“……”
“It was because your husband doesn’t know how to manage money. I promise I won’t do it again.”
Seeing that he had admitted his mistake so readily, Cui Yunchu gave a reluctant nod.
Cui Qingyuan watched the two of them huddle together, whispering away without sparing him so much as a glance. After furrowing his brows again and again, he finally gave an awkward cough.
Cui Yunchu turned and shot him a sideways glance before pouting.
“……” That expression again. Cui Qingyuan looked away. Though displeased, he still had to keep a smile on his face for the matchmaker who had come along with the betrothal gifts.
It was a member of the imperial family whom Shen Xiabai had sought out.
The rest of the time was spent exchanging polite pleasantries and discussing the wedding date.
Following custom, Cui Yunchu returned to First Garden ahead of the others.
“Big Sister! Big Sister!”
Cui Yunfeng swept into First Garden like a gust of wind.
“Is a dog chasing you?” Cui Yunchu jumped in fright. “Can’t you slow down? Are you trying to get Xiao Yi to come after me?”
Cui Yunfeng’s lower abdomen was just beginning to show the faintest curve, yet she remained remarkably agile. She threw her arms around Cui Yunchu and chattered excitedly.
“I thought I’d heard wrong! How could you have gotten engaged without giving us any warning? They just showed up with the betrothal gifts!”
If Cui Yunchu told her that she had threatened their father—and drugged him—to make it happen, who knew what kind of expression would appear on her face?
Forget it. After all, your father and my father aren’t exactly the same.
“The Emperor suddenly issued an edict. Since the best time is now, why wait?”
Cui Yunfeng nodded. “Have you been to the Shen residence? Have you spoken with the Shen family matriarch? How does she treat you?”
“Everything’s been fine.”
Cui Yunfeng tugged her closer and lowered her voice. “If you’re ever mistreated or bullied, don’t keep it to yourself. You have to tell me. I’ll put on my Princess Consort’s robes and go stand up for you. Don’t you dare forget.”
Cui Yunchu snorted. “Do I look like someone who’s easy to bully?”
“Precisely because you’re not, I’m telling you this,” Cui Yunfeng said. “You and Lord Shen are going to spend your lives together. If you fight with people yourself, it won’t be good for marital harmony. Leave the cleaning up to me.”
Tang Qingwan entered just in time to hear Cui Yunfeng’s ridiculous theory. She could only smile helplessly.
She pulled Cui Yunchu aside and proceeded to give her a long list of instructions.
Tang Qingwan said, “On the way here, I heard that the wedding has been set for ten days from now. Isn’t that a little rushed?”
At those words, Cui Yunchu could barely conceal her delight.
Cui Yunfeng glared at her. “Could you at least try to be more reserved?”
Cui Yunchu clicked her tongue. “That’s still better than you crying and screaming that you’d rather die than get married.”
“Big Sister.” Cui Yunfeng pouted. “I hurried here with this belly, and you’re still making fun of me.”
Tang Qingwan’s gaze drifted over Cui Yunfeng’s stomach. Her smile concealed deep envy and bitterness.
Under the table, Cui Yunchu kicked Cui Yunfeng.
Cui Yunfeng came to her senses and immediately pressed her lips together, ending the subject.
Just as they had done when Cui Yunfeng and Tang Qingwan married, the two women stayed with Cui Yunchu, chatting and laughing merrily. The three sisters remained together until the banquet in the reception hall ended.
Shen Xiabai came to First Garden carrying a brocade box. The other two women took the hint and tactfully left.
“Yunfeng.” Cui Yunchu frowned as she reminded her, “For the next few months, don’t leave the residence unless necessary. The child in your belly comes first.”
At a time like this, she had no idea how many eyes were watching that belly.
“Don’t worry. Xiao Yi has people guarding me around the clock. I’m perfectly safe.”
Even so, Cui Yunchu still didn’t feel entirely reassured.
Xiao Yi personally escorted her away.
When Cui Yunchu returned, Shen Xiabai was reclining beside the bed, holding a book covered in dust. His dark-red brocade robe set off his fair skin, making him look exceptionally refined and elegant.
“What are you reading?”
Cui Yunchu came closer and finally made out the words on the cover.
The Thirty-Six Stratagems.
“Give that back!”
Cui Yunchu lunged at him and desperately tried to snatch it away. Shen Xiabai rose to his feet and lifted the book high above her head.
