Tang Qingwan gestured for her to sit beside her. "You've heard the outcome of my brother's matter, haven't you?"
Cui Yunchu nodded. "The Chancellor mentioned a few words."
Her voice was light and indifferent, and when she brought up Cui Yunli, she lacked the warmth and excitement that Tang Qingwan and Cui Yunfeng had shown.
Tang Qingwan smiled. "But this is just the beginning; the real highlight is still to come."
Coming back wasn't about ability; being able to stand firm and carve out a place in the capital—that was the true skill. Now that Grand Tutor Tang was no longer at court, the Cui family's influence had waned. Only substantial power could stabilize the situation again for the Cui and Tang families.
Cui Yunchu slouched sideways against the edge of the bed. "So, cousin, what do you want me to do?"
She clearly understood what Tang Qingwan was implying; she had already discussed it with Cui Yunfeng earlier.
"Or rather, what position do you, cousin, have in mind?"
Tang Qingwan replied, "No matter the position, it can't get around the Ministry of Personnel Affairs."
Upon hearing this, Cui Yunchu seemed unconcerned. "Matters like these should be handled by you, cousin, and Yunfeng. I don't have any connections in the Ministry of Personnel Affairs."
"I know, but we still have to thank you for helping my brother return safely."
The word 'thank you' felt like a blanket of thorns, making Cui Yunchu deeply uncomfortable.
"I only did it for myself."
Tang Qingwan shot her a playful glare and tapped her forehead with her finger. "You girl, you're all sharp tongue and soft heart."
She wasn't just doing it for herself; she was doing it for the Cui family, for her grandmother, and for both her and Yunfeng.
To be honest, Cui Yunchu was actually the most loyal and sentimental of them all. Since she and Yunfeng treated her sincerely, she responded with genuine devotion.
Soft-hearted?
Cui Yunchu curled the corner of her mouth, her lips twisting into a mocking smile.
"You’ve set your sights on the Ministry of War, haven't you, cousin? But the Ministry of War holds a special position—it's directly appointed by the Emperor. What role could the Ministry of Personnel Affairs possibly play?"
Just then, a palace attendant served herbal medicine. Tang Qingwan frowned, endured the bitterness, and downed it, her whole face scrunching up.
Cui Yunchu watched her and frowned too. "How long do you have to take this medicine?"
"Hard to say—maybe a few months, maybe a few years."
Tang Qingwan’s words weighed heavily on Cui Yunchu. "Your health... what did the doctor say?"
Tang Qingwan lowered her gaze, her voice soft. "The doctor said my constitution is weak, and I might have difficulty bearing children in the future. He told me to drink more medicine to strengthen my body."
Silence stretched between them. Neither spoke; they simply leaned back with their heads raised, remaining quiet.
For Tang Qingwan—and for a Crown Princess—having children carried immense significance. It was something she had been planning ever since she married into the Crown Prince’s household, securing a foundation for the future.
Losing that hope was worse than never having had it at all.
Cui Yunchu didn’t dare keep asking.
"The Cui and Tang families owe you, cousin, more than a little."
Tang Qingwan chuckled softly. "It’s not just me—it’s you and Yunfeng too." She took Cui Yunchu’s hand and held it in her palm. "It hasn’t been just about me alone for a long time now."
The three of them—sisters in all but name—were all working hard for the sake of the Cui and Tang families.
Cui Yunchu’s expression turned slightly stiff, and she slowly withdrew her hand. "Not me. I told you, I only did it for myself."
"Alright, say whatever you like," Tang Qingwan said with a smile, her gaze fixed on Cui Yunchu’s face. "Today, the Crown Prince brought back the latest news: the Empress Dowager is threatening to die if the Emperor doesn’t execute Lord Shen."
Cui Yunchu’s eyelashes trembled, but she said nothing.
Tang Qingwan continued, "I followed your wishes and didn’t have the Crown Prince intervene."
Cui Yunchu stood up, walked to the desk, poured a cup of water, and gulped it down. In a low voice, she said, "I never noticed before that you listen to me so well, cousin."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing," Cui Yunchu replied, lowering her head and pressing her lips together. "A life for a life—it’s only right."
An eye for an eye, a life for a life—that was always how it had been.
"Is that all you called me here to tell me, cousin?"
Tang Qingwan said, "I heard you went to the prison yesterday to visit Lord Shen."
Cui Yunchu set down her cup, turned to look at Tang Qingwan, and remained silent.
"Whatever your original intent was, his original intent was always to save you." Tang Qingwan pushed back the covers and got out of bed, still weak after her serious illness. "Now that our goals are achieved, we do owe Lord Shen something after all."
The mere mention of 'Lord Shen' made Cui Yunchu’s ears ache. Her whole body felt uncomfortable.
"How do you know, cousin, that I don’t truly want him dead?"
Tang Qingwan frowned. "Yunchu, is there some grudge between you and him?"
Cui Yunchu naturally wouldn’t say. "Every time we meet, he’s sarcastic and mocking toward me. I’ve always been petty and hold grudges—you know that."
"I don’t know that," Tang Qingwan said.
Cui Yunchu grew irritable. "If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving."
"How about I take you to have a look around the Crown Prince’s warehouse?" Tang Qingwan asked, tilting her head.
"No," Cui Yunchu said, frowning as she paced a few circles around the room.
Tang Qingwan wasn’t in a hurry; she simply watched her quietly until Cui Yunchu stopped and said, "Fine, let’s go."
Tang Qingwan teased her for a while but indeed took her to the warehouse.
Cui Yunchu naturally couldn’t come away empty-handed, but under Tang Qingwan’s supervision, she grudgingly loaded up half a carriage full of goods. "Cousin, you’re not as generous as Yunfeng."
Tang Qingwan smiled faintly. "What I give you is yours. What Yunfeng gives you—well, that might not necessarily stay yours."
"What do you mean?"
Tang Qingwan said, "Don’t you know your cousin-in-law, the Crown Prince, and Prince An well enough?"
"He’s dreaming," Cui Yunchu nearly jumped up. Once something was in her pocket, there was no way she was giving it back.
"Before you went to the Supreme Court yesterday, Prince An paid a visit there too."
Cui Yunchu’s eyelids twitched, and she asked casually, "What did he go for?"
"Apparently, he brought quite a few letters to keep Lord Shen entertained. Coincidentally, the Crown Prince’s residence has the same letters." Tang Qingwan studied Cui Yunchu’s expression.
From initial indifference to bewilderment, then to wide-eyed shock, Tang Qingwan laughed softly. "It seems you’ve remembered, Yunchu."
"...He’s really not a decent person," Cui Yunchu said, her face burning. If Xiao Yi were there, she would definitely urge Yunfeng to strangle him.
No—she would have to visit Prince An’s residence again in the next couple of days. That scoundrel was truly vicious; she would have to clean out his entire mansion.
Tang Qingwan fully agreed. "Sending those things at such a critical moment—killing someone’s spirit is worse than killing them outright. Prince An is indeed... vicious."
But it might also be that, having been blackmailed by Yunchu using Yunfeng for so long, he was finally venting his anger.
Cui Yunchu hurriedly jumped into the carriage and urged the driver to go to the Supreme Court.
Tang Qingwan watched Cui Yunchu leave, a faint smile on her face. Even Yun’er, the attendant beside her, couldn’t understand what the Crown Princess had meant by summoning the eldest young lady here today.
Tang Qingwan said, "I thought she was so cold-hearted and truly didn’t care. Turns out she was just putting on a tough act."
