Chapter 293: Chapter 293: It’s Not the Thief Who Steals You Should Fear, But the Thief Who Has His Eyes on You
The sun shone brightly outside the tent, but a rain seemed to pour down over Shen Hua’s heart.
Luckily, Cui Yun left after dropping a few words.
Yet, the girl remained in her prior motion, unable to snap back to reality for a long while.
After Cui Yun left the tent, he stood at a place, his eyes churning with emotion.
"My lord." Ying Yi appeared.
Cui Yun slowly lifted his unfocused gaze.
Ying Yi’s respect remained unchanged.
"Speak."
"Last night, Heir Xie went to the Third Prince’s tent and stayed for quite half an incense stick’s time."
But since Xie Xun practices martial arts and is vigilant, Ying Yi, who was at a distance, ultimately couldn’t hear any sound from inside clearly.
Xie Xun again?
Cui Yun narrowed his eyes.
However, since Xie Xun is acquainted with Ji Teng, his visit could stand on solid ground.
But this morning, Cui Yun went to Ji Teng’s place again and confirmed without a doubt it was a fake pulse.
One by one, their acting while bedridden was indeed not bad. It’s likely hard for ordinary people to spot any flaws.
At least, Ji Teng is not as simple as she seems on the surface.
Could it be speculated then, that Xie Xun is aware of this matter, or perhaps they are scheming something together?
Xie Xun is a smart man, if he truly sides with Ji Teng, he wouldn’t dive in headfirst without reason. Especially since Ji Teng is likely to come out on top, while Ji Wang and Ji Zhui are definitely not his match.
This just became more interesting.
"Should we continue to watch over them?"
"No need."
Cui Yun: "Go investigate whether there’s something more to Ji Teng’s injury."
"Yes."
Ying Yi complied.
"Uncle!"
Cui Rong tried hard to stride with her short little legs. She came bouncing up to Cui Yun. Her hair buns, which she tied herself, were loose and slack.
"You promised to accompany me horse riding."
Cui Yun looked down at her: "I’ll take you there now."
He glanced behind him and spoke indifferently: "Go ask your Sister Shen."
Cui Rong ran into the tent.
Inside, Shen Hua was half-sitting in a daze, shrinking into the corner.
Her burning lips seemed to still retain the warmth that wasn’t hers.
Soft yet forceful, with an urgency and a fiercely intense sensation. All of it was given to her by Cui Yun. Also, it was a experience the girl had never had before.
Shen Hua wiped her swollen lips and ultimately broke down, covering her face with her hands.
"What’s wrong?"
Shen Hua’s tone was heavy: "I am thinking of a phrase."
"What phrase?"
Shen Hua spoke each word deliberately: "Not afraid of thieves stealing, but afraid of thieves coveting."
Cui Rong did not understand.
"No matter who covets you, Sister Shen, my uncle is looking for you to ride horses."
Shen Hua sneered darkly: "Heh."
Cui Rong subconsciously stepped back a few paces.
Shen Hua looked at the little girl with a deep gaze: "He still has the face to look for me?"
Cui Rong was very unhappy with Shen Hua’s tone when talking about Cui Yun, and immediately asked with a stern face: "Are you going or not?"
"I would certainly not give him the pleasure!"
"Who cares to bring you along!"
Cui Rong ran out overjoyed, "Uncle, she’s not going! Which makes sense, why should she join in the fun anyway."
Cui Yun reined in his emotions, said nothing, and led Cui Rong away.
Just after they left, someone came searching.
Yingwu took one look at the visitor and was very much put off, downright impervious to reason, "Our lord has gone hunting. Duchess Wei, please go back."
Duchess Wei looked worn and no longer had the glamorous presence she had the night before.
She lowered her stance, "I must see the Marquis."
"I will wait for him here."
Her eyes brimming with tears, she looked pitiful indeed.
Yingwu saw it but remained cold inside and out, "Duchess Wei can wait if she wants, but I’m sure our lord will not want to see you even when he returns."
