Cui Yunchu felt an immense sense of satisfaction hearing this; she was just short of giving Shen Zilan a thumbs up.
Although his youngest uncle was a piece of trash, Shen Zilan was truly likable.
Liu Wanting was so furious that smoke was practically coming out of her ears. If she hadn't been mindful of maintaining her noble lady demeanor in front of the crowd, she would have definitely torn into Shen Zilan.
But the other party was a man, after all.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince~" She turned around, hoping Xiao Yi would back her up, only to find that Xiao Yi's gaze toward her was exactly as Shen Zilan had described—as clear as a spring.
It even carried a faint hint of impatience.
Xiao Yi frowned and could only look darkly at Shen Zilan. "Lord Shen has spoiled you too much; you don't know your limits."
"Your Highness's reprimand is correct. It is this commoner who has overstepped," Shen Zilan accepted the criticism smoothly.
Just like that... it was over?
Liu Wanting was in disbelief. "Your Highness..."
Xiao Yi, however, stood up directly. "If you have finished picking things out, let us return. It is getting late. I still have to go back and review the arrangements for the Dragon Boat Festival banquet in the palace the day after tomorrow."
After saying that, he took the lead and walked out.
Leaving Liu Wanting standing alone in place, looking dazed.
"Miss Liu, do you still want this rouge?" the shop assistant asked cautiously.
Liu Wanting suddenly turned to look at the shop assistant. Her fierce and ruthless glare frightened the assistant so much that his face turned pale, and he took a few steps back.
Cui Yunchu spoke up leisurely, "Of course she wants it. Otherwise, how will she cover up her livid face and the stench of slop all over her body?"
Shen Zilan let out a low chuckle, which added fuel to the fire.
"Cui Yunchu," Liu Wanting tried hard to suppress her emotions and took two steps forward. "Don't be so arrogant. At the palace banquet the day after tomorrow, just wait and see. I will pay you back for every bit of humiliation you've given me today."
Cui Yunchu twisted her body and dragged out her words, "Just... wait... and... see."
Liu Wanting let out a cold snort, gritted her teeth, and brushed past Cui Yunchu, bumping into her hard.
Cui Yunchu rubbed her aching arm and curled her lip.
Her combat power was only average, nothing special. It seemed that in her previous life, the one Tang Qingwan had struggled with for so long wasn't Liu Wanting, but the Liu family behind her, as well as the Emperor and Empress.
"Eldest Miss Cui is truly an interesting person."
Cui Yunchu came back to her senses slightly, looked sideways at Shen Zilan, and gave him her first smile. "Not as sharp as Young Master Shen. I must thank you for what happened today."
Shen Zilan smiled faintly. "The Liu family's daughter used me as an excuse; naturally, I couldn't just stand by and watch."
If he weren't a member of the Shen family, Cui Yunchu would definitely admire this young man very much.
Cui Yunchu had already looked away, but Shen Zilan's gaze remained fixed on her, unmoving for quite a while.
"Young Master Shen," Chen Miaohe proactively stepped forward, blocking his line of sight.
On the side, Chen Jiuhe watched quietly, his brows furrowing in displeasure.
He didn't quite like Cui Yunchu's sharpness; it wasn't the behavior a well-bred young lady should have.
Men all loved delicate and beautiful girls, but they didn't like others admiring them in the same way. Chen Jiuhe couldn't articulate the feeling in his heart, but he felt very uncomfortable.
Having been delayed for a while, a lot of time had passed. Chen Miaohe pulled Cui Yunchu around the shop to pick out a few more items. By the time they were ready to leave, there were many more vendors on the street, and all kinds of interesting trinkets and snacks were already on display.
"That will be ten taels of silver in total." The shop assistant wrapped up the rouge and prepared to hand it to Chen Jiuhe.
"I'll pay," Shen Zilan stepped forward and paid the silver.
The shop assistant then handed the packaged rouge to Shen Zilan's servant.
Most of that rouge was picked out by Chen Miaohe, but it was intended as a gift for Cui Yunchu.
One was his sister, and the other was his soon-to-be fiancée. No matter how you looked at it, it was most appropriate for Chen Jiuhe to pay.
Yet, Shen Zilan beat him to it.
"Young Master." Shen Zilan's servant felt a bit awkward. After all, the siblings had bought this for Eldest Miss Cui as a token of their goodwill. What did it mean for his own master to pay for it?
The Lord had ordered him to keep an eye on the young master to prevent any mishaps.
However, Shen Zilan acted as if he hadn't noticed and walked forward on his own.
Chen Miaohe and Cui Yunchu were, after all, sheltered young ladies who rarely went out strolling like this. At the moment, everything seemed novel to them, and before long, they had bought quite a few novel trinkets.
Xing'er's hands were almost too full to hold everything.
Fortunately, the carriage was not far away. Cui Yunchu told Xing'er to put the things in the carriage first.
"Where is the rouge?" Chen Miaohe turned back to ask Chen Jiuhe. "We're going to be walking around for a while. It's tiring to carry it, so let's put it in Sister Yunchu's carriage together."
"..." Chen Jiuhe remained silent.
Chen Miaohe looked at her eldest brother's empty hands and was slightly stunned. "You didn't buy it?"
"Blockhead," Chen Miaohe lowered her voice and said through gritted teeth.
