Cui Yunchu could only wish her horses had sprouted a few more legs, bouncing restlessly inside the carriage as her anxiety mounted.
Even now, the poems she recalled would make her cover her face with shame, wishing she could claw out her own eyes.
Cui Yunchu could play instruments, sing, and recite poetry—though her repertoire differed from that of the noble ladies in the capital. Hers was the brothel edition. Their verses hinted at longing; hers were shameless, lewd songs and bawdy ditties.
The carriage stopped at the gates of the Grand Court. Cui Yunchu leaped down and rushed straight into the prison. The guards barely glanced at her before looking away. No one stopped her, no one paid her any mind—she swept through like a gust of wind.
Inside the prison, standing before Shen Xiabai’s cell, was a man.
“What brings Your Highness here? Could it be that the princess has thrown you out?” Shen Xiabai rested his hands on his knees, tilting his head to gaze at the tall figure before him.
Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow. “Lord Shen jokes. I am newly married, and my bond with Yunfeng is deep and strong.”
Shen Xiabai nodded, offering a flat “Oh.” “Then it must be that His Highness has completed the task the princess assigned—the eldest son of the Cui family will soon return to the capital.”
Xiao Yi’s smile froze. He stared woodenly at Shen Xiabai.
Shen Xiabai continued, “Then Your Highness should cherish these good times while they last. After all, though the Cui heir returns, there are still matters to negotiate over his post. He still faces the risk of being cast out at any moment.”
Silence.
“Lord Shen, you have grown quite venomous after spending time with Eldest Miss Cui. Could it be that you intend to echo her tongue in all things, husband following wife?”
Shen Xiabai lowered his head, idly picking up a stack of letters. “Your servant is merely following Your Highness’s example. When it comes to venom, how could I compare to Your Highness’s skill in striking where it hurts most?”
Silence.
Prince An gave a soft laugh. “There is a saying in military strategy: know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated. I am merely helping Lord Shen better understand his opponent, so that you may secure victory with certainty. Am I not?”
Shen Xiabai’s gaze turned cold. “Your Highness jokes. The version of her you see and the version I see will never be the same.”
Prince An seemed about to say more, but Shen Xiabai pressed on. “For example, Princess An—calling her slow is polite; calling her stupid is not far off. Yet in Your Highness’s eyes, she is utterly adorable.”
Xiao Yi’s face darkened. “You and I trade barbs. Why drag our families into it?”
Shen Xiabai replied, his expression indifferent, “Was it not Your Highness who first brought up my lady?” He set down the letters.
Xiao Yi let out a scoff. “Lord Shen, you always know how to strike a man where he is weakest.”
“That is only because Your Highness struck first.”
Xiao Yi gave a laugh, crouching down at the entrance of the cell. “After the morning court today, the Empress Dowager threatened in the imperial study to take her own life unless His Majesty orders your execution.”
“Lord Shen holds power over the court and the realm. Do you truly feel not the slightest trace of bitterness?”
Did he truly not hate her?
Shen Xiabai’s eyelids flickered. He lifted his gaze to Xiao Yi. “Does Your Highness believe I will die?”
Xiao Yi shrugged, rising with a smirk. “Who can say for sure?”
Shen Xiabai said, “I hear Her Highness Princess An kept a cat that was accidentally poisoned, and Your Highness was struck by a hairpin yourself. I am curious—has Your Highness felt not the slightest trace of bitterness either?”
Silence spread through the jail cell.
“I thought,” Xiao Yi said slowly, “on matters like these, we should each reflect on our own situation without mocking the other.”
Just like back then, when he and Xiao Chen were both entangled by Cui Yunchu, no matter how fiercely they argued, on this matter, they both had the decency not to mock each other.
Shen Xiabai leaned against the wall, a faint smile on his lips. "That's fair, I suppose. After all, when the Princess An and the Crown Princess are together, they certainly wouldn't be trading sarcastic barbs. Instead, they'd be discussing how best to use their husbands for maximum effect."
"..."
