Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Who Wants Your Stinking Money
"Cousin is a man of integrity and high principles, how could he have eyes for such a lowly woman? Besides, with Sui Courtyard as impenetrable as a fortified wall, who among the entire household, aside from the Cui Family, wouldn’t know it is a matter of life and death to recklessly intrude?"
Yet, Wu Shaoyin, with her fortunate fate, happened to come across Cui Yun as he was leaving the courtyard. She then self-proclaimedly used the Old Master’s name.
Xue Shuyue felt a lingering fear: "If it were any other man, he might have been fooled, but cousin is the Minister of Ministry of Justice, who has seen all manner of people. He probably saw through her scheme in a glance. How then could he be bewitched by her sly charm?"
Shen Hua pouted and lay back down lazily.
Xue Shuyue exclaimed in exhilaration: "Exactly! Let her learn her place!"
"Leaving behind those words, I left."
"You didn’t see it, but Wu Shaoyin’s face was incredibly ugly at that moment. If I were her, having been so embarrassingly shamed, I would’ve drowned myself in a lake long ago. Why keep living to be a scourge upon others?"
She harbored thoughts for Cui Yun, but only dared to cherish them secretly in her heart.
While speaking, she said with envy and emotion: "Comparing the situations, cousin really treats you differently, you are truly blessed."
The girl, however, did not like hearing this.
She even felt that Xue Shuyue was trying to curse her with bad luck.
Shen Hua frowned unhappily: "Do you think I’m just any girl, willing to accept anyone who’s nice to me?"
Clearly, it’s Cui Yun who is lucky!
To have me, his cousin!
"Besides, can Wu Shaoyin even compare to me?"
Xue Shuyue was speechless: ...You shameless thing. We’re both cousins and both aspiring to be concubines, why can’t we be compared?
Shen Hua raised her little finger, her hand subconsciously moving to twist her bracelet, only to touch empty air, causing the girl to hesitate briefly before she once again boast proudly.
"Don’t disbelieve it, even if I were to bring him poisoned wine, he would honor me by drinking every last drop."
A bowl of sweet soup is nothing!
Xue Shuyue: "..."
Shen Hua: "Is there anything else you want to say?"
"There’s no point discussing frustrating matters. It’s awfully dull."
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By the time Shen Hua was able to get out of bed, a day had passed.
Yet after taking just a few steps, her legs became weak, and Yicui had to push her along.
The girl felt that after these few nights, the heavy shackles seemed to be loosening, at least there were no more excruciatingly painful nights spent spitting blood.
This matter, she did not mention to anyone. The girl also couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
And Ni Kang did not notice the abnormality either.
Quack doctor!
Perhaps because she had been stifled these past few days, Shen Hua allowed Yicui to push her out to the West Garden. They went to a nearby waterside pavilion.
Yicui was peeling peanuts and even considerately removed the thin skins before feeding them to Shen Hua.
"Madam." Ningzhu ran in from outside.
"This is the new embroidery from Juchao Pavilion. Have a look."
Shen Family’s Embroidery Workshop supplied a batch of goods to Juchao Pavilion every month, and Shen Hua had Ningzhu pay attention to this for the past few months.
Ningzhu reported with great detail: "The shopkeeper of Juchao Pavilion is cunning, perhaps due to poor revenue in the previous months, seeing the reduced number of buyers, he severely dropped the prices. When I went there, the shop wasn’t that empty."
As she spoke, she spread out the landscape embroidery.
Shen Hua moved her eyelids, giving it a dismissive glance before showing contempt. She slightly lifted her hand and casually pointed at the embroidery.
"Ningzhu, Yicui has taught you embroidery for some time now. You give your evaluation."
The embroidery depicted a scene of green mountains and waters with deer drinking.
The whole piece had appropriate coloring, projecting a pleasant satisfaction.
Ningzhu looked it over dryly for a long time: "From afar, it’s pretty, but up close, it feels like it’s missing something."
