The moment Shen Xiabai stepped out of the carriage, he ran into Prince An and the Crown Prince, who were standing not far from the entrance to the residence.
His gaze swept over the flowers in their hands, and his eyelids twitched. He strode forward and bowed. “His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, His Highness Prince An.”
Prince An gave him a smile that did not reach his eyes. “Lord Shen has arrived.”
Shen Xiabai glanced once more at the flowers in their hands and gave a slight nod. “Are Your Highnesses not going inside?”
The Crown Prince shot Prince An a glare and walked in first, flower in hand.
Shen Xiabai said, “Then I shall go in as well. Your Highness may stay here and admire the view at your leisure.”
He turned to leave, but Prince An grabbed him by the arm and said darkly, “What’s the hurry, Lord Shen? These flowers are so precious. Why not stay and admire them with me?”
“No, thank you. I still have to deliver A Chu’s birthday gift.”
Prince An smiled. “What did Lord Shen give Eldest Miss Cui for her birthday? I wonder whether it was more expensive than mine.”
Shen Xiabai frowned and glanced at him. Prince An raised the flower, blocking Shen Xiabai’s view.
“One flower, ten thousand taels.”
With that, he lowered the flower and turned his head toward Shen Xiabai. “Does Lord Shen think it’s worth the price?”
Shen Xiabai was silent for a moment before replying, “Whether it’s worth that much, I cannot say. But I now know how deeply Your Highness dotes on Princess An. Ten thousand taels for a single flower, simply to win a smile from your princess—Your Highness truly is a devoted husband.”
“Stop pretending.” Prince An’s sarcastic smile vanished. He jabbed Shen Xiabai in the chest with his elbow. “Cui Yunchu said this flower was bestowed by the Emperor, and that I’d have to pay ten thousand taels for each one.”
Shen Xiabai gave an acknowledging “Oh” and turned to leave.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Prince An blocked his path. “Since when can a little country grow peonies like these? And you expect me to believe they were tribute? You dare say it, and she dares believe it?”
Several daughters of officials happened to be passing nearby. Their gazes drifted toward the two men. Shen Xiabai immediately covered Prince An’s mouth and dragged him aside.
Prince An arched a brow.
Shen Xiabai said, “I’ll pay Your Highness’s ten thousand taels.”
Prince An’s smile widened. “Is there a fee for keeping quiet? The Crown Prince has another flower, you know.”
Shen Xiabai frowned. “Your Highness, I’ve been somewhat short of money lately.”
Prince An frowned as well. “You oversee the Office of Judicial Punishments. How can you possibly claim to be short of money?”
So many officials tried to curry favor with the Office of Judicial Punishments, racking their brains to find ways to offer gifts.
Shen Xiabai said, “I’ve only just begun accepting bribes. The profits have barely started coming in.”
“...”
Prince An’s smile stiffened.
He had to admit that even he was a little afraid to hear any more.
“What, is Father planning to raze Prince An’s residence next?”
Tang Qingwan and Cui Yunfeng surrounded Cui Yunchu as they presented their gifts.
Tang Qingwan had given her a set of jade hair ornaments. The jade was clear and lustrous, and its value was obvious at a glance.
Cui Yunfeng had also given her a set of hair ornaments, this one made of jadeite and rubies. It was the kind of bold and dazzling style Cui Yunchu had once loved most.
Tang Qingwan’s gift, on the other hand, was just like her—elegant and gentle, with an air of refinement.
After looking at Tang Qingwan’s set and then Cui Yunfeng’s, Cui Yunchu smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.
She picked up a jeweled hairpin and noticed a thick stack of papers pressed beneath it. She paused, then lifted her eyes toward Cui Yunfeng.
Cui Yunfeng winked at her.
Cui Yunchu immediately put the hairpin back and had Xing’er put everything away.
That was what it meant to have a real younger sister—she knew exactly what her elder sister liked.
Cui Yunfeng said, “It’s your first birthday since we became sisters. I wanted to make up for everything we missed before.”
Cui Yunchu’s eyes reddened.
Tang Qingwan took both their hands. “From now on, I’ll celebrate this day with you and Yunfeng every year.”
The three sisters smiled together. Cui Yunfeng discreetly scratched the palm of Cui Yunchu’s hand.
On the day her eldest sister married, she would certainly give her an even more generous gift.
The sisters chatted for a while before Cui Yunfeng asked about Tang Qingwan’s health.
Tang Qingwan only said, “I’m fine.”
