"Alright. You're such a grown-up now, why are you still crying like a child!"
Cui Mi's tone was tinged with doting affection, but also mixed with a touch of heartache.
Cui Mi took off the veiled hat from her head and held it in her hand, stroking the brim with her fingers, as she followed Cui Shenghe into the courtyard.
Her gaze fell on Cui Shenghe, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
Looking at the child who once played at her feet, now more than a head taller than her, she couldn't help but feel a surge of inexplicable emotion.
"It's been ten years! Back then you were just a little kid who barely reached my waist, and now you're a head taller than your aunt! If your mother—"
Cui Mi's words came to an abrupt end, and Cui Shenghe led the way without saying a word.
Cui Mi noticed that Cui Shenghe's shoulders were trembling slightly.
She sighed and said, "Child, if you want to cry, then cry."
Cui Shenghe could no longer hold back. He turned around, braced his arms on the wooden railing by the lake, and began to sob.
Cui Jiu stood not far away, silently watching this scene.
He was afraid that his presence would embarrass Cui Shenghe, so he turned around and went back to his room.
When Cui Shenghe led Cui Mi to the room on the other side of the lake, Cui Jiu pretended to have just woken up and came out of the room yawning.
He went to the kitchen, brewed a pot of hot tea for the two of them, and then carried the tea tray to the room.
"Aunt, I've found the jade pendant you asked me to find."
Cui Shenghe confessed, "However, the other half is not in my possession. But I have already seen it."
Cui Mi nodded. "You must find a way to get the other half of the jade pendant as soon as possible. Next month, the Yun Dynasty royal family will be requesting a batch of 'Tongfu' (a type of envoy/escort), and you will personally deliver them then. Your aunt will take you somewhere."
Cui Shenghe agreed, and then mentioned that he had a portrait of a beauty that his father had painted for his mother.
Upon hearing this, Cui Mi gently put down her teacup and said urgently, "Quickly, let me see it!"
Cui Shenghe turned and went to the study. He slowly turned behind a bookshelf, revealing a hidden compartment. He took a box from the compartment and went to see Cui Mi.
“Here it is, but only one.” Cui Shenghe said as he slowly unfolded the portrait of the beauty.
"Yes, that's it!" Cui Mi said excitedly.
Her gaze fell on the portrait of the beautiful woman. The woman in the painting was so lifelike that she seemed to be able to step out of the paper at any moment.
In an instant, she seemed to see her sister's stunning beauty from back then all over again.
As they watched, tears streamed down Cui Mi's face.
She hurriedly turned her back and wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
After a long pause, she took a deep breath and slowly said, "These portraits of beauties were painted by your father for your mother. There are nine in total. In addition, there is a pear wood box containing a map and a key. These items are of great importance."
She looked at Cui Shenghe, "Li'er, what about the other things?"
Cui Shenghe shook his head. "I don't know where it is either."
Cui Mi looked at Cui Shenghe suspiciously, "Li'er, do you know the importance of these tokens? They are related to the fate of our family and our revenge plan."
Cui Shenghe shook his head, a look of confusion on his face. "Aunt, I don't know where the other tokens are. I found this portrait of a beauty by chance in an old book, and I've never heard my mother mention the pear wood box or any other tokens."
Cui Mi's eyes instantly turned sharp.
"How is that possible?! The people I sent to Dasheng clearly found a clue about that pear wood box, but it was intercepted by the bandits. Later, the people I sent out were even captured by Prince Rui of Dasheng, and their fate is still unknown. There must be something fishy going on!"
Cui Shenghe sensed the coldness emanating from Cui Mi and couldn't help but feel a sense of defensiveness.
Ten years have passed between them; times have changed, and people's hearts can shift. Can he still fully trust this aunt?
Moreover, Cui Mi is now Yun Shu's favorite concubine, enjoying unparalleled favor, and is completely different from the gentle and virtuous woman she once was.
He had to be on guard.
Seeing his aunt's current state, he didn't dare tell her that Zhao Zhi was his own sister.
"Li'er!" Cui Mi grabbed Cui Shenghe's arm anxiously. "Don't be foolish! The worst thing for someone who wants to achieve great things is to be soft-hearted!"
Cui Shenghe countered, "Li'er, do you know what this 'important matter' that your aunt is referring to?"
“Of course, it’s to kill Yun Shu and avenge your parents!” Cui Mi answered without hesitation. “Isn’t this what you’ve been painstakingly planning all these years?”
"If assassinating Yun Shu was so simple, why has my aunt allowed Yun Shu to live for ten years? And why has she become his most beloved concubine?"
Cui Shenghe's questioning was like a knife stabbing into Cui Mi's heart.
A sharp pain shot through her heart, and her hand loosened. The portrait of the beauty floated down, only to be caught in mid-air by Cui Shenghe, who carefully placed it back into the box.
"vomit--"
The next moment, without warning, Cui Mi coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell backward.
"Aunt, what's wrong?"
Cui Shenghe shouted anxiously, picked up Cui Mi around the waist, placed her on a small couch, and carefully took her pulse.
"You've been poisoned with a slow-acting poison!" Startled, Cui Shenghe looked at the pale-faced Cui Mi in disbelief.
She forced a bitter smile. "This poison has a beautiful name, 'Beauty's Delight.' I've been taking it for ten years now. That's why I've remained the emperor's favorite for ten years."
Cui Shenghe abruptly stood up and sneered, "Auntie is truly deeply in love with Yun Shu! If Li'er remembers correctly, you entered the palace the day after my mother committed suicide by swallowing gold, and the next day you were rewarded by Yun Shu beyond your rank..."
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