Chapter 6

The afternoon sun shone through the carved windows of the waterside pavilion, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The air was filled with the rich fragrance of peonies and the mellow aroma of fine wine, mingled with the silvery laughter of noble ladies, creating a graceful and elegant spring symphony.

However, beneath this peaceful facade, Cui Yunshu's heart had sunk into an abyss of despair.

The news that her second brother, Cui Yuanjue, had become the Crown Prince's study companion was like a hammer tempered with ice, shattering not only the last glimmer of hope in her heart but also pushing her to the brink of desperation. With no way out and a path of fire and danger ahead, she had no choice but to face it head-on, carving a path to survival for the Cui family, for her sister, and for herself in the most tragic way possible.

She sat gracefully at the table, her fingertips slightly white, yet her face maintained an air of innocent naiveté. She was like a spider lurking in the shadows, patiently waiting for the moth destined to stumble into its web.

Time flowed slowly amidst the sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments.

Finally, just as she was about to count how many almond cookies were on the plate in front of her, the long-awaited "east wind" arrived.

A maid dressed in the attire of a steward of the Lu family rushed in from the garden entrance in a panic. She didn't even care about her appearance, lifting her skirt and running through the laughing crowd, heading straight for the matriarch of the Lu family, Lady Lu, who was sitting in the main seat.

The maid whispered a few words quickly in Madam Lu's ear.

Cui Yunshu's gaze swept across seemingly casually, yet she took in every subtle change on Madam Lu's face.

She clearly saw that the moment the maid finished reporting, the dignified smile on Madam Lu's face froze, and a genuine panic and disorientation flashed in her eyes. Although it was only for a brief moment, the shock that came from the heart could not be concealed at all.

really!

Cui Yunshu's heart skipped a beat, and she clenched her hands, which were hidden in her sleeves. This scene was exactly as described in the "book".

Lady Lu, being a woman of experience, quickly regained her composure after her initial shock. She first scolded the maid in a low voice, then raised her head and gave the curious guests an apologetic smile. Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone at the surrounding tables to hear: "Please forgive my rudeness, everyone. It was just a few dishonest old women in the kitchen who got into a fight. I'll go and deal with it and be right back. I won't spoil your enjoyment."

Her words were perfectly worded, explaining the maid's panic while downplaying a potentially serious matter as a mere quarrel among servants, thus minimizing the impact.

Most of the noble ladies present believed it to be true; after all, it was common for servants to have some sordid squabbles in wealthy households. Everyone expressed their understanding and advised Madam Lu not to take it to heart.

Normally, this matter would be like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating only a tiny ripple before quickly subsiding.

But today, Cui Yunshu will never let it sink.

"The old women are fighting?"

She muttered something softly, feigning innocence, but loud enough for the noble ladies around her to hear. She turned her head, tugged at the sleeve of a young lady from the Li family, a close friend of hers and the daughter of a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, her face showing just the right amount of worry.

"Sister Li, I...I feel a little uneasy."

Seeing that her face was a little pale, the younger sister from the Li family quickly asked with concern, "What's wrong, Sister Yun Shu? Are you feeling unwell?"

“No,” Cui Yunshu shook her head, her voice tinged with a hint of timid grievance, “Just now, when Sister Xi and I came from the East Market, my maid, Atao, seemed to have gotten into a little argument with someone over some trivial matter. I told her to wait for me at the back gate of the Lu residence, and she should be here by now. Madam Lu said there was a fight among the old women in the kitchen, and I… I’m really worried that Atao, being so straightforward, might get accidentally hurt.”

Her words were sincere and heartfelt, vividly portraying the image of a young mistress who cares for her personal maid and is naive to the ways of the world.

The fourth daughter of the Cui family was pampered from a young age. She was lazy but kind-hearted and treated the servants in her courtyard extremely well, which was no secret among the noble ladies of the capital. To others, her current worry was a perfectly normal reaction.

Sure enough, the ladies around immediately took the bait.

"Oh dear, Sister Yun Shu, don't worry. What serious matter could it be if servants are fighting?"

"Yes, we've all met your Ah Tao. She's very clever and would never suffer a loss."

The group offered words of comfort. They had always wanted to befriend the Cui sisters because of their status, and now that they had the opportunity to show their abilities, they naturally did their best.

One of the most lively girls from the Zhang family even stood up and called out, "Madam Lu, wait a moment!"

Just as Madam Lu was about to quietly leave to deal with the trouble, she paused and turned back to look at her with a puzzled expression.

Miss Zhang smiled and said, "Madam Lu, Sister Cui is worried about her maid. You just mentioned that there was a fight between the old women in the kitchen. I wonder where it is? Could you send someone to take a look so that Sister Cui won't be sitting here feeling uneasy?"

"Yes, Madam Lu, it was nothing at all."

"Sister Cui's intentions are only to care for her servants; I hope you will understand, Madam."

Several noble ladies chimed in, elevating the matter from Cui Yunshu's personal concern to a small-scale public issue.

Madam Lu's face was rather unpleasant. She forced a smile and said, "You're all joking. They're just a few rascals. How could they possibly harm Miss Cui's noble lady? I'll send someone to the back door to invite Miss Atao in right away."

As she spoke, she winked at the stewardess beside her, hoping she would act decisively and suppress the matter.

