Cui Yunchu frowned upon hearing this. "You are the Crown Princess. Isn't it only natural for you to manage the household?"
Does this even count as a kind of goodness?
If so, then a man's goodness is truly cheap.
Cui Yunfeng strongly agreed with Cui Yunchu's words, but then she recalled Cui Yunchu's famous golden rule and felt something was off. She lowered her voice and said, "Eldest Sister, you are truly unreasonable. When looking for a husband, you only care about power and wealth. Since you are after something, yet you still demand that they treat you like a precious treasure, how can there be such a good thing in the world?"
You don't want to give even a bit of genuine affection, yet you want so much in return. There aren't that many fools in the world.
"Tsk." Cui Yunchu glared at Cui Yunfeng. "We are talking about our cousin, why are you talking about me? You gave your true heart, and you nearly lost half your life for it. You stubborn fool, what right do you have to speak?"
Cui Yunfeng was speechless.
She sat properly and stopped talking.
On the other side, Tang Qingwan and Old Madam Cui were still talking.
Tang Qingwan only said that everything was fine, telling Old Madam Cui not to worry.
However, Cui Yunchu always felt that the atmosphere in the Crown Prince's estate was oppressive, and not entirely as perfect as her cousin claimed.
As they spoke, Mo'er entered the room carrying a bowl of medicinal soup. Old Madam Cui immediately frowned. "Qingwan, are you ill?"
Tang Qingwan took the bowl and drank the medicine. After handing it back to Mo'er, she whispered, "No, it's... medicine prescribed by an experienced fertility doctor I found outside."
Old Madam Cui immediately understood what she meant. "Qingwan, there is no rush for this matter. You must not be overly eager for quick success and ruin your health."
Tang Qingwan smiled faintly. "Rest assured, Grandmother. I know my limits."
Her hand slowly caressed her lower abdomen, her eyes unfathomably deep.
Her primary goal in marrying into the Crown Prince's estate was to have a child. Only by giving birth to the royal family's eldest legitimate grandson would there be hope for everything.
Looking at that bowl of pitch-black medicinal soup, Cui Yunchu felt a chill run through her entire body.
Suddenly, she remembered the sachet Liu Wanting wore at her waist in the palace that day.
Her concubine mother was a woman of the brothels and was quite familiar with such substances. Cui Yunchu was certain that there was something wrong with that sachet.
Did her cousin do it?
Old Madam Cui shed tears of heartache.
These days, she had truly exhausted her mind and body for her three granddaughters, and her health was no longer as robust as before.
"Qingwan, you must be careful in everything. Do not be too anxious. You and the Crown Prince have only been married for a few days; let the matter of children happen naturally."
Tang Qingwan lowered her eyes and gave a sound of agreement, though it was unclear if she had truly taken the advice to heart.
Old Madam Cui continued, "As for court affairs, you have your uncle and your father, so you don't need to worry. If you face any difficulties, just send a letter home. Grandmother will definitely help you."
Tang Qingwan seemed to remember something, and her eyelashes trembled violently.
"I understand everything, Grandmother. Please do not worry."
Some private matters were inappropriate to discuss in front of Cui Yunchu and Cui Yunfeng, so Old Madam Cui sent the two of them out for a stroll.
Cui Yunfeng said, "There is a waterside pavilion in the southern part of the estate. Let's go sit there."
Some rather unpleasant memories immediately surfaced in Cui Yunchu's mind. "No."
"Then where should we go?" The two stood on the bluestone path, feeling somewhat lost.
Mo'er, standing to the side, softly suggested, "There is a mid-lake pavilion not far ahead. Shall this servant guide you two young ladies there to sit?"
Cui Yunfeng looked at Cui Yunchu.
She didn't know why there was any need to be picky about a place just to pass the time.
Cui Yunchu nodded. "That works."
The Crown Prince's estate was lush with flowers and plants, overflowing with fragrance. Moreover, they were all varieties not typical of the current season. Arriving near the mid-lake pavilion, Cui Yunchu stopped in front of a peony plant and reached out to touch the blooming flower.
Mo'er seemed a bit anxious. "Eldest Miss, please follow this servant inside to sit."
Even Cui Yunfeng noticed this. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it? Is there something special about this flower?"
Mo'er lowered her eyes and shook her head. "It's nothing. His Highness personally brought this flower back, and it is raised very delicately. Eldest Miss... it would be best not to touch it."
Cui Yunfeng laughed upon hearing this. "It's just a flower. How delicate can it be?"
Their cousin would never be this stingy. Therefore, anyone who could make Mo'er this wary was obvious with just a little thought.
Cui Yunchu forcefully flicked the flower with her finger. "Side Consort Liu's?"
Mo'er was silent for a moment before nodding.
As Tang Qingwan's maid, Mo'er would never be wary of a mere flower. Thus, there could only be one explanation: recently, Side Consort Liu had been highly favored.
Cui Yunchu thought of her cousin's haggard appearance and her hesitant attempts to cover things up.
Mo'er said, "The Empress favors Side Consort Liu and forces the Crown Prince's hand. His Highness has no other choice."
He could only grant her some special honors.
Hearing this, and recalling Tang Qingwan's praise of the Crown Prince, Cui Yunchu only felt that life in the Crown Prince's estate was simply unlivable.
"A peony is not something a side consort should possess."
The peony is the king of flowers. Especially in the palace, the rules regarding this were extremely strict. Even if the Empress were to gift one, it should go to Tang Qingwan, the official wife, not Liu Wanting.
Was she not telling everyone that although Liu Wanting was a side consort, she was very likely the future mother of the nation?
"Did our cousin just endure this?" Cui Yunchu raised an eyebrow.
Mo'er remained silent for a long while before saying, "It was a reward from the Empress. What else could she do but endure it? Besides, the Crown Princess is busy with many affairs; she has no time to fuss over a single flower."
Cui Yunchu raised her eyebrows. "They are bullying her right to her face. Why shouldn't she fuss over it?"
She could let the matter of the man go, but when it came to her status, how could she be so magnanimous?
Cui Yunchu had always drawn a very clear line between what she cared about and what she didn't. If someone wanted to steal her husband, fine. But if someone tried to steal her gold, jewelry, or position as the official wife, even as a mere provocation, she would absolutely never tolerate it.
Mo'er was taken aback. "What does Eldest Miss want to do?"
