Chapter 44 Two flames seemed to burn in his eyes again, shining through…
Their last meeting was when Shen Yunzhi confessed to Cui Hong that Cui Huai had visited Yunxi Courtyard at night.
Cui Hong took the initiative to see her today because she has been seeing Cui Huai frequently lately, and he wanted to express his concern for her.
Based on what she had said before, getting close to Cui Huai was probably not her true intention. But faced with Cui Hong's concerned gaze, Shen Yunzhi did not choose to confide in him as before, nor was she as panicked and fearful as before. She just shook her head and remained silent, looking troubled, as if she had a thousand unspeakable secrets in her heart.
Cui Hong tried to comfort Shen Yunzhi for a long time, but her attitude did not soften.
He seemed helpless and couldn't help but sigh softly: "My cousin still doesn't trust me."
Shen Yunzhi stared at Cui Hong with wide eyes in surprise.
After a moment of surprise, she looked downcast and looked away, denying, "That's not how it is."
Cui Hong frowned: "If not, why won't my cousin tell me what's wrong?"
Shen Yunzhi pursed her lips, sighed softly, and turned away.
“I am extremely grateful that the Second Young Master is willing to help me. But after thinking about it later, I really shouldn’t have involved the Second Young Master. I was too rash. This is my own business, and I should figure it out myself.”
Vague words cannot reveal the true meaning.
But Cui Hong could tell that she had concerns.
"If an elder brother makes a mistake, the proper thing to do is to help him correct it and prevent him from going astray."
“There is absolutely no reason to shield or condone such behavior out of consideration for brotherhood; otherwise, it would only harm both the innocent and the elder brother.”
Shen Yunzhi's back seemed to freeze.
Cui Hong wanted to say a few more words of advice, but first heard her say, "In the end, this will put the Second Young Master in a difficult position."
"Besides, His Highness..."
"His Highness is ill, and His Majesty's concern for you far exceeds my expectations."
Only then did Cui Hong realize what Shen Yunzhi was truly worried about.
If things were to escalate into a fratricidal conflict, with Huo Ming having repeatedly pleaded with the Emperor to rescind the imperial decree for her marriage, she, the young lady caught in the middle, would face the consequences of challenging the imperial authority. This unbearable consequence made her want to back down.
“Cousin, I understand.” Cui Hong didn’t try to force Shen Yunzhi to change her mind, but said considerately, “Whatever your decision, I respect it. If you need any help in the future, you can still come to me. This is for you…”
Shen Yunzhi turned around, took the pair of amethyst jade rabbits handed to her by Cui Hong, and bowed in gratitude with teary eyes.
She deliberately said these things to Cui Hong.
Choi Hong may have intended to use her to achieve certain goals, and based on his past life, he might even be willing to sacrifice her life for it.
In this situation, the more eager she appears, the more passive she becomes, ultimately ending up being led by the nose.
It would be better to retreat in order to advance.
This forced Cui Hong to take initiative, and she then followed suit.
If she guessed correctly, Cui Hong had deliberately intended to provoke Cui Huai with the fireworks display outside the library; the fireworks were actually meant for Cui Huai. Cui Huai was indeed bothered by it, and now, just knowing that she had contact with Cui Hong made him very unhappy.
Today is no exception.
After returning to his residence, Cui Huai immediately sent someone to invite Shen Yunzhi to Qiyun Residence. Shen Yunzhi did not go, so Cui Huai went to Yunxi Courtyard instead.
The maids and servants retreated silently.
Stepping inside, Cui Huai smelled a subtle fragrance and noticed that the vases on several flower stands in the corners were filled with golden plum blossoms that he had previously brought back from Nanyuan. His expression softened slightly.
Shen Yunzhi sat on the daybed eating roasted oranges.
She didn't get up when Cui Huai came in, and continued peeling oranges by herself.
The baked oranges become warm, so they won't taste cold when you eat them.
In terms of taste, Shen Yunzhi felt that it was not much different from what she usually ate.
