Chapter 385: Chapter 394: If He Were to Marry Yangyang, He Would Be More Than Good Enough
After switching to the overland route, they traveled for several more days and finally entered the borders of Fengzhou.
Perhaps it had been too long, but as the girl lifted the cloth curtain with her whitened knuckles, the familiar dialect of her home sounded foreign to her.
Cui Yun held a strand of hair and thought before he said, "I will leave Ying Yi with you."
Shen Hua: "I have enough people by my side already."
Cui Yun was well aware that Xie Xun had placed quite a few people around Shen Hua. So he did not insist.
"The Jade Token from Heir Xie is a personal item; keep it safe and don’t take it out unless absolutely necessary."
"In Fengzhou City, I’ve established my network of informants who are ready to serve at your command, and Yingwu knows how to contact them."
When Xie Xun cautioned her, Shen Hua found him wordy, but as Cui Yun said these words, though they were not yet parted, she felt a tinge of reluctance to let him go.
Suppressing her feelings, she hinted at something meaningful: "If one rides quickly, Hengzhou is but two days away from Fengzhou via horseback."
Come and visit me when you have the time!
She was being quite subtle.
Of course, Cui Yun understood her, but going to Hengzhou would be under the guise of the legitimate son of the affluent Nanling Yang Family, an identity given by Emperor He that came with all necessary documents for easy travel, more authentic than if they were real. His cover would not be blown.
An arduous battle it would be indeed, as he would have to continue to investigate while finding ways to mingle with Hengzhou officials under his new identity.
In the past, it took him years to bring those within the Ministry of Justice to heel. Naturally, the ebb and flow of the bureaucratic world meant his current tactics and strategy couldn’t compare to the past, but he had also become more discreet over the years.
One cannot be too sharp.
Often, cases that could be solved in a month, he would intentionally delay for an extra half a month.
This time would be no exception.
Before gaining their trust, he knew many would be watching him closely. While he had a thousand ways to conceal his tracks, it was better to be cautious in the end.
"Shen Hua."
He did not respond but simply curved his lips, speaking in a measured tone.
"You really ought to restrain yourself a bit."
"I haven’t left yet. Are you already looking forward to the next time?"
"What if it’s a long time before you see me? Wouldn’t you miss me terribly?"
Shen Hua glared at him.
"Then when are you leaving?"
The smile on Cui Yun’s face faded slightly: "I can’t afford to delay. I must leave tomorrow."
"If anything comes up, just send a message through Yingwu."
As he spoke, he hung a Jade Pendant on the girl’s waist.
"This jade, my sister-in-law also has one," Shen Hua quickly recognized.
"Hmm."
"Bestowed by the late Emperor, brother had one, and I had one. When brother got married, he used it for the betrothal."
Shen Hua understood.
She restrained herself from smiling too broadly.
"Not letting me use brother’s Jade Token, you were plotting this all along. First it was First-tier Sky, then Yifeng Hall, and now a gift from the late Emperor. Cousin, you’re really willing to part with it. Aren’t you afraid that I’ll turn my back on you in the end and deny everything?"
It had been a long time since Cui Yun heard the term ’Cousin’.
Especially the way she said it with such an affectionate smile.
For a moment, he reminisced.
"Afraid."
Shen Hua didn’t expect him to say that and was momentarily taken aback.
Cui Yun fastened the Jade Pendant, then gently smoothed the folds of the girl’s dress. His eyes deepened, as if filled with flurries of snow, and he openly and boldly began to speak.
"Afraid that you’re heartless and unfeeling, so I can only offer these mundane gifts. If you dare to accept them, then I dare to give them, without emptying the family chest."
The girl was always somewhat clueless, and it was his despicable attempt to drag her into the sea of desire.
He could have easily deceived her, taken advantage of her naiveté, and had her body, but he did not.
In this regard, the girl was like a blank sheet of paper.
He was harsh to everyone, including himself, but he just couldn’t bear to be the same with Shen Hua. He didn’t want her to prematurely experience romance for fear of harming her, nor did he want to take advantage of her before marriage.
Supporting Ji Teng was indeed a must, as his grandfather had said.
But if something happened to him.
At least...
He could leave a way out for the girl.
Shen Hua was always the type to seize an opportunity: "Just how many assets do you actually own?"
The competitive spirit made her compare incessantly: "Do you have more or do I have more."
Cui Yun was well aware of her properties and didn’t hide it: "Me."
Shen Hua: ???
She thought about the exorbitant prices at First-tier Sky, and how the embroidery from Yifeng Hall sold for double the price, yet there was still a crowd eager to buy. Similarly, there was an allure that kept her spending more and more money.
But it couldn’t have been that much!!!
Perhaps guessing her thoughts, Cui Yun’s voice was indifferent, but his words were merciless.
"Not just Yifeng Hall and First-tier Sky."
"Weizhen is not talented, those years I spent recuperating I only focused on making money."
Shen Hua: ??? She widened her eyes in shock.
But Cui Yun struck her another blow.
"In recent years I’ve relaxed quite a bit, but the shopkeepers I’ve personally chosen are quite capable, and nearly a third of the rented shops on the streets of Shengjing City are under my name."
All were used anonymously, of course.
Outside Shengjing City, there were also involvements.
His chosen shopkeepers handle everything, with Ying San managing all the appearances. Over the years, through expansion and more expansion, the branch businesses have also been doing extremely well.
Shen Hua was momentarily annoyed, but soon she thought it through. A girl only splurges and feels not even a hint of shame.
She poked Cui Yun’s hem with her fingertips.
"Yours is mine."
"Hmm, one must show sincerity in providing for the most cherished girl."
This day, he indulged the girl in every way.
Shen Hua couldn’t stop feeling smug, but when the carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain, her fair little face fell again.
Cui Yun dismounted, then lifted the girl out, her skirts layering over each other, casting a beautiful arc in the air.
"I nearly forgotten how my Mama was buried at that time."
All she remembered were the tears falling one by one, clutching the fresh earth and scattering it over the coffin.
A line of people walked up the mountain path.
A fine rain like cotton started to float in the air, and Cui Yun held an umbrella, gently supporting the girl’s waist to prevent her from slipping.
Shen Hua still felt her eyes redden as she came to this place.
"Why is there ash from burning?"
Shen Hua frowned slightly, then noticed at the side where Shen Zhi’s grave was, there were traces of burnt paper money.
Upon hearing this, Cui Yun looked around and his gaze fell on Shen Wei’s grave at the very edge, where there was none.
"Most likely the embroidery lady came by a few days ago."
Shen Hua responded listlessly.
She lit the Fire Stick, burning all kinds of paper money.
Among them, many gold ingots were folded by her hand during the journey.
Yicui and the rest watched from a distance.
The flames rose.
She lifted her hand and touched the letters on the tombstone. Very lightly she said,
"Mama, brother didn’t die, he is very impressive now."
The writing was carved by her, very unsightly.
Her peripheral vision never once lingered on Shen Wei’s grave nearby.
Cui Yun offered up stacks of fruits and pastries.
He heard the girl speak in an even softer voice,
"He is your future son-in-law."
"Mama, have a look."
That was the dependency and playful charm the girl only showed in front of her biological mother.
"If he were to be matched with Yangyang, then that would be more than enough."
Cui Yun chuckled softly to himself.
Hearing this chuckle, Shen Hua immediately fell silent.
She did not know how long she had learned, but she turned her head towards the respectfully kneeling Cui Yun who was mysteriously burning paper money and said,
"My Mama says, you’ve picked up a treasure."
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