Chapter 61. Shen Yunzhi gripped the sword and stabbed at Cui Huai...
Cui Huai saw his memorial tablet in Shen Yunzhi's small home.
The memorial tablet that belonged to her "deceased husband" clearly had his name written on it.
Shen Yunzhi was not embarrassed by this.
He was just a little annoyed by Cui Huai's persistent questioning.
To make the performance convincing, she presented herself as a widow living in this small town. Although no one would really investigate her past, she didn't want to attract too much curiosity, so she prepared a memorial tablet for her supposedly deceased husband as a decoration.
The problem is what name to carve on it.
While fabricating a name is not impossible, I am worried that I might accidentally expose the deception, so I do not intend to use a false name.
She couldn't find a suitable candidate among all the people she knew.
Only with Cui Huai, she didn't care about breaking any taboos, nor did she care whether he lived or died, which was just right.
Back when they were still at Qiyun Residence, Cui Huai had mentioned being curious about who her "deceased husband" was, and Shen Yunzhi had foreseen this day would come. Due to the distance and the high mountains, she couldn't destroy these things beforehand, and she also guessed that this matter would please Cui Huai, without a doubt—he even went out early in the morning to spread the news, claiming that he was actually her deceased husband.
Cui Huai had never been so close to anyone before.
When a neighbor asked them why they had quarreled, he patiently and gently explained in detail.
According to Cui Huai, she was simply naughty and mischievous, leaving behind a letter of divorce before running away, which led to all the subsequent events.
And now the two of them are almost back to normal.
Shen Yunzhi had nothing to say.
How could she explain to outsiders that Cui Huai, this hypocritical and sanctimonious man, had forcibly imprisoned her?
As night fell, Cui Huai undoubtedly showed a different face in front of her.
He deliberately placed the memorial tablet in the room, wanting her to do whatever he wanted in front of it.
Cui Huai has gone mad.
Shen Yunzhi felt both disgusted with him and inexplicably powerless.
She could at least console herself that in this place, Cui Huai wouldn't restrict her too much on the surface, and she could go out freely. Wherever she went, Cui Huai would accompany her. Even if Cui Huai had any inconveniences, the deaf-mute maid who knew martial arts would stay close by her side.
She has lived here for more than half a year and has never been alone. She has quite a few acquaintances.
Cui Huai's actions sparked much discussion.
One day, Cui Huai let Shen Yunzhi go out alone, only allowing her maid to accompany her.
When she arrived at the bookstore, she was surrounded by a group of women before she could even open the door. This older sister and that aunt all grabbed her and asked her about her relationship with Cui Huai.
Before leaving, I had to offer her a few words of advice: don't quarrel anymore, and live a good life with Cui Huai.
Because they saw that Cui Huaifeng was handsome and had an extraordinary demeanor, and they heard that he was very wealthy, they believed that he was someone they could entrust their lives to, and told her to stop being so temperamental.
Shen Yunzhi gave an awkward smile.
Pushing through the crowd and opening the shop door, she went inside with the maid, shutting out all the noise.
Did my cousin deliberately let me go out alone?
Back in her courtyard, Shen Yunzhi saw Cui Huai leisurely drinking tea and asked him questions in a bad mood.
Cui Huai calmly put down his teacup and said, "Outsiders see things more clearly. Otherwise, how would Cousin Zhi hear other people's true opinions? I just want Cousin Zhi to understand that, in the eyes of outsiders, we are a very good match."
"My cousin really went to great lengths."
Shen Yunzhi gave a mocking smile and said to him, "It seems that no one has mentioned Qi Song in front of me, which is also my cousin's doing."
Cui Huai stood up, walked up to her, took her hand, and said, "That's how it should be."
“My cousin Zhi should only be mentioned when she’s with me, not as some unrelated person.”
Shen Yunzhi suddenly realized.
One of the main reasons Cui Huai was willing to take her away from the capital was that he couldn't bear the existence of a place where mentioning her would only lead to her being associated with Qi Song. He wanted to personally change this situation and sever the connection between her and Qi Song in the eyes of outsiders.
Does keeping quiet about something that happened mean it never happened?
In the end, the naive Cui Huai was just deceiving himself.
