As if expecting this, Shen Xiabai seized her wrist. Cui Yunchu pulled back with all her strength, gripping the carriage with her other hand and refusing to let go.
"Let me go! I want to return to the manor. You liar!"
He had promised to take her to the Crown Prince's residence for rewards, yet he had brought her to Shen Manor instead.
Shen Xiabai tried to soften his voice as he coaxed. "What the Crown Prince gave is in the Shen family storehouse. You can take it as soon as you go there."
Cui Yunchu was no fool—there was no way she would believe him.
In her eyes at this moment, Shen Xiabai was nothing but a beast baring its fangs, luring her, the greedy little fool of a rabbit, into a trap.
"I don't want it anymore! I'm giving it to you! I want to go home!" She tugged hard, but Shen Xiabai refused to release her.
"My sleeve! You're tearing my sleeve!" she growled.
Shen Xiabai raised an eyebrow, then shifted his grip to hold her hand. "I also have a whole box of luminous pearls. Don't you want to see them?"
Cui Yunchu's brow twitched, but she said nothing, her face taut as she held her ground.
Standing nearby, Yu Feng lowered his voice. "Master, it's working—add more to the offer."
"..."
Cui Yunchu glared. "Do you think I'm deaf?"
Yu Feng let out an awkward chuckle, rubbed his nose, and stepped back.
"I'm not going," Cui Yunchu declared. "Don't even think about tricking me."
To her, the vast Shen Manor was nothing but a wolf with its jaws wide open, waiting for her to walk inside so it could devour her whole.
Shen Xiabai spoke gently. "Let go first. The wind is strong, and you're still ill. Don't catch another chill."
His voice was soft as he gazed at Cui Yunchu.
"..."
That face was truly handsome—especially when it was tender and affectionate, with eyes that seemed to see only one person. Any woman would find it hard to resist.
Before she knew it, Cui Yunchu had let go.
By the time she realized what had happened, she had already been lifted down from the carriage. She screamed in fright.
Shen Xiabai quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. "Do you want to draw everyone's attention and have them see us together?"
Cui Yunchu fell silent at once, glancing around.
Shen Xiabai said, "These are all my people. They won't go back and talk."
Cui Yunchu pouted. "I'm supposed to be a proper young lady from a good family. How can you be so crude? If someone sees me brawling with you, what's left of my reputation?"
Shen Xiabai raised an eyebrow. "Aren't I the adulterer you called me? Since when does an adulterer care about propriety and shame?"
"..."
Well, that actually made some sense.
Cui Yunchu was momentarily speechless.
Shen Xiabai coaxed her gently, pressing on. "Don't worry. I'm only taking you to the Shen storehouse for the reward. Once we're done, I'll let you leave immediately."
Cui Yunchu kept one hand on the carriage frame, her face stiff.
"I have a whole box of luminous pearls. You can take your pick."
Cui Yunchu let go instantly and turned to march toward the Shen Manor. "Then let's hurry. I still need to get home in time to be scolded."
Xing'er: "..."
Shen Xiabai gave a faint smile, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes, as he slowly followed.
As soon as Cui Yunchu entered the gate, she started looking around. Shen Manor truly deserved its reputation as a century-old noble house. Though its depth was hard to fathom, the estate alone rivaled that of imperial relatives.
Along the way, they encountered almost no one. Occasionally, two or three servants would hurriedly bow and then retreat.
Shen Xiabai walked half a step behind, quietly watching her.
He observed the awe, envy, and even jealousy flickering in her eyes.
"Your manor is so huge," Cui Yunchu remarked. "Was it passed down through the family?"
Shen Xiabai nodded. "A hundred years ago, the Shen family were already among the privileged elite. The estate was built back then and has been passed down to this day."
No wonder.
Cui Yunchu sighed. The Shen family truly was wealthy and powerful—it was no surprise that her father had once leveraged the full might of the Shen family to provide disaster relief and support the entire kingdom.
Shen Xiabai looked at her and said quietly, "Now, the only ones left of the Shen generation are Zilan and me. Living in such a vast manor feels rather empty."
Cui Yunchu glanced back at him, then pouted.
That sounded like something a person would say—but not a kind one.
Shen Xiabai's eyes held a shadow as he continued, "Speaking of which, the woman who marries me in the future will have her hands full. Managing such a huge estate would be exhausting."
Cui Yunchu's heart felt like a cat was scratching it, but she fought to control her emotions. "You're right," she said. "With a manor that large, it's bound to be a headache."
I cannot fall for this! I absolutely cannot fall for this scoundrel's tricks!!!
Cui Yunchu repeated this silently to herself.
Yu Feng, who had fallen behind, hurried forward. "Miss Cui needn't worry. The manor employs over two hundred servants, each with their own duties. When the time comes, the mistress won't have to do anything—just gather them every few days for a lecture, set some rules, and make sure they don't slack off."
Shen Xiabai shot Yu Feng an appreciative look.
Yu Feng chuckled and quickly stepped aside again.
Cui Yunchu pursed her lips, keeping her face rigid. She dug her nails into her palm to suppress the envy threatening to spill out.
Her eyes sparkled. Over two hundred people, all answering to the mistress. Even all the ant nests back at the Cui estate wouldn't compare to commanding that many people.
If only she could stand in that courtyard, with over two hundred serving under her—how impressive that would be!
Seeing her mistress on the verge of being seduced into foolishness, Xing'er quickly spoke up. "Easy for you to say. The Dowager Shen is still in the manor, and she'll be the one in charge."
As the saying went, "A daughter-in-law only becomes a mother-in-law after years of waiting." Which mother-in-law was ever easy to get along with? There was no way Dowager Shen would hand over the reins of the household to a new bride so easily.
"And besides," Xing'er added, "even if the old lady steps aside, there's still the Senior Madam Shen—the mother of Shen Zilan."
Cui Yunchu had completely forgotten about her. Although this woman had been living in seclusion at the manor's small Buddhist shrine since her husband's death, the Shen family's eldest son's death was tied to the Cui family. There was no way she would look kindly upon Cui Yunchu.
It was like a bucket of cold water poured over her head. All of Cui Yunchu's excitement vanished in an instant.
Authority might be tempting, and money alluring, but she wasn't about to invite trouble for herself.
Yu Feng's mouth twitched. He shot Xing'er a glare. "The Dowager's temper is very gentle. Eldest Miss Cui has met her; she's very easy to get along with."
Xing'er could feel a shadow of a gloomy gaze fixed on her. She kept her head down, not daring to argue further.
It wasn't that she didn't approve of Lord Shen's intentions. But matters of the heart should be mutual and willing—not based on trickery or coaxing. With her mistress's weakness for gold, silver, and servants, she'd get led straight into losing her bearings!
She quickly stepped forward and took her mistress's arm, trying to escape the sharp, piercing gaze Shen Xiabai aimed her way.
Those eye-daggers were truly terrifying—especially when both master and servant were glaring at her.
When they reached a fork in the path, Cui Yunchu stopped and asked Shen Xiabai, "Which way to the storehouse?"
Shen Xiabai pointed down one path, and Cui Yunchu started walking that way.
Over in the Dowager Shen's courtyard.
The Dowager Shen's attendant bowed and smilingly cut in, "I beg your ladyship to have patience. The young lady’s here on her first visit; do not scare her off just yet."
"You are right," said Dowager Shen, still filled with joy. At that moment, a maidservant announced that the steward had arrived with several attendants.
