Have You Written Your Will Today?
Chapter 140: This is Probably Everyone’s Fate

Chapter 140: Chapter 140: This is Probably Everyone’s Fate

Emerging from Lady Cui Xuan’s courtyard, the sky was rather dark, seemingly on the brink of rain.

Shen Hua did not seek out Ni Kang.

Possibly frightened by her reaction that night, Ni Kang did not force Shen Hua to perform acupuncture on him again, but instead added a few more herbs to her prescription.

It tasted even more bitter now.

Yet for Shen Hua, who had been taking medicine all year round, even the bitterest medicine was no different from iced tea.

Upon returning to the East Courtyard, she happened upon Xue Shuyue and Zhang Su who had specifically come to visit.

Shen Hua gracefully rose from her wheelchair and politely invited them inside to sit for a while.

Zhang Su said with a beaming smile, "Miss Shen, we’ve come especially to see how you are."

She was considered the least noticeable person in West Garden, who over the years, kept to her duties and seldom ventured out even during festivals. She was also the cousin whom Lady Cui Xuan and Qiao Si felt most reassured about.

For this reason, they arranged a good marriage for her early on.

Xue Shuyue, astute as ever, immediately sought an alliance upon entering the East Courtyard: "I heard Miss Wu has upset you, but don’t take it to heart. She just is that way - not so pleasant to deal with. But I’m different; you and I should interact more in the future."

Learning that Wu Shaoyin had suffered a setback in front of Shen Hua, Xue Shuyue was extremely delighted, her eyes scanning the surroundings: "Your place is really tidy, spacious too. It’s much larger than ours."

This remark certainly carried some weight.

Shen Hua had Yicui serve tea. She has never had a taste for roundabout talks, nor was she foolish enough to be manipulated by others: "Is Lady Xue’s residence very cramped?"

Xue Shuyue was caught off guard.

How to even respond to this?

Was she implying the Marquis Yangling Mansion intentionally mistreated her with a poor residence, or was she insatiably greedy? Or should she just say, I’m just plainly jealous of you?

"That’s... not exactly the case."

Shen Hua didn’t give her a chance to breathe, hitting the nail on the head: "So you’re dissatisfied that I’m treated better than you?"

Yes, exactly, I am dissatisfied.

Xue Shuyue was choked up.

"If it truly bothers you, you should take it up with my elder cousin’s wife. What’s the use of telling me? I’m not magnanimous enough to yield it to you."

Xue Shuyue found Shen Hua truly detestable!

Shen Hua’s words were crisp, making her surprisingly troubled: "But being better looking and more likable than you is not my fault."

Lady Cui Xuan was kind to her, spoke tenderly, just like Mama, even gifted her several Luminous Pearls the size of fists.

Shen Hua had Luminous Pearls too, but those gifted by Lady Cui Xuan were pink!

They cast a pink glow!

Yangyang expressed her fondness for Lady Cui Xuan!

Seeing the atmosphere turning sour, Zhang Su quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Miss Shen, that pendant you are wearing is quite beautiful."

Though only a corner was visible, it was evidently of superior quality.

Upon hearing this, Xue Shuyue also glanced over. She adored jewelry the most, and even at a casual glance, she couldn’t take her eyes off it.

She couldn’t resist moving her stool closer, her eyes gleaming as she leaned towards Shen Hua and sighed, "It looks like Imperial Green."

She changed her tone and pleaded eagerly, "May I have a closer look at it?"

What an unsophisticated manner!

Shen Hua glanced at her lazily, Wu Shaoyin’s tearful beauty once again coming to mind.

Generously, the girl remarked, "Cry a little, and I’ll let you see it."

Xue Shuyue: ??? Who are you insulting?

Who cares about it anyway!

Xue Shuyue, holding back her temper, said: "Speaking of Imperial Green, I recall the Young Madam also has an Imperial Green pendant bestowed by the palace, though it’s a pity I never saw her wear it."

