Greetings, Ninth Uncle

Ch.9 - The Past

Cheng Yujin stood in the corridor in front of the solemn red gate. The cold wind was raging, blowing the snow accumulated overnight. She reached out to the snowflakes outside the pillar, her slim wrist was even fairer than the snow.

Snowflakes fell on the palm and soon melted into water. Cheng Yujin withdrew her hand and laughed with self-mockery: "Forget it, what is the use of me telling you this? You won't understand."

Cheng Yuanjing put his hands on his back, silently looking at the snow falling on the eaves. How could he not understand?

He was born in the most distinguished imperial family. His father was the honorable emperor; his mother was the original wangfei and later the empress. Probably no one had a higher background than himself. But what was the use of it? His mother fell ill and died early, making way for the daughter of a powerful minister. His father's greatest resistance was to mourn his wife for a full year and made him the crown prince. Cheng Yujin said that although she had complete parents, no one genuinely cared for her. Wasn't it the same with Cheng Yuanjing?

Cheng Yujin didn't know why she suddenly said this to Cheng Yuanjing. Maybe because too many things happened today. Maybe because Cheng Yuanjing had seen her worst appearance. Or maybe because despite all the bad things that befell her today, only he stood on her side.

Cheng Yujin withdrew her hand and took two steps forward. She suddenly turned her head, revealing a fierce look: "Today you have admitted to grandmother that my words are true. We are two grasshoppers tied on the same rope, neither can get away. You cannot tell others about what you saw this morning, nor can you break your promise!"

Her sudden fragility dissipated as abruptly. Cheng Yujin returned into the wise and sensible eldest young miss of Yichun marquis manor. Before leaving, she didn't forget to threaten the witness.

Cheng Yuanjing looked at Cheng Yujin deeply. For some reason, that kind of look made Cheng Yujin scared, as if containing invisible coercion. She felt a little embarrassed now and didn't dare to properly face this ninth uncle. But she had just threatened the other party fiercely. It would be too humiliating to show weakness now. Cheng Yujin glanced back provocatively, then pretended to have another urgent matter and left quickly.

She had just taken several steps and almost sighed in relief when she heard the man's voice: "You took the wrong direction."

"Eh"?

"That is the way to my courtyard."

....

In Jingyong marquis manor, Huo Xue-shi was sitting on a wooden chair carved with yellow pear flower decoration. It had been a long time since the last time she felt this angry.

She slammed the teacup. The tea splashed on the corner of the table, leaving several water stains on the red embroidered cushion. "They bullied too much. Their own home has so many disgusting things, how can they still have the face to take the initiative to cancel my son's engagement? More annoying is that eldest miss, unable to differ the good from bad, dare to tear Changyuan's marriage contract in public!"

Huo Xue-shi was so angry at Yichun marquis manor, yet unable to vent. Huo Changyuan simply wanted to cancel the engagement and didn't want to prolong the trouble, so he stopped his mother from making a ruckus with the Cheng family. Huo Xue-shi had been supported the family alone for more than one decade. She was very though in front of outsiders. But faced with her only son, she was utterly docile, always listening to his words.

For example, today's matter. Since Huo Changyuan said that he disliked the engagement and wanted to cancel it, then just cancel; Then, Cheng Yujin tore up the marriage contract, yet Huo Changyuan told her to not pursue the matter. Even if Huo Xue-shi was so angry that she almost exploded, she still said nothing.