Chapter 410: Chapter 409: You Have to Treat Me Like a Queen
Cheng Courtyard was originally a wealthy merchant’s residence in Hengzhou City two years ago, which had to be mortgaged due to the family’s decline. Located in the busiest part of Hengzhou City, to say that every inch of land is worth its weight in gold would not be an exaggeration.
The interior decoration and furnishings were still usable.
When Cui Yun was away, he was not a picky person, but now as Yang Yu, he naturally ordered renovations, replacing everything in the residence with new items.
He was the first to alight from the carriage.
Shen Man slowly drew back the curtain and peered out.
Outside Cheng Garden, lanterns hung high, complementing the moonlight that bathed the golden letters on the plaque above the gate, making them clearly visible.
The noble lady looked disdainfully at the hand Cui Yun extended to her, yet she did not place her delicate, pale hand in his.
"How could I trouble my cousin with such a trivial matter?"
She spoke with a sigh.
"However, it’s unfortunate that I have grown taller."
She lifted her skirt, stepping down from the footstool.
The noble lady spared him not a glance, but as she bypassed him, she couldn’t resist deliberately bumping into him. Cui Yun remained unmoved, but she, on the other hand, changed color.
She suddenly looked up at Cui Yun.
The noble lady rubbed her arm, preemptively complaining with incredulous watery eyes, "You hurt me by bumping into me!"
Cui Yun: ...
He knew fully well that Shen Hua’s anger was not easily quelled.
Shen Hua was so enraged that she refused to walk away: "This matter cannot be settled like this."
"Count for yourself, how many times have you made me angry today? Mama said that a son-in-law should be considerate and thoughtful. With the way you are, how could I dare to accept you?"
She naturally hit the nail on the head, making a compelling argument for what should follow.
"You need to reflect and be even nicer to me."
The noble lady was haughty, perhaps because she had been recently praised by prostitutes, compared to goddesses, which she certainly believed. Hence, she spoke bluntly.
"The number of noble ladies wishing to marry you is not small, yet you, being high-minded and aloof, have only taken a fancy to me. Indeed, my appearance is rare to come by, and in terms of talent, learning, feelings, and embroidery skills, I am unmatched by those girls. Clearly, you have an eye for true talent in choosing me. It should be so, as I am gentle and virtuous, with a pure character most suitable to be the wife of the Cui family."
Cui Yun listened to her patiently.
He clasped his hands behind his back, casually gazing at Shen Hua.
"I acknowledge your appearance, but as for talent and learning..."
"Have you forgotten that as soon as you entered the academy, you comfortably settled yourself on a couch, and during the teacher’s teaching, if not napping, then sipping tea and enjoying snacks?"
Shen Hua: ???
Her delicate face creased, clearly reluctant to hear such words. She stared at him directly.
She suppressed her feelings.
Shen Hua did not want to admit it, but the truth was the truth.
Embarrassed and angry, she could only squeeze out a sentence, each word popping out forcefully.
"Are you being reasonable?"
"You rested on the couch because you were not in good health and needed to rest more. Eating tea and snacks was for the same reason. I assume that you would not do so now if you were going to the academy."
No, she would.
She was an ignoramus!
Cui Yun’s voice was particularly cold in the night air, yet it carried an undeniable charm.
"I should not have maligned you."
Shen Hua: ...Good that you know!
Only then did the noble lady step into the house, treading softly in her embroidered shoes.
Before her return, Cui Yun had already spread the word. Now the entire courtyard was brightly lit. On the wide path, a lamp stood every five steps. And every three Zhang, a Luminous Pearl.
The lights were splendid, the paths winding. Pavilions and towers, waterside pavilions, and long corridors decorated the garden like a scenic painting.
Shen Hua’s eyes sparkled.
She kept her composure, but her hands hidden in her sleeves tightly clenched in excitement.
Wuwuwu, this is the place Yangyang deserves to live in!
Indeed, the Tongji Inn was the best inn in Hengzhou, but it couldn’t compare to Cheng Garden in the slightest.
She couldn’t help but start complaining.
"You have no idea how I endured the past few days. Although the inn reserved the best upper rooms, it was just a tiny space, very cramped."
She took a deep breath.
"Even under the mattress, when I reached in, I found a layer of dust!"
She had always enjoyed the finest things in life since childhood.
Yicui, who had always been by her side, knew her mistress’s many quirks. Whenever they stayed outside, Yicui would always clean and wipe the room anew, not sparing even the corners.
The tea set and tea leaves used were all familiar favorites of Shen Hua.
But this time Yicui didn’t come.
Those who came were only Yingwu, skilled in killing, and Xiaoqi, adept at poisoning. Neither were as meticulous as Yicui.
As a result, Shen Hua walked around the room, her delicate demeanor picking apart this and criticizing that.
——No, I want to change rooms. What a lousy inn, it’s dirty everywhere.
——But the subordinates think it’s very clean.
Shen Hua, seeing their disbelief, squatting down, furiously rubbed the underside of the bed with an expensive handkerchief and unfolded it to show them.
——Did I lie to you?
——What a joke, I am not the kind of girl who makes false accusations casually.
She continued to complain.
"Next door, there’s also a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair who visited relatives only to find them not home, constantly quarreling over the most trivial matters. Utterly annoying."
At first, she eavesdropped with great interest.
But the content of their arguments was no different day to day, just the same few issues.
She! She had detected the pattern so well she could recite it from memory!
Several times she even wanted to rush over.
——Can’t you come up with something new? If not, just have a fight!
Speaking of the unpleasant matters, there were simply too many of them, one after another.
The girl didn’t stop chattering away until Cui Yun led her to the bedroom.
"Am I staying here?"
Shen Hua walked in and circled around. Then she approached Cui Yun and asked.
"Mm."
Shen Hua, having received a response, was ready to send him away. Yet unexpectedly, Cui Yun entered, took off his luxurious but ill-suited outer robe, and carelessly placed it on the wooden rack.
Realizing there was no follow-up behind him, he then softly said.
"This is my room."
Usually, sharing a room wasn’t a big deal. Besides, at night when she woke up feeling thirsty, Cui Yun would still attend to her needs and give her water to drink.
But...
At this moment, Shen Hua’s raven-colored lashes trembled fiercely.
"No!"
Seeing Cui Yun turning around leisurely to look at her.
She unconsciously tapped her toes on the floor, slowly drawing a circle. She was exceptionally serious.
"I haven’t finished what I was saying earlier."
"There are some things that I must remind the Marquis about."
He amiably responded, "Mm, you say. I’m listening."
"The line of young men wishing to marry me could extend from Fengzhou City to Hengzhou. You need to treat me even better than before."
She was never a girl prone to overthinking.
But life is never smooth sailing all the way.
She had thought Daddy was a good man, at least he had deep affection for Mama. But she was mistaken. The reality dealt a heavy blow to the noble lady.
Shen Hua depended on Cui Yun.
Thus, during that time at Qin Chu Pavilion, she listened to the noise within, and her emotions churned intensely. She even trembled all over.
Her chest felt as if it had been sliced with a knife.
Only then did she realize belatedly.
She liked Cui Yun much more than she had thought.
Therefore, she feared betrayal.
Her beautiful eyes intently fixed on Cui Yun.
Shen Hua’s lips moved slightly. Her voice kept very low.
"You have to learn to cherish."
"Good girls like me are truly rare. Others would have been secretly delighted."
As she spoke, she fiercely threatened him.
"You must treat me as if I were your ancestor."
"Otherwise, I might really leave you."
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