Chapter 233: Chapter 233: Or Do You Think Your Second Uncle Is the One Suffering?
These four characters possess a strong allure.
Her eyes instantly lit up.
"Sister Shen! Go! You must go! The Cuju Conference is so much fun, with a crowd of people fawning over others, some pretending to be aloof, and another group gossiping away."
"How about you and I join forces to drive away those girls who can’t wait to cling to my second uncle?"
She even made a fierce remark: "Right, there’s also that Princess, if you can deal with her, I’ll follow your lead in the future!"
Unlike the atmosphere in Marquis Yangling Mansion, Duke Fu’s Mansion is currently fraught with tension.
The Duchess’s face was stern as she threw the invitation on the table with force, causing the teacup on top to tremble. Her expression thinly veiled with anger, startling Xie Yinong into a shiver.
"The Fifth Princess keeps sending them, one after another. Our girl has declined multiple times due to ailments, almost to the point of overstepping. Yet she plays dumb and asks for an Imperial Physician from the palace, forcing your attendance."
However, Xie Yinong is very timid by nature. Among the girls in Shengjing, she’s also the most out of the loop. It’s reasonable for her to not attend this banquet.
What the Fifth Princess is hosting as a Cuju Banquet, is in fact, orchestrated by the Empress. It’s just using her name. The guests are all unmarried young men and girls, and it’s not appropriate for the Duchess to accompany them.
"No, I must inquire and see who else has received an invitation. That way, I can keep an eye on you, you dull blockhead. With your nature, you suffer losses without even realizing it."
The Duchess paced back and forth, with Xie Yinong guiltily bowing her head.
"Mama."
Xie Xun set down his teacup: "I will accompany Yining, you don’t need to worry."
"No!" It was the Duke who spoke out.
"If you show up, the news of your recovery will debunk itself."
Xie Xun gently argued: "But we can’t just keep hiding."
While one can feign illness temporarily, it’s not possible forever. It’s indeed time to put an end to the thoughts of the Imperial Family.
He slightly raised his eyes: "Back when the Emperor ascended to the throne, in order to suppress the old ministers and support the new nobles, he targeted my young aunt. We were just short of a royal decree."
"At that time, grandfather dared not defy the Imperial command, and personally chose someone who he trusted. But what was the result?"
It led to Miss Xie jumping into the river.
However, Emperor He had a good explanation. By then, he had secured his reign. His words carried sympathy, but who didn’t say that Miss Xie was narrow-minded and couldn’t see things through at the court?
Duke Mansion became the butt of jokes overnight.
What could the Xie Family do about this matter?
If they did not want to bring calamity upon the entire Xie Family, they had no choice but to acknowledge it. Even in death, Miss Xie could not rest peacefully, while the living had to watch Chen Shimei mourn deeply on her death anniversary.
"How can the Xie Family allow itself to be manipulated like this again?"
Upon mentioning this, the Duke and Duchess fell completely silent.
The Cuju Banquet arrived amidst Cui Rong’s anticipation. Early that day, before dawn, she hurried to the East Courtyard.
The little girl tiptoed and pressed against the wall, moving carefully inward after Yingwu repeatedly guaranteed that she would not disturb Shen Hua.
A tea setup was placed before the collapsing seat, with only a dim lantern hardly lit atop.
Cui Rong went to see Shen Hua, who was taking a rest.
She hadn’t put on makeup, her little face as pale as if it had been dabbed with flour. The girl’s breathing was frail, delicate like a porcelain doll.
Cui Rong slipped off her shoes and heavy outerwear, and climbed up the bed. She adeptly covered her with the blanket.
She had just lain down and could already imagine the tumult in the palace. The more she thought about it, the more excited she got, to the point of restlessness.
Who knows how much time passed.
Suddenly, she heard rustling sounds beside her, followed by the girl’s light panting and soft cough. Her cough was very quiet, as if trying to restrain it.
