Chapter 18 (Revised) In her dream, she also cried and begged...
Shen Yunzhi wanted to pry Cui Huai's hands off, but she didn't want to have any contact with him.
Fortunately, she was quickly let go. She turned her head and rubbed her face as she took a few steps back to get away from him.
It was obviously unintentional that I bumped into him.
She had no intention of seeing him at Tinglan Garden today; she simply wanted to leave the sachet behind and go.
But he was unable to defend himself.
And one cannot truly speak the truth.
“The weather has been getting warmer lately, and there are more insects and ants, so I made a few mosquito repellent sachets, thinking they might be useful.” Shen Yunzhi did not answer Cui Huai’s question, nor did she deliberately lie. She spoke to him in a low voice, half-truthfully, “I was going to leave after putting down my things, but I didn’t expect Your Highness to be here.”
Cui Huai neither agreed nor disagreed with Shen Yunzhi's words.
He didn't urge her to leave, but instead said, "Miss Shen, you must have something to do."
Shen Yunzhi was stunned.
Cui Huai walked to the altar and picked up the two mosquito repellent sachets: "Didn't Miss Shen say before that she wouldn't do this again?"
The sachet, stuffed full of herbs, was bulging.
However, besides the scent of herbs, it also carried the scent of Shen Yunzhi.
I had previously thought that I was overly sensitive to the smell due to the effects of the medication.
Looking back now, it might have been because the fragrance on her was too strong. He had told her he didn't like it, but she obviously didn't care.
But ultimately he was too impulsive.
It's not really wrong for her not to listen.
Cui Huai's tone was not accusatory, but rather like calmly stating a fact.
However, when it reached Shen Yunzhi's ears, it made her extremely embarrassed.
She had indeed made up her mind to stay away from Cui Huai, but things didn't go as planned. Now, even though she knew that Cui Huai was nothing but a hypocrite, she had no choice but to beg him and do things she didn't want to do to please him.
It's all that bastard Cui Xu's fault.
Shen Yunzhi couldn't help but curse Cui Xu in her heart again before putting on a weak and innocent posture: "Is Your Highness blaming me?"
Cui Huai's fingers, which were holding the sachet, suddenly tightened.
He truly had no idea how she had come to such a conclusion.
"No," Cui Huai denied calmly.
Shen Yunzhi persisted, saying, "Your Highness is clearly blaming me."
This time, however, she didn't give Cui Huai a chance to speak, and said to herself in a low voice, "Zhiniang had told Your Highness before that it was because she was grateful for Your Highness's protection that she did those things that were beyond her bounds. Even though she later realized that she had overstepped her bounds and dared not cause Your Highness any more trouble, Zhiniang has never forgotten Your Highness's kindness. Last time I ran into Your Highness at Tinglan Garden, I found that I had many red spots on my body from insect bites after I returned, so I thought of making some mosquito repellent sachets."
"It's nothing special."
"Besides, His Highness may not even come. I'm just thinking that maybe His Highness will come someday. These little things will come in handy."
"I was just being redundant."
"Two mere sachets, and Your Highness actually thinks..." Shen Yunzhi laughed self-deprecatingly, then stopped speaking.
Every word seemed sincere and heartfelt, and Cui Huai grew more and more silent as he listened.
Such sweet talk makes it seem as if he is ungrateful, overthinking, and deliberately blaming her.
He then recalled how his younger sister Lizhu and Cui Hong both cared for Shen Yunzhi.
There are also Huo Ming, Zhou Tao, Chen Zhaoyu, and even Liang Zhengting specifically asked about her recent situation a couple of days ago.
Cui Huai had no intention of delving into her true intentions.
Since she didn't say she had anything to do at Tinglan Garden, he said, "If there's nothing else, Miss Chen, please go back."
Shen Yunzhi is going back.
Not only did they leave, but they also took the two mosquito-repellent sachets with them when they left.
Cui Huai's palms became empty.
The faint, sweet-smelling herbal scent that permeated the air was quickly dissipated by the night breeze.
They've left again.