"That’s correct."
Shen Hua meticulously explained: "The muscles of this deer should be exquisitely detailed. Yet, the embroidered silk threads used are too thick. As you know, Su Embroidery is renowned for its subtle intricacy."
"The embroidery lady must have some years of experience, but she’s taken shortcuts, perhaps eager to prove her skill. She’s used an abundance of elaborate techniques, but several stitching methods were misapplied, resulting in the whole piece lacking cohesive vitality and harmony."
"To me, it’s nothing but an inferior product."
Shen Hua clicked her tongue.
"So long has passed, yet those people haven’t made the slightest progress."
"Take it away, take it away. Just looking at it irritates me."
After some time, the cousin with the least presence in the West Garden, Zhang Su, left the pavilion.
Zhang Su, after all, was just a distant relative, and the Cui family did not make a fuss over a grand wedding, but she was not without due dignity.
She, dressed in her bridal attire, went to the main courtyard to kowtow to Old Master Cui and the Dowager, and also bid farewell to Cui Xuan.
Cui Xuan slid the bracelet from her own wrist onto Zhang Su’s: "The wedding was originally set for one month later, but the groom’s elder in the family has fallen seriously ill."
It’s feared that they won’t last much longer.
Marrying earlier, with the intent of creating auspiciousness.
And what’s more, there was the worry that if the groom’s family elder does not survive, the mandatory mourning period of three years would preclude any marriage. Zhang Su certainly couldn’t be left an old maid.
Hence, after discussions between the two families, the wedding was brought forward.
"You are gentle and the most trouble-free. After entering their household, you must respect the elders. The groom is an honest man, and willing to make progress. You will also need to communicate with him and harmonize like music from the qin and se."
Zhang Su’s eyes were shimmering with tears.
She sincerely said: "These years of care by the Cui family have been my fortune. The marriage is also thanks to cousin-in-law."
Qiao Si softly said: "The Marquis Mansion is as your maternal home, your room is kept for you. Come back and visit more often."
It was Yicui’s turn. She presented a gift box.
Zhang Su smiled genuinely, receiving it. The box was light; what was inside, she did not know.
"When you marry Lady Xue in the future, I will certainly come to add to your bridal trousseau."
Yicui pursed her lips: ...Are you putting me on the spot, or yourself?
During this time, only Yicui noticed that on the cuff of Zhang Su’s bridal gown, where a precious gem pattern should have been stitched, there was a piece missing.
Probably because the wedding was moved forward, they could not finish it in time.
But Xue Shuyue was reluctantly holding onto her, with a sorrowful glint in her eyes.
She actually didn’t mind. What’s wrong with sisters sharing one man? After all, they all knew each other, and Cui Yun could maintain harmony in this backyard without causing any trouble.
Yet, Zhang Su was happily married, to a poor Advanced Scholar.
She thought, sooner or later Zhang Su would cry!
The wedding procession was full of music and drumming, and when the auspicious time arrived,
Zhang Su boarded the flower sedan chair.
Cui Rong was eagerly watching the departure of the sedan chair procession, her childlike voice expressing: "Getting married seems wonderful."
"The wedding attire looks beautiful!"
"The flower sedan chair is red, I like it too!"
"The dishes at the banquet are also my favorites!"
She said wistfully: "I really want to get married too."
Yicui glanced down at her.
"Fine, when you get married, I’ll definitely give you a big envelope."
"Who cares about your stinky money."
Yicui couldn’t be bothered to pamper her temper and was about to leave.
Cui Rong hurried forward to take hold of her.
"What’s wrong with you, showing me a cold face after only a few words?"
"This is great disrespect towards me, the Commandery Princess."
Yicui: "Have you said enough?"
Cui Rong: "I won’t argue with you."
Yicui’s gaze was deep: "How so? Still expecting me to thank you?"
"Shouldn’t you?"
Yicui smiled gently: "I dare to thank you. Do you dare to listen?"