Chapter 5 Using Grace to Alleviate Worries 3 Coaxing people, how can you coax people empty-handed...
Cui Fuyu frowned and stared at the person in front of her for a long time before tentatively asking, "Zhao Jinghuan?"
She looked at the person in front of her, and he was a completely different person from the Zhao Jinghuan in her memory. The rich young man in front of her was no longer the short and chubby boy she had been as a child.
Zhao Jinghuan smiled and confidently twirled around in front of her like a peacock spreading its tail feathers, raising an eyebrow slightly: "How about it, little sister Yu'er?"
Cui Fuyu nodded: "It's alright."
Cui Fuyu had heard that Prince Gong had returned to recuperate and thought it would be a while before she would see Zhao Jinghuan, but she did not expect to see him so soon.
She wasn't familiar with Zhao Jinghuan and didn't have much enthusiasm for him. She was just about to say that she had something to do and had to leave.
To everyone's surprise, he launched into a long tirade: "Yu'er, you have no idea why I didn't see you at the Cui residence today. I thought I would have to wait until next time to see you, and I was quite disappointed for a while. But I actually met you here. It's truly a destiny ordained by God."
A look of determination flashed in Zhao Jinghuan's eyes. He had investigated Cui Fuyu and found that although she had no shortage of men of all kinds, none of them were as passionate and bold as him.
Based on this, he was confident he could win over Cui Fuyu.
“Auntie said she’d take you and Uncle over for a visit another day.” Zhao Jinghuan waved his folding fan, his bright eyes fixed on her. “Yu’er, would you like to browse the Treasure Pavilion again? I haven’t given you a gift yet today.”
Zhao Jinghuan glanced at the items in the pavilion; they were somewhat befitting of his status.
“I see a pomegranate hairpin inside that matches Yu’er’s fair skin.”
When Zhao Jinghuan mentioned the pomegranate hairpin, the shopkeeper, who had been playing a background role, immediately chimed in, praising his hairpin: "Young master has excellent taste. The pigeon blood red used in that pomegranate hairpin is the most precious material. Each pomegranate is crystal clear and translucent, and even the embellishing flowers and leaves are made of the finest green jade."
When Zhao Jinghuan was interrupted, his face suddenly turned gloomy for a moment, but then he smiled and invited Cui Fuyu into the store.
But he saw Cui Fuyu turn and go to the shop across the street that sells stationery.
It turned out that Cui Fuyu had seen Chi Yanzhou while he was speaking.
Chi Yanzhou naturally saw Cui Fuyu as well, but he didn't go up to greet him.
Instead, he entered Jufangzhai without looking to the side. He was familiar with the owner of Jufangzhai, and sometimes the owner would lend him the ancient books he had collected to study.
Chi Yanzhou was wearing faded clothes today because he had run out of ink sticks at home and came to buy some ink and return some books at the same time.
I never expected to run into Miss Cui.
Chi Yanzhou could tell from her impatient look that someone was bothering her.
As soon as Chi Yanzhou entered Jufangzhai, he looked around but did not see the manager. "Brother Chen Tian, is the manager not here today?"
The man addressed as Brother Chen Tian grinned when he saw that it was Chi Yanzhou: "Young Master Chi, you've come at a bad time. The shopkeeper has gone to a friend's house."
"I'm out of ink sticks at home, so I've come to buy some."
Seeing that the shopkeeper was not there, Chi Yanzhou placed the books he was holding on the counter and waited for Chen Tian to bring him the ink stick.
Cui Fuyu entered at this moment and gently patted Chi Yanzhou: "You clearly saw me just now, why did you pretend not to see me!"
Chi Yanzhou turned around and saw her coming. He secretly raised the corners of his mouth and said lightly, "I saw that Miss is talking to someone, so I shouldn't disturb her."
Chi Yanzhou was unaware of the amusement in his tone.
"Alright, I'll let you off the hook." Cui Fuyu crossed her arms and asked him with a smile, "What are you here to buy? I'm in a good mood right now, so I'll treat you."
