Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

Chapter 355 Choi Ji-ho's Teasing

Cui Jiu watched the young master's departing figure, his heart filled with worry.

He knew that the young master's actions would inevitably provoke strong dissatisfaction from the master and mistress, and a family storm would probably be unavoidable.

But he also understood that the young master's feelings for Miss Shi were so deep that they could not be easily severed.

Left with no other choice, he could only sigh and instruct the coachman to drive back to the mansion, preparing to face the wrath of his master and mistress.

At this moment, Shi Wanxia was sitting in her boudoir in the Shi residence, getting ready.

Unaware that Choi Ji-ho had been summoned back by his family, she was preoccupied with the selection of important talents for today.

She came from a humble background and was well aware of the gap between herself and Choi Ji-ho. Although the two were in love, she also knew that gaining the approval of her family would be no easy task.

She sat in front of the dressing table, facing the mirror, and deftly tied half of her hair up in a casual bun, securing it with a lotus-shaped wooden hairpin.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Shi Wanxia was startled. Before she could react, Cui Zhihao had already pushed the door open and entered.

He was panting, his face showing a mixture of urgency and excitement.

"Miss Shi, I'm back."

Cui Zhihao walked up to Shi, held her hands tightly, and looked at her with deep affection and determination.

"I have already expressed my feelings to my family; I will marry no one but you in this life."

"No matter what difficulties we encounter, I will always be with you and will not let anyone separate us."

Shi Wanxia looked at Cui Zhihao, tears welling up in her eyes. She was moved by Cui Zhihao's deep affection, and her unease and worry dissipated at that moment.

But she also knew that things wouldn't be that simple; family opposition and societal pressure were problems they had to face.

"Brother Cui, are they your parents...?"

Shi Wanxia said, her voice choked with emotion and filled with worry.

"Don't worry, I'm here."

Cui Zhihao pulled Shi Wanxia into his arms and gently patted her back.

“I have broken away from my family, and they can no longer control my life.”

“Once the world is at peace and you have accomplished what you want to do, we can leave here and go to a place where no one knows us to start over.”

Shi Wanxia leaned against Cui Zhihao's chest, feeling his warmth and determination, and gradually gained courage in her heart.

She decided that no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, she would face them together with Choi Ji-ho.

Shi Wanxia twisted the hem of her skirt with her fingertips, her earlobes flushed with rouge, as she gently struggled in Cui Zhihao's warm embrace.

The young general's unique aura of cold iron, mixed with the scent of pine, almost engulfed her entirely.

"Brother Cui!"

Her voice was as soft as a startled bird. She pushed the other person away abruptly and took a half step back, her embroidered shoe stepping on the hem of her skirt, almost causing her to fall.

Cui Zhihao wrapped his long arm around her and supported her, his fingertips brushing against her soft waist, startling her so much that she trembled all over.

Choi Ji-ho raised an eyebrow, gazing at her flushed cheeks, a soft chuckle escaping his throat: "Wanwan's timidity is even smaller than a sparrow's."

He deliberately dragged out the last syllable of his voice, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her burning earlobe, causing Shi Wanxia to hurriedly back away, her earrings clattering softly.

She clutched her crumpled sleeve, her gaze shifting back and forth across the blue brick floor: "Brother Cui, I understand your intentions, and I'm very happy that you support what I'm doing."

Before she could finish speaking, the sound of a night watchman's clapper came from afar, and she looked up as if she had been saved.

"By the way, His Highness the Crown Prince and the others will be arriving soon. You should go back to your room and get ready. I'll wait for you in the front hall."

After saying that, he turned to leave, but was stopped by Cui Zhihao.

Choi Ji-ho leaned against the carved door frame, his dark outfit making his features appear even more sharp, yet a nonchalant smile played on his lips: "Why are you running? I'm not going to eat you."

He suddenly leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her flushed neck. "But Miss Shi's outfit..."

