Chapter 394: Chapter 403: Either Wait or Get Lost!
The night was exceptionally silent.
Apart from the distant sound of the watchman’s clapper on the streets, there was nothing else.
The weather has warmed up. After washing up, Shen Hua pushed open the window lattice, looking at the bright moon hanging in the sky. She was only wearing an outer robe that covered her beautiful and exquisite figure.
The powder on her face had long been washed off, revealing a tender and flawless complexion. Her features were delicate, her almond-shaped eyes black and clear, her wrists soft and her movements graceful, all adding to her fragile beauty.
She found herself thinking about many things without reason.
Even about the affairs in Hengzhou, and about Cui Yun.
A single move could affect the whole situation; the surface calm of Hengzhou probably hid turbulent undercurrents.
If the powers behind Hengzhou were connected to the factional struggles in Shengjing, Cui Yun’s move might not be easy at all.
Shen Hua’s eyes fiercely trembled.
That’s not right.
She suddenly widened her eyes.
It’s just like Emperor He.
He indeed needed Cui Yun to thoroughly investigate the matters in Hengzhou, but don’t forget, he had been wishing for Cui Yun’s death years ago.
If it weren’t for the urgent intervention of the Marquis Yangling Mansion back then...
This time, if the officials did as little as not to reveal Cui Yun’s departure from Shengjing, his absence from court for many days might provoke the suspicious to speculate.
In this way, the news would surely spread to Hengzhou.
Once the officials in Hengzhou were forewarned, investigation by Cui Yun would not only become extremely difficult, but his safety could not be guaranteed – and that’s what truly mattered.
At that point, Emperor He, that petty man, would certainly stand aloof and watch.
If Cui Yun managed to obtain evidence, it would show that his capabilities were not to be underestimated, and the Emperor’s fear of him would only deepen.
If Cui Yun were to die in Hengzhou, Emperor He could then express great anger, fully investigate the affair while maintaining innocence, and use the opportunity to make an example out of the high officials in court.
Whichever the outcome, it would be beneficial for Emperor He.
He was the Emperor, the holder of life and death – and an Emperor is never a benevolent person.
Shen Hua didn’t know if her thoughts were correct.
But what she could think of, Cui Yun must have also considered.
Why would he bother with such a thankless task and meddle in the affairs of Hengzhou?
A sharp pain travelled up Shen Hua’s fingertips, a splinter from the window lattice piercing the girl’s finger, drawing a bright red blood bead.
She looked down at it. Her expression unusually scattered, yet at the same moment, she found an answer.
— Cui Yun was doing this intentionally.
So, what was he planning to do?
And then, there was Xie Xun.
Since returning to Shengjing, the officials always found excuses to delay and had not given him a clear position, but after this incident, he suddenly became a Commander.
It was said that he was investigating the cause of Zhou Zhangping’s death, but wasn’t this also a probe into the Ministry of Justice Prison?
Was it really just a coincidence?
While the Emperor played with people’s hearts from his high position, could he also be the one being manipulated and plotted against?
Shen Hua’s eyelashes lightly trembled; realizing this point, she even forgot to wipe the blood off her hand.
Xiaoqi was Ji Teng’s man but had been requested by Xie Xun from the Third Prince.
Previously, Shen Hua hadn’t thought much of it, after all, Ji Teng’s return to Shengjing was aided by Xie Xun, and some exchanges were to be expected.
But what if it wasn’t just ordinary interactions?
Ji Teng was no simple character.
His return to Shengjing surely meant contention with the Imperial Family.
The girl suddenly had a bold thought.
Could it be that brother and Cui Yun were supporting him to rise to power?
Shen Hua felt somewhat uneasy.
But if not supporting Ji Teng, could it be that the Marquis Yangling Mansion and Duke Fu’s Mansion would side with Ji Zhui and Ji Wang instead?
Those two were definitely not good characters.
Once they achieved their wishes, who could say that the Marquis Yangling Mansion and Duke Fu’s Mansion wouldn’t be next in line for their schemes?
