Second Uncle Cui was nothing at all like Song Chuyi had imagined. She had thought he would either be an upright gentleman like eldest uncle Cui Yingshu, or a decisive and capable shrewd operator like Cui Shaoting. However, Cui Yingshu turned out to be a genuinely well-versed, thoroughly cultured scholar who was refined in every way.
When he met Song Chuyi, he wasn’t quite as emotionally overwhelmed as Old Madam Cui had been, but he still held her hand and chatted with her for quite a while. What he spoke of most was how her mother had been this way and that in the past, and how brother Yan was this way and that. Talking and talking, he gradually steered the topic to Song Yan. “In these past few years, brother Yan has made remarkable progress, truly somewhat beyond my expectations. I heard that you selected this teacher Tang Mingzhao for him. Good Little Yi, tell your uncle—how did you persuade Tang Mingzhao to agree?”
This ‘approachable’ second uncle truly left Song Chuyi somewhat at a loss. Even Song Jue, who could be somewhat roguish, normally maintained a very steady demeanor. This second uncle… She stared with her large, black-and-white distinct eyes, clearly quite bewildered.
Fortunately, Third Master timely coughed to halt Second Uncle Cui’s performance, while also smiling at Song Chuyi. “Your second uncle is just this kind of temperament. Little Yi, don’t hold it against him.” After comforting Song Chuyi, he turned back to look at his second brother. “Second brother, the people from the Xie family delivering birthday gifts should have already arrived.”
The topic had to come to an abrupt halt. Second Uncle Cui smiled helplessly at Song Chuyi, his heart full of interest in this niece who showed no emotion on her face, like a glass doll. He straightened his clothing and rose from his seat. “Since that’s the case, I’ll head out first. Today the young ladies of the Xie family will presumably also come. Little Yi, if you find them worth befriending, spend more time with them.”
Once outside, Third Master began criticizing Second Master. “Never mind lacking proper form on ordinary days, but you can’t even restrain yourself in front of your niece? If elder brother finds out about this, you’ll get another good scolding.”
The Cui family had always emphasized rules. Never had any younger brother ridden over an elder brother’s head—except for Cui Yingshu, who was an exception. Third Master Cui, though more than five years younger than him, seemed more like the elder brother, constantly maintaining a stern expression while reminding Second Master Cui what should and shouldn’t be said. It was as if everything had been completely reversed.
Second Master Cui glanced at him without making a sound. He had guessed that this formidable niece was the type who responded to gentleness rather than force. Now it seemed his guess was correct. If you spoke to her in a proper, formal manner, she could defend herself imperviously—anything you wanted to know that she didn’t want to tell you, you wouldn’t catch even the slightest edge of. On the contrary, by lowering one’s status to guide her conversation, one could obtain somewhat more information.
Song Chuyi soon met several of Madam Xie’s daughters. Xie Qinghui and Xie Qingzi surrounded her on both sides, telling her about Suzhou’s local customs and culture—the Xie clan had long since taken root in Suzhou, and they had now traveled a thousand miles to Jinzhong to celebrate Old Madam Cui’s birthday. From this, one could imagine how deep the friendship between the Cui and Xie families ran.
Song Chuyi had previously understood why the Eastern Palace, Prince Duan, and others paid particular attention to the Cui family. The Cui family was truly an ancient aristocratic clan with deep roots and flourishing branches. They had produced countless excellent sons who entered official service. There was even a year when five scholar-official memorial steles were erected in the Cui clan’s ancestral seat. The speed at which the Cui family produced talent was truly shocking while also inevitably arousing wariness.
Moreover, the daughters of the Cui clan had almost all reached the point where one family having a daughter meant a hundred families sought her. Previously, when the Cui family married Cui Zhanmei to Song Yi, it had already caused a sensation, with people concluding that the Cui clan intended to use this opportunity to rise—the Count Changning Estate was both a noble family and held real power. The Cui family’s selection of such a household, the implications behind it were self-evident.
The Cui family had indeed risen accordingly. Through this marriage alliance with the Song family, it was perfectly natural that they began not only having sons enter official service, but having legitimate branch Cui sons standing at the pinnacle—Cui Yingshu was now Vice Minister of Works and Junior Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, while Cui Shaoting held military command of the Northwest forces, becoming a high provincial official.
Cui Huaying was about to marry, so several other young ladies gathered around her to present trousseau gifts. “Fortunately, we arrived in time for Old Madam’s birthday. Otherwise, these trousseau additions might not have made it. You’re truly blessed—how did you manage to pick such perfect timing?”
Xie Qingzi turned her head to smile at Cui Huaying, then turned to ask Song Chuyi, “The Crown Prince who was sent to Longhu Mountain has also come to Jinzhong. Little Yi, did you know?”
News of Zhou Weizhao coming to Jinzhong had spread surprisingly quickly. Song Chuyi couldn’t immediately determine whether Xie Qingzi asked this question intentionally or casually. She lowered her head with a smile. “I only heard grandmother mention it yesterday and learned that His Highness had also come to Jinzhong.”
The Song family had been close to the Eastern Palace’s Crown Prince for a period of time. Anyone with even slight interest in inquiring could find out much. Moreover, given Princess Duanhui’s relationship with the Crown Prince, trying to distance themselves too thoroughly would instead arouse suspicion.
Xie Qingzi glanced toward the Cui family young ladies, the corners of her mouth revealing a trace of a smile. “His Highness has come this time to quell the rebellion. He’ll presumably stay in Jinzhong for quite a while. Inevitably, he’ll visit the Cui family. This time, eldest cousin will certainly be pleased.”
Xie Qinghui found her unguarded tongue somewhat hopeless and quickly called out to her, furrowing her brows in reminder. “Be cautious with your words. If eldest cousin hears this, see whether she’ll acknowledge you or not.”
Xie Qingzi’s mother was also a Cui family daughter, and her aunt had married Second Master Cui to become Second Madam Cui. Therefore, calling Cui Hualuan ‘cousin’ was perfectly normal. But the tone of these words… What did she mean by saying Cui Hualuan should be happy?
Song Chuyi inexplicably recalled what Old Madam Cui had said the other evening. At that time, Old Madam Cui had said that even if the Song and Cui families decided to bind themselves to the Crown Prince’s faction and definitely had to send a girl over, she still hoped it wouldn’t be her.
Could it be that Cui Hualuan already had a connection with the Crown Prince? She felt suspicious in her heart, though she showed nothing on her face. Such a matter, no matter what, shouldn’t be proclaimed aloud or asked about. Instead, she followed Xie Qingzi’s words to inquire about other matters. “How did Ninth Sister know that the Crown Prince came to quell the rebellion? You only arrived in Jinzhong yesterday. Your information network is surprisingly well-informed.”
Xie Qingzi was ninth in the Xie family, so everyone addressed her as Ninth Sister when calling her. Song Chuyi naturally followed suit.
That the Cui family would receive this information was reasonable and proper. After all, they were the local power in Jinzhong—there was no reason anyone could come to Jinzhong and avoid the Cui family. But the Xie family had clearly only just arrived in Jinzhong, barely a day ago. Even if the adults knew, how could the young ladies immediately also receive the news?
Xie Qingzi smiled with some pride. “For this, we must thank Sister Kong. If she hadn’t mentioned it, how would we have known these things?”