Chapter 277: Chapter 277: Do You Really Not Know the Marquis Fancies You?
Xie Xun had already noticed Shen Hua approaching much earlier.
He stood there, waiting for the girl to come closer.
Soon, he noticed something.
It was her deliberately conspicuous step shake. The girl had excellent posture; even when she walked swiftly, the step shake in her hair only trembled slightly.
Xie Xun understood what it meant for Shen Hua to wear that at this moment; the smile in his eyes seemed like it could spill over, followed by a soft glow in his eyes.
The girl stood still before him, her delicate porcelain-white face cold, waiting for Xie Xun to speak first.
He did not.
So, she began to turn in circles.
One round, nothing.
Two rounds, still nothing.
Three rounds, and Xie Xun actually laughed again!
Shen Hua straightened her lips.
She stomped back angrily.
Just then, Cui Rong came running over, grabbed Shen Hua’s hand, and stopped her, raising her head high.
"Why are you running around like that!"
"Not even a word to my second uncle! You disappeared in the blink of an eye!"
She looked warily towards Xie Xun standing behind Shen Hua.
What’s so good about Xie Xun!
Don’t think she couldn’t tell that Xie Xun wanted to snatch Shen Hua away!
But Cui Rong was stunned. In her memory, Cui Yun rarely smiled, and even his smiles were always solemn with aloofness and indifference, nothing like Xie Xun’s brilliant and beautiful demeanor.
No wonder Shen Hua would lose her composure and move closer to look at such a handsome man.
Cui Rong’s hostility shattered.
She twisted her plump body, covering her face.
"He really is quite handsome."
Shen Hua deliberately spoke loudly: "I don’t think so."
"Heir Xie is far inferior to my cousin!"
She finished speaking, and kept glancing back to see Xie Xun’s expression.
That statement was clearly meant for Xie Xun to hear.
Xie Yinong saw this and murmured in puzzlement, "Is Miss Shen provoking my brother? But she is clearly a very kind person. She shouldn’t be doing this."
Soon, she remembered something and started feeling guilty.
Did Shen Hua come here specifically to see the flirtatious young man who keeps multiple girls in mind?
By her side, Xie Xun watched Shen Hua’s huffy and puffed up figure that seemingly could stomp the ground, and finally couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
"Feeling jealous."
Xie Xun: "Don’t be fooled by her unapproachable appearance; she’s actually the most timid."
Silly Yangyang.
At this, after hearing Shen Hua’s words, Cui Rong proudly straightened her waist: "Of course!"
The next moment, she counter-questioned.
"Then what were you doing just now when you approached him! I was calling you from behind, but couldn’t catch up! Weren’t you rushing towards him?"
Shen Hua: "How could that be possible."
"I saw it clearly, you were even staring at him."
Shen Hua: "Shut your mouth."
Cui Yun approached leisurely. Hearing this, his eyes grew colder.
Xie Xun very amiably: "Marquis Cui."
He asked, "Why did you also bring Miss Shen along?"
Before Cui Yun could respond, he made an invitation.
"Since we are together, why not sit in the same carriage tomorrow? It would be nice to have company on the road."
The carriage is spacious enough to accommodate them.
For a livelier journey, many residences arrange it this way.
Cui Yun glanced indifferently at Shen Hua, who was slowly drawing circles on the ground with her toes, and declined: "No, thank you."
And just at that moment, someone swaggered over.
Ji Huo wore a red outfit, embodying the word ’rake’ profoundly.
"From afar, I heard you all gathering here. What’s the discussion about?"
"You don’t know, my father has been scolding me all the way here. My ears are almost growing calluses. I’m afraid I’ll be nagged to death before we even arrive at the hunting ground."
Ji Huo looked at Xie Xun: "Tomorrow, I’ll sit in your carriage."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yinong hastily shook her head in refusal.
Ji Huo in disbelief: "Has your brother not treated you well usually?"
Xie Xun: "Princely Heir, mind your words."
"Why didn’t you go find the Seventh Prince?"
"Find him? That would be bothersome; that fool has been riding a horse all day. Doesn’t he tire at all?"
He looked impatiently towards Cui Yun.
In the midst of disliking Cui Yun and Prince Gong’s nagging, an answer soon presented itself.
"Fine, I can take the Cui family’s carriage."
Cui Rong: "No."
If it were Xie Xun, she might consider it.
Cui Yun’s voice was cold and clear, also saying: "I’m afraid it won’t be possible."
"Why can’t it be possible!"
Cui Yun glanced at Shen Hua.
"She’s afraid of strangers."
Ji Huo: ???
Xie Xun’s expression turned bizarre.
Cui Yun actually offered a suggestion to Ji Huo.
"Why not try asking the Third Prince?"
Ji Huo was quite picky: "His carriage is too plain."
But after a full round, there was no one willing to take him in.
Ji Huo’s brows formed three lines. Under everyone’s gaze, he enthusiastically grabbed Ji Teng, who was keeping his head down and had a low presence.
"Third cousin!"
Ji Teng helplessly: "Wha... what’s up?"
"I’d like to catch up with you tomorrow in your carriage. How about it?"
Ji Teng blushing and stuttering: "Fifty taels of silver."
Ji Teng: ???
How could such a shameless thing be said? Typically seen as honest, how could money be mentioned the moment he spoke!
He was annoyed: "Do I look like someone who has cash on hand to you?"
Ji Teng was frightened and stepped back.
Night fell.
The station lights were bright.
The travelers weary from their journey, all retired to their rooms early. Dinner was personally delivered by the station’s soldiers.
The taste was average, nothing exquisite.
But considering no village in front nor path behind, the location was indeed remote. Having food and drink was already sufficient.
Shen Hua kept thinking about Xie Xun. Yet it was Wei Yingying who arrived.
Wei Yingying was holding fifty taels, showing off significantly.
"How about that, given to me by Ji Teng."
"I just mentioned it before, and he took it all to heart."
Shen Hua: ...
Wei Yingying, with a girlish longing: "It hasn’t been long, yet he managed to obtain fifty taels, clearly he’s promising."
Strange enough to say.
In earlier years, the silver she rewarded to servants summed up to hundreds of taels.
But the one given by Ji Teng felt different; she cherished it especially.
Shen Hua: ...
Do you know?
That silver was ultimately borrowed by Ji Huo from that little ghost, Cui Rong.
Shen Hua: "Anything else?"
"What, are you tired?"
Wei Yingying: "I’m sharing a room with Wei Zhuzhu, thought of coming to sleep with you."
"That won’t work."
Wei Yingying frowned, quickly catching on, and smiled ambiguously.
"I see."
She winked: "Marquis Cui is in the room next to yours today. Are you afraid I’ll spoil your good affair?"
Shen Hua was confused.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Why keep it a secret, he even took you along for the spring hunt, can’t I see that you and Cui Yun are an item?"
This isn’t just a small occasion.
How could a cousin qualify?
Unless she’s possibly the future Marchioness.
After listening, Shen Hua sternly reprimanded: "You must not recklessly discuss topics that can damage one’s reputation. My cousin isn’t married yet."
Wei Yingying was stunned.
"Could it be you don’t know the Marquis is fond of you?"
Shen Hua seriously: "Absolutely impossible."
Her demeanor held none of the demure shyness of a young miss.
Wei Yingying seemed to have discovered a secret, testing: "What if you liked him?"
"Then that would be the end."