Chapter 23 Old Girl
A hint of cruelty flashed in Mrs. Zhou's cloudy eyes, and a quick hoarse sound came from her throat, obviously indicating her agreement.
Cui Baiyu got his mother's approval and a smug smile appeared on his face.
She adjusted her moon-white brocade jacket and skirt, which was plain and almost dull, but made of excellent material.
She adjusted a plain silver hairpin on her temples, trying hard to put on the appearance of a dignified and virtuous daughter who shared her mother's worries. She walked out of Yanshou Hall gracefully and went straight to the main courtyard.
In the warm room, Cui Xiao was talking with his mother, Xiao Zhou, telling some interesting stories in the palace.
When Xiao Zhou heard this, her eyes smiled and she held her son's hand tightly, not wanting to let go.
The door curtain was gently lifted and Cui Baiyu walked in.
She wore a gentle smile that was just right, with a hint of sadness and embarrassment, and bowed to Xiao Zhou.
"Sister-in-law is well."
When his eyes turned to Cui Xiao, his smile faded a little, and he took on the reserved look of an elder observing a younger person.
"Brother Xiao is back? That's good to see you back. You must have had a hard time along the way, right?"
Cui Xiao stood up and saluted politely
"Nephew meets aunt."
Her attitude was respectful, but her eyes were calm. He knew this "good aunt" too well.
The smile on Xiao Zhou's face also faded, and she only nodded slightly.
"Bai Yu is here? Please sit down." His tone was distant.
Cui Baiyu didn't care. She sat down on the embroidered cushion beside her, took out her handkerchief, gently pressed the non-existent tear marks at the corners of her eyes, and sighed softly.
"Alas, sister-in-law, Xiao'er, you don't know that mother... since Xiao'er entered the palace, her health has been getting worse day by day.
Today, upon learning that Xiao Ge'er had returned home, the old man waited from morning to afternoon, eagerly waiting for his grandson to come and kowtow and talk to him... But no matter how long he waited, there was no sign of him.
The old man was upset and had a heartache again. He kept groaning on the bed, muttering that his grandson was unfilial and had robbed his brother of his future.
Her grandmother didn’t even come to see her when she was sick with anger… As her daughter, I feel like my heart is broken when I see this…”
As she spoke, her voice choked, as if she had suffered a great injustice.
Every word was like a poisoned knife, openly complaining, but secretly full of accusations - Cui Xiao was unfilial! He disrespected his grandmother! He was unfriendly to his brothers! He made his elders sick!
The atmosphere in the warm room instantly dropped to freezing point.
The maids who served her didn't dare to breathe.
Cui Xiao's eyes turned slightly cold, and he was about to open his mouth to refute, but his mother gently held his hand.
Xiao Zhou sat upright in the main seat, and the remaining smile on her face completely disappeared.
She slowly picked up the blue and white covered bowl at hand and gently skimmed off the foam with the lid. Her movements were graceful and calm, but her eyes were like a sharp blade tempered with ice, slowly sweeping towards Cui Baiyu.
"Oh? Mother is not feeling well again?"
Xiao Zhou's voice was not loud, but it had a strange penetrating power. Every word was like ice beads hitting a jade plate, crisp and cold.
"Sister Baiyu, what you said sounds like we deliberately didn't go to Yanshou Hall to irritate Mother?"
She put down the tea bowl, looked directly at Cui Baiyu's face that pretended to be sad, and a very ironic arc appeared at the corner of her lips.
"Xiao'er just returned home today, he was very tired all the way. As a mother, I pulled my son aside to talk for a few words and have a bowl of hot soup.
Ask him if he is living well in the palace and whether he is being bullied... Isn't this human nature?
How come when my sister says that, it becomes unfilial? Does Xiao'er have to go hungry and brave the cold wind to kowtow and pay his respects to his grandmother who is "eagerly waiting for a grandchild" in order to be considered filial?
My sister's 'filial piety' is truly... moving and touching!"
These words were full of sarcasm and were extremely sharp, directly piercing Cui Baiyu's hypocritical "filial piety" to pieces!
The sadness on Cui Baiyu's face froze instantly, a trace of panic and resentment flashed in his eyes, and he forced a smile.
"Sister-in-law, you...you misunderstood! That's not what I meant! I just feel bad for mother..."
"Feeling sorry for your mother?"
Xiao Zhou interrupted her without any hesitation, as if she had heard a huge joke. Her voice suddenly rose, carrying a stern pressure.
"Cui Baiyu! Put away your hypocritical face! Who in this mansion doesn't know what kind of person you are?
How many despicable tricks did you use behind the scenes to snatch the marriage of your best friend, Miss Liu?
You spread rumors everywhere, saying that Miss Liu was having an affair and had a hidden illness! What happened? Miss Liu was innocent, but it was you who had your dirty thoughts exposed and your reputation was ruined!
Your best friend was nearly killed by you! You still have the nerve to talk to me about feeling sorry for her? Who have you ever felt sorry for? You only feel sorry for yourself!
