Chapter 286 - 284: The atmosphere chilled as soon as Lu Ying arrived

Words : 1516 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

Cui Ji gazed at Shen Yinning, his hands clenched tightly at his sides in agitation, his voice slightly choking with emotion: "I received word yesterday that you’ve returned to the Capital. I wanted to visit the Gao Family to see you, but propriety held me back. I figured you might come today to pay respects to the teacher, so I’ve been waiting here since early morning. We haven’t seen each other for months—how has Madam been?" He did not ask Shen Yinning where she had gone in the last two months, whom she had seen, or what she had encountered. He understood that even though he now held the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, there were still countless matters in the world he had no right to interfere in. As a man, if he lacked the ability to intervene effectively, then prying afterward would only make him seem insincere. Shen Yinning smiled: "Don’t worry, I’m quite well. But what about you? Does your position as Vice Minister feel comfortable?" Cui Ji did not respond. Shen Yinning studied him carefully. In the two months since they’d last met, his demeanor seemed to have deepened with the experience of the Ministry of Justice and the imperial courts, making him appear calmer and more restrained. Perhaps the opulence and prosperity of the Capital had influenced him, or maybe it was his innate lineage shining through. Even in a simple narrow-sleeved indigo robe, he exuded a touch of refinement, like a pine bamboo bathed in spring rain. She smiled faintly and removed the jade pendant from her waist. The pendant, shaped like a koi fish, was suitable to be worn by anyone, regardless of gender. She attached the jade pendant to Cui Ji’s waist. "Indigo is indeed dignified and steady, but for someone of your age, it can feel a little too old-fashioned. Perhaps you could have a seamstress embroider some crane motifs at the cuffs and neckline with goose-yellow silk thread. Besides, given your prestigious status now, it wouldn’t hurt to wear some gold, silver, or jade accessories—not for yourself, but to signal your social standing to those careless enough to overlook it. It might save you unnecessary trouble." Cui Ji lowered his gaze. The girl’s pale, slender fingers stood out against the deep indigo robe, making the garment’s color appear even richer while her skin looked even more translucent and fair. He remembered four years ago, when Shen Yinning saved him by the roadside. She had personally prepared a set of new robes and shoes for him. She had said that clothing makes the man, and that a scholar ought to carry himself as a scholar. Not only did she demand he maintain a neat appearance at all times, but she also trained his manners and speech. Half a year later, he no longer seemed like a shy, unpolished country lad, but rather a scion from an aristocratic family of great renown. Later, when he came to the Capital to participate in the provincial and palace exams, not once did his modest background betray him or lead to ridicule. It could be said that without Shen Yinning, there would be no Cui Ji today. Cui Ji suppressed the urge to grab her hand and spoke softly: "I will remember this, Shen Yinning." "Oh, Zhaozhao is back?" Yu Qingheng returned from the storeroom holding two chess manuals. "Earlier, I was joking with Ziheng, saying you might stop by this afternoon, and sure enough, my prediction was right!" He, too, did not ask Shen Yinning where she’d been in the last two months. The coincidence of the Crown Prince’s return to the Capital on the same day as hers had already sparked conjecture in the old man’s mind. "Just here to visit Teacher," Shen Yinning said with a charming smile. "What about Heming?" "He’s studying in the backyard," Yu Qingheng handed her the chess manuals. "You’ve come at just the right time—play two games with me." Shen Yinning didn’t stand on ceremony and wiped the floor with Yu Qingheng in the first match. Yu Qingheng twirled his beard in astonishment: "Zhaozhao, your chess style has changed." In the past, Shen Yinning’s chess style leaned toward serene and magnanimous, punctuated by occasional, cunningly unpredictable maneuvers, like a sly fox lurking in shadows, ready to pounce. But now, her approach bore a faint resemblance to Lu Ying’s. Every move calculated ten steps ahead, grand and sweeping, encompassing all possibilities—a strategy akin to the mighty sway of a whale nurturing all within its ocean. Shen Yinning picked up chess pieces