If such a clumsy lie could actually lead to something between the two, it would only be because they weren’t exactly innocent to begin with.
Cui Yunfeng understood that truth as well.
Xiao Yi said, “I truly don’t know why Eunuch Liu didn’t send the man away.”
He looked at Cui Yunfeng, quite helpless.
“With all the shady business between Cui Yunchu and Shen Xiabai over such a long time, are you telling me you really didn’t notice anything?”
Cui Yunfeng froze.
Shady business... for that long?
Xiao Yi put an arm around her waist. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask your cousin tomorrow. I suspect she’s already caught on.”
Cui Yunfeng sat on the bed, stunned, as if the sky was falling.
Why did it have to be Shen Xiabai, of all people? Why did it have to be a member of the Shen family?
She pushed Xiao Yi away and jumped off the bed, pacing the floor in agitation. “No, I have to go find my cousin. My Elder Sister and Lord Shen—how can this be?”
Turning it over in her mind, she worried for her Elder Sister. She couldn’t see how Shen Xiabai would let her get away with anything in that household.
Burdened by the surname of an enemy, who in the Shen family would treat her well?
Xiao Yi quickly grabbed her. “Don’t worry. It’s still too early to talk like this. Your Elder Sister is a clever woman—she’ll know what to do.”
If she had the means to make Shen Xiabai care for her, she certainly wouldn’t lack a backup plan or the skill to keep him in check.
To verify Xiao Yi’s words, Cui Yunfeng summoned Eunuch Liu.
“Reporting to the Princess Consort, I did indeed follow the Prince’s orders and see Lord Shen out. But when I arrived, Lord Shen was already somewhat sober. It was he who picked up the sachet and instructed me to bring Eldest Miss Cui over.”
Xiao Yi propped his head on one hand, looking utterly unsurprised.
So, it seemed Shen had completely surrendered—he wasn’t even pretending anymore. If such carelessness reached the ears of that man in the palace, it would mean more sudden trouble.
Cui Yunfeng listened with a furrowed brow. So it was Lord Shen who had schemed against her Elder Sister.
“Just because he told you to go, you went? Whose man are you?” Cui Yunfeng fumed. “Plotting against my Elder Sister with an outsider—do you think I’m dead?”
Eunuch Liu dropped to his knees with a thud and stole a glance at Prince An.
He had sought permission for this... and there was also that night pearl on Lord Shen’s index finger...
But he certainly wouldn’t dare to expose his master.
Xiao Yi’s expression didn’t change. He wasn’t worried in the slightest.
The man was summoned by Shen Xiabai himself—Xiao Yi had only lent him a hand.
“Get out and kneel in the yard,” Cui Yunfeng ordered imperiously.
Usually, any Princess Consort would treat a prince’s eunuch with deference, but not in Prince An’s household. Eunuch Liu had never dared to act entitled like those in other princely mansions.
“Yes.” He stood up obediently and went to kneel in the courtyard.
Cui Yunfeng hadn’t forgotten what Cui Yunchu said when she left—that the steward and Prince An were the real culprits behind everything.
She ordered Yun’er to deal with the steward, then turned to face Xiao Yi.
The tender, lingering expression in his eyes had yet to fade.
...
Cui Yunchu ran like a dog was chasing her, moving so fast that she completely forgot she’d taken money from someone and was supposed to be doing a job.
She didn’t look back until she rushed out of Prince An’s mansion.
Not far behind her, Shen Xiabai was slowly strolling along.
He lifted his gaze, meeting Cui Yunchu’s eyes. His steps immediately faltered, as if he was heavily intoxicated, stumbling and unsteady.
“...”
Cui Yunchu crouched by the stone lion outside Prince An’s mansion and waited for him to approach. Once he reached her, she stepped forward to help support him.
“Eldest Miss Cui, do you know what it means to fulfill a trust once you’ve accepted it? To take my payment and then abandon me—what kind of rule is that?”
“…” He’s really taking this seriously.
Cui Yunchu forced an awkward smile. “I was just thinking of you, Lord Shen. My reputation is terrible—if I dragged you down with me, that wouldn’t be good, would it?”
Shen Xiabai shot her a sidelong glance, clearly unimpressed by her flimsy excuse.
