Only then did Cui Yeping react to those words. He ordered his men to release Cao Kuan first. “Someone from the palace?”
Cao Kuan’s entire body trembled as he answered, “That person let it slip. I said I was afraid we’d be discovered, but he told me that the Cui family was nothing—how could it compare with the master in the palace? That was why I dared to help him carry out his plans.”
Cui Yeping’s tightly furrowed brows did not relax. “What else?”
“N-Nothing else.”
Cui Yeping said coldly, “Take him to the authorities!”
“My lord!” Cao Kuan cried. “Didn’t you say you’d let me go if I revealed that person’s identity? Why are you going back on your word? My lord, spare me! Spare me!”
Cao Kuan was taken to the authorities. Cui Huaiyi personally escorted him there and reported the crime.
Cao Kuan had attempted to murder a successful provincial examination candidate. He might well be imprisoned for the rest of his life, and there was no doubt he would receive a severe beating in the meantime.
After Cao Kuan was taken away, the main hall of the Cui residence fell silent for a long while.
The first to speak was Madam Wang. Her entire body was trembling. “My husband is a kind man who has studied diligently day and night for more than twenty years. Something unfortunate happened to him several times on the way to the examination. Now that we think about it, he must have been sabotaged every time! That person is truly vile! It wasn’t enough to harm my husband once or twice—he actually wanted to ruin his entire life! How heartless, how heartless!”
Cui Huaihao said, “Which noble person in the palace did we offend?”
Cui Huaiji suddenly spoke up. “Some time ago, Zhao Jingsheng’s impersonation of Yao Yao’s father led us to Consort Chen in the palace. Consort Chen has a grudge against our family.”
Madam Wang said, “How can those things be compared? Consort Chen harmed Little Sister because she was afraid that Little Sister would enter the palace and compete with her for His Majesty’s favor. She has no grudge against you.”
Cui Huaiji’s expression darkened slightly. “Don’t forget—Consort Chen was originally from Zhou County in Huangzhou. Why would none of the other consorts in the palace try to harm Little Sister, while she alone did so? This only proves that she had a grudge against our family long ago. Her target may not be Little Sister alone, but our entire family!”
“Uncle is right! Consort Chen is the worst person!” Rongyao’s clear voice rang out.
Everyone turned to look at Rongyao, each wearing a different expression.
Cui Yeping stepped in front of his granddaughter and said to his daughters-in-law and the servants, “All of you, leave for now.”
Madam Wang respected her father-in-law most of all. She glanced at her husband but said nothing, leading the others out.
The hall was left with only Cui Yeping and his wife, the three siblings of the Cui family, and Rongyao.
Cui Yeping squatted down and asked his granddaughter, “Yao Yao, why do you say Consort Chen is the worst?”
Rongyao answered seriously, “In my dreams, Consort Chen hurt Mama, Grandfather, and my uncles. She’s the worst person!”
When no one spoke, Rongyao uneasily tugged at her grandfather’s sleeve. “Grandfather doesn’t believe Yao Yao?”
Cui Yeping rubbed her head. “I believe you. Grandfather believes you.”
With that, Cui Yeping looked deeply at his daughter and said, “Whether Yao Yao’s dream is true or not, you must be careful of Consort Chen when you enter the palace.”
Cui Huaiyin replied solemnly, “I understand.”
Even without what had happened today, she would never have underestimated Consort Chen’s hostility toward her. After all, Consort Chen had once sent someone to impersonate Rongyao’s father.
“This woman is so vicious. If Yin’er enters the palace, how can she possibly defeat her?” Zhang Yingmei asked worriedly.
Cui Huaiji said in a deep voice, “If Little Sister is afraid and no longer wishes to enter the palace, our family will find a way together.”
After her eldest brother finished speaking, her second and third brothers also began to speak, but Cui Huaiyin hurriedly interrupted them.
“Father, Mother, Brother, I said long ago that since I had agreed to marry him, I would not go back on my word. The imperial edict has already been issued. How could our family disobey it? Wouldn’t that be madness? Besides, Consort Chen has been acting so recklessly and plotting against our family in secret. I want to enter the palace even more now, so I can find out exactly who Consort Chen is and how our family offended her!”
“If I truly become afraid, wouldn’t that only make her more pleased? She is strong while I am weak; she is noble while I am humble. Does that mean our family can only let her do whatever she wants? I believe that entering the palace this time is not necessarily a bad thing.”
Cui Yeping’s eyes were filled with pride and relief. His daughter was by no means foolish.
“If that is your decision, then stay at home these next few days and prepare for your wedding.”
Cui Huaiyin took her daughter’s hand and nodded. “I understand.”
Cui Yeping then instructed his sons and daughters-in-law to keep strict control over the residence and its servants in the days to come, allowing no room for mistakes.
Afterward, he summoned Chu Mingyi, the Cui family’s meritorious servant, who had been waiting outside.
