Chapter 34: Can I Still Let You Elope with Someone Right Under My Nose?

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The air was stagnant, making it hard to breathe.

With a faint gaze, Cui Yun looked at her. He clearly did nothing, but made Shen Hua feel immense pressure.

Restless, she pursed her lips.

Indeed, her words were too blunt. A young master like Cui Yun would surely be greatly embarrassed and angry, yet his self-restraint was exceptional, not making things difficult for Shen Hua.

Actually, if she could leave the Shen Residence through Cui Yun, with the vast world outside, what could Shen Qu do to her?

Shen Qu's foundation was not stable; his influence couldn't reach far.

After deep consideration, the little affection and thoughts Cui Yun harbored were insignificant compared to the necessity of escaping Shen Qu.

Shen Qu closed his eyes, suppressing the explosive anger within him. With an unclear expression, he met Cui Yun's gaze. Despite being in a towering rage, he was easily subdued by the latter's aura.

"Letting a stranger walk freely into the hall without notification; are the guards all dead?"

The old woman outside trembled with fear, and Wu Tuo's face did not look good.

He lowered his voice to question: "How did you manage things?"

Letting someone in?

Isn't this adding fuel to the fire!

"Housekeeper, I was coerced, and moreover, there's no way to stop someone of such status!"

As she spoke, the old woman's eyes shifted, leaning closer to Wu Tuo.

"This is a high-ranking official from Shengjing."

She whispered another sentence into Housekeeper Wu's ear.

Wu Tuo's heart sank. He inwardly cried out that things were not looking good.

He hurriedly tried to enter to whisper to Shen Qu about Cui Yun's identity, but he was a step too late. Just as he stepped over the threshold, he heard Shen Qu angrily rebuke.

"Is a Shen Family woman someone you can take away?"

"Shen Hua, even though Daddy is gone, the elder brother acts as a father. Can I let you elope with someone under my nose?"

"Ridiculous!"

Shen Qu strongly suspected this person deliberately approached Shen Hua. Perhaps plotting something at the embroidery workshop.

Blame him for neglecting to discipline Shen Hua these days, resulting in such calamities and giving this person in front of them an opportunity.

"Without a matchmaker or betrothal gifts, your identity is still unknown. She's young, yet could she be so naive to be bewitched by you?"

That cold phrase—Housekeeper, see the guest out. Stuck in his throat as Shen Hua's jubilant voice interrupted.

"Wow!"

"Yicui, quickly pack the bags!"

Shen Qu: ?

Cui Yun, who was adept at assessing people's hearts, found Shen Hua's series of abnormal reactions truly inexplicable.

He lowered his gaze, his fingertips caressing the radiant, lustrous Vajra Bodhi Bracelet on his wrist. The texture was delicate, its gleam alluring.

He made no other moves, his expression indifferent. Yet his gaze directed at Shen Qu was neither arrogant nor impatient, making Shen Qu feel as if he was reduced to dust.

Shen Qu: ??

When Shen Hua spoke, Yicui had no choice but to listen.

"Hey!"

Joy was evident in Shen Hua's brows and eyes.

She began giving orders.

"Take a few plain dresses, as I'm still in the mourning period and can't wear silk and satin, but by next year, they'll be out of style anyway."

"Jewelry styles also easily go out of fashion. Carefully check, and apart from those in the black rosewood box, the rest you can divide among you all."

She moved slowly to a vase half her height, touching it gently with affection.

"This was a gift from my brother for my seventh birthday. Take it!"

With Yicui's wave, servants came forward to move it.

As Shen Hua gave a command, Yicui nodded repeatedly, not forgetting to thoughtfully agree: "Mistress can't sleep without holding the bunny doll personally sewn by the late Madam."

In a blink, several large boxes were packed.

Yet Shen Hua still wasn't satisfied. After circling the room a few times, she finally stood in front of the stiff Shen Qu.

Shen Hua glared at him.

Shen Qu's brows knit into a line.

Shen Hua pouted, this man was truly clueless.

"Move aside, you're blocking my way."

Shen Qu gritted his teeth, his face contorting with fury: "Shen Hua, are you determined to oppose me? Aren't you afraid I'll erase your name from the family register?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the celebrating servants halted their packing without a word.

Cui Yun paused with his fingertips but had no intention of intervening. His gaze fell on Shen Hua, and she did not disappoint him.

Shen Hua: "I'm so scared."

She said, patting her chest perfunctorily. Her small body trembled in perfect accordance with the scene.

Then, she reached out with her slender finger, playfully pointing at Shen Qu's heart. With a cold smile, her voice was haunting.

"So foolish, aren't you?"

"You were able to inherit because you gave benefits to the clan elders, yet now you can't even protect the embroidery workshop. Do you think the clan elders will still go out of their way for you?"

As she spoke, she swiftly withdrew her hand. Navigating around dozens of boxes, dragging her thick mink fur, she walked to Cui Yun.

"Can we leave now?"

Cui Yun breathed a bit faster, his tone tinged with stiffness: "Are you taking everything?"

Shen Hua, like a bird set free, poked her head out, eager to shed the shackles and constraints given by Shen Qu. She was troubled yet regretful: "Time is tight, I'll make do with taking these."

Ji Qing: This is really troubling you...

Moreover, Shen Hua would stay to pay respects to Lord Prefect. Just the fact that her hand held the fate of the embroidery workshop meant Shen Qu would not let her go.

"Stop them all!"

Ji Qing pulled out a sharp stone arrowhead from his bosom and casually threw it towards Shen Qu. The stone arrowhead was unstoppable, piercing directly into Shen Qu's hair, causing him to stagger back a few steps.

The hairpin clinked to the ground, and his neatly styled hair fell loose.

"Disturbing our venerable master."

The housekeeper's face turned ashen.

Shen Qu was astonished at such a turn of events.

He looked at Cui Yun grimly, sharply saying: "You're no different from a bandit!"

"Where do you plan on taking her? Someone, stop them all! Report them to the authorities!"

Yet as he gave orders, his subordinates looked at each other in dismay, not one daring to touch Cui Yun.

Cui Yun glanced lightly at the hairpin on the ground: "This is a small punishment. The injuries on her face will be settled with you later."

"Who exactly are you?"

"An outsider doing business? Do you know that offending the Shen Family means there's no place for you in Fengzhou City!"

Before the Shen Family falls, he's quite capable of making an outsider with neither power nor influence suffer greatly.

Cui Yun left him well informed of his fate. With one final remark, he turned to leave.

"Cui Yun of the Marquis Yangling Mansion, staying at Tongfu Inn in Sufeng City. Should Mr. Shen remain unconvinced, whether it be reporting to authorities or a confrontation, I'll be waiting any time."

Shen Hua had already gone outside. Watching the servants carrying the boxes in a hurry, even Yicui was kept busy.

She crouched near the flower bushes, waiting a moment before seeing Cui Yun come out, followed by Shen Qu, who could only fume silently, his false smile hinting at defeat.

Compared to the dignified and reserved Cui Yun earlier, Shen Qu now looked so pitiful that Shen Hua couldn't help but take another look.

Cui Yun stepped to Shen Hua's side: "What's the matter?"

Shen Hua curled up into a ball. Her melancholy tone was somber.

"These flowers are unique specimens I bought for hundreds of taels of silver. I want to pick them to dry and make tea."

"All my people are busy. No one to instruct."

Ji Qing suddenly felt a shiver.

Sure enough, Shen Hua's gaze instantly landed on Ji Qing.

Ji Qing: ???

Too much!

Isn't there anyone to stop her?

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