The room fell into a brief silence. Old Madam Cui cast a displeased glare at Cui Yunfeng before turning a kindly gaze toward Cui Yunchu, terrified that she might throw a tantrum on the spot.
"Yunchu~"
"Which families' young men has Grandmother chosen? May I take a look?" Cui Yunchu asked with a beaming smile, showing not a hint of displeasure. This left Old Madam Cui quite surprised.
It should be known that Old Madam Cui had tried to arrange a marriage for her in the past. However, Cui Yunchu had always set her sights high, vowing to marry none other than a prince or royal descendant, and her fussing always ended with the matter being dropped.
"Yunchu, are you truly willing to discuss marriage?" Old Madam Cui asked.
Cui Yunchu took a few steps to Old Madam Cui's side and linked arms with her. "Men and women should marry when they come of age. Why wouldn't I be willing?"
Besides, Old Madam Cui doted on her. The candidates she selected, even if not the absolute dragons and phoenixes among men, would certainly be outstanding figures.
"Quickly, bring the portraits for the Eldest Miss to see," Old Madam Cui immediately beckoned Nanny Li forward.
Old Madam Cui took the portraits, pulled out a few, and handed them to Cui Yunchu. "Grandmother thinks these few are quite good. They come from clean family backgrounds and are handsome and talented. Take a look, do any catch your eye?"
Old Madam Cui's eyes never left Cui Yunchu's small face. Seeing her frown, she immediately added, "Although they are not from prominent aristocratic families, their lineages are noble and clean. With the Cui family looking after you in the future, they definitely wouldn't dare treat you poorly."
Cui Yunchu lifted her eyes from the portraits and smiled at Old Madam Cui.
She had already seen the families her grandmother selected in her previous life. Most were newly risen nobles with shallow foundations but outstanding abilities. However, in the capital, where powerful figures gathered, they were as inconspicuous as a single grain of sand in the Ganges.
Back then, when her grandmother discussed it with her, she had cried and made a scene, feeling that her grandmother looked down on her and was humiliating her because of her status as a concubine's daughter.
Otherwise, why could Tang Qingwan and Cui Yunfeng both marry into the royal family, while she alone had to marry down into such bottom-tier families?
"Grandmother thinks the eldest son of Minister Chen's family is quite good. Your father has also personally tested his academic knowledge."
More importantly, he was generous and kind. The Minister of Rites didn't hold much real power, which would prevent the Cui family from being pushed to the forefront of political storms again.
Cui Yunchu's gaze fell on the portrait of the Chen family's eldest son. He had delicate features and exuded a scholarly aura at first glance, looking gentle and refined.
In her past life, she couldn't understand her grandmother's painstaking efforts and insisted on fighting for a splendid future herself.
Not long after she caused a scene, Cui Yunfeng was restricted by the family from interacting with Prince An anymore. To cut off her thoughts, their father betrothed Cui Yunfeng to the Chen family's eldest son.
In less than three months, they were engaged and married.
Cui Yunchu didn't know how Cui Yunfeng's life turned out later, because she herself had already gone to the underworld due to her coveting Shen Xiabai's beauty and power.
But thinking about it, someone both her grandmother and father agreed to let her marry must be quite good.
Seeing Cui Yunchu remain silent for a long time, Old Madam Cui asked, "Do you not fancy them? Then we can keep looking, there are plenty of good young men."
"No," Cui Yunchu shook her head slightly, then lowered her head to carefully study the portrait for a moment. "He looks fine."
"Truly?" Old Madam Cui was pleasantly surprised, and Cui Yunchu nodded with a smile.
Even Tang Qingwan and Cui Yunfeng, who were standing to the side, looked astonished, never expecting it to go so smoothly.
"Cui Yunchu, you aren't brewing some wicked scheme again, are you?" Cui Yunfeng said with a frown.
Before Cui Yunchu could speak, Old Madam Cui scolded, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Cui Yunfeng curled her lips and kept her mouth shut, but her eyes stared unblinkingly at Cui Yunchu.
Her elder sister seemed different somehow, but she really couldn't put her finger on exactly what it was.
Old Madam Cui looked as if she wished she could settle the matter immediately. "Since that is the case, Grandmother will have the official matchmaker send word. The day after tomorrow happens to be Old Madam Chen's birthday banquet. You will go to offer birthday greetings and find a chance to take a look at him."
Upon hearing that she had to attend another banquet, Cui Yunchu immediately drooped her brows. "Grandmother, how about we pick someone else? I don't want to go."
Old Madam Cui raised a hand and poked her forehead. "How can the grand event of marriage be treated like a child's game?"
Cui Yunchu glanced again at the portraits on the table, knowing that these young lords were carefully selected by her father and grandmother after repeated screening, so she could only nod and agree.
The handkerchief tightly gripped in Tang Qingwan's hand loosened slightly, and the smile on her face became a bit more genuine.
Although she had never considered Cui Yunchu a rival, Cui Yunchu's beautiful face constantly hovering around the Crown Prince was truly irritating.
But thinking about it carefully, it really had been a while since Cui Yunchu had caused any trouble.
Cui Yunfeng whispered, "Cousin, is Elder Sister possessed? Why do I always feel like she's acting weird? Her obedience seems a bit unreal."
Tang Qingwan smiled faintly. "Isn't it good to be obedient?"
"It's not that, it just gives me the creeps."
When the three cousins came out of Songhe Courtyard together, Cui Yunfeng immediately jogged a few steps to catch up with Cui Yunchu and asked, "Did you really agree to the marriage with the Minister of Rites' family?"
"What else?" Cui Yunchu glanced sideways at her, her gaze suddenly falling on Cui Yunfeng's hair ornaments.
"Didn't you forget something?"
Cui Yunfeng followed her gaze upwards and rolled her eyes. "You really want it?"
"I won it fair and square, why wouldn't I want it?"
Cui Yunfeng pouted. "Got it. I'll have someone send it to you when I get back."
Cui Yunchu nodded and turned, planning to return to Chu Courtyard.
"Cousin." Tang Qingwan suddenly called out to stop her. She walked forward gracefully and stopped two paces away from Cui Yunchu, her voice light yet deep.
"Marriage is no child's play. Once it's settled, it cannot be changed. Cousin, you must think it through clearly."
Cui Yunchu smiled. "Does Cousin mean you hope I back out?"
Of course not. The warning and threat in Tang Qingwan's words were clear even to Cui Yunfeng; she was obviously telling her to know her place and behave.
Tang Qingwan frowned. "The Minister of Rites' estate has a simple household and family tradition, which suits you perfectly. If you back out, I'm afraid you'll never find such a suitable family again."
The inner courtyards of noble estates were places where people were killed without spilling blood. Some marriages seemed like a step up in the world, but were actually a death sentence.
Threatening her again?
Cui Yunchu let out a heavy breath and forced a smile. "It doesn't matter. If it really doesn't work out, I'll just come seek refuge with you, Cousin. You surely wouldn't let me sleep on the streets, right?"
