Cui Yunchu looked around before turning to Cui Yunfeng. "Who are you calling?"
Cui Yunfeng immediately held up the white cat. "Him."
"Do you want to pet him? His fur is incredibly smooth and feels so nice."
Cui Yunchu looked coldly at the white cat called "Xiaobai".
"I don't agree. Change his name."
Cui Yunfeng paused, her hand still constantly stroking Xiaobai's fur. "He's white. If I don't call him Xiaobai, should I call him Little Black?"
Cui Yunchu frowned so hard she could have crushed a fly between her brows. "Then call him Little Black. Anyway, it can't be white."
"Why?"
"..." Cui Yunchu kept a cold face. "You don't need to know why. Just call him Little Black, it's settled."
Under Cui Yunfeng's strokes, the white cat nestled obediently in her arms, looking extremely content.
Girls have no resistance to cute little animals, so Cui Yunchu also reached out to scratch his head, only to end up with a hand full of fur.
It was very white, so fine it was almost invisible, but there was just so much of it.
Cui Yunchu frowned in disgust. "Why does he shed?"
"All cats shed, it's normal."
Cui Yunchu curled her lips. "The cat is normal, you are not."
If Prince An hadn't given it to her, she probably would have thrown it two miles away by now.
Cui Yunchu knew that Cui Yunfeng had never particularly liked white animals, and was even afraid of them.
"Don't call him Little Black either. You should call him Shedder."
Cui Yunfeng looked a little displeased. "Big Sister, how can you bully a cat?"
Cui Yunchu snorted softly. "It's clearly you and this cat teaming up to bully me."
Xiaobai, Xiaobai.
Why not just call him Shen Xiabai?
"Little Black, Little Black, just call him Little Black." Cui Yunchu reached out to grab Xiaobai's head again, but Xiaobai quickly dodged, baring his fangs and sharp claws at the same time.
Startled, Cui Yunchu immediately pulled her hand back. "He dared to try and bite me."
Cui Yunfeng quickly covered the white cat's mouth. "No, he's just playing with you. He just doesn't like the name Little Black."
"Move aside, I'm going to stew him today."
The two sisters engaged in a tug-of-war. The white cat was well-behaved now, acting as if he could understand human speech, nestling in Cui Yunfeng's arms with drooping eyes.
"That Damn White bullies me, and now you, a little beast, want to bully me too? Do you think I scare easily?"
"Ah, Big Sister, Big Sister, didn't you say a few days ago that you wanted a set of jewelry? I'll have Yun'er take you to pick one out, okay?"
Cui Yunchu's movements immediately froze halfway. She blinked and looked at Cui Yunfeng. "Really?"
Cui Yunfeng nodded immediately, but still put forward a condition. "His name is Xiaobai, not Little Black."
"That's... fine, but you have to add another set."
Cui Yunfeng was stunned. "Are you robbing me?"
"If you don't want to, then I'll go tell Grandmother." Cui Yunchu turned around and walked towards the door. "I'll say this little beast bit me, and see if Grandmother doesn't throw him out."
"Fine, fine, fine." Cui Yunfeng hugged Cui Yunchu tightly. "I'll give it to you, okay?"
Cui Yunchu satisfyingly picked out two sets of jewelry from Cui Yunfeng. Although they were not as precious as the set given to Tang Qingwan, they were quite excellent for Cui Yunchu's empty pockets.
Cui Yunchu leaned on Cui Yunfeng's soft couch, a smile on her lips. "From now on, I am also someone with a dowry."
Cui Yunfeng shot her a glance and lay down next to her. "But you don't even have anyone to marry, why are you in such a hurry to save up a dowry?"
The two sisters sighed in unison, rolled over to look at each other, and sighed again, looking lonely.
"Big Sister, what on earth should I do?"
Footsteps suddenly sounded outside the window lattice. Cui Yunchu lifted her head to glance outside and chuckled softly. "You'll know what to do right away."
As soon as she finished speaking, the door was pushed open. Yun'er came in, followed by Nanny Li, who served by Old Madam Cui's side.
"Eldest Miss, Second Miss, people from Consort Liang's palace have arrived at the manor. They wish to invite Second Miss to the palace for a visit. Old Madam asked this old servant to invite Second Miss over."
Consort Liang?
Cui Yunchu and Cui Yunfeng exchanged a glance, their eyes flickering.
It used to be a common occurrence for Consort Liang to invite Cui Yunfeng into the palace for short stays. However, after the situation became tense in recent years, not only the Empress but even Consort Liang had been quite evasive. For this to happen so suddenly now inevitably raised suspicions.
What surprised Cui Yunchu even more was that their grandmother had actually agreed and sent Nanny Li to pass the message. The deeper meaning behind this was hard to fathom.
"Are you going?" Cui Yunchu asked Cui Yunfeng.
Cui Yunfeng, however, looked at Nanny Li. "Grandmother means that I can go?"
Nanny Li kept her head lowered. "Old Madam said that everything is up to Second Miss herself."
The pros and cons had already been made clear. If Cui Yunfeng remained stubborn, Old Madam Cui didn't want the granddaughter she had raised single-handedly to be depressed or even lose her life.
Cui Yunfeng had visibly lost weight these past few days, her eyes dull and lifeless. Ever since falling into the water last time, she had barely stopped taking medicine. How could Old Madam Cui not feel heartache and anxiety?
Hearing this, Cui Yunfeng did not look happy. Instead, she lowered her head slightly and remained silent for a long time.
Nanny Li said, "Second Miss, Consort Liang's people are still waiting. If you are unwell, this old servant will report back to Old Madam..."
"I'll go," Cui Yunfeng suddenly said. "I... want to go."