“You are a good girl. If not for your carefulness, our family might have been doomed. Ask for whatever you want.”
Chu Mingyi glanced nervously at Rongyao. Remembering the little miss’s instructions, she could only answer, “It was the little miss who saved me. After learning that I knew medicine, she ordered me to pay close attention to the food in the residence. That was how I was able to render service. I have no requests. I only hope I may continue serving the little miss here.”
Cui Yeping nodded with great satisfaction. This girl truly was a good one. Keeping her by his granddaughter’s side would allow her to care for Rongyao’s health, which was indeed an excellent arrangement. He should reward her with some money and valuables as well.
Cui Yeping exchanged a glance with his wife, Zhang Yingmei, who spoke on his behalf. “Later, follow the steward to collect your reward. Material things may be vulgar, but they can make a person’s life better and better.”
Chu Mingyi was about to kneel and thank them when Rongyao suddenly spoke.
“Mingyi-jiejie knows medicine. With such wonderful medical skills, she should be treating the sick and saving lives. Why not let Chu Mingyi-jiejie work at the clinic opened by Second Uncle? Not only can she improve her skills, she can also treat more people.”
Everyone in the Cui family was stunned. Clearly, no one had expected Rongyao to say such a thing.
Chu Mingyi was even more dumbfounded, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Her greatest wish in life had been to work in a clinic and treat the sick. But she had already sold herself into servitude, so she had long since buried that dream in the deepest part of her heart. Besides, the Cui family was a good and kind household, and it was already her great fortune to have come here.
Even so, she had never dared hope that one day she might enter a clinic and become a physician.
Cui Huaihao looked at everyone, then at Chu Mingyi. “Naturally, that can be arranged. I’ll speak to Yisheng Hall tomorrow. But are you willing to go?”
The last question was directed at Chu Mingyi.
Chu Mingyi stood there in a daze for quite some time. She first looked at Cui Huaihao, then at Rongyao, and hurriedly knelt on the floor.
“I—I’m willing! This servant is willing! I’m willing to remain the little miss’s servant for the rest of my life.”
Rongyao shook her head in disapproval. “What servant? Mingyi-jiejie isn’t a servant at all.”
The others looked at Rongyao, all of them somewhat astonished, but no one said anything.
Even Cui Huaiyin remained silent. She merely lowered her head to look at her daughter, a trace of relief and pride passing through the corners of her eyes.
The matter was settled, and Cui Yeping kept his sons and daughter behind while sending his daughters-in-law and grandchildren back to their respective courtyards.
Rongyao also returned to her own courtyard.
After closing the door, she spoke to Chu Mingyi privately.
Chu Mingyi looked straight at Rongyao. Her cheeks were faintly flushed, and there was a hint of hesitation that was difficult to detect in her expression.
“Miss, you saw long ago that Cao Kuan harbored ill intentions and deliberately had me keep an eye on him. That was how I was able to help Eldest Master through the crisis. Why didn’t you tell Master and Madam? Instead, you let me take the credit?”
Rongyao lifted her chin slightly, disagreeing. “I’m still young. Even if I say some things, they may not believe me. You, on the other hand, showed your abilities today. From now on, my grandfather and uncles will protect you. Didn’t you want to become a physician who heals the sick and saves lives? This is your opportunity.”
Chu Mingyi’s eyes were red. With a thud, she fell to her knees. “Thank you, Miss, for making such careful arrangements for me! I am willing to serve you as a slave for the rest of my life to repay your kindness!”
“This is only what I ought to do.” Somewhat flustered, Rongyao hurried over to help Chu Mingyi up. After thinking for a moment, she took out something she had prepared long ago and handed it to her. “This is your deed of servitude. Keep it safe. That day, I forced your father to sell you to me. The contract we signed was a lifetime deed, but I did it to help you escape your predicament. Today, I’m returning it to you. From now on, you are a free woman, with no more constraints. You may do whatever you wish.”
Chu Mingyi stared at Rongyao in shock, bewilderment still lingering in her eyes. After a long while, she glanced at the deed and shook her head firmly. “No! Let the deed remain with you. I am willing to serve you for the rest of my life!”
With that, Chu Mingyi bowed her head to the ground again. A look of unprecedented determination appeared in her eyes. “I am willing to follow you for the rest of my life. I will never betray you!”
Rongyao shook her head in disapproval and placed the deed back into Chu Mingyi’s hands. “I truly regard you as my elder sister; I’m not saying that just to comfort you. If you want to become a physician who heals the sick and saves lives, you cannot remain a slave. From now on, you should become a doctor openly and honorably. You should…”
Before Rongyao could finish, loud sobs rang out. Chu Mingyi, who was ten years older than Rongyao, knelt on the ground and pulled her into her arms, beginning to weep bitterly.