"Doesn't my cousin have important business to attend to? Is it alright for him to stay here all the time?" Shen Yunzhi changed the subject.
Cui Huai nodded: "We'll stay for two more days and then head to Jinling."
Shen Yunzhi pursed her lips before noticing an official document on the table.
Cui Huai noticed her gaze and explained, "It's your divorce agreement with Qi Song, and it's been stamped by the government."
Aside from the first day, Shen Yunzhi never saw Qi Song again.
I deliberately sent her away again today.
Cui Huai would not want her to meet with Qi Song, nor would he want her to meet with Huo Ming, Chen Zhaoyu, and others.
After leaving the capital, Cui Huaiyun appeared openly in public... but sooner or later Cui Huaiyun would take her back, and soon she would still be living a dark and hopeless life day after day.
Why didn't my cousin Zhi tell me she was a young lady?
Cui Huai suddenly asked a question, catching Shen Yunzhi off guard. She turned her head to look at him and asked, "What?"
“I sent people to investigate.”
"She studied and took the imperial examinations under her brother's name. Qi Song was not her real name. Her real name was the one mentioned in the storybook, Qi Ruzhu."
Cui Huai stared intently at Shen Yunzhi with his deep eyes: "I also asked her about it today, and she admitted it. Cousin Zhi, you actually knew she was a woman before you married her, right? Why didn't you tell me?"
Shen Yunzhi countered, "What difference would it make if I told my cousin?"
“Indeed, there is no difference.” Cui Huai did not deny it. Even if he knew that Qi Song was a woman, he would not allow such things to exist. Thinking about it, he chuckled and said, “Actually, I don’t think that Cousin Zhi has a penchant for mirror polishing, but since others do not know that she is a woman, there is no difference.”
Shen Yunzhi frowned: "Did my cousin threaten her with this?"
Cui Huai smiled faintly, his calm words barely concealing his contempt: "When has she ever threatened me?"
Compared to the life at Qiyunju, Shen Yunzhi undoubtedly prefers this place.
On the day she set off for Jinling, she looked back at the small courtyard, perhaps knowing in her heart that she would never be able to return, and felt an indescribable reluctance.
"I'll come with my cousin Zhi again when I have time."
He pulled Shen Yunzhi into his arms and kissed her forehead. "Besides, I'm with you, Cousin Zhi. I won't treat you badly."
Shen Yunzhi didn't want his kindness.
On her way to Jinling, she felt depressed, as if every step she took was leading her into a cage.
Cui Huai made no attempt to conceal his identity, and his group stayed at the post station.
Noticing that she had been in low spirits for days, Cui Huai instructed her to stay an extra day and take her to see the sunrise.
The postmaster eagerly led Cui Huai to the foot of the mountain, saying, "Your Highness, this is the highest mountain in the vicinity, a great place to watch the sunrise. The sky should be clear tomorrow morning, so you shouldn't miss the beautiful view of the clouds breaking and the sun rising."
Cui Huai nodded, and the postmaster, knowing the situation, withdrew.
After being tossed and turned around last night, and then woken up before dawn to go hiking, Shen Yunzhi was in a bad mood and had no interest in watching the sunrise at all.
"Tired." Shen Yunzhi remained rooted to the spot, unwilling to move.
Cui Huai, however, said good-naturedly, "I'll carry you on my back."
Shen Yunzhi wouldn't feel sorry for him, so naturally she wouldn't refuse.
So, she lay on Cui Huai's back, closing her eyes to rest, as Cui Huai carried her step by step to the top of the mountain.
Although the mountain they climbed was insignificant compared to many famous mountains, Cui Huai carried her up the mountain without complaint, making Shen Yunzhi feel uneasy. They weren't in that kind of relationship, and they shouldn't be doing such a thing. After getting off Cui Huai's back, seeing that he was only slightly out of breath and didn't seem too tired, she couldn't help but say, "Cousin, your physique is so strong, I'm afraid even those military officers can't compare to you."
"Did Cousin Zhi always think that I was inferior to Huo Ming?"
Cui Huai asked quietly, but Shen Yunzhi ignored him and deliberately said to him, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten that such a person existed."
It was not yet daylight.
As the sky begins to lighten, the light and shadows flicker in the distance, and the cool morning breeze carries the fresh air.
