Chapter 218 - 216: Cui Ji Only Wishes to Serve the Lady Loyally

Words : 1538 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

In truth, Cui Ji’s appearance was extraordinarily refined—rosy lips, pearly teeth, and a clear, elegant demeanor. Now imbued with the aristocratic aura of the Capital, he appeared even more like a jade tree standing proud in the wind. He hardly seemed like someone who could have come from a common family. Cui Ji snatched the jade ring and stuffed it back into his robes. As he rebuttoned his mandarin collar, his gaze never left Shen Yinning’s face. "Cui Ji is no one else. In front of Madam, Cui Ji is just Cui Ji—the destitute scholar Madam once found by the roadside, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice whom Madam raised up with her own hands." Shen Yinning had already guessed much about his background. Seeing that he was unwilling to speak plainly, she refrained from pressing further. She called in her maid to assist with washing and dressing before speaking again. "Last night’s incident—I owe you for that. As thanks, I’ll take you to the outskirts of the city today to meet my teacher. His disciples and former subordinates are spread across the world. If you want to rise further in the court, apprenticing under him would be an excellent choice—" "Of course," she added after rinsing her mouth and washing her face. Sitting down at her dressing table, she powdered her face and shaped her brows while glancing sideways at Cui Ji. "In truth, you no longer need me to elevate you. If you’re willing, that person would gladly pave a path of unending splendor for you at any time." Cui Ji stared at her. The young woman’s face, like a lotus flower in full bloom, was framed against the window as she adorned herself. Radiant and enchanting beyond reason. His eyes deepened. "Cui Ji desires only to serve Madam." By early morning, Shen Yinning had already brought Cui Ji to the Yu Mansion on the city’s outskirts. Yu Qingheng was in the courtyard practicing calligraphy. The old man was elated to see Cui Ji. "I’ve long heard of Scholar Cui’s famed name. Seeing you today, you are indeed a man of unparalleled grace and talent. No wonder the Emperor himself appointed you as Tanhua Lang!" Cui Ji respectfully cupped his hands and bowed. "This junior’s courtesy name is Ziheng. Elder, please feel free to call me Ziheng. When I was in Gan State, it was through Madam Shen that I first had the honor of reading your writings. It was as though a veil of ignorance was lifted and I was enlightened. Over the past few years, I have committed every one of your articles to memory, word for word, each line incisive and thought-provoking, especially your political views on agricultural reform and salt-and-iron policies. They have deeply influenced me!" "Oh?" Yu Qingheng was astonished. "You’ve memorized every one of this old man’s writings?" He immediately tested Cui Ji on a few passages. To his surprise, the young man recited them fluently, with precision. The joy on Yu Qingheng’s face was almost palpable. There isn’t an elder in the world who wouldn’t be fond of a bright, studious young man who regards them as a role model. Especially one so uncorrupted, hailing from humble beginnings yet daring to stand against the powerful. In just one year in the Capital, he had already achieved remarkable results in governance. Beaming, Yu Qingheng sized up Cui Ji with obvious fondness, then turned his gaze to Shen Yinning with the same cheerful expression. As if uncovering some great secret, he stroked his beard and laughed heartily. Shen Yinning, naturally, understood what he was thinking. Irritated, she said, "Teacher, you’re so old yet still so improper!" "Zhaozhao, how can you accuse your teacher of such injustice? I didn’t say anything! How could I be improper?" Yu Qingheng’s brows and eyes were full of teasing laughter. "I’m merely admiring Ziheng’s brilliance, that’s all!" The courtyard bustled with lively chatter when all three suddenly felt a chill down their spines. Turning to look, they saw Lu Ying stepping out from the corridor, pushing open a door. He hadn’t slept well the previous night. