When that news was spread, it was meant to wait for the prominent families or matchmakers to take the initiative and come propose.
As for Yun Chu…
No need, no need.
Cui Yun Chu clicked her tongue in displeasure. "Grandmother, who do you take me for?"
"They say when a family has a daughter, a hundred families come seeking her hand. I am, after all, a woman."
"...What Yun Chu said... does make sense." Old Madam Cui turned her head to look at Nanny Li. "Don't you think so?"
Nanny Li also couldn't figure out what scheme the eldest young lady was brewing today, so she simply nodded along.
With the matter thus settled, Cui Yun Chu hummed a cheerful tune as she left Pine Crane Garden.
The news spread that the Second Miss Cui would soon marry, and the Cui family intended to find a husband for the Eldest Miss Cui as well. Just as Old Madam Cui had anticipated, when the noble families in the capital heard the news, they only responded with mockery. It quickly became fodder for idle gossip among official households.
For three consecutive days, the Cui residence was desolate, with hardly any visitors, yet no shortage of people were waiting to laugh at their misfortune and make snide remarks.
Cui Yun Feng was furious when she heard all the gossip, yet Cui Yun Chu remained remarkably calm.
This wasn't like her at all.
"Elder Sister, are you plotting something bad?"
Cui Yun Chu's eyelashes lowered, her tone even. "No, what could I be plotting? I simply want to get married."
Cui Yun Feng said, "But I still feel something's off."
Cui Yun Chu pretended not to hear, busying herself with her own matters.
Cui Yun Feng grew anxious. "Do you know what people outside are saying about you now? At this rate, forget about choosing a husband—your reputation will be ruined, and no one will come to propose."
Cui Yun Chu shook her head. "While the masses are drunk, I alone am sober. They curse me, and I pretend to be drunk. How could a bunch of mundane souls understand the profound plans I hold in my heart?"
Profound plans, huh…
Cui Yun Feng rested her chin on her hand, falling silent.
This affair was like a gust of wind—it swept past swiftly, leaving behind a mess, then quickly returned to normal.
Rumor had it that the Crown Prince’s residence and the Prince An’s residence had stepped in to suppress the gossip.
When Cui Yun Chu heard this, she showed no reaction.
Most likely, they found her reputation shameful and didn’t want it to tarnish her cousin or Cui Yun Feng.
Being the black sheep wasn’t new to her—she had never been one to carry a heavy conscience anyway.
When there were only three days left until Cui Yun Feng’s wedding, a young lady from the Chen family, Chen Miao He, suddenly came to visit, claiming she was delivering a wedding gift to Cui Yun Feng.
But wedding gifts were usually given the day before the wedding. Chen Miao He arriving at this juncture clearly had an ulterior motive.
Cui Yun Feng invited her into the courtyard and entertained her quite politely. After the usual congratulations, Chen Miao He spoke, "Why is the Eldest Miss Cui not here?"
"My elder sister has been staying in her courtyard these days and doesn’t like to go out much."
Chen Miao He frowned. "Is it because of the gossip outside that she’s feeling unhappy? Those people are truly despicable—talking about rules and upbringing when they themselves have read the sages’ books only to stuff them into a dog’s belly. They should examine their own faults instead of prying into others’ affairs."
Cui Yun Feng smiled, glancing sidelong at Chen Miao He, offering no reply.
"Eldest Miss Cui has a free-spirited temperament and is stunningly beautiful. Any family that marries her would be blessed, and those men aren’t worthy of her."
Chen Miao He’s words revolved entirely around Cui Yun Chu, praising her to the heavens and back, and her tone was utterly sincere.
Finally, she asked, "May I go and see Eldest Miss Cui?"
At last, she had reached the real point. Cui Yun Feng set down her teacup, agreed readily, and led Chen Miao He to Cui Yun Chu’s courtyard.
At that moment, Cui Yun Chu was sprawled out, legs crossed, sound asleep.
Cui Yun Feng’s maid, Yun’er, arrived first at the Initial Garden and shook her awake. "Eldest Miss, Eldest Miss, quick, someone’s here to propose!"
