Chapter 15 Moonlight Slants Through the Window, Cousin, Can You Help Me? ...
"Miss, Supervisor Cheng has arrived and is waiting in the flower hall."
No more than a day after returning from Yueshan, Cheng Feng came knocking on his door.
Lilan lowered her voice: "Should we make any other preparations?"
Beside the snow-white gardenias, a woman in a long dress embroidered with lotus leaves and peonies held a small golden pair of scissors. With a gentle "snip," the jade-like flowers instantly lost their life, and the leaves rolled around on the ground before stopping beside the woman's exquisite cloud-patterned shoes.
The light blue shawl draped over her slender arms accentuated the cool hue of the woman's beautiful face.
"No need."
Cui Yiluo wasn't surprised that Cheng Feng would come. Cheng Yi, having been bitten by a wild beast, would surely tell Cheng Feng that it was because of his appointment with her that he encountered the beast.
She released a wild beast, but failed to kill the person in one strike, leaving behind endless trouble. Others might believe her, but how could Cheng Feng not believe his own son? Knowing Cheng Feng's character, if he couldn't ruin this marriage today, he would definitely not let her go after the wedding and would torture her to death.
Cui Yiluo stopped thinking about it and walked towards the flower hall.
The Flower Hall, situated on the east side of the Jiang residence, was a riot of reds and greens, with bamboo and roses casting large swaths of shadow. A breeze swept through the spacious corridor, causing the octagonal rosewood lanterns with painted flowers and birds hanging from the eaves to sway gently in the summer wind. Because of the arrival of guests, servants brought in a blue-and-white porcelain ice jar with turquoise patterns; wisps of icy vapor curled upwards, adding to the chill in the air.
"Greetings, Supervisor."
Cui Yiluo walked slowly and gracefully, her expression indifferent and her tone calm, as if she were just meeting an ordinary guest.
Cheng Feng had been sitting there for a while, and his already agitated mood was becoming increasingly restless. But when he saw Cui Yiluo's beautiful face, he couldn't help but stare at her, as if a spring breeze had swept over him.
But the next moment, he noticed the coldness on the beauty's face, and his mind instantly turned to his son, who had almost been eaten by a wild beast. He had been lying in bed unable to get up before he left.
The skin that had been scalded by the tea was still burning slightly. The scalding hot tea made him rest for more than half a month, and he even developed blisters for a few days, which also injured that area! To this day, he has not been able to get intimate with the beauty.
This made Cheng Feng feel even worse than if he were dead.
Cheng Feng's lips drooped again, and the wrinkles on his face were pulled up, making them look even more like withered tree bark, covering his dry and droopy cheeks.
At first, he didn't quite believe his son's doubts about Cui Yiluo. How could a woman from a small town like Cui Yiluo have such ability and courage? But after his son was injured, he believed it completely and decided to settle all old scores with him!
Cheng Feng snorted coldly. He had lost a lot of weight due to the torment of illness these days, and his already loose eyelids had been pressed into deep wrinkles, forming a fierce triangular shape.
A teacup painted with green mountains and bamboo was slammed down on a rosewood table with a loud thud that echoed through the flower hall.
He had expected to see Cui Yiluo either panicked or trying to remain calm, but to his surprise, Cui Yiluo didn't even shake the hairpin hanging on her head, and just looked at him calmly.
"Is the Supervisor's burn still healing, which is why he can't hold the teacup properly? Perhaps I should call a servant..."
"Don't!"
After Cheng Feng instinctively cried out in surprise, he saw Cui Yiluo's calm and composed expression and immediately realized that he had clearly come to humiliate her, but instead, he was easily exposed by her!
It was like a cowhide being punctured by a needle and deflated. Cheng Feng was even more furious and sneered heavily: "Cui Yiluo, I gave you some face before because of the marriage agreement, but I didn't expect you to be so audacious."
"I don't understand what the Supervisor means."
