Chapter 418: Chapter 417: How Could I Take What Another Sister Gave?
Course after course of beautifully arranged meals were served, wine poured into decanters. Toasts were made, cups clinked and changed hands.
Before long, the nimble dancing girls, light as swallows, began to whirl, their skirts fluttering; the sounds of strings and bamboo instruments slowly rose.
These were precisely the Yangzhou thin horses raised by Luo Chengdong.
After the dance ended, the dancing girls did not withdraw but stayed to attend to the high officials and nobles.
The distinguished Madams, hiding behind a façade of kindness and generosity, even though they clenched their fists in anger, managed to maintain composure with appropriate smiles.
The status of the official wives on either side remained unshaken.
Luo Chengdong was even worse, disregarding Lady Luo and the Luo Family girl seated by his side, pulling a dancing girl into his embrace and teasing her freely.
"Depraved to the extreme."
Cui Yun’s left hand rested continuously on the girl’s waist. He spoke in a voice only Shen Hua could hear.
"How many people in Shengjing do you think are clean?"
After all, Hengzhou is merely a microcosm. It’s just that the scandals of these people are not covered up.
No sooner had he finished speaking than a Dancer, veiled in a thin shawl, approached gracefully, her voice delicate.
"Allow me to serve Young Master Yang wine and dish out his meal."
Shen Hua realized then; this was a trap, a feast with ulterior motives. Prefect He followed Luo Chengdong’s lead, tempting Yang Yu with the dazzling allure of debauchery.
Beauty, power, and wealth are often the most beguiling. Through the ages, how many have resisted such temptation?
These people, without saying a word, nevertheless made their silent offers clear.
—As long as Yang Yu wishes, he can have it all at his fingertips.
The talent to manipulate people’s hearts is deep and harmful.
The smile on the girl’s lips faded, becoming fainter. In just a moment, she thought quite a lot.
Good officials like Zhou Zhangping, however, ended up clinking in jail. His subordinates, amidst overwhelming corruption, had no choice but to seek refuge with Prefect He if they wanted to protect themselves.
Cheating in the civil examinations, forming cliques for selfish gains.
The path to advancement for the poor was blocked; even failing to rank in the exams, the rightful places were already occupied by others.
In the end, a group of incompetents became the masters.
Those with positions neglected their duties.
Apart from Hengzhou, what about other places?
I’m afraid it’s the same everywhere.
The once mighty Da Qi, its might now exhausted. The current peace is nothing but a dying ember under a façade of tranquility.
Her gaze dropped slightly, her expression inscrutable.
The Dancer gave a soft smile: "Young Master Yang, please try this cherry meat dish."
Shen Hua snapped back to the moment, her look seemingly amused.
"Truly blessed with good fortune."
In her hand, she held a wine cup, half-drunk, which was promptly taken by someone else.
There were faint traces of lipstick on the cup, which Cui Yun casually pressed to his lips and drank with a slight tilt of his head.
"Indeed."
"Feeling jealous?"
The girl couldn’t help but rub her burning ears.
Cui Yun said with a gentle voice, "Since you are pregnant, the first three months are most crucial. It’s better to avoid alcohol."
With that, he placed the cherry meat in Shen Hua’s bowl: "Eat it."
"How could I take what was given by another sister?"
Seeing she was about to object, Cui Yun directly fed her. This achieved her silence. The girl’s mouth pouted as she chewed the cherry meat, her little tongue peeking out to lick the sweet and sour sauce off her lips, yet she couldn’t forget to give a coquettish ’hmph’.
After eating the cherry meat, she glanced at the Dancer.
"Come here."
The Dancer, intent on seducing Yang Yu, paused in confusion.
Shen Hua patted the spot beside her.
"Come and pick out the fish bones for me."
Shen Hua: "I just love being served by a tender and gentle girl like you."
"Why aren’t you moving?"
"Is it that you’re unwilling?"
