Chapter 574: Chapter 562: This Familiar Little Face
Cui Xuan is so good-natured, respectful to his parents-in-law, compassionate towards the younger generations, and gentle by nature. Yet how has it come to this point with him?
Prince Gong couldn’t help but think of another person.
Cui Yang’s first wife.
"Initially, you were quite caring and attentive to the one before, but I could tell you weren’t very committed. You were just doing what a husband should do. Later, when you married Miss Xuan, I thought you had come to your senses and maneuvered well in between. Had I known you were going to waste her like this, there were many noble families wanting to marry off their daughters to you. I should have helped them instead of committing this sin."
As a result, every time he saw Lady Cui Xuan, he felt indebted.
Cui Yang wanted to say that wasn’t the case.
But what was it like then?
To say he had never liked someone this much? Liked to the extent that he dared not reveal his feelings,
and dared not let her know how despicable his desires and longing for her were.
He genuinely wished he could entwine with her ceaselessly, and ruthlessly indulge her pleas for mercy.
Initially, when she married into the Marquis Mansion, she was unwilling.
But having acquired her was still not enough for him; he wanted too much.
He tried to become the type of eloquent, scholarly saintly man that she liked, acting selflessly without counting the costs for others, all in front of her.
There was a time when he actually succeeded. Lady Cui Xuan’s smiles became much more frequent when they discussed poetry and prose together.
Once, in the rain, he treaded through the muddy mountain paths, steadily carrying her, who had long been physically exhausted, all the way to the Daoist School on his back.
That night, Xuan Shuyu unusually depended on him, even enduring the embarrassment, placing her hand around his neck and not letting go: "Young man, do not leave."
But where did it go wrong?
It seems, for some things, the more he learned from the books, the more confused he became, leading to the current situation.
Later, seeing Lady Cui Xuan’s disappointed gaze, he chose to escape.
Actually, it was all wrong.
Now, not being in the military camp, he sees her every day, which is a tremendous torment.
Prince Gong seeing his distracted soul: "What’s the matter, is the young lady not living with you anymore?"
That remark earned him a solid punch.
"Cui Yang!"
"You’re asking for it."
By the time he drunkenly returned to the main courtyard, his steps swayed.
The lights in the main courtyard were still on.
Cui Yang stood in place, gazing for a long time, then turned and walked towards another place.
Perhaps because he had drunk tonight, all his emotions uncontrollably surged. He hadn’t gone far when he suddenly turned around and strode back with large steps.
"Marquis, no, Madam is taking a bath."
The old woman standing guard outside hurriedly spoke out.
With a ’bang’, the door was kicked open.
Xuan Shuyu had heard the noise outside earlier. She frowned, quickly dried her body, reached for her robe, barely putting it on, not even managing to fasten the clasps before he barged in.
The room was misty.
The washroom was filled with a familiar faint fragrance.
Lady Cui Xuan’s figure was graceful. Her baby face showed no signs of having borne two sons, and her body was even more voluptuous and full.
She seemed slightly shocked, quickly turned her back, and arranged herself swiftly.
Cui Yang’s gaze burned fiercely, watching without blinking.
A voice inside told him.
Leave.
She doesn’t like this.
There should always be appropriate bounds and distance between husband and wife.
But he didn’t.
He didn’t want to leave.
Xuan Shuyu was embraced from behind, her eyes flickering slightly, her petite frame ensnared in the robust arms of Cui Yang.
"Let go!"
—Why don’t you show some weakness, the young lady has a soft heart, she won’t always drive you out.
Prince Gong’s words echoed by his ear. Cui Yang hesitated for a long time.
"I’m drunk."
"Go be crazy somewhere else."
Xuan Shuyu said coldly.
Cui Yang’s hands were not very honest, repeatedly touching her waist in a probing manner.
It dawned on her later, Cui Yang and she had been maintaining a nominal relationship for many years. She had long passed the age of jealousy.
"If the Marquis is in the mood, I will arrange a few girls to serve you."
With those words, Cui Yang’s heated breath gradually cooled.
"Shuyu."
Hoarse and dry.
"Was I wrong?"
And thus not worthy of forgiveness.
"Marquis, you are overthinking."
Her gaze distant, she gently pushed him away this time, turning to leave. She walked slowly, with the dignified and elegant demeanor of a woman from Shengjing.
After sharing a bed with different dreams for many years, Cui Yang was no longer allowed to step into this room.
Seeing her walk away, about to pass the screen, a suffocating panic overwhelmed him.
He stepped forward, grasping Shuyu’s hand tightly, not letting her go.
Under the influence of alcohol, he no longer maintained his pretense in front of Shuyu, ferocious like a wolf.
In his deep eyes lay an unfathomable and overwhelming possessiveness.
"Don’t you even consider it?"
"Or do you dislike how I treat you?"
"I know you had someone in your heart before we married, but what of it? I didn’t want to miss out and thought it wouldn’t make much difference. My body is stronger than those frail scholars. I can bring you joy."
He lowered his head to kiss her. His domineering voice grew vulnerable.
"If I say that I actually love you deeply, can you not be so cruel to me?"
Shuyu listened quietly.
"There’s no need to bring up other matters between us, I neither wish to believe nor listen. This way is actually quite fine," she said.
"Cui Yang, with how much you’ve hurt me, why should I care about you?"
He was inherently clumsy with words, so he just recklessly pressed his lips against hers.
Shuyu did not move, letting him kiss her. Like a puppet without emotions, her passive non-resistance was like dousing cold water on Cui Yang.
He slowly retreated.
Looking into Shuyu’s clear eyes.
"Do you still remember, what you promised in front of my parents on our wedding day?"
Cui Yang’s fingertips trembled.
He said he would treat Shuyu well and asked her parents not to worry.
Shuyu smiled faintly: "But you didn’t do it, you broke your promise."
————
Cui Yun hurried to Fengzhou, heading straight to the Shen Family.
Shen Hua was well cared for, her injuries were not severe, and she briskly walked outside.
"I said, don’t follow me. What is your status, and what is mine?"
"You, a concubine daughter, I will never take you out."
While her words were harsh, her steps involuntarily slowed down.
Shen Zhui wiped his sweat, eagerly following behind, and finally hugged her arm, gently rubbing it.
"Elder sister."
Shen Hua sneered: "That won’t work."
Fifteen minutes later, she passed by Cui Yun, who was holding a horse, with a forbidding look on her face.
Suddenly, the girl took a few steps back.
"Elder sister, do you recognize him?"
Shen Hua posed arrogantly, glancing casually, her mind buffering.
Cui Yun had actually changed a lot over the year.
He silently glared at her, hearing her say,
"Look at this little face, quite familiar indeed."
Her voice was soft and sweet, characteristic of the Fengzhou accent.
For some reason, Shen Hua felt an inexplicable panic. A few days ago, she awoke from a nightmare feeling similarly uneasy. Without hesitation, she pulled Shen Zhui and left.
"Elder sister?"
Shen Hua’s tone was heavy: "Quickly, let’s go. It must be that this person looks much like the madman in my dream."
