Chapter 1

The weather in April and May is neither too hot nor too cold, making it very comfortable.

At this moment, Cui Yunshu sighed deeply.

"Has the marriage between eldest sister and the Crown Prince been arranged?"

"What nonsense are you talking about, Miss? Wasn't the marriage between Xi-jie and His Highness settled last year? They're just waiting to be formally recognized." A-Tao paused halfway through her yawn, her gaze falling on Cui Yun-shu with confusion. "Could it be that you still have feelings for His Highness? You and His Highness are eight or nine years apart."

Normally, Cui Yunshu would have already placed her finger on Atao's forehead and given her a hard tap.

She blamed Atao for mocking the stupid things she did when she was young.

Right now, Cui Yunshu wasn't in the mood for that.

A few days ago, she learned that she had not transmigrated, but rather transmigrated into a book, in which her whole family was exiled to Lingnan in the later part of the book.

Her eldest sister, Cui Yunxi, had disappeared without a trace. The Cui family sent people to inquire, but only received news that she was dead.

Later, the Cui family saw Cui Yunxi on the city wall.

It was hung at the city gate for several days.

Exposed to the scorching sun and pecked at by birds, not even a complete carcass was left.

All of this is related to the Crown Prince.

The book states that Crown Prince Tang Jingcheng will launch a rebellion three years later.

"What do you think if I persuaded Father to cancel the marriage between my eldest sister and the Crown Prince?"

As soon as Cui Yunshu finished speaking, the cherries in Atao's hand fell to the ground. Then, a hand reached out to Cui Yunshu and touched her forehead three times.

"It's not hot, why are you talking nonsense today, Miss?" Atao's expression suddenly became complicated. "...Does Miss really like His Highness?"

"Is your daughter stupid?" Cui Yunshu rolled her eyes at Atao. "Why would she choose to go to the deep palace instead of living a perfectly good life?"

There's no need for Atao to answer the question just now.

Cui Yunshu knew the answer in her heart. The Cui family had finally managed to climb into the Eastern Palace. Even if her grandfather was willing, no one else in the clan would be.

If she were to recount the events of her dream, Old Madam Cui might use it as leverage to seize power. Old Madam Cui's dislike for her mother was nothing new, and she was plotting how to take back control of the household from her mother.

"My daughter isn't stupid; she's the smartest person in the world."

Atao offered a perfunctory compliment, carefully picking up the cherries that had just fallen to the ground. "If you're going to scare someone again, just a heads-up: these cherries are such good, it's a pity."

"Okay, okay." Cui Yunshu bent down and helped Atao pick cherries.

That's all.

She went to ask her mother first.

"Would you like some cherry ice jelly?" Cui Yunshu asked.

Upon hearing this, Atao's eyes lit up instantly. "Sister, do you want to make cherry ice jelly? I'll go get the ice."

"Don't be greedy for cold food. It's not the season for ice cream yet. Be careful not to get an upset stomach."

With that said, Cui Yunshu didn't stop her. "Take more, and once it's ready, send some to each courtyard."

Atao quickly picked up the cherries from the clean ground, put them on the table, and went to find the housekeeper.

This wasn't the first time Cui Yunshu had made ice jelly. Initially, she did it herself, but later the cook learned the skill from her, and Cui Yunshu had more free time. Ice jelly was also a favorite summer snack for the masters of the Cui family.

However, if we're talking about the best-tasting dish, it has to be Cui Yunshu.

Besides making ice jelly, she also taught her confidants how to make ice to make ice more convenient for the courtyard during the summer.

Thinking of a method for making ice, Cui Yunshu paused her actions of rubbing the fig seeds.

"Are you tired, young lady?" asked the cook in her courtyard.

"It's nothing."

Should she hand over the ice-making method?

It's also because she had such a low tolerance for stress; she woke up from the dream before she even understood the cause and effect.

Even if it were to be handed over, this matter needed to be discussed with her mother and brother first. She silently stopped the complicated thoughts in her mind and focused on making the ice jelly.

After kneading for a while, Cui Yunshu added lime water and cherry juice to the gelatinous liquid.

