Chapter 14 Returning Home 3 Where there is a Crouching Dragon, there will surely be a Young Phoenix.

"Xiao Qiyu, slow down, wait for me!"

Cui Ying chased after Xiao Qiyu, running and rushing, all the way from the West Corner Gate to the Ceremonial Gate. Unfortunately, Xiao Qiyu could take three steps for every one of hers, and in the end, she had to jump a big step and pounce on him to finally grab his arm.

"Ha, I've got you."

Cui Ying transformed into a vine, her arms tightly encircling Xiao Qiyu's elbows. Because of the significant difference in their body sizes, her clinging to him, almost as if she were hanging on him, made her look like a pretty ornament. On the surface, it truly resembled a young couple flirting.

Xiao Qiyu frowned, stopped, and tried to pull his hand away, wanting to shake the "accessory" off his body.

Cui Ying held him tightly, lowered her voice, looked up at him, and blinked her almond-shaped eyes fiercely: "We had an agreement beforehand. It was wrong of me to tease you just now, but if you easily give up and don't help me finish this charade, hmph, just you wait. You won't have a single day of peace when you get back to the Marquis's mansion. I, Cui Ying, mean what I say."

Xiao Qiyu looked annoyed and stared coldly at Cui Ying, but then his gaze shifted from Cui Ying's smug and bright face to what was behind her.

Noticing his distraction, Cui Ying held out her hand and waved it in front of him, saying unhappily, "What's wrong with you? I'm talking to you, what are you looking at?"

“Look at your father,” Xiao Qiyu said.

Cui Ying was immediately shocked, her eyes widening as she exclaimed, "Xiao Qiyu, you've changed! When did you learn to swear?"

Xiao Qiyu: "..."

Xiao Qiyu: "It really is your father. If you don't believe me, turn around and see for yourself."

With one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Xiao Qiyu's nose, Cui Ying, like an angry, ruffled kitten, said triumphantly, "Let me tell you, I'm not the same person I used to be. Don't try to fool me with my father anymore. I don't fall for that anymore. I'm not afraid of him at all!"

"Who are you afraid of?" Cui Yan's voice suddenly appeared behind Cui Ying's head. His tone was stern and authoritative. Having served in the Censorate for many years, his voice alone had the air of a cruel official, making people's legs tremble.

Cui Ying froze, her eyelashes frozen into a blank arc.

Her finger, which was pointing at Xiao Qiyu's nose, was also stiff and couldn't move; she had to press it back down with her hands.

The sunlight was scorching. Cui Ying slowly turned her neck and looked behind her—

His gaze fell upon his father's stern eyes.

"Oh, Father, what are you doing here?" Cui Ying pretended not to see the guests being welcomed into the ceremonial gate by Cui Yan, her eyebrows curving in a good-natured manner. "Did you miss your daughter so much that you came to greet her in person?"

Then, she quickly turned her head and looked at the two middle-aged men next to Cui Yan, quickly changing the subject with a smile: "Uncle and Second Uncle are here too, what a coincidence, today is truly a good day."

Cui Xuan, the eldest uncle, was overweight with a round face and broad body. Although he had inherited the title of Duke of Wei when he was young, he had no airs of authority. He looked at Cui Ying with loving eyes and smiled without saying a word.

The second uncle, Cui An, was much thinner. Because he had served as a prefect on the border for several years in his early years, he had many signs of hardship. His skin was rough and dark, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. He had a serious expression, but when he looked at his youngest niece, his gaze softened.

After a series of feints, Cui Ying felt she could get away with it and then made her escape: "I suddenly remembered that I haven't paid my respects to my grandmother yet, so I won't bother you and my two uncles any longer. I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he turned around and fled as if he had wings.

Cui Yan: "Wait a minute."

Cui Ying thought to herself, "What bad luck!" But she stopped in her tracks and turned around with a forced smile, asking, "Father, is there anything else you want to tell me?"

Cui Yan looked at his daughter.