Shi Wanxia lowered her head subconsciously. Her plain white dress was only embroidered with a few slender bamboo branches, and the only decoration in her hair was a lotus-shaped wooden hairpin.

She bit her lip, about to explain, when Choi Jiho raised his hand and ruffled her newly combed hair, her jet-black hair cascading down.

"It's too plain."

Choi Ji-ho's fingertips ran through her hair, his movements exceptionally gentle.

"Tomorrow I'll have Cui Jiu go to the silk shop to get the new fabric, and also bring back a few boxes of rouge that's been sent as tribute from Persia."

He suddenly smiled, a sly glint in his eyes. "If I didn't know Miss Shi worked at the Ministry of Works, I'd think some young nun had run away from her monastic life."

Shi Wanxia's cheeks flushed red, and she reached out to hit him, but Cui Zhihao easily dodged her.

Cui Zhihao laughed and stepped back, the jade pendant at his waist making a crisp sound as it jingled: "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore."

He suddenly became serious and reached out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear.

"Today's literary gathering is an important event. I'll go change my clothes first; you wait for me in the front hall."

As the footsteps faded into the distance, Shi Wanxia leaned against the doorframe to catch her breath.

The sunlight outside the window was perfect, casting a long shadow of Choi Ji-ho as he walked away.

She raised her hand to touch her burning cheeks, recalling the scene at the Ministry of Works three days ago.

At that time, she was recruiting talent for the newly established Water Conservancy Bureau when Cui Zhihao, dressed in military uniform, barged in and slammed a stack of recommendation letters on the table.

“These are all literate soldiers in my army,” the young man said, raising an eyebrow at her astonished expression.

“Building irrigation canals requires manpower, so it’s better to just pick them from the military camp.”

"This will save us the money we would have spent recruiting workers, and it will also allow them to learn some skills."

He suddenly leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear, "But how will Miss Shi thank me?"

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the drum. Shi Wanxia took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and walked downstairs.

Dozens of horn lamps were already lit in the front hall, and writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were neatly arranged on the table.

Shuyun was directing everyone to adjust their seating when they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves outside the door.

"Miss Shi, what refined taste you have!" A hearty laugh rang out as Crown Prince Shen Yanzhou, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, strode in, followed by the scholars and literati he had invited the day before.

Shi Wanxia curtsied and was about to return the courtesy when she caught a glimpse of Cui Zhihao entering through the side door.

He changed into a dark blue brocade robe with gold trim, a jade belt at his waist with a gilded and silver-inlaid dragon-patterned pendant, and his black hair was tied in a jade crown. He lost some of his heroic spirit and gained a more noble air.

As he bowed to the Crown Prince, his gaze inadvertently swept over Shi Wanxia, ​​and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Everyone's here, Miss Shi. Have the people you invited arrived?"

Spring sunlight shines on the gilded bronze animal head rings and vermilion gate, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone steps.

Shi Wanxia's fingertips trembled slightly as she gripped the hem of her skirt, the dark bamboo leaf pattern on her plain white dress rising and falling gently with her breath.

Just as she was about to curtsy, a black robe swept past her eyes, and Shen Yanzhou's slender fingers lightly touched her elbow.

"Sister Wanxia, ​​no need for formalities. Quickly invite the talented ladies you invited to show themselves!"

The prince's voice carried the clear, cool quality characteristic of someone in a high position, and the dragon-patterned jade pendant at his waist swayed slightly with his movements, casting dappled light on the blue brick floor.

Shi Wanxia's eyelashes trembled slightly as she looked up and met Shen Yanzhou's smiling gaze.

"Yes."

She curtsied and caught a glimpse of Cui Zhihao leaning against a pillar, his figure as straight as a pine tree, wrapped in a dark blue robe, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the dragon-patterned pendant at his waist.

The moment their eyes met, Choi Ji-ho suddenly raised an eyebrow and a mischievous smile appeared on his lips.