And it seemed as if the change occurred in the blink of an eye.
The first rays of dawn pierced through the clouds, revealing a glimpse of what was to come, and the whole world seemed to be awakened as a result.
The sun rises in the eastern corner, as if it were coming from the earth.
As the sun rises, the sky brightens, and sunlight shines quietly on the distant mountains. Golden light floats and clouds and mist dissipate, creating a scene that is both refreshing and delightful.
The dissatisfaction and impatience of being disturbed in my sleep dissipated somewhat.
Shen Yunzhi was about to speak to Cui Huai when she turned her head and saw that his expression was serious, realizing that something was wrong.
In the blink of an eye, as swift as sunrise, a group of men in black, wielding knives, surrounded them. The atmosphere suddenly tensed, danger looming close. Before she could even process what was happening, Cui Huai grabbed her hand and urged, "Stay close to me, Cousin Zhi."
This is not the first time he has been assassinated.
It's hard to get used to something like this, but Shen Yunzhi is indeed somewhat numb to it these days.
She was not afraid of death.
Having been given a second chance at life, she was unwilling to seek death, especially since Cui Huai had once again forced her into this predicament; she was still unwilling to accept it.
If he truly lost his life due to an assassination attempt, there seems to be nothing to complain about.
The thought clearly surfaced in her mind, and Shen Yunzhi was startled, horrified by her own lack of attachment to life.
She looked up at Cui Huai.
Perhaps today she is merely not attached to life, but what about the future? Trapped by Cui Huai's side with no chance of escape, will she gradually lose her spirit and develop a desire for death without even realizing it? Will she one day yearn for that cup of poison from her past life and want to end her life?
Shen Yunzhi didn't know, but she knew she didn't want it to be like this.
We shouldn't easily give in to fate.
The group of men in black were clearly targeting Cui Huai.
Knowing that Cui Huai was accompanied by many guards and that there were also many assassins sent, Shen Yunzhi was well protected during the fierce battle.
They were originally on the mountaintop, but after being surrounded by assassins, they had nowhere to retreat and had to fight their way down the mountain.
However, they were met with a series of ambushes on their way down the mountain.
Later, Cui Huai was also injured.
Lin Yue and the deaf-mute maid protected them and hid in the mountains.
They were very close to the foot of the mountain, and soon more guards and innkeepers would arrive. Lin Yue and his maid held off several men in black, while Shen Yunzhi helped Cui Huai escape as far as possible. Cui Huai's condition was quite bad; after they had escaped for a while, he could no longer hold on, staggered, and almost knelt down. Shen Yunzhi then helped him to a tree so he could rest against the trunk.
Looking at Cui Huai, whose face was pale and whose body was covered in blood, Shen Yunzhi's brow twitched when her gaze fell on the sharp longsword in his hand.
She looked back, but Lin Yue and the maid had not yet come looking for her.
There were only the two of them.
Before her stood the wounded and weakened Cui Huai.
Shen Yunzhi recalled that she and Cui Huai had been assassinated while hunting at the villa, and Cui Huai had also been injured. At that time, Cui Lizhu and Cui Hong were nearby, and she did not know that things would turn out this way. She did not have any other thoughts, but simply did not want to pay attention to him.
Today is different.
The matter will be resolved before Lin Yue and the others arrive, and no one will know.
She should be a "dead" person now.
Who can hold her accountable for her mistakes? Not to mention that the real culprit today was this large group of assassins; who would have thought it was her doing? And what evidence is there?
Once a thought arises, it's hard to stop it.
If she misses this opportunity, will she have a better chance to get rid of Cui Huai?
Trapped beside Cui Huai and toyed with at will...
Must she continue to endure this? Must she continue to force a smile and compromise for him?
"Cousin, cousin!"
She called out several times without getting a response, then gently pushed Cui Huai, who slumped to one side. She quickly caught him and helped him sit up straight.
The next moment, Shen Yunzhi picked up the blood-stained longsword that Cui Huai was holding.
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, but her hands gripped the sword tightly as she thrust it towards Cui Huai.
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The author says: The sun rises in the eastern corner, as if emerging from the earth. —Li Bai, "The Sun Rises"
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