Just like last time, there was not the slightest hesitation or lingering attachment.
One day later.
Cui Huai met Cui Lizhu and Cui Hong one after the other, and noticed that they were both wearing sachets with similar embroidery.
“It was a gift from my cousin.” Cui Hong took off the sachet from his waist and smiled slightly. “My cousin said that the weather has been getting warmer lately and there are more mosquitoes, so she gave me this sachet filled with herbs to keep me from being bothered by mosquitoes.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to realize something belatedly and asked in surprise, "Didn't my brother receive it?"
Cui Huai ignored Cui Hong, but recalled what Shen Yunzhi had said to him at Tinglan Garden the night before last.
I have never forgotten his kindness.
Cui Huai almost wanted to sneer.
...
Ever since the Princess of Chu hired a female tutor for Shen Yunzhi, she often went there to learn riding and archery.
She mentioned this matter in a letter to Huo Yuan, and Huo Yuan replied to her, offering to accompany her to choose a horse.
Shen Yunzhi was not very familiar with these matters, while Huo Yuan, from a military family, had been exposed to them since childhood and was naturally more knowledgeable than her. Therefore, she readily agreed and informed Cui Lizhu of the matter. On the day they went out to select horses, Cui Lizhu accompanied her. When they arrived at the agreed meeting place, they discovered that there would be far more than just the three of them there.
Huo Yuan was accompanied by her second brother, Huo Ming.
Chen Zhaoyu was also invited by Cui Lizhu to go with them.
Fortunately, Huo Yuan and Huo Ming, the siblings, were acquainted with Chen Zhaoyu, so there was no awkwardness or unfamiliarity among the group. In fact, their gathering was quite large, giving off a rather grand and imposing feel, making it hard to believe they were just there to choose a horse.
It feels good to be cared for.
With so many people accompanying her, Shen Yunzhi was not worried about anything happening and felt unusually relaxed and at ease.
In their eyes, Shen Yunzhi was learning to ride a horse for the first time, and they helped her choose a foal in the end.
Although not a rare steed, it was pure white with no other colors, and its coat was glossy and its physique agile, making it a very beautiful horse.
Shen Yunzhi also tried riding it.
The horse was gentle and more obedient than she had expected, and she got along with it very easily.
Huo Ming stood outside the railing, watching Shen Yunzhi on horseback, her eyes sparkling with life, her fair face radiant like a pearl, possessing an indescribable charm, and he couldn't help but be mesmerized. Huo Yuan turned her head and saw her brother gazing at Shen Yunzhi in a daze, and after a slight pause, she covered her mouth and chuckled: "Miss Shen is beautiful and kind-hearted. If she could be my second sister-in-law, I would be more than happy to accept it."
His sister's words were too blunt, and Huo Ming's ears turned red as he came to his senses: "Don't talk nonsense."
Huo Yuan smiled and said, "A beautiful lady is sought after by a gentleman. In my opinion, it is only natural. Second brother, you don't need to feel embarrassed."
Huo Ming's eyes dimmed.
His voice was low: "Marriage is never a trivial matter. If I cannot protect her for life, wouldn't I be ruining her life?"
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuan couldn't help but suppress her smile. After a long silence, she finally said, "I only hope that Second Brother can find his true love and stay with her, rather than missing out on her and regretting it for the rest of his life."
"Why go to such lengths?" Huo Ming laughed. "My sister is overthinking things."
He then looked at Shen Yunzhi and said, "Fate is predetermined. If we are destined to be together, we will surely have a chance."
Seeing Shen Yunzhi's joyful expression on horseback, Cui Lizhu was also eager to join in. She simply asked someone to bring a horse and then called Chen Zhaoyu, Huo Yuan, and Huo Ming. So they rode horses together for a spring outing, laughing and joking for most of the day before preparing to return to their respective residences.
"Lizhu, I want to buy some books."
On the way back to the mansion, when passing through the long street, Shen Yunzhi lifted the carriage curtain to take a look and saw the vicinity of Deshufang. She then spoke to Cui Lizhu.
Choi Yeo-joo ordered the driver to stop.
