Chapter 36 "Even Young Master Cui can steal people..."
In the capital city, at the Cui residence.
Cui Xintang returned to his residence, exhausted, after leaving the palace. Before he even reached his study, a servant came to report that the Second Master wanted to speak with him.
Too lazy to deal with Cui Qin, he didn't stop walking and just made up an excuse to send him away.
After entering the study and sitting for a while, he called someone in and asked Cui Qin what he had been doing these past few days.
After asking the questions and giving a few more instructions, he dismissed the person.
After everyone left, Qingzhu came in, took out two letters from her bosom, and presented them to Cui Xintang.
"Master, this letter is from Yunping County, and this one is from Young Master Lin."
Cui Xintang paused slightly, took the letter, glanced at it casually, and said, "He still dares to write?"
Qingzhu was at a loss for words.
Cui Xintang was just saying it casually. He glanced at Lin Yu's letter, tossed it aside, and opened another letter first.
"Any movement from the Xu family?"
Qingzhu said in a low voice, "The Xu family is quite composed, but I heard that several people have died in the villages below these days. It seems that they all have something on the Xu family."
Cui Xintang scoffed, "You can't sit still anymore?"
He had stayed up several nights in the past few days, compiling the investigation results of Yunping County into a memorial. One copy was to be submitted to the Ministry of Revenue, and the other was to be sent to the palace and presented to the Princess.
On the day he returned to the capital, he went to the palace to report his mission, and the princess did not ask too many questions. But today, when he went to the palace, the princess asked him in detail for half a day.
After asking the question, the princess did not say much, but nodded and said that he had worked hard these past few days and should go back and rest first, and then return to the Ministry of Revenue to serve with peace of mind.
The implication was that he no longer needed to interfere in the Xu family's affairs.
As he left the palace, his anxiety subsided.
He was happy to have some peace and quiet since he didn't have to confront the Xu family. Tomorrow he would finally have a free day to visit the Meng family's estate.
After carefully reading the letter, Cui Xintang raised his hand and burned it over the candle flame. He then asked Qingzhu a few more questions before picking up the letter that had been tossed aside and opening it.
He knew what Lin Yu's letter said without even reading it.
She was just complaining that he had taken the estate back, and that the Lin family had lost what they thought was a bargain. They were resentful and took all their anger out on him. He had a really hard time living under that family's control.
He also said he knew he was wrong. His shoulder is still swollen, and the doctor said that even if it heals, it may leave a chronic condition.
Finally, he earnestly promised that he would never dare to talk nonsense again, and begged her to let him go for his sister's sake.
Qingzhu glanced at his master and saw that he looked indifferent and didn't care at all. He said, "The messenger said that Young Master Lin has been much quieter these days. His shoulder is still swollen, but he goes to the county school every day without fail."
He chuckled and said, "It seems he's really scared this time. As you said, we should teach him a lesson."
Cui Xintang ignored these words. He glanced at the letter and was about to put it on the candle to light it when he remembered something and pulled it back.
He handed the letter to Qingzhu, saying, "Take it back and keep it safe. If Lin Yu sends you another letter in the future, unless it's very important, you don't need to give it to me. Don't lose it either; just keep it."
Qingzhu didn't know what her master was up to, and dared not ask any questions. She simply agreed, took the letter, and carefully put it away.
After putting the letter away, he remembered something. "Master, the Lin family came to me today, saying that Miss Lin wants to see you."
Cui Xintang paused for a moment, then asked, "Did Lin Yu send a letter to the Lin family?"
“No, that’s not it,” Qingzhu said. “They said the Lin family’s cloth shop has run into some trouble, and the princess is making things difficult for Miss Lin. The Lin family has contacted the First Madam, but she probably can’t resolve the issue either, so they wanted to see you.”
Upon hearing this, Cui Xintang frowned and glanced at him.
*
The next day at noon, the Cui family's carriage arrived at the western suburbs of the capital.
There was no wind today, and the weather was warm. After leaving the official road, there were wheat fields on both sides. Perhaps because he had been staying at the Ministry of Revenue for too long, Cui Xintang lifted the carriage curtain and hung it aside, taking a look at the wheat fields on both sides.
As the carriage drew closer to the Meng family's estate, Cui Xintang was about to look away when he caught sight of a tall, slender figure ahead.
The man noticed the carriage behind him, stopped, and moved aside.
The carriage quickly approached, and Cui Xintang instructed the driver to stop. He glanced out the window towards the Meng family estate, then smiled faintly and asked, "Where is Second Young Master Lu headed?"