Duchess Wei gave a bashful smile, "Is the little princess here?"
Yingwu stopped paying attention to her and turned to enter the tent.
Duchess Wei had specially inquired before coming; this was cousin Miss Shen’s camp.
It was said that even the unruly Cui Rong was extremely well-behaved in front of Shen Hua, even valued greatly by Cui Yun.
She stood there stunned for quite a while.
In the past, how could she have withstood such humiliation? Since when could any servant afford to show her disdain?
But thinking of Wei Xiheng, her hesitation and resentment dissipated, leaving only resolve. At this point, she had no way back; if she couldn’t get through to Cui Yun, she might as well take a roundabout way and plead with Shen Hua.
Stepping forward, she called out, "Miss Shen. I have a matter and request to see you."
"Miss Shen."
With a swoosh, Shen Hua walked out with a serious face.
"Duchess Wei, you are disturbing me."
Shen Hua was never short of ways to torment others, and Yingwu could sense that her mood was very foul at that moment! Worried about getting caught in the crossfire, he immediately held his breath.
In fact, Yingwu had already guessed why Duchess Wei had come; it was surely because the prescription given by the Imperial Physician had clashed with the toxins remaining in Wei Xiheng’s body, causing a full outbreak that spread throughout his body.
Duchess Wei’s expression stiffened. Tears glistening in her eyes, she quickly explained her purpose.
"Yesterday, the incident where my son was injured, Miss Shen might have knowledge of it."
Shen Hua remained expressionless.
"What does his injury have to do with me?"
Shen Hua: "What, he fancies me too?"
"If you are capable, go fill that pit yourself, or seek compensation from the official family. What sense does it make coming to me?"
The anger in Duchess Wei’s face intensified, yet she still suppressed her temper.
"After the incident yesterday, the Imperial Physician prescribed medication and treated the wound. My son’s condition stabilized, and to help him recover, I took him down the mountain that very night."
"But after taking the medicine, he seemed off."
"The attendants didn’t realize it in time, and by the time they noticed, Heng’s entire body was burning up. I was afraid he was getting burned by the fever. I had no choice but to rush to call the Imperial Physician again."
But how could the Imperial Physician, attending to Ji Shimin, come down from the mountain?
He taught us a method, to rub the body with strong alcohol.
"After one whole night of that, his fever did subside quickly."
Duchess Wei struggled to restrain her sorrow, "But he has developed a rash all over his body."
"Miss Shen doesn’t know...the last time he was stung by poisonous bees, his whole face was nearly rotten. His symptoms now are exactly the same as last time. I’m really scared."
"After the Fifth Princess recovered, the Imperial Physician came down the mountain and couldn’t offer a cure. Moreover, the Wei Family had previously scoured for a famous doctor after the bee poisoning to no avail; it was always hopeless."
Shen Hua listened with impatience. The anger built up inside her had finally found an outlet.
"Why tell me all this?"
Duchess Wei struggled to calm her breathing, "For the previous issue, my Wei Family spoke out of turn, offending the little princess and wronging Marquis Yangling Mansion, and thus received punishment from the official family. I ask the Cui Family to disregard past offenses. I wish to seek Doctor Ni’s help for my son’s sake. Only he gives us hope. But Marquis Cui likely does not wish to see me, they say saving a life is more meritorious than constructing a seven-tiered pagoda, hence I come to plead with Miss Shen to help pass along the word."
While Duchess Wei begged humbly, not a hint of sympathy showed on Shen Hua’s face.
"Your Wei Family erred first in indulging your tongues, and now the Cui Family is supposed to just forgive? Do we owe the Wei Family money or favors? Honestly amusing. Knowing he won’t see you, why do you keep asking to be turned away?"
"Do you want me to be a mediator to plead for you? I’m puzzled; Mrs. Wei, how do you see that I care about your family’s troubles?"
"Are you so eager to be scolded?"