"A Chu, it's still early. Let's sleep a little longer."
"Sleep what sleep," Cui Yunchu shook off his hand. "I'm going to meet someone at Anshan Temple later. You should hurry up and get dressed. Let's go."
Shen Xiabai wasn't angry at all. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "Really? Then A Chu should dress up nicely."
Cui Yunchu gave him a sidelong glance and retorted, "Of course. Maybe I'll just go home with that Lord Wang."
Shen Xiabai turned her around and gave her a punishing peck and nibble on her red lips. "Just you wait, I'll teach you a lesson."
Cui Yunchu gave a soft snort and turned back to the couch.
Shen Xiabai looked at her with a smile, his eyes and brows full of joy.
In the courtyard, Nanny Zhang was holding Yu Feng's hand with tears in her eyes. "Good boy, I'll go to the market today to buy cloth and make you clothes and shoes."
Yu Feng bent down. "Thank you, godmother."
"Good, good, good," Nanny Zhang held his hand tightly and didn't want to let go. "You should come back and see me often when you're free."
"Let's go," Shen Xiabai's calm voice came.
Yu Feng took his hand out of Nanny Zhang's. Nanny Zhang watched him leave reluctantly.
Yu Feng thought: After a night out with the master, the master got a beautiful girl, and he got a mother.
What a good deal!!!
Shen Xiabai glanced at his listless face. His mouth twitched so hard he almost laughed out.
Yu Feng thought, "Wasn't the idea yours? What are you laughing at?"
"Master, I need a raise. I'll have to support my godmother in the future."
#
Cui Yunchu dressed herself up beautifully. Wearing a light pink dress, it made her fair skin look even more like jade. There was a delicate flower-shaped ornament between her eyebrows, and the hairpin swayed slightly as she moved, making her look noble and charming.
Nanny Zhang was humming while tidying up the room.
Xing'er felt that everything seemed strange after waking up.
"Miss, weren't you reluctant about the prime minister's arrangement? Why are you dressing up so nicely?"
"We'll see who this is for," Cui Yunchu stood up and took Xing'er with her to go out.
Nanny Zhang immediately followed. "Miss, I want to go out of the mansion to buy some things later."
Cui Yunchu nodded in agreement.
She even readily agreed to whatever Xing'er told Nanny Zhang to do, speaking in a soft and gentle voice. This made Xing'er, who was used to being scolded by her, feel very uncomfortable.
"Nanny Zhang, what's wrong with you?"
"Xing'er, don't you have a sweetheart yet? You're growing more and more beautiful. I'll find you a good marriage."
Cui Yunchu and Xing'er were speechless.
Cui Yunchu said, "Get out of here and go play somewhere else."
She took Xing'er out of the door. Nanny Zhang still stood at the courtyard gate smiling and watching them leave.
Xing'er had goosebumps all over. "Miss, what's wrong with Nanny Zhang?"
Cui Yunchu replied, "She got a son out of the blue. She's overjoyed."
*
Outside the mansion, there was no carriage from the Cui Mansion, only a carriage with the sign of the Wang Mansion.
Cui Yunchu looked around. Just as she was about to ask the gatekeeper where the carriage was, the curtain of the Wang's carriage was suddenly pulled open, and a round head popped out.
"Hello, Eldest Miss Cui."
Cui Yunchu looked up.
The head was very round, and the hair was tied up on the head, making his forehead look very full. His facial features were quite handsome, but the way he sized her up made her feel a bit uncomfortable.
"I'm Lord Wang. I work in the Imperial Secretariat," Lord Wang got out of the carriage and bowed gracefully. "Please, Eldest Miss Cui."
Cui Yunchu gave a polite smile.
Since neither the steward nor the carriage from her own mansion had come, it must have been the Old Man's intention. She nodded slightly, lifted her skirt and got into the carriage.
The carriage slowly started moving towards Anshan Temple.
Wang Qing sat opposite Cui Yunchu. He stole a glance at her, then blushed and lowered his head, looking like a sensitive plant when triggered.
"..."
It's a bit of an act.
Whenever he looked at her, Cui Yunchu would give him a smile. Then Wang Qing's face turned even redder. "Eldest Miss Cui's beauty is truly peerless."
"Lord Wang also has a nose and eyes," Cui Yunchu replied.
"..."
Wang Qing smiled. "Eldest Miss Cui loves to joke."
Cui Yunchu covered her mouth and laughed. "Really? Then you should smile more. Maybe you won't be able to smile later."
