Chapter 259: Chapter 259: It’s Chilly Outside, Cousin, Won’t You Come In?
Xie Yining felt a spark in her heart: "When the new rouge comes out, I will invite you again."
Shen Hua was quite happy. She immediately reminded politely: "Okay, just remember to bring more Silver next time."
"I didn’t even enjoy shopping thoroughly."
In the past, Shen Yangyang would have thrown a tantrum. This was also because she saw that Xie Yining was too gentle, so she restrained herself.
Xie Yining understood: "I’m sorry."
Shen Hua considerately accepted her apology.
Ji Huo had been around the whole time, until Xie Yining shyly waved to Shen Hua and left without giving him a single cent.
Ji Huo was so jealous! Thus, he switched his target.
"Lady Shen!" He deliberately moved closer.
Shen Hua glanced at him, and without saying a word, covered her chest: "Yingwu ah."
"My lady, what’s wrong with you!"
"My stomach hurts. Help me onto the carriage."
Ji Huo: ...
"Who are you trying to fool! You’re covering the wrong spot!!"
Ji Huo gritted his teeth: "What poor acting!"
Shen Hua was displeased now!
Poor?
She was clearly totally engrossed and profoundly touched in her act.
"I thought the Princely Heir would understand."
"A clear-eyed person would have seen it and discreetly left; why did you have to point out that you dislike me to my face?"
Ji Huo fell silent: So that’s what it meant... now I understand.
Maybe he was really too poor. He had to endure the indignity.
Ji Huo glanced at the time. He quickly calculated. Going to the brothel now, inevitably he would dine, and the alcoholic drinks and snacks there were expensive. It was a large expense.
After calculating, he bluntly changed the subject.
"I heard that Cui Yun managed to order anything at First-tier Sky for Shen. Why not me? How am I worse than Cui Yun? Why won’t First-tier Sky make an exception for me!"
Just because Cui Yun is slightly better than him?
Ji Huo, struggling to contain his resentment, said: "Right, Lady Shen goes to First-tier Sky every time she goes out. Are you going today?"
Shen Hua had already figured out his ulterior motive!
The girl slowly asked: "So, Princely Heir, since you couldn’t borrow money, you planned... to get a free meal?"
There will always be that one person who insists shamelessly.
With his capabilities, Ji Huo finally managed to sit in the elegant chamber of First-tier Sky.
Before starting to eat, he raised an eyebrow meaningfully: "I can’t just eat and drink for free. Recently, I came across a secret, let me share it with you."
Shen Hua found him distasteful: "I don’t want to hear it."
"Don’t be like that."
"Ordinary people, I wouldn’t tell her."
Ji Huo, who would actually prefer to tell everyone he met, said mystically.
Ji Huo mysteriously said: "The Crown Princess Consort was recently diagnosed with pregnancy a few days ago, this news hasn’t reached the official family’s ears yet, and within 15 minutes, she miscarried."
Counting the relationships, Crown Prince Ji Zhui is his cousin, but Ji Huo is not foolish. Ji Zhui and Ji Wang might not speak of it, but they looked down on him.
Who cares!
Thus, he turned and became good brothers with Ji Ge!
Therefore, speaking of this matter, he did not feel that it was a family disgrace not to be aired publicly.
"Crown Prince Ji Zhui claimed that Ji Wang was behind it. He accused him of harboring evil intentions."
After all, how many in the Imperial Palace have the capability to reach the heavens? Indeed, Ji Wang had the most motive.
If it were a male child...
However, he had no proof.
But it was enough to aggravate him.
"Emperor He was furious about this."
Emperor He severely rebuked Crown Prince Ji Zhui, yet his suspicions were deep, and he soon summoned Ji Wang to the palace.
Upon questioning, Ji Wang kneeled down and refused to rise. "Ji Wang denied it, but repeatedly said it was slander," he said.
He said.
——Father, your son is wronged.