If they remained neutral, life for both mansions would probably become very difficult.
Under the Dragon Chair, who can remain unscathed?
With this thought, Shen Hua felt a bit haggard.
She even tossed and turned all night, hardly sleeping, and the dark circles under her eyes in the morning couldn’t be covered even with powder.
"What happened to my lady’s hand?"
Ningzhu walked in from outside and cried out in surprise when she saw the girl’s fingertips wrapped with a bandage.
Shen Hua weakly said, "I’m injured."
"Ah, have you applied any medicine?"
Shen Hua tilted her head and glanced at the sky outside.
She said faintly, "It’s nothing."
"It won’t kill me."
Ningzhu: !!!
Yicui, who was bringing in medicine: ...
Yesterday night, the girl had been to her room. She woefully showed her the supposedly healed fingers with a delicate and spoiled motion.
It was quite an act yet evoked pity from others.
"I’m injured."
"I need medicine."
She sniffed, apparently knitting her brows with worry: "Yangyang must be in pain."
For some reason, Yicui always felt that Shen Hua’s emotional fluctuations were not quite right. Especially after wrapping the bandage round and round as the girl requested, Shen Hua leaned her head against Yicui’s shoulder and didn’t mention returning to her room.
So, Yicui gently soothed her delicate back.
"Is madam feeling uneasy about meeting those people tomorrow?"
The girl shook her head.
"Did madam eat less for dinner and is now hungry?"
The girl still shook her head.
Before Yicui could speak again, she heard Shen Hua’s soft utterance.
"Who knows, Wei Yingying’s fate is really good."
Yicui ceased to dwell on the memory and handed the warm soup medicine to the still weak Shen Hua.
"The medicine is warm now; madam should drink it quickly. For breakfast, I prepared the roasted yam and Golden Milk Cake you love. Didn’t you say yesterday you wanted the cream lantern pastry and bean paste flaky pastry from Hewu Street? Early in the morning, Nanny Cheng went to buy them."
Shen Hua’s eyes brightened, and her spirits slightly lifted.
Meanwhile, the Shen Family finally showed some activity.
Shen Qu went to Shen Xue-shi’s courtyard early in the morning.
As soon as he arrived, he didn’t speak a word, just bowed his head sipping tea. Shen Xue-shi’s intentional delay could only be abandoned. She harbored resentment in her heart, but she endured and didn’t say anything.
"Let’s go."
Her tone was cold and impatient.
Shen Qu stood up, respectfully supporting her, and as they left, he said gently, "My son knows that today’s affair has wronged Mama."
From beginning to end, he was imitating Shen Zhi’s mannerisms.
Shen Qu also meant to explain, "Magistrate Wang and Imperial Censor Shu from Shengjing were classmates in their early years. They value etiquette and propriety the most. If those rumors from outside reach his ears, I fear it wouldn’t be good."
"I just received a coral half my height, very beautiful. I think it’d only shine if it’s placed in Mama’s room."
His words were soothing.
Shen Xue-shi’s expression lightened considerably.
She then said,
"Well then, as your mother, I always have to consider for you. It’s okay to lower my head to her. As long as it helps you, anything is worth doing."
Shen Qu smiled slightly, moved.
The pair did not delay and together they went to Shen Hua’s residence.
At this time, the main door was tightly closed, with no intention of welcoming guests.
Shen Qu stepped forward and gently knocked on the door knocker.
Soon, there was movement inside. Xiaoqi opened the door impatiently.
Shen Qu was very polite: "We are here to see..."
Before he could finish.
Xiaoqi, with an expressionless face, slammed the door shut with a ’bang’.
Because of this, Shen Qu’s face darkened, but in the end, he continued to knock on the door with a forbearing heart.
"I’m here to see my younger sister."
The next moment, curses came from inside.
"Who is it, do you have no manners? The lady has not had her breakfast yet, do you expect her to see you on an empty stomach? Who do you think you are? Either wait or get lost!"
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