"What does that mean?"
Cui Yunchu asked, "Do you know Lord Zhou?"
Wang Qing nodded. "We serve in the court together. Of course I know him."
"Then you must not have a good reputation," Cui Yunchu said.
Otherwise, the Top Scholar Zhou would have given him some advice.
After several exchanges, Wang Qing also faintly sensed the young lady's slight aversion to this marriage.
"I heard that Eldest Miss Cui was raised by her stepmother in the capital since childhood and was separated from Prime Minister Cui. You reunited with him after you were eight, right?"
Cui Yunchu's face remained calm, but her eyes were a bit cold. Her voice was still gentle. "Oh, you even know about this. It seems that my father really likes you."
Wang Qing smiled and said, "This matter can be easily found out by making a little inquiry."
Everyone knew that she and her stepmother were not favored by Cui Qingyuan. As a concubine's daughter, she was out of favor.
Cui Yunchu nodded slightly. "Did my father tell you that I'm not actually his daughter? He stole me, and my stepmother was also forced into the mansion by him."
Wang Qing was stunned and stared at Cui Yunchu.
Cui Yunchu laughed. "Look at Lord Wang. I'm just joking. Why are you so serious? Did I scare you?"
Wang Qing wiped the sweat off his forehead. "No, no. Eldest Miss Cui loves to tell jokes."
Cui Yunchu didn't say anything more and turned to look out of the window. Wang Qing was a very talkative person. He told her about his family situation and his rank in the imperial examination.
He was ranked in the top three dozen, so he was quite talented.
But after hearing about his family situation, Cui Yunchu was a bit stunned.
His widowed mother had supported her only son to become a Jinshi.
Wang Qing kept talking about how hard his mother had worked and how difficult her life was. Cui Yunchu's head was buzzing.
That Old Man, Cui Qingyuan, actually found such a poor match for her.
Did he want to starve her to death and be done with it?
Thinking of the situation of the Top Scholar Zhou,
Cui Yunchu thought: Did he find all the orphans and widows in the court?
Does he just not want me to be happy?
"Here's a little gift for our first meeting. I hope Eldest Miss Cui will accept it."
A square brocade box was handed to Cui Yunchu.
Cui Yunchu politely thanked him and took it.
Wang Qing said, "Won't Eldest Miss Cui open it and have a look?"
Cui Yunchu smiled. In Wang Qing's expectant eyes, she opened the brocade box.
Inside was a golden hairpin. The style of the hairpin was a bit old - fashioned, but it was made of gold. Cui Yunchu thanked him again.
"Does Eldest Miss Cui like it?"
Cui Yunchu smiled. "I like it. Lord Wang has spent a lot of money."
Wang Qing said, "I saved my salary for a long time to buy this hairpin. I originally planned to give it to my mother. Since Eldest Miss Cui likes it, it's yours now."
Cui Yunchu thought, "Did I ask you to give it to me?
You give it to me and then say such things. You're reluctant, aren't you?"
At this moment, Cui Yunchu most wanted to smash this brocade box into Cui Qingyuan's face and blind his eyes.
Let that Old Man see what kind of match he had found for her.
But Cui Yunchu was not like those shy and sensible young ladies from noble families. She gracefully put the box into her sleeve and said, "In that case, thank you, Lord Wang. I never thought that in Lord Wang's heart, I'm on the same footing as Lord Wang's mother."
This time, it was Wang Qing's turn to be at a loss for words, but it was only for a moment.
For Wang Qing, considering Cui Yunchu's family background and appearance, a gold hairpin was nothing.
All the way, he was very gentle and considerate.
Finally, the carriage stopped at Anshan Temple. It was still by that cliff. Cui Yunchu got off the carriage and stared at the cliff for quite a while.
Wang Qing said, "Does Eldest Miss Cui like the plum blossoms over there?"
Across the cliff, there was a plum blossom forest in full bloom. Plum blossoms were noble and elegant, which were not within Cui Yunchu's aesthetic preference before. She only liked vulgar flowers that were big and gaudy.
In Cui Yunchu's mind, the voice of someone holding onto his pants tightly and roaring at her with gritted teeth to let go echoed.
It had only been half a year, yet everything had changed completely.
With a smile on her lips, she nodded and walked towards the plum blossom forest.
"I'll go and pick a few branches for the young lady."
As Wang Qing stepped forward, Cui Yunchu called him back and instructed, "The plum trees are tall. If you get hurt, remember to ask Prime Minister Cui for the medical fee."
