CHAPTER TWO (PART 1):Disliking someone was actually a very easy thing to do, and after being provoked by Liang Yu Xia and Cui Yun Xiu, Cui Miao He had already decided to dislike that man, Chai She Xia.
And seeing as she had decided to dislike him, she certainly wasn’t willing to marry him.
What’s more, Liang Yu Xia used the wording “to choose.”
Who did this man think he was, only the current Emperor had the right to pick and choose girls, he was only an insignificant general, what right did he have to choose her with that high and mighty att.i.tude?
What’s more if that in the streets, the news regarding him preferring men and beating to death the concubine was all abuzz, how could she like a man who treated human lives like gra.s.s?
If she guessed correctly, Liang Yu Xiang and her daughter were counting their chickens before they hatched, and were trying their best to climb up the social ladder using this marriage with the Chai Family, and let Chai She Xia help with Father’s career while letting her be mistreated or eliminated at Chai She Xia’s hands.
They never cared what sort of suffering she would have to endure, or maybe they hoped that her coming days would be spent miserably, so they could let the hate in their hearts decrease a little.
But she never understood, what did they hate her for?
“He’er!”
While her mind was in a turmoil, Father had entered her small pavilion, and her thoughts were broken and she raised her head, and saw that Father’s face and figure was like he had gotten older.
“Father!” Cui Miao He just opened her mouth to quietly call, and the ways in which she had been wronged for the last few days floated into her mind, and tears appeared at the corners of her eyes.
“Little girl, what’s wrong? Has someone wronged you?” Cui Ming Yuan saw his daughter’s red rimmed eyes, and asked at once, the expression with which he examined his daughter not without doting.
Seeing that doting, the wronged feeling in her heart eased up by a lot, but when she opened her mouth, her voice was still a little choked. In order not to let Father worry, she tried very hard to smile. “I’m fine.”
It’s alright, even if Stepmother never liked her, Father still loved her.
“If there’s nothing wrong, then why are you crying?” Towards his motherless daughter, although he loved her, but because he wanted some peace and quiet, he turned a blind eye to the doings of his second wife as long as they weren’t excessive.
But because he did that, he became more and more distant with his eldest daughter.
“I heard your mother say that after your talk today, you’re willing to marry Chai She Xia. Is she making it all up?” Cui Ming Yuan was seldom series, but evidently was displeased at his daughter crying.
“I…” She wanted to tell the truth about Stepmother’s plans, but then seeing how exhausted Father was, and how he had been implicated in forging salaries and been demoted, she swallowed those words.
Whatever, she won’t tell on them.
Even if she told the truth now, it would only make Father more depressed, and however it was said, even though Liang Yu Xia was a second wife, he was still Father’s wife.
Even if it was not for the sake of the monk, it was for the sake of the Buddha.
She didn’t want to stop talking now, and make Father’s mood worse.
Lowering her head with a sigh, Cui Miao He said: “I’m really fine, it’s just that I’ve been inside for so long that I feel trapped in. I want to go out for a walk.”
Hearing that, Cui Ming Yuan knew that his daughter was blaming him for distancing himself from the Che Family, and he reached out to rub the top of his daughter’s head, saying calmly, “He’er, it’s not that I doesn’t let you go out, it’s just that your uncle’s matter is all over the place. I know that you and the Che Family have always been close. I’m only keeping you inside because I’m unwilling for you to get involved. You don’t blame me, do you?”
His daughter and Che Yuan Yu grew up together, so she was naturally worried about the situation of that girl from the Che Family, but as a father, how could he look on blankly as his daughter gets roped into that mess?
“Father, I’m not someone without propriety, but Yuan Che jie jie and I are cousins, and even with we cannot clear the Che Family from guilt, but as for monetary a.s.sistance, can’t our Cui Family help?”
“But your mother…” Serving in the imperial court with Che da ren for many years, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to help, but thinking about how his second wife would throw a tantrum, Cui Ming Yuan’s face screwed up.
“Father, Mother actually left some money behind. If I don’t use the family money, then she can’t say anything right. Let me leave the house!” As Cui Miao He spoke, she took took her father’s hand and swung it from side to side, an affectionate expression on her face.
“This…” He was originally hesitant, but seeing his daughters lovable and innocent appearance, his pampering feelings came up, and couldn’t repress them, so he could only agree, “Alright. I still have some money. Take some and give it to Yuan Yu, and tell her to find a doctor for her father!”