Hadn't they just agreed not to mock each other?
Shen Xiabai: "I never agreed to that, Your Majesty."
"Lord Shen is right. When the eldest son of the Cui family returned to the capital, Lord Shen played the greatest role—leading the charge, no small feat."
Both of them fell silent.
After a long while, a jailer brought over a food box and shoved it into the cell. Shen Xiabai finally spoke. "It's time for my meal, Your Highness. If you're done, you may leave. Next time you seek solace from a fellow sufferer, you might try visiting the Crown Prince at his estate. After all, I’m not yet part of your ranks."
Xiao Yi said, "My path to a happy ending with my imperial brother the Crown Prince was also full of thorns and obstacles. Lord Shen still has a long way to go—don’t lose heart."
Shen Xiabai glanced at Xiao Yi, then let his gaze fall on his chest, nodding slowly.
"With Your Highness helping me practice my wit, it shouldn’t be hard. If you have nothing better to do, you’re welcome to visit often. Or, once I’m out of prison, I’ll come find you."
Sarcasm, passive-aggression—he, too, could learn. Practicing his sharp tongue a little more would keep him from always being at a disadvantage, teased and cornered by that woman into having no defense.
After a good bout of verbal sparring, both felt considerably lighter. Xiao Yi waved a hand. "Well then, I’ll take my leave. When you get out of prison, I’ll have a grand gift waiting for you."
Hearing this, Shen Xiabai furrowed his brow.
He looked down at the pile of letters stacked in the corner.
Could there be even more?
Cui Yunchu rushed in hurriedly, only to run into Prince An, who was leisurely strolling out. "What are you doing here?"
Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over Cui Yunchu's empty hands. "Visiting a prison with empty hands, Eldest Miss Cui?"
"..." Cui Yunchu felt a bit awkward. She’d come in such a rush that she’d forgotten to bring anything.
Xiao Yi continued, "What, is Eldest Miss Cui planning to squeeze another layer of profit out of a convict?"
"..."
Was she really that awful?
Her cousin was right—that man had far less grace than the Crown Prince, her brother-in-law.
"You sure know how to time mealtime," Xiao Yi said, stepping aside to clear a path. "Hurry along—go before Lord Shen finishes his meal."
"..."
When Cui Yunchu reached the cell door, Shen Xiabai was already eating. He kept his head slightly lowered, and even the way he dined was easy on the eyes.
Cui Yunchu watched him, feeling as if she had been transported back to her past life, when she had been captivated by his surface charm.
That face—truly flawless, every detail matching her ideal of a husband.
He lifted his gaze and suddenly glanced over. Cui Yunchu immediately dropped her head, as if that could make her vanish and hide herself.
"So... those letters... could you give them back to me?"
Shen Xiabai’s voice was nonchalant. "I don’t recall having received any letters from Eldest Miss Cui."
"..."
"I mean... the ones Prince An sent over."
Shen Xiabai’s lips curled into a smile.
She wanted them back?
"I heard you made two copies of those identical letters. Why not go ask the Crown Prince for his?"
"After all, the two of them are already married. Keeping them with you is nothing but a waste of Eldest Miss Cui's talent."
His voice was cold and mocking, a little grating. Cui Yunchu hung her head and did not argue.
She reached her arm into the cell and turned her face away.
Shen Xiabai looked at her slender, fair hand but made no move and said nothing.
The two of them remained locked in a stalemate.
"These letters—I bought them for one silver tael each, Lord Shen would like to add. If Eldest Miss Cui wants them back, pay up."
Cui Yunchu froze.
Bought them?
For that garbage that was an eyesore? Xiao Yi really was a piece of work, and Shen Xiabai was truly insane too!
"I don't want them anymore," she said. He had probably already read them all. She wasn't crazy enough to waste money on a pile of worthless paper.
"You're insane," Cui Yunchu snapped, then quickly got up and fled.
Shen Xiabai watched her retreating figure, his eyes indifferent.
When had she grown so thin-skinned? In the past, wasn't it always him who beat a hasty retreat?
