Chapter 188 Holding a Knife
Cui Ying stared directly at the father and his two sons.
Cui Hao frowned as he looked at Cui Ying's change.
Three years ago, Cui Ying looked at him with eyes full of admiration.
Gentle, humble, dignified, and polite.
But it should never be as ostentatious as it is now.
“Ah Ying, Qin Jinzhi is not as simple as she seems. You should get away from Qianniao Si as soon as possible.”
Cui Ying looked at Cui Hao and chuckled, "Not simple? Of course not. Even the King of Ming lost to her, how could she be simple?"
Cui Hao's expression immediately turned serious.
"Ah Ying! Watch your words!"
He had always known that his younger sister was exceptionally talented and could even see through the political situation in the court, but Cui Ying had always been very tactful and would never speak so recklessly as she did today.
Cui Ying walked step by step to Cui Hao with her hands behind her back.
"Just a few days ago, Qin Jinzhi gave Father a cup of poisoned tea. There were two candidates for this cup of poisoned tea: me and my second brother. Guess who Father chose?"
Cui Hao looked at Prime Minister Cui in disbelief.
Prime Minister Cui's face darkened.
Sure enough, Ah Ying was outside the door that day.
Cui Ting also looked at Cui Ying in disbelief.
"Ah Ying! What nonsense are you spouting!"
Cui Ying raised her hand to interrupt Cui Ting.
“Actually, I should continue to feign compliance with Father, because what I want to do still requires the influence of the Cui family. However, I suddenly realized something today. Father, do you know that all the criminals who colluded with the Zheng family were sentenced today? I personally wrote down every single sentence.”
Prime Minister Cui was taken aback. "Do you know what the consequences of your actions will be?"
Cui Ying smiled calmly, "Scorned by the young ladies of the capital? Disliked by aristocratic families? Will no good marriage proposals ever come your way again? Father, in your eyes, is this all there is to controlling women?"
Cui Hao placed his hand on Cui Ying's shoulder. "Aying, I don't know what Father did, but if you've been wronged, your older brother will help you resolve it. However, you can't get involved with Qin Jinzhi, do you understand..."
Cui Ying removed Cui Hao's hand. "I know whether our Cui family has a grudge against her."
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Cui Ying slowly walked up to Prime Minister Cui.
"Father, I really wanted to ask you that day, we are all your children, why did you abandon me?"
From birth, I was raised according to worldly doctrines, forbidden from doing anything, because young ladies of noble families were not allowed to do so.
I'm like a soulless vase, waiting for you to choose the best buyer, and then I'll go to another shelf and continue being a vase.
My second brother's talent is far inferior to mine, yet in your heart I am far inferior to him, is it only because I am a girl?
When your second brother gained fame with my policy essays, were you relieved that your daughter could help him, or were you even proud of me for a moment?
Prime Minister Cui was silent for a moment, then said, "Aying, you are still young."
Cui Ying laughed out loud, "Aren't all parents who want to control their children the same? If they can't win an argument, they'll just say things like 'You're still young, it's for your own good'—all those hypocritical platitudes."
Something different began to appear in her eyes.
“I have returned today to tell my father that I will do anything I want as a woman, even if the road is full of thorns, even if you are the one who stands in my way. I will stand as a woman at a height that your beloved son can never reach, and I am proud of my womanhood.”
Prime Minister Cui's face darkened. "You want to sever ties with the Cui family? Without the Cui family, you are nothing! If it weren't for the Cui family, you would have died countless times over!"
Cui Ying smiled at him and said, "Father, you've grown old. Our father-daughter bond has vanished in that cup of poisoned tea."
She took a step back, drew her sword, and cleaved the stool beside her in two.
"Did Father always think this sword was just an ornament? Do you know now? I am alive because I have a knife in my hand."
Everyone present could hardly believe that Cui Ying actually knew martial arts.
Cui Hao never expected that the scene of family reunion would turn into a falling out between father and daughter.
Cui Ying walked to Madam Cui, whose eyes were brimming with tears, and said, "Mother, if you miss me, send someone to the Thousand Birds Bureau to find me."
Madam Cui clung tightly to Cui Ying, crying, "Aying! Don't go!"
It's as if if you let go, you'll never see your daughter again.
Cui Ying wiped away her tears. "No matter what, I will always be your daughter."
After saying that, she broke free from Madam Cui's hand and strode away.
"Ah Ying!"
Madam Cui chased after her to the door.
"That rebellious daughter! Let her go!"
Prime Minister Cui, with a gloomy expression, called out to Madam Cui.
Cui Ting couldn't believe what he was hearing today. He asked with some difficulty, "Father, is the poisoned tea thing true?"
My eldest brother has been intelligent since childhood and has always known what he wants.
Therefore, his father devoted all his energy to him.
Even with his reputation, he knew that he was indeed the least intelligent child in the Cui family.
Especially after my younger sister came of age.
This feeling was even more genuine when he gained fame with Cui Ying's policy essays.
But he felt that Cui Ying was a woman, and no matter how talented she was, she would only marry someone else. Moreover, she was his younger sister, and it was only right for her to pave the way for her brother and bring honor to the family.
But he never intended for Cui Ying to die!
"Qin Jinzhi! It's all Qin Jinzhi's fault! If it weren't for her, Aying wouldn't have ended up like this! It's all that villain's fault! Father, didn't you say Qin Jinzhi had a grudge against our family? It must be her who stirred up trouble between Aying and us! Get rid of her! Aying will naturally return home!"
Cui Hao's eyes also turned cold; he had truly underestimated Qin Jinzhi.
What could have caused Ah Ying to break ties with her family to this extent?
He exchanged a glance with Cui Cheng, his eyes darkening.
After leaving the Cui residence, Cui Ying went directly to the Zhenbei Prince's residence.
Who would have thought that one day this would become her safe haven?
Cui Ying returned to Qin Jinzhi's courtyard, where Yun Jin was lying and eating fruit.
She lay down next to Yun Jin and sighed, "Quickly, have the kitchen make me a bowl of wontons, I'm starving."
Yun Jin beckoned someone to the small kitchen and looked up at her.
"Why are you here? The princess isn't in the manor."
Cui Ying pouted, "There's nowhere else to go, so I have to come here."
Yun Jin looked at Cui Ying with a teasing expression, "Did you quarrel with your parents?"
Cui Ying thought for a moment, then said, "Let's say yes."
She stood up and asked, "Who taught the four of you your martial arts?"
Yun Jin took a bite of the fruit. "Master of Ghost Valley."
Cui Ying looked disappointed. "That's too far."
Yun Jin asked with some confusion, "Why are you asking this?"
Cui Ying said speechlessly, "You know what? I got pelted with vegetable leaves today, and I didn't dodge a single one! If those were hidden weapons, I'd be dead already!"
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it a little late for you to start learning now?"
Cui Ying shook her finger, "I have to learn no matter how late it is. I only have one life. If I'm not strong enough, what's the point of talking about ambition? It's like having the desire but not the ability to do it."
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