Chapter 217: Chapter 217 I thought Miss Shen was of marriageable age

Shen Hua felt somewhat hesitant.

She heard herself speak.

“It’s not for myself, I am planning to give it to my cousin.”

Shen Hua found a beautiful excuse.

Her confidence slowly returned.

“Cousin can eat it directly when he is hungry.”

Shen Hua: “Since you have discovered it, I won’t hide it anymore.”

She lifted her delicate small face the size of a palm: “Are you touched?”

Cui Rong incredulously: ??? This sycophant.

When the girl looks at you, her eyes seem to hold a dazzling spark of stars, shining brightly yet scorching.

Cui Yun’s fingertips caressed the character ‘Yang’.

“Touched.”

His voice was light, ruthlessly tearing through the picture Shen Hua had drawn.

“The pumpkin seeds peeled by Miss Shen, the peanuts peeled by Rong, and the wallet provided by Miss Shen.”

What about the wallet? If sold, it would be worth a fortune.

Xuan Ai and Cui Rong contributed effort, she contributed money.

That’s not wrong either.

“Uncle, don’t be deceived by her. Clearly, it was for herself.”

“She really goes to all lengths just to please you.”

“Clearly has hands in perfect condition, not disabled.”

Cui Rong harbored resentment for a long time: “Can’t peel seeds, can’t peel peanuts, I see she needs to be fed even when eating.”

Her little mouth kept babbling non-stop.

Shen Hua, appearing frail, lifted her hand to her chest and cooperatively said: “Indeed, I need to be fed when eating, it seems I have to trouble the little princess again.”

Cui Rong: …

She admitted, she truly could not compete with Shen Hua.

Seeing Cui Rong like this, Xuan Chen also felt some of the gloom in his eyes dissipate.

But some matters should indeed be resolved sooner.

“Sister.”

“Come with me to mother’s courtyard.”

The color of Xuan Ai’s face suddenly turned pale. She wasn’t foolish, having been kept at home these past few days with father and brothers discussing matters numerous times, she sensed something was amiss.

Xuan Chen looked towards Shen Hua: “Miss Shen, perhaps you can join us as well?”

Shen Hua was somewhat astonished, and before she could respond, she heard Cui Yun’s faint agreement next to her.

Xuan Chen and Xuan Ai walked in front, while Shen Hua and Cui Yun lagged several meters behind.

From a distance, Shen Hua saw Xuan Chen say something to Xuan Ai, who lifted her hand to wipe tears.

The marriage matters of the Xuan Family had passed, Mrs. Cui, Qiao Si had not returned to the mansion for a long time, and Cui Yun had come to the Xuan Residence more and more frequently, now even appearing to stay for a long duration.

The girl pursed her lips.

Xuan Ai was really quite abnormal.

Beside her, Cui Yun, holding Cui Rong’s hand, lowered his head to look at the little girl’s sad tugging, and after a while chuckled softly.

Cui Yun gently said: “Does your hand hurt from peeling?”

Cui Rong felt wronged: “No.”

“It’s just that my heart feels stuffy.”

Shen Hua’s thoughts were interrupted.

Shen Hua couldn’t help but laugh: “Ha!”

Cui Rong resentfully: “Great, even more stuffy now.”

“Miss Shen,” Cui Yun sighed and suddenly spoke.

Shen Hua looked at him. Meeting Cui Yun’s deep, unfathomable eyes.

“You have come of age.”

And Cui Rong is only six years old.

Cui Yun continued speaking with his usual indifference.

Shen Hua could hardly ever see his true emotions exposed. She couldn’t help but think, what if this were the young Cui Yun.

He would probably lazily show the arrogance of a young master in full.

He would be holding a smile in his mouth as he spoke.

—-What’s the use of competing with me?

—-Miss Shen, Rong really can’t compare to you, she has thin skin, at least leave her some dignity.

Cui Yun emotionlessly: “Are you of the same age as her?”

Shen Hua pursed her lips: “Hmm.”

“You might not believe this.”

She lowered her head and kicked the pebbles on the ground.

“I was just a bit too anxious.”

Cui Yun stopped in his tracks.

“It doesn’t show.”