one by one from the board. "Teacher’s lessons are excellent." Yu Qingheng muttered, "All I ever taught was the basics of Go, not these advanced strategies..." Shen Yinning lowered her eyelashes. The teacher admired her father’s integrity and righteousness, so naturally, what he taught her followed in the same vein. But it was that stubborn streak in her bones, deeper than what anyone in the Shen Family possessed, that took her down a different path. Yet, what the teacher imparted to Lu Ying was none other than Emperor’s Skill. Recalling her humiliating loss to Lu Ying in Jiangnan, a mix of indignant fury and reluctant envy burned within Shen Yinning. She smiled sweetly at Yu Qingheng, a dangerous glint flashing in her Dan Feng eyes, and said coquettishly, "Teacher, shall we go for another round?" Thus, Shen Yinning defeated Yu Qingheng again, leaving him utterly crushed. Yu Qingheng slapped his thigh in frustration, his face twisting in dismay. "I’ve figured you out, Zhaozhao—you’re doing this on purpose! I haven’t provoked you, have I? Go vent your anger on whoever wronged you, not on this old man who’s halfway to the grave!" Winning two matches left Shen Yinning feeling wonderfully relieved. While tidying the chessboard, she laughed: "Teacher taught him so well, I could never beat him. If I can’t win against him, I can only turn to his teacher." "I’m his teacher, am I not also your teacher?!" Yu Qingheng glared at her, blowing his beard in indignation, "You little ingrate, you insolent disciple!" Shen Yinning tried to mollify him: "Teacher, how about some soup dumplings? I’ve recently learned how to make them—shall we have soup dumplings for supper?" Yu Qingheng, having toured Jiangnan in his youth and tasted their soup dumplings, still yearned for them even now. His expression lightened with delight: "At least you have some conscience!" Shen Yinning personally went to the kitchen and prepared several trays of soup dumplings. Her time in Liang Garden had been well-spent, learning the precise technique of making soup dumplings. She used high-quality stock made from chicken and pork skins to craft the gelatin filling. Since there was no crab roe available, she opted for two types of filling: lean pork and lamb. She paired them with fragrant vinegar and tender ginger slices as dipping sauce. By the time the dumplings were steamed, the sun had begun to set. She picked one up, blew on it gently, and bit through the thin wrapper. Her mouth was instantly filled with rich, flavorful soup. Taking another bite, the aromatic and fresh meat was neither greasy nor overwhelming, while the tangy vinegar and sharp ginger perfectly counterbalanced the sweetness of the broth. Exquisite. She gave her internal evaluation before carrying the trays of soup dumplings to the dining table. This was Cui Ji’s second time tasting Shen Yinning’s cooking. Strictly speaking, it was the first, since the spring pancakes she made before had been forcibly taken away by Lu Ying before he had the chance to eat them. Shen Yinning watched as Cui Ji hastily bit into a dumpling and burned his mouth. Instead of mocking him, she patiently taught him how to eat soup dumplings properly. Lu Ying stepped over the threshold just then, catching sight of her giving a personal demonstration. Cui Ji’s ears flushed red. Between men, Lu Ying knew all too well what Cui Ji was thinking. He remembered that on Liang Garden’s pleasure boat, when he had burnt his mouth with soup dumplings, this little fox had only laughed at him non-stop. But when it came to Cui Ji, she wouldn’t even crack a smile. A tinge of irritation rose within him. He placed the embroidered box he brought onto the table: "I was planning to have dinner at Teacher’s place, but it seems supper has already begun." With his arrival, the atmosphere chilled. Yu Qingheng coughed lightly, awkwardly forcing a smile: "Well, you’ve already come, so why bring anything with you?" "I picked it up in Lin’an City—a set of fine stationery tools. I remembered how Teacher fondly enjoys such items, so I brought it back." Lu Ying took a seat, his tone sharp with implication. "I, for one, value proper etiquette, unlike certain students of Teacher who not only come empty-handed but have the audacity to entrust children to Teacher, expecting him to raise them. Worse still, after becoming a disciple midway, they forego the discipleship banquet altogether and repeatedly visit empty-handed." A pointed remark.

Chapter 286 - 284: The atmosphere chilled as soon as Lu Ying arrived

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