Chapter 49 Even if Cui Huai was insane, he wouldn't go so far as to dig...
When news of Shen Yunzhi's death spread, Chen Zhaoyu was brought back to Beijing.
He was overjoyed to see his family again after a long separation, but he could no longer smile when he learned of Shen Yunzhi's passing.
Chen Zhaoyu stood dejectedly before Shen Yunzhi's grave, thinking of her youthful beauty and promising life, now lying alone in these mountains. He couldn't help but feel bitter and remorseful. If he hadn't been so incompetent, he would never have been forced to leave the capital, leaving her to face everything alone.
"Zhi Niang..."
Chen Zhaoyu reached out, wanting to touch the name engraved on the tombstone in front of him.
A voice sounded from behind.
Cui Huai said coldly, "This is not a place for you." His tone was somewhat sinister.
Chen Zhaoyu paused, then withdrew his hand.
He turned around and watched Cui Huai slowly approach, noticing that Cui Huai's gaze on the tombstone was almost blank, and he was a little confused for a moment.
Why does Your Highness say such a thing?
"Having known each other for so long, I was unable to see Zhi Niang off on her final journey, which is why I wanted to come and visit her."
Chen Zhaoyu tried to explain to Cui Huai in a gentle voice, but Cui Huai responded with a cold attitude, asking, "Chen Zhaoyu, are you not ashamed in your heart?" He was stunned. Cui Huai then said calmly, "Instead of coming to see her, it's better to give her some peace and quiet."
Already feeling guilty, Chen Zhaoyu recalled the incident in the plum garden when his brother caught him with Shen Yunzhi.
Because of this, their relationship could not be resolved gradually, and his instability ruined everything.
Chen Zhaoyu left dejectedly.
Cui Huai examined the footprints he had left on the ground several times, confirming that someone else had visited Shen Yunzhi's grave not long ago.
It wasn't Chen Zhaoyu, but Cui Hong? Huo Ming? Or someone he wasn't quite sure about?
The thought of the lively scene at Shen Yunzhi's grave reignited the fire of anger and jealousy buried deep within Cui Huai's heart.
She never truly belonged to him during her lifetime.
Even after her death, so many people still remember her.
She shouldn't be buried here.
Cui Huai thought that burying her in a place known only to him would be enough.
...
After Shen Yunzhi's death, Cui Huai realized that he knew very little about her.
She told him a little about her past, but only a tiny bit, through which she learned about her loving parents and doting brother when she was young.
That's all.
At the Shen family's old residence, many people knew her and were aware of her past.
Cui Huai sent people to inquire.
Shen Yunzhi's past is not hard to know. Even if people know that she has gone to the Chu Prince's mansion and are unwilling to talk about it, they can always spend some money to get someone to say a few more words.
It turns out that since she was a young girl, many men had wanted to marry her.
Because of her beauty and fame, a young scholar climbed over the wall of the Shen family's residence in an attempt to catch a glimpse of her, but was eventually beaten out by the Shen family's servants.
When Shen Yunzhi was mentioned, most people would praise her beauty and express regret when her parents and brothers were mentioned. Only one person seemed to hate Shen Yunzhi so much that he would grit his teeth and refuse to say a single good word about her whenever she was mentioned.
He was a young man.
His surname is Tang, but he claims to be Shen Yunzhi's younger brother.
"He said that after his cousin's family had an accident, he went to comfort her and wanted to recognize her as his relative. From then on, the two siblings depended on each other for survival, but his cousin ignored him. Later, before his cousin went to the capital, she invited him to meet her under the pretext of this matter. He went to the meeting, but was only beaten and both of his legs were broken, leaving him bedridden for several months."
"This man is the son of Master Shen's mistress."
"However, almost no one in the Shen family knows about this matter."
Cui Huai stood with his hands behind his back in front of the flower stand, looking at a withered plum blossom branch in a white glazed vase. After listening quietly to the report from below, he thought about how Shen Yunzhi had used sweet words to deceive people and then left without a trace, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
What a wicked young lady.
If you offend her, and she gains power, you may face all sorts of retaliation.
The smile quickly froze on Cui Huai's lips.
No matter how wicked Shen Yunzhi was, he would never see her again.
The person who could be seen was Huo Ming.
When Cui Huai caught Huo Ming red-handed in front of Shen Yunzhi's grave, he was not surprised at all.
Seeing him gazing at Shen Yunzhi's tombstone with such apparent affection, and thinking of the still unconscious Seventh Princess Cui Xuan, Cui Huai couldn't help but let out a short, cold laugh. When Huo Ming turned around alertly, Cui Huai didn't suppress his laughter, but instead spoke lightly: "As the consort of the Seventh Princess, isn't it improper for you to appear here alone so late at night?"
Huo Ming pursed his lips and didn't reply.
However, Cui Huai's appearance made his guesses and deductions seem to be moving closer to the truth.
