Chapter 453: Chapter 452: Shen Hua’s Heart Is Itching
However, he remained, as always, a quiet listener.
Until he escorted Shen Hua back to her room.
With suppressed emotions in his eyes, he let go of the girl’s hand, reminded her carefully of something, and then went next door. The official duties he had not dealt with were already sent to the side chamber by Ji Qing.
Shen Hua watched his figure disappear into the night before she went inside to bathe and change.
An hour later.
Cui Yun heard a rhythmic knocking at the door.
He went to open it.
The girl was draped in loose hair, her fair face aglow with a pale radiance. Clutching a soft pillow in her arms, she bowed and slipped in, scanning the room—a setup not much different from the next one.
Approaching the desk, she glanced inadvertently and fixed her gaze. Reading each word, she was engulfed by an overwhelming shock.
"The Fourth Prince has raised his own private army? Does he intend to covet the throne and force a palace coup?"
Cui Yun did not hide this from her, his expression indifferent.
"Surprised?"
The girl thought for a moment, then honestly said: "Not really. Isn’t the Hengzhou Mine and the officials his doing?"
It was evident that Ji Wang was not as the rumors suggested; he was ambitious and surely not one to respectfully yield to his brothers.
However.
"But if we’re to speak of strategic wisdom and the art of handling affairs, the Crown Prince is by far his inferior. Praised by court and country, he is the one most earnestly cultivated. And the officials favor his mother, Princess Consort Jing, above all."
"I think, with the Zou Family acting so recklessly, Ji Zhui’s position as Crown Prince will sooner or later be revoked."
If it weren’t for Ji Teng, in the end, the one likely to ascend the Dragon Throne would be Ji Wang.
So why the haste?
Cui Yun, his brush pen soaked in ink, continued to process the documents.
"The previous Emperor Xianwu pacified the six passes and set about rejuvenating the nation, securing peace and prosperity for the people. Perhaps due to his great merits, he died at the age of ninety-three, outliving the Crown Prince. None of the other Princes lived as long as him. After his death, his eldest legitimate grandson, Emperor Yong’an, ascended the throne."
"Emperor He is in robust health. Half a year ago, he sought out many Taoists, seeking the secret to immortality."
Shen Hua listened with intense interest.
"So Ji Wang fears he won’t outlive the official, but might be buried before him instead."
"What about the Crown Prince?"
Cui Yun: "Ji Zhui has a Dragon Robe hanging in his secret chamber. He’s shorter than Ji Wang, but after all, he has the legitimate claim."
Shen Hua, pensive: "It’s just a pity that the officials are unaware of these matters. If they knew, it seems Shengjing would be thrown into chaos."
Cui Yun’s fingers paused. A cold light flashed in his eyes, but his voice remained exceptionally tender: "He will know."
He did not look at Shen Hua but seeing the girl listening intently, he chose to share what she liked to hear.
"Lately, the official has neglected them both, instead favoring Ji Ge, who became the target of many. Behind the scenes and with intentional or unintentional nudges from the two, Ji Ge has repeatedly been the victim of sabotage. A few days ago at the lakeside, he almost drowned in a blink of an eye."
"He was unharmed."
Even if Emperor He knew who was behind it, he might not grant Ji Ge justice.
His closeness to Ji Ge served more as a warning to the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince.
Shen Hua: "The Seventh Prince is on good terms with Ji Huo, who cannot bear to see those close to him wronged. He will surely stand up for him."
Cui Yun, his tone flat: "You do hold the Princely Heir of Prince Gong in high regard."
"It’s just too bad that Prince Gong does not allow him to come forward. Ji Huo still fears the cane."
Cui Yun smiled faintly: "However, feeling guilty, he invited the miraculously survived Ji Ge to visit the brothel. He chose over thirty prostitutes for him to pick from."
That was considered a sizeable expenditure.
Shen Hua was annoyed.
"Ji Ge is already married."
Before his marriage, Ji Ge was just as much of a libertine as Ji Huo, a rake. After marrying Le Jia, though their marriage wasn’t normal, Ji Ge gave up going to brothels entirely.