To speed up the freezing process, she placed ice blocks around the perimeter, then put it in a large wooden basin and hung it in the well in the yard.

The air was filled with the aroma of fruit.

While waiting for it to solidify, Cui Yunshu didn't rest. She prepared raisins, cooked and cooled red beans, and chopped almonds.

She then went to rest.

Cui Yunshu had tried many times, and it usually took two hours for the mixture to solidify.

When Cui Yunshu woke up from her afternoon nap, she asked someone to prepare cherries, bayberries, fresh milk, and shaved ice. The shaved ice was the most difficult to prepare, as it required manual crushing.

It's tedious and time-consuming.

The shaved ice with shaved ice tastes much better than the one without.

The liquid in the basin had already solidified, forming pretty pink cubes. However, Cui Yunshu didn't admire them much. She quickly chopped up two large bowls and then divided the prepared ingredients into two portions. "Atao, have someone send this portion to my second brother's courtyard."

She handed it to Atao.

"Here you go."

Ah Tao was quick and efficient. Before putting it in, she added some ice to the compartment of the food jar. She muttered, "The second wife started using ice last month. Why are we saving ice?"

"Girl, I'll add some ice to my wife's too."

She wanted the portion that Cui Yunshu was holding.

After placing the ice, Atao returned the food jar to Cui Yunshu.

Before leaving, Cui Yunshu instructed, "Divide the rest among yourselves and send them to each house and courtyard. Don't be stingy. Send more to those with more people. There's still a piece frozen in the well. I'll distribute it to you when I return."

"What kind of people does this girl take us for?"

"We're not that greedy."

The cook and her helpers were embarrassed.

"Sister, I'm greedy, give me all of theirs later." Ah Tao was being mischievous, which earned her eye rolls from the others.

-

“My lord says that His Majesty intends to arrange the marriage between Xi’er and His Highness.”

Madam Song fiddled with the abacus beads, her brows furrowing slightly. "He didn't give me any definite answer, just told me to prepare. If we get engaged this year, given the ages of Miss Xi and His Highness, we'll probably be getting married next year. Where am I supposed to get the dowry? He's really dumping all the mess on me while he goes off to enjoy his own life."

She spat.

"My lady, please be careful what you say."

Granny Zhang disagreed, saying, "Even if you have a great grievance, you should still be careful with your words. Who knows what kind of rumors will spread? You are Xi'er's stepmother, and people outside are just waiting to spread rumors that you have treated her badly."

"Not to mention outsiders, the old lady in the mansion is waiting."

As she spoke, Granny Zhang paced back and forth to close the doors and windows. Her tense face relaxed. "Next time you want to talk, Madam, let me close the doors and windows first."

"I know, I'm just so angry I've lost my mind."

"Mother had no idea how shameless my husband was yesterday." Thinking of last night, Madam Song was both angry and ashamed.

“My lady, Ah Lang is doing this for the sake of the Cui family. Please don’t forget that Xi’er is marrying in place of our young lady.”

"I know."

When this matter was mentioned, the resentment between Song's brows vanished completely.

"We've already wronged Xi-jie in this matter, so we should naturally give her more dowry."

"Of course I know, but I'm just angry that they ordered such a ridiculous and hasty dowry. I had already prepared a dowry for Xi'er." However, the original dowry was prepared by Madam Song for Xi'er to marry into an official's family. Now that the candidate has become the Crown Prince, it is naturally not enough.

Those priceless treasures are rare and hard to come by.

In such a short time, where is she supposed to find it? It's not like she can just prepare a pile of gold.

"My lady, Fourth Sister has come to see you."

Outside the house, Tong Yin made a sound.

"Fourth Sister?" Madam Song put down the abacus beads.

Cui Yunshu brought Atao in. "Why are the doors and windows closed, Mother? Even though it's not hot, we still need to ventilate the room. I made some cherry-flavored ice jelly today and brought it for Mother and Granny to try." She asked Atao to open the food jar.

The cherry-colored ice powder is alluring and gorgeous.

She used a spoon to divide the ingredients into several portions, allowing Madam Song and Granny Zhang to choose their own side dishes.

