Chapter 21. Shen Yunzhi turned around, and Cui Huai's gaze instantly...
The summer night breeze is no longer cool, but filled with the dryness and heat of the day.
Staring at Cui Huai's deep, unfathomable eyes, Shen Yunzhi looked away uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze.
Having made up his mind to ask Cui Huai about this matter directly, he naturally prepared his explanation in advance.
She slowly began to speak, trying to defend herself.
“Miss Liang is both beautiful and talented, a true model of a noble lady. I genuinely believed that His Highness disliked me because I was inferior to Miss Liang in every way, and that His Highness's unwillingness to be engaged to her truly surprised me. I couldn't understand it and was so curious that I came to ask His Highness. Recently, His Highness has been a little more polite to me, and I forgot my place. This matter is certainly not something I have the right to inquire about. I hope His Highness will forgive me for overstepping my bounds. I was too complacent and thus offended His Highness.”
Shen Yunzhi's words were both eloquent and heartfelt.
Her questions were purely out of curiosity, without any other intentions.
She knew that Cui Huai wouldn't seriously investigate whether she was telling the truth or lying.
That was not very important to Cui Huai.
Moreover, she never made any deliberate intimate or ambiguous gestures.
If not for this reason, then what could it be? Cui Huai would never be presumptuous.
As expected, Cui Huai didn't take it to heart.
After listening to Shen Yunzhi's explanation, he said gently, "It's not offensive at all, Miss Shen, there's no need to blame yourself."
Shen Yunzhi then said, "Your Highness is always so tolerant and generous." She then reminded Cui Huai to eat some pastries and not to force himself to eat. She then used the excuse that it was getting late to bid farewell to Cui Huai and, with Lin Yue's help, climbed over the wall and left Tinglan Garden, just as she had done when she came.
The surroundings returned to their previous silence.
Cui Huai was originally most accustomed to this atmosphere and felt most comfortable and at ease in it.
However, a sense of loneliness arose after Shen Yunzhi appeared and left.
She came and went like the wind, without lingering attachment; only the lingering sweet fragrance in the air proved that she had been there.
Cui Huai gradually recalled events from even earlier times.
At that time, Shen Yunzhi liked to patiently wait for him to pass by in the covered walkway. He would see her figure from afar and couldn't help but frown.
...
Shen Yunzhi returned to Yunxi Courtyard, washed up and dressed, and then lay down to rest.
She wasn't sleepy yet, and couldn't help but ponder once again the events of her last life.
It wasn't just her wild imagination that she believed Cui Huai would marry Liang Zhi as his heir. Firstly, Cui Huai hadn't denied it when she confronted him; secondly, the last message Cui Hong brought her was the same. However, today, Cui Huai himself told her that he had no intention of marrying Liang Zhi.
What Cui Huai said in person is even more likely to be true.
She couldn't tell whether things had deviated between the two lifetimes, whether there were other hidden stories in the previous life, or whether Cui Huai was currently uninterested but would change his mind in the future.
However, the seed of doubt was planted in Shen Yunzhi's heart.
Even if she couldn't confirm it, one of the possibilities involved her cause of death in her previous life, and she couldn't help but care.
Let's set aside Cui Huai's reaction for now.
Was it really necessary for Cui Hong to lie to her about something like this? What benefit would she gain from lying to her?
However, no matter what happens, it cannot erase what Cui Huai did to her.
Cui Huai's inherent obsession and madness are undeniable facts.
Thinking about these things, Shen Yunzhi fell into a deep sleep without realizing it.
I was woken up again by a sudden downpour early in the morning.
With the rumble of thunder, even lying in bed, one could clearly hear the heavy rain outside. The sound of raindrops hitting the tiles was somewhat noisy, and the water that had been constantly gathering on the roof was cascading down, rushing and washing over the bluestone floor. The open windows were also being battered by the wind and rain outside, and all these sounds were clearly audible.
Shen Yunzhi was still a little sleepy when she woke up.
She listened to the wind and rain for a while, and then drowsiness gradually overwhelmed her. In her drowsy state, she remembered Cui Huai, who was still kneeling as punishment in Lanting Garden.
