Chapter 398: Chapter 396: Can You Really Fool Yourself?
Haitang happened to come in to deliver bird’s nest porridge.
Cui Ji took it, sat on the embroidery stool next to the rocking chair, scooped up a spoonful, blew it cool, and brought it to Shen Yinning’s lips.
Shen Yinning only took half a bite and frowned: "Why is it this kind of bird’s nest every day? I usually eat golden swiftlet bird’s nest."
Her voice was soft and gentle, even her dissatisfaction carried a hint of coquettish charm.
Cui Ji didn’t know that bird’s nest was categorized into different grades.
He only knew that bird’s nest was expensive; this cup of bird’s nest and porridge was worth almost half a year’s expenses back in Gan State.
He lowered his head and put the remaining half-spoon into his own mouth, feeling the tender sweetness, delicious beyond words.
But since she said golden swiftlet bird’s nest was better, it must surely be superior to this ordinary kind.
She deserved the best things in this world.
He put down the bowl and said, "I’ll have someone buy it tomorrow."
Shen Yinning shifted her gaze from the book to his face and said, "It’s something exclusively provided for the Imperial Family. Even if you have a fortune, how can you buy it? Cui Ji, money is certainly useful, but what works even better than money is power. Dark and unpleasant, isn’t it? But these are the unseen rules of the world."
Cui Ji cast his eyes down.
The bird’s nest porridge in his hand wasn’t hot, but his palm still burned fiercely.
His palm burned, his face burned, and his heart burned.
It reminded him of his endless inadequacy compared to Lu Ying.
Even when she was in his residence, she lived less comfortably than when she was beside Lu Ying.
"I’m sorry."
He spoke softly.
Shen Yinning chuckled: "I’m not saying these things because I think you owe me anything. You have long since owed me nothing; it’s me who owes you instead."
Cui Ji slowly raised his head.
The young maiden, radiant and alluring, had the shadows of flowers cast on her cheeks from the window. Her brows glimmered like jade in the alternating light and dark, drawing out an unmistakable charm—a pair of eyes as clear as autumn waters, unblemished and full of affection, that had appeared countless times in his dreams.
His gaze fell upon her lips again.
Those full, rosy lips seemed to hold half a blooming flower, more stunning than any rouge.
He remembered when he fainted from hunger by the roadside and first looked upwards at her face, the first thing he noticed was her lips...
"I’m feeling rather sleepy." Shen Yinning yawned and handed the book in her hand to him. "Put it on the bookshelf for me."
Cui Ji instinctively reached out to take the book.
His long, fair palm hesitated briefly mid-air, then in the next moment, he suddenly bypassed the book and grasped Shen Yinning’s hand.
"Cui Ji!"
Ignoring Shen Yinning’s surprised gaze, Cui Ji leaned forward and swept her up in his arms.
He murmured hoarsely, "Since the Commandery Princess is tired, I’ll take you to the bed to rest."
He was a scholar, yet his arm strength was astonishing.
Carrying Shen Yinning from the study to the bedroom, he didn’t even pause for breath, placing her steadily upon the bed.
Several dim candlelights flickered within the bedroom.
He stood at the foot of the bed, neither leaving nor speaking, clearly wanting to say something yet hesitating.
Shen Yinning sat amongst the blue brocade quilt adorned with floral patterns, raising her eyes to look at him.
He and Lu Ying were, after all, blood brothers. In the dim light, their brows and eyes shared a striking semblance. The fine, dense eyelashes cast shadows along the contours of his eyelids, reminiscent of the time when she kissed Lu Ying’s lashes during their moments of intensity.
But this man was not Lu Ying.
Realizing this, Shen Yinning abruptly withdrew her gaze, clutching the quilt tightly in secret.
He was not Lu Ying.
He was Cui Ji, the man who had followed her from Gan State to this very day, according to her plans.
His loyalty and devotion surpassed Lu Ying’s.
How absurd it was that Lu Ying had married and taken concubines, yet she still thought of their shared moments during times like these.
Shen Yinning felt a bit ashamed of herself.
