"Yunchu." Zhao Yujie spoke in a panic, wanting to explain something, but was coldly interrupted by Cui Yunchu.
"Madam Wang, since you know best how to look out for yourself, why not just be a bystander in this matter as well."
"...But he is my husband." After a long while, Zhao Yujie finally managed to speak again with difficulty.
Cui Yunchu had already stood up. "But Madam Wang, you have no affection or ties with me whatsoever. Please go back and tell Old Madam Wang that if she wants her son, she can go to the Department of Punishment."
"Xing'er, see the guest out." With that said, Cui Yunchu unceremoniously issued the order to leave and stepped into the inner room.
"Eldest Miss Cui," Zhao Yujie refused to leave, her face pale. "You know my life has not been easy. If I cannot save my husband, my mother-in-law will definitely not treat me well. You are a daughter of the Cui family, born noble. Please, just take pity on me this once."
Cui Yunchu remained silent. Xing'er and Nanny Zhang forcefully escorted the person out.
She stood behind the screen, watching Zhao Yujie's reluctant figure looking back with every step, her red lips pressed tightly together.
She was born noble?
During those years when she guarded the mansion alone, the noble young ladies in the capital did not say that.
They said she was a vile spawn abandoned and unwanted by the Cui family.
"Which noble lady would hold a wake and bury her own mother all by herself?"
"Miss, the person has left."
Cui Yunchu raised her eyes, glanced at Nanny Zhang, and nodded slightly.
Those unbearable days were spent with Nanny Zhang by her side, and it was also Nanny Zhang who served as a lifesaver allowing her to act boldly.
Fortunately, everything had passed, and she was living a good life now.
In her previous life, she had doubted the sincerity of everyone around her and ignored their true feelings.
Because all the past events reminded her that she was not the one favored by the Cui family.
"Miss, there is news about the matter you asked me to investigate," Xing'er said as soon as she entered the room.
"The one who led Young Master Chen there today was a sweeping maid serving in the front yard. She took Young Master Wang's silver and led Young Master Chen to..."
Xing'er did not continue.
Cui Yunchu understood.
If she had chosen to meekly submit as before and was pestered by Young Master Wang, she would definitely have been caught red-handed by Chen Jiuhe.
That bastard from the Wang family wanted to ruin her marriage with the Chen family.
Did he think that if her reputation was ruined, she would marry him as a concubine? It was truly an idiot's daydream.
Cui Yunchu gritted her teeth. "Send him to the Department of Punishment immediately."
Xing'er complied and turned to leave.
Cui Yunchu added another instruction, "Before going, remember to let Nanny Li greet him properly first."
Mentioning this, Cui Yunchu suddenly recalled Chen Jiuhe's suspicion regarding her and Shen Xiaobai, and immediately felt a headache coming on.
Why did he have to misunderstand her relationship with anyone but that scumbag Shen Xiabai?
...
Not only Cui Yunchu, but the Chen family was equally perplexed.
As soon as Chen Jiuhe returned from the Cui family, Madam Chen née Liu immediately called him to Old Madam Chen's courtyard. Chen Miaohe was also there. Three people, six eyes all stared fixedly at Chen Jiuhe.
Sitting below, Chen Jiuhe frowned deeply, looking irritable and displeased.
Old Madam Chen was the first to speak. "Did you see Eldest Miss Cui?"
Chen Jiuhe's lips pressed into a straight line. After a long while, he nodded slightly.
Old Madam Chen's tense face relaxed. The Cui family had rejected their previous invitations, and she thought there was no hope for the marriage.
"What did you talk about? Did you mention the marriage?"
"Grandmother, Mother, just stop asking." Chen Jiuhe was very annoyed. He picked up the teacup from the table beside him and gulped it down.
"What happened?" Chen Miaohe asked. "Does Eldest Miss Cui look down on you?"
"..." Chen Jiuhe turned to look at his own younger sister.
Chen Miaohe touched her nose, feeling a bit sheepish.
She just felt that the Eldest Miss of the Cui family was beautiful and perfect in every way. Marrying her dull and uninteresting eldest brother would indeed be settling for less.
"Grandmother, Mother, let's just drop the marriage with the Cui family. Don't think about it anymore."
As soon as these words came out, Old Madam Chen and Madam Chen née Liu grew anxious.
Chen Jiuhe was frustrated by the questioning, and Cui Yunchu's delicate and beautiful face unconsciously appeared before his eyes.
Even her voice was sweet and melodious.
As a man, how could his heart not be moved? It was a pity...
"She already has someone she likes," Chen Jiuhe suddenly said, interrupting the chattering of Old Madam Chen and Madam Chen née Liu.
