Cui Yunchu reluctantly rose from the pile of gold and silver treasures, instructed Xing'er to pack everything away properly, and then followed Butler Liu out.
Passing through the veranda and the bluestone path, they arrived before Prime Minister Cui's courtyard. Cui Yunchu stepped forward to enter, but Butler Liu lowered his voice to remind her, "Eldest Miss, the Lord Prime Minister is in a bad mood. Please be careful."
Cui Yunchu curled her lip. "When has he ever been in a good mood when thinking of me?"
"..." Butler Liu had no reply. Cui Yunchu waved her hand and went in, adding, "If I don't come out, remember to go find Grandmother to save me. I'll remember your kindness."
Butler Liu quickly bowed his head. "This old servant wouldn't dare. I'll remember what you've instructed, Eldest Miss."
No matter how little favor Cui Yunchu had with Prime Minister Cui, she still had some standing with the Old Madam. Even if Cui Yunchu hadn't said it, he wouldn't dare keep it hidden.
Cui Yunchu stood under the corridor, hesitating for a moment. The servant guarding the door urged her, "Eldest Miss, the Lord Prime Minister is waiting for you in the study. Please go in quickly."
Cui Yunchu shot him a frosty glare.
Easy for him to say—he wasn't the one about to get beaten. Did she really need no time to mentally prepare?
She ran through every possible argument and excuse she could think of in her mind, then patted her chest, stepped forward, and knocked on the study door.
"Come in." The voice that emerged was deep and heavy.
Cui Yunchu pressed her ear to the doorframe to eavesdrop—hmm, she couldn't gauge just how bad his mood was.
The servant was still staring at her. Cui Yunchu glared back. "What are you looking at? Birds of a feather."
Like master, like servant. Not a single good one among them.
She pushed the door open and entered, but instantly masked her hostile expression with a graceful smile. She curtsied and said, "Father."
"Hmm." Prime Minister Cui lifted his head from a heap of documents, his gaze pausing on Cui Yunchu.
She turned and carefully closed the door behind her.
"The brocade box you gave me, Father, I've already handed it to Yunfeng. She said she liked it very much."
"Hmm." Prime Minister Cui responded faintly, his sharp, shrewd eyes still fixed on her, making her deeply uncomfortable.
In all her years, Cui Yunchu had probably never received such prolonged attention from him.
In the past, his looks at her were mostly disdain or dissatisfaction. Later, they turned into outright disregard.
Cui Yunchu felt a twinge of bitterness, mixing sarcasm with a hint of timidity. "Yunfeng also said the little horse figurine was terribly crafted, so ugly it hurt the eyes. But since it was carved by your own hands, Father, she said she'd treasure it well."
After saying this, she pursed her lips and scratched her head, clearly torn between conflicting emotions.
Prime Minister Cui said nothing. He withdrew his gaze from Cui Yunchu and looked down at his documents, but his words were directed at her. "What have you been up to lately?"
Cui Yunchu was taken aback.
Such casual, seemingly concerned small talk—it wasn't something the dignified Prime Minister Cui would ever ask her.
Especially his calm tone, which didn't match the imposing aura he usually had when summoning her.
She replied, "At the mansion, I've been sleeping, reading, beating Xing'er, paying respects to Grandmother, washing and dressing, attending Yunfeng's birthday banquet today, eating the feast..."
She started counting on her fingers. Prime Minister Cui frowned and waved for her to stop, lest she enumerate every trip she made to the latrine.
Cui Yunchu obediently fell silent, as if she hadn't just been rambling endlessly.
On Prime Minister Cui's desk sat a brocade box that looked identical to the one that had contained the little horse. Cui Yunchu didn't care what was inside it.
It had nothing to do with her anyway.
Prime Minister Cui asked, "Aside from that, have you had any contact with anyone in particular?"
"No." Cui Yunchu shook her head, answering quickly.
Lying and denying had long become her subconscious habit.
She'd had so much practice that she could lie without batting an eye or missing a breath.
Otherwise, it would be the little whip waiting for her.
Not that lying had ever saved her, but at least she could brazenly cry injustice. When she dug in her heels, she was stubborn enough. If she was unhappy, she'd make sure the entire Cui mansion, even the anthills, couldn't find peace.
Prime Minister Cui's tone grew a little irritated. "Think before you speak."
Two breaths passed, and Cui Yunchu shook her head again. "I've thought it over. No."
She'd been well-behaved. She hadn't seduced the Crown Prince or pestered Prince An. The few trinkets she'd gotten were all gifts from Yunfeng.
She honestly couldn't figure out how she'd embarrassed the upright-to-a-fault Lord Prime Minister this time.
Father and daughter locked eyes. For a split second, Cui Yunchu seemed to catch a flicker of hesitation and depth in his gaze.
The emotions in his eyes were deep and complex, impossible to discern clearly.
"Is Father done questioning me? If so, I'll head back to the First Garden."
Prime Minister Cui didn't give permission. Instead, he shifted topics. "Some days ago, you said you wanted to choose your own husband. Have you found anyone of interest?"
Cui Yunchu froze.
She knew it—there was a good chance this was about her marriage.
"Not yet for now?" she said tentatively, watching him.
"Then—" Prime Minister Cui began, but Cui Yunchu sensed disaster and quickly changed her tune. "Yes, yes, I do."
Prime Minister Cui's eyes sharpened. "Who? Which family's son?"
"Well... I'm still observing, haven't decided yet. But I think he's a decent person," Cui Yunchu fabricated on the spot.
Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Cui's face immediately darkened. "How do you know he's decent?"
"Those in official circles who reach high positions are no ordinary men. As a young woman, how can you judge the duplicity of people's hearts?"
"..."
Cui Yunchu said nothing in rebuttal. Arguing was useless—whenever Prime Minister Cui wanted to find fault with her, nothing she said would matter.
"Outsiders might be vicious, but none match you in chilling my heart."
"What exactly are you trying to say, Father?" Cui Yunchu asked.
Prime Minister Cui paused briefly before speaking again. "It's truly improper to let a young woman decide her own marriage. The Lord Zhou I mentioned before is a fine choice—outstanding in both character and appearance. This matter is settled. In three days, I'll arrange for you to meet to get acquainted."
Cui Yunchu was stunned, gaping at him.
Her marriage—the most important matter of her life—decided with as much casual indifference as if he were remarking on the weather?
Was she getting married?
Put bluntly, this was a matter of life and death, and he was so lightly tossing her fate to someone else?
She was a person, not a mere object to be tossed wherever he pleased just because he didn't like her.
"Yunfeng said he's ugly," Cui Yunchu countered stubbornly.
But Prime Minister Cui was adamant. "I said, this matter is settled."
So it wasn't a discussion; it was a notification.
Cui Yunchu immediately flared up. "Lord Prime Minister, I am a woman. I have to marry, not like a man taking a concubine who can be brought in on a whim, thrown aside and neglected if disliked."
Her words were filled with long-suppressed bitterness and resentment.
Prime Minister Cui naturally caught her veiled jab. He slammed the desk heavily, the dull thud reverberating through the room. Cui Yunchu instantly fell silent, though defiance still hung on her face.
Today, unless Prime Minister Cui is determined to beat her to death if she refuses to marry, she will not easily give in.
