Chapter 238: Chapter 238: The Final Turning Point—Vajra Bodhi Bracelet
The crowd had almost entirely dispersed. The scene here had become a stunning divide.
Wrapped snugly in the fluffy mink, Shen Hua radiated an air of grievance, her lively and crafty eyes now filled with resentfulness, her demeanor sullen and defeated.
It really looked...
Cui Yun’s fingertips slightly curled as he dismissed the distractions, "Get up."
Shen Hua pursed her lips, "Aren’t you going to apologize to me?"
Even kneeling, her aura was unyielding. "Though, I won’t accept it," she declared, lifting her flawless small face up.
Seeing this, Ji Huo promptly stepped forward, "What is all this?"
His excitement was almost palpable as he turned and rebuked,
"Cui Yun! How is it right for you to upset Miss Shen to tears? Are you even a man!"
"Regardless of who is right in this matter, not to mention making a girl cry, even causing her distress is our fault as men!"
Over the years, Ji Huo had suffered quite a bit. The debt Cui Yun owed him, it was about time to repay!
"Apologize? These words aren’t right. Why should a mere apology be enough! Miss Shen, I think Cui Yun should genuinely kowtow to show his sincerity."
"Look at what good is there for you at Marquis Yangling Mansion? Does Cui Yun have the charm, the dashing grace, or the wit to please a girl like I do? Miss Shen, I assure you, the gates of Prince Gong Mansion are always open for you. If you decide to move out, I’ll personally come to carry your luggage."
The brighter his eyes gleamed as he spoke.
His father always criticized him for falling short of Cui Yun, but if he could snatch the girl from Cui Yun’s grasp, wouldn’t that be a breath of fresh air!
However, as if unheard, Cui Yun remained unmoved.
Shen Hua paid no attention to any of it, lost in her own world.
Even if he proclaimed the sky to be falling, no one would bother.
Cui Yun looked deeply at Shen Hua.
"If you won’t stand, I can hardly force you," he stated.
Upon hearing this, Shen Hua was rather conflicted.
"Cousin, do you really intend to let me continue kneeling like this?"
"I said you shouldn’t stand, but why don’t you persuade me otherwise?"
She told Cui Yun, "Perhaps, I might change my mind."
Cui Yun spoke calmly: "Miss Shen’s decisions are well made, how could they be influenced by others."
"But now that the banquet has ended, it’s not proper for a subject to linger in the Imperial Palace for long."
"I can only take Rong and head back first. If you get tired and decide to return, just ask a palace maid to send a message outside the palace. I can come back to pick you up later. This back and forth, though tiresome, poses no issue."
Shen Hua: ???
This tactic seemed off.
Seeing Cui Yun really about to leave, Shen Hua struggled to rise from the ground.
But halfway up, the girl sensed the multiple gazes upon her.
The ones from Ji Huo, Shen Hua could ignore.
Those from the Xie siblings, she also disregarded.
...
The only one she cared about was Cui Yun’s.
The man paused his steps unknowingly, and spoke indifferently to Shen Hua, "I’ve reserved a private room at the First-tier Sky Restaurant, coincidentally passing by. Wouldn’t it be nice to dine together?"
He knew Shen Hua responded better to gentleness rather than force, and had never been domineering. Yet, he used his strategies to subtly lure Shen Hua step by step.
This feeling was unpleasant. It felt like being thoroughly devoured by him.
Shen Hua felt inexplicably uneasy.
She! Was she someone to be easily manipulated?
Then, she heard Cui Yun speak again.
"In my private vault, there are some exceptionally fine furs. If you fancy any, consider it my compensation to you. Does that sound fair?"
The defensive line Shen Hua had just built crumbled to dust with these words.
Ji Huo hearing this, couldn’t help but scoff.
"It’s just some trivial material possession, and you actually said it!"
"Miss Shen, you should not lose your dignity and agree."
"It’s just fur, I have them too! Whatever he can give, I can also provide!"