Very good, Father agreed to let her go out. Her eyes shone brightly, she had to go to the Che Family, but…
There really was an imposing manner!
Looking up at the layer upon layer of eaves, and the curved engraved railings on the bridge pier, Cui Miao He snorted coldly inside. Her impression towards Chai She Xia, a son of a rich family, worsened somewhat.
Even though the word on the streets said that this young general was a rare unrivaled genius, and that he won every battle and was unable to be beaten.
She originally took those words as stories, and listened to them before dismissing them, but now the man in those tales was now unfathomably involved with her life, and her displeasure towards him slowly acc.u.mulated.
Even though logic told her that all this was because of Liang Yu Xia and her daughter, but she could not let go of his behavior in choosing his wife.
Suddenly, the leading servant stopped and respectfully said, “Miss, that’s our Young Master’s study room just ahead.”
“What, won’t you take me in?” Cui Miao He asked, confused by the servant stopping.
The servant only nodded, and said fearfully, “The Lady made it clear that I’m not allowed to disturb you and the Young Master talking, so I can only take you up to here.”
“But…” Seeing that terrified face, she was full of doubt and wanted to ask more, but the servant had gone in an instant.
Looking at the quickly disappearing figure, then turning to look at the completely silent study, was there the need to be that afraid? This family was really strange, when she suddenly came to see Chai She Xia, not only Lady Chai not look displeased in the slightest, but was frightfully enthusiastic. Not only did she find a servant to show the way, but earnestly held her hand and told her to come to the General’s Manor often.
Her enthusiasm caused her to be suspicious. Could Chai She Xia seriously not find a wife?
Tilting her head to think, but not coming up with a solution, she put on a brave face and walked towards the tightly closed door.
“Attend to me!”
Her hand had only just touched the door, and hadn’t had the chance to push it open, a low, clear shout sounded from inside, giving her a fright.
It sounded like the owner of the voice had a bad temper, no wonder he beat to death his own bed servant, but this sort of man didn’t seem to be the type who liked men!
Without time for her to think, another shout came from inside–
“Who is standing outside, why don’t you answer?” Thinking that it was a servant outside, Chai She Xia waited for a while and when no one answered, he yelled the question again.
After that day when he and Ju Su Sheng decided to find a woman to appease Mother, his mood had gotten worse by the day.
He knew that he should go find the girl in the portrait, Cui Miao He or something, but when he thought of doing something that would bring himself trouble, he hesitated, and in his indecisive state of mind, his bad temper was aroused.
After asking loudly and angrily, and the person outside still did not respond, the anger in Chai She Xia’s heart started to burn like like a crazed wild horse.
He walked over in a few large steps, and roughly pulled open the door, wanting to teach the servant a lesson, but that lovable face entered his line of vision.
He started blanking at that familiar yet unfamiliar face, this was the first time he saw her true appearance.
“You are… Miss Cui?!” He didn’t think that the portrait was so true to life that he was able to tell who the newcomer was with a single glance.
There wasn’t enough time for the anger on his face to vanish, and was about to ask her why she was here with a dark expression, but Cui Miao He was one step ahead and rebuked–
“I am Cui Miao He.”
“You…”
Hearing her confirm her ident.i.ty, he was about to open his mouth, but who knew that she rebuked him again. “I came to tell you that don’t want to marry you even a bit, I don’t want to power and influence of your Chai Family, neither do I want the riches, so I will not allow you to send anyone to my house to propose.”
Glaring at him, who was as grand and formidable as a mountain, the slender Cui Miao He seemed to become much more delicate, but she proudly raised her head and warned him sternly.
She had decided already, her stepmother would meddle and plot endlessly, it would be better if she took drastic measures and decisively cut off the negative effects.
As long as he didn’t pick her, even if Liang Yu Xia and her daughter wanted to act up, there was nothing they could do!
“Why?” Seeing her look at him with a loathing expression like he was something filthy, Chai She Xia naturally could not accept it.
“I’m not some woman who you can manipulate at will, I don’t want to be your wife and live the life of a living widow. Do you understand?”
Facing such a large and frightening man, she would be lying if she said that she wasn’t afraid, but she knew that she could not cower.
Seeing the contempt in her eyes, Chai She Xia’s eyes suddenly widened, the anger in his heart about to come out in full strength, in a moment, he understood what she meant.
