CHAPTER 350: CHAPTER 178: CUI ZHU

"Master, Madam! Let’s talk this out nicely, please stop quarreling! It’s so inauspicious to argue during the New Year!" Cui Bao, emboldened by Ren Zhixian’s favor and seeing him cornered by Shi Yumei to the point of embarrassment, hurriedly stepped forward to take his arm and gently persuaded him to break off the confrontation.

"Hmph!" Ren Zhixian let out a cold snort, finally finding an out, and with a flick of his sleeve, he spat out, "I can’t be bothered to argue with you!" and stormed off with Cui Bao to the study.

Shi Yumei’s face turned frightfully grim as she glared hatefully at their retreating backs, without uttering a word.

"Madam, please calm down!" Cui Zhu sent the other young maids away with a glance and then presented Shi Yumei with a cup of hot tea.

"Cui Zhu," Shi Yumei’s eyes filled with involuntary tears as she looked at Cui Zhu and said: "Since we were young, you have been closest to me, heart to heart! You once begged me for the grace not to be made into a maid and concubine, and I promised you. But in the end, I couldn’t do it! Cui Zhu, I have wronged you!"

Unable to hold back her tears, Shi Yumei began to weep.

"Madam!" Cui Zhu’s face turned deathly pale, a pain too complex for words flickered in her eyes, and tears came suddenly. She quickly blinked them away, mustered a smile, and said: "What are you saying, Madam! It’s all in the past! Besides, Madam, you have been so kind to me. Being able to serve by your side all my life, never parting from you is also a blessing!"

"I let you down, truly, I did!" Hearing her say this only intensified Shi Yumei’s heartache. Wiping away tears, she said, "I shouldn’t have been soft-hearted back then! I——"

"Madam, no more words!" Cui Zhu gently shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears.

Shi Yumei sighed deeply, gripping Cui Zhu’s cool hand and said: "After the New Year, I will speak with Master about elevating you to the official status of the second house wife! This way——"

"Madam!" Cui Zhu’s face changed dramatically, and she fell to her knees before Shi Yumei, "Please no, Madam! I beg you; I don’t want it!"

"Why!" Shi Yumei was puzzled. Aware that Cui Zhu was already Ren Zhixian’s woman, being promoted to a wife of the second house was surely much better than being a maid and concubine. Was she really being foolish!

Shi Yumei said gently, "Don’t be shy; I really mean it! By doing so, from here on out, we can be counted as sisters, and if you give birth to another son or daughter in the future, it would make no difference to me! Cui Zhu, I really want to make amends to you!"

"I don’t want it; I’d much prefer to serve Madam for life!" Panicked, Cui Zhu turned pale and began to kowtow to Shi Yumei, earnestly imploring her.

Shi Yumei was devastated but still offered comfort: "Cui Zhu, I really want to compensate you! I’ve always been blunt with my words, and I’m never just testing you! The most I can do for you now is this!"

Cui Zhu was on the verge of tears, pleading: "Madam, I truly do not need compensation, I beg you, all I want is to continue serving you as I do now! Please, I beg you!"

Seeing Cui Zhu’s unwavering refusal, Shi Yumei felt both touched by her loyalty and more remorseful, sighing: "If you really don’t want it, I won’t force you. But think carefully, right now, Master is not yet an official and things can be discussed easily. If he becomes an official in the future, wanting to change your mind won’t be as simple!"

"I’ve thought it over, I want nothing more than to serve you my entire life! This is my genuine, heartfelt truth, with no falsehoods!" Cui Zhu insisted earnestly.

"Foolish girl!" Shi Yumei exhaled a tired breath, "Well then, if you are not willing, I won’t force you. Sigh, why must you be so foolish? I feel even more regretful now!"

"Don’t say that, Madam!" Cui Zhu shook her head, "You treat me like a real sister, and I can feel that. I will always serve you well and never leave your side!"

"Enough, stand up!" Shi Yumei feigned calm, but her heart was aching as she pulled Cui Zhu up.

Looking up, Shi Yumei saw Cui Bao standing at the door, hesitating to enter. Shi Yumei’s expression darkened, and she haughtily said, "What are you doing here instead of attending to Master in the study? Speak if you have something to say!"

"Madam!" Cui Bao glided forward, curtsying to Shi Yumei with a bowed knee, smiling obsequiously: "The Master sent for me... he has something he wishes to ask Madam about."

"Speak then!" Shi Yumei huffed.

"Yes," Cui Bao continued with an awkward smile, stiffening up, "Master asked how much of the monthly allowance in silver is left. He told me to ask Madam to hand it over to him..."

"What!" Shi Yumei was choked with anger, her voice filled with fury: "What does he need silver for? Did he give a reason?"

Cui Bao faltered, teetering on the edge of speaking and remaining silent; Shi Yumei, impetuous by nature, could not stand this hesitation and shouted sternly, "Speak!"

Startled, Cui Bao hastily replied, "The Master said he wants to go shopping himself for gifts for his friends in Meng County..."

Cui Bao was merely conveying Ren Zhixian’s instructions, but of course, she wouldn’t dare repeat the harsh complaints that Ren Zhixian had made in front of Shi Yumei. Today, the Madam seemed different from usual, and Cui Bao definitely wasn’t looking to bring trouble upon herself by crossing her path!

"What!" Even with Cui Bao’s redacted message, Shi Yumei’s face had already turned ashen. She stared coldly at Cui Bao, her palms chilling slightly. "Did he really... say that?"

Shi Yumei thought resentfully and bitterly to herself over and over, "This is my husband, my husband indeed!"

"Yes..." Cui Bao subconsciously shrank her shoulders, replying softly.

Shi Yumei’s complexion fluctuated for a long while before she motioned to Cui Zhu with her lips, "Go, get that chest!"

"Yes, Madam." Cui Zhu nodded and went into the bedroom. In a moment, she returned holding a wooden chest about half a foot in size, standing beside Shi Yumei.

"Give it to her!" Unable to even bear looking at it, Shi Yumei ordered Cui Zhu to hand the chest over to Cui Bao, "All the remaining monthly silver is in here, let him handle it as he sees fit!"

Cui Bao did not dare to say another word; she took the chest responding affirmatively, and quickly left the room.

Shi Yumei sighed deeply and weakly waved her hand, "You may leave. I wish to be alone and have some quiet!"

With concern, Cui Zhu cast a glance at Shi Yumei before bowing silently and taking her leave.