When Cui Yunchu woke up, she was already at the entrance of her estate. Her head was still a bit groggy, and her vision was slightly double when she looked at people.
"Why are there two Shen Xiabais?"
"..."
Shen Xiabai handed her over to Xing'er and Nanny Zhang, who had come out to receive her. "Your lady has had too much to drink."
Cui Yunchu stumbled out of the carriage, supported by Xing'er and Nanny Zhang as they walked back into the estate. As she left, she mumbled, "Such a perfectly fine person, why does he share a name with a dog?"
Shen Xiabai's hand, which was holding up the carriage curtain, had not yet dropped. His face darkened. "Yu Feng, did you hear what she just said?"
Yu Feng nodded. "Eldest Miss Cui seemed to say... that Master is just like a dog."
After saying this, he immediately lowered his head. It didn't look like he was afraid; rather, he was holding back a laugh.
Shen Xiabai shot a sharp glare over, and Yu Feng immediately composed his expression.
That Eldest Miss Cui was getting bolder and bolder these days, simply lawless. Even the imperial censors in the court wouldn't dare point at a master's nose and call him a dog.
She truly was spoiled and fearless, relying on his favor.
Shen Xiabai cast a glance at where Cui Yunchu had disappeared into the estate and dropped the carriage curtain. "Let's return to the manor."
Aside from cursing at people and sleeping, her behavior when drunk was actually quite decent.
Shen Xiabai lowered his eyes, picked up the thin blanket from the floor, and placed it back in its original spot. The bite mark on his wrist was still clearly visible.
He rubbed it gently with his fingertips, as if the woman's lingering warmth was still there. She was just too light, far lighter than an iron sword in his armory.
As he slowly caressed the bite mark on his wrist, Yu Feng's voice suddenly came from outside. "Master, should we order our men to make a trip to the Moon Gazing Pavilion?"
The emotion in Shen Xiabai's eyes instantly turned ice-cold. He pulled down his sleeve to cover the wound. "No. We will not involve ourselves in this matter."
Yu Feng frowned. "But... Master, this time Grand Tutor Tang might have a hard time turning things around. What if... the deaths of the Old Master and the Eldest Young Master really are related to the Cui and Tang families?"
He couldn't help but feel that his master's unusual behavior tonight was driven by a sliver of wishful thinking, especially regarding Eldest Miss Cui.
He didn't act like she was an enemy at all.
After a moment of silence in the carriage, Shen Xiabai's cold and indifferent voice slowly drifted out. "I said, do not go."
Even if it was the doing of the Cui and Tang families, if he wanted to bring them down, he would use upright and honorable methods, rather than resorting to framing, slander, and such despicable acts.
Yu Feng replied, "...Master, everyone knows you have a feud with the Cui and Tang families. Even if we don't go, the court officials will probably still think you had a hand in it."
Shen Xiabai slightly closed his eyes. "They assume many things. I only need to have a clear conscience."
What else could Yu Feng say? He could only drive the carriage back to the manor in silence.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Shen Manor. Shen Xiabai headed straight for his study, but on the way, he was intercepted by a servant of Dowager Shen. "My Lord, Dowager Shen invites you to come over."
Shen Xiabai pulled his sleeve down a bit, gave a soft sound of acknowledgment, and changed direction toward Dowager Shen's courtyard.
Shen Zilan was also there, keeping Dowager Shen company. Upon seeing Shen Xiabai, he appeared much more composed than before. He stood up, bowed, and greeted, "Youngest Uncle."
Shen Xiabai glanced at him, then sat down in a lower seat. "Mother is still awake at this hour. Is there something you need from me?"
"You didn't go to the government office today. What were you doing?" Dowager Shen asked.
Shen Zilan also stared at him.
A maid served tea. Shen Xiabai picked it up, took a light sip, and said flatly, "I went to the Crown Prince's estate. We had political matters to discuss."
Dowager Shen clearly didn't quite believe it. "Really?"