Chi Yanzhou was about to shake his head, but staring at the jade pendant she wore at her waist, which belonged to him, he somehow managed to say "Okay!" instead of the refusal he was about to utter.
He made the jade pendant's tassel himself.
Cui Fuyu assumed he had come to buy paper and ink, so he instructed the waiter: "Give him several more packs of the finest Xie Gong paper and Chengxintang paper, and bring more Huiyu ink sticks, as the scholar will need them quickly."
Chi Yanzhou shook his head and firmly refused, "Ink sticks and paper can be used in any way, there is no need to buy such expensive ones. If Miss insists on giving me such expensive paper, I would rather not accept it."
Cui Fuyu originally wanted to give it to him as a gift, but she didn't expect the other party to be so tactless as to refuse her.
In an instant, Cui Fuyu slowly wiped the smile off her face, coldly looking at the insistent Chi Yanzhou. Her eyes were no longer filled with the affection she had shown moments before. Leaning slightly forward, her gaze held an undeniable possessiveness as she asked condescendingly:
"Young Master Chi, do you really not want it?"
Chi Yanzhou instinctively took a step back, but there was a counter right behind him, leaving him no room to retreat.
He lowered his eyes, revealing his long eyelashes, his gaze trembling slightly as if he wanted to speak but couldn't, unable to think of a good way to put it.
The two were locked in a stalemate when Zhao Jinghuan entered, carrying a pomegranate hairpin.
He chuckled and said, "Young Master Chi would be better off accepting Yu'er's sentiments!"
His arrival immediately broke the delicate atmosphere between Cui Fuyu and Chi Yanzhou.
Zhao Jinghuan skillfully placed the pomegranate hairpin into Cui Fuyu's hair, as if he had done it a thousand times before.
He said, "Young Master Chi, let me introduce myself. I am Zhao Jinghuan, Yu'er's cousin."
Although Zhao Jinghuan claimed to be Cui Fuyu's cousin, his actions and familiarity with her clearly indicated his possession of Cui Fuyu.
Chi Yanzhou smiled and nodded, greeting him politely: "Young Master Zhao."
Chen Tian first took out the ink stick that Chi Yanzhou always used, and then took out the items as instructed by Cui Fuyu. At this moment, he looked at these things awkwardly and really wanted to ask if he still wanted them. It was rare for the shop to sell good paper and ink. Just now, Miss Qian had asked for a lot of them. He saw that money was beckoning to him again, so he quickly took them out as fast as he could.
But then Chi Yanzhou declined again.
Chen Tian didn't understand; the wealthy young lady had clearly said she would give it to him.
Cui Fuyu glanced at Zhao Jinghuan sideways, a different thought forming in her mind.
Therefore, she tacitly approved of Zhao Jinghuan's behavior.
She wanted to give this bookworm a good jolt.
Seeing that he didn't take the bait, Zhao Jinghuan deliberately said, "Yu'er, you haven't finished listening to me yet. My mother intends to arrange a marriage for you and your aunt on the day you come to visit."
Zhao Jinghuan spoke in a vague and ambiguous manner, hoping to mislead Chi Yanzhou into thinking that the two of them were getting engaged, so that he would back down.
How could a poor, humble scholar be worthy of a noblewoman from a prestigious family?
Cui Fuyu is not someone he can even dream of!
Chi Yanzhou vividly recalled Cui Fuyu's provocation from a few days ago.
Since she's getting engaged, it's best to keep your distance.
He looked at the loving, perfectly matched couple in front of him.
Chi Yanzhou forced a smile: "I have to go now. I hope Miss Cui and Young Master Zhao have a good time."
Chi Yanzhou ultimately refused Cui Fuyu's gifts, leaving behind the money and only taking the ink he wanted.
He thought to himself: I said I should keep my distance, so I can't take that thing. Miss really deserves someone better!
Chi Yanzhou turned and left without looking at Cui Fuyu again.
Cui Fuyu watched him leave quietly, then laughed in anger, her eyes dark and terrifying as if she wanted to devour him.
She only tested him once, and Chi Yanzhou gave up already?!
He's so indecisive. If it happens again, I'll lock him up.
