Shen Hua had no energy, listlessly nodding her head.
But for Xue Shuyue, it was as if she’d been struck by lightning.
In the Marquis Yangling Mansion all these years, it was exceedingly difficult for her to even catch a glimpse of Cui Yun.
With so many rules in the mansion, although they were not harsh to cousins, they absolutely did not tolerate those with ulterior motives.
She dared not inquire about Cui Yun’s whereabouts in order to ’accidentally’ run into him. At best, she could only frequently pay her respects to Cui Xuan, hoping to bump into Cui Yun one day and thus show her face.
But now, Cui Yun! Coming to dine with Shen Hua!
Why on earth!
It would have been alright if Shen Hua didn’t show any joy.
But she actually dealt with Cui Yun with the sa lack of enthusiasm she used for that little wretch, Wu Shaoyin!!!
The opportunity was handed to her on a silver platter, and yet this girl was utterly discouraging!
The atmosphere inside the room was truly off, and Cui Yun didn’t think Shen Hua was the type to chat with the girls in West Garden at night.
"Who’s upset you?" Cui Yun asked nonchalantly as if addressing nobody in particular.
Shen Hua glanced at him, naturally unwilling to admit she had been sulking in her room all afternoon.
Xue Shuyue was most sensitive: "It wasn’t !"
She couldn’t resist her petty behavior, and with a soft and tender voice, she said to Cui Yun, "Perhaps it was Miss Wu."
Shen Hua was montarily lost in confusion.
Wu Shaoyin, who was ntioned, took a deep breath. Yet, upon eting Cui Yun’s indifferent gaze, she couldn’t help feeling panicked.
"No——"
Then, she saw Shen Hua with one hand against her forehead, feigning a look of distress and sorrow.
"I am reflecting."
The girl articulated with stress and emotion: "Being graced by the favors of Marquis Mansion is my fortune."
Cui Yun: ...
So, you’re given another chance to play a new role, aren’t you?
Right?
He chuckled softly for the first ti, then quietly observed Shen Hua, watching her act out her charades.
Shen Hua’s other hand daintily and pretentiously grabbed a handkerchief and fluttered it in the air before wiping her tearless eyes.
"In the Marquis Mansion, I have bullied several madams with my misdeeds. After going to the Xuan Residence, I showed my true aggressive nature and angered people of status so that my cousin could no longer tolerate and severely reprimanded , asking to return to East Courtyard to face the wall and reflect on my wrongs."
Xue Shuyue: She knew it! She just knew it!
Shen Hua’s voice was faint: "It’s not surprising that Miss Wu specially ca to teach how to be a person."
Wu Shaoyin: ...
She was completely upset!
It seed that every ti she confronted Shen Hua, she ended up failing, including today.
Just as she was about to speak out in her own defense, Shen Hua stared at her very displeased.
"What’s the matter!"
"Cry out!"
"If you don’t cry, how can my cruelty be highlighted!"
Wu Shaoyin: ...
The surge of bitterness that had just co over her was instantly doused with a bucket of cold water. It was not good for her to cry, nor was it good to not cry.
Yet Cui Yun looked over at Shen Hua carelessly, without a single sign of offense.
Wu Shaoyin: "Miss Shen, I ant well for you."
Shen Hua still sat there, yet even so, her presence managed to overwhelmingly intimidate Wu Shaoyin; she looked down disdainfully from her lofty position: "I don’t need your superfluous efforts to be better."
"But as a girl, you ought to be gentle and dignified."
Shen Hua was montarily puzzled. She took so ti to understand, then naturally explained with aloof and elegant poise: "I am already the most gentle and dignified girl there is."
This point was beyond question.
Xue Shuyue: .....
Look how odious Wu Shaoyin is. Compared to her, Shen Hua appeared so pitiful, isolated, and helpless; any man would be biased towards her.
She wanted to cover Shen Hua’s mouth.
Shen Hua was expelled from the Xuan Residence only a day ago, might she be driven out of the Cui Mansion now?
She needed such a thorn in the side to deal with the girl Cui Yun was soon to welco into his house.