Upon seeing him, Lu Erlang's expression changed. He said, "No need for Young Master Cui to trouble himself."
Cui Xintang wasn't annoyed. He sat in the carriage, looking relaxed, and nodded, saying, "Meng Xu and Meng Zheng have been at the estate these past few days. Meng Xu has recently acquired some fine tea. When Young Master Lu has nothing to do, you can come to my father-in-law's estate for a chat and some tea."
Instead of saying "the Meng family," he insisted on saying "my father-in-law's family," which made Lu Erlang's expression even more unpleasant.
Cui Xintang smiled faintly as he observed Lu Erlang's expression. Instead of leaving immediately, he instructed the driver, "Go and check on the fields on both sides to see how the winter seedlings are growing and whether any have been damaged by frost."
When he went out, he would often get out of the carriage to check the fields. The driver was used to it and didn't suspect anything. He would agree and jump off the carriage to check the wheat fields on both sides.
He was clearly doing it on purpose; even the most good-tempered person like Lu Erlang would be angered. His expression was complex as he asked, "What happened that day, Young Master Cui, was it intentional?"
Cui Xintang paused, "Which time is Young Master Lu referring to?"
He asked the question knowing the answer already, and Lu Erlang sneered, "Young Master Cui, so refined and upright, actually stoops to stealing other people's partners..."
Upon hearing this, Cui Xintang's expression suddenly turned cold. "Young Master Lu, please be careful with your words."
Lu Erlang's expression changed, and he immediately swallowed the rest of his words.
He knew he had said the wrong thing, and if these words were to reach the ears of others, they would likely tarnish Meng Yuanxiao's reputation.
He had only said those words in a moment of panic, and he knew he had misspoke. He stood frozen in place, feeling remorseful, when the coachman from the Cui family returned.
With others present, Lu Erlang wanted to explain, but he didn't dare to speak again.
The driver carefully reported the condition of the wheat seedlings. Cui Xintang nodded, glanced at Lu Erlang, nodded to him, and then instructed the driver to drive on.
Lu Erlang stood frozen in place for a long time, watching the Cui family's carriage drive up to the Meng family's estate. After a moment of silence, he finally turned around and went back.
On Meng Yuanxiao's side, she only slept at her sister-in-law's place for one night that day. Fearing that her brother would punish her, she packed her things early the next morning and ran back to her own courtyard as if fleeing.
For two days in a row, she did not dare to show her face in front of Meng Xu. This morning, when she came to find her mother, she bumped into Meng Xu coming from the other side.
That wasn't the courtyard where he and Li Keying lived, but rather the direction of the Su family's residence.
She immediately became unhappy and stood there waiting for her older brother to come over.
When Meng Xu arrived, Meng Yuanxiao frowned and asked, "Brother, where did you stay last night?"
Meng Xu glanced at her but ignored her.
Meng Yuanxiao was even more displeased, assuming he was guilty. She stepped forward to stop him, pinched the sleeve of Meng Xu's outer robe between two fingers, and sniffed it with a hint of disgust.
Sure enough, I could smell a faint fragrance.
Meng Yuanxiao immediately got angry, "Big brother, are you confused? Aren't you afraid that your sister-in-law will never talk to you again?"
She had thought that her elder brother had brought his wife to the estate to relax and try to improve their relationship and win her favor, but she never expected that her elder brother would bring Su Shi along as well.
She was truly disgusted when she bumped into Madam Su at the estate that day. If she felt disgusted, how much more disgusted would her sister-in-law feel? No wonder her sister-in-law wouldn't say a word to her brother.
Meng Xu slightly straightened his face; without him saying a word, Meng Yuanxiao understood his meaning.
She pursed her lips, and under her brother's gaze, she could only reluctantly change her address, "Sister-in-law, is that alright?"
Meng Xu: "And what does your own clothing smell like?"
Meng Yuanxiao was stunned for a moment, then raised his arm and sniffed his sleeve.
It smelled just like that; she realized that this was the incense used in the manor, but she hadn't noticed.
She felt a little embarrassed, but her elder brother had indeed come from the Su family's residence.
She was about to speak again with a stern face, but Meng Xu was too lazy to pay attention to her. He flicked her head with his finger and said, "Don't worry about things that are not your concern. Just take care of Cui Xintang. Your older brother and sister-in-law don't need your help."
After saying that, he ignored her and walked away.
Meng Yuanxiao had just left her mother's courtyard and hadn't even returned to her own when Hongshao excitedly ran over and said, "Master, the young master has arrived!"