She really believed that he would beat his wife and preferred the company of men?
He had always believed that rumors would be dismissed by intelligent people, so he never denied those rumors, but he didn’t think that there were so many stupid people in the world.
If it was in the past, whenever he met this sort of person, his way of resolving the issue would be to turn around and leave, but… suddenly, his eyes sized up this pretty and delicate maiden without restrain.
He didn’t think that before he had the chance to avoid troublesome women, she had been a step ahead in avoiding him.
Breathing in deeply, keeping down the disgust in his mind, he glared at her and said, “So you’re determined not to marry me?”
“The person I marry must be someone I love deeply, do you think you’re that person?” Returning his glare, Cui Miao He said the words extremely staunchly.
She didn’t want to marry into glory and splendor, neither did she want to marry into money, her only wish was to be together forever with a man that she loved.
“You haven’t tried yet, how do you know that you won’t fall in love with me?”
“I don’t even need to try to know! No matter what your reason for provoking me is, I can tell you for certain, I won’t agree to marry you.”
If she went against Mother’s wishes and married a man with such a bad reputation, surely Mother would not be able to feel at ease in the underworld!
“So you won’t come to the Cui Family to propose, right?” Remembering the mother who loved her dearly, she looked towards him, wanting to hear him promise.
“I…” He should have told her that she didn’t want to get involved with her anyway, but seeing her impatient expression, Chai She Xia’s stubborn personality reared it’s head, and he glared at her, asking, “What right do you have to control whether I will or not?”
“How are you a person who doesn’t do as they say?” Cui Miao He said as she puckered up her brows and stomped her feet.
She thought that he had agreed, just as she calmed down her heart, it was suspended up again. She looked at him disbelievingly, but saw that there was not even a thread of a guilty conscience on his face.
“I never promised you anything.”
It was her who had thought that they had reached that conclusion, and now she was pinning it onto his head? This girl was interesting!
“You don’t need to waste your thoughts, I definitely will not marry you, and you don’t truly want to marry me, you are an important young person in the current imperial court, a minister that the Emperor heavily replies on, you’re going to marry some princess. With someone like me with no family background, and with a mother and younger sister at home who just sees you as an easy source of money, I’m so troublesome, what are you provoking me for?”
To break off this chain of thought, she criticized her family’s shortcomings to the fullest extent, hoping to make him retreat.
Staring at her, a smile suddenly floated up into Chai She Xia’s eyes. She was was a peculiar girl.
In order to dispel him from the intention of marrying her, she unexpectedly wasn’t afraid to say things to ruin her and her family. If he was a cultured and refined honest person, then he swear not to provoke her anymore.
But unfortunately, he was born rebellious. The more someone didn’t want him to do something, the more he wanted to do it.
“What I will or will not do, that is up to me to decide.”
CHAPTER TWO (PART 2):His words were extremely ambiguous, and it made her heart jump into a mess.
“What do you actually want for you to promise me?” Glaring angrily at him, she wanted to turn away, but thinking of the predatory stares of stepmother and daughter, she asked him through gritted teeth.
“Do you want to negotiate conditions with me now?”
This girl really didn’t know the meaning of the two words, “giving up!”
Seeing her quick eyes flicker around, the Chai She Xia who had always respected woman from a distance couldn’t help but have thoughts about teasing her.
“Then what conditions do you want in order to agree?”
“I don’t know yet, so why don’t you let me think first.” He spread his arms, and put on a helpless tone.
Actually, he didn’t want to demand any conditions from her, but seeing her so desperately wanting to draw a line between them, he didn’t want her to get her way too easily.
So this was the feeling of being avoided by someone?
This was the first time he had experienced this feeling!
A heavy feel of hopelessness filled her from head to toe, her normally lively body seemed to appear clumsy, she only shifted a little, but she was huffing and puffing.
Realising that there was something wrong, she tried to calm her frantic heart, wanting to clear up everything that had happened lately.
Last night, she was inside reading a book, and the servant Huan Huan brought in congee for her as a midnight snack.
At that time, she saw that Huan Huan’s complexion wasn’t good, and had asked her if she was okay, but Huan Huan only have a brief answer and repeatedly urged her to eat.
She didn’t think too much about it, Huan Huan was a playmate that her mother had picked for her when she was young, and she had always been loyal and devoted she hadn’t need to put on her defences around her.
