For a moment, that darkness seemed to shine into Xiao Yi's eyes as well. He took two steps forward, wanting to grab her wrist, "Qingwan."
"It's our fortune that His Highness the Crown Prince is considerate of the future concubines of the Eastern Palace." Tang Qingwan didn't hide, looking slightly sideways at the Crown Prince.
Her eyes were too calm, so calm that it made Xiao Chen a little panicked.
"Qingwan, you know Imperial Father's mind. Although I seem to sit securely in the position of the Eastern Palace now, there is still Prince An eyeing it covetously."
Therefore, he needed the support of Madam Tang, née Cui, and the Liu family. Even more so, he couldn't disobey Imperial Father's holy decree and slight the Liu family.
Or perhaps, Imperial Father marrying both Tang Qingwan and Liu Wanting into the Eastern Palace was a kind of tempering for him as the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, wanting to see how he would maneuver.
Tang Qingwan naturally understood. She looked at the Crown Prince, smiling radiantly, "Brother Chen, if the condition for the Emperor to pass the throne to you is for you to join hands with the Liu family and destroy my Madam Tang, née Cui, what would you do?"
In the current situation, the Emperor hadn't said it explicitly, but he was already acting like it. What Tang Qingwan said was only a matter of time.
Xiao Chen's gentle brows and eyes looked at Tang Qingwan, full of difficulty, "Qingwan, no matter what Imperial Father means, you will always be my Crown Princess."
"But what if I want to live and die with Madam Tang, née Cui?"
Xiao Chen frowned, falling into a long silence.
The courtyard was very quiet, only the occasional sound of the wind blowing past the corners of their clothes, accidentally bringing up a few strands of Tang Qingwan's hair, dancing by her ear.
"Qingwan, Madam Tang, née Cui holds a high and prominent position. In the future, she will only become more powerful. The previous example of the aristocratic Shen family's powerful minister bullying the master is still there. The Emperor's jealousy is reasonable."
But Madam Tang, née Cui's power was all given by the Emperor. In order to check and balance the aristocratic Shen family, even now, Madam Tang, née Cui didn't monopolize the court's affairs, and she obeyed all the Emperor's policies and orders without fail.
But Tang Qingwan knew that saying these was useless. The man in front of her was no longer the young man who laughed and played with her back then, but the Crown Prince of a country cultivated by the royal family, the future Emperor.
His imperial skills were taught personally by the current Emperor, and naturally they were exactly the same.
"Qingwan understands Your Highness's difficulties. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave first."
Tang Qingwan curtsied and turned to disappear into the darkness.
"Miss, His Highness the Crown Prince hasn't left yet." The maid reminded softly. Tang Qingwan didn't speak, didn't turn back, only feeling her heart was extremely cold.
She and Xiao Chen were childhood sweethearts, and naturally they had feelings for each other. But that feeling, in front of the family, was so small and insignificant.
Returning to the courtyard, Tang Qingwan stood in front of the window lattice, a dense pain of needles pricking in her chest, making her a little out of breath.
...
The residence of Minister Chen, the main courtyard of Madam Chen.
"Mother," a tall, handsome man sat in the lower seat, his brows tightly furrowed, "Are you really going to let your son marry the Eldest Miss Cui?"
Madam Chen nodded, "The Cui family's status is something our Chen family is marrying up to."
"But that Eldest Miss Cui's reputation..." Chen Jiuhe pursed his lips, his face full of reluctance.
"Big Brother," the Chen family's daughter sitting in the lower seat, Chen Miaohe, spoke up, "Rumors stop at the wise. I actually think that Eldest Miss Cui's actions are not like what the rumors say."
Chen Jiuhe frowned, still hesitating, "After the banquet ended that day, the young ladies of various families were still discussing how domineering she was."
Madam Chen said, "Second Miss Cui fell into the water. As her older sister, she was naturally anxious. And whether it was an accident or someone deliberately did it at that time is still unknown. In my opinion, Eldest Miss Cui's actions can't be faulted."
Chen Miaohe also nodded in agreement, "Mother is right. And those who gossiped have a close relationship with the Liu family's daughter. Just think about the twists and turns inside, and you'll know."
Madam Chen thought of the rumor that the Liu family's daughter was chosen as the Crown Prince's secondary consort, and her brows furrowed slightly.
Chen Miaohe said again, "That Eldest Miss Cui only targeted Liu Wanting and Li Mengyu. Maybe Second Miss Cui falling into the water was deliberately murdered by those two."
"Miaohe, don't talk nonsense." Madam Chen shot a glance at Chen Miaohe.
The Liu family and the Tang and Cui families, to her Chen residence, was like gods fighting. Her residence of the Minister of Rites was just a little ghost at the bottom.
"Anyway, Mother thinks Eldest Miss Cui is not bad."
Chen Jiuhe snorted a laugh, "Does Mother think she's not bad, or her family background is not bad?"
"You child." Madam Chen glared at her eldest son.
Chen Miaohe said, "Big Brother, you haven't even seen the real person. How can you draw a conclusion so easily? Maybe tomorrow when you see her beautiful face, you'll immediately agree."
Cui Yunchu's beautiful and dripping face, even Chen Miaohe liked it when she saw it.
