Chapter 46: Forward

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Forward

Outside Shaoguang Courtyard, the sun had climbed to its peak. It was time for lunch.

The first thing Shen Tingyu asked was, "Did that scare you?"

"..." Cui Lingyao slowly shook her head.

"My mother is just having a hard time accepting it. She isn’t a despot; she’ll come around eventually."

Shen Tingyu then asked, "Do you think I was being disrespectful to an elder?"

What a question...

Cui Lingyao pursed her lips and looked at him. "How do you want me to answer?"

’If I say no...’

’...it would seem like I’m happy to see him at odds with his mother.’

’But to say yes would be incredibly ungrateful.’

’After all, he did it all for me.’

A faint ripple of amusement appeared in Shen Tingyu’s eyes, and his voice was tinged with a smile. "Then don’t answer."

He changed the subject. "Are you hungry?"

’Of course I am.’

She had walked for a long time this morning, and just now, when he and his mother were arguing, she hadn’t gotten involved, but it hardly felt right to sit and watch.

She had been standing the whole time.

For this body, it was already a significant amount of exertion.

Shen Tingyu glanced at the sky. "Shall we have a meal together?"

As if afraid she would refuse, the moment the words left his lips, he added, "I have something to tell you."

Cui Lingyao agreed.

’We’re already planning to marry, so what’s the big deal about having a meal alone?’

She thought they would go to the study in the front courtyard, but to her surprise, he took her to his own residence.

A grove of purple bamboo stood at the entrance, offering rare shade in the sweltering summer heat.

Cui Lingyao stepped into a courtyard that, according to the original owner’s memories, she had never entered before.

The courtyard was large, with even more purple bamboo inside. It was secluded and cool.

After ordering the servants to prepare the meal, Shen Tingyu led her around, showing her the place.

"There’s a pavilion behind the courtyard. I spend most of my summer days there. Shall we have lunch set up there?"

Cui Lingyao had no objections.

The two of them walked toward the back of the courtyard.

Soon, a three-story pavilion appeared before their eyes.

It stood tall with carved railings and jade-like stonework.

They went up to the second floor.

On the dining table in the side hall, fine dishes were already laid out.

Cui Lingyao washed her hands and sat down, and the two began to eat.

Her etiquette was the genuine article, honed by the Royal Family.

In the three years she was married to Xie Jinbai, she had attended countless palace banquets, and not a single fault could be found in her every move.

This was the first time the two of them had dined alone.

Shen Tingyu unconsciously placed a piece of food in her bowl.

The moment the fresh bamboo shoots appeared in her bowl, both of them were a little taken aback.

Cui Lingyao looked up in surprise, her gaze meeting a pair of flustered eyes. She blinked slowly. "You..."

Shen Tingyu’s lips tightened, and his voice was strained. "Do you not like these dishes? If so, tell me what you prefer. After we’re married, I’ll have the meals arranged to your taste."

"..."

Seeing the sudden joy that lit up his eyes, for a moment, Cui Lingyao couldn’t help but question herself. ’Is this so-called stopgap measure really the right thing to do?’

’It’s true he’s ’repaying a kindness’...’

’...but his feelings for me seem to run incredibly deep.’

’They’re practically spilling from his eyes.’

Such a look made Cui Lingyao’s heart race, stirring up an indescribable mix of emotions.

Panic, helplessness, and an unbearable guilt.

She looked away and forced herself to speak. "You don’t have to do all this."

Shen Tingyu’s eyelashes fluttered. He gave a low hum of assent.

After that, neither of them spoke again.

The meal was finished in silence.

The two of them moved to the tea room.

In a room in the pavilion with windows on all four sides, an urn of ice slowly radiated a cool air.

"Is there any tea you particularly like?" Shen Tingyu asked.

Cui Lingyao thought for a moment and said, "Pu’er, I suppose."

Shen Tingyu nodded.

The two sat opposite each other.

A low table sat between them. The teapot on it soon began to gurgle as it came to a boil, the rising steam blurring their faces from one another.

Cui Lingyao’s gaze fell on his hands.

His fingers were long and elegant like jade, with distinct knuckles. The casual way he handled the small, exquisite white porcelain teacups had a subtle beauty to it.

She herself knew the art of tea.

She had seen many people prepare tea.

Both men and women.

Her brother in the modern world knew how.

There was also Cui Mingrui, another proper, steady, and elegant young master from a noble family.

But Cui Lingyao had never seen anyone rinse tea leaves with such mesmerizing grace.

His every move was captivating.

"What are you looking at?"

A cup of clear tea appeared before her.

Cui Lingyao snapped back to her senses, looked up, and met a pair of smiling eyes.

She answered honestly, "The way you prepare tea is beautiful to watch."

Her straightforwardness actually made Shen Tingyu a little uncomfortable.

His gaze flickered, but he didn’t shy away. Instead, he pressed, "What part is beautiful, specifically?"

It was as if he was ready to master whatever aspect she named, just to make her watch him a little longer.

Cui Lingyao found it a bit much to handle. She looked away and changed the subject. "Is it safe to speak freely here?"

"Yes," Shen Tingyu said, smiling at her. "Don’t worry, the Yulin Guards can’t enter my courtyard. Say whatever you want; you don’t need to hold back."

The surrounding servants had been dismissed at some unknown point.

Her identity was a major issue, connected to that madman, Xie Jinbai. Since he could guarantee the eyes and ears of the Yulin Guards were not present, Cui Lingyao was naturally at ease.

She asked, "Do you know that the Duke Zhao Mansion is holding a banquet tomorrow?"

Shen Tingyu nodded.

He didn’t just know about the banquet at the Duke Zhao Mansion; he also knew she had originally planned to meet with the young masters of the Wu and Sun Families.

"Since you’ve agreed to our marriage, do you still plan to go to the Zhao Family’s home tomorrow?"

"I have to go,"

Cui Lingyao said, "The wife of Zhao Shijie and I were as close as sisters in our youth. When I returned a while ago, I heard she was gravely ill and near death. Now that I have the chance, I won’t be able to rest easy if I don’t go see her."

Even though she probably couldn’t be of much help.

They became friends in their girlhood. Later, Chen Minrou left the capital with her husband for his post, and they had little contact after marrying. Many people in the Capital City didn’t know about their past sisterly bond.

This was the first time Shen Tingyu had heard she was so close with the Heir’s wife of the Duke Zhao Mansion. His brow furrowed at her words. "Zhao Shijie..."

"What is it?" Cui Lingyao looked up. "Is there something wrong with him?"

’Women in the inner courtyards are often kept in the dark about such things. Could there be more to the story?’

Shen Tingyu said, "There’s nothing wrong, exactly, but I heard he hasn’t left his mansion for a month. He took a leave of absence from Your Majesty and stays home every day to watch over his wife. His reputation for devotion has spread throughout the court and country."

"..."

Cui Lingyao was silent for a moment, then let out a scornful laugh. "You men earn your reputations for being devoted so easily. His first wife isn’t even dead, and he’s already planning to marry her younger sister to replace her. And that’s considered devotion?"

’And then there’s Xie Jinbai...’

’I can’t even be bothered to talk about him!’

The sarcasm in the young woman’s words was undisguised, and Shen Tingyu naturally heard it.

His gaze suddenly brightened, and he stared straight at her.

This was the first time she had shown any emotional fluctuation in front of him.

It made her seem so much more alive.

’Does this mean our relationship has grown a little closer?’ ℴ

His eyes were sparkling so brightly that Cui Lingyao couldn’t ignore them even if she tried.

She drained her cup of tea in one gulp and said irritably, "Stop staring at me like that. It’s incredibly forward!"