Chapter Thirteen
Hearing the neighing of horses from the eastern gate, Third Master Cui, in his study, nearly tore the ancient book in his hands in his fluster. He paced back and forth, muttering, "Quick, quick! Put out the fire and tidy everything up. We can’t let Second Miss see we’ve been using the furnace."
Before he even finished speaking, Baichi and Qiansheng swiftly extinguished the flames and grabbed large palm-leaf fans, waving them vigorously to disperse the smoke in the room.
The master and his two servants bustled about as if their lives depended on it, barely keeping their feet on the ground.
Still feeling uneasy, Third Master Cui urged, "Let’s all get out of here." He motioned for the two to follow him out.
But it was already too late. Cui Lanyin stood blocking the doorway, smiling as she asked, "Father, what are you up to again?"
"Nothing much," he waved his hands dismissively. "The incense I made for you is ready, and I was just about to start crafting a brush for Brother Jian. Come, let’s go back and see if the incense suits your taste."
Baichi and Qiansheng flanked him, doing their best to obscure the scene inside the study.
Cui Lanyin had already caught the scent of smoke, and the guilty expressions on the three faces were as clear as day. Her smile faded. "Father, you’ve been refining elixirs again, haven’t you? What happened to your promise?"
Third Master Cui drooped his brows and muttered in a small voice, "I really wasn’t trying anything serious—just indulging a little itch to light the furnace."
He glanced left and right, but Baichi and Qiansheng stood rigidly, eyes fixed on their noses, refusing to speak up. Caught red-handed by Second Miss, silence was their safest bet.
"Hand over your monthly allowance," Cui Lanyin declared before turning to leave.
The household’s shared monthly stipend was managed by Cui Lanyin, who then distributed pocket money to each member. Third Master Cui received three taels of silver, which he usually spent on materials for his eccentric hobbies.
Panicked, he hurried after her, pleading, "Can I at least keep two taels?" Seeing her unmoved, he backtracked, "Fine, just one tael! I’ve already promised someone I’d buy their goods. If I don’t show up, they’ll never deal with me again. A man must keep his word, right?"
"If you say another word, next month’s allowance is gone too."
Third Master Cui immediately fell silent, watching helplessly as Cui Lanyin disappeared around the corridor. With a frustrated stomp, he still trailed after her.
When they reached the main hall, Zhiqiu, who had been keeping Lady Jiang company while she did needlework, quickly gathered her sewing basket and slipped out at the sight of the father-daughter pair.
Third Master Cui shuffled over to Lady Jiang with a pitiful expression. "Lanyin’s taking away my allowance. Could you…?"
Lady Jiang, well-versed in such situations, cut straight to the point. "What did you do this time?"
"My father was refining elixirs again."
Even Lady Jiang’s gentle temperament flared at this. She called him by his full name, "Cui Sheng! Have you forgotten the pain already? Do you want another explosion?"
The memory was still fresh—just a year ago, Cui Sheng’s alchemical furnace had exploded, leveling the southern study and blowing the doors and windows clean off. If he hadn’t stepped out to fetch something, he wouldn’t have escaped with his life, let alone intact. Since then, Cui Lanyin had forbidden him from dabbling in elixirs. For a year, he’d obeyed—until now.
Faced with his daughter’s stern gaze and his wife’s fury, Cui Sheng knew he’d have to explain himself thoroughly, or else his sons would interrogate him later too.
With a sigh, he confessed, "The Emperor has been summoning alchemists to refine longevity elixirs. I’ve tried it before—those things are nothing but frauds. Overuse can shorten one’s life! I just wanted to test a few formulas myself, document their harmful effects, and present the findings to Empress Dowager Chen through you. If she favors you more, it might help with your marriage prospects—"
"Father!" Cui Lanyin’s nose stung with sudden emotion. She rubbed it away and stepped forward, looping her arm through his. "How can you be like this? Just when I’ve scolded you, now I have to apologize. How am I supposed to maintain authority?"
Cui Sheng patted her hand gently. "In earlier years, I was misguided—I should’ve pursued an official career. Even if I start taking the imperial exams next year, it’ll take at least three years to succeed. That’s too slow, so I thought of this alternative."
All of this stemmed from the marriage alliance between the Tan and Yao families. Even the usually carefree Cui Sheng had begun worrying about her future, secretly plotting such a risky scheme.
"Father, let’s not fret," Cui Lanyin said, guiding him to sit on the kang. Lady Jiang handed him a cup of tea, her eyes soft with concern. "Why didn’t you tell me…?"
"You’ve been sighing over the Yao family’s relocation banquet these past two days too."
