Chapter 35. With the most indifferent attitude, he made the most dissolute move...
"Ming An!"
A sharp rebuke shattered the romantic atmosphere, and Shen Yunzhi learned Chen Zhaoyu's courtesy name for the first time.
A moment later, she embraced the plum blossom branch that Chen Zhaoyu had broken for her and followed Cui Huai out of the plum garden.
Although things haven't progressed as Shen Yunzhi had anticipated, if she wants a future with Chen Zhaoyu, the Chen family will inevitably find out sooner or later. Right now, it's unavoidable that Chen Zhaoyu's brother has caught them; it all depends on how Chen Zhaoyu explains things to his brother when he gets back.
On the contrary, it was Cui Huai.
Shen Yunzhi quickly glanced at the back of the person walking ahead.
She didn't mind being seen by Cui Huai.
However, when she looked over just now, she clearly caught the cold smile on Cui Huai's face and sensed the oppressive and gloomy aura surrounding him.
Cui Huaisheng was furious.
Even though he quickly suppressed his emotions and made it impossible for anyone to tell that something was wrong, she was convinced that she hadn't seen wrong.
Shen Yunzhi felt a sense of panic almost instinctively.
This feeling of panic angered her and also made her wary.
Admittedly, from a worldly perspective, her intimate behavior with Chen Zhaoyu was inappropriate, so why was Cui Huai so angry?
Shen Yunzhi was unwilling to think about the most terrifying and incomprehensible situation, but she was even less willing to bury her head in the sand and deceive herself.
Cui Huai's physical reaction outside the library that day was so real.
If her judgment at the time was wrong, who knows if Cui Huai might have done something good behind the scenes.
The thought of Cui Huai possibly having feelings for her filled Shen Yunzhi with a surge of furious anger. What a hypocrite! But she swallowed her disgust and refused to confront Cui Huai directly, only refusing to obey him when he asked her to get into the carriage.
Cui Huai, already seated inside the carriage, looked at Shen Yunzhi through the open carriage door.
The bunch of plum blossoms in her arms was really an eyesore.
"The golden plum blossoms in Chen Family Plum Garden were a gift from His Majesty on his wedding day."
"They should not be taken out of this plum garden."
Cui Huai spoke, his tone as gentle as a well-intentioned reminder, but unfortunately, Shen Yunzhi, standing outside the carriage, didn't appreciate it.
She knew he was referring to something, warning her about Chen Zhaoyu's identity.
"It was a gift from Young Master Chen."
"I shouldn't let this sentiment go to waste, no matter what."
Chen Zhaoyu was one of the Chen family's nephews who was highly favored by the Empress, how could Shen Yunzhi not know this? But she didn't force Chen Zhaoyu to pick the plum blossom for her; he did it willingly, which is why she accepted the flower. The same applies to other matters. Precisely because this golden plum blossom was extraordinary, and Chen Zhaoyu was willing to make an exception for her, she felt more confident about their relationship.
Cui Huai said in a deep voice, "Her Majesty the Empress will surely inquire about today's events."
Shen Yunzhi was not intimidated and bluntly asked him, "Is it wrong for two people to be in love with each other?"
Her eyes gleamed slightly in the darkening sky as she loudly proclaimed her absurd relationship with Chen Zhaoyu.
Cui Huai rubbed the remaining mud between his fingertips and said calmly, "Does Huo Ming also know that you two are in love?"
Shen Yunzhi sneered inwardly. Did he think everyone was as paranoid and insane as him? But when she spoke, her tone softened, and she answered Cui Huai's question with certainty: "Brother Ming is kind-hearted and will surely understand us."
Cui Huai's gaze narrowed slightly, and he slowly curved his lips into a smile.
He took a clean handkerchief and slowly wiped his soiled fingers: "That's very good."
Shen Yunzhi once again sensed the underlying displeasure surging beneath Cui Huaiping's face.
She hugged the bunch of plum branches in her arms tightly and tentatively said, "Isn't Your Highness the same? You always want what's best for me."
Cui Huai sensed a hint of panic in Shen Yunzhi's tone, and paused in wiping his fingers with a handkerchief.
He raised his eyes slightly and asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"
...
Shen Yunzhi never got into Cui Huai's carriage.
But back at Yunxi Courtyard, while arranging flowers, she kept trying to figure out Cui Huai's thoughts.
