Prime Minister Cui glanced at Cui Yunchu, clearly revealing a hint of surprise. He did not answer, but instead brought up the matter from a few days ago when he had refused to sign the promotion documents for the Liu family.
With this, who wouldn't understand what was going on?
The Emperor had long been dissatisfied with the authority held by the Cui and Tang families. Prime Minister Cui's previous actions had clearly provoked the imperial prestige, making it impossible for the Emperor to sit still.
The fact that Tang Qingwan was still able to sit there steadily showed that she was already remarkably composed. Old Madam Cui said, "Qingwan, rest assured. Regarding your father's matter, you have your uncle. No matter what, he will definitely rescue him."
Prime Minister Cui nodded. "You are now the Crown Princess; it is not like before. The Emperor is already dissatisfied with the Cui and Tang families. You should come back less often when there is no urgent business, lest the Empress and the Crown Prince become displeased and make things difficult for you."
Tang Qingwan shook her head. "Everyone knows the significance of this marriage. Whether I come back or not won't change anything."
Cui Yunchu chimed in, "But right now, Uncle is at the center of the storm. You should still avoid the brunt of it, lest the Liu family takes the opportunity to drag you down."
Tang Qingwan naturally knew this, but... "The Department of Punishments has a hundred kinds of torture, and no one has ever come out completely intact. Father has been sick with longing these past years, and his health is much worse than before. How can I feel at ease?"
She couldn't help it and shed tears.
Prime Minister Cui remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "This matter, do you think the Crown Prince might have had a hand in it?"
Tang Qingwan's face turned deathly pale for a moment before she replied, "The day it happened was exactly the day of my return visit. The Crown Prince and I even took my two younger sisters out to the streets to play."
She didn't say it aloud, but her heart was already freezing cold.
For the Crown Prince, whether he supported the Liu family or allowed the Tang family to hold great power, there was no real difference. After all, they were both sources of assistance for him.
What was truly important was the Emperor's mind.
The Emperor suppressed the Tang family, itching to eliminate them completely, while helping the Liu family in every possible way...
Tang Qingwan understood the Crown Prince.
Old Madam Cui closed her eyes, tears slowly sliding down from the corners.
How could her daughter have such a bitter fate, that even her own daughter had to live such a life?
"Had we known it would be like this, your father, your uncle, and I should never have agreed to let you marry into that family."
Tang Qingwan shook her head. "No, Grandmother. Even if I hadn't married, this would still have happened."
She had originally thought she could take things slowly, but she never expected such a sudden turn of events. It must have been the document her uncle refused to sign that indirectly pushed everything forward, making the Emperor unable to tolerate the Tang and Cui families for even a moment longer.
She never thought that a dignified monarch of a generation could be so despicable.
"The situation is tense, Qingwan. You must take good care of yourself in the Crown Prince's mansion, and beware of Side Consort Liu and... the Crown Prince."
After Prime Minister Cui finished speaking, he stood up on his own. "I will enter the palace to see the Emperor immediately."
Tang Qingwan frowned. "It's useless. I have already gone, and he refuses to see anyone."
"I am the Prime Minister; he must see me." Prime Minister Cui stood with his hands behind his back, his majestic aura not to be underestimated. "Over the years, our Cui and Tang families have shed our heart's blood and devoted ourselves entirely to Great Liang. If he wants to use those unwarranted rumors and charges to confirm Brother Tang's guilt, that is impossible."
The overwhelming power of the Cui and Tang families was not something merely boasted about by others.
If they had to press so hard at every step, leaving no way out, for the sake of the young and old of the family, Prime Minister Cui wouldn't mind tearing away all pretenses with him.
Old Madam Cui instructed uneasily, "Qingyuan, the Cui family has been loyal and upright for a hundred years. If there is any room for maneuver, do not be overly radical."
Mutually assured destruction was something Old Madam Cui did not want to see.
If all three children could settle down and establish themselves, life or death wouldn't matter to her old bones. But now, Yunfeng and Yunchu were unmarried, and Qingwan was walking on thin ice. How could she set her mind at ease?
And there were also her grandson and maternal grandson who had not returned home for years.
Prime Minister Cui paused in his steps, looked back, and met Old Madam Cui's gaze. "Mother, our Cui family would rather cry out and die than live in silence."
After speaking, he left the Songhe Garden and headed into the palace.
Everyone was on tenterhooks and didn't speak.
Although they hadn't gone with him, they could guess what Prime Minister Cui would face after entering the palace.
The Emperor finally had a chance to get rid of the Tang family. Let alone letting go, he probably wanted to drag the Cui family into it a bit more. If Prime Minister Cui wanted to save someone, he could only play a dangerous game with him.
To put it bluntly, it meant using the power in his hands to threaten the throne.
Old Madam Cui's body couldn't hold up, and at the request of the three sisters, she returned to her room to rest.
