Chapter 448: Chapter 447: I’m Willing to Spoil Him
He exerted a little force, and the girl was lifted from the inside to the outside, Cui Yun put shoes on her and changed her into the clothes set aside for changing.
After hanging the Jade Pendant, he took out her makeup box.
His fingertips touched her hair, as smooth and silky as a waterfall, and combed for her the simplest hairstyle he could manage, other than pulling it back.
She took out a piece of jewelry: "This one."
Without forgetting to lift her chin, she said haughtily: "I also want those coral earrings."
Cui Yun did not speak but fulfilled her wishes one by one.
Shen Hua held her face and looked in the copper mirror, gazing at her charming features that somehow blended innocence and allure without conflict.
She could not help but feel self-pity.
"Yangyang is really—"
The sentence was left unfinished.
With the next breath, she was pushed out of the room by Cui Yun. The beautifully carved door was closed again with a ’bang’. Her young man’s handsome, unfazed eyebrows were hidden behind the door.
She... was thrown out?
Shen Hua tilted her head, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes clear as glass. She pressed her ear against the door to listen for any movement inside, while her right leg carelessly wobbled to and fro.
"Did I hit a nerve, and he got mad out of embarrassment?"
The girl rubbed her hands in bewilderment, like a cat chased out of the house with nowhere to go.
Soon, she hopelessly started to reflect on herself.
"It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have hurt your pride!"
"Miss Shen."
It just so happened that Liu Chu came along with a hand fan. Behind her followed Yicui and Yingwu.
Cui Yun had been in a hurry that day, but the girl always needed someone with her. After he returned to Shengjing, Shen Hua would need even more care.
Yingwu, after Cui Yun and the others left, brought Yicui with her. They took the comfortable carriage, which was sent to bring Shen Hua back, arriving only today.
The two of them gave their greetings to the girl.
Shen Hua, who highly valued her face, suddenly stood up straight.
"Aunt."
"The carriage is ready, we can leave now."
Shen Hua had almost forgotten that she needed to attend the throwing of the embroidered ball event to choose a suitor. Liu Chu led the girl out, but before they could leave the courtyard, Shen Hua gently tugged at her sleeve.
"Aunt, wait for me."
With that, she ran back.
’Bang bang bang!’
The girl started to pound on the door.
"Cui Yun!"
No response.
"I’m leaving!"
No response.
"I’m really leaving!"
Still no response.
Shen Hua’s face turned wry, and she probed: "So, shall I comfort you when I get back?"
He leaned against the soft pillow, surrounded by the sweet scent of a maiden, his hand resting on his abdomen in the most standard sleep posture.
He moved his lips indifferently, finally responding.
"Alright, I’ll wait."
Liu Chu assumed she had forgotten to take something, but she hadn’t expected to overhear this exchange. She was utterly astonished and took a long time to come back to her senses.
Only when Shen Hua boarded the carriage did she speak warmly.
"When did Yun get back?"
Clearly, Cui Yun’s chamber was next door, so why were they staying together?
But such things, she feared the girl was too thin-skinned to inquire about directly.
Indeed, she had underestimated Shen Hua.
"He just came back this morning."
The girl noticed Liu Chu was holding back words, her eyes quivered slightly, and after some thought.
"Just as I returned, you drove me out."
Liu Chu’s heart, which she had been holding, fell to the ground. She saw Shen Hua, looking fair and clean, and pondered for a moment before finally speaking.
"Him? His courage, learning, and character are all excellent. Very strong-willed. Over the years, I’ve never heard him complain once. It’s our inadequacy as elders to let him single-handedly uphold the family honor, and to also receive his protection."
"But I can’t help but add, it’s also the first time he’s taken a liking to a girl. If you don’t seize the opportunity and measure it properly, you can be annoyed if you wish, but there’s no need to be biased towards him."
What kind of world is it where one takes over a girl’s room, and instead the girl has to cajole him? Saying this out loud wouldn’t you fear being laughed at?
