Chapter 8
The next morning, Cui Lanyin was busy reviewing accounts and managing affairs at the front.
Yesterday, she had witnessed Prince Wei using the name "Master Zhao" to move freely in the martial world. Liu Heipi, clearly a figure of some repute in the jianghu and someone who could command the Canal Gang, had been forced to bow his head before Master Zhao, even humbling himself to appease him just to get by.
In that moment, Cui Lanyin suddenly understood—Prince Wei could sleepwalk through life with such carefree disregard because even without his princely title, he lived with unrestrained freedom.
When Lady Tan had taught her the ways of business, she had said that the scale of one’s ventures depended on the weight of one’s influence. Big investments always had connections behind them—either directly backed by powerful families operating under the guise of stewards or wealthy merchants yielding profits to the nobility. Without influence, wealth could not be protected.
That was why Cui Lanyin had been so determined to marry into wealth and leisure.
Now, she realized how naive she had been. She coveted a man’s riches, status, and idleness—but what could she offer in return? Beauty? The flimsy title of being Prince Wei’s "niece"?
To the wealthy and noble, beauties were easily obtained. And as for being Prince Wei’s niece—the Yao family’s daughters were his true blood relations. Her own claim wouldn’t withstand scrutiny.
Relying on others meant living at their mercy. Deep down, Cui Lanyin had a streak of pride, and now she dismissed the idea of borrowing capital. Taking handouts would leave her indebted—she would earn her own fortune.
So when Bailin suggested keeping the tea shop open, Cui Lanyin saw no reason to turn away silver. She would continue running the business.
Of course, she wouldn’t rush. She wouldn’t be greedy with this one shop—if it yielded two or three hundred taels a year, by next year she could afford another, and the year after that, she’d have at least four shops.
When they had moved to Yingcheng, though Lady Tan and Lady Jiang had sold their properties in Yancheng, they had kept two estates.
Cui Lanyin calculated that even if the estates’ income had dwindled, they still brought in over six hundred taels annually. Combined with the fifty taels the family received monthly from shared funds, their yearly total was twelve hundred taels. Now that the shop was operational, they no longer had to scrimp from that meager sum, and life wouldn’t be so tight.
The only regret was her elder sister, Cui Lanting, whose dowry had amounted to just two thousand taels.
After seeing the Tan family’s behavior, Cui Lanyin understood clearly—even close relatives like the second branch of the Cui family had withheld support and schemed. The Hong family, as distant relatives, would be no better. If not for the late Grand Aunt Tan’s influence, her sister might never have married into the Hong family so smoothly.
She had made up her mind—after earning enough for her brothers’ betrothal gifts, she would also supplement her sister’s dowry. At the very least, it shouldn’t fall short compared to the other Hong family brides.
Lady Tan had long discerned that, apart from her second granddaughter, none of the others could hold onto wealth. So she had transferred her estates to Cui Lanyin’s name. Later, Lady Jiang followed suit, doing the same.
Thankfully, when they had sold the houses and shops, Cui Lanyin had insisted on keeping the two estates, arguing that land was a steady source of income. Otherwise, the main branch wouldn’t even have been able to afford social visits with relatives.
Thus, though the estates’ earnings went toward household expenses, on paper, Cui Lanyin still had a respectable dowry.
Just as she finished her calculations, Geng Dayou came to report. After delivering his message, he added, "Second Miss, there’s quite a stir in the city today."
"What happened?" Cui Lanyin asked absently.
"On my way back, I saw the Heir of Duke Ding’s carriage surrounded by a gang of ruffians hurling insults—really vile ones. They called him greedy, heartless, accused his family of abandoning decency while still clinging to benefits, even labeled the Chen family as the most shameless under heaven. The heir was so enraged he nearly fainted."
"Even if the Dingguo Duke’s household has declined, street thugs wouldn’t dare provoke them." Cui Lanyin frowned. "Where were his guards? Did they just stand by?"
"They were all knocked down by those ruffians."
A sinking ship still has three pounds of nails—no matter how far the Chen family had fallen, their guards were still more capable than most.
The Cui family was the same. Both the main and second branches had a few martial-trained servants, remnants of Cui Xin’s days. The Geng family was one such lineage, which was why either Geng Shun or his son always accompanied her outings.
If the Chen family’s guards couldn’t handle them, those couldn’t have been mere street thugs.
"How did such a commotion not draw the attention of the Five City Patrol?"
"Those men were both skilled fighters and quick on their feet—they slipped away right under the Patrol’s noses."
"Street thugs? Don’t take that seriously. The question is, which powerful family has the Chen family offended?" Cui Lanyin doubted it was the Li family—the Chens were already beneath their notice.
Geng Dayou hesitated before adding, "Second Miss, I also spotted Liu Heipi in the crowd. When those ruffians vanished, he disappeared too."
"Liu Heipi? Are you saying he might have orchestrated this?" Cui Lanyin gasped. Hadn’t Bailin promised Liu Heipi a "grand gift"? How was he still free to cause trouble?
Geng Dayou nodded. "That’s how it looked to me."
This was baffling. Based on Liu Heipi’s behavior at the tea shop, he had even tried to use her, a mere shell of a noblewoman, to intimidate others. The Chen family, with Empress Dowager Chen still alive, was far from as diminished as the Cui family.
In just one day, Liu Heipi had grown bold enough to harass the Heir of Duke Ding? It made no sense.
