After Xing'er returned from outside, she saw Cui Yunchu hugging a soft pillow and facing the wall. She couldn't tell whether Cui Yunchu was asleep or just didn't want to talk. She didn't dare to disturb her and tiptoed forward to cover her with the quilt.
However, Cui Yunchu suddenly turned her head and stared at Xing'er with slightly red - rimmed eyes. Her pupils were like pools of mist, beautiful and pitiful.
Xing'er asked, "Miss, are you hungry? Do you want to get up and have something to eat?"
Cui Yunchu was silent for a moment, then turned back and continued to hug the soft pillow in silence. Xing'er heaved a deep sigh, not knowing how to console her.
Not long after, Nanny Zhang, who had been out for half a day, came back. She was so frozen that her whole body was purple, and even the tips of her hair seemed to be covered with ice. She stood there rubbing her hands vigorously.
When she saw Cui Yunchu's back, she couldn't help but shed tears of self - reproach.
"Where have you been?" Xing'er grabbed her and asked. Nanny Zhang shook her head without saying a word. Instead, she raised her voice and said to Cui Yunchu,
"Miss, on my way back, I met the steward who asked me to bring a message to you. He said that the Lord Prime Minister wants you to go to Ansan Temple tomorrow to have a meeting with a high - ranking official from the imperial court."
Nanny Zhang said it carefully, and Xing'er also stared at Cui Yunchu's back nervously.
Doesn't the Lord Prime Minister know how unhappy Miss has been these days? How could he do this to her.
"Ansan Temple again," Cui Yunchu murmured softly and sneered.
Did Ansan Temple save that Old Man's life?
Afraid that Cui Yunchu would be overly stimulated, Xing'er said, "Miss, if you don't want to go, let's go to the Dowager Lady and ask her to make the decision."
Cui Yunchu sat up, holding the soft pillow. Her clear eyes were now gloomy.
"No need. Since he ignores me and the Cui family wants me to marry, then I'll marry. I'll fulfill everyone's wishes."
Cui Yunchu threw away the soft pillow, put on her shoes and walked out. Nanny Zhang and Xing'er were startled and quickly grabbed her. "What are you going to do, Miss?"
"Let go of me. I'm going to bite Cui Qingyuan to death."
She could marry, but it didn't stop her from hating him and wanting to strangle him.
#
"Master, you're still injured. Don't drink anymore," Yu Feng snatched the wine from Shen Xiabai's hand, looking extremely worried.
The wind in the courtyard was strong. Shen Xiabai was sitting there in a single - layer robe. The wind blew his robe, and the cold wind was bone - chilling, but it was not as cold as his solemn expression.
For three consecutive days, he had been in a drunken state, which made Yu Feng quite helpless.
"Master," came the sound of salutation from the door. Yu Feng looked up and saw Shen Zilan striding in with two jars of wine from Wangyue Tower. His head almost exploded.
At this time, bringing wine? Wasn't he just causing trouble?
"Master Shen, are you sure you're not trying to get the master drunk to death so that you can take advantage of the situation?"
Shen Zilan glared at Yu Feng and said, "If I wanted to take advantage of the situation, would I need to get Uncle drunk to death?"
Yu Feng fell silent.
When Xing'er left today, she was really angry and vowed that she would never come again.
Shen Xiabai gently raised his eyes, then lifted his foot and mercilessly kicked Shen Zilan on the calf. Shen Zilan staggered and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Yu Feng held him in time.
Shen Zilan asked, "Uncle, what are you doing?"
Shen Xiabai replied, "I'm drunk and misidentified you as a prisoner from the Punishment Department."
"..."
Yu Feng immediately stopped worrying. He handed the wine to Shen Zilan and took a step back.
Shen Zilan lifted his robe and sat down beside Shen Xiabai.
The night was deep. Shen Xiabai squinted his eyes, reeking of alcohol and leaning back in the chair. The dim light of the glazed lamp in the corridor shone behind him, giving him a halo.
The aura made Shen Zilan feel far inferior.
Shen Zilan placed the wine jars on the table and pushed them in front of Shen Xiabai. "Uncle, do you still remember this wine?"
Shen Xiabai lowered his eyes and said nothing.
Shen Zilan continued, "I scrubbed the dishes all night for four jars of this wine, but you showed off that Eldest Miss Cui brought them for you."
Shen Xiabai raised his eyebrows. "So, are you jealous?"
Shen Zilan shook his head. "No. I just want to ask you if you're going to give up on her?"
Shen Xiabai turned his head to the side without saying a word. Shen Zilan went on, "That night, you said I couldn't love her. Do you still remember?"
Shen Zilan poured himself a glass of wine, raised his head and drank it, then smiled. "I've always wanted to say that you underestimated me and overestimated yourself. Look, it's only been a short time, and you're already out of it."
His smile was a bit dazzling. Yu Feng silently took a step back, afraid of being affected if the young master was kicked flying in a moment.
Sure enough, with a loud "bang", Shen Zilan, together with the chair, tumbled to the ground.
He was not surprised. He got up by himself, righted the chair, patted the dust off his clothes, and sat down again.
The uncle and nephew stared at the dark night sky and drank silently. Shen Zilan hardly stopped talking. "Uncle, I really like Eldest Miss Cui. She's beautiful and has a lively personality. Life with her must be very interesting."
Shen Xiabai glanced at him. "It'll also be very interesting when she beats you to death."
"She beats you too?" Shen Zilan opened his eyes wide in disbelief. "Uncle, you're so capable. How could you get beaten?"
Shen Xiabai lowered his eyes and turned his face slightly. Whether it was because of the alcohol or something else, his voice was a bit hoarse.
"Your face looks fine."
"Look closer," Shen Xiabai said.
At this moment, Yu Feng knew that the master was drunk. If he stayed any longer, there was a high chance of making a fool of himself.
He still very sensibly approached with the lamp in hand for Shen Zilan to take a look.
There was still nothing. After all, three days had passed. As long as there were no bruises, how could there still be any marks?
Shen Zilan shook his head. Yu Feng whispered a reminder, "The slap mark."
Shen Zilan immediately understood. "Eldest Miss Cui... slapped you?"
Shen Xiabai twitched his lips and gave a soft laugh. "Not only that. When she's angry, she also bites me."
He rolled up his sleeve to show Shen Zilan the tooth mark.
"..."
Yu Feng stepped forward to put down his sleeve and said, "Master, even the old lady knows about this tooth mark. Everyone in the Shen Mansion knows. There's no need to show it anymore."
Shen Zilan thought: It's supposed to be a break - up, but why does it seem like he's blatantly showing off!
Who is supposed to comfort whom?
Shen Zilan silently got up, picked up his two jars of wine, and was about to leave.
Yu Feng quickly grabbed him. "Master Shen, are you just leaving the master alone?"
Shen Zilan pouted. "I also need to find a quiet place to drown my sorrows in wine."
After Shen Zilan left, Shen Xiabai seemed to give a soft rebuke, pushed the wine cup on the table, stood up and walked back to the study.
Yu Feng stood there, feeling a bit dazed.
He quickly followed him in, served Shen Xiabai to bathe and change clothes, and then whispered, "Master, when Xing'er left today, she said that she would never come again."
Shen Xiabai slowly opened his slightly closed eyes, and his face seemed to turn even gloomier.
Yu Feng murmured to himself in his heart. Could it be that the master really wants to give up on Eldest Miss Cui?
