She held four colorful ropes and two fragrant sachets in her hand.
Chen Jiuhe remarked, "How can something bought so easily be effective?"
Even drawing lots at a temple requires personal effort; sincerity leads to spiritual response. As for these colorful ropes, the gods and buddhas probably wouldn't even know who bought them.
"Why are you such a wet blanket?" Chen Miaohe glared dissatisfiedly at her brother, taking two ropes from the maid's hand, handing one to Chen Jiuhe and the other to Cui Yunchu.
At this time, the lake shore was already surrounded by many devout men and women, with colorful ropes tied around their wrists, offering their most sincere prayers.
"Big brother, what are you spacing out for? Hurry up and escort Sister Yunchu to make a wish."
Chen Jiuhe rubbed the colorful rope with his fingertips a few times and turned his head to look at Cui Yunchu.
"..."
The maid gave the remaining two ropes to Chen Miaohe and Shen Zilan.
Shen Zilan looked down at the colorful rope, then raised his eyes to glance at Cui Yunchu, who had already taken the lead in walking towards the lake shore.
"Young Master Shen," Chen Miaohe said softly.
The two of them had already matched their horoscopes, only waiting for the formal betrothal.
"Miss Chen, please." Shen Zilan raised his hand. Chen Miaohe smiled shyly and took the lead in walking forward. Shen Zilan fell one step behind, parting the crowded people and protecting Chen Miaohe.
Cui Yunchu found a spot.
But she had never played with colorful ropes before, so she could only squat there watching the other girls' movements.
Beside her was a small bridge where boats docked. At this time, people were coming and going on the small bridge, crowded with people looking out at the magnificent scenery of the lake.
"What wish did Eldest Miss Cui make?" Chen Jiuhe asked softly.
Cui Yunchu turned her head and smiled slightly, "I can't say. Miss Chen said that if you say the wish out loud, it won't come true."
The girl pressed her index finger against her lips, her appearance beautiful and extremely lively, causing Chen Jiuhe to lose his mind for a moment.
Was such a beautiful and noble girl going to be his fiancée?
The little bit of resentment in his heart was ultimately unable to withstand the young man's budding romantic feelings and amazement at this moment.
The side suddenly darkened. Someone squatted down on Cui Yunchu's left side, and it was Shen Zilan.
"Eldest Miss Cui doesn't know how? I'll teach you."
"..." For some unknown reason, Cui Yunchu suddenly thought of the annoying husband of the Zhao family's girl who offered unprovoked flattery.
She had never deliberately seduced or approached that person, but no one believed her.
"No need." Cui Yunchu's tone was cold, and she moved her body to the side.
Appreciation is appreciation, and gratitude is gratitude, but she still had to keep her distance to avoid history repeating itself. After all, the warning from the past was still right before her eyes.
Shen Zilan looked at Cui Yunchu's deliberately distant movements, his eyes darkening slightly.
Chen Miaohe was focusing on making a wish and didn't notice the commotion here at all.
Someone approached silently, and a tall, slender shadow enveloped Cui Yunchu and Shen Zilan in the middle.
Cui Yunchu and Shen Zilan clasped their hands together and made a wish.
"I wish my youngest uncle a smooth official career, both fortune and position, all wishes to come true, to marry early, and fulfill grandmother's wish."
"I wish The Cui and Tang clans a hundred generations of prosperity, flourishing and continuous, and family well-being."
Cui Yunchu: And I wish, in this life, never to meet Shen Xiabai again.
"Youngest Uncle~" A joyful voice suddenly sounded. Shen Zilan stood up and bowed to the tall and straight man standing with his hands behind his back in the shadow.
"..." Cui Yunchu didn't turn around, just lowered her eyes and stared at the colorful rope on her wrist.
A moment later, she pulled it off forcefully and threw it into the lake water.
What bullshit colorful rope, wasting her breath, not effective at all.
Those gods and buddhas were probably all deaf and blind.
The Chen siblings followed closely and stood up to bow.
Xing'er trotted forward and supported Cui Yunchu to stand up, afraid that the girl's legs would go soft and she would fall into the lake water.