Xiao Zhou's words were like a string of cannonballs, fast and harsh, directly hitting Cui Baiyu's most painful spot!
The old scar was torn open bloodily, and Cui Baiyu's face turned red in an instant, and then turned pale!
Like a cat whose tail was stepped on, she stood up suddenly and pointed at Xiao Zhou, her fingers trembling uncontrollably.
"You...you are slandering me! You are talking nonsense!"
"Am I talking nonsense?"
Xiao Zhou sneered and stood up, her posture straight and imposing. Her usually gentle eyebrows and eyes now showed a sharp edge, like a lioness protecting her cubs.
"Do you want me to call the old nanny who handled this matter back then and the Liu family servants you bribed over for a confrontation?
Look who's slandering you? Cui Baiyu, you've been hiding in Yanshou Hall all these years, relying on the old lady's protection, pretending to be as innocent as a white lotus. Do you really think that others have forgotten your dirty deeds?
She approached Cui Baiyu step by step, her eyes as cold as a knife
"The old lady is now paralyzed and confused. How long can she protect you? You'd better behave yourself! Keep your tail between your legs and behave yourself!
If you dare to have those evil thoughts again, if you dare to instigate the old lady to make trouble again, if you dare to throw dirty water on my son again..."
Xiao Zhou's voice suddenly lowered, carrying a chilling chill, and clearly reached Cui Baiyu's ears.
"The old lady won't live for many years, and your eldest brother and I are still the masters of this mansion!
"You are an old maiden with a bad reputation, living in a marquis' mansion, and relying on your brother and sister-in-law for support. Should I send you to the family temple to live out your remaining days, or marry you off to a poor man? It all depends on my decision! If you don't believe me, just try it!"
The old girl who rotted in the Marquis's mansion!
Send the green lamps and ancient Buddhas to the family temple!
Just pair him up with a pauper and send him out!
Every word was like a red-hot iron, burning Cui Baiyu's most fragile and fearful nerves!
The mask of "nobleness" and "weakness" that she had painstakingly cultivated for many years was completely torn apart, revealing her true face that had long been rotten and was filled with only viciousness and fear!
"ah--!"
Cui Baiyu let out a sharp, piercing scream like a night owl, and could no longer maintain any composure!
She seemed to have lost all her strength, and as if she was being chased by an evil spirit. She covered her face and stumbled out of the warm room, crying shrilly and desperately, running all the way back to Yanshou Hall.
There was dead silence in the warm room.
The maids lowered their heads and were silent as a mouse, but if you looked closely, you could see that several of them were shaking their shoulders slightly, obviously trying hard to hold back their laughter!
Cui Baiyu relied on the old lady's favor in the mansion to bully others and secretly made trouble for the eldest wife.
The servants were angry but dared not speak. Today, the lady's hearty scolding was simply a vent for everyone's anger!
Xiao Zhou slowly exhaled a breath of foul air, and the sharp edge on her face instantly subsided, returning to her usual gentle and dignified appearance.
She straightened her sleeves, as if she had just brushed off a tiny bit of dust, and turned to look at Cui Xiao, her eyes instantly becoming gentle and loving.
"Xiao'er, are you scared? Don't pay attention to that rotten thing. Come, try this freshly made chestnut cake. Mother saved it especially for you."
Cui Xiao watched his mother scolding his sister-in-law smoothly and felt nothing in his heart. He even felt like laughing.
He was very familiar with his mother's ability to change her face. In front of outsiders, his mother was a dignified, elegant and impeccable marquis.
In front of his father... well, his father's majestic image as a marquis was nothing but a paper tiger in front of his mother. Cui Xiao had seen this play of pretending to be pitiful and vying for favor since he was a child.
"Mother is mighty!"
Cui Xiao picked up a piece of chestnut cake and stuffed it into his mouth, praising it vaguely.
"My son admires me so much! I bow down to him!"
Xiao Zhou glared at him angrily, but there was a smile in her eyes that she couldn't hide.
"Stop talking nonsense! Eat quickly! Afterwards, accompany your mother to the storeroom to check out the list of New Year gifts. Your father is a hands-off manager and cannot be relied upon."
The mother and son smiled at each other, and warmth returned to the warm room.
The cries and curses coming from Yanshou Hall seemed to be completely isolated by the thick courtyard walls and could not reach this world firmly protected by maternal love.
In the warm room of the west wing, the young eunuch Xiao Shunzi was holding a steaming cup of tea, his ears perked up.
The noise from the main courtyard could be faintly heard.
He heard everything from his wife's sonorous and powerful "teachings" that were delivered without using any curse words but were piercing to the heart, as well as Cui Baiyu's miserable crying and running away...
Xiao Shunzi lowered his head and took a sip of tea, with a barely perceptible curve at the corner of his mouth.
The wife of Marquis Weiyuan...is indeed worthy of her reputation.
The water in this marquis's mansion is quite deep.
However, it is a blessing for the prince to have such a strong and protective mother.
I'll report to Eunuch Fu later about Miss Cui's romantic affairs. I'm sure Your Majesty will find them... quite interesting?
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