Chapter 42 Martial Arts Examination Candidate Cui Tuantuan has a sharp tongue but a soft face…

The next day, at the end of Yin hour and the beginning of Mao hour, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

The air still carried the lingering scent of yesterday's burning paper money, mixed with the fragrance of grass and trees drifting in from outside the window, quietly seeping into the gently swaying blue curtains.

Cui Ying was still half asleep when she vaguely heard the rustling of fabric behind the screen and the light clinking of metal clasps. Her eyelids were too heavy to lift, and she asked instinctively, still heavy with sleep, in a slurred voice, "Where are you going?"

The boy's clear, crisp voice pierced through the morning light, distinct and powerful:

"The Capital Region Governor's Office is recruiting candidates for the military examination."

Xiao Qiyu obtained the household registration certificate from his grandmother last night. Although he didn't explain its purpose, he has always been calm and composed, and his actions are always for a reason, so his grandmother didn't ask any further questions.

A gentle breeze entered the room, causing the curtains to sway with a movement as fluid as ripples on water. Cui Ying forced herself to lift her head, half-asleep, and said, "Then wait for me. I haven't been to the Capital Governor's Mansion yet, and I want to go see it too."

She propped herself up, stretched out her arm, and tried to reach for the clothes folded on the bedside table. Unfortunately, she was too sleepy, and before she could reach halfway, her face was buried in the blankets, her breathing became long and even, and she fell into a deep sleep.

Xiao Qiyu stepped out from behind the screen, his tall figure encased in a dark black straight-sleeved outfit, with wrist guards binding his sleeves and his slender legs tucked into black boots, exuding a refreshing and neat aura.

He picked up the household registration certificate on the table, but didn't leave immediately. His gaze fell on the couch, and he saw that Cui Ying's snow-white arm was hanging off the edge of the bed. He walked over slowly and gently tucked the restless arm back into the quilt.

After doing all this, he turned and walked toward the door, but as soon as he stepped over the threshold, he stopped, turned his head slightly, and his gaze fell back on that sleeping face.

The young girl had fair skin and a beautiful face, with a faint blush on her cheeks. Her long, curled eyelashes fluttered with her breath, and her lips were slightly parted, revealing a charming and innocent demeanor rarely seen on her.

In the morning light, Xiao Qiyu stared in a daze, then, as if possessed, returned to the bedside, bent down, and gently pinched Cui Ying's warm, soft cheek.

Yesterday, when Xiao Qiyu was rubbing her face to wake her up in the ancestral hall, she noticed that although Cui Tuantuan had sharp teeth and a sharp tongue, her face was actually very soft.

After finishing his massage, Xiao Qiyu felt satisfied and left.

...

When the sun was high in the sky, Cui Ying finally slept soundly, slowly opened her eyes, and stretched comfortably.

After rinsing her mouth with bamboo salt and strong tea, her maidservant helped her style her hair. The sandalwood comb teeth were lightly dipped in rose hair oil, and the rich fragrance instantly filled the air.

On the dressing table, neatly arranged in a Ru kiln porcelain dish are steaming milk-flavored rice cakes made from freshly steamed milk and water chestnut flour from the small kitchen, still steaming hot.

Cui Ying munched on a pastry, her mind still foggy from just waking up, like a runny egg, a jumble of thoughts running through her head:

The pastries were a bit overcooked; they were chewy and difficult to chew.

That bastard Xiao Qiyu, we agreed to go out together. So what if I fell asleep? Couldn't he have woken me up?

Ugh, this pastry is really old-fashioned, it makes my teeth ache.

Why is this maid's hand so heavy when she's combing my hair? It's hurting my hair. Cuijin is so much better... Cuijin, when is Cuijin coming back? I miss Cuijin so much, sob sob sob.

Just as Cui Ying was enjoying her inner drama, a maidservant entered and curtsied: "Young Madam, the Third Young Madam has something to discuss with you and is waiting outside."

Cui Ying snapped out of her daze and asked suspiciously, "Third Sister-in-law? Does she want to see me?"

Unable to figure out the reason for a moment, Cui Ying immediately ordered, "Quickly invite the person in."

A moment later, Qian Qiuchan entered the room, waving a round fan. She had a smile in her eyes and her face was made up, but her expression revealed an undisguised haggardness.

Cui Ying warmly pulled her to a seat and ordered a maid to make tea.

Qian Qiuchan smiled and said, "Sister, there's no need to trouble yourself. I have a lot of things to take care of. I just came to borrow something. I'll leave as soon as I get it."

