Chapter 81 Slightly tipsy, he playfully teased her.
When Cui Ying returned to Qiyun Pavilion, it was already dusk. The twilight filtered through the branches of the paulownia trees, creating a scene of icy snow, yet exuding a peaceful warmth.
Humming a little tune she had just learned on the streets, she walked briskly, her clothes fluttering, and pushed open the door.
The underfloor heating in the room was burning brightly, and the warmth mixed with a faint pear scent was very relaxing.
Cui Ying stretched, kicked off her shoes, and, too lazy to call a maid to serve her, loosened her hair, took off her outer robe, and comfortably lay down on the bed, preparing to rest for a while before bathing and changing.
The tent was warm and dry, the bedding smelled of sunshine, and there was a faint, barely perceptible odor of alcohol.
Cui Ying didn't care too much, found a comfortable position, turned to the side, and prepared to close her eyes and rest.
Just as she turned over to face the inside of the bed, her forehead unexpectedly bumped into a warm and firm touch.
Both of them gasped in pain at the same time.
Cui Ying subconsciously looked up and her eyes fell on a familiar handsome face.
Xiao Qiyu frowned deeply, rubbing his flushed chin. His dark hair was scattered messily on the pillow, and his pale cheeks were flushed with an unusual blush. His lips, which were usually tightly pursed, were slightly parted, and his breath carried a faint smell of alcohol, lingering between the two of them in their close breaths.
Cui Ying was stunned for a moment, then suddenly shrank back: "What are you doing here?"
Cui Ying's gaze swept over Xiao Qiyu's flushed lips as he gently inhaled, and her heart suddenly raced. Her voice quickened as she asked, "You've been so busy with social engagements these days, haven't you always stayed in the outer study?"
Xiao Qiyu's chin pain eased somewhat, her long eyelashes trembled, and she slowly lifted her eyelids. Her dark phoenix eyes, unlike their usual coldness and aloofness, were filled with a flushed, drunken look and a deep weariness as she stared straight at Cui Ying.
He seemed to have been abruptly woken by Cui Ying while he was sound asleep. He raised an eyebrow, somewhat displeased, and said in a low, hoarse, and indistinct voice, "I just have a lot of social engagements, it's not like I died out there. Why wouldn't I come back? This is my home, my room, my—"
Seeing the girl's flowing black hair, almond-shaped eyes, and peach-blossom cheeks reflected in his eyes, Xiao Qiyu swallowed the last word, "my person," which had just slipped out.
His long eyelashes concealed the turbulent emotions in his eyes, and he closed them again: "I'm so sleepy, don't make a sound, let me sleep a little longer."
Cui Ying was speechless when she saw his drunken state, which was completely different from his usual self.
She pursed her lips, deciding not to argue with a drunkard, and threw back the covers to get out of bed: "Okay, you can sleep slowly, I'll change my clothes and go find Xiao Shu and the others to play."
Suddenly, a large hand reached out and gripped her wrist tightly.
"Where are you going?" Xiao Qiyu's eyes remained closed, but his brows furrowed even more tightly, and his breathing became much faster.
"Didn't I tell you? Go play with your sister." Cui Ying tried to pull her hand away, but found that he was holding it tightly and she couldn't break free.
"You're not allowed to go," Xiao Qiyu muttered.
He spoke with an air of self-righteousness, his drunkenness carrying a hint of arrogance, a stark contrast to his usual aloof demeanor: "I haven't seen you in so long."
Cui Ying's heart skipped a beat. She looked down at Xiao Qiyu's profile, his eyes reddened by alcohol, and a strange softness stirred within her.
A mischievous thought crossed her mind, and she deliberately leaned closer, whispering in his ear, "What? Missed me?"
Xiao Qiyu's eyelashes trembled, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he let out a soft snort from his nose, an extremely indistinct breathy sound, like saying "humph" or "hmm".
Cui Ying naturally assumed he was mocking her, and instead of getting angry, she softened her voice and said, "You don't miss me? That's such a pity, I really miss you..."
The large hand gripping her wrist suddenly tightened, and her steady pulse suddenly pounded wildly.
"—You big idiot! Let go of my hand!" Cui Ying revealed her true colors, fiercely completing her sentence.
Xiao Qiyu's chest heaved noticeably, as if he was quite angry at her heavy breathing. He took a deep breath and barely managed to suppress his overwhelming emotions.
But he still didn't open his eyes or let go of her hand. Instead, he naturally put his other arm around Cui Ying's waist, as if afraid that she would really run away.
At first, Cui Ying only struggled, but later she simply took action, using both her hands and feet to attack Xiao Qiyu.