Cui Yun Chu stirred, her eyes still dazed. "Who?"
"Chen Miao He, the young lady from the Chen family—the same family you once discussed marriage with."
Cui Yun Chu took a moment to process, then lay back down. "Oh, it’s her."
Yun’er said, "Miss Chen keeps praising you endlessly. It’s likely that someone in her family wants to form a match with you."
After all, the Chen family was the first to show any interest in days—it was certainly worth being happy about.
Even if it didn’t work out, it could still slap the faces of those mocking the eldest miss outside.
Cui Yun Chu hugged her blanket and rolled over. "The person I’m waiting for isn’t her."
"What?" Yun’er didn’t catch that.
Cui Yun Chu had no choice but to slowly sit up. "Never mind. Let’s invite her in."
When Chen Miao He saw Cui Yun Chu, her eyes practically lit up, like a wolf eyeing a flock of sheep.
She was extremely warm, grasping Cui Yun Chu’s hand and calling her "Elder Sister Cui" constantly, her enthusiasm making Cui Yun Chu rather uncomfortable.
After a round of pleasantries, Chen Miao He said, "Ever since my brother’s marriage arrangement with you fell through, he’s been gloomy every day. My family has tried to arrange several other matches for him, but he refuses to meet anyone. A few days ago, when he heard that you were looking for a husband, he begged my mother to speak on his behalf."
"The last time things went so poorly, we were afraid you’d be displeased and felt it might be too rash. So my mother sent me ahead first to test the waters."
Chen Miao He smiled very amiably. Setting aside her somewhat dimwitted brother, Cui Yun Chu rather liked her.
Cui Yun Chu smiled and said, "That day at the residence, Master Chen did say that when I get married, he would come to drink a cup of wedding wine."
He said that? Chen Miao He was a bit stunned.
She had said she didn’t want to come, but her mother and grandmother insisted. She really didn’t know what they were thinking.
There’s no medicine for regret in this world—her brother had his chance but couldn’t seize it, so it was his own fault.
Seeing that Cui Yun Chu’s refusal was very blunt, Chen Miao He hastily changed the subject. "I truly like you, Sister Cui. I’m already betrothed to the young Master of the Shen family, but my future brother-in-law is also quite exceptional."
"..."
Even Cui Yun Feng was taken aback.
That was a quick change of heart—she abandoned her own brother in an instant! And the subject of marriage shifted just like that.
But Chen Miao He kept staring intently at Cui Yun Chu’s reaction.
She knew all about those rumors regarding Cui Yun Chu and Shen Xia Bai. If not for her brother’s dejection, her mother wouldn’t have sent her on this desperate mission.
But Chen Miao He preferred that lovebirds end up together. She thought Cui Yun Chu and Shen Xia Bai were a perfect match.
And abandoning her brother? She did it without an ounce of guilt.
From brother to future brother-in-law… Cui Yun Chu was even stunned by her leaps of logic.
Then she lowered her eyes. "What’s between me and Master Shen is merely speculation by others. Miss Chen, you jest."
Speculation??
Chen Miao He blinked in surprise.
Could it be that, as her mother and grandmother guessed, they had quarreled and broken up?
Well, that made sense—otherwise, why would the Cui family openly arrange a match for Cui Yun Chu?
Though it didn’t work out, the guilt Chen Miao He felt for trying to poach her future brother-in-law’s intended greatly diminished.
What a pity, truly a pity.
"Sister Cui is so delightful, I’m sure she’ll find her ideal husband."
After sending Chen Miao He off, Cui Yun Feng propped her chin on her hand and scrutinized Cui Yun Chu for a long while.
"What are you staring at me for? Have you studied The Art of War thoroughly?" Cui Yun Chu said.
"I think Big Sister has more depth than the Art of War. I can't shake the feeling that you have some scheme brewing, but I just can't put my finger on it."
Cui Yunchu shot him a sidelong glance and said, "You'd better go study your military tactics books now, before someone tricks you so badly that not even a scrap of your bones is left."
