“You see, Tang Qingwan has the Tang estate, and that old man even prepared such a generous dowry for her. Then there’s Grandmother. She must have quite a substantial fortune behind her.”
“Why didn’t Father prepare dowries for Yunfeng and me?”
Xing’er said, “Grand Tutor Tang is a scholar. Compared with others, he’s somewhat short on money.”
“Really? Is he poorer than I am?”
Xing’er hesitated. “Well… probably not.”
Cui Yunchu said, “I don’t think that’s fair.”
…
The wedding clothes and bridal gown were all prepared by the Shen family. With so little time, there wasn’t even enough time for the bride to embroider her own veil.
With only two or three days left before the wedding, Cui Yunchu stayed in her room and tried on her wedding dress every day, turning this way and that in front of the mirror.
During that time, Shen Xiabai came by several times, but she refused to see him. The rules handed down by their ancestors naturally had their reasons.
Unable to see her, the man grew lovesick and sent her a letter every day, pouring out his longing. Whenever Cui Yunchu read them, she would wrinkle her nose in disdain.
He wrote so shamelessly and explicitly. How could this be longing for her? He clearly missed the warmth and softness of a woman. He had only just had a taste before being cut off, and now he was itching for more.
“What a bastard,” Cui Yunchu cursed before continuing to busy herself with the wedding preparations. Later, she stopped reading his letters altogether.
His letters all sank without a trace, and the man was deeply dissatisfied. He sent someone to her door, refusing to leave unless Cui Yunchu wrote him a reply. Furious yet amused, Cui Yunchu finally wrote him one.
“The Shen household has a female golden retriever. She can temporarily soothe your itching.”
Shen Xiabai stared at the letter he had begged shamelessly to obtain and remained silent for a long while. At last, the remaining days passed peacefully. He focused wholeheartedly on preparing for the wedding and stopped disturbing Cui Yunchu.
The ten days passed painfully slowly as Cui Yunchu counted them off on her fingers.
On the eve of the wedding, Cui Yunchu tried on her wedding dress one last time and looked herself up and down in the bronze mirror.
“Nanny, Zhang Nanny, am I beautiful?”
“I may not have become a princess, as you all wished, but my husband is even more impressive than a prince.” Her face was full of pride. Xing’er had long since grown used to Cui Yunchu behaving this way; she had been doing it for days.
“Tomorrow I’ll be leaving home as a bride. I wonder if I’ll dream of you tonight,” Cui Yunchu murmured. “If I don’t, you can forget about getting that honorary title. After all, you haven’t done me that many favors.”
“I’m so clever and beautiful. How could you bear to treat me that way?”
How could you bear to treat me that way?
“What are you muttering about?” An old voice suddenly sounded from the doorway.
Old Madam Cui entered slowly, leaning on her cane and supported by Nanny Li.
“Grandmother.” Cui Yunchu hurriedly moved to rush over.
“Don’t move. You’ll wrinkle your wedding dress.” Old Madam Cui pointed at her. “Stand properly and let me have a look.”
Cui Yunchu immediately straightened up.
“Good. Very beautiful.” Old Madam Cui smiled. “Putting everything else aside, the beauty of my Yunchu is truly one in ten thousand.”
Cui Yunchu pretended to be shy. “Grandmother~”
“Don’t put on an act. It gives me chills.”
Cui Yunchu laughed. She had Xing’er help her take off the wedding dress, then hurried over to Old Madam Cui’s side.
“Grandmother, you’re not in good health, and the weather is so cold. Why didn’t you simply send someone to call me over? What if you caught a chill coming here alone?”
“Tomorrow is your wedding day. Grandmother naturally had to see you herself before I could be at ease.” Old Madam Cui took her hand. “There’s no mistress in the household, and I’m in poor health. No one was able to arrange everything for you, so you’ve had to suffer.”
Cui Yunchu didn’t take it to heart. “What does it matter? None of the three of us sisters have mothers.”
The only difference was that her sisters had fathers—one who silently protected them, and another who doted on his daughter beyond measure.
Old Madam Cui sighed. She turned around, took a box from the nanny behind her, and handed it to Cui Yunchu.
“Take it.”
“What is this?”
Cui Yunchu opened it and found a thick stack of land deeds inside.
Old Madam Cui said, “These are all my private holdings. Not even Yunfeng or Qingwan knows about them. Take them with you to the Shen family.”
