Today, the Cui residence could truly be said to be gathered with distinguished guests. It was Old Madam Cui’s birthday, and every family of note in Jin region had come without exception. Cui Yingshu was in Jiangxi, but had specially sent an authentic work by Master Baishi to congratulate Old Madam Cui on her birthday.
Even Her Majesty the Empress and the Eastern Palace had sent gifts down—this was an extremely great honor. Second Master Cui and Third Master Cui personally welcomed the palace eunuch into the residence to proclaim the imperial edict. They opened wide the central gate to receive the bestowed gifts, presented them before the ancestral shrine altar to pay respects, and only then carried them into Old Madam Cui’s chambers.
Miss Kong’s eyes were still red, presenting the appearance of having suffered great grievance. She lowered her head to whisper in Cui Hualuan’s ear: “This cousin of yours is truly fierce, as if she wants to devour people. I merely spoke a few words of truth, yet she must humiliate me like this.”
Cui Hualuan wore a smile that was not quite a smile, but didn’t take up her words at all. Nobody was a fool—as for what intentions Kong Chenjun’s attitude really held, she hardly needed to think to guess. It was simply nothing more than plotting to drive a wedge between her and Song Chuyi’s relationship.
Speaking of closeness, she and Song Chuyi weren’t particularly close to begin with. Although the family constantly drilled into her ears that she must be close to this cousin, when spoken of too much it instead provoked irritation. Moreover, young ladies of equally noble status and equally ambitious natures couldn’t be intimately affectionate good sisters anyway. But Song Chuyi was still family. She lowered her head to fiddle with the plain colored silk cord hanging from her waist, pretending not to hear Kong Chenjun’s words.
Some words could be heard, but needn’t be taken to heart. Kong Chenjun’s almost naked provocation revealed intentions she understood very clearly. Perhaps Song Chuyi was indeed close with His Highness the Grand Heir, but Kong Chenjun’s own designs were also known to all. If she herself weren’t interested in His Highness the Grand Heir, would she go to such lengths to offend a guest who had just come from the capital to Jin region and only needed to stay for a month or two? She must think everyone else fools.
Old Madam Cui’s eyes were sharp. Her face still bore a smile full of joy. Now at her advanced age, she grew ever less fond of seeing strangers. Even today for her birthday banquet, she had only shown her face in the front flower hall before returning to Rongan Courtyard. Seeing at this moment that Cui Hualuan’s face showed some impatience, and that the Xie family sisters also wore expressions of wanting to speak but hesitating, she simply smiled and said: “Didn’t you say you wanted to go to the garden to play on the swings? The weather is so fine today, it truly shouldn’t be wasted. There’s still the wisteria flower trellis in the front garden. You young ladies can drink wine and play there as well. Later I’ll have people dress up and perform opera for you to liven things up. Your mothers can listen in the flower hall, while you play in the garden. Whatever you want to hear, tell Luan’er in advance and she’ll arrange it for you.”
The opera troupe the Cui family maintained was not like those of ordinary families—they had truly cultivated real fame. Who didn’t know that the Cui family’s opera troupe had a reputation no less than the Hongyun Society in the capital? What was even more rare was that unlike the Hongyun Society, their performances couldn’t ordinarily be heard even with money. Young ladies all loved hearing stories, so they immediately became interested and clamored around Cui Hualuan wanting to go. Cui Hualuan smiled and stood up, smoothing her garments: “Since we’re saying this, then I’ll go first to see if the opera stage in Ziwei Garden has been properly set up. We might as well watch from Jincui Pavilion—the view is clear and lively there.”
Once she stood up, Cui Huayi, Cui Huaying, and the Cui Huaqing sisters naturally had to follow to help. Hearing this, they all successively smiled and stood up, leading the group of young ladies outside.
Old Madam Cui pulled Song Chuyi to ask her: “Just now outside, did Miss Kong say something to embarrass you?”
It couldn’t really be called embarrassing—just scheming between young girls. She had experienced much of this in her previous life and had herself sowed discord like this before. Thinking about it, she smiled and shook her head: “It wasn’t really embarrassing me. She’s probably interested in His Highness herself, which is why she’s bristling with thorns. She both wanted to force me in front of everyone to say I have nothing to do with the Grand Heir, and wanted to drive a wedge between me and Elder Sister.”
Old Madam Cui’s expression turned somewhat somber. Cui Hualuan’s attitude was somewhat off—how could she as the grandmother not see it? She naturally also knew these were the petty schemes between young girls. For Kong Chenjun to now come and play at sowing discord was truly annoying.
She patted Song Chuyi’s hand to comfort her: “Don’t mind these useless things.” After a pause she continued: “Just now I met with that Highness in the front. He truly is a dragon among men—no wonder in just these few short years he’s been able to gain firm footing at court, and now can even be dispatched to quell the rebellion. As long as he handles the rebellion well this time, his position in the Eastern Palace will be thoroughly consolidated.”
Even the Crown Prince wouldn’t dare easily move against him. The Emperor clearly intended to make great use of him. If the Crown Prince still wanted to preserve the Eastern Palace’s strength well and continue peacefully as heir apparent, he couldn’t have his own arms engaging in mutual destruction.
Old Madam Cui thought in her heart, feeling even more that she should use this opportunity to thoroughly investigate the Grand Heir’s character, to see if he was truly worth relying on—though both Cui Yingshu and Cui Shaoting felt this Grand Heir was worth assisting, there was a saying that seeing is believing while hearing is empty. One had to personally observe how he conducted himself and handled affairs to know.
Old Madam Cui had also met Ye Jingchuan, whom Old Madam Song in her letters constantly praised without cease. He truly was an elegant and magnanimous good young man. Watching his manner of advance and retreat showed proper measure, and his bearing lacked the arrogant air of noble families. Combined with his background, he really was worthy of being an excellent match.
She wanted to say more to Song Chuyi, but Nanny Qian came in from outside to report: “Old Madam, Madam Lai has come to wish you longevity.”
Madam Lai? Even Old Madam Cui couldn’t help but first pause in bewilderment, looking blankly toward Song Chuyi. Having stayed in Jin region for so long, she hadn’t heard of any family of note with the surname Lai. What was the background of this Madam Lai?
Song Chuyi’s left eyelid suddenly jumped as she abruptly raised her eyes. Could Madam Lai be Commander Lai Chenglong’s wife? If it truly was Lai Chenglong’s wife, that would make sense—after all, he and Cui Shaoting shared a deep connection. But wasn’t Lai Chenglong supposed to be far away in the capital thousands of miles distant right now? Why would he come running to Jin region for no good reason?
Madam Xie soon hurriedly lifted the curtain and entered, hastily lowering her head to softly inform Old Madam Cui: “It’s the wife of the current Imperial Guard Commander Lai Chenglong, Commander Lai. Commander Lai only just arrived in Jin region today. Before he could even properly settle in after dismounting from the carriage, he first came to congratulate you on your birthday.”
It really was the old acquaintance Lai Chenglong? He had actually also come to Jin region! Song Chuyi finally showed an expression of surprise, watching thoughtfully as Madam Lai was ushered in surrounded by the crowd, her brow jumping sharply.