Chapter 21: Human nature is no longer what it used to be; mutual restraint. Are there any fish bladders left from last time...?
Cui Fuyu looked at her strangely, and seeing Ru Niang's strong reaction, asked, "What group?"
Ru Niang shook her head, her eyes filled with fear, and strongly resisted Cui Fuyu's touch, refusing to utter another word.
Helpless, Cui Fuyu lifted the curtain and looked outside. She only saw Zhao Jinghuan waiting for her at the gate of the mansion. Zhao Jinghuan had obviously noticed the carriage at the gate and was walking towards her with a smile on his face.
Cui Fuyu glared at him, thinking he had frightened Ru Niang.
Zhao Jinghuan greeted Cui Fuyu in the car from a distance, "Yu'er."
Following Ru Niang's words, and seeing Zhao Jinghuan again, and noticing Ru Niang's fear, Cui Fuyu understood something at this moment.
Cui Fuyu lowered the carriage curtain, and her face instantly fell.
She didn't see that the moment the carriage curtain fell, Zhao Jinghuan's expression changed drastically, his eyes darkened, and he also saw Ru Niang.
A bunch of useless trash, and yet their mother is still alive.
Cui Fuyu looked at Ru Niang with a serious expression, pondered for a moment, and then said to her, "That's my cousin Zhao Jinghuan. Ru Niang, he's the one who harmed you!"
She reached out and held Ru Niang's trembling hands. Although she questioned Ru Niang, she was basically certain that Zhao Jinghuan had harmed Ru Niang and sent people to kill her. She never expected that Ru Niang would be saved by her.
Ru Niang nodded slowly, "You and him are really not on the same side?"
Cui Fuyu shook his head again, comforting Ru Niang: "If I were his accomplice, I would have harmed you long ago, instead of trying my best to help you. Ru Niang, believe me!"
Since the incident with the insect at Prince Gong's Mansion, Cui Fuyu had vaguely sensed that Zhao Jinghuan was not simple, and that the insect might be something he wanted to put on her.
She later consulted books and learned that the thing might be a type of Gu worm, so she decided not to be alone with Zhao Jinghuan.
Cui Fuyu wanted to tell her parents, but she had no proof and it was hard for them to believe her without evidence.
“Zhao Jinghuan probably hasn’t seen you and doesn’t know you’re still alive. I’ll go down and restrain him later. The coachman will take you into the Cui residence through the back gate.” Cui Fuyu calmly instructed, “Then go to Yutang Courtyard. That’s my courtyard. You can wait for me there without worry.”
After Ru Niang nodded, Cui Fuyu got up and got off the carriage.
As soon as Cui Fuyu stepped off the carriage, she flashed a sweet smile: "Cousin, what brings you to our residence these days? Is your injury healed?"
Zhao Jinghuan wanted to go forward and investigate the people inside the carriage, but Cui Fuyu didn't give him the chance. "Hey, didn't you come to see Yu'er, cousin? Why are you staring at my carriage?"
The carriage gradually headed towards the back door, cutting off Zhao Jinghuan's desire to investigate.
"Yes, I just arrived at the Cui residence, and I didn't expect to run into Yu'er so soon. What a coincidence!" Zhao Jinghuan deliberately mentioned the chance encounter he had created. "It's just past Shen Shi (3-5 PM). Would you have the honor of inviting Yu'er for some snacks and tea?"
With an innocent expression, Zhao Jinghuan invited Cui Fuyu to go to the teahouse with him.
Cui Fuyu had no intention of feigning friendship with him, and dared not be alone with him, especially since she needed to find Ru Niang to learn more about her family's murder. "Zhao Jinghuan, I have other matters to attend to..."
But before she could finish speaking, he interrupted her, threatening her with Cui Fuyu's brother: "Little sister Yu'er, isn't your brother returning home soon? Speaking of which, I haven't seen him in a long time, you tell me..."
"Enough, I'll go." Cui Fuyu gritted her teeth and glared at Zhao Jinghuan: "If anything happens to my brother, it will definitely be you."
Cui Fuyu was quite certain that Zhao Jinghuan was a wolf in sheep's clothing, waiting for the right moment to strike at the Cui family.
Zhao Jinghuan didn't make things too difficult for Cui Fuyu, but he did reveal all his ambition and cunning.
He took Cui Fuyu to a famous teahouse in the capital and ordered the dishes that Cui Fuyu liked.
Once the door was closed, Zhao Jinghuan, seeing that Cui Fuyu was very wary of him, stopped beating around the bush.
"Yu'er, let me be frank. I've come to you today to ask you to agree to marry me and become my Crown Prince's consort," Zhao Jinghuan said confidently. "It doesn't matter if you don't agree, but I'm afraid the Cui family will suffer."
His smile concealed a gleaming knife. Should she protect the Cui family, or marry him?
Cui Fuyu didn't know where Zhao Jinghuan got the confidence to say that, unless he really had something on the Cui family or evidence of collusion with the enemy as she dreamed.
