Chapter 282: Chapter 282: It Hurts! Hurry, Blow on It for Him!
The Governor’s wife and the Duchess Wei spoke with each other intimately. As for how much was sincere and how much was pretense, that was beyond discernment.
Wei Xiheng felt nothing but extreme satisfaction towards the ever so composed Yan Mi.
He only hated that his face could not be healed.
How could he endure a lifetime behind a mask, when even looking in the mirror disgusted him!
A bunch of quacks!
Because of this, his temper grew worse day by day, and his anger found no outlet, resulting in the frequent beating and scolding of the servants around him.
Yan Mi’s eyebrows knitted slightly. Without looking at Wei Xiheng, she instead turned her head slightly to gaze at Shen Hua who was looking at her from not far away.
Shen Hua stood there tenderly and gently. When their eyes met, the girl tilted her head slightly and a shallow smile appeared.
Her look back at Yan Mi was somewhat complicated.
Did Yan Mi fancy the true Xie Xun, or Shen Zhi?
No matter which one it was, brother’s affection belonged to Sister Xiao. Even if she were married, he could not bear to forget her.
The love of youth and unrequited longing are the most lethal. Some might spend a lifetime reminiscing about it.
Yan Mi also curved her lips into a smile in response to Shen Hua.
Wei Xiheng had not expected that Yan Mi’s smile directed at him could be so beautiful!
His heart trembled, and even after leaving with Duchess Wei, he couldn’t forget that brief, dazzling glimpse.
The Governor’s wife had been paying attention to Yan Mi all along. Now she followed Yan Mi’s line of sight.
She clearly remembered Shen Hua.
Last time, Shen Hua, Wei Yingying, Ji Huo, and that group of people recklessly barged into her Governor Mansion. They injured her son and even caused a stir that reached the ears of the officials. Because of this, she had specifically looked into Shen Hua’s background.
Seeing her again, how could she be pleased?
Suddenly, she spoke aloud, "Is a cousin of humble status also worth your concern?"
This girl indeed had some ability; relying on her face, she had actually cajoled Marquis Cui, the man of highest gentlemanly grace, to bring her to the hunting grounds?
His favor from the Emperor is indeed strong, but what kind of place is this? Could the elders of the Marquis Yangling Mansion really tolerate his unruliness?
If Yan An dared to do this, she would not have kept such a cousin in the house, she would’ve surely dealt with her early on.
In this regard, Xuan Shuyu could never compare with her.
"How many times does Mama have to tell you? Your status is noble, and every word and action must not disgrace the Yan Family. I don’t want you to have any further contact with that Wei girl who cannot turn her situation around, let alone this one?"
Noble status?
Yan Mi had heard enough of this phrase.
Yet, ironically, she who held the highest status was treated like an object and sold to the Duke Wei Mansion. The term was truly contradictory.
"Mama..."
She had just begun to speak when the Governor’s wife coldly cut her off.
"Do not bring up words I do not wish to hear, lest you cause Mama concern."
She raised her hand and adjusted the hairpin in Yan Mi’s hair.
"Good child, you are obedient."
"Only if you obey, can I continue to turn a blind eye to your monthly trips to the bank. Isn’t that right?"
This sentence completely seized Yan Mi’s weak spot.
Her face turned pale.
"Mama says that is so."
These words between the two naturally could not reach Shen Hua’s ears. Just as she sensed something was amiss with Yan Mi, Cui Yun approached.
"There is a lake not far from here, where the Seventh Prince and others are fishing. Do you want to join in the fun? The Emperor has had little appetite these days, and dinner must be served promptly according to the tastes of the royalty in the palace. It’s much colder here than in Shengjing. The snow on the mountain has not melted yet. The food delivered later is likely to be cold."
Shen Hua understood: "Of course, I shall go."
She really loved eating fish.
Especially stolen fish.
————
The setting sun sank, leaving a brilliant expanse of twilight glow. It reflected on the surface of the lake, framing a mesmerizing tableau.