The room fell silent for a moment. All three of them looked at him, and no one spoke.
Chen Miaohe spoke first. "So she still looks down on you." Her voice was low, muttering to herself. She could not help but feel it was a pity that such a beautiful girl could not be married into the family to be admired all the time.
"Who is it?" Chen Miaohe asked casually.
Chen Jiuhe remained silent. It was not until Old Madam Chen also pressed him that he said stiffly, "Lord Shen of the Shen family in the West City."
"The two of them were meeting secretly in the Cui Residence. I saw it with my own eyes."
After their shock passed, Old Madam Chen and Madam Chen née Liu felt only regret.
Madam Chen née Liu said, "To think it is Lord Shen. Then it seems our family has absolutely no hope."
Old Madam Chen nodded in agreement.
The girl was not stupid. Her eyes could naturally tell which man was of the highest quality. The one from their family could not compare at all.
Hearing this, Chen Miaohe was also stunned. Her eyes turned from disappointment to surprise, and then sparkled brightly. "It's Lord Shen."
Then it was the same as marrying her eldest brother. She would be able to see her anytime in the future, and they would still be family.
She ignored her eldest brother's ugly expression and immersed herself in the perfect match of Shen Xiabai and Cui Yunchu.
"Lord Shen is indeed handsome."
In an instant, she even felt much better about her own marriage arrangement with Shen Zilan.
"Miaohe." Madam Chen née Liu glared at her daughter.
Although what she said was true, she had to know whose side she was on. Weren't those words just stabbing a knife into her son's heart?
Chen Miaohe could only restrain herself a little.
"Jiuhe, since that is the case, let it go. When the time comes, Mother will find you a girl from another family. I will definitely make sure you are satisfied."
Chen Jiuhe did not speak.
It would be a lie to say he was not disappointed, but in truth, he was not entirely satisfied with this marriage from the very beginning, was he?
His heart was in turmoil. He stood up and left Old Madam Chen's courtyard.
Old Madam Chen then urged Chen Miaohe not to reveal a single word about the secret meeting between Cui Yunchu and Shen Xiabai to anyone outside.
Although the marriage fell through, they absolutely must not make enemies.
Chen Miaohe nodded and suddenly said, "I actually think there's nothing wrong with it. I'd like to have a secret rendezvous with Shen Zilan, but we don't have that kind of affection."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Madam Chen née Liu glared.
The Chen family fell into deep regret, unable to extricate themselves. On the other side, it was even more lively.
At the Department of Punishment, Shen Xiabai held a file in his hand and looked silently at the bruised and swollen man kneeling before his desk.
"My Lord," the servant beside him said. "Eldest Miss Cui's people left a message, saying they hope Your Lordship can judge this impartially."
Shen Xiabai lifted his eyelids and glanced at the servant.
Was he, Shen Xiabai, the kind of petty man who would use public office to avenge private wrongs?
A cold sneer escaped his throat. That woman acted quite fast.
She even judged others by her own standards. "With a narrow mind, everything one sees is narrow."
The servant asked, "...My Lord, what should we do with this person then?"
Hearing this, Young Master Wang on the ground immediately began to beg for mercy. "Lord Shen, it's all a misunderstanding. Don't listen to that woman Cui Yunchu. She framed me. Who in the whole capital doesn't know what kind of tramp she is."
Shen Xiabai's eyes suddenly turned icy, his dark gaze fixed heavily on the man kneeling on the ground who was spouting foul and filthy words.
In his mind flashed the memory of that woman's fierce defense earlier today at the Cui residence.
He remembered her reddened eyes, seemingly delicate and fragile, yet possessing an unyielding strength.
Shen Xiabai curled his lips into a cold sneer. It is precisely because the entire capital knows about it that a piece of trash like you thought you could take advantage of the situation.
It had even implicated him, putting him in the wrong. That woman had chased after him demanding an apology, her sharp words leaving him utterly speechless.
Upon hearing this, Young Master Wang's face paled slightly. He wasn't afraid of falling into the hands of the Cui family, but dealing with Shen Xiabai meant being skinned alive and having his entire future ruined.
Although he possessed little talent or learning, once he married, he could rely on his family's influence to secure a decent official post.
Lord Shen, I was merely playing a joke on the Cui family's daughter. It's just a trivial matter that we can resolve ourselves. It truly isn't worth troubling Your Excellency over.
Shen Xiabai raised an eyebrow. Why didn't you say that earlier when you were locked up in the Cui residence?
He would have been more than happy to wash his hands of the matter and stay out of the mud.
Sending Young Master Wang to him was clearly an intentional move by that woman from the Cui family. It was her way of reminding him of his previous misunderstandings and the cold, mocking remarks he had directed at her.
