Cui Yunchu immediately pricked up her ears and cast her gaze toward Old Madam Cui.
Old Madam Cui's lips seemed to twitch, but it took a long moment before she spoke. "Dowager Shen is a good person. It's just a pity that her fate is poor."
With just that one sentence, she said no more. Old Madam Cui clearly did not want to dwell on the topic.
Cui Yunchu was slightly disappointed. "I noticed the dowager speaks so softly and slowly. She must have been an extremely elegant and gentle woman in her youth."
Old Madam Cui nodded. "She is not from the capital, but from Jiangnan. Women raised in Jiangnan are naturally graceful and soft."
Cui Yunchu nodded, but her brows suddenly furrowed slightly. "Jiangnan is so far from the capital. Why would she marry all the way here?"
Old Madam Cui looked sideways at Cui Yunchu, pursing her lips before replying, "She was young and inexperienced."
"Alright, let us hurry. It is getting late, and we should not give anyone a reason to find fault with us."
Cui Yunchu murmured her agreement, taking Old Madam Cui's arm as they followed the young eunuch toward the palace.
In her heart, however, Cui Yunchu was pondering Old Madam Cui's words, her mind wandering slightly. She could not help but feel that the relationship between the Shen family and the Cui family was somewhat bizarre.
Although it had little to do with her, she still harbored a grudge over the sword thrust that ended her previous life. Even though she had come back to life, she still wanted to understand the reason behind her death in her past life.
But it was not appropriate to press the matter further at this moment.
"Eldest Sister, what are you thinking about? You are completely ignoring me," Cui Yunfeng said.
Only then did Cui Yunchu look up. "What is it?"
Cui Yunfeng winked at her, gesturing for Cui Yunchu to look to her front right.
Cui Yunchu turned her head nonchalantly.
Not far away on the palace path stood a man with a tall and slender figure, gazing in their direction.
The man's eyes were clearly fixed on Cui Yunchu, but the moment she glanced his way, he immediately averted his gaze, turned, and walked away. His steps even seemed somewhat hurried and flustered.
It was quite contradictory.
It was as if Cui Yunchu were some terrifying beast preying on him. Yet, if he was so afraid, why was he standing there peeking in the first place?
"Eldest Sister, that is the young master of the Chen family, isn't it?"
Cui Yunchu withdrew her gaze and gave a soft hum of agreement.
"Then why did he run?"
"He was probably shy to see me," Cui Yunchu said without changing her expression.
Cui Yunfeng curled her lips. "Your skin is getting thicker and thicker. To me, it looked like he was..."
"Yunfeng." Tang Qingwan cast a sidelong glance at Cui Yunfeng and gave her a pointed look. "You are speaking more and more without thinking. It wasn't you he was looking at anyway."
Cui Yunfeng checked Old Madam Cui's expression and could only awkwardly shut her mouth.
Old Madam Cui lowered her eyes to look at Cui Yunchu, who was holding her arm, as if trying to discern some emotion on her face.
Cui Yunchu's demeanor remained consistently indifferent.
She truly could not muster any interest in Chen Jiuhe.
"Grandmother also thinks that Chen boy is a bit strange, acting all sneaky and lacking any grand presence. Yunchu, if you truly dislike him, let us just drop the matter," Old Madam Cui said.
"Thank you, Grandmother." A smile immediately bloomed on Cui Yunchu's face.
"Oh, Old Madam Cui, you have arrived." A young eunuch approached them and bowed respectfully to Old Madam Cui.
"I am Eunuch Li, who serves by Her Majesty the Empress's side. I have come on Her Majesty's orders to welcome Old Madam Cui."
Old Madam Cui kept a smile on her face. "I am grateful to Her Majesty the Empress for keeping this subject's wife in her thoughts."
In the past, whenever Old Madam Cui entered the palace, the Empress would send her head serving matron to welcome her. This Eunuch Li, however, was someone they were seeing for the first time.
"Old Madam, Miss Tang, and the two Misses Cui, please come this way." The young eunuch took the lead to guide them.
