Inside the festooned archway, Cui Yunchu stood blocking the gate with Xing'er. Outside the archway, Prince An's eyes were dark, and he showed no intention of leaving.
"What will it take for the Eldest Miss Cui to step aside?"
Cui Yunchu thought: He was just short of saying that a good dog doesn't block the way.
"It is not that I am deliberately making things difficult for Your Highness Prince An. It is truly because my second sister is currently fast asleep. Even if you go in, you won't be able to see her."
Looking at Prince An's face, Cui Yunchu couldn't help but recall the various humiliations she had suffered over two lifetimes, such as being thrown out of restaurants by him...
Although she might have deserved it, it was hard not to hold a personal grudge. After all, she was no bodhisattva.
Prince An narrowed his wicked, charming eyes. His expression completely darkened, hovering on the edge of fury. A young eunuch beside him quickly tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Your Highness, she is the Second Miss's biological older sister after all. The Second Miss is very protective of her family. You mustn't do anything rash."
The young eunuch's words successfully curbed Prince An's urge to strangle Cui Yunchu to death.
"For Yunfeng to have a sister like you is truly..."
"An honor for you and the Crown Prince," Cui Yunchu coldly finished his sentence.
Whenever her two brothers-in-law mentioned her, who wouldn't have a few things to say? As a sister-in-law, she was truly unprecedented and unmatched.
Even the young eunuch's face turned a bit green, looking at Cui Yunchu with an expression that was hard to put into words.
"Your Highness, Your Highness." As they spoke, a joyful and hurried voice suddenly rang out.
Cui Yunchu turned around and saw Yun'er on the veranda. Yun'er bowed to Prince An, then quickly hurried down the steps and approached, "Hearing that Your Highness has arrived, our Miss specially sent this servant to welcome you. Our Miss suffered a lot today, so she hopes Your Highness can comfort her."
Cui Yunfeng and Prince An had been friends since childhood. Before the age of three, they practically ate and slept together, largely unrestrained by etiquette and rules. In particular, their childhood sweetheart affection made them believe that their relationship would naturally blossom and bear fruit.
Cui Yunchu's face felt as if it had been struck by a resounding invisible slap.
"Yun'er, are you unable to see me?"
"Ah, Eldest Miss." Yun'er immediately curtsied. "This servant only remembered my Miss's orders and was anxious for a moment. Please forgive me, Eldest Miss."
She was very respectful, scanning Cui Yunchu for a good while before stealing a glance at Xiao Chen. Her gaze was less innocent than one looking at a flower thief.
She definitely thought Cui Yunchu was blocking Prince An to cause trouble again.
But she had indeed blocked him. Extremely annoyed, Cui Yunchu scoffed at Yun'er and turned to leave.
Yun'er acted cautiously until Cui Yunchu left, then she smiled again and immediately welcomed Xiao Yi inside, recounting the hardships Cui Yunfeng had suffered today.
With every word she spoke, Prince An's face darkened a fraction more.
On the veranda, Prince An caught sight of Cui Yunchu's retreating figure from the corner of his eye and frowned slightly.
In Songhe Garden, Nanny Li watched Yun'er lead Prince An to the wing room. Frowning deeply, she immediately turned back into the house and asked, "Is the Old Madam awake?"
"Not yet."
Nanny Li rubbed her hands together anxiously. "Then what about the Eldest Miss? Didn't the Eldest Miss go to receive him?"
"..." The little maid looked at Nanny Li in silence.
She didn't know either; she had only seen the Eldest Miss storm off in a huff.
Nanny Li had no choice but to bite the bullet and personally go to the wing room to serve tea to those two little ancestors.
Cui Yunfeng felt incredibly wronged today. Upon seeing Prince An, she naturally shed tears for quite a while.
"Did you see who pushed you?" Prince An asked in a deep voice from behind the folding screen.
"It should be Li Mengyu," Cui Yunfeng said, then coughed violently a few times. "I'm afraid I won't be able to go out or accompany you for fun these next few days."
Prince An only held a post in the Imperial Guards, so whenever they had free time, the two would play together. They had tried almost all the delicious food and fun activities in the capital.
"The Li family," Prince An murmured softly, then comforted her, "Rest and recover with peace of mind. It is most taboo for women to let the cold enter their bodies. We can play once you are fully recovered."
"I had someone bring some medicinal herbs for cold from the Imperial Hospital. Take them on time. If you find it bitter, have a candied fruit, but you absolutely must not skip your medicine."
Cui Yunfeng's gaze never left the folding screen from beginning to end. Looking at his tall, slender silhouette reflected on it, a gentle smile curved her lips. "I am not a child anymore."
The man's low chuckle echoed from behind the screen, deep and joyful.
The man's gaze was locked on the delicate and beautiful girl behind the screen, his joy unhidden in his eyes and brows. It was a world of difference from the half-dead expression he wore when facing Cui Yunchu.
If it were in the past, if Yunfeng hadn't already reached her coming-of-age, and if the two didn't have to observe so-called etiquette and rules, Xiao Yi would have long acted just like when they were kids...
Their affectionate gazing was interrupted by Nanny Li's coughing.
Cui Yunfeng raised her eyes and looked at Nanny Li's unblinking, sharp old eyes staring at them, and instantly all romantic thoughts vanished.
"It is getting late. You should go back first. I will be fine."
Prince An fell silent for a few breaths before giving a slight hum of agreement.