However, how could Cui Yunshu give her this opportunity?

“Thank you for your kindness, Madam Lu,” she said, then stood up and gave a graceful bow, her tone filled with an earnestness that left no room for refusal. “But… I’m really worried. Madam Lu, would it be convenient for you to take me with you to see her? I just want to take a look from afar and make sure A-Tao is alright. We grew up together and are like sisters. If she has really suffered any injustice, I… I would feel really guilty.”

Her voice was tinged with a barely perceptible sob, and her eyes were slightly red. Her tearful appearance would make anyone feel sorry for her.[7]

Even Cui Yunxi, who had been observing quietly, couldn't help but speak up. She gently patted her sister's hand and said softly to Madam Lu, "Madam, my sister has always treated her maid as family. I hope you will forgive her. If it's not too much trouble, please let her go and take a look."

Cui Yunxi's words carried a completely different weight.

She is the future Crown Princess and the eldest daughter of the Cui family. Her every word represents the face of the Cui family.

A fine layer of cold sweat appeared on Madam Lu's forehead. She looked at Cui Yunshu, whose face was full of "innocent worry," then at Cui Yunxi, whose expression was gentle but whose attitude was firm, and then at the pairs of curious and gossipy eyes around her. She knew that this matter was unlikely to end well today.

If she were to refuse again under the watchful eyes of everyone, she would not only offend the Cui sisters, but also appear guilty, thus confirming the speculation that something terrible had happened in the backyard.

"This..." Madam Lu was in a dilemma, caught between a rock and a hard place.

In the end, she could only squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Since...that's how it is, then...please, Miss Cui and Miss Cui Si, come with me."

"I'm going too!"

"Let's go together, it'll be good to get some exercise and digest our food."

With the Cui sisters leading the way, how could the other noble ladies remain seated? Gossip is a woman's nature, especially when it comes to the secrets of such a prestigious family. In no time, a large group of them stood up and followed behind Madam Lu in a grand procession.

Looking at the group of noble ladies behind her who seemed to thrive on chaos, Lady Lu felt a wave of dizziness and nearly fainted.

What could have been a quiet domestic dispute has been transformed into a major drama about to unfold in the public eye thanks to Cui Yunshu's seemingly innocent yet meticulously planned scheme.

[Male protagonist's perspective]

On the other side of the garden, in an open pavilion overlooking the water, several sons of nobles were gathered together drinking and laughing, the atmosphere much more relaxed than that of the women.

Tang Pu, the young prince of the Prince of Anjun's mansion, was leaning against the balustrade, idly playing with the white jade wine cup in his hand.

His presence today was merely a courtesy from his father, an order to give face to the Lu family and the Crown Prince. He always kept his distance from banquets filled with hypocritical formalities. Rather than discussing romance with these纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families), he preferred to stay in the military camp in the Western Hills, listening to the vibrations of bowstrings and smelling the gunpowder and saltpeter.

"Young Prince, why are you drinking alone? Do you find the Lu family's wine unpalatable?" The Second Prince's brother-in-law, Wang Sanlang, approached with a wine cup in hand, a fawning smile on his face.

Tang Pu didn't even lift his eyelids, and simply said, "The wine is good, but the person is wrong."

Wang Sanlang was met with a rebuff, his face stiffened, and he awkwardly retreated.

Tang Pu downed the wine in his cup in one gulp and was about to find an excuse to leave early when his peripheral vision was inadvertently drawn to a commotion on the other side of the waterside pavilion.

He saw the two girls from the Cui family, especially the fourth girl, Cui Yunshu.

Tang Pu didn't have a deep impression of this Miss Cui, only knowing rumors that she was "the most favored legitimate daughter of the Cui family" and "lazy and unsociable." However, he had just witnessed her confrontation with Lu Man'er. Her seemingly casual yet scathing words made him think that the rumors might not be true.

At this moment, she is orchestrating an even bigger storm.

Tang Pu had excellent eyesight. Even from a distance, he could clearly see the lifelike worried expression on Cui Yunshu's face, and how she gradually incited the noble ladies around her to drive Lady Lu into a desperate situation.

This is absolutely not the cunning and scheming of a thirteen-year-old girl. Every step she takes is perfectly timed, and every expression and every word she utters seems meticulously calculated, full of a strong sense of purpose.

What bothered Tang Pu even more was that he seemed to have overheard her muttering a few words.

"...Three years later...it will be too late..."

The sound was very soft, almost carried away by the wind, but Tang Pu had practiced martial arts since childhood and had exceptional hearing; he was certain he hadn't misheard.

Three years later? What's too late?

Why would a thirteen-year-old girl, raised in seclusion, utter such words filled with a sense of urgency and destiny?

Tang Pu's brows furrowed slightly, and for the first time, genuine curiosity and inquiry surfaced in his usually languid eyes. He watched Cui Yunshu's seemingly delicate yet resilient figure mingling among a group of chattering noble ladies as she walked deeper into the garden, and a strong intuition suddenly surged within him.

This fourth young lady of the Cui family is far from being as lazy and simple as rumored.

She is like a huge mystery, seemingly a harmless white rabbit on the surface, but possibly hiding a cunning fox inside.

Tang Pu put down his wine glass, stood up, and straightened his robes.

He decided to follow them and see what was going on.

He wanted to see what this interesting Miss Cui was really up to.