Meng Yuanxiao was feeling rather down when he heard this, and his eyes lit up. He immediately ran happily towards the front yard.
In the front yard of the manor, the carriage came to a stop. Cui Xintang had just stepped down from the carriage when Meng Yuanxiao rushed over and threw herself into his arms.
Cui Xintang was caught in her arms.
Meng Yuanxiao glanced behind him and, seeing that the driver wasn't Qingzhu, asked in surprise, "Why isn't it Qingzhu?"
Cui Xintang grunted and said, "Qingzhu still has some errands to run and didn't come along."
Meng Yuanxiao didn't think much of it and said happily, "Brother Tang, what brings you here? I've missed you so much these past few days!"
Cui Xintang's phoenix eyes were filled with laughter as she said with amusement, "Yuanyuan has many people on her mind."
He arrived so suddenly that he hadn't had time to send someone to inform him, so there was no one else in the front yard.
Meng Yuanxiao wrapped her legs around his waist and refused to get down, so Cui Xintang indulged her and lifted her up a little.
Meng Yuanxiao put her arms around his neck and was about to speak again when she suddenly caught a faint scent of grass and trees.
The scent is delicate and pleasant, but it's not the scent of Brother Tang. Brother Tang usually uses agarwood and rarely uses other fragrances.
Meng Yuanxiao frowned, buried her face in his collar, and sniffed carefully.
"What's wrong?" Warm breath brushed against her neck, and Cui Xintang stiffened.
Meng Yuanxiao raised her face, "Brother Tang, who did you see before you came?"
"..." Cui Xintang glanced down at his clothes without showing any emotion. "The manor has made new winter clothes, and the cloth shop also sent some incense. Perhaps the servants brought it over to scent the clothes."
Meng Yuanxiao looked incredulous, and Cui Xintang said helplessly, "When we get back to the manor, Yuanyuan can smell the other clothes again. Do they smell the same?"
Having just made a blunder with his older brother, Meng Yuanxiao realized he had been overthinking things.
Cui Xintang said, "Yuanyuan doesn't like it. I'll tell someone to change the incense when we get back."
Meng Yuanxiao said, "I don't like it."
"Okay, then let's change it. Yuanyuan, guess who I just met?"
Meng Yuanxiao blinked. "Who?"
Cui Xintang smiled. "Lu Erlang."
Meng Yuanxiao: "..."
Yes, the Lu family also has an estate nearby, right next to the Meng family's estate. She had visited the Lu family's estate a few times before.
Cui Xintang looked at her with mischievous eyes, while Meng Yuanxiao deliberately widened her eyes and looked behind him.
"Is Lu Erlang here too? Where is he? Brother Tang, why don't you invite him in? I haven't seen him in so long!"
"Want to see him?" Cui Xintang lightly patted her buttocks and chuckled, "I'm afraid that won't work. I heard that Lu Erlang is getting engaged."
As he spoke, he picked her up and carried her to the backyard, casually asking, "What has Yuanyuan been doing these past few days?"
Mentioning this, Meng Yuanxiao felt somewhat aggrieved.
She was a lively person and came over happily, but her older brother and sister-in-law were having a fight, and she was caught in the middle, which made her feel really awkward and she lost all interest in having fun.
"Brother Tang, you have no idea how outrageous my elder brother is. He actually brought Su Shi along, which made my sister-in-law so angry that she didn't want to talk to him."
"Also, you have no idea how sour my brother's face has been these past few days. Even though he did something wrong, he's been wearing a long face all day long..."
She was quite resentful of Meng Xu, and went on and on about how bad he was, while also revealing everything that had happened at the Meng residence in the past few days. Suddenly, Meng Xu's voice came from behind her.
"Since you love to talk so much, should your older brother bring up all the embarrassing things that happened when you were still a baby and tell him about them one by one?"
Meng Yuanxiao was startled and quickly got off Cui Xintang.
Cui Xintang, seemingly oblivious to her embarrassment, glanced at her and chuckled, saying, "No need, I know everything."
Meng Yuanxiao: "..."
Meng Xu had just heard from a servant that Cui Xintang had arrived from the backyard when he saw his younger sister clinging to Cui Xintang without any backbone.
He was quite exasperated with her, glared at her, and said meaningfully, "Are you asking for a beating again?"
Meng Yuanxiao couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.
She knew her brother must have gotten the short end of the stick from her sister-in-law, so she didn't bother to rub salt in his wounds. Instead, she said to Cui Xintang, "Brother Tang, I'll go back and wait for you. Come back to me after you've finished talking to your brother!"
