Have You Written Your Will Today?
Chapter 201: It was you who harmed me!

Chapter 201: Chapter 201: It was you who harmed me!

——Do you also believe those crazy rumors from outside? How could it be your fault that Madam and her son encountered danger? These are all baseless talks!

——Let Madam see for herself, what her beloved Yangyang has become.

——You must live, live well.

Shen Hua subconsciously fiddled with the corner of the desk with her fingertips.

Was she really fine?

She was just burdened too heavily, almost crushed. That period of time, was actually not happy at all.

"Heir Xie."

Cui Yun stepped inside slowly, interrupting the conversation. His gaze inadvertently lingered on Shen Hua for a moment.

"A servant from Duke Fu’s Mansion is here looking for you."

Xie Xun kept his emotions in check.

Soon, a servant dressed as a servant entered the room, respectfully greeting them.

"Sir, the official has summoned you to the palace."

Eunuch Ying is the most favored servant beside Emperor He.

The smile on Xie Xun’s face froze, and he rose silently: "Shengjing is famous for its pastries as well, I know a place, I’ll take you there next time."

Shen Hua nodded: "Okay."

Xie Xun wanted to say more, but eventually held it back.

He took out a very delicate box from his chest and gently handed it to Shen Hua.

"These are preserved fruits."

Shen Hua’s eyes curved into a smile: "I’ve drunk medicine for many years, I’m not afraid of bitterness anymore."

Xie Xun turned somber: "Which girl wouldn’t be afraid of bitterness?"

Seeing the servant in such a hurry that he might cry, Xie Xun could only take his leave.

Just crossing the threshold, he heard Cui Yun’s faint voice behind him: "Do you know why the official has summoned you to the palace?"

Xie Xun softly replied: "Judging by the dates, Fifth Princess must be returning to Shengjing soon."

The young servant was from Duke Fu’s trusted circle, and there were no others present, Xie Xun spoke without reservation: "Although the case at Jing Mansion was closed, Fourth Prince’s faction was ultimately effected, the Eastern Palace must also be making frequent moves."

Fifth Princess is the Crown Prince’s full-blood sister.

The case of bandit suppression was supposed to divide Emperor He’s attention for days, but ultimately someone would frequently emphasize it to Emperor He.

Xie Xun turned around but bumped into Cui Yun, behind whom Shen Hua’s clear eyes were holding a large and a small box, both his gifts: "Most likely, the official wants me to receive Fifth Princess."

Princesses born by the Empress returning to the capital would definitely have a grand procession. If he welcomes and escorts her along the way, this round trip when Emperor He bestows marriage, will surely become a beautiful story among the people.

Seeing his clear understanding, Cui Yun didn’t ask further.

After people left, Shen Hua gazed in the direction Xie Xun left for a long time.

Cui Yun glanced at her, cold and indifferent.

"Haven’t seen enough?"

Shen Hua slowly withdrew her gaze.

She was greatly troubled, not knowing whether the marriage negotiations with Yan Mi could be called off, and on top of that Xie Xun is now targeted by the official.

"With Heir Xie’s character, I don’t know whether he can reject this cumbersome and thankless task."

She looked up at Cui Yun.

"What would cousin do in this situation?"

If it were him, he would definitely use the injury from the bandit suppression operation as an excuse. How deep and how serious the injuries were, it’s ultimately up to what Xie Xun says.

Even if healed, he could still make a cut, be a bit harsher on himself.

Xie Xun is not foolish, most likely he would do the same.

But these, Cui Yun didn’t want to say to Shen Hua.

Cui Yun: "I’ll take you back to the East Courtyard."

"But I’m not sleepy."

She opened the box, which was divided into two sections, one with candied cherries, the other with apricot fruit.

There weren’t many candied cherries, about a dozen or so. Moist, soaked in thick syrup.

Xie Xun was very considerate, the box came with a groove, containing a fine fork for easy eating.

Cui Yun indifferently: "Like it?"

Shen Hua nodded vigorously: "I like it."

Cui Yun frowned. He adjusted the hem of his robe with his fingertips and thought back to the lively conversation between Shen Hua and Xie Xun.

"Is it the candied fruit you like, or the person who gave it to you?"

Shen Hua, puzzled: "Of course, it’s the candied fruit."

Cui Yun nodded, "There should be a distinction between closeness and distance. Next time, do not accept these gifts again."

"Xie Xun is not yet married, and the Fifth Princess is impulsive. Even though he and your brother are old friends, it’s best to avoid meeting him in the future to prevent any unintentional harm."

Shen Hua felt that his advice made a lot of sense.

————

After returning to the East Courtyard, as soon as she was alone in her room, the smile in front of Cui Yun completely collapsed.

In fact, the few words from Xie Xun had indeed affected her.

She actually cared, deeply.

The girl went to fetch the almost worn-out embroidery album. She knew the techniques inside out. She looked down, blinked, and with a plop, a tear fell.

She hurriedly reached out to wipe it.

— Yangyang, are you feeling sad again? Mama will rub it for you.

That was what Ms. Shen Chun used to say most often before her mishap.

How carefree she was back then.

She even naively believed that there was no other girl in the world as blissful as she was.

Until the officials arrived.

The dreadful news of Ms. Shen Chun and Shen Zhi falling off a cliff reached her.

She was so pained that she fainted.

But Ms. Shen Chun did not come.

Nor was there a young man bringing fresh pastries, saying, "Eat less, or you’ll blame me if your teeth hurt."

Shen Residence was draped in funeral banners.

Shen Wei was overwhelmed with grief.

The little girl sobbed, crying more pitifully than anyone else.

Later, her health deteriorated further, and Shen Wei was stretched thin. The embroidery workshop could not do without him, and neither could Shen Hua.

The second uncle, accompanied by Clan Elder Shen, visited. In front of the little girl, the clan elder, looking dispirited, said to Shen Wei,

"Your main family cannot be without a woman to manage the household. You should remarry."

The second uncle, Shen He Wen, also advised,

"Indeed, the deceased are gone, and people have to look forward. Yangyang is also young; she still needs a woman’s careful care."

"I don’t want it!"

She was as ferocious as a little beast.

Clan Elder Shen looked at her affectionately, his eyes filled with disapproval, as if he were looking at an ignorant child.

"With a new Mama, and later on brothers and sisters, only then can it really be a family."

Shen Hua found his words extremely grating; she didn’t want to listen.

"Go away, all of you!"

"Always meddling in my family’s matters, under the guise of caring for me because you’re an elder. If you really cared for me, better to visit our house less. Perhaps if you die before me, I might still offer incense for you."

Clan Elder Shen: "You—"

Shen He Wen: "Yangyang, how can you speak like this? Big brother, you see, without a woman managing, how can this house function? Don’t let a perfectly good girl be ruined."

Shen Hua looked at him, "You’re even more ridiculous. The person who clamored to split the family earlier, now that things aren’t going your way, you remember to call him ’big brother’? If I were you, I wouldn’t have the face to come here. Now you still have the audacity to meddle in your brother’s affairs? The official family division document stamped by the government, in three copies—what, did you eat yours?"

But her sense of righteousness was quickly shattered.

For she heard Shen He Wen say,

"Your Mama and brother were seeking medicine for you; it was foggy on the treacherous mountain road, and the horse got spooked, causing the fall. Weren’t you the one who caused it? I’m sparing you a quarrel due to your young age, but now, are you also trying to stop your Daddy from remarrying?"

This sentence struck her like a thunderbolt.

"Second brother, why say such things!" Shen Wei shouted, breaking down.

The little girl’s eyes lost all focus.

She slowly repeated.

"Was it... my fault?"

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