——Your son respects the Imperial Sister-in-law, how could I harm her? Let alone the Grand Tutor taught us from a young age about the affection between brothers, how could I harm an unborn child?
——The Imperial Sister-in-law has only just been diagnosed, how could your son possibly know in advance and set a trap?
——The Eastern Palace is heavily guarded, brother, you’re really overestimating your son.
His words held more weight.
Emperor He closed his eyes. True or false, even though he was the Emperor, how could he discern?"
He waved his hand, signaling Ji Wang to leave. Then he stared at the calligraphy left by the late Emperor, silent for a long while.
However, Emperor He did not dispel his suspicions towards Ji Wang. If it were true, his hand had stretched too far.
Under his watchful eyes, though a Prince could excel, burgeoning wings must personally be clipped.
If this was merely Ji Zhui playing the thief shouting ’catch the thief’...
Having a miscarriage so soon into the pregnancy, how could it be such a coincidence?
In this palace, the least speakable is the word ’affection’.
Father, mother, brother, brother. The connections between them are only manipulations.
Or perhaps.
It’s another faction of power?
Emperor He suddenly opened his eyes, his expression dark as ink.
The servant attending inside was bringing in tea when he trembled in fear. His hand shook and the teacup fell.
Tea splashed, and the tea set shattered on the ground.
The servant turned pale and knelt on the floor.
—Emperor, calm your anger.
—Drag him out, execute him.
Ji Huo might well be admired by storytellers for his suppressed excitement.
In the end, he reminded.
"This matter, I’m only telling you, you must not speak of it."
Shen Hua: "My lips are tightly sealed."
But then, she was going to tell Wei Yingying!
After all, Ji Teng was out of favor, let alone the Crown Princess Consort’s miscarriage, even if the Crown Prince died, no one would suspect his involvement.
It counts as a consolation.
Speaking of which, her eyes keenly noticed Ji Huo’s bulging sleeves.
Ji Huo followed her gaze and immediately became animated.
"My Mama had prepared a match-making banquet for me, but it was delayed due to that mess in the palace."
He took out, it was an absurdly thick album.
"These were all the girls originally invited to the banquet."
"Each one is so lovely!"
"I really wish I could marry them all."
But he couldn’t afford it.
The identity of the girls in the album was too humble for the Heir of Prince Gong, but who else could carry his notorious reputation?
Yet he had many to choose from.
The album was thicker than chopsticks stacked high. It’s a wonder how he stuffed it into his sleeve.
Ji Huo was showing off deliberately, flipping through the pages so fast they rustled loudly.
Shen Hua: ...
She really: ...
The girl had never seen such a scene before.
She took a deep breath.
"This isn’t match-viewing; this is like stocking up on goods."
————
After their meal, Shen Hua with Yingwu browsed various shops.
Tired, they sat down to rest.
"Madam, these two Jade Pendents look great on you."
She was just about to ask Shen Hua which type she wanted.
Shen Hua: "Two isn’t enough? Fetch me a box. I usually wear them for a few days and then throw them away."
Yingwu: ...
"Madam, next time you throw them away, tell the subordinate, and I’ll pick them up."
As the day approached dusk. Draped with a thin veil of dimness, they reluctantly returned to the mansion.
She held up her skirt hem, walking step by step on the narrow path, intending to take a shortcut back to the East Courtyard.
Fortuitously, she needed to pass through the Sui Courtyard.
And Cui Yun stood at the mouth of the wind, dressed in a casual outfit, his posture statuesque, the sleeves fluttering with the wind.
Cui Yun’s usually tranquil eyes now carried a drunken allure, enchantingly aimless. His face shone like Jiao Jianyue, as breezy and light as pale clouds in this moment dusted with a light blush.
Shen Hua heard his lazily scattered soft chuckle.
It was a bit enticing.
It made Shen Hua’s ears go soft.
"It’s chilly outside, Cousin, would you like to come inside and sit?"