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, which were bloodshot with a lingering redness. Framed by his raven-black silk robes, his already pale complexion and lips appeared even weaker, as though he had just recovered from a serious illness. Shen Yinning hadn’t expected to see Lu Ying here. "Hahaha, Jingwei, you’re awake?" Yu Qingheng chuckled while casually explaining to Shen Yinning and Cui Ji. "Last night it rained, and Jingwei suddenly came over to seek shelter. He’s only just woken up! Jingwei, this is Cui Ji, courtesy name Cui Ziheng. He is now the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice and an exceptionally learned man. You’ve likely seen him at court!" Cui Ji bowed. "Your Highness, the Crown Prince." Lu Ying’s expression remained blank, though the redness in his narrow eyes deepened. Shen Yinning brought Cui Ji to meet her teacher here... She had never brought another man to the Yu Mansion before. Even during her youthful friendship with Lu Shiyan, she hadn’t personally introduced him to her teacher. Of the men with whom she’d ever shared any ambiguity, only he and she had been their teacher’s favored disciples. They had grown up under the same mentorship—those years, sharing the same roof, had been spent eating and studying together, even while liking little about one another. The northern Yu Mansion had always felt like a private sanctuary, belonging only to the two of them. Yet now, she had brought Cui Ji here. It was like a blade had been thrust between them, rupturing their shared sanctuary and rendering both their teacher and this place no longer exclusive to the two of them. What was her intent? To introduce Cui Ji to their teacher? Or to present her future husband to her mentor? Was this her form of repayment for the case he had suppressed on her behalf? Lu Ying ignored Cui Ji entirely, turning with thinly veiled hostility and retreating indoors. With a slam, he shut the folding screen doors heavily behind him. Cui Ji’s gaze dropped slightly, indifferent. Yu Qingheng coughed awkwardly. "Jingwei has always been like this by nature, so Ziheng, don’t take it personally. By the way, the villagers from South Mountain sent me an old hen and some fresh pork earlier. I noticed a lot of winter bamboo shoots sprouting on the hillside behind us. Why don’t we dig some up later? We can cook a pot of bamboo shoot stew with chicken and wrap spring pancakes with minced pork and bamboo shoots for lunch!" "Oh wow, chicken soup!" Little Bai Heming finished his morning studies and suddenly appeared from who-knows-where, tugging at Yu Qingheng’s sleeve. "Grandpa, Grandpa! I want to go digging for bamboo shoots with Madam and the others! The shoots always hide under those thick layers of fallen bamboo leaves, but I have sharp eyes—I’m the best at finding them!" "Alright, alright, you can go too!" Cui Ji said gently, "I’ll fetch the hoes." The lively group of four, laughing and chatting, prepared their tools and headed toward the back hill. Suddenly, with a loud "bang," Lu Ying threw open the screen doors. As he emerged, the courtyard fell into an eerie silence, the merriment abruptly vanishing. Little Bai Heming, who feared him the most, instinctively shrank and hid behind Shen Yinning. Lu Ying descended from the corridor steps, taking the hoe from Shen Yinning’s hands. His tone was icily scornful: "Off to the hillside, aren’t we? Let’s go." No one had expected that the Crown Prince, dignified and exalted, would decide to join their bamboo shoot-digging endeavor. The lighthearted mood evaporated instantly, replaced by a stifling tension. Even the usually lively Bai Heming dared not speak, clinging nervously to Shen Yinning’s sleeve. Lu Ying behaved as though he were oblivious to the shift in atmosphere—or perhaps he noticed but relished it. Calm and unhurried, he walked in the middle of the group, deliberately positioning himself between Shen Yinning and Cui Ji. He thought to himself, there was no reason for him to retreat to his room, isolated, simply because of Cui Ji’s presence. Yu Qingheng was his teacher, and the Yu Mansion had been where he’d studied since boyhood. He belonged here. Cui Ji was the true outsider. It was early spring, and the hillside was verdant and fresh. The group ventured into the hills, occasionally passing rural women washing clothes by the streams. From time to time, they could hear the long, melodic songs of woodcutters echoing from the depths of the mountains. The mountain air, refreshed by recent rains, gradually lightened the somber mood of the group. At least Yu Qingheng, Shen Yinning, and Bai Heming seemed less weighed down. Yu Qingheng and Shen Yinning laughed as they chatted about how they would fry the spring pancakes later. Bai Heming dashed ahead, brimming with excitement. However, Lu Ying and Cui Ji remained silent. The two competed in earnest, wielding their hoes energetically as if locked in a wordless contest to outdig one another in their search for winter bamboo shoots, determined to settle the matter through quantity alone.

Chapter 218 - 216: Cui Ji Only Wishes to Serve the Lady Loyally

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