“In all my life, no one has ever treated me this well. No one ever has…”
Chu Mingyi cried for a long time. Rongyao’s nose stung, and her own throat tightened until she could barely speak.
It took a long while before Rongyao was finally able to say, “From now on, there will be someone. I’ll call you Sister, and you can call me your younger sister. I’ll be your family, and I’ll treat you very, very well.”
…
The Imperial Palace.
Inside Consort Chen’s palace.
The sound of porcelain shattering could be heard from far away.
“You’re saying that Cui Huaiji came out of the examination hall safe and sound, and Cao Kuan has been exposed as well?” Consort Chen pressed a hand to her chest, her face deathly pale.
“Please calm down, Your Highness.”
Consort Chen slowly rose to her feet and paced back and forth across the hall. She muttered to herself for a long while before finally speaking to Eunuch Ji, who was kneeling on the ground.
“The princess! Where is the princess? Quickly summon Princess Shengping. Tell her that I have something to discuss with her!”
“Yes, Your Highness. This servant will go find Princess Shengping at once. The princess will certainly have a way to deal with the Cui family.” After saying this, Eunuch Ji scrambled to his feet and hurried out of the palace, making his way toward the Wen Chang Academy, where Princess Shengping was staying.
Along the way, his heart was filled with questions. Why was Consort Chen so wary of the Cui family? Ever since he had gained Her Highness’s favor, he had kept watch over the Cui family for her. Even the Cui family’s married daughters were under his constant surveillance.
Consort Chen had casually mentioned the reason before. She said that she had originally been from Zhou County in Huangzhou, and that Master Cui had once been the county magistrate there. On the surface, Lord Cui was a good official, but behind the scenes he had committed many misdeeds. For the sake of his own interests, he had even indirectly caused the death of Consort Chen’s father.
At the time, Eunuch Ji had thought that Her Highness was kindhearted. Despite having risen to power, she had chosen not to seek revenge for the past.
Yet so many years had passed, and despite keeping watch over every member of the Cui family, he had never found any wrongdoing. In his eyes, Lord Cui was a genuinely good official.
It seemed that Consort Chen’s grudge against him was a personal one.
Her Highness truly hated the Cui family to the core. Not only had she ordered him to keep constant watch over them, she had also instructed him to prevent Lord Cui from receiving a promotion and coming to the capital. If not for the Minister of Revenue happening to see Cui Yeping’s written policy essay last year and personally recommending him, Cui Yeping would probably still be serving as a minor county magistrate in Zhou County. He might even have remained there for the rest of his life.
Stopping Cui Yeping from rising through the ranks was only one part of it. Consort Chen had also secretly ordered him to prevent Eldest Master Cui from coming to the capital to take the metropolitan examination.
He had gone to great lengths to obstruct them, using every means at his disposal over the years. Yet this year, everything had inexplicably gone wrong. Not only had Cui Yeping been promoted and entered the Ministry of Revenue, Cui Huaiji had also successfully taken part in the metropolitan examination.
As far as he knew, Consort Chen had arranged for someone else to keep watch over the Cui family as well: Auntie Liu, who had been assigned to watch over the Cui family’s Fourth Miss.
When Auntie Liu reached the age of retirement and was sent out of the palace, she had continued helping Consort Chen keep an eye on Cui Huaiyin.
But after the Cui family moved to the capital, Fourth Miss Cui had followed them there. The moment Consort Chen learned of it, she ordered Auntie Liu to get rid of Cui Huaiyin.
Auntie Liu had gone so far as to place herself directly inside the trap, marrying Cui Huaiyin’s husband, Zhu Wangbei, as a concubine. She had originally intended to poison Cui Huaiyin, but through a twist of fate, she poisoned the wrong person instead, killing Zhu Wangbei’s mother-in-law and leaving Zhu Wangbei bedridden to this day.
Auntie Liu had truly been loyal to Consort Chen. Once she learned that everything had been exposed, she had taken her own life at the Zhu residence. Not only had she failed to complete Her Highness’s mission, she had also sacrificed her own life and prompted Cui Huaiyin to return to the Cui family.
Because of that, Consort Chen had raged for several days, even developing sores on her lips.
From what he had observed, Consort Chen did not truly want to destroy the Cui family. There was even some lingering affection between them. The fact that she had not wiped them out completely was proof of that affection.
Though she had later dealt ruthlessly with Cui Huaiyin, in Eunuch Ji’s view, Consort Chen still felt some reluctance toward the Fourth Miss Cui.
But what business was it of a mere eunuch to think about such things?
Eunuch Ji slapped his forehead and quickened his pace toward the Wen Chang Academy, where Princess Shengping studied each day.
…
The twenty-sixth day of the second month: an auspicious day for betrothals, weddings, engagements, ancestral sacrifices, praying for blessings, travel, migration, and more.
It was precisely the perfect day for the Jieyu newly appointed by His Majesty to enter the palace.