Shen Yunzhi was not very willing to share a horse with Cui Huai last time they rode together in Nanyuan, so she did not give him a friendly look. Cui Huai knew she was resentful. Although he was unhappy that she ignored him, he did not want her to force herself to comply. However, he happened to see the pair of amethyst jade rabbits on the couch.
These jade rabbits are small, exquisite, bright, and adorable.
Both pairs of rabbit eyes are made of emeralds, and each rabbit holds a red gold lingzhi mushroom in its mouth.
A lucky rabbit carrying a sesame seed symbolizes longevity and good fortune.
Cui Huai remembered that the pair of amethyst jade rabbits were in Cui Hong's possession. Cui Lizhu had asked him for them several times, but Cui Hong refused. She even begged him to intercede on her behalf.
But they appeared in Yunxi Courtyard, in Shen Yunzhi's room, and were placed openly on the couch by Shen Yunzhi.
The emotions that had barely calmed down a moment ago surged even more violently after discovering the pair of amethyst jade rabbits.
Where did this come from?
Cui Huai's voice was gentle, without any hint of accusation, but his eyes were dark and unfathomable.
As Shen Yunzhi wiped her hands with a handkerchief, she calmly replied, "It was a gift from the Second Young Master today."
Cui Huai said, "Li Zhu really likes these jade rabbits."
"She asked for it several times but was not able to get it."
"You can give it to Li Zhu, and later you can come with me to my small storeroom to choose other treasures as compensation."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunzhi's face immediately darkened: "What does Your Highness mean by this?"
Cui Huai simply asked, "Why not?"
Shen Yunzhi threw down her handkerchief, her tone full of dissatisfaction: "Why does Your Highness use the pearl as a weapon? It's just that you know the Second Young Master gave it to you, so you don't want it in my hands. Last time Your Highness said that the Second Young Master had designs on me, but I didn't notice. The Second Young Master has always treated me like a cousin and taken good care of me. I think Your Highness has misunderstood."
Seeing that Shen Yunzhi was unwilling to listen to her speak up for Cui Hong, Cui Huai also looked displeased.
After staring at her for a while, Cui Huai asked, "Would it be better if he gave it to you?"
"Am I only allowed to accept things from Your Highness?" Shen Yunzhi refused to back down and said coldly, "I do really like these jade rabbits."
With just one sentence, Cui Huai's eyes turned cold.
"I don't think you like the jade rabbits because you actually like them; it's because he gave them to you that you like them."
Cui Huai sneered and spoke mockingly.
Shen Yunzhi's attitude was even colder, and she said lightly, "If Your Highness insists on thinking this way, I have nothing to say."
The words fell silent, leaving the entire room speechless.
"Fine." Seeing Shen Yunzhi glaring at him, Cui Huai seemed unusually calm and turned to leave. But after only a few steps, he suddenly turned back to the daybed, grabbed the two jade rabbits from the table, and then threw them to the ground. The impact broke the two lingzhi mushrooms, and scratches appeared on the jade rabbits from Cui Huai's mad act.
"I will give you something even better."
Cui Huai's gaze remained as cold as ice, but as he spoke, two flames seemed to burn in his eyes, radiating an eerie heat.
...
After Cui Huai left, Shen Yunzhi sat back on the daybed and pressed her palm against her chest.
She felt the heart pounding violently in her chest beneath her palm.
Understanding Cui Huai's temperament and then using that understanding to deliberately provoke him is not a difficult thing to do.
But facing his dark madness again will not be easy for her.
Silently staring at the two jade rabbits lying on the ground, Shen Yunzhi took a long time to calm herself before picking them up. However, the rabbits were badly damaged and no longer possessed their former delicate charm.
Cui Huai recognized the pair of jade rabbits at a glance and remembered that Cui Lizhu loved them very much.
It is clear that these are items they are familiar with.
When Cui Hong gave it to her, how could he not have harbored the intention of letting Cui Huai see it?