"Hmph, I know you won't admit it without evidence. But so what? You're going to marry into the Cheng family in the future, and the Cheng family will believe you, right?"
After saying this, Cheng Fengxin calmed down considerably, as if she had regained control, and her eyes turned contemptuous: "I know you've always fantasized that some young master would be willing to marry you, but have you ever thought about whether they would be willing to make enemies with me for your sake? In the end, beauty can't compare to power and face. You should understand that only I am willing to marry you as my principal wife. With your family background, you wouldn't even be enough to be their concubine!"
Cui Yiluo's expression turned cold.
Among aristocratic families, only the Jiang family has a rule against taking concubines, because their ancestors had a history of favoring concubines over wives, nearly ruining their family fortune and reputation. This is why Cui Yiluo chose Jiang Yunjin. Others might not have been willing to marry him as their principal wife.
Seeing that Cui Yiluo didn't speak, Cheng Fengxin thought that he must have touched a sore spot, and couldn't help but feel a sense of victorious pleasure: "Actually, with your family background, you are far from enough to be my legal wife."
Cui Yiluo stood in the flower hall, her posture as upright as the green bamboo behind the hall. She slowly said, "The supervisor has no evidence but has slandered me and harbors resentment. Although I am of humble origin, I am a person of noble character and my integrity cannot be broken. Our marriage is hereby called off. I will inform my aunt and write to my parents in Ningzhou to return the marriage certificate and betrothal gifts."
"Give up?" Cheng Feng seemed to have heard a joke, his cloudy eyes full of wicked amusement: "Miss Cui is beautiful, and I, the Supervisor, cherish her dearly and cannot bear to let her go. If you don't know what's good for you, just tell your aunt that as long as I insist on marrying you, see if your parents will break off the engagement? No matter how powerful your aunt is, can she make decisions before your parents? If she could, why didn't she intervene sooner?"
Cui Yiluo's eyes were gloomy. Cheng Fengping was usually arrogant and muddle-headed, but he hadn't completely lost his mind.
"I understand that you are lonely after marrying far away, so I have found you another sister. A few days ago, a servant came to report that the mistress on the estate is pregnant."
Lilan, standing behind Cui Yiluo, changed her expression drastically.
Cheng Feng smiled even more smugly, his face as crumpled as a piece of dry paper, covered with dense wrinkles. "Being pregnant and a mistress is really a bit of a waste, especially since she is a respectable woman. Although she spent a few days in brothels, she only sold her art, not her body, and her status is not much lower than yours. I plan to formally bring her into the household, and the date will be half a month before your wedding."
Cheng Feng spoke casually, his face radiating an air of ease as if he held the power of life and death in his hands.
"When she gives birth to a son, there's no need to bring him to you. You're too young to raise him. At that time, you can make her your secondary wife, and that way she will be considered a legitimate son."
This is an outright humiliation! What family would take in a mistress half a month before the main wife enters the household? At that time, the whole of Shengjing will regard Cui Yiluo as a laughing stock! Lilan wished she could immediately step forward and tear Cheng Feng to pieces.
She glared at Cheng Feng and said angrily, "The Supervisor has betrothed my young lady with the rites due to a principal wife, how can you humiliate her like this! You didn't take her into your household in the first place, and now you want to make her a secondary wife, aren't you afraid of being laughed at by outsiders?"
Cheng Feng raised an eyebrow smugly. He certainly wouldn't elevate his mistress to the status of a secondary wife; he was merely using this to humiliate Cui Yiluo. Seeing Cui Yiluo's maidservant's uncontrollable rage, he guessed that she felt the same way, but was just putting on a good act.
Now that the pretense has been completely broken, Cheng Feng simply stopped pretending and laughed triumphantly: "What can outsiders do to me, the Supervisor? Cui Yiluo, I advise you not to struggle anymore. I can torture you to the point of wishing you were dead with the slightest movement of my finger. If you lower your head and admit your mistake, consummate the marriage ahead of schedule, serve me well, and take your dowry maid as a concubine after you enter the house, perhaps I can consider letting you go."
