Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Can’t Have More!

The wedding banquet ended and the guests dispersed. But a crack finally appeared in the calmness of Xuan Residence. Although the lake was undisturbed, it awaited the storm that would thoroughly sweep everything away.

With a heavy heart, Cui Xuan put down her teacup and said to Qiao Si at her side.

“These days, spend more time with Ai.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Si answered, “Yes.”

“Everyone says the Xuan Family girls are of a soft temperament, but she is even more so than me. Whatever grievance she has, she keeps bottled up inside and never mentions to her family.”

Cui Xuan sighed and shook her head as she spoke.

“Look at her, asking her to spend a few more days at her maternal home, yet she seems to have lost her soul, becoming absent-minded even when eating. When you go back, take Rong with you to keep her company, lest she is left alone thinking about this and that and traps herself in a corner.”

Qiao Si advised, “Being a girl who has elders to rely on is a person of fortune.”

While they were talking, Nanny Fang hurried in from outside.

“Lady.”

Cui Xuan asked, “What’s the matter?”

Nanny Fang said, “The Marquis has come with Miss Shen.”

Cui Xuan was somewhat surprised.

“Quick, let them in.”

Nanny Fang hesitated, “They didn’t come to our courtyard.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Si nodded slightly, “That’s true, I guess second uncle took Miss Shen to pay respects to grandmother first.”

Nanny Fang said, “No, that’s not the case.”

She said, “The Marquis took Miss Shen straight to Lady Ai’s courtyard.”

Cui Xuan: ?

Qiao Si: ?

Shen Hua who was brought before Xuan Ai by Cui Yun: ???

Cui Yun was also concerned that Xuan Ai might take things too hard. Therefore, there was no one more suitable than Shen Hua, who played the most and caused the most ruckus, to accompany her.

Moreover, he would be staying in Xuan Residence for the next few days and not returning to Marquis Yangling Mansion. He would have to keep an eye on Shen Hua.

“Cousin,” Cui Yun called out to Xuan Ai with a gentle voice.

Xuan Ai smiled warmly at the corners of her mouth when she saw him, but the sorrow in her expression was hard to hide.

“Aren’t you busy with official duties? Why are you here?” she asked.

As she spoke, she looked at Shen Hua with some surprise.

Seeing this, Cui Yun said, “Call someone over.”

With her hands together, Shen Hua obediently called out, “Cousin.”

Xuan Ai: !!!

She carefully observed the two people in front of her.

The man was as distant and indifferent as the moon in a gap between clouds, and as cold and stern as a stand of frost-covered pines, while the girl’s gentleness and grace added a vivid charm to her.

In their stillness and movement, they resembled a lively and matching painting.

Cui Yun didn’t talk about official business, but only exchanged a few words with Xuan Ai before saying to Shen Hua, “Stay in Xuan Residence for the next few days. I have to find Xuan Chen for something. Stay here with cousin in the meantime, and later I will come to fetch you for dinner at Mama’s place, alright?”

Since Cui Yun had already dealt with the mess she caused in the palace, Shen Hua would agree to his request as long as it didn’t involve climbing a mountain of swords or descending into a sea of flames.

She agreed very crisply.

It’s true that the girl could cause trouble, but she was innately pure-hearted, and Xuan Ai wasn’t one of those calculating cousins from Marquis Yangling Mansion, so naturally Cui Yun wouldn’t worry that Shen Hua might suddenly start causing problems for Xuan Ai.

After all, Qiao Si was an example.

And even though Shen Hua was arrogant, she seemed to be very attractive to the ladyfolk.

Once Cui Yun left, there was one less person in the room.

While Xuan Ai was unsure how to interact with Shen Hua, she heard the girl make herself quite at home by addressing her.

“Cousin, do you have tea? I’m really thirsty.”

She was speaking the truth.

“…Yes.”

Xuan Ai hurriedly invited Shen Hua to sit.

After sitting down, Shen Hua took the teacup offered by a maid and drank it down in one go.

She drank two cups in a row.

Then, her gaze fell upon the pastries on the tea table. The Xuan Residence, sympathizing with Xuan Ai, was especially attentive to her dietary preferences.

“Cousin,”

Looking at the untouched pastries, Shen Hua turned her head to Xuan Ai.

“May I eat some?”

Xuan Ai, hearing her call ‘cousin’ time and time again, almost believed for a moment that she truly had such a cousin.

She moved the cakes towards Shen Hua.

Shen Hua thanked her politely.

