Have You Written Your Will Today?-Chapter 510 - 501: Nowhere to Hide, Yet Can’t Drive Away
The curtains, embroidered with dragon and phoenix patterns, hung half-draped, sketching out the graceful charm of spring and blocking most of the light.
Unavoidable, yet irremovable.
Shen Hua’s almond-shaped eyes brimmed with mist. Large teardrops fell one after another, her sobbing deeply aggrieved, like a mix of resentment and complaint.
Outside the window, it began to rain at some unknown time. Pitter-patter, steadily.
In the silent night, the sound of rain grew louder.
The moon climbed atop the willow branches, silver radiance spilling over the ground. Amid the chilling sese of the wind, the Marquis Mansion was exceptionally tranquil.
Large raindrops fell with an unstoppable force, ticking away.
Passing through layers of leaves to hit the proudly blooming begonias, prematurely and secretly flowers, whose petals, now damp, caused the stamens to tremble slightly.
Cui Yun’s movements carried a vehemence.
Waiting for her to slightly adapt, lost in passion and confusion.
Then penetrating. Filling her body, he finally claimed the long-desired beauty as his own.
————
The next day.
Sun rays crawled up the window frame, the mottled light and shadows blocked by the canopy.
Shen Hua felt sore all over, she stared at the ceiling bed for a moment, then tremblingly got out of bed with Ningzhu’s help. The girl said nothing, but her eyes darkly swept around the room.
"The young master rose early. Before he left, he instructed the servant not to wake the lady, letting you rest well."
Shen Hua didn’t appreciate this kindness at all. Angrily she said, "What kind of words are these, is the rule of serving tea not to be observed? So the good man act is all his now? Such cunning and deceitful behavior!"
Getting married is clearly a joyous occasion, newlyweds ought to be deeply affectionate. Ningzhu didn’t understand where Shen Hua’s anger was coming from, but Yicui was close to giving birth and wasn’t by her side to serve, she only came yesterday to send off the bride. She could only softly persuade, "The young master is just being considerate of the lady."
Shen Hua’s hand covered her heart.
She! Couldn’t see a trace of compassion from Cui Yun.
Unable to endure the relentless torment yesterday, she begged him.
Meekly begging with sobs in her voice. Despite her pleadings, Cui Yun did not let her go.
When Cui Yun returned, he brought with him a chill.
Seeing her awake, his eyes softened, and he stepped forward.
Unexpectedly, Shen Hua gave him a proud glance and quickly averted her eyes. As he approached, she conspicuously refused communication, turning away to show him the back of her head.
Cui Yun couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle.
During breakfast, Ningzhu and Qing left, leaving just the two of them in the room.
Shen Hua, in a foul mood, didn’t hesitate to confront him.
Whatever Cui Yun picked up, she would snatch it first.
Of course, this was Cui Yun letting her have her way. But Shen Hua was far from grateful. In a short while, the dish in her bowl piled up like a small mountain, swaying as if about to topple.
Just then, he sent over a serving of shrimp dumplings. To her annoyance, he did it so effortlessly and steadily.
It didn’t tip over.
No longer swaying.
A portion of shrimp dumplings, harmonious and stable.
Shen Hua observed attentively for a while, then tried to add another piece of dessert.
Just to hear him say in a warm voice, "Eat more, being this hungry shows that I must have tired you out yesterday."
Shen Hua glared at him.
The floor was a bit damp, but there were no puddles.
When going to the main courtyard, Shen Hua walked slowly.
Last night her skin was broken, after which, Cui Yun applied medicine to her. Now she no longer felt the burning discomfort as before. But her legs were still weak.
Cui Yun stepped forward to support her waist, "Today, after court, Governor Zhou privately sought me out, hoping I would be the go-between for his sister."
Shen Hua blinked her eyes.
"Is it the brother?"
Cui Yun answered with a sound.