But the more she tried, the more frequent the coughs became.
All at once, Shen Hua semi-propped herself up, her skillful hand retrieving a white handkerchief from beneath the pillow.
The lighting on the bed was poor, and Shen Hua, in her discomfort, did not notice an extra person had appeared.
But Cui Rong was watching wide-eyed and clearly saw it all.
She witnessed blood gushing from the girl’s nose, and perhaps due to the dim lighting, the bloodstains on the white handkerchief didn’t seem red.
Cui Rong clutched her mouth, fearing that any sound might slip out.
Shen Hua experienced a moment when all her senses were lost.
Large droplets of sweat seeped into her hair as she curled up in pain. During the onset of her illness, she always thought it might be better to just die than to endure the pain. But once the pain dissipated, she greedily wished to live another day, and then another.
People are always in a state of conflict.
By the time she woke up again, it was already broad daylight outside.
Shen Hua felt completely relaxed and no longer showed any signs of discomfort. She burned the blood-soaked handkerchief out of everyone’s sight and then began to walk outside with small, measured steps. Just as she stepped out from behind the screen, she saw Cui Rong gnawing on a steamed bun again.
"When did you get here?"
"What does it matter when I arrived?"
Cui Rong’s gaze wandered: "I brought you some steamed buns. My Mama said you must eat a good breakfast to recover. Of course, it’s just a passing comment; your well-being has nothing to do with me."
"You little ghost, your words are really unpleasant."
After having breakfast, Cui Rong couldn’t stop urging to set off on their journey.
Of course, her voice was not without its unusual undertones.
"No, you can’t go like this. You have to go back, dress up nicely, and outshine everyone! Only then will you be worthy of being presented by me!"
"I’ve thought it all through for you, just go with the peach blossom makeup."
"Why do you have so many accessories!!!"
Cui Rong waved a large hand: "Put them all on, blind that crowd with your brilliance."
Shen Hua: ...
Just as they left the West Garden, Cui Rong looked anxious.
"At this hour, my second uncle is sure to be waiting outside, you’ve woken up too late. Be prepared for a scolding."
"I made him wait?"
"He didn’t send anyone over, what are you rushing for?"
"Being a man, one should have patience. In the future, he’ll have to wait nine months for a baby to be born. Consider this practice for tempering his patience."
Cui Rong stuttered: "Is... is that true?"
Outside the Marquis Yangling Mansion, there was a carriage parked with Marquis Qing waiting in front. Upon seeing Shen Hua and the others emerge, he hurriedly moved a footstool over.
Cui Rong climbed in first. Just as she was about to complain, she heard Shen Hua enter, tiredly pressing her forehead.
Cui Rong couldn’t help but feel scared afterward.
She turned her head to the side: "Second Uncle, Sister Shen didn’t mean to be late."
"She really did it for your own good."
Cui Yun’s gaze shifted away from the book.
Cui Rong, with a fluctuating tone, insisted: "Really! Second Uncle, you only waited for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea today, but later on, you’ll have to wait for nine months."
"Who told you that?" Cui Yun asked.
Without hesitation, Cui Rong’s hand pointed towards Shen Hua.
Shen Hua, with proper decorum, settled into a corner and frowned: "Did I say something wrong?"
"Could it be that I’ve wronged your second uncle?"
"Giving birth is truly a woman’s suffering."
Cui Yun clutched the book tighter.
He placed a hand over his lips, coughing lightly. He truly hadn’t thought so far ahead.
Just yesterday, she avoided him, and today she’s considering these matters; Shen Hua’s nature certainly is fickle. Cui Yun’s jawline tensed, his eyes flickering as he met Shen Hua’s gaze.
While she kept him at a slight distance, she was also attempting to lead him into her trap.
Indeed, she is the girl who, at the age of nine, invited a young man for a meal.
This tactic was indeed effective, to the extent that Cui Yun increasingly couldn’t bear the thought of her simply dying.