dognovel Chapter 269 Requesting to be Dismissed
Chapter 269 Requesting to be Dismissed
Cui Zhihao and Shi Wanxia quietly finished their breakfast. The morning light shone through the carved window lattice, casting a peaceful and serene picture on them.
However, this tranquility was soon broken. The steward hurried in, his expression respectful yet somewhat solemn, and said, "Second Young Master, the Master and Grandfather have been waiting in the ancestral hall for a long time. Please go there immediately."
Cui Zhihao paused slightly, his hands moving for a moment, then he put down his chopsticks and quickly got up to rinse his mouth.
Shi Wanxia's heart clenched suddenly; she knew that today's events were likely to end badly. Looking at Cui Zhihao's slightly tired yet still resolute back, her heart was filled with guilt and heartache.
In recent days, Choi Ji-ho has suffered too much blame and hardship because of her. He has silently endured all the open and covert attacks and ridicule.
Now, this agreement at the ancestral hall is likely to be another storm.
"Brother Cui, I'll go with you!"
Shi Wanxia stood up without hesitation, her eyes filled with determination and resolve. She couldn't let Cui Zhihao face this unknown predicament alone; even if it meant facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, she would stay by his side.
Choi Ji-ho hesitated. After all, this was a family matter for the Choi family, and he couldn't bear to involve her in it.
Moreover, the ancestral hall is a sacred place for the family, and it is against the rules for outsiders to enter.
He opened his mouth, wanting to refuse, but before he could say anything, Shi Wanxia had already grabbed his arm tightly, and the undeniable force made it impossible for him to resist.
The two walked quickly and soon arrived at the ancestral hall. The ancestral hall was solemn and dignified, with its vermilion doors tightly closed, exuding a sense of oppression.
Choi Ji-ho took a deep breath and pushed open the door. The hinges turned with a dull thud, like a sigh of history.
Inside the ancestral hall, incense smoke curled and filled the air, obscuring everything. The table was laden with exquisite offerings, emitting a faint fragrance.
Cui Yan, the head of the Qinghe Cui clan, sat regally in the highest seat, dressed in magnificent robes, his expression cold and stern. Cui Zhe stood beside him, watching them with a deep gaze.
Upon seeing Cui Zhihao arrive, Cui Yan slightly raised his hand, ordering people to begin the solemn ceremony of opening the ancestral hall.
In an instant, bells and chimes rang out, and the Cui family members lined up neatly on both sides, chanting incantations as they began to worship their ancestors.
Shi Wanxia stood beside Cui Zhihao, her heart pounding with nervousness. She secretly glanced around at everything; the ancient ancestral tablets and solemn murals seemed to speak of the Cui family's glory and prestige.
But she felt out of place, like an intruder who had disrupted the peace and order of the place.
The elaborate sacrificial ceremony finally came to an end, and Cui Yan slowly stood up, holding an ancient family genealogy book in his hand.
His gaze fell on Cui Zhihao, and he said in a deep and powerful voice, "Cui Zhihao, the 425th generation descendant of the third branch of the Qinghe Cui family, courtesy name Huaian, are you sure you want to request to leave the family and the genealogy today, and that you will no longer be a member of the Qinghe Cui family?"
Cui Zhihao slightly raised his head, his gaze meeting Cui Yan's with unwavering determination. His heart was filled with mixed emotions: a deep attachment to his family, as well as uncertainty and unease about the future.
But when his gaze met Shi Wanxia's worried eyes, a surge of courage welled up within him.
He knew that for her, for this hard-won relationship, he was willing to give up everything.
"Master, my mind is made up." Cui Zhihao's voice was not loud, but it echoed in the ancestral hall, clear and firm.
Cui Yan's expression changed slightly, a hint of anger and disappointment flashing in his eyes: "Do you know that once you leave the family, you will lose everything? Your status, wealth, and connections will all be gone. You will become a helpless person. Have you really thought this through?"
