In the study, by the window on a carved huanghuali luohan daybed adorned with a relief hunting scene, Prince Wei reclined against a stone-blue embroidered pillow of the same color with dragon motifs, his eyes closed in rest.
The room was free of incense, but two blue-and-white stemmed plates with interlocking floral patterns on the square-legged side table beside the daybed held apples and tangerines, their pleasant fruity fragrance filling the air.
At this time of year, only the imperial palace and the households of nobility could still enjoy fresh fruits.
But that wasn’t the most extravagant detail—what truly spoke of wealth were the windows and doors, all inlaid with glass, ensuring the room remained bright even on such an overcast day.
Not a single attendant was present inside, nor were there any eunuchs or palace maids waiting outside the corridor. The silence was so profound that even the drop of a needle would be audible. Unconsciously, Cui Lanyin held her breath.
Fortunately, seeing no attendants outside, she had refrained from bringing in Aiye and Sangzhi—otherwise, there might not have been a next time.
"Your Highness, she’s here," Qinglin announced.
Prince Wei cast a glance from the daybed but said nothing further.
Cui Lanyin pressed her lips together, carefully set the food box she was carrying onto a side table against the wall, then mustered her courage to step forward and curtsy. "Your niece greets Uncle."
Still, Prince Wei remained silent, merely flicking a finger against the small table.
"His Highness bids you sit," Qinglin said, gesturing toward the empty western side of the daybed. But Cui Lanyin declined, retreating to sit on a nearby chair instead.
She had prepared herself for cold indifference, yet the reality left her at a loss.
Prince Wei didn’t even speak, rendering her carefully rehearsed words useless.
Just as she was pondering how to proceed, light footsteps approached from outside, followed by a eunuch’s hushed report, "Master Qing, the tea and refreshments are ready."
Again, Prince Wei flicked his finger. Qinglin called out, "Bring them in."
Several eunuchs filed in, heads bowed, swiftly arranging six varieties of pastries, preserved fruits, and nuts on the daybed’s side table, along with napkins, plates, and chopsticks. Only one remained to serve tea before the rest withdrew.
Cui Lanyin began to understand—Prince Wei communicated by tapping the table.
Stealing a glance, she noted his calm expression and made a mental note.
She whispered to Qinglin, "One tap means to sit, presenting something means to speak—what does two taps mean?"
Qinglin looked at her in surprise, impressed by how quickly she had grasped it.
Aside from Empress Dowager Chen and His Majesty, this Miss Cui was the only one who could withstand Prince Wei’s silence and still speak naturally.
Flicking a glance toward the daybed and seeing no impatience on the prince’s face, Qinglin clumsily mimed drinking tea. Cui Lanyin smiled and nodded in understanding.
"I thought to ask first, so as not to trouble Uncle," she explained.
Qinglin exhaled in relief. Unlike Bailin, playing host was truly beyond his skills—having someone who understood was a blessing.
Quick-witted, Cui Lanyin realized this man in the blue robe wasn’t being aloof; he simply wasn’t adept at conversation.
It made sense—around Prince Wei, words were sparse, and over time, anyone would grow taciturn.
Now that she knew this was Prince Wei’s usual demeanor, her tension eased slightly.
She had never interacted with nobility before, but she figured treating him with the respect due an elder couldn’t be wrong.
Yet she couldn’t be too stiff either. Take her grandmother, for instance—she favored grandchildren who could keep her company with lively conversation.
Among her four grandchildren, Cui Lanyin was the favorite. Even when she acted a little too boldly, her grandmother would say she was spirited and full of vitality—just as she ought to be.
Cui Lanyin naturally brought over the food box she had carried with her, placing two types of pastries on the table.
She smiled somewhat sheepishly, "My niece knows the Prince’s residence has no shortage of exquisite delicacies. But these two pastries are made from ancient recipes, quite different from the usual fare these days. I thought it might be nice to offer His Highness a change of taste."
Qinglin sighed inwardly, counting the moments until Prince Wei would flick his fingers in annoyance.
He had hoped that with someone the prince was willing to receive, it might draw His Highness out of his meditative trance and ground him a little. Now, that hope was dashed.
Once irritated like this, even if Empress Dowager Chen sent someone, the prince would likely refuse to wake.
Worse still, Prince Wei’s meals were irregular—he ate when he remembered and skipped several when he didn’t. While the prince was otherworldly in his habits, Qinglin, a mere mortal, couldn’t endure such erratic eating.
He had thought this Miss Cui was perceptive and considerate. How could she waste time on small talk? The prince had given her an opportunity—if she didn’t seize it to state her business, there wouldn’t be another. Once she was coldly dismissed and started weeping, Qinglin wanted nothing more than to hide.
Meanwhile, Cui Lanyin had already picked up silver chopsticks, placing a red bean pastry and a chestnut cake on a small plate. She respectfully set it before Prince Wei with both hands. "Please enjoy these first, Uncle. I’ll prepare the others for you shortly."
Qinglin counted silently, then stared in disbelief.
The reclining Prince Wei sat up, actually picking up the plate to sample the pastries. He started with the chestnut cake, taking a small bite before devouring the rest in two more mouthfuls.
Next, he picked up the red bean pastry, eating it just as quickly.
