Cui Yunchu had fully recovered from her illness, but Cui Yunfeng had fallen ill.
Looking at Cui Yunfeng, who had wasted away to mere skin and bones in just a few short days, Cui Yunchu felt utterly helpless.
"Are you trying to torture yourself to death?"
Cui Yunfeng seemed oblivious to her condition. "I'm not hungry. I can't eat."
Cui Yunchu replied, "Why don't I believe that?"
With only a few mouthfuls of porridge a day, she refused to believe her sister wasn't hungry.
But when a table full of delicacies was placed in front of Cui Yunfeng and she remained completely unmoved, Cui Yunchu finally believed the old saying: love alone can sustain a person.
No, it was more like she was full without eating at all.
Cui Yunfeng wasn't throwing a tantrum at anyone. She truly wasn't hungry and couldn't eat. It felt as though something was blocking her chest, stuck halfway, causing a painful, agonizing ache.
Cui Yunchu also lost most of her appetite. "If you really can't take it, just do as I suggested." At the very least, she would keep her life.
In their past life, Cui Yunchu had rarely seen Cui Yunfeng after she got married. Or perhaps she had been too busy dealing with Prince An all day to have time for such melancholy.
At the mention of this, Cui Yunfeng's tears could not be stopped. She lowered her head and just wept continuously, saying nothing.
For the past two days, she had been tormented by this very dilemma.
Severing ties with the Cui family would be worse than death to her, but making a clean break with Xiao Yi brought her just as much heartache.
"I dare not imagine what he would become if I were to marry someone else."
Cui Yunchu agreed, "I don't dare to think about it either." It was quite terrifying.
The two sisters fell silent for a moment before Cui Yunchu spoke again. "Eat at least a little bit. We still need to go and add to our cousin's dowry later."
Tomorrow was her grand wedding ceremony with the Crown Prince.
At the mention of this, Cui Yunfeng's head drooped even lower. "Eldest Sister, tell me, why are the marriages of us three sisters all so fraught with difficulties?"
Cui Yunchu didn't have such convoluted, sentimental girlish thoughts in her heart, so naturally, she didn't feel any melancholy either.
"My difficulties are different from yours."
Cui Yunfeng nodded. That was true; they suffered from marrying the wrong people, while her Eldest Sister suffered from the fact that no one dared to marry her.
After they finished their meal, Yun'er and Xing'er each brought over medicinal soup. Cui Yunchu had a rosy complexion, whereas Cui Yunfeng, who had been taking care of the patient, looked pale and sickly.
"How about you drink my bowl too?" Looking at her fragile, willow-in-the-wind appearance, Cui Yunchu was genuinely afraid she would suddenly collapse halfway there.
Cui Yunfeng shot Cui Yunchu a sidelong glance, finished her medicine, and stood up. "If you want to poison me to death, just say so directly."
"Why would I want to poison you?"
"To inherit my dowry, of course." At this point, Cui Yunfeng suddenly paused and looked back at Cui Yunchu.
"What is that expression?" Cui Yunchu took a step back.
Cui Yunfeng suddenly curled her lips into a smile. "I remember that when Eldest Sister took care of me that day, you demanded two sets of jewelry from me. Now, not only have I taken care of you, but I also rescued you from the bottom of the cliff. That's two life-saving favors. How many sets of jewelry should you give me as a thank-you gift?"
Cui Yunchu was speechless.
Asking her for things?
It truly was like the King of Hell not minding if a ghost was skinny.
"It's getting late. If we delay any longer, we won't make it in time. Let's hurry and go."
Cui Yunchu lifted her skirts and quickly headed out the door. Having finally caught an opportunity, Cui Yunfeng naturally wouldn't let her go easily and chased after her the whole way, demanding her reward.
In the carriage, Cui Yunchu leaned against the wall, her eyes red.
Having lived with her for several years, Cui Yunfeng was well aware of her acting skills. Raising an eyebrow, she said, "Don't think you can fool me by playing pitiful. I'm not Father or Grandmother. If you don't give me the jewelry, don't even dream of having any peace."
"I'll give it to you," Cui Yunchu said, unexpectedly straightforward.
Cui Yunfeng almost thought she had misheard. "What did you say?"
Was this penny-pincher, who usually wanted two things for every one she lost, actually willing to pluck her own feathers?
"I said, I'll give it to you," Cui Yunchu replied with a calm expression. "My birth mother didn't leave me a dowry. My dowry consists entirely of rewards from Grandmother, along with what you and our cousin have given me. Returning things to their rightful owners now is no big deal."
"It's just that," Cui Yunchu gave a bitter smile, "I am but a concubine's daughter. My mother's status was low and her reputation poor, and I don't have a generous dowry to rely on. I gave up hoping to marry into a good family in this lifetime long ago. You are my own sister; giving it to you is perfectly fine."
