Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Do You Want to See How I Cherish You?
Yan Mi was startled, "Ah?"
Only to hear Yingwu continue, "The Fifth Princess is not much of a person, not much to look at, and her temper is even worse; Mr. Wei doesn’t let it slide either. Our lady said that for two heartless and brainless people to become husband and wife is a great blessing for the world."
"I can’t even count on my own grandmother to save me, how could I trouble her."
Yan Mi took it as a joke.
How could the Imperial Family possibly marry the Fifth Princess to the Wei Family?
The Wei Family would probably not dare to have such high hopes.
"Then there’s no need for your lady to bother herself. She’s in poor health, so do not offend the noble on my account. I’m already grateful for today’s events."
Yingwu was momentarily lost: "You’ve come back a bit late."
She was acting on Shen Hua’s orders.
This was after Shen Hua had instructed her upon exiting the Duke Wei Mansion during the day. It’s just that Yingwu hadn’t found the right opportunity until now, which is why she was only able to meet with her alone.
According to the plan, she was to first ask Yan Mi, and if Yan Mi agreed, she would then go to find the others.
Having come here and waited left and right without seeing anyone, Yingwu first went to the nearest Prince Gong Mansion.
Ji Huo was too excited: "For such good fortune to come knocking, that Shen calls upon me!"
"Of course, I am willing! Ji Shimin marrying Wei Xiheng, that’s splendid! Damn, why didn’t I think of it! I really like Shen’s temperament; when you go back, remember to ask her, how about she abandons darkness for light and becomes my immortal companion? Cui Yun is a stickler for rules, always cold and dull, how could he understand her!"
"No need to ask! I’m in! I’m bloody in!"
"What, you’re still looking for others? But you found me first? Good choice! I, indeed, am more useful than those others!"
He was very outspoken: "Anyone who blocks me, I’ll make sure she’s dead!"
Such matters are easy to talk about but hard to do.
Naturally, the more people involved, the more help you have.
Yingwu looked at Yan Mi with regret, without any signs of incompetence or guilt.
"Lady Yan, it seems you can only nod in agreement."
She comforted Yan Mi, and then added, "The lady also had me ask another question."
"Is messing with your Mama okay?"
Yan Mi was dizzy, as the candles in the room crackled and popped.
She pursed her lips and then softly said, "What is her plan?"
"Don’t worry, our lady has a sense of measure. She won’t do much, just tarnish the Governor’s wife’s reputation that she cherishes the most, that’s all."
The kind that completely destroys the good reputation built up over many years.
Otherwise, how would the Governor’s wife experience the pain of being hurt?
Yan Mi softly said, "Not to mention anything else, the Princess is of the Imperial bloodline."
Yingwu’s face was expressionless: "Heir Huo is the Fifth Princess’ cousin, and he gets excited harming his own relatives."
"This is something you should learn from."
"Lady Yan, you’re just too honest. Why care for someone who pushed you into the abyss when you can’t even protect yourself?"
Yan Mi fell silent.
"That doesn’t sound like something you would say."
Yingwu stealing the lines: "...Our lady said it."
"I’ve thought it over, and this matter is indeed quite risky."
Yan Mi’s brow furrowed slightly.
Yingwu quickly raised her hand to smooth it out.
"Alright, alright, let’s settle it this way."
"If I mess it up, I might lose the promised drumstick again."
————
The skies had completely darkened.
Inside the room, only one lamp was lit, casting a dim light.
Shen Hua buried her head in Cui Yun’s embrace, as familiar and intimate as every time before.
With closed eyes, she sees the image of Shen Wei smiling and calling her good baby Yangyang.
Blinding yet deceptive.
Shen Hua seemed to fall into a deadlock, thoroughly trapped within it. Thereafter, overturning her beliefs of over a decade.
The last time she saw Shen Wei was in her previous life. After so many years and so many things that had happened, Shen Hua never thought her tragedy was caused by him alone.
Shen Wei, Shen He Wen, they truly deserve to be brothers.
Yet, when she calmly thought about it, there were early signs all along.
The smile on Mama’s lips grew ever fainter. She always held her in her embrace, once whispering softly.
——Yangyang, that young master from the He Family seems quite decent. He is considerate towards you and ambitious. The marriage is already arranged, Mama wishes for nothing but his continued kindness towards you. The He Family is not like the Shen Family; at first, I worried that his intentions were not pure. But after several encounters, he genuinely seems to care for you. Yet, I also worry that nothing in this world lasts forever; perhaps it is my age talking, you are not yet of marrying age and I always overthink. I’m just afraid of the difficulties you might face in the future.
Back then, she heard this without a hint of shame. In fact, she was overjoyed.
——If Mama is really worried, then I’ll just call off the engagement with him, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision when I agreed.
Shen Hua has always been a person who grows tired of the old in favor of the new.
Those pearl hairpins, after wearing them a few times, she would go buy new ones. Not to mention other things.
There weren’t many people in this world who were good to her.
Her brother was related by blood.
What about Cui Yun then?
Why should he be good to her?
And why could she act so willfully and recklessly in front of him?
Shen Hua was not acting on a whim.
Her fortune began with meeting Cui Yun, even a girl dreams of touching the moon.
Yangyang... deserves the best.
Yet she took the initiative, waited for a moment, but didn’t get even the slightest response from Cui Yun. Shen Hua pursed her lips, slightly retracting her body, and grabbed the other’s face with her hands.
"I also heard a story from the storyteller once. In the story, the young master cared for the girl at first, but as soon as he got her, he no longer wanted to cherish her. What does Marquis think about this?"
Shen Hua warned fiercely: "I advise you to be nicer to me, I’m someone who gets easily tired of the old and fancies the new. This applies to pearl hairpins and jewelry, gorgeous clothes, and as for you—"
"Who knows what will happen in the future?"
Cui Yun’s lowered eyes trembled fiercely, despite being a skilled strategist in officialdom, he too had a moment of loss of composure.
He reached out to pull the girl back into his arms.
Turning over, his knees pressed against the girl’s legs hidden beneath her voluminous skirt, easily parting them, and pressed her down beneath him.
His eyes were deep and unfathomable, like an abyss.
Shen Hua was pinned down tightly, she reached out to push him away, but was instead pinned to the bedpost. The girl forced herself to remain calm as she looked at the person so close to her, her voice beginning to tremble.
"You... Are you going to hit me?"
She was extraordinarily grief-stricken.
"I won’t be with you anymore!"
Cui Yun looked at the girl on the bed with affection, her eyes red and swollen, hair messed up, and a lock of dark hair fell into the slightly open neckline embroidered with exquisite patterns during the struggle.
He took his time pulling it out. Holding it in his hand, he gently stroked it.
The tickling sensation caused Shen Hua to shiver slightly.
Her sensitive reaction was fully captured by Cui Yun’s eyes.
"Do you want to see how much I cherish you?"
Shen Hua’s gaze averted: "...No."
But he leaned down, pressing a heavy kiss upon her, aggressively taking what he desired.
Naive and brash, forcing and eager.
She felt suffocated, her eyes brimmed with helpless tears. She emitted a broken sob.
"...Wait..."
He held Shen Hua by the nape of her neck, his voice hoarse and fierce, yet casually seductive: "Can’t wait anymore."