At the palace gate, she got out of the carriage in her bulky clothes, her movements appearing a bit clumsy.
As soon as she stepped out, she met a pair of honest eyes.
“...”
Cui Yunchu conscientiously gave a deep bow to the man. “Greetings, Lord Zhou.”
Then she turned around and strode firmly into the palace gate against the wind and snow.
Zhou Yuanmo, who was talking with his colleague, “...”
He subconsciously felt a bit ill - at ease.
“Hey, Brother Zhou, was that the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Cui just now?” A very young official from the Grand Secretariat stared intently at Cui Yunchu's departing figure and asked.
Zhou Yuanmo grunted an “um” from his throat.
“It's getting late. Let's go in quickly.”
But that fair - complexioned official suddenly grabbed Zhou Yuanmo. “Brother Zhou, you have a close relationship with Prime Minister Cui. You must have had some interactions with that Eldest Miss Cui. Why don't you tell me what she usually likes?”
Zhou Yuanmo's eyes gradually changed. “What do you want to do?”
“I won't lie to you, Brother Zhou.” The man blushed and said coyly, “Prime Minister Cui intends to betroth the girl to me.”
He had heard of Cui Yunchu's reputation, but when he saw her in person today, he cast all the reputation aside.
Zhou Yuanmo fell into a brief silence and forcefully twisted his neck.
“What's wrong, Brother Zhou? Is your neck uncomfortable?”
Zhou Yuanmo shook his head. “No, I'm just reminding you that having a strong neck is very important if you marry a daughter of the Cui family. Mine is okay; it hasn't fallen off. Whether your head will stay on or not, you'll have to pray for good luck.”
“What do you mean?”
Zhou Yuanmo shook his head and stepped towards the palace.
After all, Prime Minister Cui was his mentor. He still couldn't say what shouldn't be said.
The man frowned and stood there, pondering for a long time.
Prince An strolled past him and glanced at him sideways, which made the man feel rather puzzled.
The snow was falling continuously today, and the banquet was held in a hall not far from the Empress Dowager's palace. When Cui Yunchu arrived, most people were already there. She hunched over and wanted to find the most inconspicuous corner, but unfortunately, someone was already waiting for her.
“Eldest sister, eldest sister.” Cui Yunfeng waved her hand among the group of girls and ladies like a small flag.
“I've saved a seat for you. Come and sit here with me.” Many people turned their gazes, so Cui Yunchu had to go over and sit next to Cui Yunfeng.
“If I sit here, where will your dog sit?”
“I've told you not to always call him a dog.”
The two sisters talked as if there were no one else around, paying no attention to the people behind them.
Xiao Yi, seeing Cui Yunchu take his seat and call him a dog, wished he could kick her. Eunuch Liu whispered beside him, “Your Highness, Lord Shen over there is glaring at you. Calm down, calm down.”
Xiao Yi sat down with a gloomy face after driving away the two couples sitting below them. In the palace, the seating arrangement was based on official positions or titles. Since Cui Yunchu took Xiao Yi's seat, he had to grab someone else's.
Here, several girls surrounded Princess An and Cui Yunchu, chattering. “Is Eldest Miss Cui wearing so many clothes because she's afraid of the cold?”
Over there, several officials deliberately started chatting and surrounded Shen Xiabai. “Lord Shen is really young. Aren't you cold wearing so little?”
Cui Yunchu, “I'm afraid of the cold.”
Shen Xiabai, “I'm not cold.”
Their voices sounded simultaneously, causing a momentary silence in the hall. The male guests looked across, and the female guests also looked across, and the silence spread.
Shen Xiabai, “It's actually a bit cold.”
Cui Yunchu, “Actually, it's not that cold.”
“...”
Everyone's gazes began to shift back and forth between the two of them.
Cui Yunchu simply shut up and said nothing.