After saying that, she didn't even look at Meng Xu, and ran away, lifting her skirt.
Only Cui Xintang and Meng Xu remained. The two were silent for a moment. Meng Xu's smile faded slightly. "In broad daylight, you two should avoid some people."
Cui Xintang ignored his words, and the atmosphere became slightly awkward. Meng Xu glanced at him a few times before asking, "Why did you come here?"
Cui Xintang said succinctly, "I had nothing to do today, so I came over."
His eyes were dark and bluish, clearly indicating that he had been staying up for several nights before finally finding some free time.
Meng Xu glanced at him a few more times, and the two went inside together.
That day, when Cui Xintang brought Meng Yuanxiao over, he was in a hurry to leave, and with others present, he couldn't say many things. Today, upon meeting, the two had things to say, so they went to the study first.
Sitting down in the study, Meng Xu said coldly, "Don't you have anything to say to me?"
The two were familiar with each other, so there was no need to follow too many rules. Cui Xintang picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of hot tea, and poured one for Meng Xu as well.
He took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and said, "Back then, I did marry Yuanyuan because of the Princess and the County Princess, but I also really wanted to marry Yuanyuan."
He paused for a moment, then added, "If it weren't for Yuanyuan, even if it were someone else, I wouldn't have considered this idea, even because of the Princess."
Meng Xu sneered, "When did you start having these thoughts?"
The question was about when he had developed feelings for Meng Yuanxiao.
Cui Xintang paused, her hand holding the teacup still. "I forgot."
He himself couldn't explain it clearly.
He paused, then added, "I never intended to hide it from you."
That day in the back garden of the Meng residence, Meng Xu asked him why he had been suddenly transferred to the Ministry of Revenue, and he had intended to tell Meng Xu.
But when he thought of Yuanyuan, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Meng Xu was truly enraged. He sneered, "Back then, I only thought that you wouldn't mistreat Yuanyuan, but if you hadn't kept it from me, neither my father nor my mother would have agreed to let Yuanyuan marry you."
Cui Xintang: "...Hmm."
Meng Xu's words were not just said in anger, but what's done is done, and there's no use in being angry anymore. He could only take a sip of tea to suppress his anger and said, "I only have this one sister. If you treat Yuanyuan well, that's fine. But if you wrong her in the future, don't blame me for disregarding our past relationship."
Cui Xintang looked up at him and said, "Mm."
His behavior only fueled Meng Xu's anger, and he felt an urge to give his friend a good beating.
The eldest princess wanted to win him over by marrying him her only daughter, Princess Langyue. He refused, and to dispel the princess's intentions, he instead married Yuanyuan.
Not only would the Meng family offend the Princess for this, but they would also be forced to side with her because of this marriage alliance.
Although the eldest princess is powerful in the court, her new policies have affected the interests of many people, and there are many people in the court who oppose her openly and secretly.
Moreover, he did not have a good opinion of the eldest princess, who was a woman, wanting to change the rules passed down from their ancestors.
Ultimately, the affairs of state must return to His Majesty and the scholars.
He was unaware of these things until Cui Xintang was about to leave the capital for Yunping County, at which point he became aware of them.
I was just too sensitive at the time, and I didn't find a suitable opportunity to ask him, so I had my doubts but no way to confirm them.
When Cui Xintang was in Yunping County, he sent him several letters through someone, reminding him of some things and asking him to keep an eye on some developments in the imperial court.
Only then did he realize what a big thing his best friend had done behind his back.
Meng Xu grew angrier the more he thought about it, but there was no point in saying anything more. He glared at Cui Xintang for a long time before finally getting down to business.
"Is everything done?"
Cui Xintang glanced at him. "Yes, I'll be going back tomorrow."
"I have read the letter you sent. What are your thoughts? What have the Princess and His Majesty said these past few days regarding Yunping County and the Xu family?"
"..."
It took them more than half an hour to finish their conversation.
Cui Xintang didn't linger any longer. He stood up and looked at Meng Xu, saying, "I'll trouble you, Brother Meng, to keep this a secret for me for now. Don't let Yuanyuan know."
Having said that, he came out of the study. After coming out, he first went to pay his respects to Madam Feng, and then went back to find Meng Yuanxiao.
Cui Xintang had been to the Meng family's estate several times and was very familiar with it, so he didn't need anyone to show him the way.
Meng Yuanxiao lived in a separate courtyard at the west end of the estate. You could walk along the long corridor and enter through a moon gate.