"How can a gentleman indulge in beauty." Chen Jiuhe was displeased.
"Then a gentleman shouldn't judge people by his ears either. Judging a woman's character purely based on rumors and gossip is also not the way of a gentleman taught by the teacher, right."
"You—"
"Alright." Madam Chen first shot a glance at her daughter, "How are you talking to your big brother."
After speaking, she looked at Chen Jiuhe, "What your sister said actually makes sense. You go see her first tomorrow. We'll talk about whether it works out or not when you come back. But your grandmother is extremely satisfied with this marriage. You should have an idea in your heart."
Chen Jiuhe was still unhappy, "Although she's the Cui family's daughter, she's a concubine-born daughter after all. And her concubine mother has that kind of status."
"If it weren't for this, the Cui family's legitimate eldest daughter wouldn't be your turn either."
"Miaohe." Madam Chen glared angrily at her daughter, "Are you insisting on angering your brother to death?"
"What your daughter said is the truth. I think that girl is quite nice."
Chen Jiuhe stopped talking, his eyes sinking and staring at the ground, not knowing what he was thinking about.
After finishing talking about Chen Jiuhe's marriage, Madam Chen brought up Chen Miaohe again, "Your marriage with the Young Master Shen is completely settled. When you meet tomorrow, restrain your arrogant temper and get along well with him."
Chen Miaohe nodded, "You've instructed me eight hundred times. My ears have grown calluses from hearing it."
"His uncle is now a close minister to the Emperor. You must not be perfunctory." Madam Chen said worriedly.
Chen Miaohe curled her lips, "Then Mother, why didn't you just marry me to his uncle? Such a marriage alliance wouldn't be more secure."
At the banquet that day, she had caught a glimpse of Lord Shen from a distance. He was like a jade tree, as handsome as Pan An. Only one thing was inappropriate, his temper was too cold. When he looked at people, it was as if he was soaked in frost, making people shiver.
"You girl." Madam Chen made a gesture to hit Chen Miaohe's head, "You only know how to talk nonsense all day."
Shen Xiabai was now at the height of his power in front of the Emperor. It was unknown how many royal relatives and nobles wanted to form an alliance between the two families. The Chen family was just a grain of sand in the Ganges River. Being able to form a marriage alliance with Shen Xiabai's nephew was already extremely good.
"Don't daydream. Hurry back to rest."
The siblings stood up together to take their leave. Madam Chen still worriedly instructed, "Both of your marriages are tied to our Chen family's future. They are the best marriages we can find for you within our family's capabilities. You must grasp them well."
...
Cui Yunchu was a bit more casual. On the agreed day, she went out wearing a plain long dress and only a white jade hairpin in her hair.
Old Madam Cui looked quite dissatisfied, "Fortunately, this old body asked Nanny Li to call you over, otherwise with such a dress, people would think we're being perfunctory."
Cui Yunchu frowned, lifting the hem of her skirt and doing a twirl. Your granddaughter thinks it looks quite nice.
Her features were naturally striking and glamorous. A plain and simple makeup look added a touch of elegance to her, unexpectedly giving her the ethereal beauty of a lotus rising from clear water.
Old Madam Cui, however, said, It is a matter of showing importance and respect to others.
With that, brooking no argument, she had Nanny Li pull the girl back into the room to reapply her makeup.
Nanny Li was highly skilled in the art of cosmetics; the resulting look was not heavy in the slightest, yet it was absolutely stunning at first glance.
Cui Yunchu looked at herself in the bronze mirror for a moment, her eyes curving into a smile.
Old Madam Cui pinned a few dangling hairpins into her hair before finally letting her leave the house.
In the past, Cui Yunchu would always dress up elaborately every time she went out, her hairpins and jewelry dazzling to the eye. But perhaps because she had grown accustomed to a simpler style these days, the weight of the dangling hairpins actually made her feel a bit uncomfortable.
Once in the carriage, she leaned lazily against Xing'er. Wake me when we get there.
Xing'er agreed and lowered all the carriage curtains, shutting out some of the bustling noise from the streets.
With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, the taverns and street vendors were bustling with activity. Taking advantage of the holiday, many commoners made exquisite handicrafts they were skilled at and brought them to the streets to sell.
As a result, the sounds of hawking and shouting filled the air endlessly, occasionally mixed with the voices of people haggling over prices.
Cui Yunchu's neck was already a bit sore. She sat halfway up and lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.
Xing'er followed her gaze and looked out as well.
With people coming and going, the variety of food and amusements was a feast for the eyes. Cui Yunchu thought to herself that she must bring Cui Yunfeng out for a stroll tomorrow; staying cooped up in the courtyard all the time would eventually make her sick.
Perhaps Prime Minister Cui and Old Madam Cui felt that Cui Yunfeng had grown up, as they subtly hinted at choosing a husband for her, while keeping absolutely silent about Prince An.
Cui Yunfeng was heavy-hearted, spending the past few days depressed and secretly shedding tears, which made Cui Yunchu feel rather sympathetic and unable to bear watching.
She could not help but sigh. Compared to her own pursuit of power and profit, Cui Yunfeng's romantic entanglements were truly the most vexing.
Miss, isn't that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? Xing'er suddenly said, pointing toward a certain spot.
