Chapter 221: Chapter 221: That Old Hag Really Knows How to Put on a Show
At that time.
The Xuan Family, seeing Xuan Ai had thoroughly recovered her spirits, felt a collective sense of relief. Given the decisiveness, the matter could not be concealed and was communicated by Xuan E along with Uncle Yong Chang to the main courtyard, so that Dowager Xuan could also be informed.
Cui Yun took Shen Hua to the neighboring room for a meal.
Having eaten peanuts and melon seeds, the girl was not particularly hungry. She casually ate a few bites and then stopped.
"Does it not suit your taste?" Cui Xuan said softly.
Before Shen Hua could respond, Cui Rong, who harbored resentment, huffed loudly.
"It’s not about taste at all, grandmother. You don’t know. She is clearly—"
Cui Rong paused.
Despite her young age, she had her schemes. Last time when she had Cui Yun feed her, Cui Xuan had scolded her for it.
Then, she said, "I want Second Uncle to feed me!"
"Such a grown person, yet utterly without shame."
She wanted to see Shen Hua reprimanded with her own eyes! It would also let her grandmother understand what kind of lazy person Shen Hua was!
Cui Rong eagerly awaited the outcome.
As soon as the little girl uttered those words, the faces in the room showed various expressions.
Xuan Chen’s smile was tinged with irony. He also stopped eating, turned to look at his trembling new wife: "Why did you spill the soup? Is it too heavy to hold steady?"
Wen Yiran: ...Surprised? Believe it or not.
She did not dare to be presumptuous but could not help stealing glances at Shen Hua, then another glance.
The girl being talked about showed not the slightest sign of embarrassment. She simply frowned and looked sternly at Cui Rong, who was framing her.
The peanut-peeling Cui Rong, who was just now feeling triumphant, began to feel pain in her hand as soon as their eyes met.
Seeing this, Xuan Ai quickly scolded Cui Rong: "You are growing increasingly bold, daring to make up jokes about your Second Uncle? I was with you just now, why was it that only you heard such things? Indeed, you deserve to be punished."
Qiao Si reproached: "All day long you speak without restraint."
Cui Xuan also said: "Your mama is right, from grandmother’s perspective, you are just idle. Given that, practice your writing for a few more pages today."
Shen Hua smiled very gently.
The girl raised her hand, and also very gently brushed Cui Rong’s little head.
"Auntie, rest assured, I will certainly supervise the little princess well."
"She’s clever and loves learning, especially fond of practicing her handwriting."
"It’s not just handwriting; perhaps it’s time to advance her poetry and prose too. Right, little princess?"
Cui Rong shook her head frantically. To show her resistance, her little stubby hands also started shaking.
Shen Hua: "Look, this makes the princess so happy, she’s dancing with joy."
The Cui Family had already become accustomed to this.
Meanwhile, Xuan Chen asked with a smile in his voice, "Why did you spill your soup again?"
Wen Yiran: Just... Enlightened.
Having been a girl in Duke Wen’s Mansion for so many years, she had seen too much of the bad and the ugly, and today was truly — breathtaking.
Cui Rong: ???
It shouldn’t be like this.
Why is no one helping her!!!
The little baby’s mouth puckered in aggrievement.
And Cui Yun’s expression remained indifferent, his pupils showed no ripples.
After the meal, Shen Hua felt a bit tired. Just as she was about to rest and excused herself from everyone in the courtyard, Cui Yun called out to her.
The man approached, his nimble fingertips reattaching the wallet around the woman’s waist.
Shen Hua blinked.
"Do you know what it means to give someone a wallet?" Cui Yun asked indifferently, without looking at her.
Shen Hua watched the item being returned to her and happily responded with a casual ’Hmm’.
Cui Yun’s fingertips trembled.
Just then, Nanny Fang came hurriedly: "Lady, Old Madam Chong from the Chong Family has come in person."
"The gatekeeper said the master would not see visitors, but the Old Madam refused to leave. Now there’s a crowd gathered outside, most of them are onlookers. They can’t be driven away at the gate, nor can we invite them in."
Shen Hua pursed her lips.
This Chong Family! Why so much trouble!
Still playing these games!
If they had any sense, they’d be hiding at home, quietly waiting for the Xuan Family to come and deal with the matter with a slap in the face.
What’s the hurry to seek a beating?
If she were to be sent away too, the only thing the Xuan Family wouldn’t fear is the potential taint on Xuan Ai’s reputation.
