Chapter 407: Chapter 406: She Is Indeed Beautiful—No Wonder the Marquis Lost Heart
Inside the room.
As soon as the door closed, Nanxiang loosened her grip. She changed from being charming to kneeling respectfully on the ground and performing a grand salute.
"Greetings to the Princely Heir. This subordinate has acted presumptuously, and hopes for the Princely Heir’s forgiveness."
She was addressing the Princely Heir, not the Marquis.
The Princely Heir of Prince Huai’an Mansion.
Ji Teng, fearing to anger Cui Yun, didn’t make things difficult for him and had specifically arranged for someone to come over.
Cui Yun was cold and indifferent, his expression calm and unflustered.
"Is this Ji Teng’s property?"
Nanxiang replied: "Yes."
Indeed, this place was the easiest to gather information from.
Cui Yun masked the sparse emotion in his eyes, yet did not blame her; "There is a reason for everything, rise."
Nanxiang didn’t dare to stand up.
She saw Cui Yun wiping his sleeves that she had touched with a handkerchief. It was somewhat embarrassing. After all, the moment she had clung to Cui Yun, a murderous intent had flashed through his eyes.
This task was indeed difficult.
Especially since this was the only offspring left in the world by the Prince and Princess Consort.
The room was filled with a fragrance, too strong for Cui Yun’s liking.
For some reason, he always felt somewhat uneasy.
After brewing tea for him, Nanxiang tactfully retreated to a corner.
Soon, another person entered the room.
It was Ying Shi, a ventriloquist under Cui Yun’s command.
The atmosphere inside the room remained calm and undisturbed. Meanwhile, people sent by Luo Chengdong were getting closer.
Cui Yun sat upright drinking tea, holding a book in his hand.
It was a military strategy book.
Ying Shi imitated the voices perfectly. He unfolded a piece of paper, which by chance contained the movements heard from Luo Chengdong’s side, which he had specifically copied onto the paper.
After some modifications.
Ying Shi: "Young Master Yang, once you give yourself to me, you must only cherish me. Otherwise, Xiangxiang will not comply."
Nanxiang: ...
She shrank further into the corner.
Cui Yun slightly lifted his eyes and upon noticing a figure approaching outside, he tapped his finger on the table: "Louder."
He needed those outside to listen carefully.
Ying Shi hastily nodded, raising his voice: "I can serve people well."
Expressionless, he raised his hand and patted.
’Pa Pa’ twice.
Male voice: "Lie down."
Female voice: "Stop it."
Female voice: "Young Master Yang, be gentler."
People from Luo Chengdong heard it.
Shen Hua, who came asking for directions, heard it too as she reached the third floor.
She stood there stunned, looking at the tightly closed door.
She should have been rational, having thought a lot on her way here.
She thought, Cui Yun must be putting on an act.
She also thought that his interest in the Oiran was merely for investigating the case.
Picky as Cui Yun was, only Shen Yangyang could catch his eye.
But she was not a woman who understood empathy.
Even if it was for official duties, Cui Yun should not have visited the brothel without her!
She was upset.
Truly upset.
Hence, with a petty heart and irrepressible anger, she skipped dinner and came to Qin Chu Pavilion.
She even thought considerately that she would just take a quick look and leave, not making things difficult for Cui Yun or risking his identity being exposed.
How much the girl trusted Cui Yun.
But now, she was uncertain.
She slowly lowered her head, her gaze falling on a glaring spot.
It was the Jade Pendant given by Cui Yun.
The ancestral jade pendant from the Cui family passed to the daughter-in-law.
Shen Hua inhaled sharply. Her eyes couldn’t help but redden.
She realized belatedly, perhaps caring more for Cui Yun than she thought, making it difficult to breathe in her current stifling mood.
Every time Cui Yun kissed her, it was always so relentless, deeply, entangling her tongue.
His well-defined hand would grasp the girl’s neck, translucent white as jade, and thoroughly pull her into his embrace.
