If the Tang Family says they have passed down poetry and books as a family tradition, it probably means more about the spiritual aspect.
However, the Cui Family claimed to be a family of scholars and poets, and they truly did possess a vast collection of books.
For the men of the Cui Family, Heavenly Unity Pavilion was a sacred place.
Cui Xiaoqiu was no exception.
So, even though he was originally able to keep his composure, he couldn't help but speak up after realizing the other party's intentions.
Yanran said, "Quickly, get someone to put out the fire! You go now!"
Cui Xiaoqiu was almost pushed off the roof by her.
He climbed down the ladder, and his guards, not daring to be negligent, stood below, ready to catch him at any moment.
However, Cui Xiaoqiu suddenly stopped and turned around.
A huge firework exploded in the sky, illuminating his face.
Yanran stared at him blankly.
--She hadn't realized before that Cui Xiaoqiu was actually quite pretty!
"Happy New Year?" Yanran asked tentatively.
Is this person hesitant to leave because they want her to say something auspicious?
Cui Xiaoqiu: "... Happy New Year. Go back to your brother now and tell him..."
When Yanran returned, Linlin and Xiu'er were sitting in front of the brazier roasting chestnuts.
Brushed with syrup, the chestnuts are cut open at the tail, revealing their yellow, glossy interiors that are incredibly tempting.
"The Cui Family is on fire." Yanran sat down next to Linlin. "Cui Xiaoqiu told me to tell you to be careful."
What she didn't know was that Heavenly Unity Pavilion was located in the middle of the Cui Residence, far from the Prince's residence.
If the fire spreads, wouldn't the Cui Family be burned to the ground?
Although she didn't understand, she didn't fall behind in learning to speak.
Linlin said, "Okay."
He didn't move, peeled a chestnut and handed it to Yanran, saying, "Be careful, it's hot."
Yanran threw the chestnut directly into her mouth, burning her tongue as she stuck it out, but she couldn't bear to spit it out. She mumbled, "Brother, why do I feel like Cui Xiaoqiu is on high alert, but you're not worried at all?"
Xiu'er said, "It's the Cui Family that's on fire, why are we in such a hurry?"
She looked down on all the Cui Family except for Cui Xiaoqiu.
To be precise, apart from Cui Xiaoqiu, no one else in the Cui Family looked down on the Prince's Mansion.
The Cui Family, relying on their century-old reputation for nobility, even had servants who looked down on everyone else, believing themselves to be superior.
There's no other way; of all professions, studying is the only noble one.
The Cui Family's children are truly promising.
That's really infuriating.
Xiu'er disliked the Cui Family very much.
If the two children weren't truly friends, she would have nipped that budding affection in the bud long ago.
Even the best of relationships can't withstand the atmosphere in the Cui Family.
Yanran, in particular, grew up freely and without constraints.
The Prince's Mansion and the Cui Family were like two completely different worlds.
Yanran said, "Why do I feel like Cui Xiaoqiu was implying something?"
Although she didn't understand.
"Really?" Xiu'er looked at Linlin. "Who would want to kill or commit arson during the New Year?"
Linlin said calmly, "There will always be people who can't see things clearly."
Xiu'er paused for a moment, then stood up and said, "I'll go pack my things!"
Yanran exclaimed excitedly, "Don't go! I'm going back to get my bow and arrows!"
Xiu'er: "I'm afraid that if we fight, we'll break things in the yard."
Yanran: "..."
The two were filled with excitement, but Linlin sat there calmly roasting chestnuts, watching the flames with a focused expression, as if this was the most important thing.
"Brother, what are you planning to do?" Yanran asked, rubbing her hands together eagerly. "What task are you assigning me?"
Linlin said coldly, "Don't go out."
Yanran: "..."
Xiu'er sensed a conspiracy and leaned closer, asking, "Did you plan this beforehand? Did you start this fire yourselves?"
Linlin laughed and said, "The Cui Family is unwilling to part with it. Although this fire will burn the Cui Family, their real intention is not what it seems. Let's just wait and see."
Yanran: "I'm not going out... Can I go to the yard to see what's going on?"
Outside, people are banging drums and gongs, shouting for help to put out the fire.
Judging from the sound, the fire brigade from the capital has also arrived.
That's right, the fire department has a long history, but it doesn't have full-time firefighters yet.
Every year during the Lunar New Year, a period of high fire risk, the government recruits "amateur fire brigades" on a paid basis.
Xiu'er muttered, "Why do I feel more like the Cui Family is the thief crying 'stop thief'?"
How can firefighters arrive in time as soon as a fire starts?
So the fire brigade lives only for your Cui Family!
Lin Lin said Linlin, "It's not that the Cui Family is crying wolf; it's that someone wants to take advantage of the situation."
Yanran: "Do you have to make such a big fuss to steal our chestnuts?"
Xiu'er: "Yanran, you should read more books when you have time!"
Yanran: "Who exactly is it?"
This time, even Xiu'er was stumped.
Lin Lin said Linlin, "No matter who it is, it's all aimed at the Prince's Mansion."
"Is a fight about to break out?" Yanran rubbed her hands together, eager to fight. "No way, no matter what, I'm going to get my golden bow first."
She went through a process of dislike, liking, and then loving equestrian archery.
The golden bow given to her by the Prince of Jin has become her cherished weapon.
Lin Lin said Linlin, "Go ahead, I'll let you test your skills against a real person today."
Yanran excitedly asked someone to fetch her the golden bow.
Xiu'er suddenly remembered something, walked to the corridor and called to the maid, "Go and invite Nanny Jing here, tell her I'm not feeling well."
If anything happens, this courtyard will definitely be the safest place.
Even if they're elsewhere, they'll still cause one heartache and longing.
The young maidservant accepted the order and left.
Firefighters entered the Cui Residence to put out the fire, but the fire grew larger and larger. Even with all the firefighters in the Cui Family who could put out the fire, they were still short-handed.
At this point, someone from the fire brigade suggested asking the people from the neighboring Prince's Mansion for help in putting out the fire.
After all, everyone is interdependent; if the fire at the Cui Family's residence isn't controlled properly, it could spread to the Prince's mansion.
A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative; now is the time for our neighbors to show their generosity.
The person sent to the Prince's residence returned and said that the Prince's residence had said they would not help.
This simple and blunt way of refusing is very much like Prince of Jin.
This would normally be normal, but the firefighters were very angry. They stopped fighting the fire and gathered at the border between the two government offices, wanting to jump over the wall to reason with the authorities.
The Cui Family family was anxious, but no matter how they tried to persuade them, the firefighters seemed determined to cause trouble for the Prince's Mansion.
Only then did the Cui Family family members vaguely realize that something was wrong.
However, the guards of the Prince of Jin's Residence were not to be underestimated. A whole row of guards stood on the wall, holding full bows, ready to fire.
Even if the firefighters dared to step forward, Leng Jian was no pushover either.
The two sides are locked in a standoff.
Somehow, news of what happened at the Prince's residence reached the ears of the Prince of Jin.
He told Tang Zhuyun.
How could Tang Zhuyun not be nervous?
The Prince of Jin, however, grasped her hand under the table. "I'm here. Let him hear what he has to say first—"
This "he" is the Crown Prince.
The crown prince was still rambling on and on, "accusing" the emperor of having treacherous concubines and ministers around him...
Ren Yingying nudged Nanxing: "Does he have a backup plan?"
Nanxing: "Hmm."
"What should we do then?"
Nanxing: "Cold salad."
Ren Yingying began to consider the possibility that she and Tang Zhuyun would disappear on the spot if the Prince of Jin failed.
It doesn't seem like it will work...