Chapter 38. Shen Yunzhi was thrown into a bath filled with hot water...
Never!
Shen Yunzhi answered quickly in anger, fearing that the phrase "treat me the same way you treat them" would echo in her ears again.
Upon hearing this, Cui Huai's gaze fell on her lips, his expression one of regret.
"For them to fall deeply in love with you just like that is a bit too casual," Cui Huai commented.
Shen Yunzhi was so angry she almost laughed.
“What right does Your Highness have to criticize others? Your Highness makes such frivolous moves based on just a few dreams, isn’t that even more presumptuous?” Shen Yunzhi broke free from Cui Huai and fled from his side. “If Li Zhu knew that the brother she has admired since childhood is like this, she would be so disappointed.”
Cui Huai frowned slightly, feeling the emptiness in his arms.
"Aren't they acting so frivolously because they like you?"
Shen Yunzhi smiled: "Does Your Highness know what it means to like?"
"Food and sex are the greatest desires of humankind," Cui Huai said, "but I feel this way only towards you."
“If Your Highness knew what it meant to like, you wouldn’t force me or make things difficult for me.” Shen Yunzhi took a deep breath and straightened her clothes, which had been disheveled by Cui Huai. “This is also the difference between them and Your Highness.”
He had long seen through Shen Yunzhi's high-sounding excuses that were meant to push him away.
Cui Huai gave a cold laugh: "Then you can teach me."
She's the one who's gone mad trying to teach him about romantic love between men and women.
Shen Yunzhi said, "One day, Your Highness will meet someone you truly want to be with, and you will naturally understand without being taught."
Unwilling to continue being alone with Cui Huai, and with Cui Huai refusing to leave, she was the only one who went out.
However, before she could take a step, Cui Huai had already spoken.
"After Huo Ming was betrothed, he repeatedly went to the palace to beg His Majesty to rescind the decree, making your affair known to everyone and causing a lot of rumors. Can such behavior be considered as not making things difficult for you?" He spoke with confusion, seemingly unable to accept that this was what Shen Yunzhi called affection.
Shen Yunzhi remained silent for several breaths.
She turned her head to look at Cui Huai, and slightly curled the corner of her mouth: "In His Highness's eyes, it is naturally all in vain."
"Doesn't he know that His Majesty will never retract his decree? But what else can he do? Even if he is unwilling, there is nothing he can do, and so am I. But even after I frankly advised him to give up, he still refused to give up easily. Your Highness may find it laughable, but in my eyes, this sentiment is the most precious thing."
If we were in each other's shoes, would Cui Huai have done a better job than Huo Ming?
It's simply because he is the heir of the Chu Prince's mansion and is favored by His Majesty that many things are very simple for him.
Shen Yunzhi stepped out of the room without looking back.
Cui Huai stood by the wooden table, quietly watching her figure disappear by the door, then looked down at the bunch of daffodils in the vase on the table.
A single lamp casts a dim light, and no matter how hard the jade pendant tries to bloom under its light, no one will appreciate it.
It was abandoned by Shen Yunzhi, just like him, and was ignored.
...
Shen Yunzhi was trapped in Yuhua Temple for three days.
On the third day, the mountain path became passable, and they successfully returned to the Chu King's Palace.
The communication between the two of them that day seemed to have worked; afterwards, Cui Huai became quiet and stopped bothering her. But when Shen Yunzhi saw the daffodils on the wooden table as she left Yuhua Temple, she hesitated for a long time before finally taking them with her.
If Cui Huai doesn't care, then so be it.
If he cares, let him know that she threw the flowers at Yuhua Temple. Even if he doesn't show his emotions on the surface, he will definitely hold a grudge in his heart.
Cui Huai's previous actions had shown signs of getting out of control.
Before everything is prepared, we must not subject him to too much stimulation.
Let's give him a slap and then a treat, to keep him calm for now.
Shen Yunzhi placed the daffodils she brought back from Yuhua Mountain on the long table in the outer room, letting them grow and die on their own.
No one knew that Cui Huai had gone to Yuhua Temple that day, and Princess Chu and Cui Lizhu never inquired about his whereabouts, and the King of Chu didn't care either. When returning to the mansion, Shen Yunzhi intentionally walked separately from him, but he didn't insist on it, so the fact that the two of them had actually been at Yuhua Temple for the past few days went unnoticed.
Princess Chu and Cui Lizhu had been worried about Shen Yunzhi for several days, but they were truly relieved to see her return safely.
After leaving the main courtyard, Cui Lizhu, carrying a sleeve warmer, accompanied her back to Yunxi Courtyard.