"You silly child, you told me to ventilate the house, but you went and did all that work yourself out." Madam Song felt sorry for Bingfen when she saw her. "Is there no cook in the manor?"

"Mother, please try it."

Cui Yunshu used a coquettish manner to avoid Song's scolding, and she took Song's arm, saying, "Making ice jelly isn't tiring."

"Good mother~"

"You, you're such a grown-up, aren't you ashamed?" Madam Song tapped Cui Yunshu's forehead. "You're about to be set up with a husband."

"What does it matter whether we look at each other or not? I still want to stay by my mother's side."

Cui Yunshu doesn't want to get married yet; she's only thirteen years old! In her previous life, that age would have meant she was only in the first year of junior high school.

“Xi’er and His Highness’s marriage will be settled this year, and Lan’er has also found a suitable match… You should also start looking for someone.” Madam Song rubbed Cui Yunshu’s hands. “When I was your age, I had already started looking for someone.”

"Has the marriage between eldest sister and His Highness been arranged?"

Cui Yunshu didn't hear Song's next words clearly; her mind was filled with—

The marriage between Xi Jie'er and His Highness can be finalized this year.

That's it.

Let's not talk about whether we should look at each other or not.

The whole family is doomed.

They were destined to meet, but not to marry.

"I reckon it'll happen in the next two months."

"Mother, why is this marriage already arranged?" She thought she still had a chance to stop it.

"Her Highness Consort De has recently been helping the Second Prince find a wife," said Madam Song calmly. "Your Highness, if his marriage is undecided, how can the Second Prince make a decision?"

"Mother...is this marriage absolutely necessary?"

Madam Song's gaze fell on her. "The Emperor values ​​the Cui family, and the Cui family also wants to get close to the Crown Prince. The Cui family produced three empresses in the previous dynasty, which ensured their wealth and status for many years. Now that the Emperor has given them an opportunity, how could the elders of the clan not want it?"

Finally, Madam Song spat again, "Besides, it's not like they're using their daughter." This was a sarcastic remark.

Cui Yunshu remained silent.

"Alright, let's not talk about these sordid things anymore. Let's have some ice jelly, mother and son."

“Mother, I want to offer the method of making ice to the sage.”

If the engagement cannot be dissolved, Cui Yunshu felt that the only way for the Cui family to survive was to show their loyalty to the emperor, so that they could avoid being implicated when the crown prince fell from power.

"Why do you suddenly want to offer the ice-making method to the sage?"

Mrs. Song was surprised, "Didn't you object when your grandfather advised you to sell it?"

At that time, Cui Yunshu found these things troublesome and was also afraid of gaining notoriety.

Her initial intention in making ice was solely for her own family's enjoyment.

"Afraid that your grandfather might give you away to someone else for the sake of the clan's interests?" Madam Song thought that the conversation just now had frightened Cui Yunshu. She had protected this daughter of hers since she was a child and had never seen the ugly things and evil people outside. If it weren't for the fact that she would be of marriageable age in two years, Madam Song would not have talked to her about these things.

"Don't worry about it, your mother is here, you don't need to worry about these things."

“Mother, your subject has come up with a good method, which should be presented to the Emperor. Yun Shu was just being childish before.”

"Are you really going to offer it?" In Song's view, this was not a bad thing. The Cui family could protect Yun Shu. Offering the ice-making method would allow them to show their face in front of the emperor and also make a name for themselves.

The daughters of the Wang, Zheng, Lu, and Li families, at Shu'er's age, were all vying to become renowned for their talent.

Some of their achievements are still undetermined, and it's unclear whether they are actually related to them.

Her daughter is a thousand times, ten thousand times better than them.

"Let me discuss this matter with your father and brothers. If we're going to make a donation, we'll make it a grand one."

"Thank you, Mother~" Cui Yunshu wrapped her arms around Song's neck affectionately, "Mother, I'll make you some ice jelly."

"My lady, your husband is here."

Before Tongyin could finish her report, Cui Wen strode in, asking, "What are you two eating here, mother and daughter?"