They got off the carriage and went to browse the nearby bookstores.
Aside from storybooks, Cui Lizhu had no interest in any other books, as she would get a headache after just a few glances. She simply stayed by Shen Yunzhi's side and waited for her. However, a young man who looked like a scholar stepped forward and greeted her with great respect: "Princess Danyang."
Choi Yeo-joo glanced over listlessly: "Who are you?"
The dismissive remark did not offend him; he still smiled and introduced himself: "My surname is Yao, and my father is Yao Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue."
Choi Yeo-joo felt the name sounded familiar.
However, the Ministry of Revenue official was only a fifth-rank official, and she had no impression of the Yao family.
Shen Yunzhi reacted before she did—
The person I went to Baiyun Temple to have my fortune told was the son of Doctor Yao, but this young master Yao did not show up.
However, when Shen Yunzhi leaned forward curiously to look at this young master Yao, she met his gaze. Young master Yao was also looking at her, and his eyes lit up when he saw her face clearly: "This...may I ask if you are Miss Shen?"
Shen Yunzhi nodded and greeted him, "Young Master Yao."
Young Master Yao returned the greeting with a formal bow: "I broke my promise to Miss Shen last time and was unable to keep our appointment. I feel guilty and hope that Miss Shen will forgive me."
Only then did Cui Lizhu remember this Young Master Yao.
She was never one to mince words, and immediately said, "You've already broken your promise, what's the point of saying anything more?"
Young Master Yao was taken aback, seemingly puzzled by Cui Lizhu's words: "Didn't His Highness explain the reason?"
Choi Yeo-joo frowned: "What do you mean? What does this have to do with my brother?"
"It was His Highness the Crown Prince who sent a message to my mother, instructing her to go to Baiyun Temple to stop me."
Young Master Yao solemnly informed them.
...
"Absolutely impossible." After bidding farewell to Young Master Yao and leaving the bookstore, Shen Yunzhi and Cui Lizhu boarded the carriage to return to the Prince's Mansion. Cui Lizhu, however, remained unconvinced by Young Master Yao's words. "Why would my brother do this? This is clearly a frame-up!"
Shen Yunzhi paused for a moment, then asked, "Why would he frame His Highness?"
"If it's a lie, wouldn't it be easily exposed?"
Choi Yeo-joo was unable to answer.
But she still couldn't believe her brother would do such a thing, and she was both annoyed and angry: "Then tell me, why would my brother do this? He's not lying, but why would my brother do this? Are you going to tell me that my brother loves you so much that he can't live without you and won't allow you to look at anyone else?"
Shen Yunzhi found these words utterly horrifying.
She hadn't provoked Cui Huai at all a while ago, so why was he acting crazy?
"Just ask and you'll know."
Shen Yunzhi pursed her lips, "Young Master Yao has no need to lie, and Your Highness even less so."
She understood Cui Huai's temperament.
Even if it were true, if she asked him directly, Cui Huai wouldn't hide anything and would tell her the truth. She was determined to find out the whole story.
Shen Yunzhi and Cui Lizhu returned to the Chu Prince's Mansion and went to Qiyun Residence together.
Cui Huai, however, did not return to the mansion for a long time.
It wasn't until nightfall, and long after Qiyun Residence had been lit, that Cui Huai's figure finally appeared in the darkness.
Exhausted, Choi Yeo-joo immediately went to greet him: "Big brother."
Cui Huai glanced at her, then looked at Shen Yunzhi under the eaves: "I heard you wanted to see me?"
Cui Lizhu nodded eagerly, and Cui Huai walked towards the flower hall.
"What is it?"
Upon entering the flower hall, Cui Huai asked a question.
Cui Lizhu recounted her encounter with Young Master Yao at the bookstore to Cui Huai in detail, and then asked, "Was it really done by my elder brother? I don't believe my elder brother would do such a thing, but I also can't understand why he would slander my elder brother."
However, Cui Huai did not deny it: "It was indeed I who sent a message to Madam Yao."