"Borrow what?" Cui Ying asked, blinking her clear eyes.

Qian Qiuchan said, "My niece will be staying with us for a while in the next day or two. I only got the news this morning, so I quickly tidied up a courtyard facing south in Jingsong Hall. Because the weather is getting cooler, we removed the Xiangfei curtains used in summer and replaced them with cloud-patterned silk gauze. Because of this change, the furnishings in the house are all out of place and need to be completely changed."

The furnishings of royal and noble residences were all about creating a harmonious whole; changing one part would affect the entire arrangement. If the curtains were changed, the style of the tables and chairs, the porcelain vases, and even the teacups and saucers would all have to be replaced.

Qian Qiuchan said with a troubled expression, "Everything else is fine, but there's one thing: I can't find a suitable calligraphy or painting to hang in the main hall. I have two pieces, but they're either flowers or willows, and they don't match the room at all. Since you come from a prestigious family and your ancestors were all scholars, you are quite noble, so I thought I'd try my luck here."

Seeing that it wasn't a big favor, Cui Ying readily agreed and ordered her maid to fetch a few paintings from the storeroom.

Before long, five scrolls were brought out, all by famous artists. Qian Qiuchan browsed through them one by one, praising them highly. In the end, she chose Zhao Mengfu's "Autumn Colors of Quehua". The painting was clear and tranquil, bright and elegant, which not only matched the style of the furniture but also complemented the current season.

"I wonder which of my second aunt's nieces is visiting? I'd like to prepare a gift in advance," Cui Ying asked.

She knew all of Xiao Shu's cousins ​​and had played with them in the past, but after her cousins ​​got married, they didn't see each other much anymore.

While Qian Qiuchan was still looking at the painting, she glanced at Cui Ying and said, "It is the fourth daughter of the Qin family, the youngest in her family. Her given name is Wan, and her maiden name is Shanxian. She is about the same age as you, sister."

Qin Wan? Cui Ying searched his memory but found him completely unfamiliar and couldn't recall who he was.

Qian Qiuchan was very good at reading people's expressions. Seeing this, she smiled and added, "It's normal that you don't recognize her, little sister. This fourth young lady is very beautiful, but she is too quiet. She usually doesn't leave the house. Not to mention you, even when I hear her name, I often have to think for a while before I can remember who she is."

Cui Ying nodded and invited Qian Qiuchan to have some tea and snacks, showing little interest in the matter.

Qian Qiuchan picked up a pastry, but her eyes kept glancing at Cui Ying. She chatted casually, as if it were nothing: "Speaking of which, I vaguely remember that Madam seemed to have considered matching Qilang with this Fourth Miss. She always praised how well the two of them were a good match, but the old lady never agreed, and the matter was eventually dropped."

Cui Ying was immediately surprised, her almond-shaped eyes widening: "Is that so?"

Qian Qiuchan immediately lowered her voice, soothingly saying with a touch of affection, "Sister, please don't take it to heart. That's all ancient history. Besides, that fourth young lady was born from Aunt's womb..."

There was a hint of contempt in her tone: "In the end, we're just a step below each other in terms of status. How can we compare to someone like you, a noble lady from a prestigious family?"

Qian Qiuchan had always wanted to win over Cui Ying, and now that she had the opportunity, she naturally praised Cui Ying and belittled Qin Wan.

Cui Yingxiu's brows furrowed, and she shook her head with a sigh: "It seems that Second Aunt still can't judge people well."

Qian Qiuchan quickly chimed in, "That's exactly right! How could a concubine's daughter be worthy of Qilang? It has to be our younger sister—"

Cui Ying interjected, "Does Xiao Qiyu, with that awful temper, even deserve a wife?"

Qian Qiuchan was speechless, her smile frozen on her face, and the rest of her words stuck in her throat.

Cui Ying wore a pained expression, as if she had witnessed injustice: "Second Aunt watched Xiao Qiyu grow up. Don't you know his despicable nature? How could you bear to push your own niece into a fire pit?"

He then sighed heavily, as if he felt sorry for the Qin Wan girl he had never met.

Qian Qiuchan forced a smile, trying to make it appear natural, and said slowly, "My dear sister, that's not how it works. Qilang may have a bit of a temper, but his looks and abilities are outstanding. Qin Wan, although she is a young lady of the Qin family, unfortunately, she was born into the wrong family, ending up in the womb of a concubine. I heard that concubine was originally a kitchen maid, so her background is even more—"

"Sister-in-law."

