Chapter 383: Chapter 392: Now Tell Me, What Did You Do Wrong?
Wang Xu went to see Cui Yun again.
Ji Qing stepped forward to report: "My lord, as per your instructions, the night prowler from the escort service has been sent to the government office."
As the girl’s silhouette vanished from sight, Cui Yun’s expression faded, his response cool and detached.
"Hmm."
Once back in her room, Shen Hua couldn’t help but let the corners of her mouth curl upwards. She even gave an uncontrollable little hop.
Fearing being seen, Shen Hua quickly raised her hand to straighten her mouth back into a line.
The candlelight inside the room was burning brightly.
After the dinner was over, Yicui began clearing away the bowls and dishes.
"Madame, regarding the Marquis—"
She had just started to speak.
Shen Hua’s eyes shone clearly and brightly: "What did you say?"
Yicui fell silent.
"The servant will fetch some hot water. Madame, you have been traveling a long way. You should bathe and rest early, as tomorrow you need to rise early."
After Yicui left, it wasn’t long before a respectful knocking could be heard from outside.
Shen Hua, who was selecting clothes to change into, asked upon hearing the sound: "Who is it?"
"Madame, it’s your subordinate."
It was Ji Qing’s voice.
Shen Hua paused in her actions: "What’s the matter?"
"Madame, your subordinate has heard that the upper room next door is still vacant, therefore I boldly inquire whether the lord may reside there?"
Shen Hua picked out a light pink garment.
She leaned against the couch.
In the past few days, her chest felt uncomfortably tight. It seemed that the time would soon come for these clothes to be too small, and she would need to have some new ones made.
"If he really wants to stay, could I even stop him?"
She spoke with irritation.
Yet, Ji Qing spoke very tactfully.
"If Madame is unwilling, the lord naturally would not dare."
Shen Hua: ...
She didn’t believe a word of it.
But she knew it was characters like Ji Qing that easily wooed wives.
The night Cui Yun told her to keep her distance, he dared a lot.
Shen Hua, who was petty from a young age, could remember it for a lifetime.
She remained silent, and after waiting for a moment, Ji Qing did not hear any response from inside, so he quickly left.
Shen Hua pricked up her ears but did not hear any noise of doors opening in the next room. She frowned slightly.
Could it be he really isn’t staying?
She had prepared a shared room for each person coming from Hengzhou.
Shen Hua tip-toed towards the door, bringing her ear close to the front, and after a moment of silence, she no longer heard the sounds of the corridor.
She opened the door and peered her head out, looking around for a while.
Soon, she felt this posture was not proper or dignified.
The girl quickly closed the door again.
Once Nanny Cheng and another had carried up the hot water, Yicui adjusted the temperature. She added petals and, as usual, dropped in some essential oils.
Shen Hua, taking off her outer robe, said: "The tea delivered had no leaves, only dust."
When she was thirsty, she took a sip and didn’t touch it again.
Yicui hurriedly said: "The servant has brought scented tea. I’ll make a pot for Madame right away."
After she left, Shen Hua, feeling tired, quickly finished bathing and, holding her clothes, walked around the screen only to see that the window originally closed was now half open.
She was about to close it.
Just then, she heard the sound of water being poured behind her. Shen Hua turned around, thinking it was Yicui.
Cui Yun put down the teacup, with an unaffected expression: "Finished washing?"
Shen Hua was startled, and the clothes she was holding dropped to the floor.
Seeing this, Cui Yun put down his teacup and slowly stepped forward.
He bent down to pick up the outer robe and waistband, then the small garment as well.
Shen Hua’s gaze slowly landed on the small garment, embroidered with the delicate flowers of begonia.
The last time she was drunk, she showed Cui Yun the small garment. Stumbling, she said it was water green, to which he corrected that it was sprout green.
Back then she was dying of embarrassment, but now, the girl didn’t find anything amiss.
Her small garment had been handled by Yicui, touched by Ningzhu, and even by Nanny Cheng.
Cui Yun touching it didn’t really count as anything.