"Lizhu, I want to see Chen Zhaoyu." After returning home a few days later, she had not received any news from Chen Zhaoyu. Shen Yunzhi guessed that he might still be punished by the Chen family ancestral hall as Cui Huai had said. However, the Chen family was not a place she could go to whenever she wanted.
“It’s been a while now.”
“He hasn’t sent me any news, and I’m a little worried.”
With the cold weather making her lazy and lethargic, Choi Yeo-joo took good care of herself, gaining a bit of weight and looking even cuter.
Her manner of speaking also reveals a more spoiled and willful side.
“I’ve inquired about it for you. He’s been punished and is currently reflecting on his mistakes in the ancestral hall. How could he possibly send you any news?” Cui Lizhu said lazily. “Judging from this, the Chen family probably won’t approve of your relationship.”
Shen Yunzhi said with a sigh, "If what Li Zhu said is true, it is ultimately related to me, and I cannot remain indifferent."
"I never imagined it would end up like this."
Cui Lizhu was stirred with emotion: "We lost Huo Ming and then Chen Zhaoyu. No wonder the men you were interested in back then were all ugly and unattractive. I can accompany you to the Chen family, but the Chen family knows our intentions and may not welcome us in. Even if we do enter the Chen family, we don't know where the ancestral hall is. It will be really difficult to see him at this time."
Shen Yunzhi sighed softly: "It is indeed a difficult situation. I will think of another way myself."
"What can you do?" Choi Yeo-joo raised an eyebrow. "How about I go and beg your older brother for you?"
"What do you want from your elder brother?"
Shen Yunzhi and Cui Lizhu happened to be near the Moon Gate when Cui Hong stepped out of the Moon Gate and walked towards them.
Shen Yunzhi remained silent.
Cui Lizhu explained, "Zhi Niang wants to see Chen Zhaoyu, and we are trying to find a way."
"To see Chen Zhaoyu?" Cui Hong smiled faintly and looked at Shen Yunzhi. "This matter should not be difficult, but I wonder if Zhiniang would like my help."
Cui Lizhu looked puzzled, but Shen Yunzhi whispered, "If the Second Young Master doesn't mind..."
"I do."
Cui Hong smiled, paused for a few moments, and then continued, "I'll help you."
Choi Yeo-joo was most interested in this kind of thing.
However, upon learning that Cui Hong wanted Shen Yunzhi to disguise herself as his servant and accompany him to the Chen family, she did not see any difference between her and her servant girl.
"Lizhu, you also have something to do."
Cui Hong's words invigorated Cui Lizhu, who immediately perked up her ears: "Second Brother, what do I need to do?"
...
On the ninth day that Chen Zhaoyu was punished by kneeling in the ancestral hall to reflect on her mistakes, Cui Lizhu stormed into the Chen family. This was because a young master from the Chen family, who had recently arrived in the capital from the Chen family's ancestral home and was staying at the Chen residence, had verbally harassed her in a restaurant, thus offending her.
The young master was captured by Cui Lizhu's men and sent directly to the gate of the Chen residence.
The Chen family had no choice but to step in and respectfully welcome Princess Cui Lizhu of Danyang into their residence to handle the matter.
Cui Hong arrived a little later.
At this moment, Cui Lizhu was furious because she was dissatisfied with the Chen family's handling of the situation, so Cui Hong was respectfully welcomed into the mansion just like Cui Lizhu.
Shen Yunzhi, disguised as Cui Hong's servant, successfully entered the Chen family.
Soon after, with the help of Chen Zhaoyu's constant companions, she took advantage of everyone's attention being on Cui Lizhu's matter and avoided the Chen family servants to go to the Chen family ancestral hall.
Shen Yunzhi was finally able to meet Chen Zhaoyu.
The once gentle and elegant young man had become thin and haggard in a short period of time, but his eyes lit up the moment he saw her.
"Zhi Niang!" After a moment of surprise, Chen Zhaoyu was overjoyed. "How did you get here? How did you get here?"
Without time to explain, Shen Yunzhi nodded and said, "I heard you were being punished."
Chen Zhaoyu's voice was hoarse: "They just want me to obey." His eyes were not as bright as before, and his tone was also full of frustration. "But I only love you, and I have not done anything wrong."
Shen Yunzhi said, "I'm worried about you."
"I won't give up." Chen Zhaoyu suddenly grasped Shen Yunzhi's hand. "Zhiniang, can you wait for me a little longer?"
Shen Yunzhi looked up and met Chen Zhaoyu's gaze.
She smiled slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing: "With Ming'an's words, I have no regrets."
Chen Zhaoyu felt greatly comforted and embraced Shen Yunzhi.