Cui Yunfeng quietly tugged at Cui Yunchu's sleeve, her brows knitting together slightly.
Cui Yunfeng used to go to Phoenix Court to pay her respects to the Empress quite often, but times had changed. They all knew that the Empress's invitation today was likely not for a good cause.
The two sisters simultaneously cast worried glances at Tang Qingwan.
"There is no need to be afraid." Tang Qingwan smiled faintly, though her eyes rippled with a hidden, subtle coldness.
Very few female relatives of officials were ever invited to Phoenix Court by the Empress.
Along the way, they encountered many noblewomen heading to the main hall for the banquet, all of whom looked at the four of them—grandmother and granddaughters—with extremely envious eyes.
To Cui Yunchu, those looks were very familiar. However, those on the outside could hardly understand the suffering of those trapped on the inside.
Upon arriving at Phoenix Court, Eunuch Li went in first to announce them, leaving the four of them waiting in the palace courtyard.
Cui Yunchu's gaze fell upon a young maidservant standing at the entrance of the hall.
Anyone serving in Phoenix Court would naturally be dressed in court lady attire. Yet, one glance at this person's clothing made it obvious that she must be a maid brought by an official's family.
"That is Liu Wanting's maid," Tang Qingwan's voice suddenly rang out.
Cui Yunchu frowned.
Liu Wanting's? She had never seen her before.
However, none of them were surprised by Liu Wanting's presence in Phoenix Court.
Old Madam Cui stood a short distance away from them, waiting properly for any movement from within the hall.
Cui Yunchu turned her head toward Tang Qingwan, took a few steps closer, and lowered her voice. "Cousin, do you really... believe in the Crown Prince? Will he come to help you?"
Cui Yunchu had a fairly good understanding of the Crown Prince's temperament.
Tang Qingwan raised an eyebrow and gave a faint smile. "What do you think?"
Cui Yunchu shook her head, her red lips pressed together.
The fact that the Crown Prince had agreed to the edict making Liu Wanting his secondary consort without any hesitation was enough to reveal a thing or two about his true thoughts.
"To risk angering the Emperor just for a wedding ceremony... I fear the Crown Prince would not do it."
People of the imperial family were the best at weighing pros and cons.
"Yes," Tang Qingwan replied very calmly. "I know."
Cui Yunchu frowned. Cui Yunfeng immediately asked anxiously, "Then why are you still placing your hopes on him?"
Was it to make herself give up completely?
Tang Qingwan forced a smile and cast a sidelong glance at Cui Yunfeng. "You don't understand."
She withdrew her gaze, looking up at the towering majesty of Phoenix Court, her voice cold. "What I am fighting over with Liu Wanting is far more than just this grand wedding ceremony. Compared to the rest, the wedding is the most insignificant part."
If one could use something small to gain something great, why not do it?
Cui Yunfeng did not understand.
Cui Yunchu, of course... did not have such a quick mind either.
But she did have some understanding of Tang Qingwan's tactics and intellect.
"As long as you know what you are doing," Cui Yunchu said.
A quarter of an hour passed before there was finally some movement from inside the hall. Eunuch Li trotted out, bowed to Old Madam Cui, and said, "Her Majesty invites you all to enter."
Old Madam Cui turned around and took Tang Qingwan's hand. Cui Yunchu and Cui Yunfeng followed behind as they stepped into Phoenix Court.
As soon as they entered the hall, a wave of fragrance washed over them, causing Tang Qingwan to frown.
It was not the sweet eupatorium incense that the Empress usually favored.
From behind a floor-standing openwork screen made of red sandalwood, the Empress's delighted laughter rang out. "I was just saying, how did Chen'er suddenly become so thoughtful and remember to show filial piety to me? It turns out you were the one who picked this incense."
"Your Majesty jests. It is naturally His Highness the Crown Prince's filial devotion that keeps Your Majesty in his thoughts at all times. I merely accompanied His Highness to pick out the incense and offered a few suggestions."