That damned Zhao Jinghuan interfered, talking about an engagement, making all her efforts to get closer to him go to waste.
Cui Fuyu unleashed all her anger on Zhao Jinghuan, tearing the pomegranate hairpin from her hair and throwing it into Zhao Jinghuan's arms, saying, "Take your broken hairpin back. It's all your fault for acting on your own."
Cui Fuyu said coldly, "The ink and paper will all be sent to the Chi family tomorrow. My maid will come to pay for them later."
Zhao Jinghuan noticed something amiss; his cousin had taken a liking to that man.
His face turned terribly pale, and no one had ever dared to treat him, the heir of the royal family, like that.
My cousin is really something; once she falls into his hands, he'll surely teach her a lesson about hierarchy.
Seeing that Cui Fuyu was about to leave, he quickly stopped her, saying, "Yu'er, I just wanted to help you. It's just that this boy couldn't stand it. It's really not my fault, Yu'er."
Cui Fuyu ignored him and let him shout, then climbed into the waiting carriage.
She instructed Juning, "Go to Jufangzhai and pay for what I bought."
No one can refuse what she gives, unless she destroys it herself.
Therefore, Chi Yanzhou had no choice but to accept it!
"Return to the residence."
——
At the Cui residence, servants carried out a series of exquisitely prepared and appetizing dishes to the table, including four dishes and a soup, with both meat and vegetables.
The servants waited on the side, serving their master with great attention. At the table, Cui Shihai sat with Zhao Ying, while Cui Fuyu sat opposite them.
As for Cui Fuyu's older brother, Cui Hexuan, he was still studying at Baiyuan Academy, the most famous academy in the capital, and rarely came back.
Cui Fuyu had a habit of drinking a bowl of soup before meals. Today's soup was a medicinal soup simmered over a low flame, and she couldn't resist drinking two bowls in a row.
As she served rice to the servants, she began to ask, "Mother, has Zhao Jinghuan come to our house?"
Zhao Ying nodded and told them the news that her brother was seriously ill.
"Hmph, he actually wants the Cui family to marry him, how ridiculous. I'd rather stay at home all the time." Cui Fuyu said with dissatisfaction, "He said he would go to his house another day and have his mother talk to my mother about the engagement. How dare he think that? I'm looking for someone I like."
Zhao Ying asked curiously, "You met Jing Huan today, but he did mention marriage, though he didn't say it was you. His mother is not easy to deal with; your mother isn't crazy to marry you off to her."
Cui Fuyu ate elegantly, taking small bites without showing her teeth, and only after finishing did she say, "That's good. By the way, Father, how's the smuggled salt case going?"
Cui Shihai took a bite of food, shook his head, and pointed at Cui Fuyu: "Exactly the same as what you said."
This morning at court, the Emperor inquired about the salt smuggling case. The Enforcement Department's account was almost identical to Cui Fuyu's, except that Li Sibu confessed and then committed suicide in prison. Several salt merchants were shut down, and the salt smuggling case was closed and no longer investigated.
Cui Fuyu thought that the outcome was pretty much as she had in her dream. She only mentioned it briefly, and she wouldn't have known so many details if she hadn't overheard someone talking in private.
She only dreamt about the general outlines of her dreams, without going into much detail.
Cui Fuyu felt a headache coming on just thinking about this!
She pressed further, "Father didn't submit a petition regarding the salt mines?"
When Cui Fuyu asked this question, his father refused to say anything.
He brushed her off with a simple "Eat well," and Cui Fuyu replied in a low voice, "I know," and that was the end of it.
After finishing his meal, Cui Fuyu returned to the courtyard shortly afterward. Sitting in the rocking chair, he asked with a mixture of certainty and doubt, "Zhu Jin, does my father have a treasured wolf-hair Xiangfei Purple Jade Brush in his storeroom?"
Cui Fuyu's words terrified Zhu Jin. Her young lady had become so bold that she dared to covet the master's storeroom.
"Miss, what are you doing?"
Cui Fuyu casually said, "You're kidding me, how can I go empty-handed?"
A note from the author:
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Haha, my cousin is such a great catalyst for our relationship! [shy]
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