The girl bit into the cake, eating it very earnestly, her cheeks puffing out. After chewing a few bites of the sweet cake, she looked truly adorable.

Xuan Ai asked in a gentle voice, “Do you want to eat anything else?”

Shen Hua demurely replied, “I just saw cousin and I’m already asking for this and that. How could I be so shameless?”

Yingwu, standing by their side, remained silent: …

“We’re family, why stand on ceremony?”

Shen Hua felt that was true, and she began to count on her fingers,

“It would be even better if there were pumpkin seeds available right now.”

Xuan Ai instructed the servant by her side to go fetch them.

Shen Hua added, “The best are the freshly roasted ones, they’re the crispiest and most fragrant.”

The servant replied, “Understood.”

Shen Hua continued to count on her fingers, “I also want to eat candied haws, the ones with the seeds removed, thicker syrup, I don’t like them thin.”

“And also Poria cakes, pea cakes, cloud cakes…”

Yingwu’s brows knit together slightly.

Xuan Ai was momentarily startled.

Clearing her throat and maintaining her composure, Shen Hua demurely said, “Perhaps I’m asking for too much?”

Xuan Ai replied, “Not at all, I’ll have the kitchen prepare everything. If you like to eat them, then eat more.”

One after another, exquisite pastries were brought up.

Shen Hua could still sense that something was amiss with Xuan Ai.

While Shen Hua ate the candied haws, Xuan Ai appeared lost in thought.

When Shen Hua ate the cloud cakes, Xuan Ai had a vacant look in her eyes.

As Shen Hua peeled the pumpkin seeds, her hands became dusted with a layer of gray, while Xuan Ai looked on, listless.

Although Shen Hua did not know what had happened to Xuan Ai, she seemed to understand why Cui Yun had summoned her here.

Shen Hua was very conflicted.

She looked down at the small plate of pumpkin seeds she had painstakingly peeled. She divided them in half and offered them to Xuan Ai.

Xuan Ai was taken aback and did not accept them.

Shen Hua then sifted through the half that she had kept for herself and again offered half to Xuan Ai.

With a sullen and drooping look, the girl said, “I can’t take any more.”

————-

Study room.

Xuan Chen and Cui Yun were engaged in a game of Go.

He spoke with a tone of mockery that was not quite scorn, “Chong Bingwen sure knows how to stay put.”

Until now, he had not come to fetch Xuan Ai, nor had he sent any messages to his wife.

Was it that he was confident he had Xuan Ai under his thumb, or did he believe he had covered up his scandalous affairs perfectly?

With a white piece in his hand, Cui Yun said, “This morning, he was seen with that concubine of his at Banxian Inn.”

As his words fell, the polished white piece followed with a ‘clack’ as it was placed on the board.

Xuan Chen’s expression darkened.

His lips tightened.

Cui Yun said, “Given the situation, it’s better to make a decision sooner rather than later.”

“I know,” Xuan Chen replied wearily.

“In the past days, Mama and Daddy have had arguments over my sister’s matter, and even the old Lady of our mansion is still kept in the dark.”

“Right now, there are two paths to take, but my sister is the most kind-hearted of all. That’s why I’m hesitant about what move to make.”

Cui Yun spoke indifferently, “Without the Xuan Family, Chong Bingwen is nothing. Over the years, out of consideration for cousin, we have supported him time and again. What we have given him, we can surely take back.”

“Uncle and aunt are in distress over their concern, cousin is kind-hearted, leaving it to you and me to play the villains.”

Xuan Chen gave a bitter smile.

He sat up slightly straighter. As for his plans, he had already outlined them, just waiting for the right moment.

He set aside these vexing matters and asked with a slightly more serious demeanor.

“What do you think of the Third Prince, Ji Teng?”

Xuan Chen replied, “Ji Ge seems to be getting quite close to him.”

“I’ve also noticed that Ji Teng is timid, but seems willing to get close to you.”

Otherwise, when Ji Qing summoned Ji Teng to the palace, why would he go without a second thought?

Cui Yun looked at him.

He did not comment on how Ji Teng was. Instead, with the most nonchalant of voices, he said.

“For rebellion, Prince Huai’an was executed, parents, wives, concubines, children, all strangled. The whole household, more than four hundred lives, were sentenced to death. It was a decree from the official family.”

Cui Yun’s tone was detached, “An imperial order cannot be defied, do you know who was ordered to carry out the execution?”

Xuan Chen’s heart skipped a beat.

Cooly, Cui Yun said, “It was my father.”