Lowering her gaze, Shen Yunzhi looked at the gold-flecked plum blossom branch in her hand, its white petals and red spots layered upon each other. She carefully recalled Cui Huai's words from earlier that day, especially his question about how he wished her well…
Such a statement coming from Cui Huai's mouth was extremely strange.
I fear the real intention is not what it seems.
The fingers holding the plum branch unconsciously tightened.
Shen Yunzhi felt that she should probably make two preparations.
"Cousin Zhi, how would you like me to make love to you?"
Cui Huai embraced her from behind, his delicate kisses slowly landing on her ear, his words gentle, yet before her lay an open picture book.
He took her hand and turned the pages one by one.
The painting depicts a man and woman caught in passion, intertwined in different positions.
The straightforward and impactful images in the picture book seemed commonplace to Cui Huai, and not worth feeling ashamed or embarrassed about at all.
He insisted that she choose, and with the most indifferent attitude, he did the most dissolute thing.
Waking up early in the morning, Shen Yunzhi put on a coat and stood by the window, looking out at the snow-covered landscape, the world draped in a layer of silver frost. A cold wind whistled through the room, carrying snowflakes that fell on her face, bringing a slight chill.
Qiuyue ordered someone to bring her hot water to help her wash and dress.
She moved away from the window and asked Qiuyue, "I remember you have an older sister in Wangzhou?"
"yes."
Qiu Yue nodded and smiled, "Why did you suddenly bring this up, Miss?"
Shen Yunzhi shook her head: "It's just that the end of the year is approaching, and I suddenly remembered some old things." She walked to the dressing table, took out a silver note from the dressing case and handed it to Qiuyue, "I haven't heard you mention letters from home for a long time. You should at least show some concern for your family."
When Qiu Yue saw that it was a fifty-tael silver note, she suddenly felt that the item was too hot to handle. Just as she was about to refuse, Shen Yunzhi pressed her hand down first, not allowing her to refuse, and said: "Now I have no one else by my side. You have been devoted to me, so it is only right that I treat you well."
"I am only able to live today because of the kindness of my master and mistress who took me in."
Moved, Qiuyue said, "It's all what this servant should do."
Shen Yunzhi knew that Qiuyue understood her meaning, so she said no more.
She gently patted Qiuyue's hand and said, "Alright, help me wash up."
In her past life, Qiuyue suffered a lot of pain for no reason because of her.
We can't let it happen again this time.
Cui Huai's words proved prophetic.
The day after Chen Zhaoyu's brother caught her meeting with Chen Zhaoyu in the plum garden, the Empress sent a message to invite the Princess of Chu to the palace with her.
Compared to when Cui Xu had previously asked her to enter the palace alone under the guise of Consort Shu, Empress Chen's attitude was much gentler.
Shen Yunzhi dared not let her guard down, but with her aunt by her side, she was not too flustered.
Upon seeing Empress Chen again, she was just as dignified and graceful as she remembered, with an elegant and refined air. Her every move was noble and graceful, and even her gentle smile commanded respect. After the Princess of Chu stepped forward to pay her respects, Empress Chen offered her a seat. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, she used the excuse of wanting to examine the newly presented tribute brocades to have the head palace maid lead the Princess of Chu elsewhere, leaving Shen Yunzhi alone in the hall facing her.
"I remember you. You are a good child."
Setting down her teacup, Empress Chen said, "In the spring, I held a flower-viewing banquet in the Imperial Garden. It was you who rescued the young lady from the Huo family who had fallen into the water."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunzhi immediately stood up and apologized.
She lowered her head and said, "This commoner has acted rashly and has been impolite. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
"I think you are brave and resourceful, and you have done a good job." Empress Chen smiled. "Originally, I didn't want to interfere in the affairs of you young people, but Ming'an is a kind and gentle child, which makes me worry. Hearing that you two are in love, I have no intention of breaking you up. After thinking it over, I think it's better to let fate decide and see how things turn out for you two."
As Empress Chen spoke, she raised her hand, and a palace servant brought a black lacquered wooden tray to Shen Yunzhi.
On the tray was a wine jug and a wine glass.
"This mandarin duck wine pot is a rare treasure, for it is truly wondrous; one pot can pour out two kinds of wine," Empress Chen said casually. "Young Lady Shen, would you be willing to drink a full cup?"
Shen Yunzhi understood; this meant she was being asked to take a gamble.
The wine in that glass might be poisoned or not; until she drank it, nothing was certain.
It was indeed a high-stakes gamble, requiring her to risk her life.
