Chapter 393: Chapter 391: It Just Can’t Be Her
Yin Shanshan and Gao Yun returned to the Gao Family and told Gao Zheng all about the matters at Lianru Villa.
Gao Yun, indignant, said, "I really don’t know what that Prime Minister’s daughter is thinking, actually trying to protect that wretch Shen Yinning! Big brother, you didn’t see how arrogant Shen Yinning was in front of me and Sister Shanshan. She’s already someone’s concubine but still acts so conceited! In my opinion, she doesn’t think much of you at all!"
Gao Zheng’s face turned dark.
Ever since the new Emperor came to power, every time he thought of his betrayal in the Imperial Study, his back would sweat cold with fear.
These days, he had been living in frustration, dreading the day the new Emperor might decide to settle accounts with him.
And all of this—was thanks to Shen Yinning!
If not for her beauty, why else would he have betrayed the new Emperor for her?!
He treated her as his wife, as one of his own, and even defied the Emperor’s authority for her. Yet, who would have thought that she’d turn around and become someone else’s concubine while humiliating his sister and his woman in every way possible!
A heartless actress, an unfaithful harlot—Shen Yinning was the epitome of it!
Madam Gao was also present.
Since Shen Yinning’s separation from Cui Ji, her life had been far from the indulgent comfort it once was.
Coveting Shen Yinning’s Shen Garden and financial assets, Madam Gao snorted coldly, "She’s latched onto the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice and thinks she’s climbed a lofty branch—no wonder she looks down on our family now! Without any family backing, she’s just someone with a bit of filthy money prancing around. Zheng-er, when you divorced her back then, you should have settled accounts properly. By rights, half of her assets should be ours!"
Gao Zheng was enraged as well.
He said in a cold tone, "Someone, prepare the carriage—head to Cui Mansion!"
Cui Mansion.
Shen Yinning was in Shangguan Min’s study, browsing through the books on her shelves.
Upon hearing that Gao Zheng had come, she smiled faintly, "Interesting—I’ll go take a look too."
The drooping flower hall contained some decorative screens.
Sitting behind them, Shen Yinning could see Gao Zheng indignantly accusing her to Cui Ji, "...Lord Cui knows this woman was once my wife. She’s arrogant, bossy, and often beats and scolds maids—truly, not a virtuous woman. Today, at Lianru Villa, she humiliated my sister and concubine; many witnesses can attest to this. I ask Lord Cui, as a fellow official of the Ministry of Justice, to have her apologize to them in person."
Shen Yinning folded her fan shut.
Had Gao Zheng gone insane?!
Even if she had wronged Yin Shanshan and Gao Yun—so what? How dare he ask a superior’s woman to apologize to his women?!
Though she was no longer Lu Ying’s kept lover, Cui Ji was still someone Gao Zheng couldn’t afford to offend!
Cui Ji held a delicate tea cup made from Longquan kiln’s thin jade porcelain.
Clad in a bamboo-green silk robe with overlapping collars, his straight posture and refined aura were further complimented by the jade pendant hanging from his waist.
The current Cui Ji had long since shed the impoverished and timid image he once carried in Gan State.
With the lid of the tea cup, he gently skimmed off the foam and said, "Aside from an apology, does Lord Gao have other requests?"
Gao Zheng froze momentarily but then grew delighted.
See? Shen Yinning was, after all, a woman who had been married and even served as the Emperor’s forbidden fruit—of course Cui Ji wouldn’t stand up for her.
With eager sincerity, he said, "When I divorced her, it was at the Supreme Emperor’s behest. The separation was rushed, and the division of property was never properly addressed. I implore Lord Cui to mediate and grant me half of her wealth—this includes but is not limited to Shen Garden and the Seven Treasures Pavilion, as well as her savings in the Money Shop."
Shen Yinning couldn’t see Cui Ji’s expression.
But she was utterly stunned.
She had seen men shamelessly claim a woman’s dowry during divorce, but never had she seen one come knocking months later, demanding to split what belonged solely to the woman!