Xue Shuyue: "I suppose yours couldn’t be as fine as the Young Madam’s."

Upon hearing this, Shen Hua looked at her regretfully.

"Unfortunately for you,"

"it was the very gift from my elder cousin’s wife."

"Had I known its value, I would not have refused it when she offered. After all, I would have found it very awkward if she had inadvertently decided not to give it."

Indeed it was a fine jade, an Imperial Green jade pendant carved into the shape of a rabbit nibbling on a carrot, vivid and lifelike.

Qiao Si’s gift was obviously heartfelt—Shen Hua was born in the year of the rabbit.

Xue Shuyue: ...

Xue Shuyue’s face was no longer black, but purple.

Yet Shen Hua was acting as if she had gotten a bargain and was playing coy, like a coquettish hussy: "You don’t have it, do you?"

Xue Shuyue: "..."

Shen Hua was quite vexed: "It’s such a pity. This is probably just destiny."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Su’s hand, holding the tea, trembled.

————

Shen Hua believed she got along harmoniously with these cousins, yet they seemed to find the East Courtyard less to their liking these days.

The East Courtyard had become very quiet.

After several days of leisure, Shen Hua informed Qiao Si, then clutching the Luminous Pearl, left the mansion.

She headed straight for the coffin shop.

The shopkeeper was very busy. Upon seeing another customer enter, he hurried over to greet them, only to come face to face with a familiar visage—and felt inexplicably choked up.

Yet Shen Hua entered as if it were her own home, strutting about.

"Shopkeeper, looks like business is good today, no need to attend to me. Where is the designer? I’m here to see him."

Shopkeeper: "...In the backyard."

He showed Shen Hua the way.

The designer was still working on the designs. He had put considerable effort into Shen Hua’s orders. Upon seeing her, he immediately put aside his work.

"Madam, why didn’t you say you were coming in advance? This old man would have come out to welcome you."

As he spoke, he stepped forward with the designs in hand: "I selected an auspicious day a month ago based on your birthday before starting the drawing."

Shen Hua took it and scrutinized it carefully. The drawings weren’t abundant, but the artistry was exquisite. Even the stones that children tripped over on the street were round and adorable, brimming with childlike charm.

"However, it will probably take about half a year or so to have a preliminary drawing of the Shengjing Streets."

Once the drawing is complete, there will be modifications from various aspects, which will take considerable effort.

The girl was very pleased.

"Continue at this pace, time is not a problem. For the sake of the coffin, I’ll also make an effort to postpone death."

Old man: "Madam, rest assured, once the drawing is finished and one painting is finely polished, it will be sent to the carver. This way we can save time on both ends."

The considerations were well-thought-out.

Shen Hua looked over the drawing again. She took out the Luminous Pearl.

"Look at this, precisely six Luminous Pearls."

The designer marveled: "Placing these inside the coffin would certainly be impressive! Madam is so generous!"

The extravagant Shen Hua: "As soon as I got them, I thought of showing them to you, so the drawings could be made."

Having said this, she casually mentioned.

"When I came here last time, it was rather deserted. Today, however, the hall is crowded."

The old man glanced around. He didn’t hold anything back from Shen Hua, who invigorated him to realize his value.

The wood used in their shop was expensive, beyond the reach of ordinary people. They mostly conducted business with the Imperial Family and the homes of high-ranking officials and nobles.

"Madam might not be aware, there has been an incident at Jing Mansion."

Jing Mansion?

Seeing the puzzled Shen Hua, the designer lowered his voice.

"It is ’Jing’ as in Princess Consort Jing."

Shen Hua understood.

It was the maternal family of the Fourth Prince, Ji Wang.

The designer stretched out his hand, showing three thumbs.

Three coffins.

"The Old Master of Jing Mansion, the Dowager, and that auntie, they’re all gone."

"Even the government has gotten involved. There must be some underlying issues."

Shen Hua rarely gossiped about such things.

She had no interest in prying into matters of the deceased.

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