But her father was always a saint, never involved in factional struggles, and an incorruptible official. How could the Cui family possibly suffer?
She also kept a close watch on the servants in the mansion, never giving anyone an opportunity to take advantage of her.
Thinking of this, she became wary: "Zhao Jinghuan, you're dreaming. You would never marry anyone but you. Besides, my father is working diligently for the emperor in his position. How could he possibly suffer any misfortune? Don't spout nonsense."
Zhao Jinghuan took a leisurely sip of tea, stared at her, and asked, "Is that so? Then cousin, you'd better be careful."
"But don't worry, cousin. Anyone in the capital who dares to marry you will face ruin and death."
Zhao Jinghuan spoke casually, as if he never cared about human life, and that human life was nothing more than a lowly ant.
"If you insist on marrying me, what role did the Cui family play in your Prince Gong's scheme?"
Cui Fuyu finally asked the question; she had always wanted to know the role of the Cui family in all of this.
She was also certain that Zhao Jinghuan was plotting a huge conspiracy, and the Cui family played a very important role, even determining the outcome, which was why he insisted on marrying her.
Zhao Jinghuan said, "Of course they are accomplices."
Cui Fuyu, of course, did not believe that the Cui family would be complicit. "Zhao Jinghuan, even when you lie, you need to make it believable. The Cui family will be fine, and I will never marry you."
"Is that so, cousin? We'll see then." Zhao Jinghuan looked at Cui Fuyu with interest. "I'd like to see you beg me for help."
Cui Fuyu's beautiful willow-leaf eyebrows suddenly furrowed, and her pretty face became serious. She felt more and more that Zhao Jinghuan resembled someone else.
She stared intently at Zhao Jinghuan, who remained oblivious and cooperated with Cui Fuyu, letting her have her fill of looking.
Little did he know, his true colors were about to be revealed.
She suddenly cried out, "Young Master!"
Cui Fuyu tentatively called out the name of the person she was guessing.
Zhao Jinghuan's smile froze, his face darkened, and he stared at Cui Fuyu with narrowed eyes.
Cui Fuyu understood everything from Zhao Jinghuan's reaction.
Just as she had suspected, the mysterious young master was indeed him!
Cui Fuyu sneered. Salt mines, the Ministry of War, interfering in the imperial court—he really dares to do that.
"Zhao Jinghuan, you've got some nerve," Cui Fuyu said sarcastically.
"Cousin, so we should be husband and wife."
Just as Zhao Jinghuan finished speaking and was about to drink his tea, a cup of tea mixed with tea leaves was splashed in his face.
Tea and tea leaves dripped down his face, wetting his clothes. The tea leaves stuck to his handsome face gave him a unique charm.
Instead of being angry, Zhao Jinghuan smiled, a hint of pleasure rising in his heart. He looked up and said, "Yu'er, as long as you're happy."
"But cousin is curious how Yu'er knew?"
Zhao Jinghuan wiped his face with his sleeve, slowly removing the tea and tea leaves. He also removed the tea leaves from his clothes. Because he was wearing dark clothes today, there was a water stain on his chest and the hem.
A disheveled state can easily lead to wild speculations.
He didn't know how Cui Fuyu knew he had this other identity.
“I overheard you talking to Zhang Chaijie,” Cui Fuyu said casually. “I heard that Zhang Chaijie was arrested by the Enforcement Division and died the next day. Was that your doing too?”
Cui Fuyu found it hard not to suspect him. He seemed like a charming and simple-minded person, but Zhao Jinghuan was actually so cunning. He was a truly terrifying person.
"Zhao Jinghuan, if anything happens to the Cui family, aren't you afraid I'll expose your secrets?"
Cui Fuyu wanted to use this incident to threaten Zhao Jinghuan.
Zhao Jinghuan knew that she was referring to the poetry gathering she had overheard.
He wasn't worried at all. If he knew, he knew. What could Cui Fuyu do even if she told others?
It couldn't hurt him in the slightest. Zhang Chaijie was dead; he was originally a prince's son!
But Zhao Jinghuan disliked anyone daring to threaten him. He stood up and gently pinched Cui Fuyu's face. "Cui Fuyu, don't do anything foolish."
Cui Fuyu slapped his hand away forcefully, took out a handkerchief, and vigorously wiped the places he had touched.
Then she threw it away, utterly disgusted: "Zhao Jinghuan, you can give it a try."
She will definitely investigate thoroughly and expose Zhao Jinghuan's conspiracy.
This conversation in the teahouse allowed Cui Fuyu to see Zhao Jinghuan for who he truly was.
Neither of them fared well.
Before Zhao Jinghuan left, he said, "Cousin, you'll be marrying me soon!"
Cui Fuyu was furious. Marry him? He's dreaming!
She grabbed a teacup and threw it at the back of Zhao Jinghuan's head.