Cui Yunfeng said, “Children are not something one can force. Don’t take it to heart. They’ll come eventually.”
Tang Qingwan gave a slight nod. Cui Yunchu listened from the side without saying anything, though concern showed in her eyes.
In the end, there was still a knot in her heart, and a distance had formed between them.
Tang Qingwan then asked Cui Yunchu about Nanny Zhang. Cui Yunchu lowered her head and took a sip of tea, saying nothing.
Cui Yunfeng said, “If Xiao Lan comes today, we absolutely cannot let her off.”
Cui Yunchu replied, “Don’t worry. I already have a plan. You shouldn’t get involved. You’re a member of the imperial family now, after all. Don’t give anyone an opportunity to seize on something and cause trouble for you.”
Cui Yunfeng frowned. “Who would dare cause trouble for me? I have Mother in the palace and Xiao Yi outside it. I’m afraid of no one. She’s only a princess, yet she dares to be so arrogant and overbearing.”
Whether in the past or now, the daughters of the Cui family had always possessed the confidence to say such things.
“She’s only a princess.”
Cui Yunchu alone was the exception.
Her confidence had nothing to do with bearing the Cui family name.
And if she were to be with Lord Shen, that would have nothing to do with the Cui family name either.
Tang Qingwan frowned. “Xiao Lan is targeting you so relentlessly. It’s probably because of Lord Shen as well. Yunchu, you and Lord Shen…”
Cui Yunchu glanced at Tang Qingwan. She knew what Tang Qingwan wanted to ask, but she did not elaborate.
Her confidence had nothing to do with the Cui family name. And her relationship with Lord Shen had nothing to do with it either.
Cui Yunfeng’s thoughts were much simpler. “Eldest Sister, if you like Lord Shen, then pursue him boldly. So what if she’s a princess? We’re not afraid of her.”
Cui Yunchu patted Cui Yunfeng’s head. “Yunfeng…”
“Eldest Sister.” Cui Yunfeng was like an affectionate puppy, rubbing her head against Cui Yunchu’s palm, her eyes shining.
Cui Yunchu said, “The fact that you’ve managed to live peacefully in Prince An’s residence until today is proof enough of Prince An’s devotion to you.”
Cui Yunfeng slapped her hand away. “Don’t think I can’t tell whether you’re complimenting or insulting me. You’re making fun of me!”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
The sisters began to playfully bicker, while Tang Qingwan watched them with a faint smile. She lowered her eyes and sipped her tea, a trace of disappointment flickering across her face.
“Miss, Miss!” Xing’er hurried into the room, pointing outside. “The Second Princess—the Second Princess really came!”
Cui Yunchu was not surprised in the slightest. After suffering such humiliation, it would have been strange if she had not come.
She slowly rose to her feet, but Cui Yunfeng immediately seized her wrist. “I’ll go with you.”
“Cousin, stay here and entertain the wives and young ladies from the other families.”
Tang Qingwan nodded. “Be careful. If you need anything, send someone to tell me.”
Then she looked at Cui Yunchu and said, “We are family, after all. No matter what happens, we would never harm one another.”
Cui Yunchu’s lashes trembled. Cui Yunfeng pulled her away, and she did not respond.
There were quite a few guests present that day, but most stood in small groups of two or three, chatting in the courtyard. They had sent servants to register and catalog the birthday gifts they had brought, and very few of the young ladies were especially friendly toward Cui Yunchu.
But the moment word spread that Tang Qingwan would receive guests on her behalf, quite a few young ladies hurried over one after another.
“Eldest Sister, don’t take it to heart,” Cui Yunfeng comforted her. “Once you marry into the Shen family and become Madam Shen, those people will surely wear completely different faces.”
Cui Yunchu shot her a glance. “If you hadn’t said anything, I wouldn’t have paid them any attention.”
She was already accustomed to being treated coldly. If everyone suddenly became warm and enthusiastic, she might actually grow suspicious.
And then there was Cui Yunfeng, who had been trying to comfort her with all sorts of nonsense since they were little. “If I didn’t know you were just dim-witted, I’d think you were rubbing salt in my wounds and making fun of me.”
Cui Yunfeng stamped her foot. “Could you stop calling me stupid all the time? You’ve practically talked me into believing I am.”
Cui Yunchu hurriedly took her hand and continued walking. “All right, all right. I won’t say it anymore.”
Cui Yunfeng lifted her chin. “Eldest Sister, just wait and see. I’ll show you how I deal with her.”
She held her head high and stuck out her belly a little.