She was simply willing to cooperate.
All I ask for and wish for is for everything to go smoothly.
Soon...
Shen Yunzhi was tormented by nightmares again.
This was the first time she had dreamt of her past life before her death since she was reborn.
The battered and bruised Cui Hong, the poisoned wine offered to her, Cui Huai about to be married... In the dark room, the cold iron chains, the suffocating despair day after day. Even in her dreams, the pain was incredibly clear.
Struggling to wake up from her dream, Shen Yunzhi instinctively tried to call out to Qiuyue, only to realize that Qiuyue had already left the capital.
She gazed silently at the intricately patterned canopy for a long time before calling for someone to come in and help her to get up.
While I was washing up and getting ready, I heard the laughter and chatter of the young maids coming from the corridor.
Shen Yunzhi asked, "What's all the commotion outside?"
"Miss, everyone is watching the snow rabbits," a bolder maidservant replied with a curtsy.
Shen Yunzhi frowned slightly, washed up, and came out of the room.
Sure enough, there was a snow rabbit piled up in the courtyard. Although it had been cold these past few days, there hadn't been any heavy snowfall. The maids and servants didn't know where the snow rabbit had come from or how it had appeared in Yunxi Courtyard overnight. They just found it interesting and couldn't help but start discussing it.
Shen Yunzhi immediately thought of Cui Huai.
He just smashed her pair of jade rabbits yesterday, and now he's doing this kind of trick tonight... Is this what he meant by giving her something better?
It's clear that the person who built this snow rabbit is very skillful, as they managed to make it so lifelike.
It took some thought to make this snow rabbit hold a bunch of daffodils.
Looking at the scenery in the courtyard, Shen Yunzhi couldn't help but think that if she didn't know Cui Huai's true nature, if it were just an ordinary argument, it would be hard not to be moved. But at this moment, her heart was completely calm. She only tried to guess Cui Huai's thoughts, and slowly walked out of the corridor to carry the bouquet of daffodils back into the house.
"Miss Biao took the flowers back to the house."
Lin Yue reported the situation at Yunxi Courtyard to Cui Huai, while Cui Huai, sitting behind his desk in the study, closed a box and ordered, "Send it to Yunxi Courtyard."
The box contained a dazzling array of pearls and gemstones.
Each item is quite valuable.
"yes."
Lin Yue didn't say much. He stepped forward, took the box, bowed, and left for Yunxi Courtyard.
...
On New Year's Eve, early in the morning, King Chu went to the palace with Cui Huai and Cui Hong.
Shen Yunzhi and Cui Lizhu stayed by the side of Princess Chu, helping to take care of all the arrangements for the New Year's Eve banquet.
New Year, new look.
No one mentioned past unpleasantness; they shared unspoken laughter and joy, hoping for a smooth new year.
In the afternoon, the King of Chu, along with Cui Huai and Cui Hong, returned to their residence.
The atmosphere at the New Year's Eve banquet was unusually harmonious, and even the King of Chu was much more amiable towards Cui Huai than usual.
Shen Yunzhi received a large red envelope and New Year's money with pressed flowers from her aunt.
On the morning of the first day of the lunar new year, Cui Lizhu and Cui Huai and Cui Hong received red envelopes from them.
After that, they accompanied the King of Chu and his wife to the palace to pay New Year's respects.
Princess Cui Xuan also entered the palace with Huo Ming today, and Shen Yunzhi even met Huo Ming in the palace.
He was bolder than she thought.
However, with so many people and eyes in the palace, she didn't say much to Huo Ming. Instead, she seized the opportunity to make a request to him, and as she expected, Huo Ming didn't ask any questions.
Shen Yunzhi did not receive a response to Huo Ming's request until the Lantern Festival.
She met Huo Yuan at the Lantern Festival, and Huo Yuan secretly handed her the item away from others.
Shen Yunzhi clutched the thin piece of paper, her heart pounding like a drum.
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