With a "thud," the teacup struck Zhao Jinghuan squarely on the back of the head, and blood instantly flowed out.
Zhao Jinghuan clutched the wound on the back of his head, turned around and stared intently at Cui Fuyu, who was equally annoyed. He remained silent for a long time before letting out a long sigh. "Yu'er, when you marry into the royal family, you will definitely be taught to serve others properly."
After saying this, Zhao Jinghuan flicked his sleeve and left in a somewhat disheveled state.
After seeing Zhao Jinghuan leave completely, Cui Fuyu cursed inwardly, "You damned bastard, what a pipe dream."
——
As the sun sets in the west, fiery clouds emerge.
When Cui Fuyu returned to the Cui residence, before she even stepped into Yutang Courtyard, Juning rushed over to tell her, "Miss has punished us for the servants' negligence; Ru Niang is missing."
After hearing this, Cui Fuyu waved his hand, indicating that it was alright to worry about it.
"Go with Ru Niang. It's normal that she doesn't believe me now that she knows about my relationship with Zhao Jinghuan."
Ru Niang still didn't believe her in the end.
They left without even saying goodbye.
Cui Fuyu knew she would definitely come back. The power dynamics in the capital were complex, and she was just a little orphan with no Cui family to rely on, and her evidence was incomplete. She wanted to see how Ru Niang would file a complaint with the emperor.
Cui Fuyu thought that if Ru Niang was lucky enough to live, he would definitely look for her again.
But by then, Cui Fuyu might not want to help her anymore.
Cui Fuyu still instructed Juning to tell the servants to keep an eye on the door, and if Ru Niang came back looking for her again, to report immediately and keep her there.
Now, her primary concern is preventing Zhao Jinghuan, that madman, from harming the Cui family.
For a moment, Cui Fuyu wanted to see Chi Yanzhou.
She wanted to see him immediately, so Cui Fuyu instructed, "Zhu Jin, accompany me to the Willow Leaf Lane Villa."
Zhu Jin nodded and immediately went to prepare the carriage as Cui Fuyu had instructed.
Chi Yanzhou was secretly carving a jade hairpin in his study. On the paper on his desk was a drawing of a white magnolia with leaves and flowers. The magnolia buds were in full bloom, which perfectly matched the green and white jade.
On Chi Yanzhou's table were various tools and books. He followed the instructions in the books step by step, learning carving by relying solely on the content of the books. At this moment, he was still working on polishing the shape of the jade hairpin.
"Knock knock knock~" Three knocks on the door, someone came looking for him.
Chi Yanzhou stopped what he was doing and asked, "What's wrong?"
It was now completely dark, and Chi Yanzhou had placed several more lamps on his desk to make carving easier, making the study the brightest place in the courtyard.
"Young Master Chi," the butler replied, "Miss, you've arrived."
Upon hearing that Cui Fuyu had arrived, Chi Yanzhou immediately put down what he was holding and tidied up the items on the table, not wanting to be discovered by Cui Fuyu again.
Afterwards, Chi Yanzhou quickly patted the dust off his body, tidied his appearance, and only came out after confirming that the young lady saw him at his most perfect. "Have we arrived yet?"
The butler shook his head: "They're still on their way, they'll be there soon."
Chi Yanzhou was easygoing and of good character. As the housekeeper spent more time with him, he gradually came to appreciate this bookish scholar.
"Okay, I'll wait for Ayu at the main gate."
Chi Yanzhou made no attempt to conceal his relationship with the young lady in the villa.
"I heard from Miss Zhu Jin that Miss seems to have not had dinner yet," the steward reminded Chi Yanzhou. He had already asked the servants to prepare food, and Chi Yanzhou would keep the young lady company and make her happy to have dinner.
Chi Yanzhou frowned upon hearing this, "You're not eating dinner again."
Just as Chi Yanzhou arrived at the main gate, and before he and the steward had even waited a short while, Cui Fuyu's carriage appeared at the intersection in the distance, and they arrived at the villa in an instant.
Chi Yanzhou quickly went down to greet Cui Fuyu, raising his hand to steadily help her down, saying, "Ayu, take it easy."
Cui Fuyu looked at him with gentle eyes, then suddenly threw herself into Chi Yanzhou's arms, her voice soothing: "Chi Yanzhou."
If you're upset because of one man, the best way to heal is to find solace in another man.
Coincidentally, Chi Yanzhou was also someone she liked, and he fit Cui Fuyu's aesthetic preferences in many ways.
There's nothing better than finding healing in his place.
Chi Yanzhou noticed that Cui Fuyu was very different today. "Ayu, what's wrong?"
Cui Fuyu smiled and shook her head, then took his hand and led him into the villa, whispering in his ear, "Do you still have the fish bladder covers from last time?"
A note from the author:
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Zhao Jinghuan: Oh ho [clown]
Me: Hahaha, the second male lead is gone, looking forward to the third... To heal your mood, you have to play with men! [heart emoji]
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