When the people around them dispersed, those sitting nearby suddenly noticed that Eldest Miss Cui's bulky clothes had been taken off at some point, while Lord Shen on the opposite side had put on a thick cloak without anyone noticing.
The two of them glanced at each other.
Cui Yunchu couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips, but the man across from her had a cold face, as if he didn't see her smile. He was extremely aloof.
Cui Yunchu frowned and squinted her eyes.
She stared intently at the opposite side. Whenever Shen Xiabai looked up, she would smile at him, but Shen Xiabai pretended not to see and calmly shifted his gaze away.
Cui Yunchu's eyes gradually became sinister. She refused to give up and stared at the opposite side without blinking.
After a while, Shen Zilan also came. He slumped down next to Shen Xiabai listlessly, bowed, and called out, “Uncle.”
Looking up, he met Cui Yunchu's fox - like eyes. He swayed his body following the direction of his uncle's body movement and bared his teeth at his uncle. His smile was eerie and gloomy.
“... Uncle, did you two quarrel?”
Shen Xiabai, “Eat your food. Why do you have so many questions?”
Shen Zilan, “Eldest Miss Cui has been staring at you. Her gaze is not very friendly.”
Shen Xiabai glanced at Shen Zilan sideways, his voice cold. “I'm not blind.”
“...”
“Oh.” Shen Zilan had been thoroughly disheartened these days and was listless, not wanting to talk.
“Uncle,” Shen Zilan asked with a glimmer of hope, “Are you really in love with Eldest Miss Cui, and there's no room for anyone else to interfere?”
“She's your little aunt. Stop calling her Eldest Miss Cui.”
Shen Zilan felt a lump in his throat. “But she's glaring at you.”
Shen Xiabai, “I'm not blind.”
After saying that, perhaps afraid that Shen Zilan wouldn't give up, he poured a cup of wine for him and pushed it over.
“I don't want to drink,” Shen Zilan said.
He wasn't so pathetic as to drown his sorrows in wine.
“I just want you to taste it and see how it compares to the wine from Wangyue Tower.”
Shen Zilan took a sip and told the truth. “I can't tell the difference.”
Shen Xiabai glanced at him sideways. “You worked all night washing dishes to get that wine. Didn't you taste it carefully?”
“...” Shen Zilan stared blankly at his uncle, who was raising his eyebrows.
Then he heard his uncle say, “Oh, I forgot. Those four jars of wine were all brought to me by A Chu. It's normal that you haven't tasted them. Go to my study later, and I'll pour you a cup to taste.”
Shen Zilan felt as if he had been beaten up by an elder and then thrown into the water to sink. He pouted a few times, sniffled, and picked up the wine pot dejectedly to pour another cup and gulped it down.
“Uncle, you weren't like this before,” Shen Zilan said hoarsely, his voice a bit choked.
Before, his uncle could never win an argument with him, and it always ended with the family law and a beating. But now, with just a few words, he could make one feel devastated.
Finally, it was quiet. Shen Xiabai ignored him and let him drink his wine in depression and feel sorry for himself.
When one was in a bad mood, it was easy to get drunk. Soon, Shen Zilan's head hit the table, and he passed out.
Shen Xiabai waved his hand and ordered the eunuchs to carry the man out of the palace.
Shen Zilan had a good drinking behavior; he just slept when he was drunk. Chen Miaohe had just gotten out of the carriage and hadn't entered the palace yet when she saw Shen Zilan being carried out.
“...”
So soon? She hadn't even gone in yet, and he was already out?
The two eunuchs were clumsy and didn't know to be careful. Shen Zilan's head was still outside when they tried to pull him into the carriage. Chen Miaohe couldn't stand it and ran over to scold them.
When she looked back again, she found that her mother had disappeared without a trace. Only the maid who came to deliver the message was left. "Madam said that since Young Lord Shen is drunk, the young lady should take care of him and send him back to the Shen Mansion. Coincidentally, you don't want to attend this banquet anyway."
"..."
