Cui Yunchu felt as if she were trapped in a world of ice and snow, shivering from the cold, as if her internal organs were about to freeze solid.
Until an anxious voice called out to her, pulling her out of the icy water.
"Auntie, is that you?"
Cui Yunfeng's tears broke down completely upon hearing Cui Yunchu's murmur. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
The doctor checked Cui Yunchu's pulse and prescribed medicine, which Cui Yunfeng personally fed her.
"Cold," Cui Yunchu shrank her body, desperately hiding under the quilt.
Cui Yunfeng ordered, "Quick, bring a few more cotton quilts."
"Second Miss, the doctor instructed not to cover her too heavily. Once the Eldest Miss takes her medicine and breaks her fever, she will be fine."
Cui Yunfeng stayed by Cui Yunchu's side from morning until the sun went down.
She listened to Cui Yunchu constantly murmuring for her auntie in her sleep, saying a bunch of nonsensical things that couldn't be understood.
That normally beautiful and domineering face was now incomparably pale, her lips dry and peeling, her complexion as poor as could be.
The guilt in Cui Yunfeng's heart deepened.
Time ticked by until the evening lanterns were lit. Cui Yunchu, who had been unconscious all day, finally broke her fever and slowly woke up.
She tried to move her body, but it felt as though someone was pressing down on her, rendering her unable to move.
Turning her eyes, Cui Yunfeng's red and swollen eyelids came into view.
"Miss, you're awake," Xing'er said happily.
Cui Yunchu wanted to tell her to keep her voice down, but it was too late. Cui Yunfeng suddenly sat up and reached out to touch her forehead. "Finally, the fever is gone."
"Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"
Cui Yunchu looked at her, raised an eyebrow slightly, and spoke in a hoarse voice, "Are you planning to poison the food and kill me?"
"..." Cui Yunfeng ignored her and turned to instruct Yun'er to fetch a bowl of plain porridge from the kitchen.
"Didn't Father forbid me from leaving the ancestral hall? How did I get back?"
Cui Yunchu's voice was dry and cracked, sounding as unpleasant as if it were grating against sand.
"Can you just not speak?" Cui Yunfeng's tone was less than friendly.
"Is that the proper attitude for taking care of a patient?"
"..."
Remembering her grandmother's teachings, Cui Yunfeng tried her best to endure it, refusing to engage in another verbal spar with Cui Yunchu.
For the next few days, she stayed in Chu Courtyard, leaving early and returning late, to take care of Cui Yunchu.
"I get annoyed just looking at you. Can you not come tomorrow?" one day, Cui Yunchu said, casting a sidelong glance at Cui Yunfeng.
Cui Yunfeng glared at her and ignored her.
Having not left the courtyard for several days, Cui Yunchu was already feeling stifled. Early in the morning, she had Xing'er help her wash and dress, planning to go to Songhe Courtyard to pay her respects to Old Madam Cui.
"Grandmother has been busy these days and has no time to entertain you."
"Busy with what?" Cui Yunchu asked casually.
Cui Yunfeng's expression changed slightly, and she did not continue.
Cui Yunchu finished tidying her appearance and looked back at Cui Yunfeng. "Why did you stop talking?"
"...Choosing a husband for you."
Cui Yunchu froze.
Afraid she would throw a fit, Cui Yunfeng immediately walked over to block her path. "Stop dreaming about becoming the Crown Princess or a Princess Consort. Grandmother already said that with your brain, if you married into those families, you wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps between their teeth. Just obediently listen to Grandmother's arrangements; she won't harm you."
"That doesn't matter. Doesn't your older sister have you? Sister Yunfeng is the best at tattling."
"..." She had already been taking care of her for so many days, why was she still holding a grudge?
Cui Yunchu brushed past Cui Yunfeng and walked out.
In Songhe Courtyard, the old madam held a few small portraits in her hands, carefully pondering over them. Tang Qingwan sat upright to the side, occasionally offering a few comments.
"Grandmother."
Old Madam Cui immediately ordered someone to put away the portraits and carefully examined Cui Yunchu's face for a moment. "Are you fully recovered?"
"Thanks entirely to Second Sister's care, I am completely well."
Cui Yunfeng curled her lips.
Back in Chu Courtyard, she had been endlessly mocked by her, yet in front of Grandmother, she spoke so sweetly.
"Cousin is here too." Cui Yunchu bowed to Tang Qingwan.
Tang Qingwan smiled and responded with a gentle smile.
Cui Yunchu twitched the corners of her lips, her gaze falling on the small portraits that Nanny Li had put away. Without a doubt, it was Tang Qingwan who had instigated Grandmother. She had already said she wouldn't pester the Crown Prince anymore. Why didn't anyone believe her?
"What were Grandmother and Cousin looking at just now, so engrossed? Could you let Yunchu have a look too?"
Old Madam Cui's expression changed slightly. She glanced at Tang Qingwan beside her, then looked at Cui Yunchu.
After all, it was her marriage matter, and it couldn't be kept a secret forever. Old Madam Cui spoke tentatively.
"A few days ago, the official matchmaker sent over some small portraits of eligible young masters. Grandmother thought that since both you and Yunfeng are getting older, we should see if there are any..."
Before Cui Yunchu could speak, Cui Yunfeng exclaimed, "Grandmother, wasn't it for Eldest Sister? What does it have to do with me?"
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