"Why is your head lowered so much? Are there flowers on the chessboard?"
Shen Xiabai's knuckles turned slightly pale as he gripped the chess piece. He raised his eyes, quickly scanned the surroundings, and then spoke in a low voice, "Why are you asking this?"
Cui Yunchu thought he was going to say, As a young lady, how can you speak so casually about love between a man and a woman? It lacks the grace of a noblewoman.
Looking at Shen Xiabai's cautious and whispering demeanor, acting as if he had stolen something, Cui Yunchu frowned.
Discussing this didn't break the law, so why was he so nervous?
Resting her chin on one hand, Cui Yunchu stared unblinkingly at Shen Xiabai. "So, do you have one or not?"
She didn't notice at all that the tips of Shen Xiabai's ears had turned slightly red.
He kept his head down, his expression cold. "No. Stop asking."
Cui Yunchu's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Seeing her expression, Shen Xiabai couldn't stop his heart from beating a little faster. He curled the corners of his lips and gave a murmur of agreement.
Under such circumstances, what normal person wouldn't let their imagination run wild?
Before Shen Xiabai could think of anything else, Cui Yunchu's voice followed right after, "Lord Shen, since you say you don't even have a sweetheart, headpieces are women's items, so they're of no use to you, right?"
"..."
So she didn't even want to give him that ten percent.
All the myriad of emotions in Shen Xiabai's heart instantly turned to ash. He looked up at Cui Yunchu, and his eyes could no longer be described with just the word 'cold'.
Cui Yunchu smiled awkwardly. "Lord Shen has a large family and great wealth..."
"Thirty percent. Not a single pearl less." Shen Xiabai's voice was freezing. The chess piece fell onto the board with a crisp clatter. Paired with his tone, it was enough to intimidate Cui Yunchu.
"...Fine."
Her little scheme had completely backfired.
Cui Yunchu slumped over the table, sighing endlessly.
Sitting opposite her, Shen Xiabai's face was dark. "Go sigh somewhere else."
"..." Cui Yunchu glared at him, but then felt she was indeed burning her bridges a bit.
After all, if it hadn't been for him today, let alone winning, she probably would have lost everything she had.
But she was born greedy. It was just like how she knew she wasn't a good person, and that jealousy and playing dirty tricks were wrong, but sometimes she just couldn't help it.
Shen Xiabai frowned deeply. Gripping the chess piece, he felt agitated and distracted, his mind seemingly stripped of any ability to think, leaving only frustration. It was strange.
He knew exactly what kind of person Cui Yunchu was, and it wasn't his first time dealing with her. He didn't even know what he was so angry about.
Perhaps he was angry at her for pushing her luck.
They had agreed on thirty percent, which she reduced to ten, and in the end, she didn't even want to give him that ten percent. How could there be a girl with such thick skin?
So greedy for money.
Consequently, the force with which he gripped the chess piece increased a few degrees.
Cui Yunchu curled her lip. "I'll give it to you, alright? Is there any need to be so angry?"
Even a cesspit wasn't as stinky as his expression.
"Stingy." She got up and returned to the corner to continue sitting in a daze.
Shen Xiabai glanced at her with a look of disgust in his eyes.
After a while, it was getting quite late. Just as Cui Yunchu thought she could finally return to her manor, Tang Qingwan came to her side and said, "Yunchu made a fortune today."
At the mention of this, Cui Yunchu broke into a wide grin, her smile brighter than the peonies by the pavilion.
Shen Xiabai was also watching this side.
He still couldn't understand how a person's happiness could be so easily triggered.
Tang Qingwan said, "Since you made a profit, shouldn't you treat us?"
Like a magic trick, Cui Yunchu's smile vanished instantly.
Looking up at Tang Qingwan, she said, "I want to go home. I miss my grandmother."
Shen Xiabai immediately retracted his gaze, looking as if he couldn't bear to watch.
Tang Qingwan patted her head. "Be good. Grandmother is at the manor, she won't run away."
Cui Yunchu curled her lip.
Ask her to treat?
Everyone sitting here was richer than her. What slipped through their fingers was enough to buy her life. Truly, the King of Hell doesn't mind a skinny imp.
"Where to?" Cui Yunchu asked pitifully.
After all, everyone was staring at her. She couldn't be too stingy and let others laugh at her.
"Let's go to the restaurant in the east of the city."
Cui Yunchu said, "...Wangyue Pavilion?"
Tang Qingwan nodded. Cui Yunchu got up to leave. "Oh dear, my stomach hurts, it hurts unbearably. I must return to the manor first. Let's catch up another day."
Tang Qingwan grabbed her by the back collar. "The Crown Prince's estate has doctors too. Even if you want a royal physician, I can summon one for you."
Cui Yunchu turned back, her mouth turned down so far she looked like she was about to cry.
Wangyue Pavilion, a place where a single meal cost hundreds of taels of silver, the largest restaurant in the capital. Was that a place someone of her net worth could afford to go?
But clearly, Tang Qingwan didn't intend to let her off today.
"Cousin, you are the Crown Princess. How can you show your face in public so casually?"
Tang Qingwan's gaze swept past Shen Xiabai and finally landed on the Crown Prince. "With the Crown Prince accompanying us, there is no harm."
There was harm to her, and harm to her purse.
Cui Yunfeng also walked over, chiming in with Tang Qingwan.