Xuan Chen, with a cold face: "Sister is here, I’ll go see them myself."
He knows how to act appropriately.
Cui Yun quickly tied his wallet and, without even bothering to speak to her, respectfully said to Cui Xuan: "Your son will go as well."
Xuan Ai looked on with unease as the two departed.
The whole family was laboring over her affairs. Just as she began to feel ashamed, Shen Hua patted her shoulder back and forth to comfort her.
"Cousin!"
The girl said.
"Your brother can still be kept!"
Xuan Ai calmed down.
Shen Hua wasn’t the least bit curious!
But as she wandered to aid digestion, she very unfortunately ended up near the front gate.
She half-lay beside the rockery, trying to peek out her head carefully and cautiously. Her gaze extended beyond it.
Xuan Chen did not let Old Madam Chong enter.
Seeing that the master did not grant entry, the gatekeeper was even less courteous in blocking the way.
Old Madam Chong had her hair in a traditional ’blessed’ bun hairstyle, with a golden hairpin on her head and a jade bracelet on her wrist—too far for Shen Hua to discern the quality.
The brown smooth silk was embroidered with careful stitches. The complex patterns with rolling needle embroidery of exotic birds and beasts revealed her attire to be extremely distinguished.
Old Madam Chong was both flustered and resentful, fearing that Chong Bingwen’s matters outside might actually be known to the Xuan Family.
She tentatively asked.
"This... This is hardly a place for a proper conversation. Our families are connected by marriage, and the Princely Heir should at least call me ’Aunt’. I’ve come today to inquire when Lady would return; her constant stay at the Xuan Residence is hardly proper."
Xuan Chen glanced at the crowded throng of people, repressing his temper.
"What about Chong Bingwen!"
"He is busy with official duties. But whether he comes to fetch her or I do, it’s all the same. The Chong Family values the Lady greatly."
Old Madam Chong chose to dodge the crux of the matter lightly.
With those words, the surrounding people nodded in agreement.
Those unaware of the real situation praised her as a good mother-in-law.
Shen Hua clicked her tongue: "This old thing, quite the drama queen."
Xuan Chen: "Official duties? You have the nerve to say that? He’s truly been busy, huh? Was he busy with official duties at quarter past seven this morning? Shall I speak even more clearly about where he spends his nights?"
The Xuan Family need not cover up for the Chong Family’s shame.
Old Madam Chong went pale.
Cui Yun sneered. He stood with his hands behind his back, composed as a pine and serene as a crane, his gaze as pure as spring water solidified into ice.
He merely uttered coldly: "Chong Bingwen has done something conscienceless, yet he pushes his mother to the forefront, truly unfilial."
This twist made the onlookers’ view of Old Madam Chong change immediately.
What’s going on, what’s the story here!
—"What conscienceless act? Is it that he’s been philandering behind Lady Xuan’s back? No way, Lady Xuan is so beautiful, and quite renowned in Shengjing. Relying on the Yue Family, Chong Bingwen might as well have walked through the back door."
—"So, this is Old Madam Chong. Did you see her bracelet and hairpin? They’re from Jinxuan Pavilion. Everyone knows that Jinxuan Pavilion belongs to Lady Xuan, and for years, she has worn jewelry exclusively from there, flaunting her status and never paying for it."
—"How could she have the audacity, when Jinxuan Pavilion is Lady Xuan’s own dowry store?"
The whispers from those nearby turned Old Madam Chong ashen-faced.
"This—"
She had barely uttered a syllable when Cui Yun cut her off.
"Lady Song from Cuiyu Pavilion, whom Old Madam Chong must recognize, has been invited by the Xuan Residence ’as a guest’."
The man’s voice was like a blade of ice, piercing directly at her. Old Madam Chong felt a chill throughout her body.
"Yet, how can the Xuan Family not perceive any sincerity from the Chong Family?"
Meanwhile, Shen Hua, after having observed the full spectacle, heard an old lady’s voice reach her ears.
"I know her."
Cui Rong: "That’s my aunt’s mother-in-law."
Cui Rong frowned as she looked at the tense situation, confused as she looked up: "Why are they blocking her? Did she commit some misdeed?"
Her eyes suddenly widened: "Or is the old witch being cruel to my aunt?"
Shen Hua pondered, first answering her initial question: "Perhaps it’s because neither Chong Family people nor dogs are allowed inside."