Xiao Qiyu then grabbed her ankle and pulled her back onto the bed, playfully teasing her while drunk and touching places he wouldn't dare touch when sober.
Xiao Qiyu's fingertips inadvertently brushed against a rough edge of Cui Ying's sleeve, and his eyes suddenly cleared. He asked seriously, "How did your sleeve get torn?"
Is it broken?
Cui Ying glanced down and said, "Oh, it must have been accidentally torn somewhere. Don't worry about it."
She spoke casually, seemingly unconcerned.
Xiao Qiyu examined it closely and couldn't see how it was torn; it looked more like it was deliberately ripped.
He lowered his expression and was about to question Cui Ying about whether she had gotten into a fight outside when Cui Jin's voice came from outside the door, saying that the Third Young Mistress was requesting an audience.
"Let go of my hand! My third sister-in-law is here to see me!"
Unable to break free, Cui Ying bit Xiao Qiyu's wrist hard. Xiao Qiyu cried out in pain and finally allowed her to crawl out from under him.
"Invite the people to the east flower hall for tea, and tell them I will be there shortly," Cui Ying said loudly. "Then bring in a few more people to help me change my clothes and do my hair."
Upon hearing the sound, Cui Jin entered and restyled her hair into a simple yet elegant updo, then changed her into a dress she usually wore at home.
Xiao Qiyu also sat up and watched Cui Ying walk to the dressing mirror to check his appearance.
His gaze gradually shifted from her to the men's clothing she had changed out of.
Looking at the torn cuff, Xiao Qiyu pursed his thin lips, a deep suspicion flashing in his eyes, but ultimately did not ask any further questions.
On the other side, Cui Ying looked at herself in the mirror several times to make sure her clothes were appropriate before leading Cui Jin slowly towards the flower hall.
Inside the flower hall, the charcoal brazier burned warmly, and the air was filled with the delicate aroma of tea.
Qian Qiuchan did not sit down, but paced around the hall, looking somewhat uneasy.
Hearing footsteps, she turned around and saw Cui Ying. She immediately put on a warm smile and said, "Sister-in-law, you're here. It's so late. I apologize for disturbing your rest."
He jokingly curtsied to Cui Ying, his graceful demeanor a stark contrast to his earlier outburst in the garden.
Cui Ying quickly helped her up, her tone equally warm: "Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Please sit down. Did you come so late because you have something important to discuss with me?"
Qian Qiuchan sat down as instructed, gracefully picked up her teacup, gently stirred the foam, kept her eyes fixed on Cui Ying, and smiled warmly. She did not explain her purpose, but chatted with Cui Ying about everyday matters.
After the two had chatted and laughed for a couple of rounds and the atmosphere had become more relaxed, Qian Qiuchan sighed, lowered her head and remained silent, looking distressed.
Cui Ying then asked, "Is something troubling you, sister-in-law?"
Qian Qiuchan's eyes were red and her expression was sorrowful: "Sister-in-law, when we women live in this big house, in the end, it's nothing more than sweeping the snow from our own doorstep and living a peaceful life. Why make things difficult for each other and offend people? Don't you think so?"
Cui Ying nodded vigorously, her face full of sincerity: "Sister-in-law is right. Fortunately, I'm not one to meddle in other people's business, so I don't offend anyone."
Qian Qiuchan's eyes flickered, and her words were easily cut off, leaving her feeling displeased.
She suddenly winked at the maid behind her, who immediately brought over a bundle wrapped in brocade and placed it on the small rosewood table between the two of them.
“Speaking of which, I was cleaning out old things a few days ago and found some old clothes that your third brother wore in his younger days.”
As Qian Qiuchan spoke, she personally opened the bundle, revealing a fine indigo blue robe. However, it had obviously been altered, with the shoulders and waistline deliberately narrowed, making it fit a woman's figure better than men's clothing.
“I thought the material was of excellent quality and it would be a waste to throw it away. I also heard that my sister-in-law went out dressed as a man again today, so I thought I would alter it to a smaller size and give it to her to wear next time she goes out.”
Qian Qiuchan casually examined the fabric, and with a "casual" lift of her finger, she slightly lifted the garment, revealing gleaming gold ingots and countless other jewels underneath.
Qian Qiuchan stared intently at Cui Ying's expression, waiting for her reaction.
Cui Ying glanced indifferently at the pile of gold and silver jewelry, her face showing little emotion. Instead, she smiled, looked up to meet Qian Qiuchan's gaze, and blinked her bright almond-shaped eyes, saying, "Sister-in-law, you are joking. Ever since I was confined by His Majesty, I have never left the inner chambers. How could I have ever gone out? Let alone dressed as a man. I really have no use for these clothes. Sister-in-law, you should take them back."
