"I was merely speaking casually, my lord. After all, it is Lord Shen's household affair, so you shall have the final say."
Zhou Yuanmo felt a flicker of curiosity about that concubine—what kind of breathtaking beauty could make Shen Xiabai concede to such a degree? To wear a cuckold's crown so high and still be unable to bring himself to kill her.
As Zhou Yuanmo was pondering this to himself, Shen Xiabai suddenly asked, "Lord Zhou, have you ever stolen someone else's woman?"
"???"
What?
Zhou Yuanmo was stunned, his mind going blank for a moment. That was practically the same as asking if he had played the adulterer.
Zhou Yuanmo was a scholar, proud and self-styled as a man of integrity. Hearing Shen Xiabai's words now, his face flushed crimson with faint irritation.
"Lord Shen jests," he said. "Though my family is not prominent and my words carry little weight, I am no base scoundrel. I would never stoop to such shameless behavior."
His emotions were clearly agitated.
Off to the side, Yu Feng turned his face away, his expression wooden as he studied the flowers and plants.
"Oh, is that so?" Shen Xiabai glanced sidelong at him, his voice still calm and detached, which made Zhou Yuanmo's agitated demeanor seem all the more undignified in contrast.
It was like one man was frantically explaining himself, desperate to prove his innocence, while the other was utterly indifferent, with an expression that said, I don't believe you. That kind of blandness could drive a man to lose his temper.
Zhou Yuanmo gritted his teeth about to fold his hands in his sleeves and storm off.
But Shen Xiabai spoke again. "Prime Minister Cui seems to hold Lord Zhou in high regard."
"My mentor's kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain—he is like a teacher, like a father," Zhou Yuanmo replied.
As he answered, Zhou Yuanmo remained standing. He had not walked away, but he never expected Shen Xiabai's next words to circle back to the previous topic.
"His Highness Prince An once said you stolen his woman."
"..."
At that remark, Zhou Yuanmo felt a bit awkward. After all, that man was a prince, the emperor's son, and Second Miss Cui was now Princess An.
"That matter... it was all a misunderstanding," he stammered. "I and Cui... I mean, and Princess An..." He opened his mouth, at a loss for how to explain.
How did he end up being branded a base villain for stealing someone else's woman?
Shen Xiabai gave a faint smile. "Lord Zhou is indeed fortunate to be alive. His Highness Prince An must be quite useless."
To have let him keep bouncing around to this day.
Zhou Yuanmo's impression of Shen Xiabai crumbled completely that day.
He had never imagined that the powerful master of the Ministry of Punishments, who dominated the court, would be so gossipy in private, meddling in everyone's affairs.
After a moment of silence, Zhou Yuanmo said, "It's getting late. If Lord Shen has no other business, I shall take my leave."
Hurrying off to an appointment?
Shen Xiabai narrowed his eyes with a cold smile that didn't reach them. "I merely warned Lord Zhou that stealing someone else's woman is not to be done—you might end up beaten to death."
Ridiculous!...
Zhou Yuanmo felt Shen Xiabai was being utterly nonsensical.
But given his authority and his icy demeanor, Zhou Yuanmo lacked the leverage to argue with him.
"Drowning in a pond isn't out of the question either," Shen Xiabai added at the end.
Zhou Yuanmo had already started walking away.
Yet footsteps sounded unhurriedly behind him. After walking some distance, Zhou Yuanmo had no choice but to stop and turn back, bowing to the man behind him. "Lord Shen, have I offended you in some way? Please advise me plainly."
Shen Xiabai stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His sharp features were indistinct in the morning mist, and his voice was light. "Lord Zhou enjoys watching a good show? I'll treat you to one."
His eyes narrowed, and Zhou Yuanmo felt a chill crawl straight up his spine.
He turned to leave, but Yu Feng swiftly blocked his path.
"Lord Zhou, my master isn't finished speaking yet."
Zhou Yuanmo's face held a wariness as he stared at Shen Xiabai.
The latter's voice was detached. "His Highness Prince An and Princess An share a harmonious marriage, yet whenever he thinks of Lord Zhou, he feels a knot in his chest. On His Highness's orders, I am here to teach Lord Zhou a lesson, so that you may learn from it, observe restraint from now on, and dare not transgress again."