"If you can serve Young Master Yang, can’t you serve the Mama of Young Master Yang’s son?"
Three consecutive questions.
Almost baffling the listener.
"Look at the mess you’ve made!" Prefect He rebuked in a low voice.
Luo Chengdong’s brows were tightly knitted.
The thin horses he raised were all healthy and slim, never having caused any trouble before.
But Luo Chengdong couldn’t vent his anger on Shen Hua, for she was born with such ethereal beauty.
"It is my dereliction of duty," he admitted.
"With someone like Yang Yu as her young man, being the honored guest at Qin Chu Pavilion, and having such a gem before us, I’m afraid..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he saw Yang Yu’s lips move. The Dancer reluctantly stood up and went to sit next to Shen Hua, resigned to pick faults.
Shen Hua held her chin high, arrogantly.
"Be thorough with it."
As she spoke, she ingratiatingly smiled at Lady Luo, pretending to be more powerful than she was, "Lady Luo values me so much, she even specially invited me to the Daoist School. If there’s any fault on my part, she will surely hold you to account."
"Lady Luo, what do you say?"
Lady Luo’s smile was almost unable to hold: "Indeed."
Luo Chengdong: ...What sorcery is this!
The seats this time were quite near the front. Without Shen Hua at the very end, this time the Qiu Family ended up in the last place.
He Yuan was clearly distracted while eating.
She was constantly paying attention to the stir at Yang Yu’s side,
Suddenly, the girl looked up as if she sensed something. Meeting her gaze, He Yuan refused to be outdone and didn’t even try to look away. She saw Shen Hua provokingly raise her eyebrows.
"Yu Lang,"
She said deliberately.
"If I give birth to a son, he must be entered into the Yang Family genealogy."
The girl was in no way presumptuous; she was pouting unhappily.
"How is your official wife’s health?"
"Do you think I will live longer, or will she?"
Cui Yun wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief.
"Why bring her up for no reason?"
"You’ve ruined our mood," he retorted.
Shen Hua chuckled lightly: "It is my fault."
Jezebel!
He Yuan’s breathing became unsteady. She was certain that Shen Hua did it on purpose.
But she would never back down from difficulty.
She knew that the wife Yang Yu had married through formal arrangements was chosen by his elders and not after his heart. She also knew that her son, born frail from her womb, was extremely weak.
He naturally had to be dealt with.
The identity of the legitimate eldest son could not be taken away.
After all, if a sickly son died, Yang Yu probably wouldn’t dwell too much on it.
Seeing how dearly Yang Yu cared for Shen Hua, she felt truly unsettled.
He Yuan put down her chopsticks and turned to plead with the person beside her.
"Daddy,"
Prefect He was equally restless.
"Yang Yu."
Cui Yun stood up and bowed to him: "Master He."
"I just got a painting from Master Xu, but I’m not sure if it’s authentic. If you’re free, perhaps you could visit He Residence and take a look for me."
"Yang Yu doesn’t know much about calligraphy and painting."
That statement darkened Prefect He’s face.
The others present were also startled.
If Yang Yu dared to offend Luo Chengdong, how could he dare to offend Prefect He? Not to mention doing business. Isn’t he afraid he won’t be able to leave intact?
Yang Yu cautiously raised his eyes, stealing a glance at Prefect He as if he didn’t dare to look directly at the formidable authority, immediately lowering his head again.
"However, it is my fortune to be invited by the Prefect. To broaden my horizon at He Residence is not something I dare to refuse. I only hope the Prefect won’t be annoyed by my ignorance."
Prefect He gazed steadily at the young man from the Yang Family.
At last he found a good quality, admiring his honesty.
Yang Yu’s visit meant more than the words suggested, the joy in He Yuan’s eyes could not be concealed. She stood at the victorious peak, looking down on Shen Hua.
Shen Hua was willing to satisfy such an unusual whim. As if the sky had fallen, she sadly lowered her head.