Chapter 4
After leaving the wonton shop in the East Market, the atmosphere inside the carriage became strangely tense.
Cui Yunxi didn't press her sister about why she had suddenly lost her composure. She simply stayed by her side quietly, occasionally offering her a glass of warm water, expressing her care through silent actions. Cui Yunshu, on the other hand, kept her eyes tightly closed, leaning against the cushions, seemingly dozing, but in reality, her heart was churning with emotion, never still for a moment.
That beautiful yet helpless face, those concise words, "Brother, I'm leaving," and the deep sorrow and resolve hidden in the stall owner's eyes—all these images played out repeatedly in her mind like a revolving lantern. Every detail matched the account in the "book" perfectly, coldly reminding her that the catastrophic disaster that swept through the entire Cui family was not a vague nightmare, but a bloody reality about to unfold.
She must succeed.
Today, at the Lu family's spring banquet, she must sabotage this marriage and sever the fatal ties between the Cui family and the Crown Prince.
As the carriage slowly came to a stop and the servants respectfully announced their arrival from outside, Cui Yunshu opened her eyes. Her eyes, which had just held lingering fear and unease, were now clear, even revealing a chilling, desperate resolve.
"Sister Xi, we've arrived." She adjusted her facial expression, putting on that innocent and carefree smile again, as if everything before was just a little girl's momentary emotion.
Cui Yunxi gave her a deep look, but didn't say anything. He just nodded gently and said, "Get out of the car. Don't keep the host waiting."
The Lu family mansion was located in Yongxingfang, on the east side of the capital, a renowned area of wealth and status. Cui Yunshu and Cui Yunxi were personally led by the head steward of the Lu family mansion, passing through numerous corridors, towards the back garden where the banquet was being held.
Upon entering the garden, even Cui Yunshu, who was used to the extravagant scenes of top aristocratic families, couldn't help but secretly marvel.
Everywhere you look, there are exotic flowers and rare plants, vying for attention with their beauty. A path paved with warm jade winds its way forward, flanked by meticulously manicured landscapes, including artificial hills, flowing water, pavilions, and towers, all arranged in a harmonious and orderly fashion. The most eye-catching feature is the peonies that are scattered throughout the garden.
April is not the best time for peonies to bloom, yet in the Lu family's garden, peonies of all colors are in full bloom, clearly forced to open using special methods by the gardeners. Yao Huang, Wei Zi, Dou Lü, Zhao Fen... these rare and precious varieties are as common as ordinary flowers here.
Especially on both sides of the waterside pavilion leading to the main banquet area, there were no fewer than ten pots of "Royal Yellow". This flower has round petals, bright yellow color, and is so beautiful that it is the best of the peonies. A single pot is worth a hundred gold pieces, and ordinary people would find it difficult to find even one if they had money.[26] The Lu family had put up such a show for today's banquet.
Cui Yunshu sneered inwardly. The Lu family was merely a newly established official family with a shallow foundation. Their extravagant spending was simply an attempt to curry favor with the protagonist of today's banquet—Crown Prince Tang Jingcheng.
It's such a pity... she sighed inwardly. The stage that the Lu family had painstakingly built with thousands of taels of silver would ultimately benefit someone else, staging a scandal that could shake the very foundations of the nation. The investment and return were truly ironic.
"Miss Cui the eldest, Miss Cui the fourth—"
With a clear announcement from a maid, the noble ladies who had been chatting and laughing in small groups in the garden all turned their gazes toward this place.
The Cui family, the head of the five surnames and seven prominent clans, has been the crown jewel of the gentry for centuries. Cui Yunxi, as the eldest daughter of the Cui family and the future crown princess, is undoubtedly the focus among these noble ladies.
"I hope Sister Xi is well."
"Sister Yun Shu is here too."
Almost instantly, the Cui sisters were surrounded by a group of elegant ladies. They greeted them and chatted with them, whether sincerely or insincerely, their words full of warmth and flattery, showcasing the Cui family's status and influence in the highest social circles.
Faced with the adulation of the crowd, Cui Yunxi handled herself with grace and poise, every word and action a model of a noblewoman. A perfectly timed smile graced her face, neither appearing aloof nor lacking the poise and elegance befitting the legitimate daughter of the Cui family, making everyone who spoke with her feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.
Cui Yunshu lazily followed behind her older sister, playing the role of an innocent and pampered younger sister. She simply smiled and nodded, occasionally chiming in, but most of the time she silently observed everyone present, quietly plotting her next move.
Those present today were all daughters of prominent officials in the capital. These people were both her planned audience and the best medium for spreading public opinion. She needed an opportunity, an opportunity that could draw everyone's attention to "that matter."
Just as she was pondering, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.
"Oh, who do we have here? Isn't this Sister Cui Si, who caught a cold a few days ago and didn't even dare to attend the teacher's class?"
The voice was sharp and sarcastic, full of undisguised provocation.
Cui Yunshu looked up at the sound and saw a young girl in a peach-colored dress and adorned with jewels, arms crossed, looking at her with a mocking expression. It was Lu Man'er, the eldest daughter of the Lu family.