After a short while, Shen Yunzhi came out of the ancestral hall and followed Chen Zhaoyu's attendants to find Cui Hong and Cui Lizhu.
They met and confirmed that Chen Zhaoyu had not given up.
Shen Yunzhi did not harbor any hope, but seeing that he had not lost his spirit, she was willing to wait for him a little longer.
In fact, she knew very well that Chen Zhaoyu was just acting on impulse.
If he lacks the ability to confront his family and elders, this matter will not have any other outcome.
After some "persuasion" from Choi Hong, Choi Yeo-joo reconciled with the Chen family, accepted their apology and promised not to hold it against them. She then left the Chen family with Choi Hong. Stepping out of the Chen residence, Choi Yeo-joo eagerly whispered, "Did you see them?"
Shen Yunzhi nodded.
Choi Yeo-joo wanted to ask her about the details of her meeting with Chen Zhaoyu, but before she could speak, she inadvertently caught sight of a figure.
"Big brother?"
Cui Huai was getting off the carriage when Cui Lizhu asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"
"I heard you caused a scene at the Chen family, so I came to check it out."
As he spoke casually, Cui Huai's gaze swept over Shen Yunzhi, who was dressed as a servant, before landing on Cui Hong. "Where did this servant come from, Second Brother?"
Choi Yeo-joo chuckled, "Big brother, can't you recognize her? This is Zhi-niang, not someone else."
Cui Huai grunted in response, without uttering a word.
Shen Yunzhi felt no guilt whatsoever.
She had already expressed her desire to see Chen Zhaoyu at Yuhua Temple, and today was simply the time to put it into action.
Cui Huai boarded the carriage, and Shen Yunzhi thanked Cui Hong, preparing to follow Cui Lizhu into the carriage as well. However, the curtain of Cui Huai's carriage was suddenly lifted, revealing Cui Huai's face behind it. He stared at Shen Yunzhi and said, "Come back with me."
Shen Yunzhi did not want to ride in the carriage with Cui Huai, so she did not agree to his request.
Cui Huai then said in a deep voice, "What? Is it because Cui Hong's carriage is more comfortable to ride in?"
"So what if it is?" Shen Yunzhi sneered. "Does this really hinder Your Highness?"
She turned and walked toward Cui Lizhu's carriage, but Cui Huai got off his carriage and, without saying a word, pulled her into his carriage.
Shen Yunzhi was thrown onto the car seat.
In an instant, his already agitated mood intensified with anger: "How does Your Highness intend to force me today?"
Cui Huai looked at her coldly, without any pity: "Regardless of your relationship with Chen Zhaoyu, if you and he are not meant to be, why is it Cui Hong's turn?" As he spoke, he curled his lips, a sinister smile appearing on his face, "In the end, you are only heartless to me."
Shen Yunzhi, who was lying on the car seat, suddenly sat up straight.
She closed her eyes briefly: "I want to see Chen Zhaoyu. Second Young Master, please help me, that's all. If Your Highness is willing to help, I won't need to seek help from anyone else."
Of course, it's not just that simple.
Now she has many doubts about Cui Hong, and Cui Hong offered to help her, so she took the opportunity to investigate further.
Cui Huai said, "It's best if you and Chen Zhaoyu never see each other again in this life."
The carriage had already set off. Shen Yunzhi was too lazy to argue with him and didn't want to look at him, so she leaned against the carriage wall and pretended to doze off.
Cui Huai also became speechless.
He stared at her silently, lost in thought, watching her the whole way.
However, this journey back to the Chu Prince's residence seemed to take significantly longer than the trip to the Chen family. Although Shen Yunzhi had a vague feeling that something was amiss, Cui Huai had said "back," and she was certain that Cui Huai wouldn't take her anywhere else. It wasn't until the carriage stopped that she realized she had been taken to Qiyun Residence. Unlike the other courtyards in the residence, Qiyun Residence had a small gate that led outside the Chu Prince's residence.
Having finally returned to the Prince's residence, Shen Yunzhi decided to disembark from the carriage before dealing with Cui Huai.
Unexpectedly, Cui Huai had no intention of wasting words with her and took advantage of her unpreparedness to carry her on his shoulder.
Shen Yunzhi was horrified and tried desperately to break free from Cui Huai, but even after scratching his neck and loosening his hair, he showed no sign of letting go. Once inside the bathhouse, Shen Yunzhi, whose embroidered shoes were nowhere to be found, was thrown into a tub full of hot water, clothes and all.
"He smelled terrible."
Cui Huai stood beside the bathtub, coldly watching her. "If you don't want me to wash you myself, then wash yourself clean."
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