Ji Cheng’s words weren’t meant to avoid Shen Che, but rather to “help others achieve their goals.” She knew escaping Shen Che was impossible now, and she wasn’t that naive. Shen Che would deal with her sooner or later. By leaving on her own, she would save Shen Che from having to explain to the Old Matriarch later. Ji Cheng only hoped that her thoughtfulness would earn her a quick end.
“It’s no trouble at all, just a small favor. Cousin Cheng, don’t be so polite. It’s settled then. In a couple of days, I’ll find an opportunity for you to meet them both. As for the final decision, it will be up to you,” Shen Che said.
His words sounded quite domineering. Ji Cheng was no longer surprised, but the Old Matriarch found them rather perplexing.
After Ji Cheng left, the Old Matriarch pulled Shen Che aside and asked, “What’s going on between you and Cheng? What has she done to make you feel distant from her?”
Shen Che looked at the Old Matriarch and said, “What do you mean, Old Matriarch? How could there be any distance between Cousin Cheng and me?”
Although Shen Che wasn’t born from the Old Matriarch’s womb, she had raised him since he was little. He might be able to hide his subtle changes from everyone else in the world, but not from her. “Didn’t you used to call her A Cheng? How come you’re calling her Cousin Cheng now? And you say there’s no distance?”
Shen Che’s brows twitched, and he smiled helplessly, “You truly have a discerning eye, Old Matriarch.”
The Old Matriarch asked, “What has Cheng done to make you dislike her?”
Shen Che averted his gaze and said flatly, “I don’t dislike her.”
The Old Matriarch sighed lightly, “She has it tough too. With her background, she has to be careful in every aspect at home. Having a deep mind isn’t a bad thing. If it’s not something serious, don’t hold it against her.”
Shen Che lowered his eyelids and looked at his chest, “You have the heart of a Bodhisattva, Old Matriarch.”
The Old Matriarch shook her head, “Are you serious about arranging her marriage? You should stay out of it.” This also involved Shen Yu, and the Old Matriarch feared it might harm the brotherly relationship between Shen Che and Shen Yu. Since Shen Che had no interest in Ji Cheng, she felt more at ease.
Shen Che asked, “Are you worried about Elder Brother?”
The Old Matriarch was stunned for a moment, then smiled, “You little monkey, you have a thousand-mile eye and a favorable wind ear. You even know about your Elder Brother’s matter?”
Shen Che said, “Elder Brother came to Nine Li Courtyard to tell me himself. I’ve already told him that he no longer has any thoughts about Ji Cheng. A little kindness can turn into great resentment. Didn’t Ji Cheng come to the capital to seek a marriage? It’s been dragging on without resolution, so there’s bound to be some resentment. I know you care for her, Old Matriarch. Let your grandson take care of this matter for you.”
The Old Matriarch was about to say something, but seeing no hint of jest in Shen Che’s expression, she couldn’t bring herself to object. She had always been most helpless when it came to this grandson, always just going along with him.
Filial piety, filial piety – it had become Shen Che showing filial respect to the Old Matriarch, and the Old Matriarch going along with Shen Che.
But the Old Matriarch was still curious, “What did you say to your Elder Brother? I’ve never seen him so persistent this time. He’s even at odds with your Second Aunt, and no one can persuade him. How did you manage it?”
Shen Che smiled, “I appealed to his emotions and reasoned with him. He can’t ruin his relationship with his mother over a woman. Even if Ji Cheng were to marry into the family, she wouldn’t win Second Aunt’s favor. Elder Brother would be caught in the middle, not only making it difficult for himself, but if things get too embarrassing, it would be bad for the family harmony. Besides, there are plenty of fish in the sea. I’ve noticed that among the relatives’ daughters who came to attend the ceremony, there are some whose looks are not inferior to Ji Cheng’s.”
The Old Matriarch nodded. It was precisely because of this reasoning that she hadn’t helped Shen Yu persuade Shen Che’s Second Aunt. Disharmony between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law would lead to an unsettled household.