"What Eldest Sister won today is enough for two meals. Don't be so stingy."
Tang Qingwan nodded. "Exactly. Lord Shen helped you so much, shouldn't you thank him properly?"
She then lowered her voice and said, "You are, after all, the Prime Minister's daughter. You should be more generous. Being so stingy will only make people laugh at you."
Cui Yunchu's stance was: Whoever wants to laugh can laugh, as long as they don't make her bleed money.
Cui Yunfeng said directly, "Eldest Sister agreed. Let's go quickly."
She grabbed Cui Yunchu's arm.
Cui Yunchu protested, "When did I agree?"
Tang Qingwan raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you just say you wanted to thank Lord Shen properly?"
What nonsense was this? How come she didn't know about it?
Cui Yunchu was like a duck being driven onto a perch.
Prince An and the Crown Prince, who were sitting properly in the pavilion, slightly changed their expressions, quickly exchanging glances.
The Crown Prince said, "Qingwan, there is plenty of time in the future. Since Eldest Cousin is feeling unwell, why not change it to another day?"
Prince An also spoke up to persuade Cui Yunfeng.
Tang Qingwan today clearly had an ulterior motive. With a very faint glance from her, the Crown Prince immediately fell silent.
Prince An also couldn't withstand a glare from Cui Yunfeng.
"I'll listen to my cousin."
Prince An fell silent and looked at the Crown Prince, signaling him to speak up and stop it.
The Crown Prince shook his head slightly and lowered his voice, "Second Cousin is a bit dull, it's better if you speak. Qingwan is smart and might get suspicious."
"..."
Cui Yunchu knew in her heart that she would inevitably have to bleed money today, so she broke free from the two of them, walked to the pavilion pillar, and softly called out, "Lord Shen."
Her voice was very gentle, a world of difference from her fierce struggling just a moment ago. "Since that's the case, let us all go together."
Shen Xiabai looked at Cui Yunchu and didn't speak for a long while.
The corners of Tang Qingwan's lips curled up slightly.
But she was truly mistaken this time. Shen Xiabai wasn't captivated by Cui Yunchu's sudden change in attitude. Instead, he was thinking about what kind of crazy scheme this woman was cooking up in her head now.
Having spent so much time together, he had come to understand her temperament somewhat.
Such soft and gentle words definitely meant a trap.
But his brain and mouth had clearly parted ways and were out of control. "Alright."
After Shen Xiabai agreed, it was as if he only belatedly registered the gazes coming from the Crown Prince and Prince An.
A series of changes from hope, to extinguishment, and then to disgust.
The two men looked grim, their brows tightly furrowed.
But the word had already been spoken, and it was too late for Shen Xiabai to back out now.
Bearing the gazes of the Crown Prince and Prince An, he had no choice but to lower his head slightly, his face still maintaining a cold and indifferent expression.
Tang Qingwan curled her lips and glanced at the Crown Prince and Prince An. Since that is the case, you two can go about your own business. We will go by ourselves.
...
Since things had reached this point, the two men had no choice but to tag along.
Tang Qingwan and Cui Yunfeng took Cui Yunchu by the hand and left first.
Prince An, the Crown Prince, and Shen Xiabai could only follow slowly behind.
The Crown Prince furrowed his brows tightly, his expression ugly, while Prince An was equally weighed down by his thoughts.
Lord Shen, regarding tonight's matters, how could you bring them along?
The two men took turns blaming him.
Shen Xiabai remained silent.
After a long while, he only said one sentence, A slip of the tongue.
But the ones who should be feeling burdened were the Crown Prince and Prince An. Yet, for some unknown reason, he also felt quite a bit of discomfort in his heart.
Prince An glanced at the Crown Prince's ugly expression and smiled faintly. Royal Brother Crown Prince is quite ruthless. Are you not afraid that if Royal Sister-in-law finds out, she will fight you to the bitter end?
The brief moment of brotherly harmony having passed, the two began to trade barbs once again.
It was as if everything that happened today was merely a fleeting illusion.
Both knew that if it were not for the deep sisterly bond between the women they fancied, they might never have had the chance to sit together and joke around in their entire lives.
Shen Xiabai frowned and silently stepped back, putting some distance between them.
The Crown Prince said, There is no need for Royal Brother to take pleasure in my misfortune on this matter. What difference is there between you and me?
Xiao Yi scoffed, I am far less deranged than Royal Brother. To gain Imperial Father's support, you resort to any means necessary and would abandon anyone.
The Crown Prince halted his steps and looked at him sideways, his eyes dark. But Royal Brother is privy to the truth, are you not?
Even if he had not participated in it, knowing the truth without reporting it and silently allowing things to happen made him equally guilty in the eyes of the Cui family's daughter.
If one were to speak of the mastermind, he was not that either.
You and I are nothing but chess pieces held in Imperial Father's hands, manipulated at will. Who is any nobler than the other?
Xiao Yi darkened his gaze and remained silent.
Yes, both were hiding the truth; what was the difference?
With Yunfeng's temperament, she would be equally unforgiving.
And the Crown Prince, at the very least, had already married the one he loved.
Xiao Yi lightly closed his eyes. The laughter of today and the woman's face involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
Today felt far too short.
The two spoke without the slightest hesitation or avoidance. The Crown Prince looked back at Shen Xiabai.
Shen Xiabai said, This subject heard absolutely nothing.