Lilan was so angry that she was about to rush forward, but Cui Yiluo took a step and stopped her.
“Supervisor,” she said, her eyes sharp as cold stars, a mocking smile playing on her lips, “you came all this way just to humiliate me? The Imperial Academy is a place of learning and propriety, a place of knowledge and conduct. Instead of being busy cultivating talent for His Majesty, you come to the Jiang family to utter such vulgar words. Isn’t that rather inappropriate?”
"Or is it that the Supervisor is too old and should not overwork himself?"
Cheng Feng was momentarily speechless. His old age and the deliberate neglect he received at the Imperial Academy were painful memories for him, and how could Cui Yiluo, of such lowly status, dare to expose him so directly! Cheng Feng's face flushed with anger, and he spoke sharply: "I have served as an official at the Imperial Academy for many years and have never made a mistake. When did it become your place, a lowly woman, to speak?"
Cui Yiluo gave a cryptic laugh.
Having said that, breaking off the engagement according to propriety was completely out of the question; Cheng Feng would not let her off the hook. So she had no choice but to find another way. Fortunately, Cui Yiluo was no stranger to this path; having grown up arrogantly, she had sought too many alternative routes because she couldn't take the proper path.
She couldn't be bothered to listen to Cheng Feng's arrogant and vulgar words any longer, and raised her hand to call someone to see the guest out.
"Supervisor, I have other matters to attend to, please excuse me."
Cheng Feng had no interest in staying any longer and said disdainfully, "The wedding dress will be delivered in the next few days. Get ready to marry this supervisor, Miss Cui."
After Cheng Feng left, Li Lan asked anxiously, "What should we do, Miss? Are we really going to..."
Cui Yiluo's face was half-hidden in the light and shadow, and the autumn water in her eyes was now frozen into icy blades.
"Let's go back to our room first."
As Cui Yiluo led Lilan out of the flower hall, a figure suddenly appeared in the corridor like a ghost. It was unclear how long it had been there, but Lilan was so frightened that she almost screamed, and Cui Yiluo also trembled.
Wen Feng lowered his head and bowed respectfully: "Miss Cui, Yuzhu Courtyard invites you."
Yuzhu Courtyard is Jiang Yunjin's courtyard.
Why would Jiang Yunjin invite her to his courtyard?
Cui Yiluo suddenly remembered the blood-stained forsythia handkerchief he had tucked into his sleeve; he had said he would wash it and return it to her. She realized that he had invited her over today to return the handkerchief.
Jiang Yunjin could not possibly return such a private item as a woman's handkerchief to her outside, for it would ruin his reputation if someone saw it. Therefore, he sent someone to invite her indirectly.
After a few moments of internal struggle, Cui Yiluo instantly understood the cause and effect.
Jiang Yunjin did this to avoid suspicion, but Cui Yiluo wouldn't.
Cui Yilu smiled kindly and gently: "I'll go back to the courtyard first and then head over right away. Please wait a moment, cousin."
Although Jiang Yunjin was aloof, he was always humble. His subordinates followed his example and naturally shared the same style. Upon hearing the news, they said nothing, simply agreed readily, and went back to report.
An incense stick's time had passed since they entered Yuzhu Courtyard. Rumor had it that there were other important matters to attend to, and an unfamiliar servant came to greet Cui Yiluo.
Yuzhu Courtyard and Flower Hall are both located next to a bamboo grove, but the difference is that the bamboo in Yuzhu Courtyard is more abundant and denser, possessing the charm of lush bamboo forests described in books, with a serene and distant beauty.
Apart from the green bamboo behind it, there were no other flowers planted in the courtyard, making it quiet and serene, just like the owner of the courtyard.
