Chapter 419: Chapter 418: Don’t Pity Me Just Because I’m a Delicate Flower
Upon returning to Cheng Garden, dusk was approaching. The setting sun, slanting down, painted half of the sky red with the afterglow of the sunset.
Shen Hua was holding onto Cui Yun’s arm, slowly walking on the flagstone path.
"You paid your respects to him, yet he did not hurry to bid you rise. He was clearly assuming the air of a father-in-law, acting with deliberate importance. Hengzhou, being so distant from the center, Prefect He really puts on quite a show."
"If he knew your true identity, he would probably be scared out of his wits."
A little prefect of one region, might as well act like a local tyrant.
"There will come such a day."
Cui Yun’s voice was very faint, betraying no hint of emotion.
By the time Ji Teng forces a palace coup and takes over that position, all the corrupt officials whom Emperor He dared not deal with will likely undergo a complete purge.
Cui Yun also looked forward to personally receiving Prefect He in the prisons of the Ministry of Justice.
Being matters of the officialdom, Shen Hua did not wish to inquire further, even though she had her suspicions.
She glanced at the sky, then turned her gaze towards Cui Yun beside her. The girl’s impulse to speak, only to halt again, eventually formed into a sentence.
"The matter I came to Hengzhou for has been settled."
The chosen embroidery ladies left early today on the carriage heading for Fengzhou City.
Cui Yun’s dark eyes were solemn, his Adam’s apple shifting uncontrollably as he asked in a low voice.
"When will you leave?"
Shen Hua looked at him with a wistful expression, "Young Master Yang has won Lady He’s favor. It won’t be long before I am doubly betrayed and abandoned."
Someone like He Yuan could never tolerate her.
"To be cast out of the door again."
"That’s when I’ll leave."
However.
"I’ve already thought it through, at that time I will plead bitterly, unable to bear the glory and riches of the Yang Family. You must not drag me down, you must let go of my hand no matter what, and not pity me as a delicate flower. Pretend to push me, so that I might fall to the ground using that momentum. Then before the He Family, pronounce sternly that you, Yang Yu, do not want me anymore!"
Cui Yun was at a loss for words.
He endured it and responded with a shallow nasal sound.
"Hmm."
"Are you going to settle scores with me later in the fall?"
Touched on a sore point, Shen Hua glanced at him resentfully.
"It seems, I wasn’t wrong," Cui Yun said indifferently, staring at her.
Shen Hua’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, "You pushed me away and told me to get lost. How can I be willing to accept that? Even though you are pretending to be Yang Yu, you can’t treat me like this."
Her tone was confident.
"You wronged me."
"Naturally, I will want to vent."
Cui Yun gazed emotionlessly at her.
"It’s time to leave the act."
Shen Hua pursed her lips and stopped holding onto Cui Yun, continuing to walk ahead sullenly. Just as she crossed the threshold, she suddenly turned around.
"Wei Yingying’s bridal sedan should have entered the Third Prince Mansion by now. I even prepared a gift for her. Did you send a congratulatory gift to Ji Teng?"
"I did not."
Shen Hua widened her eyes, "Why not?"
Aren’t you also under the Third Prince’s command!
Cui Yun’s emotions cooled down.
After all, he is but a mortal. And there is no perfect solution.
People fear the anxiety of loss above everything else.
He is no different.
Returning to the true path, for Cui Yun, is in itself a form of cruelty. It’s fair to call him selfish; he has always desired to remain as part of the Cui Family.
He was cowardly enough not to dare contemplate how Cui Xuan would react upon knowing the truth. She probably wouldn’t want to see him anymore.
When the terrible news of Daddy and elder brother’s deaths came, grandmother fell ill and nearly didn’t survive. Even now her health isn’t fully restored, and she is frail.
What would grandma think then?
Would they hate him? Occupying this identity, yet avariciously desiring to replace it?
Facing Shen Hua, all he could do was to laugh softly, exceptionally gentle yet also chillingly distant, "I do not wish to be overly involved with him."
