Anshan Temple.
Accompanied by the Crown Prince, Tang Qingwan arrived at the main hall. The little monk guarding the door looked at her as if he had seen a savior. "Benefactor Tang, you're finally here. Please go in and persuade the Old Madam."
The little monk, holding a tray of cold vegetarian food, shook his head repeatedly.
Tang Qingwan immediately stepped inside and saw Old Madam Cui's hunched figure on a prayer mat.
In just two short days, her hair seemed to have grown much whiter, and even her back was bent.
With her hands clasped together and eyes closed, she kept muttering something. Tang Qingwan only heard it clearly when she drew closer.
She was saying that she was willing to trade the rest of her lifespan for her granddaughter's life; as long as her life was spared, she could accept anything else.
Looking at Old Madam Cui's sorrowful and exhausted face, Tang Qingwan's eyes grew sore. "Grandmother."
The kneeling woman's eyelids twitched fiercely. Her body, numb from kneeling, leaned forward slightly, almost losing balance. However, she did not open her eyes; instead, the prayers on her lips grew even faster.
Tang Qingwan bent down to support her. "Grandmother, let's go back to the manor."
Only then did Old Madam Cui open her eyes. She looked up at Tang Qingwan, her sharp eyes now filled only with tears. "Qingwan, there's no rush. Let's keep searching. Your sister will be fine."
Old Madam Cui pursed her lips. "I am begging the gods and Buddhas, begging the ancestors of the Cui family, to protect her."
The tears Tang Qingwan had held back for two days could no longer be stopped. She gently patted Old Madam Cui's back to comfort her. "Grandmother, Yunchu is fine. She's fine, don't be afraid."
Hearing this, Old Madam Cui froze for a moment, then her heart began to beat violently. Her face flushed, and her breathing grew rapid. "What... what did you say?"
"I said Yunchu is fine. Prince An and Yunfeng found her. She has some injuries, but she has already been taken back to the manor. Rest assured, she is still alive."
Old Madam Cui stared at Tang Qingwan for a long while.
To fall from such a height and still be alive... Old Madam Cui slumped onto the prayer mat, taking a long moment to recover.
With no news for two days, Old Madam Cui had already lost hope in her heart, yet she simply could not accept it.
"Quick, back to the manor, back to the manor. I want to see Yunchu."
She half-supported herself on the ground to get up. Tang Qingwan hurriedly stepped forward to help her. "Grandmother, please don't rush. Take care of your health."
"My Yunchu, Yunchu..." Even as she stood up, Old Madam Cui did not forget to bow to the gods and Buddhas. "Thank you, Bodhisattva, for your blessings. Thank you, Bodhisattva."
Her steps were hurried, and she was full of energy all the way, repeatedly confirming with Tang Qingwan whether Cui Yunchu was truly alive.
Once they returned to the Cui Manor and she saw Cui Yunchu lying on the bed with her own eyes, along with a room full of people and the doctor, her heart finally settled.
"Mother." Prime Minister Cui hurried in from outside. "How is Yunchu?"
Old Madam Cui was guarding Cui Yunchu's bedside. Looking at Cui Yunchu's weak, scar-covered little face, her heart twisted fiercely.
"You still remember you have a daughter? You still remember to come back?" Old Madam Cui was so angry that her fingers trembled.
Prime Minister Cui frowned, stopping a few steps away from the bed. After the doctor finished his examination, he wrote a prescription and explained Cui Yunchu's condition.
"Old Madam, Prime Minister, please be at ease. Although the Eldest Miss's injuries look severe, they are all superficial. Only her cold is somewhat serious, and she cannot be left unattended. But as long as she takes her medicine on time, her life is absolutely not in danger."
"Then hurry and get the medicine," Old Madam Cui urged.
Xing'er, with red-rimmed eyes, led the doctor out. Old Madam Cui felt Cui Yunchu's arms and legs through the quilt.
"Grandmother, rest assured, Eldest Sister is perfectly fine," Cui Yunfeng said.
Old Madam Cui sighed. "Heaven bless her, heaven bless her."
Cui Yunchu was already in a semi-conscious state. Afraid of disturbing her, Old Madam Cui led the others to the outer room.
Prime Minister Cui looked at his mother's exhausted appearance and asked with concern, "Mother, are you alright?"
"I won't die. Even if I do, it wouldn't be as important as delaying your official duties, Prime Minister."
Prime Minister Cui furrowed his brows, utterly helpless. "Mother, the Emperor summoned me, and the situation was urgent. Your son truly had no choice."
"No choice? You clearly just..." Old Madam Cui pointed at Prime Minister Cui, but she didn't finish her sentence. Ultimately, considering the younger generation was present, she saved him some face.
"Never mind. Yunchu managing to escape death is the greatest blessing. When you go to court tomorrow, invite an imperial physician from the palace to take another look at Yunchu. We absolutely cannot let her be left with any hidden ailments."
Prime Minister Cui immediately agreed.
The room fell silent for a moment. Tang Qingwan, who had been quiet all along, suddenly spoke up, "Uncle, Grandmother, don't you think there's something suspicious about this matter?"
Hearing this, several people looked at Tang Qingwan.
Cui Yunfeng had heard Tang Qingwan mention this beforehand. However, during the search, they hadn't found anything amiss, and the horse pulling the carriage that day had long been smashed to a pulp.
Even their suspicions could not be verified.
"The carriage Yunchu was riding in was mine. The horses used for carriages in the manor are all specially trained and very docile. How could it suddenly go mad?"
Prime Minister Cui and Old Madam Cui remained silent, but a cold glint flashed between their brows.
"Qingwan, do you suspect this matter is related to the Liu family?"
Tang Qingwan replied, "The Liu family is indeed the most suspicious, but I'm not entirely certain."
It was true that the Liu family coveted her position as the official consort, but besides the Liu family, there were others who did not want the Crown Prince to form an alliance with the Cui and Tang families.
Prime Minister Cui didn't speak for a moment. He tapped his fingertips lightly against the table. "There are only a few with the motive. As her father, I will investigate them one by one."
Old Madam Cui's gaze grew sharp as she added, "If we catch the person playing tricks behind the scenes, we definitely cannot let them off lightly."
Her poor, ill-fated Yunchu had almost died an unnatural death.
The group quieted down again, each lost in their own thoughts. Suddenly, Old Madam Cui said, "Yunfeng, Qingwan, the Crown Prince and Prince An have worked hard these past two days. Tomorrow, I will have the housekeeper prepare gifts and send them to their respective residences as a token of gratitude."
Tang Qingwan and Cui Yunfeng stood up and bowed together in a curtsy.
Old Madam Cui looked at Cui Yunfeng, opening her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately didn't speak.
"Never mind. It's getting late. You should all go back and rest first."
