Chapter 359: Chapter 358: What Deep Hatred Is This?
After speaking, she leisurely gazed towards Xiheng Wei on the wheelchair far away, her eyes pensive.
The girl’s lips curved up slightly.
Xie Xun knew he shouldn’t stay long. When leaving, his eyes met Cui Yun’s, and from each other’s gaze, they read four words.
—Playing right into the hands.
By severing the arm that committed evil, the pain would remind them of the wound deep in the bones.
In just 15 minutes, Ji Huo had run over three times.
The first time.
"Shen, let’s stir things up!"
The second time.
"Why are you still drinking tea? Surely the Cui family wouldn’t be short of tea leaves, would they?"
The third time, he knocked on the desk in front of Shen Hua. Leaving behind what he believed to be a handsome silhouette, he strode toward the man in the blue robe.
Seeing this, Shen Hua looked over.
Cui Yun’s voice rang in her ear.
"Zhao Family’s son, to be appointed Dean at the Imperial College."
Shen Hua understood then.
This was the man who had caught Zhu Zhu Wei’s eye.
Heartless and focused, she watched intently.
Ji Huo sat down in front of Zhao Wu, glancing at him: "What are you dazing for, pour the tea."
Zhao Wu: ...
He hastily stood up, archaically saluting Ji Huo: "Princely Heir."
As a regular of the entertainment venues, Ji Huo gestured with his hand for him to sit, "Just now, I saw you and that concubine daughter from the Wei Family exchanging glances. It truly corrupts morals."
The blush tinted Zhao Wu’s face, but he busily replied, "Princely Heir may not know, but my relationship with Miss Wei is nearing a happy conclusion. She is gentle and quiet, and I am very satisfied."
"I couldn’t help but steal a glance or two."
He even boldly added, "Now, she is already the legitimate second lady of the Minister of Industry Mansion. I hope, Princely Heir, considering our work together, that you would not humiliate her thus."
Ji Huo replied, "Gentle and quiet?"
He scoffed, "Are you blind?"
He slightly gestured towards Shen Hua behind him.
"If you say she is gentle and quiet, I might just barely bring myself to believe that."
"Brother Zhao, both of us are in the Imperial College, colleagues at that. Recently, I borrowed 500 taels from you, naturally I cannot watch you jump into a pit of fire."
Zhao Wu’s expression tightened, "What do you mean by this?"
"I know your mother has been lingering in illness for a long time, and the Zhao Family wishes for you to marry and thereby bring joy. "
Ji Huo intoned rhythmically, "But with someone like Zhu Zhu Wei, you might want to inquire around. Perhaps the moment she steps through the door, the joy won’t manifest, and your mother would be gone."
"Would you dare to marry such a girl?"
He rebuked, "Unfilial son!"
Meanwhile, prompted by the Princess’s hint, Miss Tang from the Tang Family suggested, "The weather is perfect. Would the sisters like to stroll in the garden? The flowers in the pond are all in bloom."
A chorus of agreements arose.
A group of girls, smiles graceful, surrounded Ji Shimin.
In her nobility, Ji Shimin approached Shen Hua: "Miss Shen, why don’t you join us, and take this opportunity to allow me to personally entertain you."
She knew Shen Hua was difficult to handle and if she didn’t go, Cui Yun here couldn’t forcibly make her. Thus, she had painstakingly thought up a bellyful of reasons, yet unexpectedly, Shen Hua agreed readily.
"Alright then."
The girl stood up: "Sitting too long indeed, a walk would do good."
Ji Shimin felt something was amiss.
But she had already successfully taken the first step, hadn’t she?
The thrill left her feeling exhilaratingly refreshed.
She smiled, "Then let us go."
At that moment, Cui Yun set down his teacup. Deep gazes focusing on Shen Hua, filled with an undeniable sense of safety and belonging, he advised, "Have a good time."
"Will do!"