Cui Ji took a sip of tea.
His austere yet genteel features were obscured amidst the rising mist, an imperceptible trace of amusement lingering in the furrow of his brow and the corners of his eyes.
After a long pause, he set the tea cup down unhurriedly, "Lord Gao, return home and wait for news."
Though Gao Zheng worked for the Ministry of Justice, he rarely crossed paths with Cui Ji or interacted with him in any significant capacity.
Hearing such words, he naturally assumed his demands had been granted. Elated, he hastily excused himself and returned home in high spirits.
Shen Yinning, still fanning herself, emerged from behind the screen and questioned, "Cui Ji, you seriously expect me to apologize to his sister and concubine?"
Cui Ji turned to look at her.
She had changed into casual home attire, and the pale yellow translucent silk reflected specks of radiant light under the indoor illumination. Her loosely knotted maiden hair bun was adorned with red and pink hibiscus, rendering her delicate face mesmerizingly beautiful, like a celestial flower in full bloom.
Those almond-shaped phoenix eyes held hints of dissatisfaction, a demeanor born of being accustomed to privilege.
Cui Ji’s heart involuntarily skipped a beat for her.
He stood and gestured toward a cushioned pear wood official hat chair, "How could that be? Commandery Princess, please have a seat."
Shen Yinning lazily settled into the chair, "Then why did you dismiss him, telling him to wait for news at home?"
Cui Ji removed the tea he had been drinking and signaled the maid to serve fresh tea and snacks instead, "Gao Zheng is hardly an upright figure. Since entering the Capital, he’s committed numerous acts of embezzlement and bribery, leveraging your title both openly and covertly. I have collected all the evidence. Tomorrow in court, I plan to personally impeach him."
He loathed Lu Ying and despised Gao Zheng as well.
Back in Gan State, he could never comprehend why Shen Yinning had to demean herself by marrying a scoundrel like Gao Zheng.
Upon learning of Shen Yinning’s tragic past and grievances, he felt a deep ache for the sacrifices she had been forced to make, which only compounded his hatred for Lu Ying and Gao Zheng.
If he had been in Lu Ying’s position...
If he were standing where Lu Ying once stood, he would never—never have let her endure such humiliation!
Thus, from the moment Gao Zheng took office in the Capital, he had begun quietly gathering evidence against him.
He even...
Cui Ji lightly brushed his jade pendant, and a shadow of ruthlessness flickered across his usually refined expression.
Even many of Gao Zheng’s crimes had been deliberately orchestrated by people under his command.
He intended to ensure Gao Zheng’s complete downfall.
The maid brought over freshly brewed tea along with a platter of snacks and fruit.
Shen Yinning used a toothpick to spear a piece of candied melon and popped it into her mouth.
She smiled with narrowed eyes, "I never knew Lord Cui could be so cunning..."
"Only toward outsiders." Cui Ji peeled an orange for her, "My cunning would never be used against the Commandery Princess."
Shen Yinning watched his slender, jade-like fingers and suddenly lowered her voice, "Have you consummated your marriage with Sister Shangguan?"
Cui Ji’s gaze snapped toward her.
There was no trace of jealousy or resentment in the young woman’s eyes—only simple curiosity.
His hands instinctively tensed.
The orange slices he had just peeled were crushed in his palm; juice seeped through his fingers, staining his robe and releasing the citrus’s sharp, tangy fragrance into the air.
He enunciated each word with deliberate restraint, "The Commandery Princess seems eager for a consummation between Cui Ji and her."
Shen Yinning fell silent.
"This marriage between her and me—it was arranged entirely by the Prime Minister and granted by the new Emperor’s decree," Cui Ji’s voice trembled faintly, and his eyes reddened ever so slightly, "From beginning to end, no one cared to ask for my opinion. And now, even the Commandery Princess hopes for my union with her? In your eyes, she is the pitiable one—am I not pitiable as well?"
He knew well the deadly power struggles in the Capital, where even matters of love and marriage bore no freedom of will.
But he could not bear to be pushed by her.
Anyone could push him—except her.