If the King of Chu does not soften his stance and waive the punishment for such heavy rain, Cui Huai will likely suffer even more.
However, she could never brave the wind and rain to accompany him.
It wouldn't be unreasonable to go and see him after the rain stops.
Shen Yunzhi thought casually, then gradually closed her eyes and fell asleep again amidst the sound of wind and rain.
He went to Lanting Garden to see Cui Huai again, but the plan failed.
After the rain stopped, Shen Yunzhi got up to do her hair and suddenly heard that someone from the palace had come before dawn. Cui Huai had been summoned by His Majesty and had gone to the palace early that morning.
His Majesty the Emperor wished to see Cui Huai, and the King of Chu could not prevent it, so he had no choice but to let Cui Huai enter the palace to meet the Emperor.
Therefore, Cui Huaichen had long since left Lanting Garden.
Shen Yunzhi went out to the main courtyard to pay her respects to her aunt.
As she stepped into the main courtyard, a young woman dressed in flamboyant attire and with a seductive figure approached her. Upon seeing her, the woman's eyes sparkled with allure, and she covered her mouth with a giggle, saying, "Greetings, Miss."
Shen Yunzhi recognized the person as Consort Liu, who had recently become a favorite of the King of Chu.
Aunt Liu looked at her with an indescribable strangeness, and she was displeased. But the next moment, Aunt Liu stepped forward and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Miss."
This statement is ambiguous.
Shen Yunzhi frowned and asked, "Why did Aunt Liu congratulate me? I have no idea what I have to be happy about."
"Is it unrelated to Miss Liu that His Highness is unwilling to be engaged to the daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo?" Aunt Liu lowered her voice. "I sincerely congratulate Miss Liu, but please rest assured, I will not go around saying anything. I only hope that when Miss Liu becomes the heir apparent of the Chu Prince's mansion, she will have a change of heart and show me some kindness."
A few words made Shen Yunzhi frown even more.
"Such a thing has never happened. Aunt Liu, don't believe rumors."
Aunt Liu smiled and said, "Why should Miss Liu be shy?"
Seeing that the other party didn't take it seriously, Shen Yunzhi simply put on a stern face and said, "Why is Aunt Liu pretending to be stupid?"
"How could I possibly covet the position of Princess Consort of Chu?"
"I'm someone who values my life."
Her serious and earnest attitude caused the smile on Aunt Liu's face to freeze on her lips. Having stayed in the Prince's mansion for a long time, even as a mere concubine, she naturally knew many things. The position of the Heir Apparent's wife in the Prince of Chu's mansion was no ordinary one, and it would never be given away casually. The words "cherishing one's life" were not just empty words.
"I was just talking nonsense, Miss, please don't be angry."
Aunt Liu waved her hand and smiled apologetically as she spoke, and soon parted ways with Shen Yunzhi.
Shen Yunzhi still went to see her aunt.
She mentioned meeting Aunt Liu, and the Princess of Chu then said that Aunt Liu had come to deliver some sachets and handkerchiefs.
Aunt Liu was extremely skilled at needlework.
Princess Chu showed the items to Shen Yunzhi without showing any unusual expression, clearly indicating that she had not yet told her aunt those nonsense stories.
Later, when Shen Yunzhi returned to Yunxi Courtyard, she asked Qiuyue to pay attention to the rumors circulating in the mansion. Finding none of what Aunt Liu had said, she felt somewhat relieved. In her previous life, rumors about her and Cui Huai had never ceased, and she had used them as a means to flirt with Cui Huai, never finding anything wrong with them.
Looking back now, it was truly audacious and reckless.
If Cui Hong hadn't brought that cup of poisoned wine to her, it wouldn't be surprising if it had been sent by the King of Chu or someone in the palace.
For several days in a row, Cui Huai stayed in the palace with the emperor and did not return to his residence.
The rain in the capital city had been falling intermittently for several days.
The rain caused many inconveniences, so Cui Lizhu did not come looking for her. Shen Yunzhi stayed in Yunxi Courtyard and read the books she had bought from the bookstore before, and then sent them to the Prince's library. Unexpectedly, Cui Hong was also there.
"Second Young Master." Shen Yunzhi stepped forward with books in her arms and greeted Cui Hong, who was sitting by the window.