He said lightly, “I thought Miss Shen was of marriageable age.”

—-

Here, Lady Xuan and Uncle Yong Chang had been waiting for a long time.

Lady Xuan E sat in the main seat, Uncle Yong Chang stood with his back to everyone, hands behind his back.

Inside the room, the atmosphere was so heavy and eerie that it was suffocating.

Before entering the house, Cui Yun properly handed Cui Rong over to Yingwu, and after giving her a few instructions, Yingwu unhappily took the little girl next door to dine.

Only then did Cui Yun bring Shen Hua inside.

Upon seeing everyone gathered together, a slight surprise flashed in Shen Hua’s eyes. Then, she was seated next to Qiao Si.

The girl sitting opposite her was the bride of Xuan Chen–Lady of Duke Wen’s Mansion. They had previously met once on the day Ji Ge got married.

Seeing Shen Hua, Lady Xuan Wen was somewhat surprised. She quickly composed her facial expression and nodded slightly to Shen Hua as a greeting.

Shen Hua responded politely with a shallow bow.

Everyone arrived too completely. It was clear that the matter concerning Xuan Ai was not to be underestimated.

It made Shen Hua feel dazed.

Xuan Family really did not treat her as an outsider.

The girl’s heart was boiling hot as she sat upright, acting as part of the group.

Lady Xuan E finally spoke.

She looked intently at Xuan Ai, “We’ve discussed this, and today we’ve called you here to let you make your own decision.”

She did not beat around the bush.

“Chong Bingwen’s whore raised outside, beaten to death with clubs, wrapped in a mat and thrown into Burial Mound for disposal, what do you think?”

Xuan Ai’s heart skipped a beat.

“Mama.”

She spoke reluctantly, “She is still pregnant.”

“Exactly because she is pregnant!”

Seven months, the Xuan Family had been deceived for seven months.

The Chong Family really had too much nerve.

“A few hits should kill them together, are you still planning to let her give birth to this bastard?”

“If Chong Family dares to act in such a disgusting manner, my Xuan Family dares to seek vengeance.”

Xuan Ai’s eyes reddened, her eloquence failing her.

She timidly said, “Human life is precious, it should not be treated this way.”

Uncle Xuan sighed deeply, “Indeed, the child is innocent. How can he bear the grievances of the adults.”

He also disagreed.

He was a civil servant, having been rigid for a lifetime.

Not only are Xuan Family’s women tender-hearted, Uncle Xuan is too.”

“Hold your tongue!”

“Initially, it was you who praised the Chong Family as being immensely good; now, it’s my Ai who is suffering. Innocent? Whether male or female, it should not exist. Who is more innocent than my Ai?”

“Married for many years without fault, Xuan Residence has given enough. What disgusting things has he done?”

If Chong Bingwen had been firmer and pushed to take a concubine, Lady Xuan E might have even respected him as a man. Why wouldn’t the Xuan Family agree? Instead, he acted weakly and posed as love-stricken, arrogantly thinking he could manipulate the Xuan Family.

Seeing this, Uncle Xuan sat down desolately, speaking no more.

After all, he loved his daughter the most. These few days, not a moment of peace, it seemed as though someone was constantly repeating in his ear.

— Your Ai, you ruined her with your own hands.

He misjudged people.

Mrs. Cui E steadied her breathing.

“If you’re unwilling, there’s still another way out right now.”

She silently stared at Xuan Ai for a long while.

“Divorce.”

Xuan Ai felt a buzzing in her ears.

“If the road is wrong, as long as the ground hasn’t collapsed, it’s not too late to turn back.”

“Next door, Wei Family’s girl who married far away, yearned for a full three years; that married girl never returned home during her journey, Mrs. Wei’s longevity celebration she also never returned, no letters, no messages of safety, until the fourth year, Wei Family finally got the news, that girl had already drowned herself in the lake.”

Lady Xuan E spoke bitterly.

“You are not married far away. You are not wronged without anyone to confide in. Your mother, aunt, sisters-in-law, brothers, brothers’ wives; they are all sitting here right now, child, you are still young, you are a Xuan Family daughter, since living is unsatisfactory, why not divorce, why endure this humiliation?”