Chapter 364: Chapter 363: She Was Afraid... Her Eyes Would Suffer
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a chuckle.
Cui Yun slowly stood up, dusting off his ivory-colored round-collared robe embroidered with a subtle bamboo pattern.
Underneath the bedding, Ji Shimin was without a stitch on, yet Wei Xiheng, lying entwined with her, had been dressed in fresh undergarments by the servants.
Shen Hua, upon hearing this, looked over unhappily.
Cui Yun, with all the time in the world, squinted at her and asked lightly, "Who taught you that?"
He then turned to Yingwu, who took Shen Hua’s words as gospel, "Are you also leading the young astray?"
He pulled Shen Hua in front of him, "Such words, do not mention them again in the future. If there’s anything you don’t understand, I will teach you when we are alone."
Shen Hua blinked.
But her curiosity was too strong; she raised her hand to point at the two people on the bed, her tone suggesting a negotiation.
"Can’t you teach me now?"
It was at this moment that Ying Yi hurried in from outside.
"Master, it’s almost time."
Cui Yun lowered his eyes, responded with a nod, and gracefully ended the previous light-hearted sparring between the girls.
Ying Yi understood and stepped forward swiftly.
He rudely lifted up Wei Xiheng, not allowing his gaze to wander up threefold to Ji Shimin, his actions swiftly stripping the man of his clothes.
Shen Hua very conscientiously turned around.
She was afraid... of offending her eyes.
Cui Yun watched her instinctive reaction, and the hand that was about to cover her eyes subtly withdrew. His thin lips moved slightly, "I’m actually relieved."
Shen Hua pursed her lips, not without a hint of pride: "Naturally, I’m quite comforting to people’s minds."
"Besides, it’s not like I have nothing."
"Also, you stripped me completely and I haven’t even seen it. Why bother with someone else?"
Cui Yun listened patiently. With an ambiguous smile, he gazed at her and finally replied, "Miss Shen speaks the truth."
Shen Hua knew to avoid impropriety, but Yingwu did not.
She hadn’t imagined that Ying Yi could remove a man’s clothes with such deftness.
Upon sensing that glance, Ying Yi somewhat obstructed Yingwu’s prying eyes and quickly tucked Wei Xiheng back into the bedding.
Time was pressing, and Cui Yun stepped forward to take out the green and white jade bottle.
Ying Yi hurriedly pried open Wei Xiheng’s mouth.
Cui Yun, as if dealing with a dead man, tossed the medicine pills that melted upon contact into his mouth, one at a time.
The girl’s cursed curiosity once again got the better of her as she drew closer.
"What is the purpose of the white one?"
"To treat leg injuries."
Of course, he didn’t mention that it was only halfway effective, and its results could only last for half a day.
The girl nodded, "And the yellow one?"
"To make him conscious."
Of course, this too was half-finished, part consciousness and part muddled dreaming.
Shen Hua nodded again.
"These medicines must be expensive, right?"
"Hmm."
Isn’t that overly generous to Wei Xiheng?
Just as she finished speaking, Cui Yun poured a dozen black pills into Ji Shimin’s mouth and, stingily, only gave one to Wei Xiheng.
Shen Hua frowned.
Even with her wealth, she couldn’t help but accuse Cui Yun of extravagance.
"At least save some for yourself."
He turned his head to glance at Shen Hua, his voice low and inscrutable, "Miss Shen, rest assured, Weizhen has been practicing Martial Arts since youth; his body is not weak."
He didn’t wait for her to ask further; this time, Cui Yun took the initiative to explain, his voice modest and gentle, "There’s no need for medicines to aid in vigor."
Shen Hua abruptly closed her mouth, no longer speaking.
Cui Yun was not a kind man. Since Ji Shimin had schemed against Shen Hua, death was not too harsh a sentence.
But death is painless compared to the suffering of living people.
This medicine was obtained from Ni Kang.
Indeed expensive, but also extraordinarily nourishing.
"Not coming out yet?" Cui Yun’s voice rose. It had changed from before, now carrying a shock and unexpectedness. The man coldly looked towards the window.
The girl’s eyes widened as she followed Cui Yun’s gaze towards the direction he was looking.
The window was pushed open, and Xiaoqi jumped in.
With an embarrassed smile, she paid her respects to the two of them.
Shen Hua: "When did you get here?"
Cui Yun’s tone was flat: "She has been following since we left the residence."
Shen Hua clenched her fist, annoyed and angry despite her usually calm and composed embroidery technique.
"So she has been outside just now?"
"Indeed."
"Then you still—"
She didn’t finish the sentence, considering there was an outsider present.
Cui Yun’s expression unchanged: "It was you who insisted on summoning me."
Those words... couldn’t be faulted.
Cui Yun put away the empty medicine bottle. He took the girl’s hand and left, stepping over the threshold without turning back, he spoke indifferently: "Aren’t you going to do it?"
Xiaoqi’s eyes gleamed behind him.
Her visit today was also a test by Ji Teng.
Apart from Shen Hua, the martial prowess of these people was above her; they naturally knew she was hiding in the shadows all along. And she hadn’t made any effort to conceal her breath.
It was all up to what Cui Yun would choose.
If Cui Yun didn’t want to get involved with Ji Teng, he would simply complete his task and leave without ever asking her to show herself.
She dared not delay, and as instructed by Ji Teng, she took out the unfinished Buhuo that had been made several years earlier, divided it in half, lit one part, and threw the other part inside the room. Then she left swiftly.
Shortly inside the room, there were sounds that made one’s eyes turn red and hearts race, the bed creaking intensely.
Cui Yun left the Zou Residence with Shen Hua without a trace.
Unable to see what followed, Shen Hua felt dejected, as if devoid of energy, which was quite regrettable. Sitting in an ordinary carriage, the rolling wheels made the ride particularly bumpy.
However, she didn’t complain; instead, she asked about something else at this moment.
"How did Xiaoqi get Buhuo?"
Shen Hua: "My brother he—"
"She is Ji Teng’s person, her specialty is making poison."
Ji Teng was capable. He had never been to Shengjing yet managed to get half-used Buhuo from the Imperial Family, which he then gave to Xiaoqi.
Xiaoqi was even more remarkable; squirreled away inside without eating or sleeping for three days, she drafted a list. Once she had all the necessary materials, it was a continuous cycle of trial and error, adjusting after each failure.
On the seventh attempt, she succeeded. To test its effect, she even used it on herself. Afterwards, she celebrated the accomplishment by changing her name to Xiaoqi.
Shen Hua paused, her anger rising: "That time in the pear garden, was Ji Teng trying to harm me?"
"Yes."
He said indifferently: "He’s not a good person."
"Why would he harm me? I have no quarrel with him!"
Before Cui Yun could reply, Shen Hua found the answer: "I understand now, I saved the little ghost before."
"Did he harm the little ghost before in order to blackmail you?"
Shen Hua paused: "He’s really inhumane."
"He also harmed Wei Yingying. She cried so miserably back then."
Shen Hua took a deep breath, all her thoughts now straightened out: "Buhuo ingredients are extravagantly expensive, showing that he’s not poor, a pity that Wei Yingying was naively saving money for him. Probably one dosage of Buhuo could afford her an entire year of luxurious clothing, pearl hairpins and accessories."
Speaking of which, she felt something was amiss.
"But Buhuo has been around for a long time."
Talking about Ji Teng, his gaze turned complex.
Cui Yun looked down at Shen Hua and simply said: "Buhuo is mostly used by the officials."
With that, his gaze deepened, but he smiled carelessly.
"Today’s matter can be considered one stone three birds."
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