Cui Yunchu kept her head down, sweeping her gaze around. People were crowded against people; she definitely couldn't run away.
"Lord... Shen."
Shen Xiabai's distant and cold gaze fell on Cui Yunchu, his eyes narrowing slightly.
It was her. So, she was actually a daughter of the Cui family.
Shen Zilan clearly sensed the sudden coldness emanating from his youngest uncle, which was even colder than the lake water.
That's right, what his youngest uncle hated most in his life was the Tang and Cui clans.
"Youngest Uncle." Shen Zilan stepped forward two paces, blocking Shen Xiabai's sharp gaze directed at Cui Yunchu. "Why are you here?"
Shen Xiabai withdrew his gaze and glanced lightly at Shen Zilan.
No wonder he hadn't returned at this hour. He thought he got along well with the Chen family's girl, but it turned out his beloved was here.
A member of the Cui family. A trace of coldness appeared on Shen Xiabai's lips.
The liveliness around them seemed to isolate the few people by the small bridge, leaving only a faint cold wind blowing gently, causing people to feel a hidden chill.
That oppressive coldness almost made people unable to catch their breath. Cui Yunchu was all too familiar with it.
It was as if that dazzling sharp blade appeared in front of her eyes again, eager for action, whistling towards her.
Even the Chen siblings didn't dare to breathe heavily.
After a long time, Shen Xiabai's cold voice sounded, "It's getting late. Don't let your grandmother worry. Go home."
Shen Zilan seemed a bit reluctant, but under Shen Xiabai's unquestionable cold stare, he had to nod and agree.
The Chen siblings also immediately took their leave very sensibly.
Chen Miaohe was quite frightened by Shen Xiabai's cold and sinking expression, even thinking that the Shen family was dissatisfied with her.
Perhaps Shen Xiabai also noticed and softened his expression a bit. "I'll trouble Young Master Chen and Miss Chen to give my regards to Old Madam Chen."
"Yes." The siblings immediately bowed.
The grand favor Shen Xiabai enjoyed was such that no official in the imperial court wouldn't avoid his sharp edge. A mere civil official strategized political affairs, the Prince and Crown Prince rushed to win him over, and the glory of being a close minister to the Emperor was entirely focused on him alone.
His power and prestige even approached that of the Tang and Cui clans back then.
Which family wouldn't give him some face and deal with him carefully?
Shen Xiabai responded lightly and said nothing more.
Cui Yunchu was the happiest.
She had long wanted to end this outing, especially after running into Shen Xiabai. she only hated that she couldn't grow ten or eight more legs and disappear immediately.
Just as she was about to leave quietly with the Chen siblings.
A sharp voice suddenly sounded on the small bridge, "Lord Shen, you've finally come. His Highness the Crown Prince has been waiting for a long time. Please hurry."
"En." Shen Xiabai's voice was still very faint as he stepped towards the small bridge.
"Eldest Miss Cui," the young eunuch successfully made Cui Yunchu stop in her tracks. "This old slave saw it was you from afar. Miss Tang is also on the boat and instructed this old slave to invite you to go over and sit together."
Could she not go?
Cui Yunchu looked sideways with a half-crying, half-smiling expression at the young eunuch on the bridge. Shen Xiabai also stopped and looked back.
His gaze was unspeakably cold and disgusted.
The man, dressed in a dark brocade robe, stood on the bridge with a posture as elegant as pine and bamboo. His half-turned face was uniquely handsome, but his temperament was three points colder than the bright moon.
All reasons for refusal were swallowed back into her stomach in an instant. Cui Yunchu let out an "uh-huh" sound from her throat, turned her steps, and quickly rushed towards the young eunuch.
The sleeves blown by the cold wind brushed past Shen Xiabai's brocade robe, even faster than an afterimage.
Shen Xiabai frowned and lowered his head, brushing off his spotless sleeves, and stepped forward to follow.
"Young Master, isn't this Eldest Miss Cui the girl who ran away as soon as she saw you previously?" the young manservant asked in confusion.
A cold arc curled up at the corners of Shen Xiabai's lips, and he said nothing.
The Cui family had always been best at playing tricks.