Nanny Li finally breathed a sigh of relief, but suddenly felt a prickle down her spine as a sharp and imposing gaze fell upon her.
She knew it was His Highness Prince An.
The Old Madam had said that the Crown Prince seemed gentle but had ruthless methods; otherwise, the other princes wouldn't have ended up dead or injured.
Prince An appeared uninhibited and casual, but to be able to live safe and sound to this day, he was no ordinary person either.
The waters of the royal family were deeper than those of the West Sea.
"This old servant will see His Highness Prince An out," Nanny Li said, bracing herself.
That sharp gaze instantly disappeared, replaced by Xiao Yi's clear and gentle voice, "Rest well. I will come to see you again in a few days."
Nanny Li kept her head down and stood at the door, making a gesture of invitation to Prince An. Once they left the wing room and were completely out of Cui Yunfeng's sight, Prince An's gentle voice instantly became lazy and indifferent.
"Should this prince go and pay respects to the Old Madam?"
"The Old Madam lacks energy and has retired early," Nanny Li said respectfully.
"Oh." Prince An looked up at the glow of the setting sun. "That... is quite early."
Leaving the Cui residence and boarding his carriage, Xiao Yi's straight posture instantly relaxed. He leaned lazily against the carriage wall, lifted the curtain, and instructed, "Go and make some inquiries about the Li family's daughter."
The young eunuch immediately complied. He walked a few steps but turned back to ask, "Then... what about Eldest Miss Cui, should I inquire about her as well?"
Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, hesitated for a few breaths, and waved his hand.
Recalling the previous banquet at the Eldest Princess's estate, he had only briefly mentioned her, and Yunfeng had glared at him. Xiao Yi felt that if something happened to that annoying woman, Yunfeng would probably break off ties with him.
A stink bug—annoying but couldn't be swatted to death. It really ruined one's mood.
Unsurprisingly, Cui Yunfeng developed a high fever that night.
Upon hearing Xing'er's report, Cui Yunchu got up in the middle of the night and personally went to the Maple Garden to keep watch, feeding her water and medicine.
Fortunately, good medicine tastes bitter. The fever broke by the morning hours the next day. In her hazy state, Cui Yunfeng tugged at Cui Yunchu's sleeve without letting go, calling out the name of her wet nurse.
That was the nurse her mother had left for her, who died of illness when she was eight.
She was considered Cui Yunfeng's closest person aside from the Cui family.
Cui Yunchu lowered her eyes to look at the hand pulling her sleeve, then her gaze fell on Cui Yunfeng's pale little face.
Actually, her childhood days were probably not much better than her own.
Cui Yunfeng woke up on the afternoon of the second day. During that time, Tang Qingwan had visited twice, and Old Madam Cui had also come by once.
"Water." Cui Yunfeng half-propped up her sick body. Yun'er immediately stepped forward to feed her some water.
The warm water moistened her throat, making it feel less prickly. Her gaze fell on Cui Yunchu, who was sitting by the Eight Immortals table with her back to her, eating fruits.
"Eldest Sister, what are you eating?"
She was met with silence. Cui Yunchu did not even spare her a glance.
Cui Yunfeng looked up at Yun'er, seeking an answer.
Had she offended her eldest sister in some way? Weren't they holding hands yesterday, showing a deep sisterly bond? How did things change after just a nap?
Could it be that her pitiful state had only briefly awakened her sister's sympathy and familial affection for a single day?
"Miss, you had a high fever yesterday. You grabbed Eldest Miss and kept calling her by Auntie Chun's name. Eldest Miss said that Auntie Chun is already an old woman..."
"..." Right, her eldest sister had always been proud of her face.
She had thought her eldest sister had suddenly changed her temper, but looking at her now, she was just as petty as before.
"I will compensate Eldest Sister with another set of jewelry."
The little one was being exceptionally compliant today. Cui Yunchu curled her lips into a smile. Remembering the message Tang Qingwan had just sent someone to deliver, she stood up on her own and said, "Since you are fine, I will head back first. Don't forget to have someone deliver the jewelry set to my courtyard."
After saying that, she left with Xing'er.
Yun'er said, "Miss, you were too careless. A whole set of jewelry, gone just like that."
Cui Yunfeng leaned back against the soft pillows and slightly closed her eyes, but a faint smile played on her lips.
If the two sisters could always be like this and keep their grandmother from worrying, she would be willing to give all her jewelry to her eldest sister.
After leaving the Maple Courtyard, Cui Yunchu did not return to her own courtyard. Instead, she changed her route to look for Tang Qingwan.
A maid led her to the study. Behind the desk, Tang Qingwan had her sleeves rolled up, revealing half of her fair, white wrists. A long brush was held in her slender, tender hands, moving slowly across the rice paper.
Cui Yunchu glanced at the half-finished landscape painting. Tang Qingwan's reputation as a talented woman was certainly no exaggeration.
"Cousin, you sent someone to pass on a message about Li Mengyu's movements today. What do you want me to do?"
Tang Qingwan did not even lift her head. "Didn't you say, Eldest Cousin, that you wanted to get back at them on behalf of Cousin Yunfeng? As soon as I got the news, I immediately had someone notify you."
What Cui Yunchu disliked most about interacting with Tang Qingwan was her hatred for beating around the bush.
Cui Yunchu remained silent. Tang Qingwan finished her final stroke before slowly raising her eyes.