Cui Yunshu and Lu Man'er had never gotten along. This woman was arrogant and narrow-minded, yet she liked to put on an aloof act in front of others. The two had a falling out in a private school and had disliked each other ever since.
Today she was the hostess, and should have greeted her guests with a smile, but unexpectedly, her first words were barbed and sarcastic.
The surrounding air instantly fell silent, and everyone's eyes darted back and forth between Cui Yunshu and Lu Man'er, with an interest in watching a good show.
Cui Yunshu sneered inwardly, but feigned surprise and covered her mouth, blinking her almond-shaped eyes innocently. "Sister Lu, what are you saying? I did have a bad cold a few days ago, and my mother kept me from going out. I dare not compare myself to Sister Lu. I see that Sister Lu's complexion is rosy and her voice is booming today. She must be even more radiant than the imperial yellow robe in this garden. It's clear that she takes good care of herself."
Her words sounded like a compliment, but they were actually a veiled criticism of Lu Man'er for being vulgar and rude, and for speaking so loudly it sounded like she was arguing.
Lu Man'er's face stiffened. She naturally heard the sarcasm in her words and gritted her teeth, saying, "Your mouth is as sharp as ever! It was just a coincidence that I was kindly showing you some concern. As for you, you've just recovered from your illness and you're already attending the banquet. You should be careful. The teacher has also been invited today, and she is very intolerant of any nonsense."
She was implying that Cui Yunshu had been faking illness to skip class a few days ago and was trying to use the teacher to pressure her.
Upon hearing this, Cui Yunshu was not afraid at all. Instead, her eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands and laughed, "Oh, this is wonderful! I just happened to have something to say to the teacher. Thank you for reminding me, Sister Lu. May I ask where the teacher is? I suppose the teacher still hasn't found out which clumsy person broke her most beloved celadon vase from the previous dynasty?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Man'er's face turned deathly pale.
In the Great Qin Dynasty, women were not restricted from studying, and most noble ladies in the capital were taught by the same highly respected female tutor. This tutor was an old nanny from the palace, extremely fond of refined pursuits, especially a celadon vase from a previous dynasty, which she frequently polished. Not long ago, however, the vase was accidentally broken, and the tutor was furious for days, declaring that if she found out who it was, she would not let them off easily. The one who broke the vase was none other than Lu Man'er. She had kept this extremely secret, believing no one knew, but unexpectedly, Cui Yunshu publicly exposed her.
"Cui Yunshu, you...you're spouting nonsense!" Lu Man'er was both anxious and frightened, and her voice changed.
"I didn't say anything," Cui Yunshu spread her hands innocently. "I was just concerned about the teacher's vase. Why is Sister Lu so agitated? Could it be... that you were the one who broke the vase?"
At this, the surrounding noble ladies could no longer contain themselves and began to chuckle softly. Their gazes towards Lu Man'er were instantly filled with contempt and mockery.
"You...you..." Lu Man'er trembled with anger, her pretty face turning a deep purplish-red, yet she couldn't find a single word to refute. She pointed at Cui Yunshu and stammered "you" for a long time, finally stomping her foot in frustration and running away crying.
"What is Sister Lu doing?" A noblewoman who was on good terms with the Lu family said perfunctorily, but did not dare to chase after her.
A minor incident ended with Cui Yunshu's complete victory.
After Lu Man'er's figure completely disappeared, Cui Yunxi, who had been silent all along, frowned slightly and asked softly, "Fourth sister, has your relationship with that Lu girl always been like this?"
She didn't approve of her sister's aggressive attitude, but since the other sister had spoken rudely first, she couldn't criticize her too much.
"I'm sorry to have made Sister Xi laugh at me." Cui Yunshu put away her sharp edge and put on a docile look, explaining to her sister, "I've never gotten along with her. Her mouth is just too foul. Moreover, she's of bad character. She even wanted to take Sister Lan to places like Nanqu to fool around, but I caught her and ruined it. She's held a grudge against me ever since."
The Lan sister that Cui Yunshu mentioned is a sister from a collateral branch of the Cui family. She is simple-minded and easily influenced by others.
Upon hearing the words "Southern Opera," Cui Yunxi's brows furrowed even more. Such places, though supposedly elegant, were in reality havens for entertaining actors and performers; what respectable daughter would go there? "We should indeed stay away from such people," she said in a deep voice, tacitly agreeing with Cui Yunshu's decision. "Your sister Lan is the same; I need to speak with Mother later and have her properly instructed."
This minor incident, like a pebble thrown into a lake, only created a small ripple, yet it was clearly visible to all the noble ladies present. The fourth daughter of the Cui family was not the lazy, innocent, and naive girl the rumors suggested; her claws were sharp as daggers.
Through this small "test," Cui Yunshu confirmed one thing—her voice and influence in this circle were enough to guide the direction of public opinion.
That's enough.
She looked up into the depths of the garden, where guests gathered, laughing and chatting, creating a peaceful atmosphere. However, she knew that beneath this calm surface, undercurrents were beginning to stir.
Everything is ready, except for the east wind.
And that east wind that can overturn everything is coming soon.
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