Chapter 12 She blossomed beneath him, sobbing...
At midnight, the usually quiet Qiyun Residence rarely saw any servants walking around on the corridor.
Following instructions, they brought cold water into the bathroom and then quietly withdrew without making a sound.
Cui Huai woke up from his dream.
The faint sobs seemed to echo in his ears, and the sweet fragrance lingered in his nose. Everything in his dream made him feel more agitated than he had ever been before.
absurd.
It's utterly ridiculous.
His gaze inadvertently fell upon the messy bedsheets again, as if they were silently mocking him for losing control over a mere dream.
Cui Huai frowned slightly, turned around and stepped into the bathroom.
The cold water washed away the lingering heat from my body, but it couldn't erase those absurd and laughable images.
He didn't know why this was happening.
Perhaps we were wrong even earlier.
If I hadn't been driven by the effects of the drug to indulge in that absurd act, I certainly wouldn't be trapped in such a rude and ridiculous dream today.
Cui Huai gently pinched the bridge of his nose, and that delicate, tear-streaked face silently appeared before him.
She bloomed beneath him, crying out for him, calling him her cousin.
Too fragile to be broken.
They could only let him take whatever he wanted.
It seems they want to turn him into a joke.
A joke about someone who has lost all sense of propriety and can't even control their own desires and passions.
Cui Huai stayed in the bath room for a long time.
The bedding had been changed, but he couldn't fall asleep at all.
Intending to clear his mind by reviewing official documents, Cui Huai stepped into his study, but the memories of the day were stirred up, intertwined with scenes from his dreams, making it impossible for him to calm down. He stood quietly in the study for a moment, then came out again.
"His Royal Highness?"
Lin Yue looked at Cui Huai, who was walking out of the study, with surprise. In Lin Yue's opinion, Cui Huai had acted very strangely that night.
Cui Huai said in a restrained and calm tone, "I'm going to see my mother. You don't need to come with me."
Lin Yue was taken aback and watched Cui Huai's figure disappear into the distance from under the corridor.
For the next three nights, Cui Huai stayed by the memorial tablet of the late Princess Consort of Chu before returning to normal. During this time, Cui Xu was impeached for his poor handling of a salt smuggling case he had overseen before the new year. He was severely reprimanded by Emperor Jiaping at the morning court, and then many old grievances, such as bullying men and women, were brought up. Emperor Jiaping was furious, and Cui Xu had to keep a low profile, rarely behaving himself.
Choi Yeo-joo brought this news to Shen Yunzhi.
"I think he won't dare to do anything reckless these days, so you don't need to be worried all the time and stay cooped up in the house."
"only……"
Cui Lizhu looked hesitant, and Shen Yunzhi asked, "But what?"
"Fine, you're lucky." Choi Yeo-joo glanced at her, but ultimately didn't voice her suspicions.
Cui Xu's investigation into the smuggled salt case occurred last year.
It was suddenly unearthed, and coincidentally, it came to Shen Yunzhi's rescue...
Choi Yeo-joo felt it was too much of a coincidence.
But she really didn't want to think that her brother had done so much for Shen Yunzhi behind the scenes, and she didn't want to tell Shen Yunzhi about this possibility.
We must not give Shen Yunzhi any more chances to entangle herself with her brother.
This woman is too good at sweet talk. Last time, when she wore the sachet I gave her, all the other young ladies who saw it couldn't help but stare at her, and some even asked her why she would use a man's item. She is really hateful.
Just lie to her and that's it.
If she were to lie to her brother, she would truly be furious.
"Last time you went to thank my older brother, did he say anything to you?"
Thinking of Cui Huai, Cui Lizhu simply questioned Shen Yunzhi.
Cui Huai did indeed say that.
Shen Yunzhi's smile faded, and she shook her head as a denial.
Seeing this, Cui Lizhu immediately realized that her brother did have something to say. She regretted that she had given Shen Yunzhi the opportunity to get close to her brother that day because she had been soft-hearted. She said angrily, "What did my brother say to you? Tell me the truth, don't try to be mysterious."