"Second Miss, an eunuch from Empress Dowager Chen’s palace has come with a message for you." Sun Mama hurried in, breathless, to announce.
Whatever questions she had would have to wait. Cui Lanyin quickly adjusted her attire, tucked a white jade bracelet into her pouch, and rushed to Lady Jiang’s quarters.
Neither Third Master Cui nor Lady Cui had ever dealt with such a situation before, and they were flustered, pacing in circles when she arrived.
Steeling herself, Cui Lanyin guided them to greet the visitor at the second gate.
To her surprise, it was Qian He, the chief eunuch of Funing Palace. At the birthday banquet, she had noticed that aside from the head eunuch Qi An, he was the most prominent figure by Empress Dowager Chen’s side.
After exchanging pleasantries, Cui Lanyin invited Qian He into the main hall, but he waved her off. "I didn’t realize the main Cui branch had a separate entrance, so I was delayed. I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t stay."
He had gone to the main branch first?
As if reading her thoughts, Qian He smiled at her. "I told them this didn’t concern them, so I didn’t bring them along."
His amiable demeanor reassured Cui Lanyin—this couldn’t be bad news.
Politeness never hurt. She bowed again. "This humble one apologizes for troubling you to make the trip."
"No need for formalities, Miss Cui. I’m here on Empress Dowager Chen’s behalf—she wishes to invite you to the palace tomorrow for a chat. At what time would you be available? I’ll have someone wait for you at Xiama Bridge."
Who would dare set their own schedule when summoned by the Empress Dowager?
"May I ask when it would be most appropriate for me to arrive?" Cui Lanyin asked deferentially.
Qian He gave a slight nod, his smile warming.
"Then let’s say the end of the hour of the Dragon [~7-9 AM]."
"Many thanks for your guidance, Eunuch." Cui Lanyin subtly shielded herself from the attendants following Qian He, discreetly passing a small embroidered purse beneath her sleeve.
Qian He did not accept it, but his smile grew even more amiable. "There's no need for such courtesy, Miss Cui. In that case, I shall take my leave now."
With another polite nod to Third Master Cui and Lady Jiang, Qian He stepped back, signaling his entourage before turning to depart.
Cui Lanyin still accompanied them to the main gate, with Third Master Cui and Lady Jiang hastily following suit. The three of them respectfully saw Qian He off until he exited the compound.
Once the gates were closed, Third Master Cui and Lady Jiang anxiously asked, "Why would Empress Dowager Chen summon you?" Their concern was understandable—even Lady Chang, the wife of the family head, had never been called alone into the palace before. The Cui family had long lost such prestige.
Third Master Cui spoke with rare solemnity. "No matter what, returning safely is all that matters."
"Father, Mother, it’s hardly so dire. Judging by Eunuch Qian’s demeanor, it shouldn’t be anything bad," Cui Lanyin reassured them without worry.
After paying respects to Prince Wei and expressing their family’s desire to align with him, she had gained insight into the Meng family’s hidden affairs, along with the implied meaning behind the words "wait a year."
Of course, Cui Lanyin knew it wasn’t because she had caught the eye of her elderly uncle. As Bailin had said, Prince Wei disliked owing favors. Since a junior had come to pay respects and offered him delicacies, it was only proper for an elder to reciprocate.
Yesterday’s incident could be considered a minor fright caused by an elder’s influence, no? Given Prince Wei’s generosity, ever since returning from the teahouse, Cui Lanyin couldn’t help but wonder what his command to "wait" might bring.
Though she had prepared herself, guessing that Prince Wei’s gesture would be substantial, when it actually arrived, she was still utterly astonished.
Being granted a private audience with Empress Dowager Chen meant every notable family in Yingcheng would now know of her existence. With careful planning… the possibilities were immense.
Her uncle was truly too generous!
In the eyes of the Cui family’s main branch, no tangled situation was too difficult for Cui Lanyin to unravel. If she said something would work, it would—Cui Sheng and Lady Jiang trusted her completely.
The three of them chatted lightheartedly as they walked toward the inner courtyard. Passing through the front hall, they spotted Lady Chang and her daughter-in-law emerging from a side path.
Lady Chang hurriedly asked, "What matter has Empress Dowager Chen summoned Lanyin for?"
After exchanging greetings, Cui Lanyin replied leisurely, "Father, Mother, and I are just as puzzled. We were actually hoping to ask you, Aunt."
"Why didn’t you inquire with Eunuch Qian?"
"Unlike you, Aunt, who has seen much of the world, our family rarely interacts with outsiders. We’re always afraid of misspeaking—how could we dare strike up a conversation with a palace eunuch?"
This was the truth, but as a branch family with no official status, why would anyone at court or in the palace still remember them?
Lady Chang suddenly recalled, "Could it be because of your late grandmother? Back then, she often visited the palace to see Consort Yao and paid respects to Empress Dowager Chen. Perhaps Her Dowager recognized Lanyin’s resemblance at the birthday banquet and was reminded of her. If so, it shouldn’t be anything unpleasant."
Let her think what she would. Cui Lanyin simply played along. "As expected of Aunt. Now I can sleep peacefully tonight."
Considering the rumors about Empress Dowager Chen, Lady Tan had merely been an acquaintance who exchanged pleasantries with her. This summons was likely just a passing whim. Given Cui Lanyin’s unremarkable demeanor, it was unlikely she’d win the Empress Dowager’s lasting favor—this would probably be a one-time occurrence. With that thought, Lady Chang’s twinge of envy faded away.