Shen Che’s efficiency was astounding. In just a few days, he had arranged the matchmaking meeting and brazenly came to Rui Ying Hall to invite Ji Cheng.
Seeing Ji Cheng lowering her head in silence, the Old Matriarch thought she was just shy and asked on her behalf, “Whose sons are they? Tell me so I can have an idea.”
Shen Che smiled and said, “Rest assured, they all come from good families. As for which families exactly, we’ll have to wait until Cousin Cheng meets them.”
However, it was highly unusual for a male cousin to be involved in matchmaking. But Shen Che’s behavior was strange yet unyielding. Even though the Old Matriarch saw the impropriety, she didn’t want to go against Shen Che’s wishes for Ji Cheng’s sake. So she asked Granny Cao to accompany Ji Cheng.
Granny Cao was not the Old Matriarch and couldn’t control Shen Che. She had long become shrewd, and with just a glance from Shen Che, she knew to keep her distance. Taking the silver she was given as a reward, she went off to enjoy herself nearby.
Two felt sedan chairs stopped steadily at the entrance of Cui Yun Residence. As Ji Cheng alighted from the chair, she saw that the alley was deep and narrow, and she had no idea where she was. The three characters “Cui Yun Ju” (翠云居) were carved on the stone fan above the wooden door, giving it an antique and elegant appearance. The wooden door was tightly closed, leaving Ji Cheng even more puzzled about where this place was.
Unless one was a regular customer, no one could find this Cui Yun Residence. Its reputation spread only through private word of mouth.
Shen Che alighted from his sedan chair after Ji Cheng. Ji Cheng had been watching his sedan curtain, waiting for him to come out. Their gazes inevitably met, and neither avoided the other. Now that there was no one else around, the sedan bearers, having stopped the chairs, had wisely retreated several yards away to rest.
“What exactly do you want to do?” Ji Cheng asked Shen Che.
Shen Che smiled and said, “You can know a person’s face but not their heart. Since we’re arranging a marriage for Cousin Cheng, naturally we want you to know your future husband thoroughly, to avoid any complaints from you later that we had good intentions but did the wrong thing.”
Shen Che’s words had a hidden meaning, especially the part about knowing a person’s face but not their heart. Ji Cheng inwardly scoffed, her expression growing colder. In fact, at this point, Ji Cheng knew she should be on her knees begging for mercy, tears streaming down her face. Perhaps Second Young Master Shen would find it amusing and temporarily spare her life, savoring her misery and the comedy of her lowliness. If not for herself, then for the sake of the entire Ji family.
But humans are emotional creatures. No matter how rational one usually is, at this moment, Ji Cheng’s actions are guided by her heart rather than her brain. It was easy to ask her to die but to make her beg for mercy, especially to Shen Che, she simply couldn’t lower her head.
Ji Cheng didn’t respond, and Shen Che didn’t look at her again. The perceptive attendant Ma Chao quickly stepped forward and knocked on the door ring of Cui Yun Residence three times – one long and two short.
Moments later, someone came to answer the door, respectfully inviting Shen Che in.
Upon entering, they first saw a small courtyard with lush flowers and trees, and winding paths leading to secluded spots. Rockeries and pebbles were piled to create a quiet and elegant atmosphere. Beyond the rockery, the sound of silk and bamboo instruments drifted from a hall by a small pond, slightly decadent, giving Ji Cheng a vague idea of Cui Yun Residence’s business. Places that dealt in the flesh trade always tried their best not to look like they did.
Shen Che and Ji Cheng were led into a secret room. Inside was a painting of a beauty admiring flowers. The beauty’s eyes were adorned with half a black pearl, which when moved aside revealed a peephole behind it, allowing one to enjoy the scenery in the next room.
In this world, there are all kinds of people, including those who enjoy watching others in intimate acts. This secret room in Cui Yun Residence catered to such tastes.
When Ji Cheng followed Shen Che into the room, there was no one in the adjacent secret room yet. But after a short while, they heard the sound of stumbling footsteps. Before seeing anyone, they could tell that the newcomers were already drunk and unsteady.