Even if she were to die in the palace today, it would not harm the Empress or the Chen family in the slightest.
If she wasn't willing to take this gamble, there was absolutely no possibility of her getting together with Chen Zhaoyu.
The Empress's actions were also a subtle way of advising her to back down when faced with difficulties.
Shen Yunzhi was extremely unwilling to gamble her life for a man, but given her current situation, giving up Chen Zhaoyu would likely have significant drawbacks. She silently reached for the glass of wine, pondering repeatedly, thinking that the Empress's summoning of her aunt to the palace couldn't have been to collect her corpse.
Shen Yunzhi brought the wine glass to her lips, about to drink it all in one gulp, when an urgent call came from behind her.
It is Chen Zhaoyu.
Her drinking motion halted, and in the blink of an eye, Chen Zhaoyu had already entered the hall like a gust of wind, snatching the cup of wine from her hand. The wine spilled onto the ground. Chen Zhaoyu frowned deeply, bowed to Empress Chen, and said with barely suppressed anger, "Aunt, if you have something to say, you might as well say it to your nephew. Why make things difficult for an innocent person?"
Empress Chen smiled faintly.
Shen Yunzhi turned her head to look at Chen Zhaoyu, and secretly tugged at a piece of his sleeve with her fingers.
...
Chen Zhaoyu escorted Princess Chu and Shen Yunzhi back to the Chu Prince's residence.
Upon arriving at the hanging flower gate and disembarking from the carriage, Princess Chu returned to the main courtyard first, leaving Shen Yunzhi and Chen Zhaoyu to speak alone.
“Zhi Niang, I am touched that you are willing to go to such lengths for me, but I do not agree with it at all.” Chen Zhaoyu said to Shen Yunzhi in a serious and solemn manner, “You should cherish yourself and not be willing to give up your life for me.”
Shen Yunzhi smiled and said honestly, "That's just the worst-case scenario. Isn't it possible that nothing will happen?"
Chen Zhaoyu disagreed even more: "What if it really is poisoned wine?"
"Ming'an, are you unhappy?" Shen Yunzhi lowered her eyes. "This friendship is hard-won for me, and I just want to cherish it."
She said dejectedly, "If I don't try, won't there be no hope at all? How can I bear to do that?"
Chen Zhaoyu then realized that he had spoken too harshly.
“That’s not what I meant.” He sighed softly, then hesitated before pulling her into his arms. “But I don’t want anything to happen to you because of me, because then I would feel guilty for the rest of my life.”
"It's alright, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?" Shen Yunzhi raised her hand and hugged Chen Zhaoyu back, then snuggled out of his arms and looked up at him with concern. "But are you sure it's alright for you to act like this today?"
Chen Zhaoyu said helplessly, "What could possibly be wrong with me?"
After comforting Shen Yunzhi and putting her mind at ease, Chen Zhaoyu rode away.
Shen Yunzhi had just watched Chen Zhaoyu's figure disappear from sight when Lin Yue appeared as she turned around.
A quarter of an hour later, she met Cui Huai at Qiyun Residence.
Today's progress with Chen Zhaoyu went much smoother than expected, dispelling Shen Yunzhi's gloom and making her quite optimistic about her future. She was also happy to see Cui Huai. She was very willing to tell him about what happened at Fengluan Palace.
"Did Your Highness need to see me?"
Cui Huai stood under the corridor, and Shen Yunzhi walked up to him with a smile, her cheerful tone revealing her happy mood.
I had a dream last night.
Cui Huai glanced at the smile on Shen Yunzhi's face, as if discussing the weather with her, "Clouds and rain over Wushan, how delightful!"
Shen Yunzhi was admiring the snow scene in the courtyard.
The moment Cui Huai's words rang in her ears, she felt a buzzing in her head and easily lost the ability to think.
Cui Huai, however, seemed completely oblivious to the inappropriateness of his words, even offering a helpless smile: "Actually, this isn't the first time. I know this is truly offensive, and I didn't want you to know. But I've been plagued by these dreams, and it's truly unbearable. In the end, I need your help. I wonder if Miss Shen would be willing?"
Lost in thought, a gust of cold wind blew through the corridor, and Shen Yunzhi shivered violently.
She struggled to regain her composure, unsure of what expression to wear, and after a long pause, managed to squeeze out, "How can I possibly help Your Highness?"
"Didn't Miss Shen often say that she didn't know how to repay me?"
Cui Huai still smiled and said lightly, "It seems that now is the time to repay the debt."
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