The courtyard was very secluded; it was the place that Meng Yuanxiao had chosen himself.
Upon entering through the moon gate, two wintersweet trees were immediately visible in the courtyard, blooming vibrantly. Hong Shao was squatting in the courtyard under the sun, playing with crickets.
"Where is the young mistress?"
Hong Shao quickly dropped the vegetable leaves and stood up. "Young master is back! Miss is waiting for you in her room!"
When Cui Xintang entered the room, she saw Meng Yuanxiao lying on the couch reading a storybook. She looked angry and puffed up her cheeks, as if she had seen something.
Cui Xintang stepped forward, took the storybook from her hand, and glanced at it. "What are you looking at? Why are you so angry?"
Meng Yuanxiao said indignantly, "This man is too wicked. He coveted his father-in-law's power and wanted to marry his daughter. But after he gained power, he used her and then abandoned his fiancée."
Cui Xintang paused for a moment, then calmly closed the storybook and tossed it away. "Didn't I tell you, everything in storybooks is a lie?"
Meng Yuanxiao glanced at him and said, "What about what happened to Wang Dalang in Huai Shu Village? Why didn't you say that the book was all a lie? Humph, you even said that all men are like that that day."
Cui Xintang: "..."
He laughed in exasperation, and tapped her on the head. "You've gotten bolder, haven't you?"
Meng Yuanxiao was annoyed that Meng Xu had just tapped her on the head that morning, and now he was doing it again. She slapped his hand away.
The sunlight streaming through the window cast the shadows of the winter plum blossoms onto her face. Cui Xintang withdrew her hand, then pinched her cheek again, asking, "Have you eaten yet?"
"I've eaten," Meng Yuanxiao said. "Brother Tang, have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet. I wanted to come find you as soon as possible, so I rushed out without even having breakfast."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yuanxiao's heart softened immediately.
She climbed off the couch, went over and hugged Cui Xintang, lingered on him for a while, and suddenly asked, "Brother Tang, have you reported the matter of Huai Shu Village, as well as the matter of Ye Shi and Wang Dalang, to the Princess?"
Cui Xintang paused for a moment, then said, "Yes."
"What did the eldest princess say?"
"...How could it be that fast?"
Meng Yuanxiao said earnestly, "Brother Tang, you said you wouldn't let the Ye family die in vain, you wouldn't lie to me, would you?"
Cui Xintang sighed softly, "When has Brother Tang ever lied to you?"
Meng Yuanxiao felt relieved. Her eyes crinkled into a smile as she looked up at him and pleaded, "Brother Tang, shall we invite our eldest brother and sister-in-law, as well as our second brother, to have some barbecue?"
She blinked her almond-shaped eyes and said with a slightly aggrieved expression, "I've wanted to have barbecue for a long time, but my older brother and sister-in-law are sulking, so I don't dare to say anything."
Cui Xintang found it amusing, "You don't dare to say it yourself, so you make me say it?"
Meng Yuanxiao pleaded softly, "Brother Tang, please, you're the best."
She was still a child at heart and didn't realize what her soft-spoken "please" meant to a man.
Cui Xintang felt somewhat helpless.
He had been working non-stop for several days and arrived today exhausted. But seeing her expectant face, and since he wasn't in a hurry to go back, he didn't want to spoil her mood, so he agreed.
Since we're going to have a barbecue, it should be lively and bustling, the more people the better.
Cui Xintang raised her eyebrows. "Don't you want to see Lu Erlang? Let's go to Lu's estate for a barbecue."
Meng Yuanxiao was puzzled. "What are you going to the Lu family's estate for?"
Cui Xintang didn't explain much, but just smiled and said, "Pack up and go call Meng Xu and the others."
While Meng Yuanxiao was changing her clothes, Cui Xintang called over a maid and gave her a few instructions. After Meng Yuanxiao finished getting ready, the two of them went out through the moon gate.
Madam Feng disliked making a fuss and didn't want to spoil the younger generation's fun, so she didn't go with them. Instead, she and a few others took the meat and other items and went to the Lu family's estate.
There were quite a few younger members of the Lu family. With so many people around and no elders present, the group chatted happily, dismissing the servants and grilling meat in the garden themselves.
The women naturally didn't need to lift a finger. Meng Yuanxiao couldn't sit still, so after chatting with Li Keying and the others in the warm pavilion for a while, she strolled out of the pavilion and circled around the young men who were busy grilling meat.
The perfectly marbled venison, coated in honey, sizzles and releases its aroma over charcoal.
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