“Lord Prime Minister, Eldest Miss got into that lord’s carriage from the Wang family. They’re headed to Anshan Temple,” the steward reported, bowing.
Cui Qingyuan was writing. Without looking up, he merely replied, “Did you send anyone to keep an eye on things?”
“Rest assured, Lord Prime Minister. We’ll make certain Lord Wang remains safe and sound.”
Bang, bang, bang—
The door was suddenly pounded.
Cui Qingyuan rose, still holding his brush, and exchanged a glance with the steward. The steward went to open the door.
“What is it?”
The person outside said a few words. The steward’s expression changed, and he hurried back into the room.
Cui Qingyuan’s eyelid twitched. “What happened?”
“My lord, the gatekeeper reports that someone suddenly left a large burlap sack outside the entrance. There’s a note attached saying it’s a gift for you. The men downstairs didn’t dare open it without permission, so…”
Cui Qingyuan set down his brush and walked around the desk. “Let’s go see.”
The wind was strong in the courtyard, whipping their robes about. Four young servants stood guard over a burlap sack, bending over and peering at it curiously.
“Lord Prime Minister, it seems to be a person.”
Cui Qingyuan frowned. “Open it.”
The steward immediately crouched down and loosened the mouth of the sack. As soon as he set it back on the ground, a shaggy head poked out.
Though everyone had been mentally prepared, they were still startled. The steward hurriedly backed away, staring in alarm at the face revealed inside.
“My lord, it’s… it’s Lord Wang.”
“I can see that,” Cui Qingyuan said.
He stepped forward, bent down with a frown, and held a finger beneath the man’s nose. A moment later, he withdrew his hand, his expression calm.
The steward asked cautiously, “Is… is he still alive?”
Cui Qingyuan gave him a heavy look, and the steward immediately fell silent.
The Eldest Miss was terrifying. This had hardly been a meeting between families—she had clearly gone there to take someone’s life.
“Send him back to his residence. Take two physicians along to examine him, and bring some of the more valuable medicinal herbs from the household stores as well.”
The steward acknowledged the order at once and waved for the four young servants to carry the sack away.
As long as the man wasn’t dead, that was enough. As long as he wasn’t dead.
Cui Qingyuan did not return to the room. He stood in the courtyard with his hands clasped behind his back, the cold wind billowing his robes. He seemed not to feel the chill at all.
He let out what sounded like a faint laugh, then sighed deeply.
“Lord Prime Minister, Lord Prime Minister!”
He had just turned to go back inside when another young servant came running after him.
“My lord, something has happened.”
…
The carriage stopped outside the Cui residence. Cui Yunchu picked up the plum branch and was about to jump down when Shen Xiabai caught her by the wrist and pulled her back into his arms.
“A Chu, you’re really leaving just like that?”
“What else would I do?” Cui Yunchu turned her head and stared at his flushed ears. “Do they not hurt enough? Shall I cut them off entirely? Then we’ll see if you dare entertain any more improper thoughts next time.”
Shen Xiabai’s ears were burning with pain. Anyone’s ears would hurt after being twisted the entire journey.
“A Chu, blow on them for me.”
Cui Yunchu puffed out her cheeks, aimed at his ear, and blew hard.
Shen Xiabai hunched his shoulders and hugged her, saying that it tickled.
“You’re such a nuisance.” Cui Yunchu pushed him away. “Be careful. Don’t crush my plum branch. I still need Nanny Zhang to arrange it in a vase when I get home.”
Shen Xiabai glanced at the plum branch she had protected throughout the journey and frowned. “It doesn’t matter. If you like them, I’ll plant several more at the Shen residence. Every winter, I’ll take you out to pick them.”
His words reminded Cui Yunchu of something. “Don’t forget about my fish and flowers.”
“…”
“All right,” Shen Xiabai agreed with a nod.
…
Cui Yunchu hummed cheerfully as she skipped back into the residence, plum branch in hand.
After passing through the inner gate and going up the covered walkway, she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure at the far end.
Her footsteps stopped.
Xing’er said, “Miss, that looks like Lord Prime Minister.”
“I’m not blind.” Cui Yunchu had no desire to see such an unlucky old man while she was in such a good mood.
She turned around and began heading back, intending to take a side path home.
“Miss, Lord Prime Minister has seen you.”
“He’s not blind either.”
Father and daughter approached from opposite directions—one from the far end of the walkway, the other turning back toward where she had come from. It was almost as though Cui Qingyuan were chasing her with a broom.
“Miss,” Xing’er said, keeping pace with Cui Yunchu as she strode along, “what if Lord Prime Minister follows you to the First Courtyard?”
Cui Yunchu glared at her. “That’s what doors are for. Close it.”
“But what if Lord Prime Minister orders you to open it?”
Cui Yunchu was speechless. “Would you be happy only if I got beaten? If he orders you to open the door, bite him to death.”
The mistress and servant continued talking as they walked.
Cui Yunchu had not forgotten how furious the old man had been the last time, when it involved Lord Zhou. He would certainly react the same way now.
“Stop right there.”
The deep, powerful voice came from behind her. Cui Yunchu’s raised foot hesitated several times before she finally lowered it.
She did not turn around. The footsteps behind her drew closer and closer as she racked her brain for something outrageous to say—something she could use to argue with him without being punished by being made to kneel in the ancestral hall.
But deep down, she was still seething with resentment. Before she could think of anything, she spun around, lifted her chin at Cui Qingyuan, and held up the plum branch for him to see.
“I went out to have an affair. Lord Shen picked this for me.”
She looked like a proud peacock, her eyes practically shouting, I’m going to make you furious.
Cui Qingyuan’s gaze merely swept over the plum branch before settling on Cui Yunchu. His expression was somber, his eyes filled with complicated emotions. His reaction left her somewhat disappointed.
Why wasn’t he angry? Why wasn’t steam shooting from the top of his head?
Why couldn’t she infuriate him?
“Yunchu.” The look in his eyes made a shiver run through her.
“Are you going to strangle me?”
Cui Qingyuan’s lips moved a few times. Then he raised a hand and placed it on her shoulder.
“Nanny Zhang is dead.”
Cui Yunchu stared blankly at him, seeming unable to process the words for a moment.
“You killed her?”
Cui Qingyuan withdrew his hand, his voice grave. “Of course not. She went out to purchase supplies, offended someone, and was intercepted and murdered on the way back. A street vendor discovered her and, after several twists and turns, had her brought back to the residence.”
Cui Yunchu stood there in a daze, apparently still unable to accept the shock.
“How is that possible? She’s gone into town countless times.”
“Was it you?” she demanded. “Were you unhappy that I disobeyed you, so you decided to teach me a lesson by killing her? Or have you hidden her somewhere to frighten me?”
When she had left, Nanny Zhang had been happily talking about going into town to buy cloth so she could make clothes and shoes for her godson. How could she suddenly have been murdered?
Cui Yunchu waved her hands. “Don’t try to deceive me. Nanny Zhang was no threat to you.”
“Yunchu.” Cui Qingyuan’s brows drew tightly together.
Her words came faster and faster. “She had flaws all over, I know that. I should never have kept her by my side. I should have sent that fool away long ago, but… she was the person most loyal to me. She was the one my mother left to me.”
She was the person who had watched Cui Yunchu grow up—the person who had cherished her above all others.
“Yunchu, the dead cannot be brought back to life. If you don’t seize this chance to expose the person behind it, you could very well be the next target.”