"Why?" Before Cui Lizhu could speak, Shen Yunzhi asked first, "Why does Your Highness do this?"
Cui Huai never talked about others behind their backs.
He had no desire to explain, but after being pressed by Shen Yunzhi and watched with longing by his younger sister, he finally frowned and explained the reason to them.
The matter is actually not complicated.
He acted this way because he overheard Madam Yao talking to someone and making disparaging remarks about Princess Chu and Shen Yunzhi.
When Cui Lizhu left Qiyun Residence, she had an expression that said, "I knew it."
Shen Yunzhi's feelings were much more complicated.
She believed that Cui Huai was telling the truth, and it was precisely because she believed it was the truth that she was even more unsure of what to think.
Given Cui Huai's temperament... this action could be considered meddling in other people's business.
But since it involves my aunt, it's something I'd rather not talk about.
This is the opposite of what I expected, and I am grateful to Cui Huai for his help. Fortunately, it's not some messy or ridiculous reason.
Shen Yunzhi felt at ease. Considering that she had repeatedly acted pitiful and aggrieved in front of Cui Huai before, she decided to do her best this time and sent over the mosquito-repelling sachets she had collected earlier, along with a pastry she had personally cooked.
Because she didn't want her aunt to feel indebted, she didn't tell her the truth about Young Master Yao.
He also instructed Choi Yeo-joo not to mention it again.
Her brother was nearly framed, and Cui Lizhu had no good impression of Madam Yao and Young Master Yao. She cursed them again and again in front of Shen Yunzhi, but still felt unsatisfied.
But since Shen Yunzhi had something to ask of her, she eventually agreed.
After that, Choi Yeo-joo became even more determined to bring Chen Zhaoyu and Shen Yunzhi together.
Before the Dragon Boat Festival, he invited Chen Zhaoyu twice more, and together with Huo Yuan and Huo Ming, the siblings, they went horseback riding and hunting. Cui Hong also joined them once.
The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival.
Emperor Jiaping, accompanied by his officials, watched the dragon boat race at Yaotai on Pengdao Island.
Prince Cui Jue of Chu, accompanied by his wife, his heir apparent Cui Huai, his second son Cui Hong, and Princess Cui Lizhu of Danyang, entered the palace to celebrate the festival with Emperor Jiaping. Shen Yunzhi also accompanied them to the palace that day. Naturally, Emperor Jiaping's sons would not be absent from such an occasion, and Shen Yunzhi spotted Cui Xu among them.
Dragon boats sped across the lake, leaving white waves churning in their wake.
The competition was intense, and Shen Yunzhi couldn't concentrate on watching it, because she could feel Cui Xu's gaze occasionally passing through the crowd and landing on her.
No one else would dare to look at someone with such unbridled gaze in this setting.
This feeling was like being inexplicably covered in bedbugs, and it was hard not to feel annoyed by it.
“The Fifth Prince seems to have been watching us.” Even Cui Lizhu, who had been focused on watching the game, noticed Cui Xu’s restless movements. She leaned close to Shen Yunzhi’s ear and whispered, “Don’t be afraid, you’ll be with me today.”
Shen Yunzhi nodded in agreement.
She could only think that whether it was the dragon boat race at hand or the palace banquet that evening, all the officials would be present, and the Fifth Prince might not dare to actually make any moves.
Such self-comforting thoughts become especially naive at night.
During the banquet, Shen Yunzhi wanted to change her clothes, so Cui Lizhu accompanied her to leave the table.
Who would have thought that in just a short while, inside and outside the house, when she came out, Cui Lizhu had vanished without a trace.
Not only Choi Yeo-joo, but the palace maid who led the way also disappeared without a trace.
The silence was eerily quiet. As Shen Yunzhi hesitated, unsure of what to do, a pair of large hands suddenly reached out from behind her. The person moved swiftly, instantly covering her lips and dragging her towards a nearby house. The person was incredibly strong, acting without hesitation; despite her desperate struggles, she couldn't budge them an inch.
Although she couldn't see the other person's face, Shen Yunzhi had a gut feeling that this person was Cui Xu.