The wind blew in through the window lattice, fluttering the loose hair on Cui Yunchu's forehead. Her eyes were cast down, and she forced a slight smile. Especially since she had just recovered from a severe illness, she gave off a profound sense of sorrowful vulnerability.
Small and pitiful, lonely and helpless.
Cui Yunfeng's heart clenched fiercely. "Eldest Sister, I was just joking with you."
Cui Yunchu smiled. "I'm not joking. Anyone willing to look my way probably doesn't come from a good family. As long as I keep enough money to not starve, that will be enough."
"Don't say that." Cui Yunfeng hugged her arm. "Eldest Sister, you are so beautiful. The young masters who want to marry you could form a line and still not reach the end."
"And you don't need to worry about your dowry. When the time comes, Father and Grandmother will provide for you. If worse comes to worst, I'll share half of my dowry with you."
"Really?" Cui Yunchu's eyes brimmed with tears. Cui Yunfeng immediately nodded in affirmation.
Cui Yunchu said, "Forget about half; I'm not that greedy. Just giving me two more sets of jewelry will do."
"Alright, when we get back, I'll give them to you." Cui Yunfeng frowned, and the way she looked at Cui Yunchu slowly changed. She felt like something wasn't quite right.
"Yunfeng, you truly are my dear sister. I am so touched." Cui Yunchu covered her eyes with her handkerchief and leaned against Cui Yunfeng.
"..."
Cui Yunfeng hugged her back, the doubts in her mind gradually dissipating.
The carriage stopped in front of the Tang Residence.
The Tang Residence was already bustling with carriages and horses. Red silk hung high, and even the two stone lions at the entrance had large red flowers tied around their necks. The atmosphere was festive and lively.
Cui Yunchu swept her gaze around and finally landed on a carriage bearing the plaque of Prince An's estate. She glanced back at Cui Yunfeng.
She sighed softly in her heart. Yunfeng had been conflicted for days; running into Prince An now would likely not be a good thing.
Cui Yunfeng naturally saw it too. Logically speaking, since Grand Tutor Tang had once been a teacher to the princes, it made sense for Prince An to come deliver a gift and join the festivities.
However, the person their cousin was marrying was the Crown Prince, his older brother. Whether according to the etiquette between sovereign and subject or based on closeness, Prince An should have gone to the Crown Prince's estate to join the celebration instead.
"Let's go." Cui Yunchu took Cui Yunfeng's hand, and they walked into the Tang Residence together.
Tang Qingwan's birth mother had passed away early, and there was no lady of the house to manage affairs. Therefore, Old Madam Cui had moved into the Tang Residence a day prior to preside over the various wedding arrangements.
As Tang Qingwan was the future Crown Princess, countless noble young ladies wanted to curry favor with her. Thus, many people came to add to her dowry tonight, almost packing her boudoir to the brim.
Cui Yunfeng whispered, "These people are too eager. Tonight's dowry additions should only be for family and close friends."
Cui Yunchu smiled. "If they didn't do this, how could they show off their deep relationship with the Crown Princess?"
It was just that there were too many noble ladies with a deep relationship with Tang Qingwan, so many that it was impossible to remember who was who.
The two sisters, however, arrived at Tang Qingwan's courtyard without any hindrance. Looking at the red silk draped all over the yard, Cui Yunfeng pressed her lips tightly together. "Eldest Sister, why am I not happy at all? Instead, my heart feels so heavy."
"Do you think our cousin will be happy after she marries?"
Cui Yunchu found it hard to judge, but there was one thing she was absolutely certain of: Tang Qingwan was definitely more clear-headed and more cold-hearted than Cui Yunfeng.
If one were to set aside family obligations and speak only of romantic love, Cui Yunfeng was actually the one with the most turbulent path among the three sisters.
"Second Miss Cui," a maidservant hurried over with quick, small steps, bowing as she reported. "His Highness Prince An is waiting for you in the garden. Please come this way, Second Miss Cui."
They were not even trying to hide it anymore.
Cui Yunfeng looked hesitantly at Cui Yunchu.
Cui Yunchu said, "That is good. At least I am not missing an arm or a leg this time."
"..."
Cui Yunfeng pressed her lips together tightly. "Then... I will head over first, and come find you and our cousin later."
Cui Yunchu waved her hand, but still could not help reminding her anxiously, "Be careful."
Cui Yunfeng smiled faintly. "Eldest Sister, these past few days, I have been so distressed I feel like I am going to fall ill. I just want a resolution."
Seeing the unprecedented determination in Cui Yunfeng's eyes, Cui Yunchu's heart sank. "Do as you wish, as long as... you have thought it through and will not regret it."
Cui Yunchu could not figure out which path was actually the right one for Cui Yunfeng, so she could not offer any real advice.
Cui Yunfeng followed the maid to the garden. Before she even stepped inside, the faint sound of a conversation reached her ears.