The ache in Cui Yunchu’s heart overwhelmed her joy. She stared blankly at the deeds.
“Grandmother…”
“Keep them. Once you’re at the Shen residence, they’ll give you an extra measure of security. I’m not worried about the other two. The one I’m most concerned about is you.”
Cui Yunchu leaned into Old Madam Cui’s arms, her eyes clouded with tears.
Old Madam Cui continued giving her earnest instructions. “Once you arrive at the Shen residence, don’t be so headstrong. Show respect to your elders, be considerate toward your husband, and think three times before you act. Don’t be rash.”
She stroked Cui Yunchu’s hair. Cui Yunchu nodded with red-rimmed eyes.
“Yunchu, no one will be there to clean up after you if things go wrong, so you must be cautious every step of the way. If you truly feel you’re being mistreated, take the money and find another path for yourself.”
“I understand.” Cui Yunchu smiled through her tears. “Grandmother, you can rest assured. I’ve stumbled and staggered my way to this point. The road ahead will only get better and better.”
Tang Qingwan and Cui Yunfeng had their families behind them as a source of support. She did not—or rather, Old Madam Cui was not certain that the Cui family would go all out for her.
But she knew that Cui Qingyuan would do so for Yunfeng. Thus, despite her advanced age, she could only do everything in her power to give Cui Yunchu confidence, support, and a way out in other forms.
“Grandmother, if you feel tired, you don’t have to get up tomorrow. I’ll go to Songhe Garden to say goodbye.”
“Grandmother isn’t that frail.” Old Madam Cui helped her to her feet. “No crying. It’s an auspicious occasion, and crying too much is bad luck.”
Cui Yunchu quickly wiped away her tears. “I’ll do whatever you say.”
The Cui residence was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and everything looked festive. Yet, beneath it all, there was an unmistakable hint of desolation.
Cui Yunchu had few friends, and hardly anyone came to add gifts to her dowry. Even the few who did were mostly there out of consideration for the Shen family.
Otherwise, how many proud young ladies from respectable families would be willing to associate with a concubine’s daughter like her?
Cui Yunchu didn’t care. Compared with her previous life, her reputation had already improved greatly after the incident involving the Gu scion.
Besides, she didn’t like dealing with those women either. Smiling hypocritically made her face ache.
Cui Yunfeng arrived rather late, probably after having a struggle with Xiao Yi before managing to get away.
Cui Yunchu treated her as though she were a tiny baby, taking every possible precaution. She wouldn’t let Xing’er give her so much as a bite of food without first testing it with a silver needle.
“It’s our own residence. There’s no need to be so tense,” Cui Yunfeng said.
Cui Yunchu shot her a glance. “I’m worried about my own life. Your husband kills people left and right.”
Cui Yunfeng snorted. “You’re just worried about me. You’re always saying one thing and meaning another.”
The sisters bickered for a while. Then Cui Yunfeng glanced out the window and gestured for the maid beside her to bring over a large box.
“I prepared this especially for you. Put it away before Cousin comes. Otherwise, it’ll look as though I’m playing favorites.”
Cui Yunchu said, “You know it looks like favoritism, yet you still gave it to me?”
“We’re real sisters, after all.” Cui Yunfeng leaned against the box, hesitated for a long while, then said, “About what happened that time… I still have some resentment toward Cousin. Elder Sister, I know I shouldn’t, but after what she did to you, I can’t help feeling uncomfortable.”
Cui Yunchu patted her on the head. Cui Yunfeng happily rubbed her cheek against her palm.
“Are you a dog or something?”
Cui Yunchu smacked her once before opening the box.
“……”
A large box enclosed a smaller box, and inside the smaller box was an even tinier one.
Cui Yunchu glared at Cui Yunfeng impatiently. “Who are you trying to fool?”
Cui Yunfeng laughed. “Don’t be angry. Just open one more.”
Cui Yunchu said, “This is the last one.”
She pried open the box, and what met her eyes was a sheet of paper.
Another deed.
Cui Yunchu looked at Cui Yunfeng. “You’re the dignified Princess An. How can you be so stingy?”
“…”
The sisters could never be together without trading at least a few barbs. Cui Yunfeng said angrily, “Could you take a closer look? That’s the most valuable jewelry shop under my name. The jewelry set I gave our cousin came from that very shop. I’m giving you the entire shop now—the jewelry and ornaments inside are worth a fortune!”
