Marrying a treacherous official

After this experience, Yunji realized with profound understanding that without Cui Zeming's protection, Madam You could kill her at any time.

Before she could fully develop her power, she had to flatter and please her powerful husband, even if it meant relying on his authority, in order to survive in this secluded mansion.

Cui Zemin listened to the harsh, hoarse voice she spoke, honed by the sand and gravel, and heard a grating, mocking sound that was utterly unbearable to hear.

What's wrong with your throat?

"It's ruined."

"Why are you kneeling before the Earth God?"

"Is this the Earth God?"

Yunji's expression froze, her face showing a mixture of emotions. "I've never seen a small Buddhist shrine with a local earth god in it before."

Cui Zemin coldly said to her, "Why are you still kneeling on the ground? Aren't you going to get up and go back?"

"I can't get up."

Yun Ji Chu Dai looked down at her knees with her hands clasped together, and realized with despair, "The blue bricks are damp and cold, the chill seeps into my bones, and my legs are stiff from kneeling."

She wasn't being coquettish; she genuinely couldn't handle kneeling, and her legs went numb immediately.

Cui Zemin indifferently reached out to her, and as her slender fingers touched him, he gently pulled her upwards. Yun Ji lost her balance and fell wearily into his arms.

With just a gentle tug, she nestled in his arms, panting heavily, as if she wanted to cough up her entire lungs.

Cui Zemin raised his hand to pat her back to help her catch her breath, but looking at her slender frame, he was afraid that if he slapped her, he would break two of her ribs. So he silently lowered his hand.

Yunji coughed until her cheeks flushed red, and even tears welled up in her eyes, but she firmly remembered not to annoy him, and stretched out her hand, saying:

"Granny, cough cough cough, help me up, don't let your illness affect the master, cough cough cough—"

Granny Kong rushed over to help her up, gently patting her back to soothe her breathing, and said regretfully:

"Madam, it's all my fault. I'm late."

"This has nothing to do with the old woman."

With the help of Granny Kong, Yunji left the small Buddhist hall.

Cui Zemin watched her walk out of the West Garden, stand on the stone steps, and give instructions to the guards in front of him:

"Drag the maids and old women guarding the gate out and behead them."

"Yes, General."

"Huo Xi, go and invite the imperial physician to come and examine the First Madam."

Cui Zemin made a harsh statement: "If the First Madam's cough cannot be cured, everyone in Minghe Hall will have to be buried with her."

Huo Xi stiffened his neck and replied with a "yes".

Yunji had only taken a few steps when she was suddenly struck by these ominous words, which startled her so much that her coughing subsided.

She suddenly stopped, turned around, and softly called out, "Husband—"

Cui Zemin turned his head and looked at her.

"If there is a next time, and my husband is busy with official duties and unable to return to the mansion, please send someone back to inform him."

Yunji had to be on guard in everything she did, lest she fall victim to Lady Hou's schemes again.

She took a deep breath and continued, "Otherwise, if I wait in vain for my husband, I will always be unable to eat or sleep because of the worry that is hanging over me."

Cui Zemin only saw lingering fear in her eyes; as for any feelings of longing, he saw none at all.

"Did you hear that, Huo Xi?"

Caught off guard by the general's intervention, Huo Xi quickly responded, "I will definitely report the general's schedule to the madam in a timely manner from now on."

After bidding farewell to Cui Zeming, Yunji headed towards Qinghui Courtyard, while Cui Zeming took a side path and strode straight towards Minghe Hall.

He would come to cause trouble for the Lady of the Marquis, which didn't surprise her at all. What frightened her was the sentence he blurted out:

"Go and fetch my sword."

Even Huo Xi, who was slow to react, realized that the general was not drawing his sword to kill the guards, but to break into Minghe Hall and commit violence!

He knelt down and pleaded, "General, you must not act in this way! I beg you to reconsider!"

The guards behind him knelt down on the snow and pleaded, "We beg the general to reconsider!"

Ignoring the guards' attempts to stop him, Cui Zemin swiftly drew the sword from Huo Xi's body. The clanging sound of the blade breaking the silence of the snowy night was shattered.

Madam You wasn't just targeting Yunji, but his lawfully wedded wife, a woman who belonged solely to him. For this reason alone, he wanted to make Minghe Hall see bloodshed.

"What are you going to do, my husband?"

Yunji pushed aside Granny Kong and trudged into the snow, her steps uneven. She didn't know where the strength came from, but she rushed to him against the raging wind.

"You can go to Minghetang, but you have to leave this knife behind."

Cui Zemin didn't take her seriously. He gently pulled her back and threw her into Granny Kong's arms. He then strode forward with his knife in hand.

Yunji saw that he was acting crazy and no one could persuade him to turn back.

If he were to slay the maids and servants of Minghe Hall tonight, he would be impeached by the censors in court tomorrow and temporarily step down from his high position as Privy Councilor.

Lady You wanted to drive him mad, to watch him ruin his future and never be able to rise again in the court.

"Cui Zeming——"

Yunji pushed Granny Kong away again, staggered into the snow, and watched him walk away step by step. No matter how hard she tried to catch up, she couldn't keep up with his pace. Once again, she screamed at the top of her lungs for him to turn back—

She exhaled only a puff of white breath before her voice became hoarse and she could no longer utter a sound.

The despair at that moment, like the dense winter snow falling in the fields, swirled and enveloped her.

She hadn't yet used his power to promote her second uncle to a higher position, nor had she seen her younger brother pass the imperial examination and establish himself in the court, nor had she killed He Qingchang before Gu Yunshan chose another husband...

Whether from anxiety or excessive worry, she collapsed in the snow in a dizzying moment.

"Madam—!"

The calls came from behind. Cui Zeming turned around and saw Granny Kong fall to the ground and pull Yunji into her arms.

The snow was still falling softly.

Yunji's eyelids felt cool, and as her gaze became unfocused, she seemed to see Cui Zemin approaching, so close that she could hear the crisp sound of swords clashing.

She slowly raised her hand and followed the sound to the sword.

Cui Zemin felt a sudden weight on the knife. He looked down and saw her place the openwork gilded hilt and press it down hard.

Before Yunji fainted, she was still stubbornly thinking:

Cui Zemin must remain in her high position as Privy Councilor, as she still needs to rely on his power to do many things. If Heaven is merciful, another year will be enough for her.