"I..." Cui Ji hesitated to start, his voice muddled and arduous, "Could I stay tonight?"
As if afraid of rejection, he added, "Cui Ji has trained in the arts of the bedchamber at the brothel but has never touched any woman in private and remains pure. If the Commandery Princess doesn’t wish for anything tonight, Cui Ji will not intrude upon you. I’d simply be satisfied with your company."
Shen Yinning looked at him.
Looked at his brows that faintly resembled Lu Ying’s in the dim light, at the lock of white hair near his forehead, at the forced calm on his face that couldn’t mask the chaos in his eyes.
It brought to mind the day in the palace when she was accused by Shen Xinghan of scheming against Shen Yan, faced impeachment from Shen Family’s faction, surrounded by enemies, and he resolutely appeared carrying the imperial edict and the Red Book Iron Certificate.
In this world, did there truly exist someone who chose to stand by her side unwaveringly, regardless of right or wrong, consequences or logic?
Cui Ji.
Perhaps, there was only one Cui Ji.
Shen Yinning suddenly stretched out her hand toward him.
Cui Ji froze, but quickly recovered, grabbing her hand firmly.
The opulent bed curtains fell quietly layer upon layer.
Shen Yinning straddled Cui Ji’s waist, reaching out to undo his belt, her voice carrying a trace of languid teasing: "Is Master Cui truly pure?"
Cui Ji’s ears flushed red as he stopped her hand: "Commandery Princess!"
"Master Cui doesn’t like me."
"How could that be!"
Within the bedroom, a single incense burner released wisps of sandalwood smoke into the night.
The iron-faced Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Cui Ji, turned entirely red.
He clasped Shen Yinning’s delicate wrist and, unable to resist any longer, pressed her beneath him.
Shen Yinning had been pregnant for three months. Although her pregnancy was stable, Cui Ji remained cautious, ultimately restraining himself, only lingering to kiss her cheeks, collarbones, and hands as though he could never kiss her enough.
When the moon hung above the willow treetops, Shen Yinning finally lost her temper and kicked him out.
The next day.
In Mingde Hall.
Lu Ying rose early, changed into an ivory narrow-sleeved training outfit, and grabbed a sword to practice.
De Sun approached and held up three fingers: "Last night, Assistant Minister Cui remained in the Commandery Princess’s chambers. I heard they called for water three times, and he still hasn’t come out. Assistant Minister Cui sent someone to request leave, claiming to have caught a cold, and won’t attend court today."
Lu Ying gripped his sword.
The chill of early autumn splintered upon the blade, reflecting icy gleams in the young sovereign’s narrowed eyes.
After a while, he chuckled and stepped forward: "What does that have to do with me?"
Not long after, the courtyard filled with dancing flashes of swords and sabers. The man’s figure amidst the training resembled petals falling from a pear tree.
De Sun leaned toward Gui Quan and said, "Just now, His Majesty smiled. It’s been a while since he last smiled. Perhaps he’s finally let go of Princess Zhaoning?"
"But somehow," Gui Quan furrowed his brows hesitantly, "I feel like His Majesty’s smile looks particularly eerie and sinister, doesn’t it?"
And today’s swordsmanship.
It looks like it’s meant to kill someone!
After morning court, an imperial edict arrived at Cui Mansion, ordering Cui Ji to set off immediately for the border.
Xue Ling, draping his wide sleeves, lounged in the Imperial Study. Even with his usual cutting and mischievous demeanor, he couldn’t help but express curiosity: "You decided on sending Shen Yinning to be Cui Ji’s concubine yourself. Now that they’re truly living their lives, why would you make them live apart? Could it be you still miss Shen Yinning? Impossible, right? It’s been ages!"
Lu Ying, while reviewing memorials, replied coldly: "It’s not about anyone else. The border is in dire straits; his timely presence there brings countless benefits without harm."
Xue Ling raised an eyebrow.
A while later, he sunk into a chair, eating peanuts one by one.
After finishing a small plate, he suddenly remarked, "Everything else—self-deception can be trivial, but when it comes to matters of the heart, deceiving yourself over and over—can you truly fool yourself in the end?"