Sure enough, a woman entered supporting a drunken man. As soon as the man sat down on the couch, he lashed out at the woman with a whip, “Why aren’t you getting ready? What are you dawdling for? Your master rarely has free time today. If you ruin my mood, watch out for your miserable life.”
The man continued to curse and swear while the woman, pale-faced and trembling, began to take things out of a low cabinet. Because her movements were too slow, she was lashed again by the man, her thin clothes torn, revealing a bleeding wound.
Ji Cheng gasped and took two steps back.
“That man is called Dai Liheng, the only son of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Granaries. He was once married to Lady Wang, who died from a miscarriage. He then married Lady Zeng, who also died from a miscarriage. Currently, Dai Liheng is a widower,” Shen Che explained. The Minister of the Court of Imperial Granaries was a third-rank official, quite high in position, overseeing the imperial granaries with plenty of opportunities for corruption.
Two wives, both dying from miscarriages – it seemed unlikely to be a coincidence. Looking at this man’s behavior, which was worse than that of beasts, Ji Cheng could guess a few things.
“Come to think of it, Dai Liheng also has some connection to you,” Shen Che suddenly added.
Ji Cheng turned her head to look at Shen Che, who had stopped speaking. After savoring Ji Cheng’s pale face for a moment, Shen Che continued, “Dai Liheng’s mother has a nephew whom you know. His surname is Zhu, and he used to live in northern Jin.”
Zhu Jijun?!
Ji Cheng collapsed into a chair, a bitter smile appearing on her face. It was truly remarkable how Shen Che had managed to find someone like Dai Liheng.
These two cousins, Zhu Jijun and Dai Liheng, were indeed quite similar in their fondness for abusing women.
There was no need to continue watching the “spring scene” next door. Faint screams could be heard, making Ji Cheng feel as if someone was tying knots with the nerves in her brain.
Suddenly, Shen Che grabbed Ji Cheng’s hand. Ji Cheng was about to pull away when Shen Che pried open her fingers. Her palm had crescent-shaped blood marks from her nails digging in. Shen Che clicked his tongue twice, “You haven’t even married into the family yet, and you’re already starting to self-harm?”
Ji Cheng had always known that Shen Che wouldn’t give her a quick end so easily, but she never imagined it would turn out like this. Life’s twists and turns were truly ironic. She had resolutely come to the capital because of Zhu Jijun, and now, after all the turns of fate, she was to marry Zhu Jijun’s beastly cousin.
Shen Che indeed knew how to instill the greatest fear and regret in a person.
In a daze, Ji Cheng followed Shen Che out of Cui Yun’s Residence. She heard Shen Che say, “Let’s go. If you don’t like this one, we can look at another option.”
Hearing this, Ji Cheng felt a slight relief. There probably wouldn’t be a more disgusting choice than Dai Liheng.
The second candidate was the eldest son of a professor at the Imperial Academy. He had a preference for men, which wasn’t considered a major flaw. Many officials in court indulged in such practices, which didn’t affect their ability to continue their family lines. However, this Young Master Liu would become nauseous at the mere proximity of women and could only be intimate with men. That was indeed a major problem, which was why at twenty-two, he was still unmarried.
“What do you think of this one?” Shen Che asked.
Compared to Dai Liheng, Liu Jun was already an excellent choice.
“If you’re not satisfied, Zhu Jijun has a few other cousins,” Shen Che added.
Ji Cheng stared at Shen Che. It was clear that Shen Che was forcing her to willingly choose Liu Jun, with Dai Liheng serving merely as a frightening deterrent. Even though Ji Cheng and Shen Che were on opposing sides, she couldn’t help but admire Shen Che’s tactics. If Shen Che had presented Liu Jun first, Ji Cheng wouldn’t have felt any willingness at all. But after seeing Dai Liheng, when Ji Cheng looked at Liu Jun, she was almost ready to express gratitude to Shen Che.
But there are no free lunches in this world. Given the life-and-death situation between Shen Che and her, how could he possibly do her a favor? So Ji Cheng had to ask, “What do you want?”