"Did Ji Ge really choose a prostitute?"
"No, he did not."
Cui Yun: "After three rounds of wine, Ji Ge left. Ji Huo, drunk to the bones, mistook someone else for a blood brother, pulling the man who took him to the brothel, calling each other brothers."
Shen Hua’s brow twitched slightly, sensing the simpleton might land in trouble.
"These past few days, Ji Huo had money on hand, dressed finely. After he passed out, the male guest harbored ill intentions. He stripped him of all valuables. Not even his robe was spared."
In the end, only a thin pair of underwear remained.
She listened as Cui Yun continued.
"The next day, the story spread throughout Shengjing."
"What’s the rumor?"
"The Heir of Prince Gong has a craving for male company."
Shen Hua was silent at first, then her shoulders trembled, and finally, she couldn’t contain her laughter anymore.
"Still, he couldn’t escape the punishment of being whipped with canes."
After being punished, he was put under house arrest.
Unwilling to comply, he intended to climb over the wall and escape. His plan fell through and he was caught on the spot. In his haste, he failed to check and fell from the wall.
Now he is recuperating in bed, nursing his leg.
If he had known this would happen, he might as well have gone to the palace and sought justice from Ji Ge.
Ji Ge paid him a visit: "Hahaha."
"Get lost!"
Ji Wang paid him a visit, meticulously inquiring about his well-being and then subtly stirring up trouble with roundabout insinuations.
Ji Huo’s mind was too muddled to understand.
He even fell asleep while listening.
Ji Zhui also visited him, with the Crown Prince assuming the elder’s stance: "Cousin, you ought to understand some matters and share the worries of the Imperial Uncle. He can’t protect you forever."
Ji Huo glanced at him sidelong.
"Why not? Once the Imperial Uncle gets the Immortal Pill for eternal life, it just takes him sharing one with my father."
This remark, overheard by someone with an agenda, was delivered to Emperor He by Prince Gong.
Overjoyed, Emperor He sent Prince Gong out of the palace with cartloads of tonics.
Under the lamp’s glow, half of Cui Yun’s face was illuminated, his eyebrows and eyes profound, his appearance outstanding and noble, as he asked without changing his expression.
"Shengjing has been bustling these past few days. Do you plan to go back to Shengjing with me, or to Fengzhou?"
Shen Hua was indeed enticed.
She missed her gang!
But she still had her senses about her.
"Back to Fengzhou."
"Aunt Sun is getting on in years, she should be enjoying her grandchildren, not having all responsibilities dumped on her while you go off seeking tranquility."
Cui Yun did not interfere with her decision.
"The world is becoming restless."
Fengzhou, being far from Shengjing, would be safer for Shen Hua even if she stirred up trouble.
Shen Hua understood the implication of his words.
She responded in a stifled tone.
But she did not forget the purpose of her visit.
Shen Hua climbed onto the bed: "I want to try the calming incense in your room."
She truly wasn’t afraid of what Cui Yun might do.
Seeing her turn her head and close her eyes to sleep, the sense of restlessness that Cui Yun felt at noon surged back, even more intense than before.
For someone like Shen Hua, if she wasn’t taught a lesson, she wouldn’t learn.
He stood there for a long time without saying anything, then turned and went to the washroom.
Shen Hua, half-awake, felt a weight upon her. Her eyes fluttered open to the sensation of soft kisses, and Cui Yun’s hand slipped inside her undergarments.
At first, the girl didn’t think much of it.
She just uncomfortably clutched the blanket, looking up at the canopy overhead.
And counted embroidery patterns in her mind.
Flat embroidery, stripe embroidery, point embroidery, Bian Xiu, net embroidery, sand embroidery.
Suddenly, her almond eyes widened, and her legs were parted. The untouched territory was being wickedly toyed with.
She frantically tried to push away, but her limbs were numb and weak.
Her body was under his control, no longer her own. She trembled and felt like crying.
"You..."
Cui Yun bit her lip. His eyes grew darker. Even in doing such things, there was both a soul-stirring and a solemn earnestness.
After a while, he chuckled lowly and withdrew his fingers.
"You’re wet."