It's not raining right now, the windows are wide open, and a cool breeze carrying damp moisture hits you, dispelling the summer heat.
Cui Hong rested his chin on his hand, turned to the side, and smiled at her: "My cousin is here."
Shen Yunzhi nodded, and Cui Hong pointed to another empty rose chair, indicating that she should sit down. Shen Yunzhi then sat with him by the window.
The two of them initially chatted casually for a while.
A moment later, a light drizzle began to fall outside, and they quietly admired the scenery in the rain.
It was at this moment that Cui Hong suddenly said, "Brother is also in the palace today." Shen Yunzhi did not respond to him, but he did not care and continued, "Even several of my cousins in the palace are often jealous of my brother's favoritism towards him. When they heard that my brother had been punished, they summoned him to the palace."
"Does my cousin know why His Majesty favors my elder brother so much?"
Cui Hong turned his face, smiled, and asked.
Shen Yunzhi shook her head; she truly didn't know.
Cui Hong seemed lost in memories, his voice lowering: "My aunt once told me that before the late Princess Consort passed away, His Majesty had gone out of the palace incognito to visit her."
A sudden, deafening roar of thunder coincided with Cui Hong's words.
Shen Yunzhi asked, "What did the Second Young Master say?"
Cui Hong seemed to suddenly come to his senses and said, "It's nothing." Then he looked out the window and saw that the rain was getting heavier. He then said to Shen Yunzhi, "The rain is getting heavier. Be careful not to get wet, cousin." After saying that, he got up and led her away from the window.
The rain, which I thought would stop soon, still showed no signs of letting up even after half an hour.
If we stay in the library any longer, it will get dark.
"I didn't bring an umbrella, so I'll have to trouble my cousin to give me a ride."
Cui Hong smiled apologetically.
It wasn't an unreasonable request, and Shen Yunzhi couldn't bring herself to refuse, so she left the library with Cui Hong.
She first accompanied Cui Hong back to his courtyard before returning to Yunxi Courtyard.
The rain intensified and then subsided, alternating between heavy and light, like the unpredictable weather.
The misty water vapor in the air gave the world a somewhat white, hazy feel.
Cui Huaili watched from a distance as Shen Yunzhi and Cui Hong, who shared an umbrella in the rain, gradually disappeared into the distance. Lin Yue, who was holding an umbrella for Cui Huaili, also recognized the two of them: "The Second Young Master and Miss Biao seem to have come from the direction of the library."
Cui Huai remained silent and turned back to Qiyun Residence.
Lin Yue then fell silent and followed.
The rain stopped completely less than a quarter of an hour after Shen Yunzhi returned to Yunxi Courtyard.
She suspected that the rain was deliberately playing a trick on her, and was about to order someone to prepare hot water for her bath when a servant from Qiyun Residence came to deliver a message saying that Cui Huai wanted to see her.
"Has His Highness returned to the manor?" Shen Yunzhi asked the servant who had come to deliver the message.
The servant said, "His Highness has just returned to the residence."
Shen Yunzhi couldn't figure out what Cui Huaixun wanted to do.
But she couldn't refuse, so she left Yunxi Courtyard and went to Qiyun Residence to see Cui Huai.
The roads in the manor were soaked by the rain. Shen Yunzhi walked back and forth in several places in the manor many times in the afternoon, her skirt and embroidered shoes already covered in mud. When she arrived at Qiyun Residence, she walked to the corridor and happened to see Cui Huai coming out of the house. He looked like he had just taken a bath, wearing a loose robe with the collar slightly loose, and his hair was a little damp. His eyebrows and eyes were as gentle as usual.
"Your Highness, is there something you need from me?" Shen Yunzhi asked first.
Cui Huai gave a faint "hmm" and turned to walk towards the study, while Shen Yunzhi silently followed behind him, but finally stopped outside the study.
Upon entering the study, Cui Huai noticed that she hadn't followed him in, so he turned around and glanced at her.
Shen Yunzhi looked down at the hem of her skirt, which was stained with mud and water.