She lowered her voice: "Stop talking!"
Then, with difficulty, she tried to defend Shen Hua: "Cousin, Miss Shen is just being true to her character, she’s not a bad person."
Cui Yun remained silent.
As soon as the words fell, Wu Shaoyin’s tily sobbing could be heard.
Shen Hua, alert!
She brewed her malice with emotion.
Wu Shaoyin: "Miss Shen, you are way too arrogant. With my cousin here, you still dare to humiliate like this. I’m just a pitiful person, shalessly staying in the Marquis Mansion. I know my place under another’s roof and am extrely cautious in everything, fearing that I might do sothing wrong. I know you look down on ; just say it outright."
She said a lot, but Shen Hua only caught the last sentence.
She, rather generously, pondered for a mont and then arrogantly nodded.
"I do look down on you."
"You are okay, at least you have so self-awareness."
Cui Yun watched Shen Hua with an indifferent look.
Xue Shuyue’s expression was very stiff: "About this matter—"
Just then, her gaze t with Wu Shaoyin’s inky-black, distressed face.
Xue Shuyue: "I—"
Can’t laugh! Hold it in!
The next mont, Xue Shuyue: "Pfft!"
Shen Hua looked over without expression.
"Speaking of gentleness and decorum, neither of you can compare to ."
Wu Shaoyin was really crying. Different from usual carefully calculated pitiful looks, now she was just shedding two hot streams of genuine tears.
"Cousin."
Her body shook in distress.
"I beg cousin to stand up for ."
Shen Hua pursed her lips. She slowly t Cui Yun’s dark and inscrutable eyes, which betrayed no emotion as if nothing in this world could faze him.
Xue Shuyue: !!!
"Stand up for what? I think Miss Shen hasn’t said anything wrong."
Shen Hua regarded her highly, then cutely nodded in agreent.
"Mhm."
Cui Yun let out a mockingly amused sound.
Finally, he took action.
"Have you made enough trouble?"
This question was directed at Shen Hua.
Xue Shuyue made a bitter face, Wu Shaoyin’s mouth began to slightly curve upwards.
Shen Hua grudgingly admitted: "That’s enough."
Cui Yun nodded; he walked a few steps forward and finally stopped in front of Wu Shaoyin. His gaze didn’t fall on her but on the bowl of dicine laid out in front of Shen Hua.
The dicine was thick and black, looking very bitter.
How she swallowed it without changing her expression is a mystery.
She’s so delicate; the Shen family must have found it quite troubleso to cater to her.
The man’s cold lips moved slightly.
"Your prudence is your business. There’s really no need to show off about it. There are no tricksters under my sister-in-law’s managent. To my knowledge, the monthly salary and the seasonal distribution of new clothes – the Cui family has never mistreated the people of the West Garden."
"So, what you just said was a complaint that my Cui Mansion has mistreated you?"
Wu Shaoyin was shocked.
"No, cousin, you misunderstand."
Shen Hua leisurely rested her chin on her hand and watched: "Ha! You tripped up, didn’t you?"
Wu Shaoyin’s pupils dilated imnsely.
Xue Shuyue tensed and clutched her handkerchief. She leaned close to Shen Hua: "You really should restrain yourself."
As if she had not heard, Shen Hua leaned to one side.
"Miss Wu, you keep talking about duties, but I’ve never seen you perform yours properly. You claim to be very careful and cautious, but I see you as very bold! This is the Cui family, not the Wu family."
She drew out her words deliberately: "Who do you think is in front of you? He is the Minister of Ministry of Justice, who has seen demons in human skin, and even foxes without their disguises. Not so senseless young lord."
"Can’t he see through your little acts?"
"The Cui family used to indulge you – did you start to really think you were sothing special? Trying to provoke , wanting to stir troubles in the Cui Mansion to the point of no peace?"
Xue Shuyue swallowed hard; she reached out to tug at Shen Hua’s sleeve: "That’s enough, we are also living under soone else’s roof."
Shen Hua frowned.
She stated very seriously: "I am not."
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