He could treat her like this, yet he could do the same to others.
Even to do... that thing he had never done with her.
The girl’s complexion was deathly pale, her fingertips trembling slightly.
It turns out, all men in this world behave the same way.
She stood stunned for a moment, then stepped back several paces and, without hesitation, tore off the jade pendant and threw it fiercely to the ground.
Yingwu exclaimed: Help!!!
She hurriedly lunged to catch it.
"My lady."
Shen Hua was furious: "I don’t want it anymore."
I don’t want the jade pendant, nor do I want you!
In the dark, Ying Yi was terrified: !!!
Meanwhile, inside the room, Ying Shi continued with his emotionally charged performance.
Hearing the familiar voice, Cui Yun’s eyes trembled sharply, the teacup in his hand fell down, crashing to the floor, tea splashing and soaking the hem of his clothes, yet he remained unaware. He strode outside and directly pushed open the door.
Before Shen Hua could turn around to leave, her waist was grabbed, the world spun around, and she was taken inside the house.
The door of the room continued to close.
Ying Yi exhaled a breath of relief and, without a second word, knocked out the people sent by Luo Chengdong.
"My lady, why didn’t you inform me beforehand?"
In the eyes of Ying Wu, he still saw the lady with her red-rimmed eyes. She felt pity, she was protective, she even forgot who the true master was.
"Is the lady of Hengzhou City unable to come?"
"If I had informed you, how could you have encountered such a scene?"
"Who is inside the house? It seems I have seen the wrong person; how could my lord... hmph."
Ying Yi covered her mouth.
The room became unusually quiet.
Shen Hua stared at him without blinking.
Cui Yun’s heart clenched: "My clothes are still properly on me, don’t think nonsense."
"I! Don’t! Believe! You! You just didn’t have time to undress, that’s all."
The girl fixed her gaze on the corner of the room at Nanxiang.
She stood very straight.
But the words she spoke were laced with thorns.
"Indeed beautiful. No wonder the Marquis changed his heart."
Cui Yun looked at her intently.
"Look to the left."
"Why should I listen to you?"
Shen Hua: "I—"
Cui Yun raised his hand, turning her body to the left.
The girl’s perspective included a person she had overlooked.
"This is Ying Shi, he is extremely skilled in ventriloquism and disguise."
Shen Hua choked: "You have your Shadow Guards, you think you’re so great."
"I’m telling you this to convey to you that I have never been alone with another."
Shen Hua’s emotions were already brewing.
And then he tells her, this was just a misunderstanding.
She pursed her lips, stubbornly turned back, and stared straight at Nanxiang.
Nanxiang continued to tremble with fear.
Cui Yun turned her back to face himself.
His thin lips moved slightly, now his tone was calm, seemingly addressing Ying Shi and the others.
"Are you not leaving yet? Should I invite you to?"
Ying Shi and Nanxiang sprinted away.
When only the two of them were left in the room, Cui Yun then spoke again: "Coming to Qin Chu Pavilion was not my desire."
Shen Hua did not look at him: "Who knows."
"For all you know, the Marquis might be secretly delighted."
Cui Yun: "I am not a man of loose morals."
Shen Hua was at a dead end: "Who knows!"
"Words are always easy to say. Even villains claim they are the kindest at heart."
"I have fallen for a lady, and have pledged my life to her. I wish only to attend to her alone in this lifetime, to marry her, to sleep together at night, and to wake up to see her in the morning. My heart is small, it can only hold one, and I want only her."
"You must not wrongly accuse me in this matter. I am purely innocent and cannot be sentenced to death."
Shen Hua: "Nice words are easy to say."
Cui Yun narrowed his eyes.
The room grew quiet again.
Shen Hua’s temper flared up once more.
"I am different. Not long ago, I also pledged my life to someone, yet I have often broken such commitments."
"Why aren’t you speaking?"
Cui Yun was silent for a moment.
"I’ll take a moment, then I’ll coax you."
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