Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Jinjiang First Release
Chapter 31
Just when Cui Shunying came back with the whip, something unexpected happened.
Cui Shunying's carriage broke down, but the auspicious time for the trip was approaching.
Hundreds of noble families were eagerly waiting for the Cui family's carriage to lead the way. The timing of the journey had to be exactly right, without any delay, otherwise it would be a great disrespect to the royal family.
The temporary change of carriage would delay the process for a long time. After much deliberation, Cui Shunying directly pulled Su Li and ran to Cui Jue for help.
Cui Jue lifted the curtain, glanced at his fourth sister, who was running breathlessly, and instructed the steward, "Fourth Sister's carriage will be sent to Wutong Mountain after it is repaired. Time is tight today, so she will ride with me into the mountains first."
Steward: “Yes.”
Cui Shunying breathed a sigh of relief and pretended to climb onto the footstool to get on the bus.
After getting in the car, Cui Shunying stared at Su Li and begged Cui Jue, "Brother, Sister Su always rides with me. I know you like quiet and don't want to be disturbed by others, but I really don't want to send her to the car of other distant cousins..."
Perhaps fearing Cui Jue's disapproval, Cui Shunying lied solemnly, "Brother, you don't know, Sister Su is known for her chastity and gentleness. If such a kindhearted person were to ride in the same car with other jealous young ladies, she would surely be eaten alive. Could you please let her ride as well?"
Cui Jue remained silent for a while as he listened to Cui Shunying lying with her eyes open.
Demure and gentle? Such evaluations have nothing to do with this woman.
Cui Jue inexplicably recalled the way Su Li sat down with her hands on his shoulders at night.
The girl didn't have a big appetite, and when she ate too much, the corners of her eyes turned red and tearful, as if they were soaked with the spring beauty of hibiscus, but she still stubbornly clenched her teeth and tried hard to swallow it...
Until it is swallowed.
She is truly the most daring young lady in the world.
Cui Jue lowered his long eyelashes and took a sip of tea calmly.
Su Li saw that he was so elegant and refined, and she felt a little impatient that he had to think about such a trivial matter for so long.
Su Li didn't want to embarrass Cui Shunying, so she tried to smooth things over, saying, "The eldest son is a model of aristocratic family and a role model for the Wudong Cui family. The carriage he rides in is naturally the pioneer of the county. I am a daughter of the Su family, and it is inappropriate for me to ride in the same carriage with Fourth Lady and the eldest son. I'd better go..."
"But." Before Su Li could finish, a man's cold voice came, interrupting her self-deprecating words.
Su Li was stunned.
Cui Shunying clapped her hands joyfully and pulled Suli into the car.
Cui Shunying: "Brother has asked Sister Su to come up, so don't refuse. Let's go. The auspicious time to leave the city is approaching, and we can't delay any longer!"
Su Li was pulled by Cui Shunying and had no choice but to climb onto Cui Jue's carriage.
Several loud trumpet sounds were heard outside the carriage, and black-armored cavalrymen lined up to support Cui Jue's carriage as it moved forward, like a black torrent surging out with great momentum.
Inside the car, the door curtains were drawn and porcelain lamps were burning in the four corners of the car. The light was dim and the atmosphere was quiet and distant.
There is also a gold-painted Suan Ni incense burner burning incense balls, and streams of lotus incense are curling up from the carved roof. The air is filled with smoke, and it feels like being in a fairyland. The carriage has become a small world isolated from the outside world.
Su Li sat on the soft wool felt mat. When she thought of Cui Jue beside her, she felt uneasy and could not sit still.
Compared to Su Li, Cui Shunying is very accustomed to riding in the same car with Cui Jue, and will even ask him if there are any snacks and refreshments in the car.
Cui Jue did not forget to review the memorials from the various county dukes on his way into the mountains. He put down his ink-soaked wolf-hair brush, glanced at the box beside him, and whispered, "Go find it yourself."
The maids were afraid that their masters would be tired from the journey, so they would prepare snacks and candied fruits in the carriage.
However, Cui Jue did not like to eat outside of meal times and had never eaten these sweets.
Cui Shunying was not polite with her brother. She took the eight-treasure box, opened the lid, and shared the snacks with Su Li.