"Why is Your Highness here?" Composing himself, Huo Ming spoke in a low voice, then turned to look at the tombstone and said sadly, "Does Your Highness not know? Zhi Niang and I were in love with each other. If it weren't for the accident, we would have been married long ago."
The words "mutual affection" burned in Cui Huai's ears.
He found Huo Ming ridiculous; even if Zhi Niang were alive, she would never want a married man again.
Zhi Niang wanted to be the principal wife and to spend her life devoted to only her.
Huo Ming could never do that.
Such self-righteousness is truly an eyesore.
Unfortunately, even taking his life would be like sending him to live as a secret couple with Zhi Niang; we can't let him off so easily.
"Was the prince consort always like this in front of the Seventh Princess?"
"That's why the Seventh Princess hated her so much that she didn't hesitate to send assassins to take her life?"
Cui Huai's tone revealed a sense of sorrow.
Huo Ming was stunned, and after a few breaths looked at Cui Huai in disbelief, hurriedly asking, "What do you mean? Zhi Niang was killed by the Seventh Princess?!"
After dismissing Huo Ming with a few words, Cui Huai summoned Lin Yue to his side. Gazing at Shen Yunzhi's grave for a long while, he seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps asking Lin Yue's opinion, "If we move her grave, will she be unhappy?"
Upon hearing Cui Huai's words, Lin Yue was startled.
The relocation of the graves was so significant that rumors of the Crown Prince of Chu going mad probably spread throughout the capital overnight.
"Your Highness, this is not appropriate."
Lin Yue forced himself to remain calm and said, "If that's the case, not only would it be disrespectful to Miss Biao, but the Princess Consort's health has only just improved, and she will inevitably be saddened again."
Cui Huai remained silent for a long time, but did not insist.
But he could only endure it for five days. After learning that Cui Hong had come alone to pay respects at Shen Yunzhi's grave, he could no longer bear it.
It was a late night in early spring.
Cui Huai calmly watched as the servants dug up Shen Yunzhi's grave.
When they lifted the coffin together, they noticed something was wrong—the coffin seemed too light. It had only been buried for a little over a month, and the weather was cold, so the body should be decomposing slowly. This shouldn't be the case. Moreover, there was no unpleasant smell at all.
"Open the coffin."
Cui Huai took a few steps closer, stared at the coffin, and gave a deep order.
He watched the person breathe their last, and he personally oversaw the burial of the coffin.
Why is something wrong?
Although the servants were surprised by Cui Huai's order, they dared not delay and immediately opened the coffin.
Cui Huai glanced up, then closed his eyes again, and sneered repeatedly.
What an empty coffin.
What a... what a wicked little woman, she's completely outmaneuvered him!
A burning rage surged through Cui Huai's internal organs.
He stared intently at the coffin, and no one dared to utter a sound until he ordered the empty coffin to be buried back in.
"Arrange for someone to feed the Seventh Princess the antidote." Cui Huai instructed Lin Yue as he strode back. As long as Shen Yunzhi lived, Cui Xuan wouldn't have to die, and he wouldn't let Huo Ming benefit from it, clearing away an obstacle for Huo Ming for nothing. Huo Ming could continue to be Cui Xuan's consort in peace from now on.
...
A small town in Jiangnan, a thousand miles away.
In the stillness of the night, Shen Yunzhi woke up from her sleep. Moonlight shone into the room through the window, casting a silvery glow.
She had been living a peaceful and free life in Beijing for over a month, faking her death, and the days that followed gradually made her feel the reality of her existence.
She did indeed escape, and from then on, she stayed far away from Cui Huai.
But we have no choice but to let go of the past.
From now on, I must rely on myself to make a living, like a new beginning, starting all over again.
To avoid arousing suspicion, all the gold, silver, and jade recorded in the previous register were forbidden to be touched; her entire fortune remained with the Prince of Chu's residence. Fortunately, she had planned ahead and secretly prepared some banknotes... so she wouldn't have to worry about money for the time being.
She had never stayed in this small town in her past life, but she had passed through it.
The local people are simple and honest, and the current magistrate is upright, selfless, and impartial in enforcing the law. She walks around as a widow, and people are surprised but also pity her for her miserable life.
She didn't let Qiuyue follow her.
After being rescued by Qiuyue, she set aside some money and then completely separated from Qiuyue.
On her way back to the Chu Prince's manor from the estate that day, she was assassinated. Although she didn't know who was responsible, it did provide her with an opportunity to fake her death. Before Cui Huai found her, she took a drug that would induce a state of suspended animation. This drug would cause a person to be in a daze for several days before falling into a state of "suspended animation."
She has injuries, so no one will suspect her.
The biggest flaw was the empty coffin; she and Qiuyue alone could not find a young woman's corpse to use as a disguise.
But no matter how crazy Cui Huai was, he wouldn't go so far as to dig up her grave.
Who would insist on opening her coffin?
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Author's note: Cui Huai: Already dug up.
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