Chapter 2
His words drew a glare from Madam Song.
"Little Fourth, you're so biased! Your mother has one, your brother has one, but I, your grandfather, don't have one?" Cui Wen complained.
"If Xiao Si had known that Master was in the mansion, how could she not have sent something to him?"
"You're making it seem like I'm in the wrong."
Without any hesitation, Cui Wen picked up the bowl and ladled out several spoonfuls. The fruit that Cui Yunshu had brought also fell into his hands, with most of it ending up in his bowl.
"With so many people watching, you're behaving inappropriately." Madam Song slapped away Cui Wen's hand, which was about to serve more fruit. "Why are you back so early today?"
"The emperor wanted Yuan Jue to be the crown prince's study companion."
"...I want a daughter, and I want a son too—" Before Madam Song could finish speaking, Granny Zhang left with Atao, and the doors and windows were closed tightly.
"Sixth Sister, be careful what you say."
Cui Wen said helplessly, "I haven't agreed yet."
“A complete bandit.” With no outsiders around, Madam Song became even more unrestrained. “Your Highness is indeed the Emperor’s darling, paving the way for Your Highness so early.”
"A heart full of love for one's child..."
"Pah!" Madam Song rolled her eyes. "He loves his son, but others don't?"
Beloved son?
Cui Yunshu listened from the side, her brows furrowing slightly.
She regretted it now; she had been too carefree in the past few years, which resulted in her knowing very little about the affairs of the court.
But if what Grandpa and Grandma said is true...
Why did the crown prince rebel in just three years?
"Sixth Sister, the Emperor only mentioned it briefly. If you are unwilling, I will find a way to refuse."
"Easy for you to say." Madam Song glared at Cui Wen resentfully. "You've probably already discussed this with Yuan Jue. With Yuan Jue's temperament, how could he do anything that would harm the family? Do you think my two children are going to be trapped in the Eastern Palace? If I had known things would turn out this way, I would have chosen someone else as my husband back then."
“Xi’er wasn’t born from my womb, but she has called me ‘Mother’ for over ten years.”
"The Crown Princess and the Crown Prince's study companions sound glamorous, but what if one day the Emperor grows tired of Your Highness? Have you considered the situation of your two children?"
Cui Yunshu couldn't help but sigh.
Her mother was truly lucid.
Some people only see the glamour in front of them, but cannot sense the danger behind it.
Once inside the Eastern Palace, one is bound to the Crown Prince.
“A sage’s lifespan is no more than forty-three years.”
"Sixth Sister, how could His Majesty be tired of His Highness? If he were truly tired of him, why would he repeatedly ask His Highness to marry a woman from the Cui family? His Majesty is merely paving the way for His Highness. After all, Empress De passed away early. His Majesty's selection of a companion for His Highness is clearly to cultivate His Highness's own power. The Wang family is very powerful, and His Majesty cannot suppress the Second Prince."
"You won't get tired of it? Are you so sure?"
Song sneered, "When Empress De passed away, you all said that the Emperor would surely settle scores... But today, His Majesty and the Consort are in perfect harmony."
"Sixth Sister!"
Cui Wen put down the bowl.
“In this world, being loud doesn’t make you right,” Song retorted. “Shu’er, take the food and let’s go eat somewhere else. Don’t get in your grandfather’s way here.”
Mother is mighty.
Cui Yunshu remained silent in her heart.
Obediently picked up the food vessel and followed behind Madam Song. She realized, and she believed her mother had realized as well, that her father had the idea of sending her second brother to the Crown Prince's side. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to her second brother's courtyard as soon as he returned to the mansion.
Mother understands Father.
Grandpa understood Grandma; they both knew what kind of people the other was.
Grandpa knew that Mother wouldn't agree and didn't want to offend her, so he asked his second brother to persuade Mother.
"Sixth Sister, what are you doing?"
Cui Wen softened his voice, "It was my fault, brother. I apologize to Sixth Sister."