Tang Qingwan couldn't stay long either. Cui Yunchu and Cui Yunfeng escorted her to the mansion's gate. Tang Qingwan seemed to want to say something but forcefully held it back.
Cui Yunchu said, "Cousin, if you have something to say, you can speak directly. If we can help, it would be of some use."
Tang Qingwan hesitated before speaking, "The Department of Punishments is under Shen Xiabai's jurisdiction, but this person is entirely unreasonable. I asked many people but couldn't get to see my father even once. Yunchu, do you... have any friendship with him?"
...
Friendship she had none, but she had formed quite a few grudges.
Seeing that Cui Yunchu was silent, Tang Qingwan didn't continue to press her. "It's okay, I'll think of another way."
Cui Yunchu shook her head. "Shen Xiabai has a deep-seated grievance against the Cui and Tang families. I'm afraid it's useless to seek anyone out."
No one understood better than Cui Yunchu just how deep his hatred for the Cui and Tang families ran.
Tang Qingwan took out an envelope from her sleeve and handed it to Cui Yunchu. "If possible, please help me give this to my father. If Lord Shen is unwilling to accommodate, it's okay."
Those outside the situation might not know, but Tang Qingwan knew that Yunchu was somewhat different in Shen Xiabai's eyes.
Cui Yunchu looked at the letter, somewhat hesitant.
She couldn't help but think of Tang Qingwan's current situation in the Crown Prince's mansion. She had told Yunfeng that she would help her within her capabilities.
Her cousin had borne a lot of pressure for them, which was why she and Yunfeng could be so carefree and happy. Cui Yunchu couldn't utter words of refusal, feeling a guilty conscience.
In the end, she took it. "I will try my best."
Tang Qingwan forced a smile at the corners of her lips. "Yunchu, take good care of Grandmother."
Cui Yunchu nodded and escorted Tang Qingwan to her carriage.
Tang Qingwan smiled bitterly and added, "I originally thought I was very capable and could protect the Cui and Tang families, but looking at it now, I truly overestimated my abilities."
Cui Yunchu replied, "The situation is constantly changing, and no one can calculate everything perfectly. You are already very amazing."
Tang Qingwan smiled.
After getting married, she had devoted all her heart to having an heir and taking power in the Crown Prince's mansion. She thought that only by having an heir and controlling the mansion could she plan step by step, but she never expected disaster to strike so quickly.
"Yunchu, my father is just the beginning. The royal family will not stop here. If possible, you... don't forget what I once said. For the sake of the family, plan one step further."
"At the very least, Grandmother treats you with true sincerity."
Cui Yunchu's eyelashes trembled fiercely, a bitter expression on her face. "Cousin, you know my worth better than anyone."
Tang Qingwan smiled. "But Yunchu... the road ahead is unpredictable. If anything happens, you all still have to survive."
Her abilities were limited; she feared she wouldn't be able to protect them.
Cui Yunchu pressed her lips together tightly, her chest feeling as if it were stuffed with cotton—stifling and somewhat painful.
For the first time, she felt a profound sense of guilt, feeling that she was useless and incredibly selfish.
Cui Yunchu tightly gripped the letter in her hand.
"Cousin, has that disciple been caught? Is there anything I can help with? I will go find Xiao Yi and ask him to plead for Uncle," Cui Yunfeng said.
Tang Qingwan looked at her with a gentle smile and patted her head. "Yunfeng, your betrothal gift ceremony is coming up in a few days. Congratulations."
"Cousin, do you not blame me?" Cui Yunfeng asked.
Tang Qingwan shook her head. "Out of us three sisters, at least one should get her heart's desire and live happily. Matters of the heart are never within our control. I believe that no matter what, you would never harm our family."
"On the day of your betrothal ceremony, I will come back to keep you company."
Cui Yunfeng's tears fell. "Thank you, Cousin."
Tang Qingwan smiled and prepared to leave, but she turned her head to add one last piece of advice. "Yunfeng, the people of the royal family... have deep and complex minds. Be careful, and do not be so naive."
After saying that, she departed.
Cui Yunchu watched the carriage leave, her eyes slightly darkened and her mood low.
"Cui Yunfeng."
"Hmm?"
"Do not speak too much of our family's affairs to Prince An."
After Cui Yunchu said this, she turned around to return to the estate.
"Eldest Sister, wait."
Cui Yunchu stopped in her tracks and looked at her.
"The night of the incident, the Crown Prince wasn't the only one present. Prince An and Lord Shen were there too." She bit her lip, the words seemingly difficult to force out. "Cousin speaking like that... does it mean that Xiao Yi... might also be involved?"
She stared fixedly at Cui Yunchu without blinking.
He had said that he would not lay a hand on the Cui and Tang families.
Cui Yunfeng clenched her fists tightly.
