“……”Cui Yunchu cast a glance at Cui Yunfeng, whose mind was clearly missing a few screws, and dearly wished she could kick her over.
If only Cui Yunfeng weren’t pregnant.
Prince An had married her, and it was truly his good fortune. She had heard of people refusing to take responsibility, but never of anyone eagerly taking responsibility for something that was clearly their own fault.
Cui Yunchu really wanted to ask her, Was there water in her brain?
Tang Qingwan slowly shook her head. “It has nothing to do with anyone else. It really was an accident.”
The imperial physician had said that even without this accident, the child might not have survived.
“Really?” Cui Yunfeng frowned.
“Cousin, you mustn’t hide anything from me.”
Cui Yunchu cut in, “I won’t hide anything from you. Your husband once owed me a hundred thousand taels of gold. Go home later and raise the money. Think of a way to pay me back.”
“……”
“I wouldn’t believe you even if I didn’t use my brain,” Cui Yunfeng said, shooting her a sidelong glance. “You’re so poor you rattle when you walk. It would take everything you had to come up with ten thousand taels, yet you’re claiming a hundred thousand? Even if you sold yourself, you wouldn’t fetch that much.”
“…Hey, you little brat. I’m now the wife of the head of a prestigious family, the Mistress of the Shen household. The treasury… The treasury is practically as rich as the imperial coffers. Who are you calling poor?” Cui Yunchu declared, without the slightest trace of guilt.
Cui Yunfeng curled her lips. “With the way you’re boasting, the first thing I’ll do is confiscate the Shen family’s treasury and turn it over to the state.”
Tang Qingwan watched the sisters bicker, a trace of longing and affection kindling in her eyes.
“I may not dare hit you, but I can still twist your ear.” Cui Yunchu grabbed Cui Yunfeng’s ear and gave it a hard tug. “You little shrimp, who do you think you’re going to confiscate? You’re getting bold, aren’t you?”
“I was only joking, only joking!” Cui Yunfeng grimaced in pain. “Let go, Big Sister! It hurts, it hurts! I was wrong, I was wrong!”
She hopped around in place, spinning from the pain. Fearing that she might fall, Cui Yunchu finally released her.
Cui Yunfeng rubbed her ear and pouted.
“It’s all because of what you taught me, Big Sister! Didn’t you give me all those storybooks so I could become smarter? They’re full of struggles for power and succession, schemes and intrigues. I was just afraid… so I asked.”
If Xiao Yi had truly been behind this, she would have had no face to meet the ancestors of the Cui family.
And judging from the current situation, Xiao Yi did indeed have the greatest motive.
In truth, she was frightened. If he really was involved, how could she face her cousin, her grandmother, or the ancestors of the Cui and Tang families?
Cui Yunchu glanced at Cui Yunfeng.
She knew that those words had merely been meant to amuse her. As a noble lady, how could Cui Yunfeng know nothing about power politics? She was only a little absent-minded, not stupid.
“It really was just an accident,” Tang Qingwan said.
Cui Yunfeng seemed to release a great breath. Her rigid back finally relaxed.
“Cousin, everything that has happened today is my fault. You should blame me.”
Tang Qingwan shook her head.
“Uncle never abandoned the Crown Prince to support Prince An simply because you married him. Whether you married him or not would have had no effect on today’s situation.”
“It was… the Crown Prince and I who were outmatched.”
Hearing Tang Qingwan say this, Cui Yunfeng felt even more useless. Her heart ached terribly.
That was right. Her cousin had always had a purpose in marrying the Crown Prince. And what about her? She was like a spoiled heir who did nothing but eat, drink, and play, never bothering to worry about anything.
She truly had served no purpose.
“Cousin, take good care of yourself. Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no matter how the situation develops, you and Crown Prince Cousin-in-law will be safe.”
Cui Yunfeng made her promise with absolute conviction.
Tang Qingwan said, “For those who have lost, life and death make no difference.”
Cui Yunchu looked at her without speaking. The bowl of medicine on the table, already gone cold, had answered on Tang Qingwan’s behalf.
