After Consort Liang left and the palace maids retreated from the hall, Cui Yunfeng finally dared to breathe a sigh of relief. She glared at Xiao Yi.
"Didn't we already talk about this at the Crown Prince's estate the other day? Why did you still have Her Highness pressure me?"
Xiao Yi smiled, though his gaze was somewhat faint. "We did agree, but after that day, Yunfeng, why did you suddenly start avoiding me?"
Of course, it was because she couldn't make up her mind to break ties with the Cui family, nor did she have the courage to spell it out to her grandmother.
Xiao Yi poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her himself. "My mother's actions were not my idea. I only rushed over after receiving the news."
Cui Yunfeng was a bit suspicious. "Really?"
Xiao Yi nodded. "When have I ever lied to you?"
He hadn't instructed it, but he had certainly gone along with it.
Otherwise, this matter would remain at a stalemate. Even if they waited another ten days or half a month, there would be no result. Cui Yunfeng was easily swayed and pure-hearted.
She was soft-hearted toward him, and even more so toward the Cui family. A long delay would only bring unexpected changes. Xiao Yi did not want to continue dragging it out in vain.
"How do you think Her Highness will persuade my father and grandmother?"
Xiao Yi replied, "Don't worry, my mother knows what she is doing."
Cui Yunfeng sighed, her back slumping significantly as she looked listless.
"I really am a troublemaker. It's bad enough that I've never helped my family, but I repeatedly cause trouble for them."
She felt truly guilty.
Xiao Yi stood up, pulled her up from the chair, and gently took her into his arms. "Do not blame yourself. In the future, as long as you are here, I will definitely do my best to protect the Cui family."
"Does Her Highness know that if I marry you, I will have to cut ties with the Cui family?"
For a prince, a primary wife was a consideration of various powers and the best means to win over factions. For Xiao Yi to marry her was tantamount to wasting this position for nothing.
Compared to the Crown Prince, it would put him at an even greater disadvantage.
"You only need to marry me. You don't need to worry about anything else."
Leaning against his chest, Cui Yunfeng still couldn't lift her spirits.
She genuinely didn't know how to explain this to her family.
"Your Highness, Second Miss Cui." Eunuch Liu slowly entered the hall, but upon seeing the two embracing, he immediately turned and retreated.
Standing at the door, he reported, "Eldest Miss Cui asks when Your Highness and Second Miss will have time to go catch cats with her?"
Cui Yunfeng had been entirely immersed in her own emotions and only now suddenly remembered Cui Yunchu.
She hurriedly asked, "Where is my eldest sister?"
Eunuch Liu paused before saying, "Eldest Miss Cui is waiting outside. She said... Xiaobai wasn't caught. There is a Dabai, but she didn't have a leash, so it ran away."
?? What Xiaobai and Dabai?
Cui Yunfeng glanced at Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi was also frowning slightly, clearly confused.
Xiao Yi said, "Cui Yunchu has never been very normal. Just ignore her."
Cui Yunfeng pushed him away. "You are not allowed to speak of my eldest sister like that."
"...Alright, I won't say it."
Cui Yunfeng was still unsatisfied. "My eldest sister has unmatched beauty, is dignified and gentle, straightforward and adorable."
Xiao Yi nodded, very perfunctorily.
Cui Yunfeng said, "Why are you nodding? Repeat after me."
Xiao Yi pursed his lips. After a long while, he pulled Cui Yunfeng into his arms and laughed, "The weather is bad today. I'm afraid of being struck by lightning."
"Tsk..."
Eunuch Liu at the door listened to the two inside bickering again. His mouth twitched, and he turned to leave.
He went to a palace pathway outside the hall and found Cui Yunchu squatting on the ground.
Cui Yunchu raised her eyes, glanced at Eunuch Liu, and asked weakly, "Where are they?"
"..."
Eunuch Liu was completely honest. "Second Miss asked His Highness to praise you. His Highness said he was afraid of being struck by lightning. As they talked, they started bickering, and then, they just ignored this old servant."
And then, they threw her to the back of their minds.
Cui Yunchu rolled her eyes so hard that only the whites showed.
If it weren't for the fact that it was a concubine's palace, she would absolutely go in and teach those two heartless people a lesson.
After reporting, Eunuch Liu squatted down and waited together with Cui Yunchu.
Time ticked by. Cui Yunchu alternately stretched out her legs and had Xing'er massage them.
Eventually, both of her legs went numb, so she simply sat on a rock and started bossing Eunuch Liu around as well.
"Hiss," Cui Yunchu gasped in pain and glared at Eunuch Liu. "Do you know how to massage or not? Can't you do it lighter?"
Eunuch Liu looked aggrieved. "Eldest Miss Cui, this old servant is the chief steward of the Prince of An's estate. I've never done this kind of work before."
When had he ever massaged anyone's legs? Even when serving His Highness, this kind of chore would never fall to him.
"If you don't know how, can't you learn? Xing'er, teach him."
"..."
Eunuch Liu looked at Cui Yunchu, who was acting like a little tyrant, extremely arrogant and domineering, and felt quite a headache.
Half an hour passed before the two in the palace finally remembered Cui Yunchu's existence and sent someone to look for her.
When Eunuch Liu stood up, his body swayed heavily. He staggered like a drunkard and almost fell to the ground.
"My legs... my legs are numb."
A palace maid immediately supported him, bowed to Cui Yunchu, and said, "Eldest Miss, His Highness and Second Miss invite you to go over."
Cui Yunchu scoffed coldly. Was she someone they could just summon and dismiss at will?
"Tell Cui Yunfeng to roll over here and see me."
...
Hearing the palace maid's report, Cui Yunfeng knew that her eldest sister was truly angry.
After pleading repeatedly and saying all sorts of sweet words, she finally managed to coax her somewhat. Cui Yunchu glanced at the radiant joy at the corners of her sister's eyes and brows, and had a pretty good guess of what happened.
Cui Yunchu sighed continuously.
In her past life, who was it that said she, Cui Yunchu, was a headache? Shouldn't Cui Yunfeng be the one who causes the most headaches?
She immediately lost all desire to disgust and teach Xiao Yi a lesson. Waving her hand, she said, "Alright, let's go home."
Cui Yunfeng was a bit surprised. "Eldest Sister, you're not going to scold me?"
This didn't fit her eldest sister's temper.
"I don't argue with fools; it's a waste of breath," Cui Yunchu said weakly.
Cui Yunfeng glanced at Xiao Yi, shot him a look, and immediately followed Cui Yunchu.
"Eldest Miss, where is Xiaobai?" Eunuch Liu asked.
The name Xiaobai successfully evoked Cui Yunchu's unpleasant memories.
"It ran to the Imperial Study, was treated as an assassin by the Imperial Guards, shot through with ten thousand arrows, skinned, de-boned, and eaten."
"..."
Cui Yunfeng's eyes turned red. "Eldest Sister, Xiaobai..."
"Bai what Bai? You unlucky brat, get home right now."
"..."
Eunuch Liu was startled by Cui Yunchu's suddenly raised voice. He trembled in fear for a good while. Once they had walked far away, he spoke in a low voice, "Your Highness..."
Xiao Yi seemed to be in an excellent mood, not minding Cui Yunchu's behavior in the slightest. "Perhaps it's hiding somewhere. Send someone to look for it."
Cui Yunfeng didn't dare to speak the whole way. Only when they boarded the carriage did Cui Yunchu notice what she had been holding in her hands all along.
"What are you holding?"
