The crowd surged like a tide, the surrounding noise seemingly having nothing to do with her, as Shen Hua felt like she had stepped into thin air, her body plunging straight down.
Her back chilled, yet certain matters simply could not withstand scrutiny.
She bit her lips tightly and after a long ti, she finally whispered softly, "Return to the mansion."
The carriage wheels rolled on the ground, with Cheng Gui riding the horse.
Shen Hua leaned weakly against Yingwu, her hands tightly clutching the latter’s clothes, her expression dazed.
"The hibiscus cakes from the shop ahead were said to be delicious last ti. Should we buy so more to take back?"
The girl appeared listless, unusually downcast.
Seeing this, Yingwu felt sothing was amiss but did not say anything more.
Upon returning to Marquis Yangling Mansion, Shen Hua raised her eyes to look at the sky, her thoughts unknown to anyone, and eventually headed nonchalantly towards Sui Courtyard.
Without waiting for Ji Xin, who was weeding, to co forward and pay respects, the girl sat down at the threshold as if very familiar with the place.
Shen Hua cradled her chin in worry, staring eagerly at the empty path.
This was her... pose for complaining.
Yingwu left for a mont, then sent a ssage to the Ministry of Justice.
————
Ministry of Justice.
The Chief Clerk was extrely busy, barely having ti to drink tea. Finally, having sorted all the complaint files, he handed them over to Cui Yun.
Jiang Zhao stood beside, reporting criminal cases in a cut-and-dry manner.
Cui Yun listened attentively, yet his hands were flipping through the newly received docunts.
When Jiang Zhao finished his statent, Cui Yun blandly comnted, "The national treasury is empty, yet the officials below are more extravagant than ever. Over the years, the governnt has turned a blind eye and let them be, only to make their appetites grow bigger."
Jiang Zhao hesitated briefly before asking softly, "Should the Ministry of Justice take action? Even if we can’t clean up everything, we can still make an example to restrain these people."
Cui Yun lowered his eyes, his mouth curving into a sneer, "Restrain?"
"How much is an official’s salary? It’s probably not even equal to the scraps from their corruption and bribes. The power in the court is deeply interlocked, and these people have long banded together. Who do you propose we catch?"
Apart from a few old-fashioned officials at the Imperial Censorate, which official is clean!
Even those who are highly principled might get corrupted by these unhealthy practices.
Jiang Zhao frowned heavily, knowing these words were true.
Cui Yun said, "The governnt has not spoken; why should the Ministry of Justice stick its neck out unnecessarily?"
Then, he gently reminded, "Zou Wei has received the Imperial edict, this ti he is probably targeting the Fourth Prince. Better not to compete for this lilight."
"Tonight, you two leave later, join in—"
Before he finished speaking, there were two ’knock knock’ sounds from outside. Soon after, Ji Qing entered.
"Sir."
Cui Yun looked up, his expression unperturbed, "Speak."
"Yingwu sent a letter, Miss Shen is at the Sui Courtyard looking anxious. Sothing seed off after she went out."
Ji Qing knew, Cui Yun would return ho late today. Respectfully and considerately, he asked, "Shall I go back first to check?"
Cui Yun sat for a mont, his thoughts unknown.
Then, what Ji Qing heard was the grating sound of a chair dragging across the floor.
Cui Yun’s expression calm, he walked towards the exit. He left a ssage for Jiang Zhao and the secretary, "You’ve also worked hard these days, go ho earlier today, we’ll discuss the rest tomorrow."
The secretary watched him leave, imdiately changing from his previous solemn deanor, and playfully winked at Jiang Zhao.
He clucked his tongue, "It’s still early. He’s leaving already?"
"The previous sentences still asked us to stay, and in a blink, he changed to discussing tomorrow. Changing faces in a play can’t compare to the lord by a hair."
"Running off early but not forgetting to drag us into this emotional ss; finally, you’re almost like a decent person!"
In front of the Sui Courtyard, Shen Hua still sat up straight.
During this ti, Cui Rong ca around for a walk.
The little ghost standing in front of Shen Hua: "Are you waiting for my Second Uncle?"
Shen Hua ignored her.
Cui Rong with hands on her hips: "A girl like you should be more reserved."
Shen Hua still ignored her.
But Cui Rong was used to it; she didn’t even notice anything amiss.
"Hey."
"I advise you to treat better from now on."
"Only then will I deign to call you Second Aunt. Otherwise, even if Second Uncle marries you, I will not acknowledge it. Your life here won’t be easy."
Shen Hua finally reacted. She slowly turned her head to look at Cui Rong.
She asked: "After being disciplined by ti and again, how have you, little ghost, not learned your lesson?"
Cui Rong imdiately quieted down like a chicken. She sat beside the girl, desolately mimicking Shen Hua holding her delicate face, staring into the distance.
It was then that Shen Hua slowly turned her head back.
But soon, the little girl couldn’t sit still and spoke again.
"These past few days, I’ve been thinking hard, unable to understand what exceptional qualities you have that could captivate my Second Uncle."
She began to give examples.
"Do you know about the Third Princess? She is the daughter of Princess Consort Jing, and in earlier years, she closely pursued my Second Uncle, even waiting outside the hall at dawn just to catch a glimpse of him. That shows deep affection."
She looked at Shen Hua and said, "Though she can’t match your looks, she knows how to handle affairs, always keeping my Second Uncle on her lips. Whenever she had sothing good, she thought of . You could learn a lot from her. If she hadn’t been married off far away, everyone would probably be calling them a perfect match."
She said this, but felt that the Third Princess wasn’t all that great. Her appearance and substance didn’t match up, nothing about her was fitting. And her persistent entanglent with Second Uncle was indeed tireso.
Shen Hua... at least could lead her to great victories!
But with eight hundred tricks up her sleeve, she hoped Shen Hua would share so of those treasures in the house with her after hearing this!
Shen Hua frowned slightly.
Cui Rong continued non-stop: "I’m not afraid to tell you. My Second Uncle is quite skillful in calligraphy and painting."
"Once, a piece was snatched away by the Seventh Prince, who’s known for his odd behavior of stating ’the highest bidder gets it’ once he acquires sothing."
"The bids kept soaring. The wealthy ladies in Shengjing openly collected the art for appreciation, but I knew they were actually infatuated with the artist."
Unfortunately, when Cui Yun found out about this, he coldly sought Ji Ge, and the matter fizzled out.
"In this great Da Qi, the girls who admire my Second Uncle could probably line up from the Marquis Yangling Mansion to Fengzhou City."
"What’s more exaggerated is that on the streets, there are girls who deliberately sprain their ankles just to lean on him."
It’s only in the recent years that Cui Yun, maintaining his propriety and indifference, put a stop to these phenona.
Shen Hua smiled faintly: "Your Second Uncle truly attracts admirers like bees to honey."
Cui Rong proudly: "Naturally."
"His face is indeed not a calm one. It’s a pity that apart from you, no one else has succeeded in recent years."
Cui Rong thoughtfully: "Now I understand, it’s your clingy nature that got entangled with my Second Uncle."
She appeared distressed: "My Second Uncle has weak willpower, how could he fall for this trick?"
Still, she didn’t forget to add: "But be careful, if one day he tires of you, don’t co crying to ."
Shen Hua let out a cold laugh: "With a niece like you, your Second Uncle is truly blessed."
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