Everyone had their pride. As an outsider, all she could do was do everything within her power and leave the rest to fate.
“Yunfeng.” Tang Qingwan suddenly seized Cui Yunfeng by the wrist, her expression grave. “No matter what happens, you must protect the Cui and Tang families. Every single person in them. You must make sure they remain safe. Do you understand?”
Cui Yunfeng frowned. “Why are you saying this, Cousin? Do you know something?”
“You know I’m not very clever. If you do know something, just tell me directly.”
Tang Qingwan said, “I only… suddenly thought of it and became worried. I wanted to remind you.”
Cui Yunfeng fell silent.
A sense of unease spread from the soles of her feet through her entire body, leaving her uncomfortable and short of breath.
She nodded firmly. “Rest easy and take care of yourself. Don’t worry. The Cui and Tang families have me.”
Tang Qingwan nodded, then said to Cui Yunchu, “Yunchu, I owe you an apology.”
Cui Yunchu lowered her lashes. “The most important thing is for you to recover. The rest can wait. We have a long road ahead of us.”
Tang Qingwan smiled faintly. “Yunchu, you’re clever. Look after Yunfeng and guide her. The family will depend on the two of you.”
Cui Yunfeng had power, but lacked the cunning to use it. What the future held would depend on how Cui Yunchu handled her.
Cui Yunchu looked deeply at her. “Compared to you, we still have much to learn.”
Tang Qingwan smiled. “The year I was newly married, I told you that I would accept victory or defeat alike. I made my decision long ago. Yunchu, I still owe you my thanks.”
Cui Yunfeng’s lashes trembled, but she said nothing.
The two women stayed and chatted with Tang Qingwan for a while. When she grew tired, they took their leave.
“Have you really learned to think things through?” Cui Yunchu asked Cui Yunfeng once they were outside.
Cui Yunfeng smiled. She was still as foolish as ever. “Of course.”
The sisters looked at each other for a long moment before finally looking away.
“Let’s go.”
Shen Xiabai and Prince An rose at the same time. After exchanging pleasantries with the Crown Prince, they bid him farewell and escorted their wives away.
At the entrance to the residence, Prince An turned his gaze toward Shen Xiabai. “Lord Shen, when do you intend to return to court?”
“With the court now calm and stable under the governance of the two princes, whether I attend court or not makes little difference.”
“But I very much need your help, Lord Shen. His Highness the Crown Prince must be finding it increasingly difficult to manage court affairs. In the future, I will still need you to assist me.”
Shen Xiabai turned around and fixed his gaze on Xiao Yi. “The Crown Prince has yet to fall, Your Highness. You’re acting too hastily.”
“The time we agreed upon has not yet arrived.”
Prince An smiled. “You misunderstand, Lord Shen. I have always admired your abilities and hope that you will return as soon as possible to serve Great Liang and its people.”
Shen Xiabai stared at him. Their eyes met, and it seemed as though countless icy winds had transformed into tiny blades, whirling through the air between them.
“My big sister only just got married. Why are you in such a hurry?” Cui Yunfeng poked Xiao Yi. “If you work my brother-in-law to death and make my big sister cry, I won’t let you off.”
She glanced at Cui Yunchu, then pulled Xiao Yi toward the carriage.
The final exchange between the two men’s gazes was more like a declaration of war—a silent contest of wills.
“Big Sister, I’m leaving!” Cui Yunfeng called, waving at Cui Yunchu.
Only after the carriage from Prince An’s residence had departed did Cui Yunchu and Shen Xiabai board their own carriage.
Cui Yunchu frowned. “He doesn’t seem particularly friendly toward you.”
“The Crown Prince’s downfall is now only a day away. His ascension is all but certain. Naturally, the next thing he’ll have to do is deal with the court.”
Cui Yunchu nodded. “You kept a trump card in reserve back then, which held him back for so long. It seems he intends to settle every account now.”
For anyone who rose to the highest position, the first priority was to eliminate those harboring disloyal intentions—anyone who threatened his power.
And Shen Xiabai was Xiao Yi’s greatest threat after ascending the throne.
Shen Xiabai said, “He’s acting too hastily.”