"..." Chen Jiuhe let out an unhappy laugh.
He was a blockhead, naturally not as clever and accommodating as Shen Zilan.
He was already feeling displeased, and being scolded by his own sister made him feel even more stifled.
"Is Miss Chen looking for the rouge?" Shen Zilan, who was on the side, suddenly spoke up. The servant next to him immediately stepped forward and said to Xing'er, "I will help the young lady take it over."
Xing'er paused slightly and looked at Cui Yunchu.
Cui Yunchu looked at Shen Zilan, then turned to look at the Chen siblings.
A heavy atmosphere hovered among the four of them.
"Then I will trouble you." Xing'er broke the silence first, smiling awkwardly at the servant.
Cui Yunchu also said, "I've made Miss Chen spend money. Thank you."
Shen Zilan was Chen Miaohe's fiancé, so saying this made it barely acceptable.
Cui Yunchu's smile was sincere, and the slight oddness in Chen Miaohe's heart immediately dissipated. "Sister Yunchu, there's no need to be a stranger. Let's go quickly, or else we might not be able to buy the five-color threads if we're any later."
The two girls took the lead and walked ahead.
The servant who returned lowered his voice to remind Shen Zilan, "Young Master, Miss Chen is your fiancée. Please don't act recklessly anymore."
Shen Zilan's gaze quickly swept over Cui Yunchu's back. He slightly lowered his eyes, his thin lips pursed. His handsome face hid an indescribable displeasure.
Why did she have to be from the Cui family?
But even if she weren't from the Cui family, his youngest uncle probably wouldn't allow him to break off the engagement.
"Young Master Shen, did you know Eldest Miss Cui before?" Chen Jiuhe's cold voice suddenly sounded.
Recalling Cui Yunchu's words, Shen Zilan looked up and replied indifferently, "I don't know her."
His tone was so flat that it lacked any fluctuation. It was unknown whether Chen Jiuhe believed him or not, but he glanced sideways at Shen Zilan and said nothing more.
By the time the four of them arrived at the North Lake, the sky had already grown dark, and the evening lights were lit. The northeast corner near the North Lake was already packed with people, a sea of heads.
"We still arrived late." Chen Miaohe sighed.
Cui Yunchu had heard of five-color threads, but she had never bought them. Since childhood, her concubine mother had taught her that human effort is the decisive factor; if you want something, you must fight for it yourself.
Rather than praying to illusory gods and Buddhas, Cui Yunchu believed more in the peerless magic weapon her concubine mother had left behind.
"..."
The past was unbearable to recall.
Cui Yunchu just wanted to sigh.
Chen Miaohe sent her own maid to line up.
"Other stalls have them too. Isn't it the same if we go somewhere else?" Chen Jiuhe looked around. There were quite a few vendors selling five-color threads nearby.
"You don't understand, the five-color threads from her stall have been blessed; they are the most effective."
Chen Jiuhe smiled at her words. "They are just tricking a little girl like you."
"What does it matter if it is real or fake? It is just for fun, a bit of comfort for the heart. If you believe it, it is real; if you don't, it is fake."
Chen Miaohe smiled as she looked at the crowded little vendor's stall not far away.
Cui Yunchu was slightly taller. She half-lowered her eyes, gazing at the smile on Chen Miaohe's face, momentarily lost in thought.
Yes, it was just for fun.
Back then, when she and her concubine mother were abandoned in the Cui Manor, she had been like this too—greedy for fun, wanting to try every new and novel thing.
But her mother would tell her that those things were just to trick children. Her top priority was to learn her mother's special skills, marry into a prestigious family, and change her fate.
But she was a child back then.
Cui Yunchu pressed her lips into a straight line and lowered her head. Actually, when it came down to it, it was just because her mother had no money.
The meager monthly allowance provided by the manor was all spent on buying clothes and jewelry to dress herself up. Where would she get the silver to spend on Yunchu?
The four of them stood waiting by the lake.
In the center of the lake were colorful dragon boats. Glazed lanterns hung high, illuminating half the lake. They were extraordinarily luxurious, clearly not belonging to ordinary officials at first glance.
Chen Miaohe had originally planned to take a boat out on the lake, but there were no spare boats left on the shore.
Even when Chen Jiuhe offered to pay extra, no one was willing to give up theirs.
Therefore, the four of them could only stand by the lake, watching those luxurious boats drift on the water.
Cui Yunchu couldn't help but feel that they looked a bit silly.
Like fools drooling as they watched another child eat candy.
Chen Miaohe was indeed drooling. "How did they get here so early?"
The other three fell silent. After a long while, Shen Zilan calmly chimed in, "Boats for the Dragon Boat Festival must be reserved in advance. Especially those large ones in the middle of the lake—most of them are private boats belonging to royalty and nobility."
"..."
They had come for nothing. Cui Yunchu glanced at Shen Zilan, really wanting to ask him why he hadn't said so earlier. If he had spoken up sooner, wouldn't they have gone home ages ago?
Unexpectedly, Shen Zilan's gaze suddenly shifted over, briefly meeting Cui Yunchu's eyes.
...
Cui Yunchu immediately looked away, pretending nothing had happened.
Shen Zilan smiled and withdrew his gaze as well.
Chen Miaohe sighed repeatedly.
Before long, the maid who had been sent out early to buy the five-color threads returned.
