After being rejected numerous times, the emperor grew irritated. With a grim face, he questioned Pei Yu about the type of woman he fancied. Pei Yu replied, "I only like women who don't like me."
Women who didn't like him?
The emperor murmured this twice before finally realizing that Pei Yu was deliberately being sarcastic! Where on earth could he find a noblewoman who detested Pei Yu yet was willing to marry him?
It was simply self - contradictory!
Furious, the emperor smashed the memorial in his hand on the spot and punished Pei Yu with half a month of confinement. After that, he never mentioned arranging a marriage for Pei Yu again.
As a result, at the age of twenty - three this year, Pei Yu didn't even have a chambermaid in his mansion. Rumors spread like wildfire in the capital that he was not interested in women. Some even privately speculated that this noble young prince might... have a preference for men.
Shen Cuiyu didn't hold any prejudice against Pei Yu because of these rumors. So what if Pei Yu really had a preference for men?
He had helped her at a crucial moment today. If it weren't for that vital pearl as evidence, even if the entire Shen family tried their best to protect her, it would have been impossible to easily uncover the truth.
A gentleman is judged by his deeds rather than his thoughts. Whether Pei Yu did it on a whim or with a purpose, what he did today was like providing timely help in the snow. Shen Cuiyu remembered this kindness in her heart and was truly grateful to Pei Yu.
Thinking of this, Shen Cuiyu composed herself and took two steps towards that tall and straight figure. She intended to step forward and express her gratitude, but as she stared at Pei Yu's overly handsome face, she subconsciously resumed her old habit and began to examine Pei Yu's facial features...
Looking at Pei Yu's life palace, Shen Cuiyu couldn't help but sigh inwardly. This young prince was truly of noble birth. Purple aura surrounded him, indicating an extremely precious and auspicious fate!
Her gaze then swept across the wealth palace, which symbolized fortune, and the illness palace, which represented health. Both were smooth and unobstructed. It wasn't until she saw the marriage palace that a faint golden light shone dazzlingly—this was Pei Yu's fated one. Moreover, judging from this state, with the Red Luan star in motion, it was clearly a sign that the fated one had appeared!
Shen Cuiyu coughed lightly. Since the fated one had already appeared, it shouldn't be excessive for her to take a look, right?
Pei Yu's fate was so wealthy and noble. His fated one must also be no ordinary person. Out of pure curiosity, Shen Cuiyu took a glance at the direction of the fated one...
But it was this single glance that left her rooted to the spot as if struck by lightning!
"This... this can't be right?!"
Shen Cuiyu, who had been calm and composed just now, suddenly looked solemn. She blinked vigorously and then stared intently at Pei Yu's face. The faster she looked, the faster her heart beat. Finally, she simply stretched out her right hand and began to calculate carefully like a beginner. Her fingertips flew so fast that they almost left afterimages!
After calculating three times in total, Shen Cuiyu was completely stunned. She stood there rigidly, muttering to herself, finding it absurd:
"Is the Heavenly Dao joking with me..."
Pei Yu's golden - shining and precious fated one... was actually... herself?!
What was even more absurd was that the divination showed that she and Pei Yu were extremely well - matched. If she weren't the person involved, she would really want to sigh that it was a match made in heaven!
Shen Cuiyu supported her forehead and smiled bitterly.
In her previous life, due to her poor health, she was sent to a Taoist temple by the Liu family when she was young. By chance, she followed a mysterious master and learned a set of Taoist skills.
Because of her special constitution, what she was best at was actually communicating with the spirits in the underworld. However, she was also proficient in other Taoist arts such as divination of good and bad fortune and face - reading. At least in all these years as a celestial master, she had never made a mistake.
But today, for the first time, she began to doubt all that she had learned in her life.
Was it because she had just been reborn and her spiritual power was too weak, causing her to miscalculate? Or was it because Pei Yu's fate was too strong, interfering with her judgment?
Otherwise, why would such an absurd thing happen in the world?!
She was indeed grateful to Pei Yu, but that gratitude was only limited to his act of speaking up for justice today. Now, her "benefactor" had suddenly become her fated one. Being the fated one meant the deepest bond and entanglement!
Moreover, there were rumors that Pei Yu had a preference for men... This didn't seem like a fated relationship at all. It seemed more like a karmic relationship!
For Shen Cuiyu, who was used to avoiding disasters and seeking good fortune, this was really not a good thing...
Just as Shen Cuiyu was in a daze and petrified on the spot, Shen Mu'an returned after bidding farewell to the guests. He immediately noticed his younger sister standing there motionless like a wooden stake, with a blank look in her eyes!
Shen Mu'an thought she was feeling unwell again. He quickly rushed over and nervously grabbed her arm, gently shaking her:
"A Cui? A Cui! What's wrong with you? Are you feeling uncomfortable again? Don't scare me, sister!"
When Shen Cuiyu looked up, her face was a sickly green!
Shen Mu'an was greatly startled, and his voice cracked:
"Why do you look so pale? You look like you've seen a ghost!" After saying this, he realized something was wrong and said blankly, "No, you weren't this panicked even when you saw a ghost just now! What on earth is going on with you?!"
Shen Mu'an's loud voice made everyone turn their heads. Not far away, Pei Yu, who had just finished chatting with Shen Zanghai, was about to leave. Hearing the noise, he also stopped in his tracks and subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound.
He saw that the Second Miss Shen, who had been so articulate and calm in the courtyard earlier, making the Liu siblings lose face, was now standing there in a daze. Her small face was extremely pale. Being shaken by her elder brother on the shoulder, she was looking at him with an extremely strange and complex look in her eyes!
At the same time, her small mouth was silently and quickly mumbling something. She looked more shocked and confused than terrified.
Pei Yu narrowed his eyes slightly. Outside the Shen Mansion today, he had also heard about Shen Cuiyu's act of burning incense to communicate with the spirits in the underworld. Although the final result was revealed by Liu Ruyan first, everyone could tell that this Second Miss Shen had some real skills.
The strange way she was looking at him now—did it mean that there was something following him?
Or did Shen Cuiyu see something on him?
Pei Yu was full of doubts. He involuntarily took a few steps in Shen Cuiyu's direction. Just as he was about to open his mouth to ask, the little girl in the distance suddenly shivered. As if facing a great enemy, she suddenly broke free from Shen Mu'an's hand and then ran away like a frightened rabbit!
Pei Yu:........?
Was he some kind of ferocious beast?
"Ah..." Shen Mu'an was left there completely confused. Turning his head, he saw Pei Yu still there. He coughed twice and tried to smooth things over, saying, "My younger sister is shy and afraid of strangers. Please don't take offense, Your Highness!"
Pei Yu nodded slightly, showing no expression on his face.
On the day Shen Cuiyu fell from the building, he happened to be in the Yuanli Pavilion.
The accident happened suddenly. He witnessed everything and picked up the pearl that Liu Ruyan had dropped in a hurry.
He rarely interacted with the noble families in the capital and didn't recognize which families these two young ladies belonged to. Fortunately, the young servant beside him was smart enough to recognize the woman who looked stupid but was dressed in luxury as the rarely - seen younger daughter of the Shen supervisor.