Chen Jiuhe grew even more infuriated at Cui Yunchu's reaction.
"I, Chen Jiuhe, am not someone who pesters endlessly. Since you, Eldest Miss Cui, have feelings for Lord Shen, you should have informed my Chen family earlier."
Yet the two of them had kept his Chen family in the dark, secretly meeting in broad daylight at the Cui residence right behind his back. Who did they take him, Chen Jiuhe, for?
The confusion on Cui Yunchu's face instantly turned into shock.
Even Shen Xiabai, who had been preparing to leave again, froze, his glassy eyes darkening to a bottomless abyss.
Chen Jiuhe continued, "When Young Master Wang told me before, I still held onto a glimmer of hope, thinking I needed to hear your personal explanation. I never expected... never expected..."
His face was livid, looking as though he had suffered a humiliating insult, like catching an adulterous couple in bed.
"If a maid hadn't informed me and let me see it with my own eyes, I would have continued to be kept in the dark and played for a fool by you."
This man's brain must have been kicked by a donkey.
Cui Yunchu felt as if a thunderbolt had struck from a clear sky. She almost jumped up and loudly retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Was this man hoping she would die sooner?
"I saw it with my own eyes, and you still want to deny it?"
"..." Cui Yunchu nearly lost her breath, both shocked and furious.
Shen Xiabai's eyelids twitched wildly. Unable to bear it any longer, he said, "Young Master Chen has misunderstood. The Eldest Miss Cui and I are merely..."
"Lord Shen." Chen Jiuhe gritted his back teeth, his face taut. "Our two families are related by marriage after all. I don't blame you. I believe Lord Shen must have his unspoken difficulties."
After all, Cui Yunchu was truly delicate and beautiful; it was only natural that Shen Xiabai would be moved by her.
But how could Lord Shen accept such a fickle, capricious woman?
Unspoken difficulties? Cui Yunchu laughed out of sheer anger. It was one thing to accuse them of a secret rendezvous.
So Shen Xiabai had his unspoken difficulties and was forced into it, while she, Cui Yunchu, was just a fickle tramp?
While others bound their feet, did he bind his brain?
"Chen Jiuhe, living in the mortal realm, don't you miss your home in the underworld?"
Cui Yunchu tightly gripped her hairpin, even more furious than when she had faced the Wang family's son earlier.
Shen Xiabai was, by all accounts, her enemy. This damn Chen Jiuhe, was his brain completely smooth?
Her posture looked as if she wished she could stab his mouth to pieces.
"Eldest Miss Cui, the Cui family is clearly in the wrong here. My Chen family is willing to let it go, so why must you still speak so hurtfully? Even if the Cui family is prosperous, there is no reason to bully people like this."
"..." Bully him? Cui Yunchu wanted to beat him to death.
Chen Jiuhe wore a look of grief and indignation. "Our marriage discussion ends here."
With that, he actually cupped his hands and bowed to Shen Xiabai. "On the day of your wedding banquet, I will definitely come to drink a cup of congratulatory wine."
"Farewell."
After speaking, he flicked his sleeves and stormed off aggressively.
He left.
Just like that.
Cui Yunchu, Shen Xiabai, and their respective maid and servant—four people, eight eyes—all stared at Chen Jiuhe's retreating back, their expressions... indescribably bizarre.
Cui Yunchu was the first to explode. "Shen Xiabai, are you mute, or is your mouth sewn shut? Why didn't you say a word? Couldn't you explain?"
"..." The ugly expression on Shen Xiabai's face hadn't even faded before Cui Yunchu's sharp voice pierced his eardrums, making them ring.
He gave Cui Yunchu a cold sidelong glance. "Didn't you explain just now?"
Did that idiot look like he could understand human speech?
In the end, hadn't she almost passed out from anger herself?
"Do not argue with fools," he said coldly, placing one hand behind his back.
Cui Yunchu snorted lightly, letting out a dull, sarcastic sound that was half-smile, half-sneer. "If you're clumsy with words, just admit it. What airs are you putting on? What excuses are you making?"
"When you're arguing with me, that mouth of yours is as toxic as if you'd licked arsenic, but when brought out in public, it's completely useless."
Cui Yunchu's words were truly vulgar.
Shen Xiabai glared coldly at Cui Yunchu, his thin, cool lips slightly pursed, though the tips of his ears were imperceptibly flushed.
Upon closer inspection, there seemed to be a hint of embarrassment in the depths of his eyes.
"What are you looking at? I wasn't the one who said those things. You saw it with your own eyes. If you want to settle scores, go find Chen Jiuhe. If Lord Shen can finish him off with one sword strike, I, Cui Yunchu, will definitely cheer you on from the sidelines."
Right now, she especially wanted Chen Jiuhe's mouth to never be able to speak again.
He was simply sick in the head!!
"I will naturally explain this matter to the Chen family," Shen Xiabai's deep voice slowly sounded after a long while.
"You'd better. Don't ruin my reputation. Otherwise, if I get entangled with Lord Shen..."
The instantly chilling look in Shen Xiabai's eyes made Cui Yunchu shut her mouth immediately.
A moment later, he raised his eyes, only to suddenly meet Cui Yunchu's blank stare. The corners of her eyes had reddened at an incredible speed, welling up with misty tears.