Sesame crisps, soybean crisps, mung bean cakes, candied plums...
They are all fashionable snacks.
Su Li instinctively felt that Cui Jue in front of her had turned back into the evil ghost who was difficult to approach. She did not dare to offend this elder who never showed his emotions, so she did not eat a single sweet food to avoid offending him.
Su Li stood there motionless, and spoke very little.
Completely different from usual.
It's too quiet.
After Cui Jue closed a scroll of bamboo slips, he glanced at her quietly.
Today, Su Li wore a spring gown with a green background and twined flowers. The color of the dress, which was full of spring, matched the two green jujube velvet flowers in her thick black hair, making her look extremely gentle and elegant. Two pairs of jade earrings dangled from her plump ears, and the cool breeze rustled the beads.
A few days ago, Su Li was wearing a peach blossom spring gown. At that time, there happened to be a pink peach blossom with green calyx in the Mudong Pavilion, peeking out from the white walls and black tiles...
Cui Jue tapped the table a few times with his fingertips, the sound was dull and rhythmic, and he seemed to be thinking about something.
Su Li dresses according to the seasonal fruits. Today she is wearing green, which may be because the jujube trees in the Cui family are just beginning to bear fruit.
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Su Li was not very interested in such elegant banquets and gatherings of scholars. Compared to these, she preferred to go fishing in the river in the hot summer and catch crabs with a bamboo basket... However, ladies from wealthy families paid great attention to their ankles and would never take off their shoes and wade in water in front of others.
It's a pity.
Su Li was immersed in her own thoughts, frowning and sighing from time to time.
Cui Shunying thought the tea in her hand was bitter when she saw it, so she asked in a low voice: "Sister Su, don't you like this tea? This is the tea sent from Jiangzhou, and it's mixed with some mutton fat. It's the most popular way of making it in Jiangnan. I saw that my brother liked it, and I thought my sister would like it too, so I asked him to make a few bowls..."
Su Li was so lost in thought just now that she didn't notice that Cui Jue had put away the bamboo documents and was watching over a small red clay stove, controlling the fire and making tea.
Fortunately, the carriage was not bumpy and sparks did not fly out of the stove. However, after boiling two bowls of tea, Cui Jue extinguished the scarlet charcoal fire with water.
Su Li looked at Cui Jue, who was as graceful as a bamboo. How could she dare to say that his tea-making skills were not good? In a hurry, she took a mouthful of tea and swallowed it, praising him repeatedly: "The tea soup is clear and smooth, and the taste is sweet. It tastes good."
Seeing her embarrassment, Cui Shunying couldn't help but smile.
She wanted to help Su Li out, so she put down her tea bowl, took Su Li's arm, and said to Cui Jue, "Brother, please have someone serve us some goat milk sweet soup! The tea here is so elegant, it's really beyond the comprehension of common people like us."
Cui Jue didn't say anything. When the carriage stopped for a rest, he ordered his servants to bring two bowls of boiled goat's milk, and added some chopped pecans, raisins, and green and red shredded vegetables to the bowls.
Wutong Mountain is not far from the capital. After a day's journey, we finally arrived at the foot of the mountain.
The ceremonial officers had already set up the tents for the guests at the foot of the mountain, and even prepared the fine wines and venison and lamb ribs for the banquet.
The dark forests in the mountains became bright as day because of the burning fire pits.
Su Li and Cui Shunying got out of the car together. As soon as their toes touched the ground, they bumped into Li Muyao, who was dressed in a gorgeous outfit.
The princess was dressed elegantly today, in a scarlet skirt with lotus flowers, and a Yaohuang shawl on her arm. As she walked, her black hair swayed gently like flowers fluttering on branches, making her the most beautiful among all the beauties.
Li Muyao originally wanted to invite Cui Jue to join her at the table, but unexpectedly she saw Su Li getting off Cui Jue's carriage.
Even though Li Muyao knew that it was most likely Cui Shunying who asked Su Li to get in the car, she was still very upset.
Li Muyao's eyes flickered. She suppressed her anger and pretended to be magnanimous. She said to Su Li, "I would like to invite Madam Su to chat for a while. I wonder if Madam Su would like to come with us?"
