"Prime Minister Cui never liked my mother. When he left for his post, he abandoned us in the capital. My mother had low status and received no respect, but she loved luxury and often took me to banquets uninvited."
Cui Yunchu lowered her eyes, fiddling with her fingers as if sinking into the embarrassment of childhood.
Her mother exhausted herself currying favor with the noble ladies, hoping to be accepted among them, but those people would never think highly of her. Even when wearing silk and satin, spending all her silver on gold and jewels, she was still looked down upon.
During those days, Cui Yunchu heard the ugliest, most venomous, and most cutting words in all the world. She was just like her mother—at first, trying to please; when that failed, going mad, as if it were a necessary process.
"The year Gu Xuan set his sights on me, I was eight. He said I was as seductive as my mother, dragged me into a pitch-black room, and tried to assault me. I kicked him hard in the groin, making him howl and roll on the ground."
Shen Xiabai's heart seemed to sting sharply. He turned his head abruptly, meeting the girl's eyes as she looked up, red-rimmed. "He was already shameless as a teenager, lucky for me I was tough. He never even touched me."
"Then what?" Shen Xiabai asked.
A neglected concubine and an eight-year-old illegitimate daughter—how had they survived under the Gu family's hand?
"Then, heaven did not abandon me. Prime Minister Cui returned." She smiled, her curved eyes glinting with scattered light. "The Gu family wanted my life. At that time, the Prime Minister had just returned to the capital. If he let someone kill his own daughter, how could he establish himself there? I was his first flame as a newly appointed official."
Shen Xiabai stood like a carved statue, staring straight into Cui Yunchu's eyes.
"So," Cui Yunchu's tears fell, "I am afraid of Gu Xuan."
...
After the wedding ceremony at the main courtyard, Yu Feng reported to Prince An as Shen Xiabai had instructed.
In the bridal chamber, Cui Yunfeng suddenly tore off her veil.
The female official from the Ministry of Rites was startled. "Your Highness, you must not—it's bad luck. Put it back on quickly."
Cui Yunfeng pushed her away, looking at Xiao Yi. "That bastard came today too."
Prince An had been busy with the wedding and overlooked this. Moreover, Gu Xuan was the only son of the Gu family—related to them by marriage—so attending the wedding was normal.
He glanced at Yu Feng.
Cui Yunfeng lifted her skirts to leave, looking ready to fight Gu Xuan.
Prince An quickly grabbed her. "Yunfeng, don't be impulsive."
"He harassed my elder sister,"
Prince An nodded. "Leave it to me. Leave it to me. I'll handle it."
Cui Yunfeng was equally firm. "If His Highness cannot deal with that scoundrel today, there is no need to return to the bridal chamber."
The female official felt her temples throbbing, but before she could speak, Prince An had already promised, "Rest assured. He caused trouble at our wedding feast; I will not go easy on him."
With that, he left with Yu Feng.
Cui Yunfeng was veiled again and sat on the wedding bed waiting for news.
Leaving the bridal chamber, Xiao Yi's expression cooled. "Just a worthless man. Can't even your superior handle him?"
Yu Feng remained calm. "Today, after all, His Highness Prince An is the host. Young Master Gu is also a relative of the imperial family. In imperial matters, it was not appropriate for my master to intervene."
Prince An snorted coldly. "Inappropriate to intervene, but convenient to use my princess's hand to needle me."
"..."
"He plays the hero, saves the beauty, and lets others do the work. So he gets to be the good guy while others sweat."
Yu Feng kept his head down, ignoring the prince's complaints.
...
Cui Yunfeng was waiting anxiously when the door opened. Lifting a corner of her veil, she saw Cui Yunchu's flushed face.
"Elder sister." She immediately moved forward, but was blocked by the female official.
Cui Yunxiu smiled. "Sit still. Moving around with the veil on, are you trying to trip?"
Cui Yunfeng had no time for joking. "I heard from Shen Xiabai's people that that bastard Gu Xuan harassed you again."
Cui Yunchu's eyelids fluttered. "It was a misunderstanding. It's been resolved. Don't worry about it."
"No." Cui Yunfeng said coldly. "I am now the mistress of Prince An's estate. If he dares to bully you on my turf, how can I let him off? Don't worry—I've already sent Xiao Yi to deal with him. This time, I'll make sure he learns his lesson."