Cui Huai followed her gaze, his eyes lingering briefly on the tips of her embroidered shoes beneath her skirt. He then summoned a servant, ordering hot water and clean clothes and shoes for Shen Yunzhi. Before Shen Yunzhi could refuse, he said, "It might take a while."
Shen Yunzhi felt something was amiss and asked, controlling her tone, "What is it?"
Cui Huai said, "It's about the Fifth Prince."
Shen Yunzhi said no more.
After thanking Cui Huai, she followed a maid to the guest room.
The moment Shen Yunzhi turned around, Cui Huai's gaze instantly turned cold.
He watched her figure disappear at the end of the corridor with a cold smile before turning his gaze away and walking towards his desk.
Shen Yunzhi did not bathe; instead, she changed out of her soiled clothes and soaking wet socks after a maid brought her clean ones. Therefore, she didn't linger in the guest room for long before going to Cui Huai's study to see him.
"For you."
Upon entering the study, Shen Yunzhi saw Cui Huai sitting behind his desk. She walked up to him and heard him speak.
She then noticed the plum blossom-shaped sleeve arrow placed on the desk.
Shen Yunzhi exclaimed in surprise, "This is..."
“Although this plum blossom sleeve dart is small, it can hold six small arrows and is very powerful. Miss Shen can use it for self-defense,” Cui Huai explained. He added, “Li Zhu mentioned before that you are learning archery and horsemanship. It shouldn’t be difficult for you to learn. If you still have any questions, you can come and ask me.”
"Thank you, Your Highness." Shen Yunzhi picked up the plum blossom-shaped hidden arrow from the desk, but her thoughts were on Cui Huai's earlier words about "the Fifth Prince."
Cui Huai seemed to see through her thoughts: "The Fifth Prince is unwilling to give up, Miss Shen should have the ability to protect herself."
Shen Yunzhi hesitated before asking, "Has Your Highness seen the Fifth Prince in the palace these past few days?"
"Did the Fifth Prince say anything to His Highness?"
Cui Huai only said, "There were indeed provocative remarks."
Shen Yunzhi's face was solemn. Looking at Cui Huai preparing a hidden arrow for her to protect herself, she felt a mix of emotions.
She couldn't force Cui Huai to help her to any extent.
Even if she knew Cui Xu's weaknesses, there was really no reason for her to go against Cui Xu for her sake.
They were cousins, and His Majesty the Emperor treated Cui Huai very well.
She was ultimately just an outsider.
Shen Yunzhi thanked Cui Huai again, and Cui Huai looked at her and asked, "Don't you want to try?" Even though she wasn't in the mood, Shen Yunzhi had no choice but to try the plum blossom sleeve arrows under Cui Huai's guidance. She absentmindedly shot the six small arrows at the target that Cui Huai had prepared, ultimately feeling somewhat unwilling to give up.
If she had to risk Cui Xu's life to save herself, why would she need to rely on Cui Huai?
Ultimately, using a hidden blade only treats the symptoms, not the root cause.
Cui Huai said that Cui Xu had made provocative remarks to him in the palace these past few days, which was indeed enough to prove that Cui Xu was still determined to succeed.
If she has no other choice, she will probably have to get involved herself.
Shen Yunzhi returned to Yunxi Courtyard listlessly, carrying a hidden arrow.
After she left, Cui Huai ordered his servants to retrieve a box from a corner of the study.
The box was piled high with things.
Handkerchiefs, sachets, jade pendants, fan pendants... and so on.
Cui Huai would never have given these things a second glance before, but today he found a few items in the box with great interest: a sachet given to him by Shen Yunzhi, a paperweight given to him by Shen Yunzhi, and a colorful clay figurine given to him by Shen Yunzhi.
"I made this myself for my cousin."
"Unfortunately, my skills are not good enough to reproduce my cousin's outstanding appearance. I hope my cousin will not be disgusted."
Cui Huai picked up the clay figurine and examined it carefully for a long time.
He gently stroked the eyebrows and eyes of the clay figurine in his hand with his fingertips.
Actually, it's quite well sculpted.
Cui Huai could almost imagine the seriousness with which Shen Yunzhi sculpted this clay figurine, and she had at least etched his features into her heart.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Thank you all for your support! [Let me see...]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com