"Master, Madam! Let’s talk this out nicely, please stop quarreling! It’s so inauspicious to argue during the New Year!" Cui Bao, emboldened by Ren Zhixian’s favor and seeing him cornered by Shi Yui to the point of embarrassnt, hurriedly stepped forward to take his arm and gently persuaded him to break off the confrontation.
"Hmph!" Ren Zhixian let out a cold snort, finally finding an out, and with a flick of his sleeve, he spat out, "I can’t be bothered to argue with you!" and stord off with Cui Bao to the study.
Shi Yui’s face turned frightfully grim as she glared hatefully at their retreating backs, without uttering a word.
"Madam, please calm down!" Cui Zhu sent the other young maids away with a glance and then presented Shi Yui with a cup of hot tea.
"Cui Zhu," Shi Yui’s eyes filled with involuntary tears as she looked at Cui Zhu and said: "Since we were young, you have been closest to , heart to heart! You once begged for the grace not to be made into a maid and concubine, and I promised you. But in the end, I couldn’t do it! Cui Zhu, I have wronged you!"
Unable to hold back her tears, Shi Yui began to weep.
"Madam!" Cui Zhu’s face turned deathly pale, a pain too complex for words flickered in her eyes, and tears ca suddenly. She quickly blinked them away, mustered a smile, and said: "What are you saying, Madam! It’s all in the past! Besides, Madam, you have been so kind to . Being able to serve by your side all my life, never parting from you is also a blessing!"
"I let you down, truly, I did!" Hearing her say this only intensified Shi Yui’s heartache. Wiping away tears, she said, "I shouldn’t have been soft-hearted back then! I——"
"Madam, no more words!" Cui Zhu gently shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears.
Shi Yui sighed deeply, gripping Cui Zhu’s cool hand and said: "After the New Year, I will speak with Master about elevating you to the official status of the second house wife! This way——"
"Madam!" Cui Zhu’s face changed dramatically, and she fell to her knees before Shi Yui, "Please no, Madam! I beg you; I don’t want it!"
"Why!" Shi Yui was puzzled. Aware that Cui Zhu was already Ren Zhixian’s woman, being promoted to a wife of the second house was surely much better than being a maid and concubine. Was she really being foolish!
Shi Yui said gently, "Don’t be shy; I really an it! By doing so, from here on out, we can be counted as sisters, and if you give birth to another son or daughter in the future, it would make no difference to ! Cui Zhu, I really want to make ands to you!"
"I don’t want it; I’d much prefer to serve Madam for life!" Panicked, Cui Zhu turned pale and began to kowtow to Shi Yui, earnestly imploring her.
Shi Yui was devastated but still offered comfort: "Cui Zhu, I really want to compensate you! I’ve always been blunt with my words, and I’m never just testing you! The most I can do for you now is this!"
Cui Zhu was on the verge of tears, pleading: "Madam, I truly do not need compensation, I beg you, all I want is to continue serving you as I do now! Please, I beg you!"
Seeing Cui Zhu’s unwavering refusal, Shi Yui felt both touched by her loyalty and more remorseful, sighing: "If you really don’t want it, I won’t force you. But think carefully, right now, Master is not yet an official and things can be discussed easily. If he becos an official in the future, wanting to change your mind won’t be as simple!"
"I’ve thought it over, I want nothing more than to serve you my entire life! This is my genuine, heartfelt truth, with no falsehoods!" Cui Zhu insisted earnestly.
"Foolish girl!" Shi Yui exhaled a tired breath, "Well then, if you are not willing, I won’t force you. Sigh, why must you be so foolish? I feel even more regretful now!"
"Don’t say that, Madam!" Cui Zhu shook her head, "You treat like a real sister, and I can feel that. I will always serve you well and never leave your side!"
"Enough, stand up!" Shi Yui feigned calm, but her heart was aching as she pulled Cui Zhu up.
Looking up, Shi Yui saw Cui Bao standing at the door, hesitating to enter. Shi Yui’s expression darkened, and she haughtily said, "What are you doing here instead of attending to Master in the study? Speak if you have sothing to say!"
"Madam!" Cui Bao glided forward, curtsying to Shi Yui with a bowed knee, smiling obsequiously: "The Master sent for ... he has sothing he wishes to ask Madam about."
"Speak then!" Shi Yui huffed.
"Yes," Cui Bao continued with an awkward smile, stiffening up, "Master asked how much of the monthly allowance in silver is left. He told to ask Madam to hand it over to him..."
"What!" Shi Yui was choked with anger, her voice filled with fury: "What does he need silver for? Did he give a reason?"
Cui Bao faltered, teetering on the edge of speaking and remaining silent; Shi Yui, impetuous by nature, could not stand this hesitation and shouted sternly, "Speak!"
Startled, Cui Bao hastily replied, "The Master said he wants to go shopping himself for gifts for his friends in ng County..."
Cui Bao was rely conveying Ren Zhixian’s instructions, but of course, she wouldn’t dare repeat the harsh complaints that Ren Zhixian had made in front of Shi Yui. Today, the Madam seed different from usual, and Cui Bao definitely wasn’t looking to bring trouble upon herself by crossing her path!
"What!" Even with Cui Bao’s redacted ssage, Shi Yui’s face had already turned ashen. She stared coldly at Cui Bao, her palms chilling slightly. "Did he really... say that?"
Shi Yui thought resentfully and bitterly to herself over and over, "This is my husband, my husband indeed!"
"Yes..." Cui Bao subconsciously shrank her shoulders, replying softly.
Shi Yui’s complexion fluctuated for a long while before she motioned to Cui Zhu with her lips, "Go, get that chest!"
"Yes, Madam." Cui Zhu nodded and went into the bedroom. In a mont, she returned holding a wooden chest about half a foot in size, standing beside Shi Yui.
"Give it to her!" Unable to even bear looking at it, Shi Yui ordered Cui Zhu to hand the chest over to Cui Bao, "All the remaining monthly silver is in here, let him handle it as he sees fit!"
Cui Bao did not dare to say another word; she took the chest responding affirmatively, and quickly left the room.
Shi Yui sighed deeply and weakly waved her hand, "You may leave. I wish to be alone and have so quiet!"
With concern, Cui Zhu cast a glance at Shi Yui before bowing silently and taking her leave.
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