He bowed to Lady Song and said, "Yuan Jue is very talented. It will be beneficial for his future career if he stays by Your Highness's side."
"Yun Shu".
Song pushed Cui Wen away and left Feige with Cui Yunshu.
"Mother, don't be angry." Once they were a distance away, Cui Yunshu spoke up to comfort them, "Father was only doing it for Second Brother. He just assumed that the Emperor would always treat His Highness well."
"Even you know this principle, yet he blindly believes it."
The two women didn't let their servants follow them. When they reached the garden, the mother and daughter stopped. "With your second brother's talent, he could easily become a powerful minister through the imperial examinations. Why take the risk? It's just that your father wants him to take a shortcut so that he can easily gain credit for supporting the emperor when he ascends the throne. But he never thought that there are any shortcuts in this world."
"Mother...why do you feel that the Emperor would be hostile to His Highness?"
Madam Song remained silent. "Little Fourth," she said, "let me tell you another lesson today: nothing in this world is certain until everything is settled."
“The Emperor treats Your Highness well now, but that doesn’t mean he will treat you well in the future. The Emperor may not want the Second Prince to ascend the throne now, but that doesn’t mean he will not want him to in the future.” She continued, “That’s why your mother has always kept you from associating with the imperial family members since you were little. The Emperor’s mood is unpredictable.”
"Sister Xi's wedding..."
“This is not something your mother or your father can decide,” Madam Song sighed. “These sordid things have ruined the flavor of the cherry ice jelly. Since you are curious, I will tell you about it.”
"Five years ago, the Emperor intended to select a Crown Princess from among the daughters of the Cui family. Your father refused, but the Emperor kept making the proposal. Refusing once is acceptable, refusing twice is acceptable, but refusing three times... Where is the face of the royal family? Only the Emperor can cancel this marriage."
"Mother, was I originally chosen as the Crown Princess by the Emperor?"
Madam Song no longer hid it from Cui Yunshu, saying, "Your sister Xi is essentially acting as the Crown Princess in your place."
“Yun Shu, you must remember the kindness your sister Xi has shown you. She could have chosen not to stand up for you.”
Cui Yunxi is the daughter of Cui Wen's first wife.
This was his second marriage to Ms. Song.
“Mother, I remember.”
"Your mother knows you are the most intelligent, but you have never liked to get involved in such mundane matters. I don't know what has upset you today, but I assure you that if you don't want to, even your father can't force you. If the Cui family wants to sell their daughter for personal gain, I will take you away from them. I have that kind of ability."
Madam Song gently stroked Cui Yunshu's soft hair. "After you finish eating the ice jelly, go back to your courtyard and rest. Your mother still needs to go and visit your second brother."
On the way back, Cui Yunshu remained silent.
She never imagined that Cui Yunxi's later tragic end would be related to her.
If it weren't for Cui Yunxi.
She was the one who was hung on the city wall and exposed to the scorching sun, and whose body was pecked by birds.
Despite the warm spring sunshine, Cui Yunshu felt a biting cold creeping up her body from the waist down.
She was even more annoyed by her own desire to abandon Cui Yunxi. If the Crown Prince were to rebel, the Cui family might have a glimmer of hope, and Cui Yunxi...
This marriage cannot go through!
"Why are you standing here, girl?" Atao ran over. "Are you stupid?" She waved her hand in front of Cui Yunshu's eyes.
Cui Yunshu, whose mind was full of troubles, breathed a sigh of relief after being disturbed by her.
"Are you hoping your daughter will become stupid?"
“Sister has wronged someone again. Ah Tao is just concerned about her.”
"I can tell you're not concerned about me, you're just eager to get back and eat cherry ice jelly."
Ah Tao insisted, "I'm worried about my daughter."
"In that case, would you be willing to give me your share?"
"Worries are snacks, and ice jelly is ice jelly. Don't confuse them, girl."
Cui Yunshu placed her finger on Atao's forehead.
There are still three years left. She already knows the worst possible outcome, so why should she fear the future?
