Have You Written Your Will Today?
Chapter 187: Don’t you think you’ve gone a bit too far?

Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Don’t you think you’ve gone a bit too far?

Only a few dim stars adorned the firmament, absent of the moon.

Far from the clamor of the banquet, Meng Zhi and others had been dragged away.

Lamps illuminated the main hall from top to bottom, casting an air of solemnity.

"Shuyu, what does the Marquis mean by this?"

Dowager Meng, seeing her disheveled grandson Shen Hua being pressed into the room by Ying Yi, his mouth stuffed with cloth and unable to speak, was utterly distraught, even going so far as to directly call out Cui Xuan’s name.

Not long ago, she was enjoying the feast in the front courtyard, but Cui Yun’s people had summoned her over.

It wasn’t just her; even Cui Xuan was puzzled.

"Aunt, don’t be anxious."

Cui Xuan sat beside Dowager Xuan, actually looking down on Meng Zhi for his licentiousness, with a tongue as nimble as a reed.

"Let’s wait for Yun to come and explain."

"Wait for him to come?"

Dowager Meng laughed in anger.

"My Zhi has come to offer congratulations, only to be subjected to such torment. Is this the hospitality of the Xuan and Cui Mansions?"

This was her most beloved grandson!

She hurriedly removed the cloth from Meng Zhi’s mouth.

Meng Zhi’s face was covered in tears, his hair messy and disheveled, trembling with fear. A pitiable sight indeed.

Meng Zhi: "Grandmother, grandmother, save me!"

He tried to stand up, but Ying Yi firmly pressed him down with a thumb.

Dowager Meng was furious.

"Let him go."

Ying Yi only took orders from Cui Yun.

Dowager Meng’s heart ached unbearably. She stared fiercely at Dowager Xuan, who remained silent, her voice sharp with anger.

"Sister, you married into the best family, unlike me, suffering with a husband demoted many times, now merely an insignificant little official in Shengjing. Over the years, many have laughed at my plight like a forest of cow hair."

"I am your legitimate sister!"

"I thought you were different."

"Never did I expect that you would join with your daughter and grandson to bully me. Indeed, in a high-ranked family, if you feel disgraced, better not to send the wedding invitations. It would be better not to be relatives in the future than to suffer such humiliation!"

Dowager Xuan sat up straight, her hands resting on her knees. Her demeanor reflected the sediment of years.

Over the years, Dowager Meng visited multiple times, always airing her grievances and seeking a handout.

Out of sisterly affection, she had never neglected her.

She believed she had done no wrong.

She signaled the old woman behind her to serve tea.

"You needn’t be so angry."

"Yun is most prudent and thoughtful in his actions. If I were you, I would not shout and lose composure. Perhaps you should ask your beloved grandson what he did to incur such anger."

————

Where Shen Hua stood, after Xie Xun and Yan Mi left, silence enveloped the moment.

As if even the breeze was gentle, not willing to break the tranquility.

Shen Hua stared in the direction where Xie Xun had left for a long while, even though it was but a mass darker than the thickest ink.

Cui Yun did not urge her.

Shen Hua cupping her face: "Heir Xie’s words just now, didn’t reveal any of the soldiers’ rough and bold vigor. On the contrary, they were scholarly, almost making one think he was a civil servant if one didn’t know better."

Cui Yun indifferently: "Many girls in Shengjing admire him."

This point, even if no one mentioned it to Shen Hua, was clear to her.

She might not know about other girls, but Yan Mi was one for sure. How could a man who could make Yan Mi so concerned and troubled be any less than exceptional?

"Naturally!"

"I’ve heard that previously, when he appeared on Shengjing Street, many girls threw their wallets at him."

Cui Yun’s face showed no emotion.

"Have you seen enough? If not, you might as well chase after him."

Shen Hua: "That won’t be necessary."

Cui Yun’s tone was nonchalant.

"If you wish, I could also have him brought back, so you can have a closer look."