After she was dragged into a room and pinned down on a small couch, she confirmed her suspicions.
Those hateful eyebrows and eyes, those repulsive gazes.
Shen Yunzhi felt that Cui Xu had probably gone mad, doing such an absurd thing at the palace banquet.
Perhaps they believed she was afraid of losing her reputation and being unable to stand in the world, so they wanted to take advantage of the situation and force themselves on her.
This meant that from then on, she would be completely at his mercy.
More than panic and fear, Shen Yunzhi felt an indescribable anger within her.
If she were to be reborn and end up with someone like that, she would rather give her life for his.
The thought arose from the bottom of her heart and kept growing in Shen Yunzhi's mind until it occupied all her thoughts. After the two slaps landed, she pretended to lose her strength and give up struggling, as if she could only let Cui Xu do whatever he wanted. But in the moment when Cui Xu relaxed his guard, she pulled out the gold hairpin from her hair without hesitation and stabbed him repeatedly with all her might.
The sensation of the gold hairpin piercing the flesh was distinct.
Shen Yunzhi's mind went blank; her only thought was not to let Cui Xu go, not to let this person who wanted to bully her by abusing his power get away with it.
"You wretch!" Cui Xu cursed angrily as he was stabbed by the gold hairpin.
Shen Yunzhi snapped out of her daze at the angry shout and, taking advantage of his momentary lapse in attention, rushed away from the small couch, trying to escape the room.
He had never seen such a reckless, defiant young woman, willing to risk her life for his. Her recklessness in defying him infuriated Cui Xu, yet he also found it strangely amusing. It was precisely this kind of woman who was worth his effort; how could he possibly let her go so easily?
Cui Xu's eyes darkened, and he caught up with her and grabbed her shoulder.
Shen Yunzhi then stabbed Cui Xu's hand with a gold hairpin, her movements ruthless.
The wound where the hairpin pierced him was still painful.
When he saw the golden hairpin thrusting towards him again, knowing she was going to kill him, he instinctively let go of her immediately.
A moment's hesitation gave Shen Yunzhi an opportunity.
She escaped the room and saw that familiar figure in the corridor. Her head was buzzing, but she didn't hesitate and ran towards him.
"Your Highness, save me..." Shen Yunzhi rushed to Cui Huai, her hand reaching up to his arm through his sleeve, her fingers tightening little by little. She was trembling all over, her voice also trembling, "Cousin, save me."
The hexagonal glass palace lantern quietly illuminates everything around it.
Cui Huai looked down at Shen Yunzhi, at her tear-streaked face and her pleading eyes.
It felt like a dream.
In her dreams, she also cried and begged for mercy, calling him "cousin".
"It's alright."
Cui Huai's gaze shifted from Shen Yunzhi's face, passing over her hand that was gripping his sleeve tightly, and lingered on the gold hairpin that she was clutching tightly in her other hand.
The gold hairpin, stained with blood, gleamed silently in the candlelight, its surface a dim, unseen glow.
But it is proof that she struggled with all her might.
Shen Yunzhi received no comfort and instead lowered her head deeply.
As her thoughts returned and reason returned, she realized what she had done, and a feeling of lingering fear finally welled up inside her.
Murdering a prince is a serious crime.
Even though she tried to protect herself, she could not escape this charge.
Those people wouldn't care why she hurt Cui Xu; they only cared that Cui Xu was injured. And since she was the one who hurt him, they wanted her to pay the price. How could she accept that? The person in front of her was her lifeline.
A thousand thoughts may swirle, but they are all fleeting.
Shen Yunzhi did not look up, nor did she loosen her grip on Cui Huai's sleeve; instead, her fingers tightened even more.
As she made up her mind, Shen Yunzhi closed her eyes.
She pressed her forehead against Cui Huai's chest, as if all her strength had been drained, and leaned limply against him, relying on him for support.
"Cui Huai, save me..."
Shen Yunzhi pleaded to speak.
Cui Huaili remained motionless.
He didn't respond to her words, but simply let her tears soak his clothes, without pushing her away.
A note from the author:
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