Shen Xiabai first glanced at Shen Zilan, who always loved to tattle, and seeing that the latter remained silent, he nodded.
Dowager Shen said, "I called you here because I have something to tell you. A few days ago, I saw the Cui family's girl and felt an exceptional affinity with her. I'd like to invite her over to our estate for a visit."
Shen Xiabai's hand tightened around his teacup.
"What do you think?" Dowager Shen asked.
Shen Xiabai glanced again at Shen Zilan opposite him, who was still staying quiet.
"Don't look at him, it has nothing to do with him. It's my idea."
Shen Xiabai replied, "The Cui family has not been peaceful these days. Eldest Miss Cui probably has no time to chat with Mother."
"Something happened to the Cui family?" Dowager Shen was surprised, and then her expression darkened slightly. "Did you do it?"
"It has nothing to do with me." Shen Xiabai set down his teacup. "Mother, please do not ask too much about official matters. If there is nothing else, I still have official documents to review, so I will take my leave."
Shen Xiabai bowed and left Dowager Shen's courtyard.
"Youngest Uncle."
On the bluestone path, Shen Zilan blocked Shen Xiabai's way. "I have now entered the Ministry of Personnel and secured a position. Youngest Uncle, do not forget the agreement between us."
Shen Xiabai's mood seemed to sour instantly. "Wait until you reach my position before you come and say these things to me."
He was about to leave after speaking, but Shen Zilan suddenly grabbed his sleeve. "Wait, Youngest Uncle, I still..."
He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes staring blankly at Shen Xiabai's wrist.
Shen Xiabai immediately shook him off and covered it with his sleeve.
Shen Zilan asked, "What is that?"
"You saw wrong. It's nothing."
He wasn't blind. Shen Zilan immediately reached out to pull at Shen Xiabai again, but was intimidated by Shen Xiabai's fierce glare.
"That's a bite mark. You were bitten, weren't you?"
Shen Xiabai's face was calm, but the tips of his ears were slightly red. "I was teasing a dog today and got bitten."
"You're lying," Shen Zilan frowned. "That was clearly bitten by a person. It was Eldest Miss Cui, wasn't it?"
"Were you two together all day today? What did you do to her? Why did she bite you?"
Shen Xiabai had treated Shen Zilan as both a teacher and a father, but at this moment, he only felt that raising this child had been a waste.
"Youngest Uncle, you even know how to lie now."
Shen Xiabai's eyes were cold. "Does the Ministry of Personnel have no work for you to do?"
He shook off Shen Zilan and continued walking forward, but Shen Zilan was relentless. "Youngest Uncle, this isn't fair."
"I toil away at my duties every day, while you spend romantic evenings under the moon with Eldest Miss Cui. By the time I achieve anything, you two might already have children. Where will there be a place for me?"
Shen Xiabai suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Your hard work—is it ultimately for her, or is it to have a voice and decision-making power in the Shen family?"
Shen Zilan froze, watching helplessly as Shen Xiabai's figure completely disappeared into the night.
But thinking of that bite mark still made him feel uncomfortable.
He had worked diligently for days, full of ambition, but was ultimately struck down by his youngest uncle.
"Actually, having just you in the Shen family is enough. I should have just happily been a useless wastrel."
"Youngest Uncle, was it really her who bit you?"
Shen Xiabai kept tugging at his sleeve the entire way.
In truth... the sleeve wasn't short; it could drape all the way down to his fingertips. But just now, for some unknown reason, it had suddenly seemed so much shorter.
He repeatedly touched the wound.
Upon returning to his courtyard, Yu Feng's voice drifted into his ears. "You didn't see it! At the time, fireworks were blooming in the sky, full of vibrant colors, and the streets were completely empty. Master held the girl by the waist, and the fireworks were right above their heads, illuminating their faces. That scene was simply breathtaking."
"The master is walking even slower than a snail, acting as if a single step would bring them straight to the gates of the Cui Manor. He simply cannot bear to see the young lady leave."
