In the carriage, Old Madam Cui's face was cold and grim as she gently stroked Cui Yunfeng's back.
"Yunfeng, think carefully. Do you really not remember who pushed you?" Cui Yunchu asked.
"Does Eldest Sister mean someone deliberately targeted me?" Cui Yunfeng's small face still held a weak, sickly pallor.
Cui Yunchu glanced at Old Madam Cui and asked straightforwardly, "Before you fell into the water, did Liu Wanting or Li Mengyu come near you?"
Old Madam Cui also watched Cui Yunfeng closely. "Do not be afraid. Your grandmother will naturally seek justice for you."
Cui Yunfeng knitted her brows in thought. Soon, the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Cui Manor. Xing'er and Yun'er supported Cui Yunfeng and went straight to the Songhe Courtyard.
A doctor was already waiting there. After another examination, he wrote a prescription, gave a few words of advice on what to watch out for, and then left.
"Grandmother, Eldest Sister, I think I remember now. When I fell into the lake, I vaguely saw a figure in a light green dress retreating behind the crowd, looking very panicked."
"Li Mengyu." Today, she was the one wearing a light green dress.
Old Madam Cui's face turned icy cold. She slapped her hand heavily onto the table. "So young, yet so vicious."
Cui Yunchu took a thin blanket and draped it over Cui Yunfeng, then instructed Nanny Li to go and brew a bowl of ginger soup.
"Li Mengyu's father is the Vice Minister of War. It is highly likely that Liu Wanting is the one pulling the strings behind this."
Old Madam Cui had naturally anticipated this. She knew that there was bound to be a struggle between the Liu family and the Cui and Tang families. She just had not expected Liu Wanting to be so deeply calculating at such a young age as to lay a hand on Cui Yunfeng.
It was her negligence. She had thought Liu Wanting would only target Qingwan.
Old Madam Cui could not help but worry. With such a ruthless and cruel girl marrying into the Crown Prince's estate alongside Qingwan in the future, would Qingwan be a match for her?
"Grandmother," Cui Yunchu suddenly spoke up. "Please do not intervene in this matter. Since it is a petty dispute among girls, leave it to us girls to resolve."
If the elders of the family stepped in now, it would only make Liu Wanting feel that the girls of the Cui family were useless. She would become even more unbridled in the future, and it would also escalate the conflict.
It would inevitably make people feel that the Cui family was throwing their weight around, especially since there was no solid evidence.
"Eldest Sister," Cui Yunfeng said, her eyes welling with tears.
Old Madam Cui also looked at Cui Yunchu. "Yunchu..."
"Rest assured, Grandmother. I know what I am doing." Cui Yunchu held Old Madam Cui's arm and leaned against it.
"Did you not teach us that the girls of the Cui family should be united as one? My younger sister has been bullied, so as her elder sister, I naturally must stand up for her."
Even if they turned the house upside down fighting among themselves, they would never allow an outsider to bully them in the slightest.
"Eldest Sister." The tears in Cui Yunfeng's eyes finally fell.
"Yunchu is right," a clear and beautiful female voice suddenly rang out as Tang Qingwan walked gracefully into the room.
"How can the girls of our Cui family allow others to bully them?"
Tang Qingwan wore a light purple floor-length dress, her face as cold as frost.
"Cousin," Cui Yunfeng sniffled.
Tang Qingwan immediately stepped forward and grasped Cui Yunfeng's hand. "Yunfeng, it is my fault for dragging you into this. Do not worry, I will definitely vent this anger for you."
Old Madam Cui looked at the three cousins with love, tears of gratification shimmering in her eyes.
Although Yunchu was usually a bit muddle-headed, she had a clear head at crucial moments.
"Good, good, good." Old Madam Cui held the hands of all three girls, placing them together in her own palms. "Grandmother is very happy that you can be like this. The future of our Cui and Tang families is entrusted to you."
Because the Emperor was wary of them, the eldest sons of the Cui and Tang families were sent away to serve as officials outside the capital upon reaching adulthood, forbidden from returning to the royal court. Although Prime Minister Cui and Grand Tutor Tang currently held great power, their sons were ultimately not by their sides. Caught between the sovereign and other officials, it was inevitable that they would feel their strength failing, struggling to support the families all on their own.
"It is just a pity that, apart from Cousin, the Emperor will not allow the Cui family to form any more marriage alliances with high-ranking officials and nobles," Cui Yunchu said lightly.
Otherwise, even imperial power could be challenged.
Old Madam Cui shot a glance at Cui Yunchu, somewhat alarmed and surprised by her sharp train of thought.
Even Tang Qingwan looked at Cui Yunchu. After all, in everyone's perception, Cui Yunchu should not have the brains for that.
Cui Yunchu naturally noticed their reactions and immediately lowered her head. "I am a daughter of the Cui family, after all. Perhaps it is in my blood."
"Yes," Old Madam Cui affectionately stroked Cui Yunchu's head. "The girls of our Cui family are all excellent."
