"Miss," Nanny Zhang muttered softly on their way back to the courtyard, "The Old Madam is far too biased. Cousin Miss is engaged to the Crown Prince, and Second Miss might very well be betrothed to Prince An. In the future, they will both be imperial royalty, enjoying the utmost prestige."
"In terms of age, you are clearly older than Second Miss, yet the Old Madam never plans for your future. She just brushes you off with petty favors like hairpins."
"Won't this mean you'll be bullied and overshadowed by Cousin Miss and Second Miss for the rest of your life?"
Cui Yunchu abruptly stopped in her tracks. She glanced around to ensure no one was nearby before turning to look at the endlessly nagging Nanny Zhang.
There was a reason she had acted so outrageously in her past life. Although her mother had passed away, she had left behind Nanny Zhang, whose influence was deeply rooted and whose contributions to her ruin were truly outstanding.
"M-Miss, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Why wasn't it you who got pierced through the chest and died?" Cui Yunchu furrowed her brows, glaring fiercely at Nanny Zhang with pent-up anger and lingering resentment.
If she hadn't known that this old crone had been brainwashed by her mother and was merely a victim of her toxic mindset, Cui Yunchu would have genuinely suspected that Nanny Zhang was an assassin sent by her enemies to ruin her through malicious flattery.
"Nanny Zhang, I think Second Miss and the Old Madam actually treat our Miss quite well. Please stop spouting nonsense in front of her," Xing'er said, tugging at Nanny Zhang's sleeve.
"What does a little brat like you know?" Nanny Zhang shook off Xing'er's hand. "If they truly cared for our Miss, why didn't they give her those excellent marriage arrangements?"
"Cousin Miss has the backing of the Tang family, and Second Miss is a legitimate daughter raised personally by the Old Madam. Only our Miss is pitiful, with no one to care for her and no one to love her. If she doesn't fight for herself, is she just supposed to wait until she gets older to be casually married off to some random family and tossed aside?"
Nanny Zhang was a senior servant left behind by Cui Yunchu's mother and the one in charge of Cui Yunchu's courtyard. Xing'er had always been somewhat afraid of her.
Hearing this, although dissatisfied, Xing'er could only remain silent.
"Furthermore, our Miss is a concubine's daughter. If she doesn't fight for herself, where would a good marriage come from?"
Cui Yunchu felt that all her anxiety was entirely caused by Nanny Zhang.
She couldn't entirely blame herself for her actions in her past life. What young girl wouldn't go crazy after being continuously manipulated and corrupted, first by her mother and then by Nanny Zhang?
Nanny Zhang was still nagging. Cui Yunchu desperately wanted to slap her a few times and sew that incessantly chattering mouth shut.
However, remembering how Nanny Zhang had taken the fall for her in her previous life and ended up being sold off by Tang Qingwan, Cui Yunchu's heart softened slightly.
The old woman might have a malicious mindset and lack intelligence, but she was undeniably loyal to her.
"Enough, not another word," Cui Yunchu ordered.
"Miss, I am only saying this for your own good! Before Concubine Zhou passed away, her greatest worry was you. She begged me time and time again to serve you well. Even if it costs me my life, I must ensure that you live a good life!"
"."
Back when Concubine Zhou was still alive, Madam Cui had already passed away. Although she was merely a concubine, she had been the only female master of the household.
The Old Madam certainly wouldn't have gone out of her way to make things difficult for her either.
Cui Yunchu truly could not fathom where her mother's constant melancholy came from, let alone why she had compiled such a vast collection of bitter grievances about the hardships of being a concubine.
"I am already living a good life," Cui Yunchu said flatly, "so you can go die now."
Her mother's toxic brainwashing ran too deep; the old woman was probably beyond saving.
Turning the corner out of the corridor, Cui Yunchu looked up and spotted Cui Yunfeng standing by the bluestone path, her head bowed as she kicked at some small pebbles.
She was dressed in a pomegranate-red long skirt paired with a pale pink short jacket. The tassels on either side of her hair bun cascaded down to her chest, swaying gracefully with her movements. She looked just like a fairy who had descended to the mortal realm.
Cui Yunfeng noticed her as well. Looking up, she instinctively furrowed her brows.
This path was the only way to reach Cui Yunchu's boudoir, the Chu Courtyard.
"Is Second Sister waiting for me?"
Cui Yunfeng looked away and raised her hand. The maid beside her immediately stepped forward, presenting the brocade box containing the jewelry set they had just received in the Old Madam's courtyard.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Cui Yunfeng wore an impatient expression. "I don't even like this set, but I know you do. Earlier in Grandmother's courtyard, I only took it to intentionally make you mad."
Cui Yunchu, of course, already knew this. "So, knowing that I like it, you waited here specifically to trade back with me?"
Cui Yunfeng's eyes immediately widened. "Don't flatter yourself! I just wanted to see if I could anger you to death. But since you didn't die from anger, and I don't like it anyway, naturally I want to swap back."
Watching Cui Yunfeng's awkwardly stubborn demeanor, Cui Yunchu just smiled without saying a word.
"What? Are you unwilling?"
"I am willing," Cui Yunchu replied. Once she spoke, Xing'er and Cui Yunfeng's maid exchanged the jewelry boxes.
Cui Yunfeng's expression softened slightly.
"Would Second Sister like to come sit in my courtyard for a while?"
"I'm not going," Cui Yunfeng said, glaring at Cui Yunchu. "I just wanted to warn you that Cousin Sister isn't as accommodating as I am. If you try to pull any more stunts, watch out, or she might actually kill you."
"."
Tang Qingwan's methods were indeed far more ruthless. Otherwise, how could she be the next Empress, meticulously cultivated by the Tang family?
However, she still valued their familial bond to some extent, even though she had taught Cui Yunchu quite a few harsh lessons.
Even though in her previous life, the mere mention of Tang Qingwan filled her with both hatred and terror.
When Cui Yunchu remained silent for a moment, Cui Yunfeng stared at her, her expression darkening. "Are you brewing up another terrible scheme?"
"Let me tell you, if you dare to cause trouble and make a fool of yourself at the Eldest Princess's banquet tomorrow, I... I... I'll have Cousin Sister throw you to your death!"
"..."
Cui Yunchu pulled back her wandering thoughts and shot Cui Yunfeng a dark, sidelong glance.
"I know my limits. Second Sister should also be mindful of herself. After all, you are a proper lady of the inner chambers. Do not get too close to strange men, lest it ruin your reputation."
Recalling the tragic end that Cui Yunfeng and Prince An met in her previous life, Cui Yunchu could not help but frown and offer this warning.
Cui Yunfeng was utterly dumbfounded. "Cui Yunchu, how can you be so shameless?"
Cui Yunchu pursed her lips, feeling a little sheepish.
Indeed, compared to her own relentless and desperate stalking of the Crown Prince and Prince An in her past life, Cui Yunfeng's innocent, strictly-proper first crush was merely a drop in the ocean.