Shen Hua felt that Cui Yun was somewhat brusque. She reluctantly withdrew her gaze.

"It won’t do, it’s against etiquette."

"After all, he and I are not acquainted."

She earnestly added: "There’s no rush at this moment; I have time to look more closely tomorrow."

The corners of Cui Yun’s mouth curled into a mocking smile. It wasn’t out of anger, nor could it be considered jealousy, but having already been privately engaged to Shen Hua, he was somewhat caught off guard.

What does Shen Hua take him for?

The girl really doesn’t know how to avoid suspicion.

Anyway, she can be taught slowly in the future.

"Go to the main hall."

Leaving these words behind, he stepped forward and left.

Shen Hua blinked and quickly followed, noticing the fluctuation in Cui Yun’s emotions.

She stumbled along, and it seemed that Cui Yun had no intention of waiting for her.

The girl couldn’t see clearly where she was going and struggled somewhat, but she didn’t blame Cui Yun at all!!!

She was even moved for no reason. Cui Yun must be in a hurry to deal with that damned thing for her sake!

What a good cousin!!!

But this feeling of being moved did not last long.

Shen Hua, with her delicate little face stiff, struggled to run forward and grabbed the hem of Cui Yun’s clothing.

"Can’t you wait for me?"

Shen Hua complained to him.

"It’s too dark; I can’t see the road clearly. What if I fall?"

Then she began to blame.

"Tell me, aren’t you being a bit too much?"

Cui Yun’s cool lips twitched, his patience gradually fading.

He raised his hand to brush off the girl’s clinging fingers. Then, he casually smoothed his wrinkled hem, his answer irrelevant to the question.

"If the lantern in Miss Shen’s hand is no longer bright, isn’t it cumbersome to hold?"

Shen Hua looked down.

Being pampered and spoiled as she was, it was naturally tiring for the girl to carry the lantern and chase after Cui Yun.

"But I can’t just throw it away."

"Why not?"

Shen Hua felt that Cui Yun was testing her.

So she also took up full caution, responding carefully.

"There’s a mark from the Xie Mansion on the lantern."

There were engraved characters at the handle, which she felt and recognized slowly.

"I’ve been living at Cui Mansion for some time now, so naturally, I should understand certain rules. This is the Xuan Residence, and everything I say and do reflects on cousin’s reputation. I can’t just throw it here to let the mansion’s servants find it later. Let alone how Heir Xie might feel about this, if outsiders made a big deal out of it, it might seem as if Cui Mansion and Xie Mansion don’t get along."

Her words always made sense. It was as if every word was considerate towards Cui Yun.

Heh.

Cui Yun really didn’t need her to be so considerate.

Cui Yun’s expression was cold, his eyes like crystallized spring water: "If you can’t walk, I’ll have Yingwu come over."

Shen Hua felt it was a bit too troublesome.

She wasn’t afraid of the dark, and certainly didn’t want to be alone.

The girl was conflicted. She quickly found a solution that satisfied both concerns.

Without hesitation, she handed the lantern over to Cui Yun. Then she naturally continued to grab the just-smoothed hem of his clothing, holding on tight.

She looked up.

"Let’s go."

Cui Yun’s Adam’s apple moved, but his eyebrows and eyes relaxed slightly.

He let go.

The lantern fell to the ground.

’Clatter—’

Shen Hua blinked.

She had an epiphany.

Cui Yun and Xie Xun were both famous young masters of Shengjing, equally matched.

As men, who doesn’t have a competitive spirit, even the detached Cui Yun would not want to be outdone by Xie Xun.

Being close to Cui Yun now, she shouldn’t also be too close to Xie Xun; she needed to make her stance clear.

Being double-minded is not acceptable.

After all, this is not rouge or jewelry that the girl can simply wave her hand and say.

— I want them all.

So, Shen Hua gave him an excuse.

"... Didn’t hold it steady?"

As expected, Cui Yun responded faintly with his nasal voice.