"Aiye, bring some pears for Father and Mother to cool their tempers," Cui Lanyin called out.
Aiye had already washed them and promptly entered with a white porcelain footed tray bearing six pears.
Cui Lanyin handed one to each of her parents. "These are Hami fragrant pears—very sweet. Eat as many as you like. Don’t save any for Brother Su and the others; we have a whole basket."
That she could casually bring home a basket of Hami pears—a luxury even money couldn’t easily buy—was highly unusual, and even Cui Sheng and Lady Jiang, who paid little attention to worldly affairs, knew it.
But the household had always deferred to Cui Lanyin’s decisions. Now that the tables were turned, the couple didn’t know how to question her.
Her visits to Prince Wei’s residence had become routine. Though she couldn’t flaunt it publicly, there was no need to hide it at home.
Seeing her parents so troubled on her behalf, Cui Lanyin didn’t wait. She explained how she’d paid respects at Prince Wei’s residence and how he’d arranged for her to meet Empress Dowager Chen.
"Father, Mother, His Highness even wrote me three words: 'Wait one year'—meaning I should wait until next year’s imperial exams. Need I say more?" She knew that if she bluntly stated her intention to marry into wealth and leisure, Cui Sheng and Lady Jiang would only blame themselves more. So she used Prince Wei’s words as a shield.
"Right, right! Only a newly minted scholar is worthy of you," Cui Sheng and Lady Jiang brightened instantly. "Who knew Prince Wei would be so kind? Gossip truly misleads."
"Father, forget about testing elixir formulas. Royal affairs are best left alone."
"I’m not reckless. I planned to discuss it with you once I had some leads. Whether to approach the Emperor would’ve been Empress Dowager Chen’s call."
"Father, I never realized—when you put your mind to something, you’re quite thorough."
"Of course! I just never bothered before."
Though she spoke lightly to Cui Sheng, Cui Lanyin hesitated about whether to mention this to Prince Wei.
The next day, as Cui Lanyin was settling affairs in the front hall, Qian He arrived again, announcing that Empress Dowager Chen had summoned her for a chat and she was to leave immediately.
Hurriedly preparing herself, Cui Lanyin followed Qian He into the palace.
So Prince Wei’s "wait" had led her back to Empress Dowager Chen. Reflecting on it, she marveled at his insight. Though Prince Wei seemed perpetually drowsy and spoke little, he understood human affairs impeccably.
The Yao family was his maternal relatives. If Prince Wei had publicly defended her against their slights at the Yao residence—no matter the reason—it would’ve shamed the Yaos. Choosing her, a distant niece, over his own kin would’ve earned him accusations of disloyalty.
Instead, he’d orchestrated this roundabout path—having Empress Dowager Chen summon her again, framing it as a casual chat. With two consecutive invitations, the outside world would now see her as a favorite of the Empress Dowager.
Empress Dowager Chen was, after all, the emperor’s birth mother, so both Empress Dowager Li and the Li family had to show her due respect. Given this, no matter what thoughts anyone might harbor during this visit to the Yao household, they would keep them to themselves.
This time, it was Aunt Xia waiting under the corridor. "I reckoned you’d arrive around now," she said warmly, pulling Cui Lanyin into the side hall by the hand.
Inside the side hall, Empress Dowager Chen was seated cross-legged at the kang table, copying scriptures. Cui Lanyin, afraid of disturbing her, stood at a distance, hesitant to approach.
After finishing a line, Empress Dowager Chen set down her brush. "That’s enough for today. Put it away."
Aunt Gao stepped forward to tidy up the writing supplies, while Empress Dowager Chen motioned for Cui Lanyin to come closer. "Sit. Next time, don’t be so reserved. I copy scriptures to calm my mind—if I make a mistake, I’ll simply start over."
"After all these years of copying, you’re still the same. I say it’s time for a change," Aunt Xia teased, nudging Cui Lanyin to sit on the brocade stool nearest the kang.
"Indeed," Empress Dowager Chen sighed softly before turning to Cui Lanyin. "I always thought Prince Wei was cold and unfeeling, yet he’s repeatedly gone out of his way to show concern for your affairs. It seems I misjudged him."
Worried that Empress Dowager Chen might misunderstand, Cui Lanyin quickly explained, "My uncle only ate the pastries I brought him—he was just being polite since he’d accepted them."
Empress Dowager Chen laughed. "You truly are a delightful child. Did you think I’d give your dear uncle a hard time?"
She waved her hand dismissively. "I was merely reflecting. He remembers things from when he was five—both the good and the bad… Your grandmother has indeed secured you a fortunate connection."