The cool breeze whistled, and Shen Hua wrapped herself tighter in mink fur, feeling once again the ’winter days of Shengjing’.
Over there, Ji Huo was ridiculing unabashedly: "After riding for two days, one doesn’t even dare to face his own wife. You might avoid it for a moment, but not forever. In the coming days, you’ll have to share a tent with the Princess."
"I am willing to shelter you, but—"
Ji Ge could no longer bear to listen.
"Who’s desperate? Even if you beg me, I wouldn’t be willing to go over there."
These days, Emperor He has been repeatedly urging him to spread his seeds far and wide, could he still run off to someone else’s tent?
He had already discussed it with Le Jia, he would be sleeping on the floor.
After a long while without a single fish biting, Ji Huo couldn’t help but become impatient: "Don’t talk and distract me, and keep some distance from me too."
"Who can you blame if you lack the skill?"
Ji Ge bragged with eyebrows dancing, "This fishing technique, you really ought to learn from me. Of course, I won’t teach you."
That statement was truly arrogant.
Shen Hua almost suspected that Ji Ge’s bucket was full.
She approached to look at Ji Huo’s bucket.
Not a single fish.
Utterly useless.
Then she looked at the bucket by the previously boisterous Ji Ge. There was one fish, but it wasn’t even as long as her pinky finger.
Not much better.
Disgusted, Shen Hua stepped back a few paces and bumped into Cui Yun’s chest. Without thinking, the girl turned around, and her forehead heavily knocked into his jaw.
Shen Hua clumsily touched her forehead, her face twisting in pain as she anxiously asked with filial concern, "Cousin, are you hurt?"
"What are you two doing! As if no one else is here! Show some decency!" Ji Huo looked over and saw the two sticking together, an eyesore to behold, and couldn’t help feeling annoyed.
Cui Yun didn’t pay any attention to him.
"It doesn’t hurt."
That was what he said to Shen Hua.
Shen Hua was relieved: "That’s good then."
Cui Rong watched Shen Hua deliberately throwing herself into the arms of another, his face seriously stern.
"Your forehead is all red, do you think my uncle is hurting?"
"He is hurt! Blow on it for him quickly!"
"For the trouble you caused, you should pay for it! My uncle is not someone you can just bump into for free."
Ji Huo was no longer angry.
The fishing rod in Ji Ge’s hand dropped to the ground.
Even Ji Teng, who had been fishing silently in the distance, couldn’t help but turn his head to look over.
Cui Yun’s brow furrowed slightly. Before he could speak a word of reprimand, he saw Shen Hua’s eyes light up with joy.
Cui Yun felt troubled.
He could see Shen Hua’s eagerness.
As he moved his lips, ready to tactfully decline, a gentle voice came from behind him.
"How could she, a girl, do such a thing? If Marquis Cui doesn’t mind, I could take over the task."
Shen Hua’s eyes shone brightly as she looked at Xie Xun, resisting the urge to rush over to him.
Ji Teng’s hand trembled, scaring away the fish that was about to bite.
Ji Ge held his breath in shock.
That’s when Ji Huo jumped up, as if there wasn’t enough commotion: "Since it can’t be me, then let them fight! Give it your all, Xie Xun! I bet you’ll win!"
The words of Xie Xun were really grating on the ears.
Cui Yun revealed a smile as if he heard something extremely laughable, extracted a Jade Bottle, dipped his finger in the ointment, and carefully spread it on the red spot on Shen Hua’s forehead.
Shen Hua winced in pain, her body leaning back.
"Don’t move."
Cui Yun’s hand holding the Jade Bottle secured her shoulder, "This little bottle cost dozens of precious herbs, it took Ni Kang a whole three years just to collect them. It’s extraordinarily effective."
Shen Hua stopped moving.
The pain on her forehead seemed to be lessening.
Shen Hua instructed him, "Then apply a bit more."
The interaction between the two appeared as if no one else could interrupt.
Cui Yun responded quietly. After finishing, he finally turned around with a light smile to look at Xie Xun.
"Heir Xie jests. With what status could you take over this task?"