Shen Hua knitted her brows, her mood falling, "In fact, after Ji Teng ascended the throne, Mr. Shen must have been heartbroken for a while upon returning from Fengzhou, also intending to let go of the past. Before the New Year, Mama had taken a liking to a girl for him. He didn’t agree at the time, but he didn’t rush to refuse either."
The fondness of youth, though green and unripe, is also profoundly etched in the heart.
What’s more, he had missed it in two lifetimes.
But as a person, one must look and move forward. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
"At that time, Mama was ready to take my birth details to the Daoist School for a marriage consultation. If they matched well, the marriage would have nearly been settled."
"But it was around then that I received a letter from Zheng Qianyu."
"Sister Xiao suffered a difficult birth and did not survive."
At this point, her eyes carried a hint of revulsion.
"Not even a month after she passed, her husband turned around and promptly remarried."
"Sister Xiao was forced into marriage by her family. The Wei Family was wealthy, with several concubines in the household. To put it frankly, the Xiao Family was essentially selling their daughter."
But in this world, a man taking several concubines is truly not considered anything strange. At most, if he frequents the pleasure quarters, he’d simply be called a playboy.
The Wei Family treated Xiao Sesu well and her husband at the time was considered caring. Everyone said Xiao Sesu was fortunate—without Mr. Shen, the Wei Family still sought her hand in marriage.
If Zheng Qianyu could receive such news, Xie Xun certainly wouldn’t be uninformed. At the time, Xie Xun left Shengjing. After a long journey, he beat the man up.
But what did Wei Dun say?
—I am the sole heir of my family; I must carry on the family lineage. When Lady Xiao was alive, I treasured her like a jewel. But now that she’s gone, I can’t dwell on her forever.
—My mother said a woman who dies in childbirth brings great misfortune; this is why I remarried so soon, to dispel the unfortunate energy.
Such words infuriated her.
"Sister Xiao is someone that brother held in the highest regard, dare not even touch; how could he do this!"
"After brother returned, I never heard Mama mention marriage matters again, and I do not know what else occurred."
All she knew was that night, the siblings sat together drinking.
She dared not utter a single word about Xiao Sesu.
Xie Xun drank his wine cup by cup, and Shen Hua didn’t dare to advise him otherwise.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when she heard Xie Xun’s self-mockery while drunk.
"The girl chosen by Mama from the Chu Family is a fine woman, but I can’t possibly delay her life."
He closed his eyes, with unwillingness and agony in his barely audible voice: "I thought I had let her go, but it seems, I am still waiting for her."
Therefore, he’d rather have no resolution than to settle.
In the main courtyard, Cui Rong was tiptoeing at the entrance, eagerly looking out. When she finally saw the person, her eyes lit up, and she quickly started to scoff.
Requiring Uncle’s help to walk just a few steps seemed altogether too delicate.
What, are her legs broken? Can’t she walk on her own?
"You’ve come rather late."
Just as she complained, she saw Shen Hua glare at Cui Yun.
Cui Rong: "You’re already someone else’s wife, how can you have the nerve to sleep in? It’s almost time for the midday meal."
"I heard you and Uncle have to enter the palace again. Eh? I’m talking to you—why are you pinching my Uncle? Did he offend you?"
"Rong."
"Huh?"
Cui Yun: "Let’s go inside."
Shen Hua scoffed: "You still have the sense to be embarrassed."
Cui Yun gazed deeply: "A child’s words bear no blame, I don’t mind. But your ears, they’re as red as if they’re bleeding."
Her serious little face tightened.
Meanwhile, looking at Cui Rong hopping around up ahead, the girl seemed all the more irksome.
"Little ghost."
Cui Rong turned around.
Shen Hua ominously: "It’s been a long time since I’ve paid attention to your studies."
Cui Rong was on guard.
Upon hearing this, Cui Yun also recalled something: "The teacher is getting on in years, he has expressed his wish to resign, and I have allowed it."