Although the girl wore a married woman's hairstyle, her eyes were no different from those of a young lady in her boudoir. Her brows and eyes revealed cleverness, but not in a righteous way. With a single glance, she could display eight hundred schemes on her face, her eyes full of clear foolishness.

Yes, she is undoubtedly his daughter; her personality hasn't changed because of marriage.

Cui Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Because he felt guilty towards his daughter for forcing her into marriage, his tone was not stern, but rather caring: "You are now a married woman, not a child anymore. In the future, you should behave more properly in front of others. I just saw you pulling and tugging at Qi Lang from the moment you entered the door. With so many guests watching, what kind of behavior is that?"

Cui Ying pursed her lips, lowered her head, and said, "Daughter understands."

Cui Yan nodded, and was about to speak again when a tall figure stepped forward and blocked Cui Ying's way.

Xiao Qiyu bowed, his posture humble, his voice gentle and clear: "This son-in-law greets father-in-law."

Cui Yan helped Xiao Qiyu up, looked him up and down, and was very satisfied with his son-in-law. He said with a happy expression, "Seventh Brother, I have watched you grow up. In my eyes, I have long regarded you as my own son. In the future, when you visit the Duke's mansion, just treat it as if you are at home. There is no need to be reserved, and there is no need to perform such a grand bow every time."

Xiao Qiyu nodded: "Your son-in-law will heed your teachings."

Then, Xiao Qiyu bowed to his two uncles again, his manners still appropriate, and he did not relax because of Cui Yan's politeness.

Even passing guests who occasionally stopped to chat and laugh with him could engage in conversation with him, and there was never a dull moment.

Cui Ying stood aside, utterly bewildered.

She was worried that Xiao Qiyu, who grew up in the military and always had a cold face, would be at a loss in front of his elders, not knowing how to behave or what to say, and would easily offend them, making her lose face as well.

Now it seems her worries were completely unnecessary; she was probably the one who knew the least about the rules.

Damn it, he tricked me.

...

After meeting his father and uncles, Cui Ying led Xiao Qiyu into the inner courtyard to meet his grandmother, mother, aunt, and several sisters-in-law. Afterward, he parted ways with Xiao Qiyu, going to the women's table with his grandmother and mother, while Xiao Qiyu and Cui Yan went to the men's table to entertain the guests.

Cui Ying hadn't eaten breakfast, and when she arrived at the flower hall, she was completely exhausted. However, since the time for the banquet was still far off, Madam Kong told her to hide behind the screen and eat some snacks, so she didn't have to go outside to talk to people all the time.

Cui Ying leaned back on the soft mattress, comfortably eating sweet pastries, when suddenly drowsiness overcame her and she became sleepy.

As if she had returned to her childhood, Cui Ying forgot that she was already a married woman and could make her own decisions. She even yawned and found Kong Shi, her voice sweet and soft, and pleaded gently, "Mother, I'm sleepy and want to go to sleep for a while."

Kong had a lot to ask her daughter. She wanted to find a free moment to talk to Cui Ying and ask her why she had suddenly changed her personality and was now clinging to Xiao Qilang.

But now, looking at the little girl with red, sleepy eyes, Madam Kong felt both helpless and heartbroken. She couldn't help but scold her, "So many guests are waiting for you to offer toasts. If you fall asleep now, what will happen later?"

Cui Ying exclaimed, "I'll just take a short nap, that'll be enough. I promise I won't miss the toasting, Mother, don't worry."

Mr. Kong nodded, agreeing.

She knew how energetic her little daughter was.

In the first year or two after he learned to walk, he would crawl around everywhere, under the table and bed, and would even pinch and play with spiders and centipedes that he touched. He would even try to catch a gust of wind as it passed by. Every day, Mr. Kong had to chew on a red ginseng root to help the little guy climb up and down.

As she grew up, her energy surpassed even that of ordinary young ladies. She could eat, sleep, and play, and her strength was more than five times that of ordinary young ladies. Even if she didn't get a good night's rest, a short nap during the day would instantly replenish her energy.

Thinking of Cui Ying's adorable appearance from childhood to adulthood, Madam Kong's gaze softened considerably, and she gently pinched her daughter's cheek: "Go to sleep. Just by looking at you, I know you must have been reading those strange and wonderful stories again last night."