Although Shen Hua had yet to forgive him, she couldn’t help but ask.
"Does it look nice?"
Cui Yun’s fingertips grazed it, feeling the silky fabric and fine craftsmanship, yet the touch could not compare to a fraction of the girl’s. He looked at Shen Hua with the gaze of a gentleman.
"I haven’t seen you wear this one before, so I wouldn’t know."
"That bright red robe of yours really brings out your complexion."
His voice was lazy and casual, as if afraid Shen Hua wouldn’t realize, he didn’t forget to drop a hint.
"It’s the one you took off me the other night."
Shen Hua: ...
You even dare to mention that night!
She tried to keep her smile.
"If you want to see it, just say so, no need to beat around the bush. If you really like it, then it’s yours."
Cui Yun chuckled lightly: "I know that after I leave for Hengzhou, I won’t know when I’ll return, but you shouldn’t give me your robe and make me think of you when I take it out at night."
"My lady."
Yicui entered, carrying a teapot in her hand.
She made the tea herself, which took a while.
"In this remote mountain forest, the servant heard there might be flying insects at night, so I brought the mosquito net as well, to keep you from being disturbed during your rest."
She was very thoughtful. Yet the first thing she saw was Cui Yun, with the Marquis holding the undergarment that the lady had changed out of in his hand.
Yicui’s voice became lower and lower, almost unable to maintain her smile.
She thought... she probably came at an inappropriate time.
Cui Yun appeared indifferent. He tucked the undergarment into his sleeve and sat down in front of the wooden bench to continue drinking tea.
The taste of the tea was not good, but he was clearly not picky.
"Come in."
Dizzy, Yicui set down the teapot and quickly spread out the mosquito net. After doing these things, she hurriedly retreated and didn’t forget to close the door behind her.
Shen Hua was indeed tired.
Her tone was stiff: "You’re drinking from the teacup I used."
Cui Yun’s temper was good: "Do you want it back then?"
Why don’t you say you’ll give me the undergarment back along with it!
Shen Hua had a belly full of anger, as if she could argue with Cui Yun all night.
"Do you know who that young man in blue is?"
Shen Hua found it hard to explain: "I think we should have an argument first."
Although it’s said that couples make up at the end of a bed they fight in, Shen Hua felt she couldn’t reconcile with Cui Yun.
She just wanted to argue.
Then kick him out.
"His surname is Wang. If I remember correctly, the Magistrate of Fengzhou is also surnamed Wang," Cui Yun said.
Shen Hua was furious: "I don’t care if his surname is Wang or Cui, even if he took my surname Shen, it wouldn’t matter to me."
The girl was willing to give Cui Yun another chance.
She just had a bath, her apricot eyes still moist: "Tell me, where did you go wrong?"
Cui Yun picked up a cotton cloth, covered Shen Hua’s head with it, and started to dry her.
He pondered how to start.
The girl playfully tugged at his face, stubbornly looking up at him.
"So tell me, where did you go wrong?"
He was helpless: "I was at the Ministry of Justice yesterday, and came here when I was free. I haven’t eaten all day and only just had some noodles."
Shen Hua pursed her lips: "You know that’s not what I’m asking about, stop wiping."
Cui Yun looked at her intently.
"Fine."
His figure was tall and slender as he walked towards the screen.
The water was still warm, used by the girl, carrying a strong fragrance of flowers.
Cui Yun didn’t ask anyone to replace it and prepared to use it directly.
He turned his head to look at the astonished girl.
"Wait for me on the bed. I’ll explain everything slowly after I wash up."
Why should she wait?
Shen Hua just frowned.
"Explain now!"
Dark emotions swirled in Cui Yun’s eyes, and in the next moment, he pulled her in front of him, ignoring the girl’s objection, he took her hand and slid it down from his chest.
Fingertips lightly grazed over the fabric.
"I’ve thought it over, and there’s no way to explain this matter."
Guiding her hand further down.
This...
"Do you feel it?"
"It desires you just as much as I do."