After returning to the courtyard, Cui Yun took out the portrait he had made earlier without any hesitation. His gaze lingered on it for just a mont.
"Investigate."
Ji Qing took it: "Yes."
He left swiftly.
With the indoor light on, it was bright as dayti.
Cui Yun leaned against the back of the chair, his eyes half-closed in lazy contemplation, his index finger bent, tapping the armrest repeatedly.
No one knew what he was thinking.
Until Ni Kang entered.
"Why summon late at night?"
Cui Yun slightly raised his eyes: "How is her condition?"
"Oh, finally you ask."
Ni Kang found a seat and sat down: "I really don’t understand, how did the Second Young Master from Marquis Yangling Mansion get involved with Fengzhou’s Shen Family? How is Shen Hua, a re little girl, worthy of such a big fuss from you?"
He was very polite: "Another thing, everyone says Marquis Cui returned from the battlefield with serious injuries, yet you never ntioned asking to treat him, instead sending here. You don’t seem like soone who ignores the important. May I ask why? I promise I won’t tell anyone."
"Those who know too much, often die young."
Cui Yun chuckled: "If you really want to know, to , it’s just a matter of moving my lips."
"I dare say, do you have the life to keep it a secret?"
Fine, he would not ask anymore.
Ni Kang, in fact, had guessed it!
It must be! Cui Yun was interested in!
The embroidery from Shen Family’s Embroidery Workshop!
As for Cui Yang’s matter, he dared not think deeply about it.
He, too, knew the tis.
"Madam Shen’s illness is an old chronic disease. It needs to be treated gradually and systematically."
Cui Yun didn’t want to hear his nonsense: "The cause of the illness."
Asking this question, Ni Kang also slightly furrowed his brows.
"It is said to be a condition brought since birth. But these days, after acupuncture and observing her gradually recovering pulse, it really doesn’t seem so. Actually, I can’t be precise."
Cui Yun concealed his sharpness: "Could it be induced by external factors?"
"Over the years, the dicines she has been taking, I have reviewed each prescription, all gentle, neutral—neither harmful nor overly beneficial. Taking them shouldn’t lead to mistakes."
"Forget about those, just the wary attitude of Mrs. Shen when she first ca, shows how carefully she is usually protected, what external factors could there be?"
Ni Kang felt sowhat warm and drank a few cups of cold tea.
"It’s good that I ca at this ti, I am still able to treat her with acupuncture. If it were a year later, acupuncture would be ineffective. Even Daluo Immortal arriving would be helpless."
An exquisite box was thrown over.
Ni Kang was puzzled. He was suspicious for a mont, just touching it when a light fragrance hit his face. ’Click’—the box was opened. The scent inside was stronger, like the fragrance of plum blossoms in snow signaling the arrival of spring.
"Is this for ?"
Ni Kang didn’t think much: "Where did you get this, it’s really good stuff."
The one using this type of fragrance must be a girl.
Aside from Shen Family, who else has Cui Yun been in contact with these past few days?
He too had briefly noticed this scent on Shen Hua, but masked by the sll of dicines, it was very faint.
Previously, Ni Kang didn’t pay attention to such details.
"You didn’t take it from a little girl, did you!"
"At least I’m four years older than her."
Seeing that Cui Yun didn’t respond, he considered himself uninteresting.
Ni Kang touched a bit and sniffed, then routinely put it to his mouth to taste.
He carefully discerned.
"This is a top-quality fragrance."
"Inside, there’s also a herb that calms the mind. It shows the careful consideration of the Shen Family."
Calming the mind?
Is this Shen Wei’s final tenderness for Shen Hua?
Cui Yun leaned slightly forward: "These past few days I’ve read a few dical books. You tell , is it possible that it’s... incompatible?"
As soon as the words fell, Ni Kang suddenly froze, his expression changing dramatically.
Cui Yun had completely figured it out.
"No wonder..."
Ni Kang nodded in realization: "Madam Shen has a strong constitution, she shouldn’t be suffering from migraines."
"Taking care of Miss Shen, being exposed to this fragrance for a long ti, and frequently testing dicines on Miss Shen..."
Every ti they changed the prescription, that one herb that could save lives but also be fatal, was always present.
Shen Hua had returned to her room before she realized that the spices were missing.
She walked back, holding a lantern, searching all over. She returned disappointed.
She was very upset, and the next morning she found that the spices her daddy had given her previously were also missing. But strangely, there was an extra portion of the type she had taken from Cui Yun.
Was this... an equivalent exchange?
Shen Hua showed no sign of annoyance; she completely forgot what Shen Wei had said before and felt that this was Cui Yun declaring war on her.
Well then!
Could she lose?
Shen Hua paced back and forth in the room, and after sending out a servant, she looked over brightly when he returned.
"Young Master Cui is still in the courtyard, he hasn’t left today."
An hour later.
The servant ca back with another ssage.
"Young Master Cui and our young master are having a delightful conversation."
"How did brother end up going there?"
"Discussing poetry and philosophy."
Shen Hua: "..."
Throughout the whole day, Cui Yun did not leave the house.
On the second day, the servant ca back again to report.
"The young master went to find Young Master Cui early in the morning."
The third day.
"The young master... went again."
Shen Hua: ...
It was the first ti she felt that her brother had stayed at ho too long and should go to the academy.
So, instead of visiting Sister Xiao, he was going to Cui Yun every day?
Just before the girl completely lost her temper, the servant ca back this ti all excited.
"The young master and Young Master Cui have gone out."
"Young Master Cui’s servant is also gone, now there’s no one in the courtyard."
Shen Hua, spurred into action: "Let’s go!"
-------------
The streets were bustling with noise.
Shen Zhi originally planned to show Cui Yun around Fengzhou City, but unexpectedly, Ji Qing ignored the directions he pointed out and purposefully headed towards another destination.
"Brother Cui, where are you planning to go?"
Cui Yun, checking the ti: "Early this morning, your second aunt went out to pay respects at the temple. I sent a ssage there; she should be returning ho soon."
"Shen Zhi."
"Though you’re young, you are the support for your mama and sister."
Out of nowhere, he asked: "Are you prepared?"
"What... do you an?"
By the ti they arrived, chaos had already erupted in the second wife’s quarters.
Shen Zhushi grabbed hold of Xue Mouyan’s hair, who was bare of any clothing.
"Ah!"
"Shaless wretch, seducing people right under my watch?"
"Who gave you the audacity!"
She trembled with rage.
Especially thinking about how, just after she left, Shen He Wen couldn’t wait to ascend onto Xue Mouyan’s bed.
Shen He Wen had panic in his eyes.
"Madam..."
"Shen He Wen, how could you do this to !"
"For how long? She has lived here for three years, how long have you been with her!"
Shen He Wen hurriedly got dressed and tried to soothe her, fearing the situation would worsen: "This is the first ti, it’s truly the first ti, I was bewitched..."
Xue Mouyan’s eyes brimd with tears, more panicked than anyone, yet she dared not struggle.
Shen Zhi heard everything very clearly.
"How can I believe you! Every ti big brother ca over, he spoke nonsense in front of your sister-in-law! How many of those were true!"
"Your elder brother carries out these dirty deeds behind your sister-in-law’s back, and she has yet to notice, which is her foolishness! It seems you consider a fool too!"
Shen Zhushi then grabbed Shen He Wen: "She is clearly soone your elder brother keeps here! It was you who suggested swapping Xue Mouyan for favours, prompting to agree to keep such a person!"
"If elder brother is shaless, you are too!"
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