Marrying a treacherous official

On the carriage back to the manor, Yunji was still thinking about what her second uncle had said.

Her second uncle valued her so much; no wonder he blurted out, "Ji'er has even more of her father's style."

As she lowered her head in deep thought, she inexplicably gained a bit more confidence.

The carriage slowly drove to a stop in front of the Cui family mansion gate.

Hua Chao placed a stool in front of the carriage and called softly through the curtain, "Madam, we've returned to the manor."

With her help, Yunji stepped down from the carriage, bypassed the screen wall, and walked through corridors and courtyards until she arrived at the gate of Qinghui Courtyard. Granny Kong and the steward behind her had been waiting for her under the porch for a long time.

"The First Madam is back."

Granny Kong greeted her, took her hand, and deliberately led her away to say some private words.

"I don't know why the master is angry. He's been waiting for the madam in the main room for half an hour. Judging from his expression, he's really angry this time."

"Thank you for your guidance, Granny."

"After the First Madam goes in, she must coax the Master gently. He can't stand soft words. A few sweet and tender words can calm even the worst temper."

"Madam, please remember not to argue with the master when he is angry. Don't take his nonsense to heart, just let it go in one ear and out the other, and don't stoop to his level."

Seeing Granny Kong's worried expression as she repeatedly gave instructions and advice, Yunji realized just how angry Cui Zemin was this time.

She stroked Granny Kong's hand, then gently pushed it away, "Don't worry, Granny, I know what to do."

Stepping through the moon gate, he turned and entered the inner courtyard, heading straight for the main house.

Chi Ying stood guard outside the main room. When she saw Yun Ji walking over with her skirts fluttering, she lowered her eyes to hide the gloating smile in them and curtsied to her.

"The master has been waiting inside for a long time. Madam, please come in."

"Who gave you permission to serve in my courtyard?"

Yun Ji glanced at her sideways and said coldly, "From now on, you are not allowed to set foot in the inner courtyard again. Get out."

Chi Ying lowered her eyes, concealing the hatred within, and left the inner courtyard dejectedly.

Yunji pushed open the door and entered the main room.

Cui Zemin sat on the heated kang bed by the window, casually flipping through a yellowed county gazetteer in his hand.

He listened to the noise outside the door, and without looking up, said:

"Back then, the late emperor insisted on arranging a marriage for me. In court, he asked me what kind of noblewoman I wanted to marry. Does my wife know what I said?"

"I would like to hear the details."

"I want to marry the most famous noblewoman in the capital."

Cui Zemin tossed aside the county gazetteer in his hand, leaned back against the soft pillows, and stared at her with unrestrained arrogance, saying, "Madam, ask yourself honestly, do you live up to the widely circulated reputation of Roujia Weize?"

Yunji walked to the chicken wing wood tea table, picked up the hanging beam teapot, and leisurely brewed a cup of Xinyang Maojian tea.

This time, instead of serving him the tea, she picked up the teacup, blew on it twice, and then savored the tea.

"My husband, do you know what I was thinking when I knelt in the Gu family courtyard and received the imperial decree bestowing our marriage upon me?"

Cui Zemin said nothing, but his gaze turned sinister as he stared at her with a cryptic smile.

Yunji gently placed the white-glazed teacup on the tea table. Without coaxing or yielding, she calmly stated a fact.

She looked at him with neither servility nor arrogance and said:

"When my husband married me, I was happy; when he married me, I was resentful. It all started with the late emperor's bestowal of a marriage. Let's just live our lives in this muddled way. Why bother to investigate who was right and who was wrong back then?"

His words were cold and heartless, revealing the shallowness of their marital bond.

If it were anyone else, someone who just wanted to get by, they would probably have been persuaded by her words.

Unfortunately, Cui Zemin was a madman who wouldn't listen to any reasoning. If he wasn't happy, she wouldn't be happy either.

Where did you and Pei Yun meet?

He pulled her into his arms and held her slender waist tightly.

"Was it at the Pei family's old residence on the Huai River, where he showered you with tenderness and affection, that you secretly pledged your lifelong love to him, huh?"

Yunji collapsed into his arms, her hands braced against his chest. Her gaze was unwavering as she watched his eyes gradually redden, his seemingly calm yet turbulent rage as he unleashed his fury upon her.

Cui Zemin pinched her chin, forcing her to look up, her eyes fixed on him alone.

"When did he discover that you were a woman? Was it on the Huai River, or in Qianzhou?"

"In Qianzhou."

"When he found out you were a daughter, was he overjoyed beyond measure?"

"No one has ever been as overjoyed as my husband is right now."

She parted her lips slightly and said sarcastically, "My relationship with him was based on affection, but remained within the bounds of propriety. We have never crossed any lines."

Cui Zemin looked deeply into those cold, bright eyes, lifted her face, and playfully pressed his lips to the corner of her mouth.

"Was he so indecent towards you?"

A fleeting look of surprise crossed Yunji's eyes, which quickly vanished before she regained her composure.

This is an insult; he wants to trample on her integrity.

"no."

"Then I'll teach you how to kiss, madam, until you know it."

He lowered his head and pecked her face twice, looking at her glistening red lips, then lifted her chin and kissed her deeply, lingering and passionately.

I only knew her as stubborn and unforgiving, and that her words were cold and harsh. I never imagined she would taste like this.

He pulled away slightly and asked in a low, hoarse voice, "You've got it?"

She leaned in and kissed his lips in return, returning all the kisses with a gentle, lingering touch.

Cui Zemin's fingertips touched the heat emanating from beneath the thin noodles.

His long fingers brushed against her tender cheeks, making her blush. The skin beneath his fingertips felt hot, and her face burned. Even her earlobes became moist and tender.

As she pulled away slightly, he leaned in and pressed the kiss firmly, then kissed her deeply.

Yunji was completely unaware of what was happening and passively responded to his kiss.

She had never seen his eyes so closely before. Beneath his sword-like eyebrows, his long, narrow eyes were half-closed, and his lashes drooped low, concealing a deep affection within them.

After the initial shock, a clear mind returned.

You either sink into depravity, letting him take whatever he wants and earning his cold mockery; or you go against the tide, firmly controlling and suppressing him, bullying him until he dares not do it again.

Cui Zemin pulled away from her lips, looking at her with a deep, dark gaze, wondering whether she would continue the kiss.

Yunji sat in his lap, hooked her arms around his neck, looked down at him, leaned down and pressed a deep kiss into his, then entwined herself with him.