Cui Yunchu’s eyes immediately curved into a smile. She hurriedly tucked the deed into her robes, then patted Cui Yunfeng’s cheek. “I misunderstood you. I misunderstood you. Little Yunfeng, you’re the sweetest.”
“Hmph.” Cui Yunfeng brushed Cui Yunchu’s hand away and sulked. “You’re absolutely heartless.”
Cui Yunchu smacked her lightly on the head. “I’m only humoring you because you’re pregnant. That’s enough now. Stop whining.”
Cui Yunfeng turned back around. “Fine. Since tomorrow is your big day, I won’t hold it against you.”
Tang Qingwan also came by, though she did not stay long. After offering a few auspicious words and presenting her bridal gift, she left soon afterward.
She seemed to be in a great hurry, as though she had a lot on her mind.
Cui Yunchu and Cui Yunfeng asked after her with concern, but Tang Qingwan did not say that anything was wrong.
Late that night, with the world quiet and still, the two sisters lay nestled together on the bed, staring up at the ceiling beams.
“You don’t have to go back tonight?”
Cui Yunfeng replied, “I picked a quarrel with him in advance and found an excuse to stay away. It won’t matter if I don’t return tonight.”
“Oh.”
“Elder Sister, this is probably the last time we’ll sleep in the same bed. Before we know it, we’ll both be married.”
Cui Yunchu reached out and touched her belly. “It’s so round.”
“It’ll get even rounder.”
Cui Yunfeng clung to Cui Yunchu’s arm. “Elder Sister, I hope what I prayed for at Anshan Temple that day will come true.”
Cui Yunchu turned her head to look at her. “What did you pray for?”
Cui Yunfeng stared at her without blinking. “You’ve forgotten? That day at Anshan Temple, I prayed to Buddha on your behalf.”
“What did you pray for?”
Cui Yunfeng thought carefully for a moment. “I prayed for so many things that I can’t remember them all.”
“…”
“Elder Sister, to be honest, I’m a little afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Of the child in my belly.” Cui Yunfeng’s voice was low. “I’m not a fool. Who knows how many people are watching this child now? I’m afraid I won’t be able to protect him. Every night before I fall asleep, I toss and turn, terrified that I’ll wake up to find my belly flat—that someone has harmed him without me even realizing it.”
“Now, I even instinctively keep my guard up around our cousin. Elder Sister, do you think I’m becoming paranoid?”
Cui Yunchu gently rubbed her belly. “Power devours people from the inside out. Your positions are different, so it’s only right that you remain wary of her.”
Cui Yunfeng sounded dejected. “But we’re sisters. It shouldn’t be like this.”
Yet ever since their cousin had used Elder Sister’s marriage for her own ends, Cui Yunfeng had been unable to stop herself from becoming guarded and suspicious of her.
“I finally understand why Father and Grandmother were so wary back then,” Cui Yunfeng sighed.
Cui Yunchu said, “You’re pregnant. Don’t let yourself worry too much. Xiao Yi will protect the child.”
Cui Yunfeng said, “Elder Sister, you’re the person I trust most in this world.”
“He’s suddenly become very busy lately, and so has our cousin. I have a feeling something major is about to happen.”
“Don’t overthink it.” Cui Yunchu tried to reassure her, but Cui Yunfeng suddenly sat bolt upright, startling her.
“Elder Sister, if that day ever comes, and you have the ability to do so, you must protect my child. He is the continuation of my life.”
If the day came when her husband and her brother-in-law, the Crown Prince, fought to the death, she could follow her husband into life or death. All she wished for was that her child would remain safe.
“I’ll give you everything I have as payment for the trouble.”
Cui Yunchu shot her a look. “Our sisterly affection isn’t deep enough for me to raise your child for you.”
“Elder Sister!” Cui Yunfeng tugged at Cui Yunchu and shook her arm.
Cui Yunchu brushed her hand away. “You’re my sister, so of course I’ll protect you. But the child in your belly bears the surname Xiao. He has nothing to do with me. You’d better watch over him yourself.”
Cui Yunfeng, belly and all, began pestering Cui Yunchu. “I don’t care. Swear it. You have to protect him.”
“I won’t. I absolutely won’t.”
…