"Atao, thank you."
"The way the young lady expresses her gratitude is quite unique."
Atao rubbed her forehead.
"Go back and get some ice jelly to take to Sister Xi."
"Girl! We only have that much ice jelly. Aren't you going to thank me?"
Atao knows how many ice jelly desserts are left.
"Tonight, your daughter will make you braised pork."
Atao asked in confusion, "What is braised pork?"
Upon arriving at the courtyard, Cui Yunshu filled a bowl with ice jelly, then divided out some toppings. She shared the rest with the others. Atao, who had gone with her to deliver it, only took one bite, and then grumbled all the way home, staring at Cui Yunshu with a mournful expression, while singing—
"Little cabbage, yellow in the field, for decades, in the master's house... a bowl of ice jelly, spring comes and I think of it again, but in the end, in the end it's just—empty joy."
"Good sister," Cui Yunshu pleaded repeatedly as she sang.
Cui Yunxi was a quiet person, and since the courtyard was next to a bamboo grove, it was named Mizhuxuan (Quiet Bamboo Pavilion).
"Sister Xi." Cui Yunshu called out as soon as she entered the courtyard. She and Cui Yunxi were not exactly close, but they were not strangers either, after all, they were sisters. It was just that because they were a few years apart, they did not often play together.
"What brings my fourth sister here?"
"I made some ice jelly and brought it over for my sister to try."
Cui Yunshu told Atao to put down the food vessel.
"What book is Sister Xi reading?" Cui Yunshu walked over and sat down next to Cui Yunxi. The moment Cui Yunxi sat down, the other girl shifted her body slightly, seemingly disliking being so close to outsiders. Noticing this, Cui Yunshu leaned back a little, distancing herself from Cui Yunxi.
"Just some miscellaneous books, thank you for your concern, Fourth Sister."
Cui Yunxi calmly put away the book in her hand.
"You're too kind, sister." Cui Yunshu took the ice jelly out of the food jar, along with some side dishes. "Please add whatever you like, sister."
"Thank you, Fourth Sister."
"We're sisters, there's no need for such formalities."
Cui Yunshu stayed at Cui Yunxi's place for an hour before finally leaving.
As soon as she left, both Cui Yunxi and her servant breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sister, why did Fourth Sister suddenly think of coming here today?"
A-Zhu said, "Fourth Sister is the laziest. Not to mention if there's nothing wrong, even if there is something to do, she will prioritize it. If it's not the most important thing, why would she make a special trip?"
"Shut up."
Cui Yunxi pursed her lips and glanced at Azhu indifferently, "You're the one who talked about Fourth Sister?"
"It's just a child's nature. He thought of me as his older sister and brought me some food." She asked Azhu to clean up the table.
Not only Ah-Zhu, but Ah-Tao also asked.
"Why did you decide to visit Sister Xi today, Miss?" She added, "Could it be that you're planning to make your move on Sister Xi? My dear Miss, why are you so fixated on this marriage?"
"What are you thinking about? Let's go, I'll make you braised pork when we get back."
The braised pork was not made. As soon as Cui Yunshu returned to the courtyard, she saw her grandfather and the cook and several others standing not far away, staring at the bowl of ice jelly on the table.
"Grandpa, why are you even taking their food?" Cui Yunshu said helplessly. "You ate quite a lot this afternoon. It's only the beginning of the month, so add less ice!" Seeing that the other person was about to scoop out a big spoonful of shaved ice, Cui Yunshu stepped forward and snatched the bowl away.
"Little Fourth... with so many servants watching, where is your father's dignity?"
"Do you still have any dignity?"
Cui Yunshu was disgusted that her grandfather had taken away the servants' food. She thought it was a wonder he could do such a thing. She turned around and comforted the cooks and told Atao to take them outside the mansion to buy some food.
"What brings you here, Grandpa?"
Cui Wen didn't hide anything, "Little Si'er, try to persuade your mother."
"I won't persuade you."
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