Yicui and the others followed behind Ji Qing, carrying large and small parcels from the carriage, feeling uneasy and worried.
Ji Qing stepped onto the stairway of Shangyangling Marquis Mansion, greeted Ji Huo who was barred from entering, and then went inside with his company.
"What? Do you know who I am? To actually stop from entering?"
Ji Huo stood with his arms crossed, looking disdainfully at the crowd.
Yet, the guards of the Marquis Yangling Mansion dutifully refused him entry.
"The Marquis has ordered that, due to the Princely Heir’s honored status, you may freely enter even the Imperial Palace. But even if you co today, tomorrow, or the day after, he will not agree to see you."
Ji Huo: ...
This sentence sounded so familiar.
"I just want to take a look inside."
If Shen Hua was dead, he would give up; if Shen Hua was alive, he would never relent!
"Please go back, Princely Heir."
"I order you to let in!"
The guard said nothing and remained immovable, not letting Ji Huo co any closer to the threshold.
He angrily flung his sleeve: "Fine! He is really sothing!"
Ji Huo, unable to contain his rage, stord into Prince Ge Mansion again and then slumped into a chair, cursing bitterly for a while.
"I had to watch helplessly as soone just walked in under my very nose!"
"Cui Yun really is sothing else! He ca here just to thwart !"
"I’m not happy; co with to the brothel!"
"No way."
Ji Ge sighed, feeling down: "Father has just warned ."
Indeed, the envoy wouldn’t leave Shengjing for a few more days. If word got out that Ji Ge stayed overnight in a brothel, it might cause a scandal.
Ji Ge felt awkward: "He also told to quickly produce a legitimate son with the Princess."
Ji Huo didn’t find it surprising and even felt envious, holding a teacup from the table: "What’s difficult about that? I’ll teach you a few positions that make conceiving easy."
Ji Ge: "I haven’t touched her."
Ji Huo spat out his tea in shock.
"How co? In the brothel, you were pretty capable, weren’t you? Is it an injury, or are you just underperforming? If you lack virility, find Doctor Ni! The Princess is truly pitiful, it’s like living in widowhood being married to you."
Ji Ge fell silent for a long while. Suddenly, he stood up and looked earnestly at Ji Huo.
Then he bowed solemnly to Ji Huo.
"There is sothing I’ve been wanting to say for a long ti."
Ji Huo had a bad premonition.
Ji Ge: "I wish to thank you on behalf of Cui Yun."
————
Shen Hua regained consciousness around sunset.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she heard Yicui calling out urgently and joyfully.
"Madam, you are finally awake."
Shen Hua looked weakly at the canopy above her bed.
She could barely muster any strength throughout her body.
Ningzhu hurried out of the room, and soon her clear voice rang out: "Doctor Ni, our madam has woken up."
Finally, Shen Hua showed a response. Her parched lips moved: "This bed canopy is so ugly. How could I lie in such a place? Quick, replace it with my lake-colored autumn gauze canopy?"
Doctor Ni and Cui Yun entered together, with Cui Yun’s lips curving slightly, while Doctor Ni almost stumbled.
"You still have the leisure to worry about these things. This is a side room in my courtyard, and you don’t live here."
Shen Hua turned her head to look at him, but heard Doctor Ni’s voice stopping her: "Don’t move, I need to remove the needles."
Shen Hua always followed dical advice.
She indeed obediently stayed in the sa position.
Wait, remove the needles???
"Where... where did you insert them?"
She asked with difficulty, her breath short.
"On your head."
Doctor Ni approached, looking satisfied at his own handiwork: "You have no idea the trouble I went through. If it weren’t for the Marquis’s prohibition, I would have shaved your head long ago — it’s not easy finding this acupuncture point. A mistake would be troubleso."
Then he took a long silver needle from his needle pack and showed it to Shen Hua.
"See?"
"Half of each have been inserted!"
"You must admire my superior dical skills."
Shen Hua was terrified. Her lips quivered, her hands trembled, and even her thick lashes fluttered in disorder. Clinging to a tiny hope, she asked, "How many needles did you insert?"
Cui Yun’s voice was cold and clear, yet inexplicably persuasive: "Not many."
Shen Hua was just about to sigh in relief.
Cui Yun: "Just over thirty."
Under everyone’s gaze, Shen Hua slowly lifted her hand and pinched her philtrum.
Ni Kang leaned over: "It’ll be quick. Once they’re pulled out, it’s all done. Rember to take your dicine when you wake up."
"Wait!"
"What’s with all the fuss now?"
"I’m not ready."
Ni Kang: ...I am ready.
He was about to reach out his hand.
"Wait a bit longer."
"...What is it now?"
"Let struggle on my deathbed for a mont."
Shen Hua tightly closed her eyes.
"Doctor Ni, can you keep your distance from ?"
Shen Hua squeezed out a sentence: "I get a headache and feel like vomiting as soon as I see you now."
Ni Kang: "Impossible, you can’t deny my dical skills."
"I did not deny your dical skills, I’m just bereaved of conscience."
Ni Kang caught on. Seeing that Shen Hua’s condition was not bad, enough to make a joke about him. He glared at Cui Yun beside.
He left in a huff: "You brought her here, you handle it."
After all, this was not a difficult matter for Cui Yun.
Seeing that Ni Kang had left, Shen Hua reluctantly opened her eyes.
Just thinking about the multitude of needles on her head made her faint, yet if she really didn’t pull them out, wouldn’t she have to be buried with them?
Her frown showed her inner conflict and distress.
Cui Yun really couldn’t understand; at such a critical mont, why did Shen Hua still have so much drama.
In a few days, the household was to invite a troupe. In his opinion, they couldn’t hold a candle to the performance in front of him.
The man walked forward slowly.
"You will live in the West Garden from now on; the servants are already preparing it."
Shen Hua’s attention was diverted by this sentence.
She pursed her lips: "I don’t think it’s very convenient."
Twilight had fallen, and lamps were already lit within the room.
The gentle light softened the man’s features a lot. He sat down on a chair in front of the bed: "As long as you are in Shengjing, the Heir of Prince Gong will inevitably pester you. Here, is the greatest protection I can offer you."
Upon hearing this, Shen Hua truly couldn’t speak the words of refusal lodged in her throat.
"Do you like opera?"
Shen Hua: "Hm?"
"In a few days, a theatrical troupe will be invited to the house. Even if you don’t enjoy it, you can at least join in on the fun."
And joining in on the fun is sothing Shen Hua is particularly good at.
Her attention completely shifted: "What play are they performing?"
"That I don’t know. If you really want to find out, you should ask my mother later."
eting the woman’s clear and bright eyes, which were lively to the point of familiarity, Cui Yun experienced a montary daze.
The man’s hand moved quickly to cover her eyes and swiftly removed the silver needles.
Shen Hua instinctively clutched the bedding. Even though it wasn’t really painful, she still couldn’t stop feeling anxious. Her thick lashes trembled in the palm of his hand, causing Cui Yun to pause montarily, then his next movents were even quicker.
"From now on, you shall assu the identity of my cousin."
Shen Hua fell into thought, quickly seizing the key point: "Why can’t I be your elder cous—?"
The word "sister" was never spoken.
Cui Yun let go of her.
Shen Hua saw the handso face of the man clearly.
Cui Yun: "What did you say?"
Shen Hua seeing those silver needles cleaned up by Yicui, couldn’t help but feel grateful again to Cui Yun.
So, she accepted her new identity with composure.
She gave Cui Yun a sweet smile.
"Cousin, be well."
Reviews
All reviews (0)