Is it possible that this strange feeling she got after waking up was because of Huan Huan? How could that be?
Cui Miao He felt panicked, and tried to move her stiff four limbs, but they were weaker than usual.
Dammit!
She was so panicked that there were beads of sweat on her brow, but the more panicked she was, the more she couldn’t move.
Finally, she could only stop struggling, and let the beads of sweat run down her face, and through the sweat, she saw a graceful figure.
“You’re awake?”
She got a shock. Wasn’t that Stepmother? What did she want to do?
“You ungrateful girl. I told you nicely to find a way to marry into the Chai Family and to help your father’s career out, but you refused, do don’t blame me for what I’m about to do.”
Towering from above, Liang Yu Xia spoke down to the powerless and unable to move Cui Miao He.
“You… you… what are you planning?” She suddenly got a very bad feeling in her heart, Cui Miao He used all her strength, but could only weakly ask a question.
“What can I do? Of course I’m going to lend a helping hand, and let you and Chai She Xia get to a point of no return!” She said without concealing a thing.
“Don’t mess around… Father don’t let you get away thing this!”
She knew that Stepmother had always been an ambitious person, and she had never been content with being the wife of a low ranking official, but she had never thought that she would be so bold and plan to this sort of thing!
“You think that your father will save you?” Liang Yu Xia laughed coldly after speaking. “Didn’t you know that the Emperor sent your father to Zhejiang to do things, I’m afraid that he won’t be back for half a year at the quickest.”
After they reached the point of no return, even if the master came back, nothing could be changed, and everything that she did was so he could move up in the world!
“What do you want to do?”
She thought that due to her status, other than words, Stepmother wouldn’t dare to do anything else to her, but she didn’t think that she would keep the news of her father going down south from her. It looked like she had long planned this.
Thinking of that, Cui Miao He got panicky again, and stared at cooly at her, saying: “Even if Father isn’t here, the family elders are still here. Aren’t you afraid that you’ll be kicked out if you do something like this?”
“What am I afraid of, by the time they know it’ll be far too late, and they benefit off me. Do you really think that they’ll find justice for you?”
In order to dominate over all household matters, she had already had a plan in order to give her and her daughter a safeguard, she had already bribed those elders.
“You…” Cui Miao He’s mood was a mess, and used all her strength to try stand up, but her four limbs were as weak as before, and had no strength.
Seeing Stepmother’s dark face, she knew that she was determined this time. She had to get away, otherwise…
“These few years you relied on your father’s doting, and never respected me. I clenched my teeth, waiting for this day.”
She spat out the resentment that had hidden in her heart for years. Actually Liang Yu Xia knew that she was taking a desperate risk this time, but she couldn’t not do this.
These few years, in order to support her worthless elder brother, she took back Cui Family property in order to fill up that bottomless abyss that he created. Today, the Cui Family was not as impressive as it looked, she could only rely on an extremely high betrothal price for the Chai Family in order to prevent the Cui Family from collapsing.
But as a mother, how could she sacrifice her own daughter, so after consideration, Cui Miao He was naturally the most suitable choice.
Seeing as she was someone else’s daughter, even if Chai She Xia was a crude man like the rumours said and treated women badly, so what? Even if Cui Miao He was ground to death by him, what did that have to do with her?
“What do you want to do?” Holding on to her last bit of clearness, Cui Miao He asked through clenched teeth.
Stepmother wouldn’t drug her for no reason, she must be afraid that she’d run away or resist. Could it be that… A thought flashed through her mind, but she didn’t dare to believe her own guess.
“Seeing as you won’t get on General Chai’s good side, then it’s up to me as a mother to lend a helping hand!”
“Chai She Xia won’t accept.” Even though they had only met once, and didn’t part on bad terms, she believed that he was not the sort of person who would take advantage of the difficulties of others.
“If it was at our house, of course he wouldn’t accept. But what if it was at a brothel?”
“What do you mean by that?” As if forcing her to marry wasn’t enough, was she going to sell her into a brothel?
Cui Miao He’s complexion went green and white as she stared at her stepmother, unable to believe that she was bold enough to do something so rash.