Li Muyao suddenly spoke so friendly, and if she was being too attentive for no reason, she was either a traitor or a thief. Cui Shunying was unwilling to let Su Li go, but Cui Jue got off the car early to help the ceremonial officer prepare a banquet, and she could not find a more powerful person to suppress Li Muyao.
Li Muyao also knew that Cui Shunying had no way to stop her. After all, the princess's order also represented the decree of the royal family, unless Su Li wanted to disobey it.
Su Li didn't want to embarrass Cui Shunying, and there were dignitaries around her. They saw Li Muyao taking her away, so she didn't dare to kill Su Li in public.
Thinking of this, Su Li felt at ease and bowed to Li Muyao: "Princess, I am very happy to invite you."
Li Muyao raised the corner of her lips and took her away.
Su Li followed Li Muyao to a magnificent tent.
The candlelight in the tent was brilliant. Several pretty maids lowered their heads and listened. Li Muyao sat at the head of the table, looking at Su Li with unfriendly eyes.
The girl lowered her head submissively, like a lamb to be slaughtered.
Li Muyao stared at Su Li, feeling puzzled. To be honest, apart from her decent face, Su Li was really ordinary in other aspects. She had no maternal family to rely on, nor did she come from a noble family with a good reputation. How could such a woman catch Cui Jue's eye?
Li Muyao pondered in her heart, narrowed her beautiful eyes, and stared at Su Li carefully.
As if he wanted to make her blossom.
Su Li felt that she had really suffered an unexpected disaster. Why should Cui Jue help pay off his own peach blossom debt?
But when she thought about it carefully, she was indeed wrong. After all, she was ordered to borrow seed and got close to Cui Jue.
The woman in front of him was Cui Jue’s wife.
Su Li let Li Muyao hesitate until she asked, "Madam Su, I know the Cui family has few descendants and will not be able to stick to just one wife in the future. Since the eldest master is interested in you, I want to help him... How about this, I let the eldest master take you as a concubine in the future, okay?"
Su Li didn't know what Li Muyao meant by this. Was she upholding the upbringing of the eldest wife and wanting to take her under her wing for long-term planning to help her maintain her favor? Or was it a meaningful warning to test whether Su Li had any bad intentions?
But Su Li had no interest in Cui Jue and would never become his concubine.
Therefore, what Su Li said was sincere.
She knelt down and saluted, saying to Li Muyao, "I know my family is of low status, but a small family in Lanhe County. I dare not marry a noble young master."
Su Li lowered her head timidly, looking really frightened and terrified, which was really pitiful.
Li Muyao didn't know whether her words were true or not, but she felt a little relieved after hearing them.
She laughed. "It's amazing that Madam Su still has self-awareness. That's very good. Speaking of which, I once found a good marriage for you, but you didn't want it... Could it be that you're still thinking about the eldest young master, saying one thing to my face and another behind my back?"
Su Li almost instantly thought of what happened in the Cui family villa that night.
Prince Jing was led into the Cui family's backyard and almost took possession of her by force. Su Li was helpless and had she not met Cui Jue, she would have been in danger.
It turned out to be Li Muyao's arrangement, and it was she who "introduced" Su Li to Prince Jing.
It turns out that Li Muyao's best friend was to send her to her brother's bed and force her into a cage. That was really great...
Su Li thought of the despair that almost overwhelmed her that day, and clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.
But Su Li was used to being patient. She was moved for a moment, and quickly suppressed the anger in her eyes: "I... dare not."
"Really?" Li Muyao scoffed. "I think you're quite bold... But you should also know that in the eyes of the eldest young master, you're just a toy. You know full well that the eldest young master is very powerful in politics and has connections everywhere. If he wanted to stand up for you, he would definitely punish my second brother. But he knew you were being humiliated, but he didn't take any action. I guess he was just trying to appease you with words in the red silk tent, teaching you to keep quiet."
"Su Li, don't blame me for not reminding you. With your status, you are not even qualified to be a concubine of Wudong Cui. Don't even think about using your beauty to please the master. Otherwise, when your beauty fades and your love fades, your fate will be a thousand times worse than it is now!"