Shen Yunzhi's eyes suddenly reddened.
Choi Yeo-joo was taken aback by her: "Stop pretending!"
Shen Yunzhi lowered her eyes, twisting her handkerchief tightly with her fingers, her voice low: "I know my status is lowly, far inferior to the noble ladies the princess used to associate with, and inferior to Miss Liang, but I sincerely think the princess is very good, I like the princess from the bottom of my heart, and I want to be friends with the princess... Am I being too greedy? The princess doesn't actually think much of me, does she?"
Choi Yeo-joo really didn't think much of Shen Yunzhi.
Feeling uncomfortable having her secret exposed, she asked, "Who told you this?"
Shen Yunzhi did not respond.
Cui Lizhu realized that Liang Zhengting and Liang Zhi had come to her door that day.
Her older brother must have said something to her that made her talk nonsense like this today.
"Oh? My older brother wants you to stay away from me?" Cui Lizhu probed. Seeing that Shen Yunzhi did not deny it, she smiled and said, "My older brother only said that because he cares about me. Although I don't like you that much, as long as you are honest and well-behaved, I won't mind paying more attention to you for the sake of my mother."
For Cui Lizhu, it was a pleasant surprise that her older brother kept Shen Yunzhi away from him.
This indicates that her brother cares about her, but it also means that Shen Yunzhi is not special to her brother, and that her brother is even wary of her.
Choi Yeo-joo felt increasingly relaxed and happy as she thought about it.
Seeing Shen Yunzhi looking dejected, she generously comforted her: "You don't need to be discouraged. It's not a mistake to come from a humble background. I won't ignore you because of that."
Shen Yunzhi kept her head down and never looked up.
Cui Lizhu snorted lightly: "Alright, is it enough for this princess to be your friend?"
"Really? The princess doesn't mind me?" Shen Yunzhi suddenly looked up.
Choi Yeo-joo sneered, "If you keep acting so coy, I'll really find you annoying."
Shen Yunzhi smiled shyly, her eyes shining: "I wouldn't dare, Princess, please don't dislike me."
Choi Yeo-joo nodded in satisfaction.
"Didn't Liang Zhi send out invitations to go on a spring outing tomorrow?"
Remembering this, Choi Yeo-joo readily agreed, "If you want to join in the fun, I'll go with you."
...
Even if he didn't particularly like Liang Zhi, they were both in the capital and would inevitably run into each other, so they could maintain a polite distance. Besides, the circle of noble ladies was relatively small, and they knew too many people to refuse to associate with each other because of some personal feelings.
In previous years, when Liang Zhi sent invitations to the Chu Prince's residence, Cui Lizhu would usually go to the invitations based on her mood; if she was happy, she would go, and if she was unhappy, she would find an excuse to refuse.
Therefore, it is true that she said she could accompany Shen Yunzhi if she wanted to go.
With Cui Lizhu's promise, Shen Yunzhi was naturally willing to go out.
She certainly couldn't keep herself confined to the palace forever, and it was said that Liang Zhi's invitation to go on a spring outing included not only noble ladies, but also many young men.
Shen Yunzhi knew that she wouldn't have many opportunities to meet young men on her own. Although her aunt would try her best to find a suitable man for her, ultimately it depended on her own efforts. If she found someone she liked and who was suitable, that would undoubtedly be the best choice.
The next day.
Shen Yunzhi got up early to dress up and, after breakfast, went out with Cui Lizhu.
Having witnessed Cui Lizhu's elaborate attire at the flower-viewing banquet in the palace last time, Cui Lizhu was not surprised by it.
They traveled by carriage to Jianchun Pavilion.
Even though we arrived at Jianchun Pavilion not late, it was already unusually lively.
Liang Zhi prepared boats for the journey by the lake and set up a banquet with flowing wine cups in the depths of the peach grove. The noble ladies who came to the banquet and their husbands either went boating on the lake together, recited poems, or admired the flowers and scenery in twos and threes, all enjoying themselves freely and comfortably.