Zhou Yuanmo's eyes widened. "Although I was once betrothed to Princess An in discussion, there is nothing improper between us. I can personally explain this to His Highness Prince An."
"His Highness Prince An is occupied with a myriad of affairs and likely has no time to listen," Shen Xiabai said, waving a hand.
Yu Feng immediately twisted Zhou Yuanmo's arms behind his back and pinned him down.
Zhou Yuanmo was no fool. If Prince An wanted to deal with him, there were a thousand ways to do it—he wouldn't entrust it to Shen Xiabai. Moreover, Shen Xiabai wasn't one to take orders lightly.
In the end, all that talk was just an excuse to torment him.
Could it be about court politics? Was he deliberately humiliating his former mentor?
Shen Xiabai's sudden attack didn't seem premeditated; it looked more like a whim.
"A man of pride and stature, Lord Shen—don't you find your actions somewhat despicable?"
"What are you saying?" Yu Feng kicked him. "Who's despicable? No one's as despicable as you."
Every member of the Cui family was rotten to the core. The elders had killed the master and the eldest son, while the younger one seduced his master and then refused to take responsibility, turning around and calmly discussing marriage with someone else.
They all set their sights on destroying the Shen family.
Shen Xiabai leaned down to look at Zhou Yuanmo and said, "Does Lord Zhou hold a grudge against Prime Minister Cui?"
"What do you mean?" Zhou Yuanmo frowned. "Don't think you can sow discord between me and my mentor. I'll tell you now—whatever your purpose for arresting me is, I won't say a single word about him."
Shen Xiabai acted as if he hadn't heard him and continued, "If there's no grudge, then why does he keep singling you out and sending you to your death?"
First with Prince An, now with him.
Was it because Prince An didn't finish him off back then that Cui now sought to marry him off to Cui Yunchu?
Yu Feng suddenly felt his master had a point. After all, given Prince An's character, if he hadn't been too busy quarreling with Princess An back then to spare the time, Zhou Yuanmo wouldn't have had a chance to catch his breath.
Shen Xiabai's eyes were deep.
Prime Minister Cui's sudden move was most likely because he knew something.
The hand behind his back rubbed and twisted slightly, his silhouette carrying an indescribable sharpness.
...
Cui Yunchu waited in the rear courtyard for a while but no one came. The cold wind howled fiercely, and her cough grew worse, so she found a young monk and holed up in a small meditation room.
Xing'er said, "Miss, if we stay here, will Lord Zhou be able to find us?"
Cui Yunchu sat lazily, holding a cup of hot tea. "If you're worried, go outside and freeze. I'll reward you with a few copper coins."
"..."
Your copper coins are really worth a lot!!
Xing'er kept quiet and obediently sat nearby.
Time trickled by. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, scattering the morning mist and revealing the mountain as it truly was.
The peaks rose steeply, an especially majestic sight.
Cui Yunchu gazed absentmindedly.
Thinking of the person she was about to meet, she felt an instinctive reluctance, tinged with a hint of guilt. She herself couldn't understand where this uneasy pang of guilt came from.
Just as she was in a daze, a young monk rushed over. "The person the female benefactor is waiting for has arrived. He's in the next courtyard. This little monk will take you there."
Cui Yunchu came back to her senses, gave a soft "oh", put down the teacup and followed the monk.
There were green bamboos planted in the next courtyard, looking fresh and elegant. Cui Yunchu shook off the random thoughts in her head and prepared to focus on the situation ahead.
Since she was going to marry him, she must make a good impression on him. It would be best if he was willingly convinced and handed over his life and fortune to her.
Cui Yunchu thought that the only thing she could rely on might be her face.
When she arrived at the door, she gave a soft cough, smoothed her dress, folded her hands in front of her body, and walked in very gracefully and politely.
She had already made up her mind. For now, she would pretend to be well - behaved. After she got a clear understanding of the Zhou family's situation and held the power, she would reveal her true nature and let them know what treachery of the human heart was.