Especially the way she shrank back, eager to explain herself to Cui Yunfeng and distance herself from him—it annoyed him greatly.
He gave a light snort and murmured, “Afraid of dragging me down, or afraid I’ll cling to you?”
Cui Yunchu hummed in confusion.
Shen Xiabai said, “It’s getting late. Let’s go.”
With Cui Yunfeng’s example fresh in her mind, Cui Yunchu was far more cautious. She first craned her neck to check that no one was around, then grabbed Shen Xiabai and rushed toward the carriage.
Shen Xiabai had indeed drunk quite a bit, and being yanked around like this left him dizzy, his stomach churning with discomfort.
“Am I that shameful to be seen with?”
Cui Yunchu replied, “No, Lord Shen, you are unmatched in handsomeness. It’s not that you’re shameful—it’s that you, when seen with me, become a bit shameful.”
Shen Xiabai’s lips had just begun to curl at her first sentence, but at her next words, they drooped again.
He pulled his arm free. “Who says that?”
Cui Yunchu was startled and turned around. “Who says what?”
“Who says that someone seen with you is shameful?” Shen Xiabai’s expression turned cold.
Cui Yunchu laughed. “The whole capital says it—everyone. Haven’t you heard, Lord Shen?”
“Come to think of it, Lord Shen, weren’t you glaring at me just the other day because of Young Master Shen? Have you forgotten so quickly?”
“…”
Shen Xiabai’s expression stiffened. After a long moment, he said, “As you said, that was the past.”
With that, he climbed into the carriage on his own.
He knew she held grudges.
In just one day, she’d already brought up old scores twice. Good thing she’d gotten her revenge at the cliff that time, or he’d have to listen to her nagging for a lifetime.
But when he lifted the carriage curtain, he froze.
“Lord Shen.” Xing’er, half-buried among all sorts of gift boxes, greeted him awkwardly.
Shen Xiabai frowned, stiffly craning his neck to look back at Cui Yunchu.
She pushed him from behind. “Scoot over a bit—there’s still room to sit.”
“Stop shoving me,” Shen Xiabai said coldly.
Prince An’s bias against her had its reasons.
Cui Yunchu frowned. “My carriage is small—that’s all I’ve got. Even if you don’t sit, you still owe me that night pearl.”
“…”
Shen Xiabai’s face darkened.
Xing’er did her best to clear a space for Shen Xiabai to sit.
Cui Yunchu squeezed in, settled herself, and told the driver to go. The carriage wheels ground against the ground with a dull rumble, moving sluggishly—more like a cart hauling goods than a carriage.
Xing’er glanced at Cui Yunchu, then at Shen Xiabai, and wisely buried herself back into the pile of boxes, vanishing on the spot.
Cui Yunchu couldn’t stop grinning, but under the icy stare from across the carriage, she felt a bit uncomfortable.
“All of this—lifted from Prince An’s residence?”
“’Lifted’?” Cui Yunchu protested. “Yunfeng gave them to me as compensation—above board. The way you put it, you’d think I stole them.”
Shen Xiabai pried open a long box, and from it rolled out a small, elongated pot... which looked rather like a chamber pot.
The embarrassment on Cui Yunchu’s face was almost palpable.
This Cui Yunfeng—why did she have to give her everything under the sun?
But the gems studded around that chamber pot were indeed to Cui Yunchu’s taste.
Rich folks, truly extravagant.
Both of their gazes fell on the pot, the atmosphere indescribably awkward.
Meeting Shen Xiabai’s eyes, Cui Yunchu gave an awkward little laugh, then kicked the chamber pot aside with a swift movement of her leg.
Shen Xiabai’s gaze paused for a moment on her small embroidered shoe, then he looked away. “Don’t bring back any more junk from now on.”
Junk?
He called these gold and treasures junk?
Cui Yunchu turned her face away, hugging the brocade box tighter in her arms, refusing to speak.
Shen Xiabai lowered his voice, sounding uncomfortable. “Whatever you like, I have it all. Don’t keep scavenging junk.”
“These aren’t junk—they’re my dowry,” Cui Yunchu suddenly raised her voice, startling Shen Xiabai.