"Princess, Miss Shen." Liang Zhi stepped forward to greet Shen Yunzhi and Cui Lizhu.
Cui Lizhu's attitude towards her was always lukewarm. She nodded, exchanged a few polite words, and then took her leave of Liang Zhi.
"Do you want to go boating on the lake or recite those sentimental poems with those people?" After walking a short distance, Cui Lizhu asked Shen Yunzhi for her opinion.
Shen Yunzhi smiled and said, "I'm willing to go wherever Lizhu wants to go. I'll be wherever Lizhu is."
Cui Lizhu suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and said, "Liang Zhi is the best at reciting pretentious poems. Can you?"
Shen Yunzhi said, "I've memorized a few of them."
Choi Yeo-joo chuckled.
How could she not know these people? They talk a good game, claiming to know a little, have some skills, and be incompetent, but in reality, they put on airs and try to unleash all the poems and lyrics they have hidden in their heads.
Choi Yeo-joo walked directly into the depths of the peach grove.
Along the way, they occasionally encountered noble ladies and gentlemen who knew Cui Lizhu, so it took them some time to find the most lively spot in the peach grove today.
"Miss Shen!"
Suddenly, a joyful voice rang out, directed at Shen Yunzhi.
Choi Yeo-joo raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on her face: "You're not really here today to meet your lover in secret, are you?"
Shen Yunzhi looked in the direction of the voice, and after a moment of silence, said, "It's Zhou Liulang."
Who is Zhou Liulang?
Cui Lizhu had no recollection of this person. As Zhou Tao, the sixth son of the Zhou family, approached with a beaming smile, she couldn't hide her disdain.
Shen Yunzhi never expected Zhou Tao to come up to her.
Their previous matchmaking attempt didn't end well, and Mrs. Zhou was politely refused when she visited. There was really no need for the two of them to have any further contact.
“He was also there when Prince Liang saved me in this peach grove before,” Shen Yunzhi said quickly to Cui Lizhu in a low voice. Cui Lizhu then noticed the awkwardness and reluctance on Shen Yunzhi’s face when she looked at Zhou Tao, and understood.
"Young Master Zhou." Zhou Tao approached and greeted Cui Lizhu. Shen Yunzhi returned his greeting out of politeness.
Cui Lizhu chuckled, her words laced with sarcasm: "So you're the sixth young master of the Zhou family. I only learned today that you also have a connection with Miss Liang."
"I never expected to receive an invitation," Zhou Tao said warmly to Cui Lizhu. "And I never expected to meet Princess Danyang and Miss Shen here today." He then turned to Shen Yunzhi with a hint of guilt and asked, "I was somewhat negligent last time, Miss Shen. I have been wanting to apologize to you. I wonder if you could forgive my previous oversight?"
Shen Yunzhi said softly, "Young Master Zhou, please don't say that."
"It's only human nature, so I didn't blame them."
Choi Yeo-joo felt that Shen Yunzhi was really easy to bully.
After seeing Zhou Liulang off, she said with exasperation, "Are you stupid?"
Shen Yunzhi looked at her blankly.
Cui Lizhu gritted her teeth: "Can't you understand something this simple? Liang Zhi and this Zhou Tao have never had any dealings before. Zhou Tao didn't know you were coming. Liang Zhi invited him, doesn't she know that? She's clearly trying to embarrass you. I warned you to stay away from Liang Zhi before."
"Ignore it." Seeing that Shen Yunzhi seemed to understand but not quite, Cui Lizhu added, "In my opinion, this Zhou Liulang is not good enough for you."
Shen Yunzhi said, "I have no dealings with him."
"Huh? Big brother?"
Upon seeing Cui Huai's figure in the distance, Cui Lizhu's thoughts drifted away.
Shen Yunzhi had no idea that Cui Huai would come today.
She followed Cui Lizhu's gaze and inadvertently exchanged a glance with Cui Huai.
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