"Is that so?" Cui Yun responded indifferently.
He tugged at the corner of his mouth and said, "As far as I know, Princely Heir, you’ve been cut off from your monthly salary recently, and even asked Seventh Prince for money a few days ago."
Ji Huo: ???
"Don’t use that to make a point. Even if I am down on my luck, any random item in the treasury is a treasure. I simply do not wish to pawn them."
Shen Hua puzzled: "Then why don’t you pawn them?"
"Good question."
Cui Yun stood with his hands behind his back, obediently saying, "Everything in the Princely Heir’s treasury that could be pawned has already been pawned, leaving only the items bestowed by the official family."
The gifts from the official family mostly bear the official seal, how could they be pawned?
"As for the gold, silver, jewelry, and fabrics, those must be kept, after all, the Princely Heir is kind-hearted and needs to provide for all the Zhenzhens, Cuicuis, and Lianlians in the manor."
Shen Hua pondered thoughtfully.
Ji Huo: !!!
He was frantic: "No! Why are you exposing my secrets!"
"Cui Yun, I haven’t even kidnapped anyone yet! What’s the rush!"
Ji Huo reassured Shen Hua: "Zhenzhen, Cuicui, Lianlian are nothing compared to you. You are at the forefront, naturally they won’t get a share if you want."
Cui Rong understood now.
Ji Huo is interested in Shen Hua.
Her brows furrowed tightly. It was one thing for Xie Xun to inquire about Shen Hua in front of the Xuan Residence last time, but now here comes another Ji Huo.
Shen Hua is not that remarkable; how does she attract one after another?
She rushed over, pointing at Ji Huo.
"I have heard outside, you are quite the philanderer!"
Ji Huo quite proud: "Flattering, indeed."
With so many different women, how could he ever be faithful to just one?
"I warn you, don’t set your sights on her."
Cui Rong, small but cunning: "I’d rather not hear that one day your courtyard has Zhenzhen, Cuicui, Lianlian and also a Huahua."
Shen Hua inexplicably shuddered.
She took a wary step back.
She asked Cui Yun in a reserved manner.
"How is the luster? How about the oiliness? And what about the softness and feel?"
"Can I have them all?"
In the corridor, the cold wind whistled.
After leaving the Imperial Palace gate, Cui Yun helped a young and an old into the carriage. He nodded to Xie Xun, then boarded the carriage as well.
Soon, the wheels began to roll.
Ji Huo, troubled: "I really can’t accept this!"
"Xie Xun, we have known each other since childhood, why do you bid him farewell?"
"Because of him, I don’t know how many times I’ve endured my father’s beatings. Such thick rattan sticks fell upon my body. I suspected that Cui Yun was actually his son, so I questioned my mother, but before I knew it, she revealed it to him and he beat me again!"
Xie Xun watched as the carriage slowly moved away, a flash of inexplicable emotion crossing his eyes.
"That being the case, you should have learned your lesson."
"Fine, I’m heading back too."
Ji Huo: "Wait! I haven’t finished speaking."
Xie Xun took out several silver notes from his bosom: "I know you’ve been strapped for cash these days, take these, no need to repay."
Ji Huo’s attitude changed, nodding and bowing: "Have a safe journey."
Xie Xun then boarded the Xie Mansion’s carriage, the emotion in his eyes gradually fading away.
A piece of dialogue resurfaced in his mind.
——"The Princely Heir will seek me out in a year, thus I, a wandering Daoist, have come to specially visit young friend."
——"Regarding what the Princely Heir asked, my reply is: once I saved Young Master Cui’s life with the Vajra Bodhi Bracelet, the last turn of fate rests with him. Princely Heir, take heed."
Sanqing Taoist stroked his beard and said.
——"This war should be over soon, right?"
——"Drums of war and clouds of smoke, the sufferers are the soldiers and the myriad commonfolk. Princely Heir, finish the war and return sooner."