Seeing her misunderstanding, Shen Hua hurriedly revealed, "This matter is my fault. I said something unpleasant."
Liu Chu scolded her, "Even if you were wrong first, he is a young man, and he’s older than you by more than a year. He should make allowances for you, and shouldn’t be petty with you."
As she spoke, she feared Shen Hua was too meek, like Mrs. Cui Xuan, enduring all hardships.
"It’s fine for you to throw a tantrum occasionally."
Shen Hua let out an ’ah’.
She dug into her palm, very magnanimously.
"But I’m willing to indulge him."
————
The wealthy merchant from Hui State made his fortune in the liquor business. The matchmaking event was held at his own tavern.
The girl slightly lifted a corner of the cloth curtain, only to see a noisy crowd ahead, bustling and packing the street full of people, blocking the thoroughfare completely.
The carriage had to turn around, and under the protection of the Liu Residence’s servant, Shen Hua and Liu Chu entered through the small side door of the neighboring teahouse and went up to the third floor. Leaning against the window and looking out, she could take in the sight of the street below and the scene across the street.
"Mr. Ming announced early that he was seeking a son-in-law, and still, so many people have come."
The voices from the neighboring room carried over.
"She’s never shown her face. Her looks are unknown. But Miss Ming is indeed a bit too old."
"To become the Ming Family’s son-in-law, you wouldn’t have to worry about food and clothes for the rest of your life. Keep in mind, in the future, the Ming Family will be run by Miss Ming as the head of the household; becoming a live-in son-in-law just means bending your spine a bit. Look, there are plenty of young gentlemen below. Who would care?"
"The Ming Family is not lacking in young men. Mr. Ming insists on having a girl inherit the family business."
Shen Hua held a cup of fragrant tea that she had barely sipped.
The taste was really bad.
The tea petals were all broken, and even the color of the tea was slightly murky.
Rather than saying that the teahouse was shabby, it would be more accurate to say that Hui State was impoverished. It had an advantageous location, but due to the daunting terrain, merchants were reluctant to visit.
Seeing her listening intently, Liu Chu also said, "That Miss Ming is the child of the original wife."
"After the original wife passed, Mr. Ming remarried, but he favored this daughter because she resembled her mother by eight parts."
Men are always like this.
While the original wife was alive, he would only concern himself with seeking pleasures outside. After she passed away, he began to reminisce. The more he dwelled on it, the more regret and reluctance he felt.
Later, he devoted all his energy to cultivating Miss Ming.
It would be a lie to say Liu Chu didn’t despise him. She never hid her disgust for Mr. Ming.
"Such a heartless father, focused only on his selfish desires. Miss Ming is already twenty-six. In my opinion, how could he delay her marriage prospects like this? There was a well-suited match agreed upon since childhood, but that old man stubbornly broke it off. That young man was decent too, unable to let go, he knelt in front of the Ming Family’s door for three whole days."
Shen Hua’s eyes widened.
"What about Miss Ming?"
"She was unwilling back then and knelt alongside him. Mr. Ming was furious, locked her up, and later she fell ill. After that, Miss Ming disappeared from public view. Many years have passed since then. If it weren’t for this son-in-law selection event, people might have nearly forgotten she existed."
Shen Hua felt distressed hearing this and stuck her head out, towards the crowd below.
Tall ones, fat ones, short ones, skinny ones. There truly was all sorts of people.
Suddenly, her gaze rested on one spot.
The girl’s eyes trembled and she abruptly stood up.
"That man in coarse blue clothes just crossing the bridge, could he also be here to compete for the embroidered ball!"
"Since he is here, naturally he is."
Shen Hua stared blankly.
She couldn’t believe it!
But as that man squeezed his way towards the tavern.
Shen Hua smacked the table as if catching a cheater in the act, anger flaring up.
She gritted her teeth and said.
"Yingwu! Tie him up and bring him here!"