Cui Yunchu said nothing, just squeezed Cui Yunfeng's hand.
Cui Yunfeng glanced at her, then ordered, "All of you, leave. No one enters without summons."
Just from this, the maids and matrons knew the new princess was no pushover. With the steward's prior instructions, they all obeyed.
When the door closed, Cui Yunfeng tried to lift her veil again, but Cui Yunchu pressed her hand down. "Don't lift it. It's bad luck."
"That's all fake," Cui Yunfeng said.
"Still no. You are my sister; I want you to be happy and secure. True or false, you have to believe a little."
Cui Yunfeng murmured, "Since when did Elder Sister become so superstitious?"
Yet she was deeply moved.
"Yunfeng, where is Gu Xuan?"
Cui Yunfeng froze at Cui Yunchu's question. "Why is Elder Sister looking for that beast?"
"Just tell me."
Cui Yunfeng obeyed obediently. "Someone reported that Xiao Yi had him beaten and sent back to the Gu residence."
"He's already left?"
Cui Yunfeng shook her head. "Not yet. Elder Sister, if you have something to do, just tell me. Yunfeng will handle it."
She believed in and supported her elder sister unconditionally.
...
Prince An successfully lifted the veil. Many guests crowded around the bridal chamber, cheering. The rest remained at the banquet in the front courtyard.
Prince An's hand on Cui Yunfeng's shoulder tightened, veins standing out on the back.
"You're hurting me," Cui Yunfeng frowned.
Prince An suddenly let go. He pursed his lips, his peach-blossom eyes filled with her image, rare tension visible.
Consort Liang was also present. Seeing her son like that, she couldn't stand it. "Everyone's waiting for the feast; just kiss her already."
The guests burst into laughter.
"Yunfeng, no matter the situation, you are the only one in my heart. You are more important than anything,"
He whispered, heard only by the two of them, then gently lifted Cui Yunfeng's chin and pressed his thin lips to hers.
A brief touch.
Cui Yunfeng turned her head away, perhaps out of shyness.
Xiao Yi's joy was unmistakable, his happiness spilling from his brows and eyes like never before.
"Wait for me to return." He touched his forehead to hers.
Those who usually feared him, emboldened by his cheer, dared to speak. "Your Highness, stop your lingering and go drink. If the feast doesn't end, how will you have the bridal night?"
Consort Liang joined in the teasing, quite different from the dignified demeanor she maintained in the deep palace or her fierce rivalry with the Empress.
Xiao Yi grasped Cui Yunfeng's wrist, brought it to his lips, and closed his eyes briefly.
"Go on now," Cui Yunfeng urged.
Everyone dispersed from the room, but Consort Liang stayed.
"Consort Liang,"
Consort Liang raised an eyebrow. "What, no gift, so no change of address?"
Cui Yunfeng lowered her eyes and called her "Mother."
"Good—my good daughter-in-law. I'll give you your gift when you come to the palace to serve tea tomorrow."
She sat down beside Cui Yunfeng and patted the back of her hand. "This mother is very happy today, especially with no one from the Central Palace causing trouble—that makes me even happier."
"..."
Consort Liang had always been straightforward, and Cui Yunfeng was used to it.
"Your mother stayed behind because she has something to say to you. I know that your marriage to Yi'er was half forced by him."
"Now that the deed is done, I treat you well because I hope you will treat my son well too. Please don't hurt him anymore. He has done many wrong things, but I believe that for you, he would not hesitate to risk life and limb."
Cui Yunfeng lowered her eyes. "Rest assured, Mother. Since we are married, I will treat him well."
Consort Liang nodded. After a moment of silence, she suddenly said, "Actually, he was not like this when he was little. Back then, he was not stubborn or gloomy—he was lively and endearing."
"At that time, you had not yet returned to the capital with Prime Minister Cui. Later, due to my negligence, he was taken away by a concubine in the palace. I do not know what happened, and perhaps because of my carelessness, I never paid close attention to the changes in him afterward. Little by little, it shaped him into the person he is today."
There was guilt in Consort Liang's voice. "Yunfeng, I will truly treat you well. I only ask that you cherish him a little. Now that he is grown, he no longer needs me as his mother. What he needs now, only you can give him."
Yi'er had long since passed the age of needing her. What could soothe him for the rest of his life was only his wife.
Cui Yunfeng's voice was dry as she replied, "Rest assured, Mother. I will."