A servant swiftly brought over tea at the perfect temperature. Prince Wei took a sip and set it aside, ignoring the pastries from the palace kitchen that Cui Lanyin had laid out. Instead, he nudged his empty plate forward slightly.
Cui Lanyin promptly added two more red bean pastries and two chestnut cakes to the plate. Prince Wei picked it up and continued eating.
Her lips curved into a smile. "Uncle, have you noticed? The red bean paste in these pastries is drier and grainier, not as smooth as others might prefer. The chestnut cake is the same—some might find it too dry or rough on the throat, but my family adores this texture. It seems you share our taste, Uncle. My trip here wasn’t in vain."
She observed that Prince Wei ate the pastries without drinking much tea—just one sip. Did he dislike water, or was the tea not to his liking?
The Prince’s residence was supplied with the finest provisions from the imperial stores, so it couldn’t be for lack of good tea.
Though puzzled, Cui Lanyin didn’t voice her questions.
She wouldn’t assume Prince Wei’s indulgence with her pastries meant he would grant her any special favor.
"By convention, since Uncle is unwed, it’s improper for me to visit like this. But the truth is, my family has no one else who can step out on such matters.
My father loses all sense of direction at the sight of novelties—if he doesn’t get himself lost, it’s a miracle. My mother is rather whimsical, engrossed in designing clothes and tending to flowers. Beyond these two pursuits, she’s quite inept—even ordinary pleasantries elude her, so she only socializes with a few close relatives.
"I have two younger brothers. The elder one is all brute strength—he can't step outside without picking a fight, and nine out of ten tasks I ask him to do are forgotten. The younger is clever, but still too young..." Her voice was melodious and pleasant, painting such a vivid picture of her family affairs that it brought a smile to everyone's lips.
Qinglin and the young eunuch serving tea listened intently, their faces softening with amusement.
Cui Lanyin considered that today's progress was sufficient—she shouldn't push further.
Noticing that Prince Wei had finished the four pastries on his plate without signaling for more, she deftly picked up a slightly damp cloth from the side table and handed it to him. He accepted it and wiped his hands.
After a brief pause, he lifted his teacup and drank the contents in three measured sips. Cui Lanyin barely had time to warn him that the tea had gone cold before he finished, so she simply took the empty cup and returned it to the table.
Qinglin watched, wide-eyed. His Highness had already eaten this morning, and with this snack, he wouldn’t touch another bite until dinner—if he even remembered to eat at all. More often than not, he’d only call for a meal the next day.
The steward had nearly gone gray with worry over this habit.
Qinglin couldn’t fathom what made Prince Wei treat this Miss Cui differently.
If only Bailin were here—he was the best at deciphering their lord’s moods.
Cui Lanyin tidied the dishes and utensils on the table, then curtsied. "When I’ve prepared more suitable pastries, I’ll return to offer them to you, Uncle. I won’t disturb your peace any longer—this niece takes her leave."
Prince Wei, who had been reclining against the cushions, suddenly opened his eyes fully and flicked his fingers against the couch.
This was the first time since her arrival that Cui Lanyin saw his eyes properly open.
They were phoenix eyes, exquisitely shaped—inner corners sharp, outer corners lifted—bright as the spring moon, clear as autumn water. How could a man’s eyes be more beautiful than a woman’s?
Yet the emptiness in his gaze made her instinctively retreat. She lowered her lashes, then quickly raised them again. Had her uncle just asked her to speak?
Prince Wei’s expression remained unreadable as he half-closed his eyes.
She glanced at Qinglin, who mouthed, "His Highness invites you to speak."
Cui Lanyin mouthed her thanks in return.
Her goal was to leverage Prince Wei’s influence to secure a favorable marriage. Such things were best left unspoken, mutually understood.
But her grandmother had taught her that those in power had seen more schemes than ordinary people had grains of salt—attempting deceit in their presence was futile.
Standing gracefully, Cui Lanyin smiled brightly and said with clear candor, "To be honest, Uncle, I hope that by visiting you more often, others might think more highly of me."
Prince Wei lifted his gaze to study her briefly before responding with a faint "Hm." He flicked two fingers against the couch once more and closed his eyes again.
From the corner of her eye, Cui Lanyin caught Qinglin’s stunned expression—that single "Hm" was evidently rare.
Was two flicks a dismissal? She didn’t press further, simply curtsied and withdrew from the study.
When Qinglin followed to escort her out, she knew she’d guessed correctly.
Her frankness—openly admitting she was here to seek favor—had improved Qinglin’s opinion of her. He accompanied her and her two maids all the way out of Prince Wei’s residence, watching until they turned the corner of the alley before returning inside.
His attitude told Cui Lanyin that Prince Wei hadn’t taken offense.
Once inside the carriage, Aiye and Sangzhi quickly retrieved a heat-preserved teapot from a compartment and poured her a cup. Cui Lanyin took a sip, then cradled it to warm her hands, finally allowing herself to relax.
"Well, Miss? How did it go?"
"I earned an 'Hm' from Uncle."
"...What?"
"It's already remarkable that Uncle would spare me a word." Cui Lanyin leaned against the carriage wall. "Today was a good start. From now on, I’ll bring pastries to pay my respects every now and then. Surely, Uncle won’t refuse to let me in once he sees my devotion. With frequent visits here, the right people are bound to take notice."
