Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Gone, All Gone
The next morning arrived, the sky still not fully bright.
Yet Shen Hua had not slept all night, energetically pacing back and forth, choosing skirts.
"Is this one too plain?"
She changed into another one: "How about this cardamom purple?"
"Miss Shen looks beautiful in anything."
Shen Hua, however, was picky: "No, I always feel it’s too old-fashioned."
Ningzhu: "How about the lake blue one?"
Shen Hua: "Not stable enough."
After finally putting on a satisfactory skirt, she sat in front of the copper mirror, meticulously applying makeup, humming a tuneless little ditty. She showed no signs of her tearful, breathless crying in Yicui’s arms the day before.
Yicui suppressed her confusion and did not ask, to avoid further upsetting Shen Hua. She skillfully styled Shen Hua’s hair, inserting the golden hairpin left by Ms. Shen Chun. Thinking about the noble ladies accompanying them, Yicui reminded herself that Miss Shen should not appear too casual lest she be overshadowed by others. She then reached for the pearl flowers in the jewelry box.
"Use this."
Shen Hua handed over the step shake she had held while sleeping the previous night.
"Heir Xie has excellent taste; I will surely look good with this."
Nanny Cheng watched from the side, her heart pounding with fear.
The Marquis is so considerate of Miss Shen, bringing her along to the spring hunt—a privilege rarely accorded to other cousins.
But at this moment, Miss Shen seemed... seemed to be considering a secret rendezvous with Cui Yun.
It didn’t matter, as long as their Miss Shen likes it! That makes him the perfect son-in-law!!!
Once Shen Hua was all dressed up, Cui Yun came over, carrying a sleepy, drowsy Cui Rong.
"Have you had your breakfast?"
Shen Hua: "I have prepared some refreshments."
They were sent by Xie Yinong yesterday, which she hadn’t had time to taste yet.
Cui Yun nodded: "The carriage is waiting outside; we have to leave in fifteen minutes, meeting first in front of the palace gate."
"Ji Qing, go get Miss Shen’s luggage."
"Yes."
Ji Qing, guided by Ningzhu, went to the side chambers. Faced with six large, fully packed trunks, he fell into deep thought and disorder.
Ningzhu: "We originally prepared eight trunks, but our Miss Shen, fearing to trouble the Marquis, especially made a list and selected carefully, shrinking it to six trunks."
Ji Qing felt somewhat suffocated. He walked out empty-handed.
"Miss Shen, for the spring hunt, each mansion typically ready only two cargo trucks, but your trunks are big and take up space; I’m afraid one truck can only fit two trunks. Could you perhaps reduce them further?"
Shen Hua was utterly disappointed, looking at Cui Yun, whispering softly.
"But those are things I usually need."
Seemingly unsurprised, Cui Yun said:
"In previous years, Rong and I used just one cargo truck enough."
This time, as food and accommodation were arranged by the Imperial Household Department, Cui Yun only brought personal clothing and the books he usually reads.
He thought, since Shen Hua loves beauty, in addition to clothes, bringing some jewelry and rouge to look refined wouldn’t hurt.
"The other cargo truck will be solely for your use. I think that should be enough."
Shen Hua was astonished; she would have to condense six trunks into two.
Cui Yun glanced at the time. Seeing Shen Hua struggle with deciding what to leave behind, he didn’t head to the side chambers but instead entered Shen Hua’s room and instructed Yicui: "Bring the list Miss arranged."
Soon, a thick stack of lists was in his hands.
Cui Yun looked over them.
"Fourteen sets of changing clothes for a seven-day spring hunt?"
Shen Hua: "I dislike the number seven."
Cui Yun gave her a look, took a brush, crossed out fourteen, and changed it to eight.
Shen Hua peeked her head out, somewhat satisfied.
Cui Yun read calmly: "Blue and white porcelain algae-pattern bowl, Hetian white jade inlaid gemstone bowl?"