Crying on cue? The June weather couldn't match how fast she changed her face.
Cui Yunchu didn't want to continue bickering with Shen Xiabai, so half of it was an act, and half was real.
She was a young lady after all. Why did everyone's malice have to be directed at her?
The Wang family's son was like that, and so was Chen Jiuhe. "Is it because my reputation is bad that those despicable scoundrels can pin dirty names on me and casually accuse and humiliate me?"
Despicable scoundrels—Shen Xiabai's brow twitched. He couldn't help but feel that Cui Yunchu was making a pointed remark, and those words seemingly included him as well.
"Just because my reputation is bad, anyone can make baseless speculations and brand me with the crime of a secret rendezvous, is that it?"
Cui Yunchu's eye sockets were red.
Shen Xiabai's pupils shrank slightly, and he looked away with extreme speed, saying coldly, "Don't put on an act in front of me."
"..." Cui Yunchu was so angry that her sorrow instantly stagnated.
If he had loudly cursed her as an evil spirit at this moment, wouldn't it have been even more fitting?
Shen Xiabai flicked his sleeves and left with his servant as well.
Cui Yunchu stood there for a long while. It wasn't until they completely disappeared from sight that she sniffled and tried to calm her emotions.
Xing'er said, "Miss, your acting just now was very convincing. From what this servant saw, Lord Shen seemed somewhat remorseful. His footsteps were even a bit messy and flustered when he left."
"..."
"I wasn't acting." Cui Yunchu wished she could grab Xing'er by the ear and yell.
Why didn't anyone believe her?
"Go and investigate the maid Chen Jiuhe mentioned. What's going on with that?"
Fortunately, Shen Xiabai was present today to witness the misunderstanding with his own eyes, otherwise she would have to worry about evading his pursuit.
Even though she was the lady here.
"Reputation truly is a good thing."
Cui Yunchu left the front courtyard.
Songhe Garden.
Cui Yunfeng sat very obediently beside Old Madam Cui.
Sitting opposite them was the well-behaved and proper Zhou Yuanmo, who was conversing eloquently with Old Madam Cui. A faint smile lingered on Old Madam Cui's face, clearly very satisfied with Zhou Yuanmo.
From his studies to his family situation, Old Madam Cui asked about almost everything. Zhou Yuanmo answered them one by one, clearly and logically, sounding as if he had nothing to hide.
It was often said that scholars were the most unfaithful, especially someone like Zhou Yuanmo, who came from a poor background and achieved success on the imperial examinations through his own hard work. Old Madam Cui's biggest worry was that he already had a wife at home but would abandon her to marry again for fame and fortune.
But thinking about it, since her son had chosen this person, he must have thoroughly investigated his family background beforehand.
Old Madam Cui cast a satisfied glance at Cui Yunfeng seated below.
However, Cui Yunfeng kept her head lowered, pondering who knows what.
Just then, a maid lifted the curtain and hurried in, looking anxious. "Old Madam, Second Miss, First Miss sprained her ankle at the Mid-Lake Pavilion and asked Second Miss to go over right away."
The Old Madam immediately stood up and asked, "How could she sprain her ankle out of nowhere? Has a doctor been called? Where is she? Has she been helped back to her courtyard?"
The little maid shook her head. "This servant hurried to report as soon as I received the news. I don't know the details yet."
"Nanny Li," Old Madam Cui said hurriedly. "Quick, accompany Yunfeng to see if it is serious."
Cui Yunfeng had already quickly stood up and headed outside.
Nanny Li fell a step behind Cui Yunfeng, hurrying toward the Mid-Lake Pavilion with the maid.
The Mid-Lake Pavilion was quite a distance from the Pine Crane Garden. It served as the connection point between the front and back courtyards, featuring a waterside pavilion. Passing through the pavilion would lead straight to the front courtyard.
Cui Yunfeng's mind was entirely focused on Cui Yunchu's ankle injury. It wasn't until she arrived at the Mid-Lake Pavilion that she realized Nanny Li, who had been following her, was nowhere to be seen, and the pavilion was completely empty.
"Where is she?" she asked the maid who had led the way.
"She was just here a moment ago. How could she suddenly disappear?" The maid looked extremely anxious.
Cui Yunfeng furrowed her brows and hurried into the Mid-Lake Pavilion in a few quick strides.
Just as she steadied herself, a dark figure suddenly darted out. Strong, muscular arms wrapped around her waist from behind, locking her tightly in a firm embrace.
Cui Yunfeng's face paled in fright, and she immediately struggled with all her might.
A familiar scent slowly drifted to her nose, and even the strength of the embrace was intimately familiar.
Before any joy could rise in Cui Yunfeng, her heart plummeted to rock bottom.
Her feelings for Xiao Yi had always been this conflicted.
"Don't move," Xiao Yi ordered, gripping her waist and pushing her forward against a pillar of the pavilion. The half-rolled curtains swayed slightly, completely concealing their figures.
With his hand and forehead resting against the pillar, Xiao Yi looked down at the girl trapped in his arms. His peach-blossom eyes were clouded with a smile, but the amusement did not reach his eyes.
He suddenly leaned down, pressing toward her lips. Cui Yunfeng jumped in fright and hastily turned her head to avoid him.
The two had been childhood sweethearts for years. Although he often held her, he had never been so presumptuous.