“Of course I wouldn’t sell you into a brothel, but if someone abducted you there, and your innocence was accidentally ruined by the drunk General. When I hurry worriedly over to the brothel to find you, I’ll see that you’ll either have to die to protect your beliefs, or you’ll have to marry him. Which ever you choose, it’ll benefit me and do me no harm.” This was her long-planned scheme to kill two birds with one stone, and could not go wrong.
“Aren’t you afraid that I’ll speak out about your evil plan?”
“That’ll just be crazed words after experiencing a severe shock. Who will believe you?” For the last few years, she appeared to have managed the Cui Family well, and not only did people inside the house praise her, even outsiders praised her. She had worked so hard, so who would believe Cui Miao He?
Seeing Stepmother’s determined expression, Cui Miao He breathed deeply. At a time like this, she could not panic!
Her ear was still full of Stepmother’s unending confident speech, but the more she listened the more indistinct it became. Her mind became more dizzy… gradually she was swallowed by darkness.
“Even if I manage to marry into the Chai Family Manor like you want, aren’t you afraid that I’d use the power of the Chai Family to teach the two of you a lesson?” Even in her dizziness, she couldn’t help but continue mumbling warnings.
Who knew that when Liang Yu Xia heard those word, she was not only unafraid, but smiled widely. “I already heard that Chai She Xia is not a tender person, if he was tricked into marrying you, won’t he think that you’re a scheming person? Wanting to get his love, I’m afraid that it’ll be harder than flying. Don’t think that he’ll get revenge for you.” As she spoke, there was an extremely confident expression on her face.
This matter she had thought about for a long time, although it was not flawless, but there were a few degrees of certainty. NO matter what happened, she would have to try and save her parent’s family.
While dazed, Cui Miao He vaguely felt herself being carried out of the house and into a carriage and carried into a small pavilion.
With great difficultly, she became a little more clear headed. She originally didn’t know where she was, but hearing obscure words of love, and also vulgar decorations all around, sound of a party coming from outside, she knew that she was in a man’s cave of ecstasy.
Her heart felt like it had dropped into a bottomless abyss, she wanted to open her mouth and call for help, but she could not make a noise.
Originally although her body was weak, she could still talk, but as she left the manor, Stepmother drugged her again and after she drunk that, it was as if her throat was locked up, unable to make a sound.
It looked like Stepmother was really determined to think of her as a tribute to give to Chai She Xia to enjoy, having so heartlessly taken away even her ability to cry for help.
Cui Miao He became anxious, but her body was powerless. She opened her eyes wide and looked around, trying to find herself a way out.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of the door being pushed open, she struggled to clearly see the person in front of her, or even stop them from approaching. But the more she struggled, the more she felt that person approach.
When that person’s hand touched her, she was so anxious that a tear rolled down, thinking that the person’s claws were going to tear her and eat her up, but he just move her aside like she was a decoration, and and sunk down onto the soft bed next to her. The slope of the bed caused her powerless body to lean against the man’s body.
“Wu, wu, wu…”
Cui Miao He used all her strength, and with great difficulty was finally able to make a sound. She wanted to ask for help, but who would have thought that the person thought she was noisy.
“Be quiet, I want to sleep.”
What a familiar voice, wasn’t that Chai She Xia’s deep and low voice?
Realizing that the person next to her was him, her heart grew even heavier. Stepmother really used a great amount of strength, and even dared to drag a general into her plans.
They can’t sleep! She wanted to yell, but couldn’t make a sound. If they slept, even if nothing happened between them, then it would be putting gold in the mouths of others, and their reputations would be ruined.
“Wu…” With extreme difficulty, she made a sound again. Who would have thought that Chai She Xia would sweep her up with an arm, and hold her to his chest, wrapping his arms and legs around the weak and powerless her.
Startled by his action, cold sweat appeared at her forehead, afraid that his rumored viciousness would burst forth.
She held her breath with rapt attention, and waited for a while with her heart beating madly, but he just coiled around her like an octopus, and then she heard steady breathing next to her ear.
This man had really taken her to be a pillow.
Hearing his increasingly steady breathing, a bitter smile appeared on her lips. It looks like her innocence really would be destroyed.
She just didn’t know how this man would react when he woke up, she thought that with a man with steely arrogance definitely wouldn’t like to be tricked like this.
His wrath would definitely be like gigantic waves crashing from the sky, and the one who would be on the receiving end would be her.
This could be a.s.sumed that it was Stepmother counting her chickens before they hatched, wanting to use his hand to teach her a lesson.