Qian Qiuchan's smile froze for a moment before returning to normal. She leaned forward and lowered her voice even further: "Sister-in-law, since you're like this, I have no choice but to speak frankly. We sisters-in-law are, in the end, family. That's better than those outsiders who don't know our background. Why hurt our family harmony for the sake of some unrelated people? Don't you think so?"
Upon hearing this, Cui Ying's face immediately showed confusion. She slightly furrowed her beautiful brows, looking quite innocent: "Sister-in-law, I don't understand a single word you said today. What outsider? What hurt our harmony? I'm a dullard, please enlighten me, sister-in-law."
Seeing that she was unmoved by reason and continued to play dumb, Qian Qiuchan finally lost her last bit of patience. She lowered her voice and said through gritted teeth, "Cui Ying! There's no one else here, why do you need to pretend anymore? Tell me the truth, was it you who rescued that little slut named Jingnu today!"
Cui Ying met her piercing gaze with clear, unwavering eyes, even carrying a hint of grievance at being unjustly questioned: "Jingnu? Rescue her? Sister-in-law, the more you talk, the more confused I get. I stay in the manor all day and don't even know who this person you're talking about is. How can you talk about rescuing or not rescuing her?"
"you!"
Qian Qiuchan was so angry that her chest heaved. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly, pointing her finger at Cui Ying's nose. Old and new grudges surged into her heart at once, and her voice was sharp and piercing: "Stop pretending to be crazy here! I haven't settled the score with you for causing my brother to be childless! Are you going to add another grudge to my record for that bitch!"
Upon hearing the words "extinction of his lineage," Cui Ying's eyes widened instantly, revealing an expression of extreme shock. She abruptly covered her lips with her hand, unable to believe it: "What? Extinction of his lineage? Imperial Censor Qian has actually suffered such misfortune? Sister-in-law, is what you say true? This is truly..."
It's truly a miracle! A truly miraculous turn of events!
That bastard Qian Peng deserves it!
Qian Qiuchan was so angry at Cui Ying's expression that she trembled all over, pointing her finger at her nose, unable to say a word.
Cui Ying's eyes reddened, and she gently took the hand that Qian Qiuchan was pointing at her nose with. Her eyes were glistening with sincerity: "Sister-in-law, things have come to this, so don't be too sad. Be careful not to hurt yourself."
“It’s just a matter of losing one’s lineage, nothing serious,” Cui Ying pondered. “Although there is no precedent in our dynasty for appointing a cripple to an official position, I’m sure the higher-ups will understand. If Censor Qian’s future is truly bleak, I might have the honor of speaking a few words with Eunuch Ma, who serves in the imperial court. If my sister-in-law needs it, I will certainly beg Eunuch Ma to bring Censor Qian into the palace and personally train him.”
Cui Ying spoke with unwavering conviction, earnestness, and righteous indignation: "Even if he were to become a father-in-law, he would be the most promising one among them!"
Just as Qian Qiuchan's face turned ashen with anger, a very low chuckle suddenly came from outside the door.
Cui Ying turned to look—
A tall figure appeared in the lamplight and snowlight, dressed in a black robe with a jade-like face, phoenix eyes, and thin lips.
When Qian Qiuchan saw Xiao Qiyu, she forcibly suppressed the resentment on her face and said with a forced smile, "Seventh brother, you've come at the right time. You be the judge. Your sister-in-law is too difficult to talk to. It's just a trivial matter. Do you expect me, as her sister-in-law, to kneel down and beg her?"
Seeing that he had been discovered, Xiao Qiyu simply walked in openly and slowly. The drunkenness in his voice had been blown away by the wind and snow, leaving only a calm and indifferent tone. He looked at Cui Ying and said, "You really are something."
"Third Sister-in-law came over late at night, isn't it all for Censor Qian's future? What's so difficult about that?"
After saying that, he turned to Qian Qiuchan and said, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. It just so happens that the Imperial Stables is short of a person in charge of feeding the horses. Why don’t we send Imperial Censor Qian to the palace tomorrow to fill the vacancy?”
Upon hearing this, Qian Qiuchan was so angry that she almost fainted.
She gripped the sturdy table, the veins on her forehead almost bursting, gritted her teeth, raised her hand and pointed at Xiao Qiyu, then at Cui Ying, as if she wanted to etch their faces deep into her bones. Finally, she snorted coldly and turned away.
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Author's Note: Today we're a villainous couple [doge emoji]
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