Su Li listened to Li Muyao's warning silently and just kept saying that she didn't dare.
Su Li thought that Li Muyao came here specifically to call her to task, and seemed to take her seriously... Su Li never thought that Cui Jue would help her, and she knew that she could not shake Cui Jue at all.
But Li Muyao would definitely not believe this. Instead of arguing, it would be better to remain silent and endure it.
The lights in the tent flickered and crackled, and the candles wept.
Su Li's knees were numb from kneeling, but she kept her head down and didn't move at all.
Perhaps because she was obedient, Li Muyao stopped scolding her.
Before Li Muyao finished her cup of tea, a palace maid suddenly came to tell her that Cui Jue was outside asking to see her.
Li Muyao's eyebrows, which had just been frowned, immediately raised again. She glared at the vixen kneeling under the table with gritted teeth.
Li Muyao said sarcastically: "That's a good trick, but by calling you to say a few words, I can urge the eldest master to come and protect the person!"
Su Li's tongue was tingling with bitterness, wondering why Cui Jue had come to join in the fun. She could have just endured and everything would have been fine, but by coming to the princess's tent, wouldn't he be making Li Muyao think that she was truly favored by Cui Jue?
This guy is really harmful.
Li Muyao did not stop Cui Jue outside the tent, lest he think that she was petty and could not tolerate the beauty she had loved for a few days.
The thin tent cloth was lifted by a few thin finger bones, and the man, dressed in white clothes as white as snow and with a figure as firm as a pine tree, stepped into the tent.
The bright firelight in the tent illuminated Cui Jue's handsome face with cold eyebrows and eyes.
He strode inside, his sleeves folded wide, and said to Li Muyao, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince is hosting a banquet outside the tent and has ordered me to bring the Princess to the table."
When he spoke, his tone was neither humble nor arrogant, without any intimacy or deliberate coldness. He didn't even glance at Su Li who was kneeling at the table. It seemed that he was only there to pass on the message and was not there to help her out at all.
Li Muyao couldn't see through Cui Jue, but since she had to attend the banquet, she definitely couldn't keep Su Li in the tent any longer.
She waved to Su Li and told everyone to stand up. "In that case, Madam Su, please leave first. We had a very pleasant conversation today. We can talk again some other time if we have the chance."
Su Li nodded and said yes meekly.
Su Li didn't look up, but as she was leaving, she felt a cold gaze on the top of her head. It was as if it was real, and it made her hair stand on end.
Su Li guessed that it was Cui Jue who was looking at her, but she didn't dare to look up to confirm.
It’s better to leave this place as soon as possible.
Before Su Li could leave the tent, she suddenly heard Li Muyao behind her speaking coquettishly to Cui Jue, "Young Master, when you gave me incense in public last time, it was a public announcement to the world that the Cui family was interested in marrying into the royal family... Father has been sending ceremonial officials to the Cui family to request the birth certificate and the names of our two birthdates, and to calculate our birth dates and fortunes, but Young Master has repeatedly shirked responsibility, saying he's busy with state affairs and will discuss it later."
Li Muyao bit her lip and hurriedly caught up with him. "The eldest young master has been attending a banquet recently, so he's finally free. If the ceremonial officer asks for my name again, I can't think of another excuse to refuse, right?"
Royal weddings also follow the six folk rituals, one of which is to compare the birth dates of the man and woman. If it is a match made in heaven, the marriage can continue.
Logically speaking, before the ceremony of asking for the princess' name, the marriage proposal and the betrothal gift should be discussed first, that is, the Wudong Cui family should ask for permission and ask the royal family to arrange the marriage, hoping that the princess will be born and marry into a noble family.
But the Cui family is incredibly powerful, with a wealth accumulated over millennia, and they disregard even the imperial power. Aristocratic families prioritize family fortune above all else, so if the Cui family is considering a marriage, they must first calculate the two people's horoscopes to see if they are a match made in heaven.
Su Li paused.
In other words, once Cui Jue agrees to the horoscope, the royal family will definitely find a way to make this marriage a match made in heaven.
Su Li had no intention of prying into other people's private affairs, but she couldn't dodge in time. Before she left, she heard Cui Jue's calm and peaceful response: "Yes."
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