Cui Ying shook her head: "This time it really wasn't. It was me and Xiao Qiyu. We were busy last night..."

Kong suddenly coughed violently, stopping Cui Ying from continuing.

Cui Ying frowned: "Mother, what's wrong? Why are you coughing all of a sudden? Did you pet someone's cat or dog?"

Madam Kong took her hand and said in a low voice, "Mother is fine, but you really are a child. Why do you say everything to outsiders? Things that happen in the boudoir... should not be said outside."

Cui Ying: "Huh?"

She and Xiao Qiyu chatted for half the night, discussing how to pretend to be a loving couple at the homecoming banquet. Were these things supposed to be off-limits?

Cui Ying was puzzled. She looked up and found that the women around her were all looking at her and laughing. Not only were they laughing, but their faces were also red, as if she had just said something very lewd.

Cui Ying was extremely sleepy and her mind was foggy. Recalling what she had just said, she couldn't sense anything was wrong.

"What are you all laughing at?" she asked directly.

Kong pushed her, as if she wanted her to fly eight feet away, and said with a mix of laughter and tears, "Silly girl, go to sleep quickly, it would be better if you had a few more tricks up your sleeve when you wake up."

Cui Ying muttered, "I've got quite a few tricks up my sleeve these days."

She can even get Xiao Qiyu to act with her; she's incredibly capable!

Too lazy to voice her thoughts, Cui Ying, supported by Cui Jin, staggered back to her bedroom, slumped onto the couch, snuggled against the pillows and blankets, and whimpered, "My own bed is still the most comfortable. No one can sleep on Xiao Qiyu's bed. Only someone with thick skin like him can sleep on it."

After expressing her feelings, Cui Ying relaxed, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

In her dream, she returned to the autumn of her thirteenth year.

She was invited to her best friend's birthday banquet, where she carried a box containing a birthday gift she had carefully prepared for her friend—a plump little cricket. Because of its reddish-yellow wings and two long antennae on its head, it was affectionately called "Little Lü Bu".

Cui Ying had wanted to keep a pet since she was a child, but her mother was allergic to cat and dog fur. Whenever she touched it, she would break out in rashes and cough incessantly. Therefore, she had never been able to keep a pet until she got this "little Lü Bu" from a servant. Only then did she experience the joy of keeping a pet.

So Cui Ying wasn't playing a prank on anyone; she was genuinely putting a lot of thought into preparing the gift.

She had already thought of what to say. She said, "Shuangshuang, don't be fooled by how unique this little thing looks. Once you develop a bond with it, you'll find that it's actually quite cute."

Especially after it has crickets, it won't be long before you get a big basket of adorable little crickets! Aren't you happy!

Although Cui Ying was very reluctant to part with the little Lü Bu she had raised with such difficulty, she felt it was worth it as a sister.

After all, among all the young ladies in the capital, only Chen Shuangshuang, upon learning that she was not afraid of insects and even kept them as pets, did not keep her at a distance. Instead, she applauded and said that she also liked such cute little insects.

As the ancients said, "Where there is a sleeping dragon, there will surely be a phoenix chick." Cui Ying felt that Chen Shuangshuang was simply her phoenix chick, her destined best friend. The two of them were born to be inseparable. For such a like-minded best friend, Cui Ying would never hesitate to give up anything!

It's just a little Lu Bu, give it away! We absolutely have to give it away!

So much so that when Cui Ying opened the box and held the little Lu Bu up to Chen Shuang's eyes, seeing tears streaming down Chen Shuang's face, Cui Ying felt that her good sister was crying tears of joy.

"Third Sister, I'm not pretending anymore. Actually, I don't like bugs. Please take it away from me, I beg you." Chen Shuangshuang's legs were trembling, and she was almost kneeling down to Cui Ying.

Cui Ying was very suspicious and couldn't understand why Chen Shuangshuang would pretend to like insects.

Chen Shuangshuang blushed and bit her lip, remaining silent.