Cui Zhihao nodded slightly: "I've thought it through, Patriarch. I've experienced and understood a lot these past few days. The honor of the family is important, but I want to follow my heart even more. I can't stand by and watch Miss Shi get hurt because of me; I must protect her."
Tears welled up in Shi Wanxia's eyes as she tightly grasped Cui Zhihao's hand, as if trying to give him strength in this way.
She knew that Choi Ji-ho had sacrificed so much for her. And what did she do to deserve such deep affection from him?
Cui Zhe sighed softly from the side: "Huai'an, why are you doing this? The family is not unreasonable. As long as you cut off all ties with this girl, we can let bygones be bygones, and you will still be the second young master of the Cui family."
Cui Zhihao shook his head: "Uncle, my mind is made up, I will not leave her. I hope the head of the family and you will grant my request today."
Cui Yan's face grew increasingly gloomy. He slammed the family genealogy book onto the table: "Fine, very well! Since you are so stubborn, don't blame me for being impolite."
"From this day forward, you are no longer a descendant of the Cui family of Qinghe, and your name will be erased from the family genealogy. You'd better watch yourself!"
After saying this, Cui Yan turned and left. Cui Zhe looked at Cui Zhihao, hesitated, and finally just shook his head before following Cui Yan out of the ancestral hall.
For a moment, only Cui Zhihao and Shi Wanxia remained in the ancestral hall. Cui Zhihao looked at the family genealogy book that had been thrown on the table, and felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.
But when he turned around and saw Shi Wanxia's concerned eyes, the gloom in his heart immediately dissipated.
"Brother Cui, I'm sorry, it's all because of me..." Shi Wanxia's voice was choked with sobs.
Choi Ji-ho gently pulled her into his arms: "Silly girl, this isn't your fault. It was my own choice. As long as I can be with you, what does losing any of this matter?"
Shi Wanxia leaned against Cui Zhihao's chest, her tears soaking his clothes.
Having broken away from his family, Cui Zhihao knew he had no right to linger in the Prime Minister's residence even for a moment.
His heart felt as if it were being pierced by countless fine needles, the pain spreading to every part of his body, and every step he took felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
But he knew he couldn't fall; the girl beside him still needed his protection.
So, he forced himself to endure the excruciating pain and reluctance that almost consumed him, straightened his back, and slowly led Miss Shi out of the Prime Minister's mansion.
Outside the mansion, the sunlight was so bright it was almost blinding, yet Cui Zhihao felt a chill run through him. Their most pressing need was to find a place to stay, a safe haven in this turbulent world.
However, fate seemed determined not to give them a moment's respite. The moment they stepped out of the mansion gates, Ye Wenshu's graceful figure came into view.
With graceful steps and the careful support of her maid, she stopped gracefully in front of Cui Zhihao and Miss Shi.
"Miss Shi, Young Master Cui, it's so good that you're alright!"
Ye Wenshu's voice was soft and pleasant, but to Cui Zhihao at this moment, it carried a more complex meaning.
Her gaze swept over the two men, noticing that they had just come from the Prime Minister's residence. A hint of doubt flashed in her eyes, and she asked softly, "Young Master Cui, I heard from my father that you intend to leave the Cui family of Qinghe. Please, please don't do that."
“Although Miss Shi is now an official, the court is complicated. You come from the Cui family of Qinghe. With your status, you can protect her!”
Cui Zhihao gave a bitter smile, a smile full of helplessness and self-mockery: "Miss Ye, I'm sorry, but the patriarch has just expelled me from the family register. Now I am just a commoner, with no family protection."
Upon hearing this, Ye Wenshu's eyes widened, her face filled with shock and disbelief.
Her cherry lips parted slightly as she murmured, "Why is the Cui family forcing you like this..."
She heard many stories about Young Master Cui from the people of Xinyang, and knew that he was exceptionally talented and kind-hearted. Why would such a person suffer such a fate?