Cui Ying suddenly spoke up, bringing her face close to Qian Qiuchan's, her bright almond-shaped eyes scrutinizing her face intently: "Did you cry last night?"

Qian Qiuchan was startled. The image of herself crying and wailing in front of Xiao Heng immediately flashed through her mind. She almost crushed the pastry in her hand, but forced a smile and said, "Look at what you're saying, sister. Yesterday was the family ancestral worship ceremony. It's only natural to shed tears and feel sad when you're thinking about your ancestors. It's just human nature."

Cui Ying slapped his forehead: "It's my fault, I forgot such an important thing. But my sister-in-law looks really haggard. I once heard the imperial physician say that people who talk too much lose their energy. Sister-in-law, you must take care of yourself. Talk less and rest more in the future to replenish your energy and blood. Once your energy and blood are sufficient, your complexion will be better."

If these words had come from anyone else, they would have been full of sarcasm and practically scream "Shut up!" But Cui Ying's clear eyes and serious tone inexplicably inspired trust, making people believe that she was genuinely thinking of them.

Although Qian Qiuchan felt something was off, she couldn't sense any malice from Cui Ying, so she could only smile and agree.

Time flew by, and it was almost noon.

Just as Cui Ying was about to invite Qian Qiuchan to have a meal together, a maid came to announce: "Young Madam, the young master has returned and is hurrying to the courtyard."

Ignoring Cui Ying's attempts to persuade her to stay, Qian Qiuchan took the painting "Autumn Colors of Quehua" and bid farewell.

Cui Ying saw Qian Qiuchan off at the courtyard gate until she was out of sight, then let out a long sigh of relief, as if an invisible burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

Perhaps due to her family background, the eldest princess loved to say "trouble comes from the mouth" to warn her children and grandchildren to watch their tongues. Cui Ying received this teaching from a young age. Even when he was at his most mischievous, climbing on the roof and tearing off tiles, he never spoke ill of others or gossiped about anyone.

...No, there was one who slipped through the net.

The midday sun was dazzling. The "fish that slipped through the net," with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, strode over in a tight-fitting outfit, handed her the oil paper package, and said indifferently, "It's a bit cold, but you'll have to make do with it."

Cui Ying didn't even need to open it; just by smelling it, she knew it was her recent favorite fried pork belly, coated with a thick layer of chili powder, the spicy aroma almost wafting through the paper.

"It's kind of you to remember that I like to eat this, you're a good friend!" Cui Ying smiled and tore open the oil paper package, picked up a piece of crispy pork and threw it into her mouth. After chewing it a couple of times, a satisfied and contented expression immediately appeared on her face.

Xiao Qiyu stepped into the courtyard without looking to the side, his peripheral vision falling on Cui Ying's upturned lips. Seeing her satisfied, a slight ripple stirred in his calm heart, and the heat in his body seemed to be soothed.

Cui Ying was in a great mood after eating the delicious food, and she no longer blamed Xiao Qiyu for leaving her behind that morning to go and register for the exam alone. She simply asked solicitously, "How did it go? Did you get accepted?"

Xiao Qiyu nodded, his tone drowsy and ordinary, the dappled shadows of the trees on the ground reflected in his eyes: "The preliminary test is over, we just need to wait for the provincial examination in October."

Cui Ying became curious: "What does the preliminary test cover?"

Xiao Qiyu: "Lift the stone lock, run two hundred steps in armor, and memorize three hundred characters of the Martial Arts Classic."

Cui Ying nearly dropped her jaw in astonishment: "That's it? Then I can apply too."

Xiao Qiyu: "The stone lock weighs 120 jin."

Cui Ying: "This little bit of weight—"

Xiao Qiyu: "Lift two at the same time, then lift them three times in a row."

Cui Ying: "...It is indeed a little bit heavier."

The two entered the room. Xiao Qiyu went to the table, poured a cup of tea, and casually asked, "By the way, I ran into Third Sister-in-law on the way here. She said she came from your place. What did she want with you?"

Cui Ying, munching on a piece of crispy pork, said nonchalantly, "It's nothing serious. I just came to borrow a painting to decorate the house. I said a little cousin from the Qin family is coming to stay at our house for a few days."

Xiao Qiyu picked up the teacup, hummed in agreement, and took a sip of tea.

Cui Ying added casually, "She also said that your second aunt had previously considered getting you and your little cousin married."

Xiao Qiyu's breath hitched, and he spat out a mouthful of tea.

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Author's Note: Little Jade: Oh no, someone's trying to frame me!