It wasn't until Cui Ying pressed her repeatedly that Chen Shuangshuang avoided his gaze and stammered, "My sweetheart said that he doesn't like timid women, so I deliberately pretended to be bold in an attempt to attract his attention."

Cui Ying's eyes widened: "You dare to play with me, and you're considered a coward? Then who is considered brave? Wait, when did you get a crush? Who is your crush?"

Chen Shuangshuang refused to reveal that name, only blushing.

Cui Ying was still innocent and not particularly curious about such things. It was just a pity that she was still lonely when it came to the refined and elegant pursuit of raising insects.

But later, she finally found out who Chen Shuangshuang's so-called "sweetheart" really was.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the capital city is filled with the fragrance of fruits, and fireflies light up the night sky.

The Empress Dowager held a banquet in the Imperial Garden, inviting important officials and their families. Young men and women, mostly not yet fully grown, were of varying heights and builds, and were ugly in every way. Only one person stood out from the crowd, shining like the bright moon.

Xiao Qiyu.

He accompanied his elder brother to the banquet, unlike other noble children who adorned themselves with jewelry and ornaments to display their status. Instead, he wore a deep blue brocade robe, his ponytail tied up with a moon-white ribbon, and a silver-sheathed gentleman's sword at his waist. The Marquis of Dingyuan's family had guarded the frontier against the Turks for two generations, and bringing a sword into the palace was a unique honor for the Xiao family members.

The palace lanterns shone brightly, and the tall, handsome young man didn't need to do anything; he just sat there quietly, yet he attracted everyone's attention.

Chen Shuangshuang mustered her courage all night and finally presented the sword tassel she had made herself to Xiao Qiyu just as the banquet was about to end.

Cui Ying witnessed the whole thing and felt like she had forgotten something, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She secretly thought that giving the sword tassel was not the best choice.

Only after the sword tassel fell to the ground, and Chen Shuangshuang fled in shame and anger amidst the onlookers, did Cui Ying, still furious, retaliate the next day by pushing Xiao Qiyu into a stinking ditch on the outskirts of town on his way to the military camp. Xiao Qiyu chased her for eight blocks wielding his Six Harmonies Spear before she finally remembered—

Xiao Qiyu didn't like using swords at all; he always preferred using spears.

Damn it! We guessed the wrong question from the very beginning!

But at that moment, Cui Ying didn't have time to regret not reminding Chen Shuangshuang.

She was cornered by Xiao Qiyu.

With no way forward or backward, no door to the left or right, only the tall, slender youth dragging his spear step by step toward him, sparks flying from the spearhead on the stone pavement, his narrow phoenix eyes filled with furious red, his breathing appearing particularly heavy despite being deliberately suppressed.

Cui Ying was terrified, but she didn't utter a single word of pleading.

The pomegranate flowers on the wall are blooming bright red.

Thirteen-year-old Xiao Qiyu looked at thirteen-year-old Cui Ying.

With just a flick of his finger, he could take away half the life of the girl in front of him.

But Xiao Qiyu did nothing.

He just stared at her, his voice low and sharp, calling her name, word by word: "Cui Ying—"

"Do you dare to be any bolder?"

...

"I won't do it again!"

Cui Ying woke up with a start from her dream, and only when she opened her eyes and saw the familiar bed curtains did she realize that she had been dreaming.

She breathed a sigh of relief, turned over, and prepared to go back to sleep.

Just as she was half-asleep, her thoughts drifting, hurried footsteps suddenly came from the corridor outside the door, accompanied by the tinkling sound of women's hairpins and ornaments.

"Good heavens! What kind of commotion is this?!"

A glimpse of the woman's elegant robes flashed past the window, followed immediately by a laughing call—

"Where is Third Sister? Where is Third Sister? Tell me quickly, what is it like to marry Xiao Qiyu?!"

Startled by the sudden noise, Cui Ying was wide awake and her mind became exceptionally sharp.

So even though it had been almost half a year since she last saw him, she only needed to recall the moment for a moment before realizing who the voice belonged to.

A note from the author:

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