“Your methods are quite impressive, Madam.”
“Where did you find that?”
Shen Xiabai pointed beneath her bed. The more he looked at the book, the darker his expression grew.
“So when Madam was dealing with your husband, you were following the lessons in this book?”
Cui Yunchu felt horribly guilty. “No. I threw it away ages ago.”
Shen Xiabai narrowed his eyes. “Is that so? Acting pitiful, playing coy, making those little whining noises… Why do they all seem so familiar?”
When had he begun to feel sorry for her?
That day, in the pavilion in the rear courtyard of Prince An’s residence, she had rolled up her sleeve to show him her injury.
His breathing had suddenly stopped, and a dull pain had seized his heart.
She loved to cry, leaving him helpless time and again.
Cui Yunchu lifted her chin to look at him. “So what? Are you going to change your mind?”
Shen Xiabai stared at her in silence. Then, without warning, he seized her around the waist and pushed her backward.
“What are you doing?”
Cui Yunchu instinctively hooked her arms around his neck, her calf pressing against the edge of the bed.
Shen Xiabai tossed the book aside. With his other hand, he supported the back of her neck.
“Many people may have studied these techniques, but I think my A Chu is the only one who has mastered them so brilliantly.”
He lowered his head and kissed her red lips. Even then, he found time to ask, “Did you use them on the Crown Prince and Prince An as well?”
Cui Yunchu said, “Those tricks wouldn’t work on them. You were simply a bonus.”
The hand gripping her waist tightened slightly. Cui Yunchu hissed.
“What are you doing?”
Shen Xiabai stared at her ominously. “I’m a good-for-nothing.”
…
Xing’er stood guard outside the door, looking so nervous and darting her eyes left and right that one would think she was the one having an affair in broad daylight.
Yu Feng laughed at her. “You don’t have to make it so obvious. People will notice.”
“Really?”
Xing’er immediately turned her head away. Inside, she was wailing miserably.
Her young mistress really had no idea when to show restraint. This was their own residence—if word got out, wouldn’t the sky come crashing down?
Fortunately, no one came to disturb them.
By evening, Cui Yunchu lay limply against the headboard. The quilt had slipped down, revealing half of her smooth, delicate back. Shen Xiabai’s arm rested across her back, his hand moving over her skin unconsciously.
“A Chu.”
“…”
“I’ve finally confirmed your feelings for me.”
When Cui Yunchu awoke, the sun was already high in the sky. She could hardly remember when the person beside her had left.
She was exhausted and had slept heavily.
“Miss, the eldest young master is here,” Xing’er reported.
Cui Yunchu got dressed and rose from bed. While combing her hair, she discovered a jade hairpin that she had no recollection of seeing before.
Xing’er said, “When the groom’s family sends the betrothal gifts, they usually give the bride a hairpin as a token of their affection. Lord Shen must have put it in your hair himself.”
Cui Yunchu shook her head. “The quality of this jade looks pretty good. It must be worth quite a bit.”
“Miss.”
“I’m only joking.”
After getting ready, she went to the reception hall, where Cui Yunli was sitting and drinking tea.
Cui Yunchu was not particularly close to him. Even after his return, when they lived under the same roof, they rarely saw each other. She was therefore somewhat curious about his sudden visit.
“Big Brother.”
Cui Yunli returned her greeting. “Congratulations, Little Sister.”
Cui Yunchu glanced around and raised an eyebrow. “Congratulations with nothing but words?”
Cui Yunli smiled and drew a brocade box from his sleeve, handing it to her.
“This is the wedding gift I chose for you. I wasn’t sure what you liked, so don’t be too critical.”
Cui Yunchu accepted it, her eyes curving into a smile. “There’s really no need to rush. You could have waited until the wedding day to give it to me.”
“The Ministry of War has business to attend to, and I must leave the capital for a few days,” Cui Yunli said. “By custom, as your older brother, I’m supposed to carry you on my back when you leave for your wedding. I’ll return as soon as I can—before your wedding day.”
Cui Yunchu nodded at this. “Be careful on the road.”
Cui Yunli cupped his hands in farewell once more and left her courtyard, conducting himself with such propriety and restraint that he seemed like a stranger. Cui Yunchu watched his back until he disappeared from view, then withdrew her gaze and tightened her grip slightly around the brocade box in her hand.