Shen Hua told him: "I use them for meals. On odd days, the blue and white porcelain, on even days, the Hetian white jade."
Cui Yun directly crossed it out.
"Lake-colored autumn silk quilt embroidered with gold thread?"
"Hmm, that one indeed has gold threads interwoven! I usually can’t bring myself to use it."
Cui Yun continued crossing off.
"Six luminous pearls?"
"These were gifts from my cousin’s mother. Originally, the teacher intended to embed them in the coffin, but I thought they might be useful, so I personally pried them out yesterday."
He crossed it out.
Afterwards, Cui Yun did not ask any more questions.
After reviewing everything, he made five changes, and then from the third page on, he kept crossing out all the way down.
Shen Hua clenched her small fists tightly.
In the end, Cui Yun left an item at the very last spot.
She looked over.
It was the bunny doll she always held when she slept at night.
Suddenly, Shen Hua lost her temper again.
Cui Yun handed the list to Yicui: "Pack these up."
"Yes."
The noble lady languidly collapsed onto the chair, her melancholic gaze fixed on the ceiling beams as her lips moved silently.
"It’s gone, all gone."
————
Soon, a line of officials’ carriages followed the Royal Carriage, forming a procession so long its end could not be discerned as it left Shengjing.
The carriage of Marquis Yangling Mansion was spacious, and Shen Hua was eating snacks in the corner.
’Bang bang bang’ someone was knocking on the carriage door.
Cui Rong ran over and drew back the carriage curtain.
Ji Ge’s eyes slightly lifted: "I knew your Uncle would bring you along this time."
He rode his horse at the same pace as the carriage, greeted Shen Hua inside with a bit of surprise, and then, feeling eager to try.
"Cui Yun! Come out for a ride!"
"You are not a pregnant woman who needs rest!"
The carriage curtain flung wide open, and the wind brought a chill as Cui Yun, who was holding a book, glanced up to meet Ji Ge’s eyes.
"One must look after the women of the household."
Cui Yun smiled lightly: "Seventh Prince should spend more time with the Princess Consort, as newlyweds should."
The most vulnerable spot in his heart, you always have to poke at it from time to time, don’t you?
Ji Ge: ...
He was reluctant to ride in the same carriage with Le Jia, and only came out to ride because of that.
The rumored Le Jia was affectionate and charming, and thus had utterly enchanted her brother, but having spent time with her, Ji Ge knew, she was only physically charming, yet she was clueless at heart.
During that last incident of losing her honor, she was the victim. Yet there were people pointing fingers and cursing at her.
She did not resist, just listened obediently.
When people cursed, she simply nodded earnestly in agreement.
Learning about this, Ji Ge was infuriated.
—You just stood there and let them curse you?
Princess Le Jia with her poor accent: "Ah? Was that cursing at me?"
She didn’t understand.
She thought this was a discussion across two countries, unimpeded even by language barriers.
Ji Ge: "As if you have no family at all!"
Cui Yun appeared respectful, but his expression remained indifferent: "Rong, put down the curtain."
Cui Rong clearly listened well to Cui Yun’s words.
Ji Ge, furious, turned around and sought out Ji Teng.
Ji Teng’s carriage was the least conspicuous in the procession, easy to find.
"Brother, what’s the fun in sitting in a carriage? Riding a horse is much more enjoyable."
Ji Teng, envious of Ji Ge riding outside, then rubbed his fingers and nervously lowered his head: "Last time I rode a horse was more than ten years ago, I’m afraid I can’t do it anymore."
"I’ve long returned the Six Arts to the teacher."
"I can barely recognize a few characters now."
Ji Ge felt terrible, considering Ji Teng had once been one of the most distinguished princes. Now, any random noble son seemed a hundred times better than him.
"Don’t be too discouraged."
"Study hard and you’ll catch up with Ji Huo."
He said, "I was relieved to have him at the bottom when we were at the Imperial College."
"He could recognize characters, but only needed them when he went to the brothel to pick girls. When I think about it, you’re even better than him."