Unexpectedly, those people suddenly changed the subject.
"That may be so, but even an outstanding person needs to meet a noble benefactor to fully display their talents. In this marriage, Zhou Yuanmo is marrying out of his league."
"However... I remember, doesn't Prime Minister Cui still have an Eldest Miss Cui who is not yet married?"
"What, do you also want to be the Prime Minister's son-in-law like Zhou Yuanmo?" one person joked.
"I heard that Eldest Miss Cui is not a peaceful one. With your frail frame, can you handle her?"
"Right, and she seems to be a concubine-born daughter."
Their tone was truly extremely frivolous.
"They are simply insolent." Cui Yunfeng stood up angrily, about to rush over and scold them, but Cui Yunchu hurriedly pulled her back.
"We are female family members, how can we go to the front courtyard? We would only make a joke of ourselves and give them more reason to gossip about the Cui family's daughters."
"Eldest Sister, since when did you become so willing to swallow your pride?"
In the past, when she battled wits and courage with her, she didn't yield an inch.
Cui Yunchu disagreed. "Gossips are everywhere. The whole capital is talking about this. Even if you gag those few people, what good would it do?"
"But they are standing on Cui family grounds, gossiping about a Cui family daughter."
Just then, a cold and sharp voice, cutting through the joking, suddenly rang out. "The banquet hasn't even started yet, and you gentlemen have already eaten and drank your fill?"
Shen Zilan paced towards them. He was clearly smiling, but a dark glint was hidden in the depths of his eyes.
A step behind him was the coldly expressionless Shen Xiabai, and on the other side was the extremely displeased Chen Jiuhe.
One of them immediately cupped his hands and said, "Young Master Shen must be joking."
The banquet hadn't even started, so how could they have eaten and drank their fill?
"Is that so?" Shen Zilan raised an eyebrow. "As the market women say, people only gossip when they are full. If you gentlemen weren't fed full by the Cui family, how would you have the energy to gossip about the Cui family's daughters here?"
"..."
No matter how foolish they were, they could hear the sarcasm in Shen Zilan's words.
Shen Zilan was not older than them, and his talent was only considered average among the successful imperial candidates. They didn't really take him seriously.
However, his surname was Shen, and beside him was the court's new noble, the Emperor's favorite, his own young uncle.
The few men looked a bit embarrassed, their complexions poor, and no one spoke.
Shen Zilan, however, had no intention of letting it go. He stared at one of them and said, "They say that taking from others makes one's hands short, and eating from others makes one's mouth short. But I see that you, brother, are not short anywhere, especially that mouth of yours. If pulled, it could probably be used as a clothesline. Even the market women can't compare."
The man's face turned livid.
Scholars always prided themselves on being aloof and looked down upon the vulgar marketplaces the most. Shen Zilan's words were nothing short of humiliation.
"You—" The man was clearly running out of patience.
But a cold voice suddenly interrupted him.
"Eating their food, drinking their wine, standing on their territory, and gossiping about their daughters. What fine upbringing you gentlemen have. I wonder who your master is and which teacher taught you this."
As soon as Shen Xiabai spoke, the others immediately shut their mouths in unison, especially the man from just now, whose face turned pale.
Having just entered the officialdom, he absolutely could not let his career be ruined here.
"Lord Shen is right to teach us a lesson. We lacked manners."
Shen Xiabai's eyes were dark and deep. Let alone those men, even Shen Zilan couldn't quite fathom his young uncle's thoughts for a moment.
Hasn't he always hated the Cui family the most?
Taking this opportunity, the few men bowed together and scattered like birds and beasts.
Only Shen Zilan remained a bit stunned.
Let alone him, even Cui Yunchu, separated by a wall, was stunned, as if struck by a sudden clap of thunder. "Could it be that the mountains and seas have inverted, and he won't live past tomorrow?"
Cui Yunfeng frowned.
The voice inside sounded again. "Brother Chen, those men were gossiping about Eldest Miss Cui like that. Why didn't you speak up to stop them?"
Shen Zilan frowned as he looked at Chen Jiuhe. The two of them were currently discussing marriage!
"There is no smoke without fire." Chen Jiuhe frowned. "Eldest Miss Cui's reputation in the capital is indeed not good. Even if we gag those few people, it's hard to silence the masses. If she wants to avoid being gossiped about, she can only rely on her own virtuousness and gentleness to earn others' respect."
There were so many people in the capital. He couldn't act like a street shrew and argue with people every time.
"..." Shen Zilan listened with a look of shock, staring at Chen Jiuhe, his knuckles twitching several times.
How could the Cui family discuss marriage with such a pedantic person?
His brain must have been damaged in the womb.
Chen Jiuhe obviously sensed Shen Zilan's emotions and frowned in displeasure.
Technically speaking, he was Shen Zilan's future brother-in-law, yet Shen Zilan was defending another woman in front of him, and it was the woman he was discussing marriage with...
Chen Jiuhe felt extremely uncomfortable no matter how he thought about it.
He couldn't help but recall what Young Master Wang had said to him on the day of the palace banquet.
"It's getting late. Let's go," Shen Xiabai said lightly, taking the lead and walking towards the banquet hall.
Shen Zilan immediately followed, glancing at Chen Jiuhe out of the corner of his eye. "Uncle, are you sure our family wants to form a marriage alliance with that dimwit?"
Shen Xiabai glanced at him. "As long as the Chen family's daughter is normal, it's fine. You'll be living your life with Miss Chen, not her brother."
"See, you also think he's a dimwit."
"..." Shen Xiabai fell silent.
Setting aside his personal grudges with the Cui and Tang families, Chen Jiuhe was indeed not someone to be entrusted with.
When a woman chooses a husband, she should choose someone to rely on, not a judge sitting high in the hall.
In other words: I know it is my fault, but you must and can only stand by my side.
"The Cui family's taste is truly terrible." His lips curled slightly into a cold arc.
Shen Zilan immediately leaned in. "Uncle, you were willing to speak up for Eldest Miss Cui just now. Does that mean you still don't hate her?"
Shen Xiabai frowned, and a scene immediately flashed before his eyes.
It wasn't Cui Yunchu's charming and beautiful face, but a raised middle finger.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked at Shen Zilan. "There are many people and mixed company at the banquet today. I don't want you getting into disputes with others because of the Cui family, causing unexpected complications for your marriage."
"..." Shen Zilan drooped his head dejectedly.
He should have guessed that apart from his affairs, his young uncle was not one to meddle in other people's business.
"Remember, if you stick your neck out recklessly again, roll back home immediately."
"Yes." Shen Zilan honestly cupped his hands and bowed.
"Eldest Sister?" Cui Yunfeng nudged the distracted Cui Yunchu. "What's wrong?"
Cui Yunchu shook her head.
She was just wondering why Shen Xiabai had come to attend the banquet.
Did her father invite him?
But hasn't he always hated the Cui family? Why would he come?
As for Shen Xiabai's actions just now, Cui Yunchu could understand them and certainly wouldn't flatter herself. He cared deeply about his nephew, Shen Zilan.
Naturally, he didn't want Shen Zilan to get involved in anything related to her, which was why he spoke up.
While she was lost in thought, at the end of the veranda, a maid led a young man slowly walking over.
Cui Yunchu had seen that man before; it was none other than Zhou Yuanmo.
"Eldest Miss, Second Miss, this lord wishes to pay his respects to the Old Madam."
The man stood three paces away from the two sisters and very politely cupped his hands, "Eldest Miss Cui, Second Miss Cui."
