed to want to bite people.
The man's handsome face was covered with dark clouds, and the words he uttered were colder than winter ice. "Considering that you are still loyal to the lady, get out of here and receive thirty strokes of the cane! If you do it again, Yang Da, you will be beheaded!"
"Yes... yes!" Yang Da lowered his body and nodded repeatedly.
Yang Da was overwhelmed with mixed emotions, a subtle sense of joy at having escaped a disaster. He was grateful for his wit and the support of Empress Su, which had allowed him to escape death. He also regretted that he had been too talkative before, which had ultimately offended the emperor and brought him trouble.
However, Cui Shunying saw his brother walking away quickly and figured out something.
The girl squatted down and patted Yang Da's shoulder as if to comfort him. "Great job, Yang Dajian! You've got a good hold on my thigh. Good days are yet to come!"
-
In November, the first snow falls in the mountains, and the red plum blossoms bloom in the cold, creating a lively and pleasant scene.
Su Li was afraid of the cold, so she put on the thick rabbit fur coat and skirt early in the morning.
Su Li learned from Wei Zhiyan that Cui Jue would not be able to move the capital to Liuzhou until the twelfth month.
It was only November now, and time was not tight. After much consideration, she decided to stay in Taohua Town for another month.
By early December, Su Li was finally ready to set off.
Before leaving Taohua Town, there happened to be a wedding at Mrs. Feng's house, and Su Li received an invitation from the Feng family.
The Feng family sent wedding eggs and wedding cakes. Su Li couldn't refuse such kindness, so she had to accept the invitation with pleasure.
The townspeople of Taohua Town had no idea that the Su family had so many secret guards hiding there. Fortunately, Su Li's yard was far away halfway up the mountain, and she didn't interact much with the townspeople on weekdays, so her secrets were not exposed in front of others.
But they had all heard that half a year ago, a beautiful lady named Su came and captivated the young men in the town. They often sent food and meat to the small courtyard in an attempt to win Su Li's favor.
Unfortunately, Su Li's husband died at a young age, and she had to remain a widow for three years and could not remarry. Three years was too long, and how could a young man full of vigor and vitality afford to wait? From then on, no young man would be so tactless as to approach Su Li.
At wedding banquets in the countryside, there is no separate seating for men and women. Several wooden tables are pulled out and filled with steaming hot braised pork knuckles, fried tofu, roast chicken... Whenever they see an empty seat, they pull the person to sit down and share the wedding banquet together.
Su Li, Qiu Gui and Yuan Ge'er sat at the same table.
Mrs. Feng was very happy that her granddaughter was marrying off today, and she talked about the marriage with the elders and villagers for a long time.
Mrs. Feng said that her granddaughter Feng Chun and her grandson-in-law Ye Sanlang fell in love at first sight.
During the chaotic war, food and water were scarce everywhere. Feng Chun, thinking of going into the mountains to gather some wild vegetables to cook and eat, happened to run into Ye Sanlang hunting at the foot of the mountain. Perhaps it was a glimpse into their relationship, as Ye Sanlang generously gifted Feng Chun a pheasant he had hunted.
Mrs. Feng smiled as she talked about Ye Sanlang. "Everyone in this town says Ye Sanlang is doomed to be alone, that his parents died, and that he was driven out by his relatives, so he ended up living in the mountains. But I think he's a kind and handsome young man, not a bad guy. Even if his family is a little poor, it's not a big deal. With the young couple working together, life will get better and better."
Su Li peeled taro and nodded approvingly: "That's the truth."
Before she could finish, Mrs. Feng suddenly changed the subject, looked at Su Li, and smiled meaningfully: "In these chaotic times, families without men to look after the house wouldn't dare to go out and work on the farm... It's very inconvenient for a girl to live alone. She should really think more about her future. Madam Su, don't you agree?"
Su Li was suddenly pointed out by Mrs. Feng and was at a loss.
Then Mrs. Feng gave her seat to a young man. The young man just took a look at Su Li, his ears immediately turned red, and he lowered his head like a quail.
Even if Su Li was slow-witted, she understood that this was to match her up...
Su Li will be leaving Taohua Town in two days, so there is really no need to argue with others today.
So Su Li smiled awkwardly and didn't answer.
Just as she was finishing her perfunctory response, a clear shout came from outside the yard.
"Su Li..."
It was a man's voice that I hadn't heard in a long time.
The sound is cold, eerie, pleasant, and elusive like a ghost.
Hearing this, Su Li felt as if she were in another world. Her heart trembled slightly, and a sour feeling filled her chest.
Su Li straightened her shoulders, and her round almond-shaped eyes stared at the people coming and going at the wedding banquet, as if she was looking forward to it.
Following this cold shout, everyone at the table turned around and looked towards the courtyard gate.
I saw a tall and handsome man standing at the gate of the courtyard.
The man wore a yellow-green robe with locust-flower patterns, his sleeves flowing freely, like ice, snow, and jade, and he had a gentle and elegant demeanor. His long, slender black hair was tied in a crown, his lips were delicate and thin, and when he looked at people with a pair of dark phoenix eyes, there was no anger in them, but they still made people shudder.
The townspeople of Taohua Town had never seen such a handsome young man. They were stunned by his appearance and could not help but whisper and talk about him.
"Who is that? Whose husband is he?"
“I’ve never seen it before…”
"He's so handsome? Could he be a young master from a noble family?"
Amidst the whispers, that otherworldly and stunning figure gradually approached.
Su Li and Cui Jue met again after a long separation. She was angry and should have scolded him, blamed him and hated him, but when the words came to her lips, they felt like a thorn in her throat.
For some reason, Su Li felt a pang of pain in her nose. She pursed her red lips and murmured, "Young Master..."
Cui Jue saw the ripples in her eyes, and the coldness in them gradually disappeared, and her expression slowly became gentle.
He asked coldly, "If I had come a little later, would you have looked for someone else and found another husband?"
Su Li blinked, swallowed the bitter taste in her throat, and said in a daze, "Why would I look for someone else... My husband has passed away, so I should remain faithful to him for three years."
Su Li's words were ambiguous. It was unclear whether she was talking about her second cousin Cui Ming who died of illness at an early age, or alluding to Cui Jue who had previously faked his death on the battlefield.
Hearing this, Cui Jue raised the corners of her lips slightly: "Su Li, there is no need to guard... My husband has returned to life."
Cui Jue finally bowed her head and acknowledged the name of her deceased husband as mentioned by Su Li.
No matter whether he is a human or a ghost, he is the only one who can accompany Su Li from now on.
(End of full text)
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