Even if, that entanglement could never be severed.
Meanwhile.
In the Third Prince Mansion of Shengjing.
Ji Teng was dressed in celebratory attire. This was the fifth time he summoned a Hidden Guard, who spoke before Ji Teng could say anything.
"Subordinate estimates that the table Master has not prepared a wedding gift."
"Scram!"
Do you think I need your reminder?
Ji Teng was ultimately disappointed, but it was also within his expectations.
Who made him disrupt Cui Yun’s peace?
While he couldn’t bear it, it was also necessary.
The red silk was hung high, yet the Third Prince’s mansion was quite deserted.
The guests arriving for the banquet were few and far between. Only Xie Xun and the Seventh Prince’s couple were present.
In the bridal chamber, after having drunk the wedding toast, Wei Yingying’s face was flushed red, her first marriage indeed nerve-wracking.
"Le Jia."
"Hmm?"
"How are you and Ji Ge?"
"Don’t think me nosy, but since you’re husband and wife, why do you still sleep in separate rooms?"
Le Jia was taken aback. She had not expected Wei Yingying to ask such a thing, yet she spoke softly, "Husband and wife... can sleep in separate rooms."
"He has his issues, and so do I."
Wei Yingying pondered thoughtfully.
Husband and wife... can sleep in separate rooms?
By the time Ji Teng arrived, Wei Yingying had already fallen asleep at the desk. He walked around the screen and into the inner chamber. Approaching, he placed his hand on Wei Yingying’s shoulder. His gaze, however, fell on Le Jia who was beside her.
Le Jia wore a smile tinged with a lazy charm on her lips; naturally beautiful, her smile shone even brighter now.
She met Ji Teng’s eyes. Her words were no longer hesitant.
"The Third Prince seems to hold Miss Wei from the Wei Family in high regard. She is an interesting person, and rest assured, as sisters-in-law, I will not lay hands on her."
Ji Teng lifted her up.
"The Turkic side, your royal brother has been inquiring about your well-being all this time."
Le Jia’s smile faded completely.
"On such a joyous day, don’t disgust me."
She had no affection whatsoever for that covetous brother.
"Now, the entire Turkic is at the disposal of the Third Prince. Since I have married far away here, the Third Prince should not let me have any entanglements with that side."
"I helped you escape from the Turkic, and I have already dealt with Ji Zhui early on; we are even."
She was unwilling to marry the old Emperor, and even more unwilling to escape from the tiger’s den only to enter a wolf’s lair. Ji Zhui’s gaze towards her was enough to make one’s stomach turn.
But she had never thought that she would end up involved with Ji Ge.
She walked outside.
"The hangover tea has been served."
"Thank you."
As soon as she left, Ji Teng held Wei Yingying up onto the bed. Just when he was about to go to the side room to wash up, someone softly leaned on his shoulder.
"I really feel like throwing up."
She tried hard to recognize the person beside her.
"Who are you?"
"What do you think?"
Wei Yingying: "I can’t recognize you."
She held Ji Teng’s face in her hands and leaned in to look closely.
"Quite handsome."
Wei Yingying held her breath and went for a kiss, followed by a chuckle, "Don’t tell Ji Teng about this thing between you and me."
Ji Teng narrowed his eyes.
"I’m considering sleeping in separate rooms from him."
The drunken girl said, "He’s quite reasonable, he should agree."
"Some time ago, my cousin slept with me, and she snatched all my blankets in the night, leaving me freezing."
"A person like Ji Teng, who is already frail, I would feel guilty if I tried to take back the blankets from him."
She was about to say more, but Ji Teng no longer wanted to listen.
"He will not snatch your blankets."
"How do you know?"
Wei Yingying was furious and challenged him, "Have you shared a bed with him?"
Indeed, Wei Yingying and Shen Hua should not be allowed to spend too much time together.
But... he still wanted to leverage Shen Hua to appease Cui Yun.
Ji Teng thought, he had truly trapped himself in a dead end.
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