Along the artificial hill, Shen Hua could feel the gazes of the other girls occasionally falling upon her.
As she walked, suddenly, her steps halted.
Ji Shimin, "What’s wrong?"
Shen Hua, "I’m tired of walking, suddenly don’t feel like moving any further."
Everyone exchanged looks, their gazes instinctively turning to Ji Shimin.
Ji Shimin: ... If you don’t move, how will this play go on?
Shen Hua coyly postured, "The hairpin on the Princess’s head is quite nice, if I wore it, perhaps I’d be motivated to walk a few more steps."
This Hairpin! It was her first time wearing it!
The most expensive jewelry from top to bottom.
Ji Shimin’s expression soured. But in the end, she gritted her teeth and took it off.
"If you like it, I’ll give it to you."
Shen Hua took it in her hand, and as she walked forward, she casually played with it and then suddenly stopped.
Ji Shimin was a bit annoyed, "What else do you want?"
Really hasn’t seen the world!
Shen Hua pointed at the bracelet on her wrist.
Ji Shimin felt somewhat uneasy.
So you’re choosing the expensive ones, huh! The tribute Hetian jade, flawless. It’s no ordinary item!
"Here, take it!"
Shen Hua smiled: "The Princess is truly generous."
A moment later, she stopped again.
"Are you not done yet!"
Shen Hua glanced at her: "I had just finished praising your generosity."
Everyone was frightened into breathing lightly.
Then, they watched with wide eyes as Shen Hua turned her head to ask Yingwu.
"Do you like it?"
"I do."
Shen Hua directly placed the hairpin and bracelet on Yingwu.
"Then it’s yours now."
Yingwu: !!!
She had thought about picking up jewelry but never thought about snatching it.
She felt no pressure, only the heavy dizziness of happiness, under everyone’s gaze, her expressionless face broke into a smile, the bracelet was placed on her wrist, and the hairpin was pinned in her hair.
Ji Shimin frowned.
Shen Hua laughed: "This reward you gave me is now mine. I believe the Princess wouldn’t mind how I dispose of it."
"...I don’t mind."
Once they reached a small pond, Ji Shimin finally breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing that Yingwu was skilled in martial arts, she was thinking about ways to send her away when she heard Yingwu fiddling with her sleeves.
"My lady, I forgot to bring your medicine pills."
Shen Hua: "Then go fetch them."
"Yes."
Ji Shimin watched Yingwu leave.
Everything was progressing too smoothly.
This was the perfect opportunity.
Miss Tang: "There’s a bridge ahead, recently built. The best place to enjoy the scenery is there."
Thus, a group of people with ulterior motives went onto the bridge.
The conspiracy finally began to unfold.
It’s unclear who stepped on whom, or who tripped, but suddenly there was chaos on the bridge.
"Don’t push, I can barely stand."
"My hairdo is ruined. Who bumped into me?"
"Hey, are you blind? I said don’t push."
Soon, someone was shoved.
Splash went the water, stirring up a great splash.
The noble ladies, under Ji Shimin’s cue, all began to cry out in alarm.
"Someone come quick, there’s a person in the water!"
"Save them!"
Li San hurriedly jumped in.
Just as they got on the bridge, a maid with a report of urgency, arrived at the banquet, unabashedly knelt down directly.
"Eldest madam, something terrible has happened. Lady Shen fell into the water."
The scene fell silent.
With Cui Yun leading with a stern face, a swarm of people rushed over quickly.
Just at that moment, Li San pulled someone out of the water.
His complexion wasn’t too good.
Because the person he pulled out was a man. A man with a face covered in pus and rotting wounds, uglier than he was.
A sentence echoed in his ears.
— You must make everyone believe you had an affair with her.
What a deep grudge this must be.
So, holding back his disgust, he cracked a cry while holding the unconscious Xiheng tightly.
"You can’t let anything happen to you, what would I do if something happened!"
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