Nanny Li seemed to sigh and stepped aside to make way. "Then please follow this old servant. Eldest Miss, Old Madam asked you to come along as well."
When the two sisters followed Nanny Li to the Old Madam's courtyard, the head female official from Consort Liang's palace was drinking tea with the Old Madam.
However, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
Old Madam Cui showed no surprise upon seeing Cui Yunfeng arriving with Nanny Li; her expression was particularly calm.
"Grandmother," Cui Yunfeng and Cui Yunchu bowed in unison.
The head female official beside them did not act arrogantly; she stood up and curtsied to the two sisters.
"Her Highness has not seen Second Miss for some time and misses you dearly, which is why she ordered this servant to come and pick you up."
Cui Yunfeng did not speak. She looked up at Old Madam Cui seated in the main position, her face showing guilt and a guilty conscience.
"Grandmother."
Old Madam Cui finally spoke faintly after a long while. "Since Consort Liang has invited you, go and pay a visit. You haven't been well lately, so let your eldest sister accompany you so you can look out for each other."
The head female official immediately added, "Please rest assured, Old Madam. There are imperial physicians in the palace, and they will certainly take excellent care of Second Miss."
Old Madam Cui waved her hand, signaling that they could leave.
The head female official offered a few more polite words before leaving the courtyard first, with Cui Yunfeng following behind.
"Yunchu, wait a moment. Grandmother has a few words for you," Old Madam Cui suddenly said.
Only after the head female official and Cui Yunfeng had left did Old Madam Cui beckon, gesturing for Cui Yunchu to come to her side.
"Your sister is honest to a fault, pedantic and stubborn. But she is my own granddaughter after all. Watching her waste away these past few days, Grandmother truly cannot bear it. Yunchu, once you are in the palace, look after her, understand?"
Cui Yunchu nodded. "But Grandmother, by tacitly allowing her to enter the palace, you must know what it means. Do you truly agree to let Yunfeng marry Prince An?"
Old Madam Cui fell silent. After a long while, she shook her head. "I cannot show favoritism, nor can the Cui and Tang families abandon your cousin to support her. If she insists, there is only one way. Everything will depend on her own wishes."
If she was truly willing to sever ties with the Cui family for Prince An, what else could Old Madam Cui say?
She valued Prince An so much. "I am afraid that if I continue to forcefully intervene, it will cost her her life."
There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart. The most terrifying thing for a person is to lose the will to live. Watching Cui Yunfeng's transformation these past few days, Old Madam Cui felt as though her heart was being sliced by a knife.
Cui Yunchu sighed. "If Grandmother was trying to test her, then I'm afraid... you will be disappointed."
Cui Yunfeng's intentions had been completely laid bare before her; she would cut ties with the Cui family for Prince An.
Especially during the two days of their cousin's wedding, who knew what kind of bewitching potion Prince An had fed her.
Old Madam Cui leaned back against her chair and waved her hand.
When Cui Yunchu arrived at the estate's entrance, Cui Yunfeng was already waiting for her by the carriage, looking somewhat absent-minded.
"Eldest Sister."
Cui Yunchu glanced at her but said nothing. She stepped up into the carriage, and Cui Yunfeng immediately followed.
As the carriage wheels slowly began to turn, heading toward the palace, Cui Yunfeng asked anxiously, "What did Grandmother say to you? Is she alright?"
Cui Yunchu shook her head. "Yunfeng, Grandmother loves you and cannot bear to see you torture yourself. But what about you? Have you truly thought this through? Once we go today, if you agree, there will be no turning back."
"And Xiao Yi, is he truly worth you leaving the Cui family for? Our cousin is in a difficult position and is wholeheartedly scheming for the family. Father and Grandmother cannot possibly offer Xiao Yi any support. Are you certain he won't harbor resentment and make things difficult for you?"
"Eldest Sister," Cui Yunfeng's eyes reddened. "He won't. If that really happens, then I will consider myself blind, and I am willing to endure it, whether in life or death."
Cui Yunchu closed her eyes briefly.
What else could she say?
"Cui Yunfeng, I really want to pry your head open and see exactly what is stuffed inside."
Taking such a risk for a man—Cui Yunchu knew she could never do such a thing in this lifetime.
She would never give up her trump cards and place her life and future into the hands of another.
Cui Yunfeng leaned against Cui Yunchu, her eyes blurry with tears. "Eldest Sister, you, me, and our cousin—we are all different people. We have our own thoughts and the lives we yearn for."
Cui Yunchu fell silent. After a good while, she finally said, "You're right. Perhaps that is exactly why no one likes me."
Their cousin was intelligent, and Yunfeng was innocent with a passionate, sincere heart. But what about her?
She was selfish, profit-driven, money-loving, and cowardly...
Most people yearn for goodness and beauty. Who would like a dark and gloomy person like her?
Cui Yunfeng lifted her head and asked, "Eldest Sister, Grandmother loves me, but if Father finds out, he will definitely be furious. What should I do?"
Father had already chosen the top scholar for her.
Cui Yunchu cast a sidelong glance at her. "You dare to hand over your life, yet you are afraid of a beating from Father?"
Cui Yunfeng pursed her lips.
The carriage had already entered the imperial palace. Cui Yunchu asked one last time, "Cui Yunfeng, if you marry Prince An, will you stop being depressed, stop refusing to eat, and be able to live peacefully?"
Cui Yunfeng raised her eyes to meet her eldest sister's heavy gaze. After a moment, she nodded vigorously. "Whether he soars high into the sky or falls into ruin, I will accompany him. I will absolutely never regret it."
Cui Yunchu let out a long breath. "Alright, then go."
The carriage slowly came to a halt. The curtain was lifted, and a managing female official curtsied, saying, "Young ladies, please follow this old servant."
