Chapter 306: Chapter 304: Cui Ji Oversteps the Bounds
Everyone says the Crown Prince is upright.
But to Cui Ji’s eyes, daring to forcibly take from Madam Shen in broad daylight at the Ministry of Justice’s office—upright, perhaps not so much.
After Lu Jiazhe left, Cui Ji handed a jar of ointment to Shen Yinning.
Shen Yinning opened it and sniffed; the cool scent of mint was refreshing.
She brushed her fingertips over the red marks on her neck. The lingering warmth of Lu Ying’s touch seemed to still remain there. She hadn’t looked in the mirror and didn’t realize the marks left behind on her skin.
She didn’t overlook the gaze Cui Ji had just cast her way. Setting the ointment down on the desk, she said, "You seem to have something to say to me."
Cui Ji didn’t mention Lu Ying and instead asked, "How long do you plan to stay with the Gao Family?"
"I am a little bored with the Gao Family. In a while—once the Seven Treasures Pavilion stands firm in the Capital and expands its power, once I am qualified to face the Shen Family head-on—I’ll leave the Gao Family. Not before then."
"You stay with the Gao Family just to avoid drawing attention, not wanting anyone to discover your involvement with the Crown Prince," Cui Ji said plainly. "If that’s the case, why the Gao Family? The Zhang Family, the Li Family—any of them could serve as your cover. Why must it be the Gao Family?"
Shen Yinning saw through his thoughts instantly: "You want to marry me?"
Cui Ji averted his gaze: "I’m more useful than Gao Zheng."
Shen Yinning propped her chin on her hand.
Her gaze brazenly examined Cui Ji from head to toe, lingering on that lock of white hair at his temple for a long moment before a smile played across her lips: "Assistant Minister Cui is stubborn and self-disciplined, likely to demand much of me. If I marry you, I can’t carry on my affair with Lu Ying. So, no, I won’t marry you."
Cui Ji frowned deeply: "You enjoy being with him?"
"Why wouldn’t I? He gives me power and wealth, does his best to protect me. And besides, we’re quite compatible in that respect. He’s not some clumsy, inexperienced young man who doesn’t even know how to flirt properly and only manages to hurt women."
The young woman’s offhanded tone rendered Cui Ji momentarily stunned.
Was she disparaging him?
Dismissive of how inexperienced he was in that aspect, incapable of providing her satisfaction and pleasure.
Cui Ji lowered his head.
Since coming to the Capital, he had only ever heard of women pleasing men, never men needing to please women.
From the time he passed the imperial exams and began his career, plenty had tried to offer him beauties in secret, but he had refused them all.
He thought his chastity would make her happy, yet now he realized—she wanted joy. She didn’t care whether a man was chaste or not.
After a long silence, he said solemnly, "I can learn."
The office fell silent in an instant.
Cui Ji looked again at Shen Yinning: "I’ve never been with a woman. These years, my focus has been on studying, so in that regard, I truly know nothing. Since meeting Madam Shen, my heart has allowed no room for other women. But if Madam Shen prefers someone more experienced, I can hire a bedchamber tutor and study from scratch."
Shen Yinning’s slender jade-like hand unconsciously rested on the jar of ointment.
She lowered her thick lashes, concealing the tempest in her eyes, as well as a fleeting moment of stirring emotion.
Those sharp, cutting remarks just now were merely to stifle Cui Ji’s intentions.
The world holds expectations for women to remain chaste, yet forgives men generously, permitting them wives and concubines aplenty. For Cui Ji to self-restrain to such an extent showed he held genuine feelings for her.
Diligently studying, earnestly living—he was uncommonly good and clean, destined to become a virtuous, untarnished official in the future.
His mother had passed away early; he had grown up relying on meals from a hundred households. In his lifetime, he had hardly known a day of peace. He deserved to marry a wife who truly loved and cherished him, deserved to build a simple yet warm little family.
Shen Yinning knew she was nothing but walking trouble and calamity.
Thus, she sought collaboration with Cui Ji, not to tarnish his reputation because of her.
Moreover...
He was still of such standing...
Suppressing the chaotic emotions welling within her, she curled her lips into a faint and mocking smile.
Lazily, she said, "Enough. I saved you to have you work for me, not to have you pledge yourself to me. By now, you should see clearly—I’m not the pure and flawless woman you imagined. In private, I’m licentious, unprincipled, shameless—I’d even climb into my brother-in-law’s bed. Cui Ji, I only seek to profit, to cling to power. Though we’ve traveled some distance together, in the future, our paths will surely diverge."
Cui Ji fixed his gaze firmly on Shen Yinning.
Despite her words, he knew she wasn’t such a person.
With a grave expression, he declared as if swearing an oath, "Cui Ji’s life was saved by the Madam. For the rest of this lifetime, Cui Ji will never become Madam’s adversary. If Madam walks the main road, Cui Ji shall walk the main road. If Madam crosses the single-plank bridge, Cui Ji shall cross the single-plank bridge."
The man, seeming calm and reserved, was stubborn to an extraordinary degree.
As his brow furrowed, he exuded an air of dignity and authority befitting those of high station.
For the first time, Shen Yinning’s presence was overshadowed.
Momentarily dazed, she suddenly remembered that Cui Ji and Lu Ying shared the same lineage, their blood carrying the same traits. His time in the Capital had brought a semblance of similarity to Lu Ying when he wore a severe expression...
Cui Ji leaned in.
The peacock-blue wide official robes draped over the seated young woman, making her appear unexpectedly delicate and frail.
He gripped her smooth, tender chin, lowered his gaze, and settled his eyes on the marks on her neck, his expression dark and inscrutable.
Suddenly, he lowered his head and kissed her gently.
In that moment, Shen Yinning trembled all over.
Instinctively leaning backward, she found her head firmly held by Cui Ji.
He lingered and kissed those marks, bringing an aching, sultry atmosphere to the confined and dim government office chamber, as though trying to use his own imprint to overwrite the traces Lu Ying had left on her skin.
The air she breathed was filled with the bittersweet citrus fragrance emanating from him—not unpleasant.
Her heartbeat quickened: "Cui Ji!"
Cui Ji didn’t reply, instead brushing his thumb along her chin, suddenly exerting force to hold her face tightly.
He kissed her lips with unrestrained intensity—searing, fierce, as though the wildfire within his chest could no longer be contained and was about to consume him along with years of hidden desire. Yet there was an undercurrent of tenderness, as if afraid to hurt her or as though attempting to please her.
There was no technique, only raw emotion.
A feeling entirely different from Lu Ying.
Shen Yinning was compelled to lift her delicate face upward.
The chamber was quiet.
Cui Ji’s trusted aides stood guard outside; no one dared to enter without permission.
A beam of light filtered through the lattice window, falling on Shen Yinning’s face.
Looking into the light, she opened her eyes and saw Cui Ji above her, his face shrouded in shadows. His typically restrained presence, like cold rain of early spring, was crumbling, revealing the oppressive danger of a storm about to break.
This can’t continue...
Shen Yinning belatedly realized.
She pushed him away forcefully: "Enough!"
Cui Ji staggered back a few steps, inhaling deeply and pressing his lips with his fingers: "Cui Ji overstepped."
"Get out."
"Yes."
After Cui Ji left, Shen Yinning grew increasingly irritable, paced about the chamber, then abruptly raised her hand and overturned the desk.