The dark, solid rosewood door was tightly closed, with an iron lock hanging on it. It was covered in dust, as if it had been sealed for a long time. The tall gate cast a shadow, and a heavy sense of oppression rushed in.
Cui Yiluo glanced at it a few more times and frowned.
She didn't like the courtyard.
This dusty little courtyard is very close to Jiang Yunjin's residence. After walking along a cobblestone path with white walls and black tiles and green bamboo, you will arrive at Jiang Yunjin's residence. The characters on the plaque are vigorous and upright, and it is called Jixuezhai.
Cui Yilu silently recited the instructions before stepping into the courtyard.
Near the entrance stands a sandalwood screen wall, serving as a screen to completely block out the view of the rear room. It is carved with majestic peaks and cascading waterfalls, the craftsmanship exquisite and lifelike. Notably, the screen wall is almost entirely covered with text in neat small regular script.
Cui Yiluo approached and took a quick look; the gentleman was diligent all day long and vigilant even at night.
Then I came across another sentence: "A wise man is cautious about what he does not see, and fearful of what he does not hear."
Densely packed.
The edges of the engraved words are somewhat blurred, but those at the top are exceptionally clear, as if they have been touched hundreds of times by the fingers of a child who has not yet grown up.
Cui Yilu stared at the screen wall, suddenly feeling a little breathless. The screen wall was made of wood, majestic and lustrous, yet weighed a thousand pounds.
Passing the screen wall, there is no doubt that Jiang Yunjin's courtyard is full of charm and scholarly atmosphere, as calm and wise as his personality, but without any vitality.
The only thing that seemed to have any vitality was a lush tree in front of the house, its branches and leaves so abundant and verdant that it stood out starkly from the rest of the yard.
It is a forsythia tree.
He also likes forsythia? Cui Yiluo was a little surprised. Forsythia flowers are pale yellow and full of vitality. No one would think that they have any connection with Jiang Yunjin.
The door of the house, carved with a landscape on sandalwood, was open. The man sat inside, wearing a moon-white brocade robe. His hand, with its distinct fingers, held a book, but his gaze was not on the book. Instead, it was fixed on the velvet floral carpet on the floor. His angular face had a slightly tense jawline, and his expression was as still as water.
Hearing her approach, his dark eyes refocused. He closed the book, smoothed it with his long, slender fingers, and placed it on the table beside him.
"cousin."
"Um."
Jiang Yunjin stood up and took out a brocade box from the shelf by the window. "I have already had your handkerchief washed."
He paused for a moment, then said, "You weren't in the courtyard when I arrived. I didn't know if it was something you cherished, so I had to ask you to come over."
Cui Yiluo took it and casually placed it on the table beside her. "My cousin knows I went to the flower hall."
The tone was not questioning.
"That's what the servants in your courtyard said."
"Does my cousin know who I'm going to see?"
Jiang Yunjin glanced at her and slowly replied, "I know."
Cui Yiluo pressed on: "Cousin, do you know what we said?"
Cui Yiluo didn't know how long Wen Feng had been outside, how much he had heard, or whether he would inform Jiang Yunjin.
Jiang Yunjin lowered his long eyelashes and pursed his lips, remaining silent. With this expression, Cui Yiluo understood everything.
He turned his back, his tall figure like a majestic mountain peak facing Cui Yiluo, his tone turning cold: "I have other things to do, take the handkerchief and go back."
The next instant, the force from behind made him stagger, and the sweet fragrance of a woman immediately enveloped him, swirling around him without any refusal.
His waist and abdomen were tightly embraced.
"Cousin, can you help me?"
A note from the author:
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"A wise man is constantly diligent and vigilant, even at night he remains cautious and prudent" is a quote from the "Qian" hexagram in the Book of Changes.
"A wise man is cautious about what he does not see, and fearful of what he does not hear," comes from the *Doctrine of the Mean* in the *Book of Rites*.
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