Even more surprisingly, Cui Xiaoqiu didn't immediately turn hostile?
Cui Run had followed him for many years, yet he never dared to say that he truly understood Cui Xiaoqiu's personality.
He followed behind Cui Xiaoqiu in silence, feeling as if two tails were attached to his back, and the night breeze carried their fragrance.
Cui Run thought of Mingzhu.
Mingzhu's favorite scent is osmanthus, its fragrance is both gentle and rich...
Is she alright now?
With the Prince of Prince of Jin's men looking after her and Wu Zhenhai around, she should be doing quite well.
Cui Run felt as if the scars on his heart, which had long since healed, were beginning to bleed again.
The pain was so intense it made me numb.
He soon realized that he had followed Cui Xiaoqiu to his courtyard.
Cui Run quickly snapped out of her daze and whispered to the two maids, "You two wait in the corridor to serve them."
He then noticed that both maids had dressed up carefully for the day.
Cui Run sighed inwardly, suddenly feeling a sense of shared misfortune towards Cui Xiaoqiu.
Her own mother was domineering, and Madam Cui was also difficult... In comparison, they were equally matched.
He thought he'd follow her in and see what Cui Xiaoqiu was going to do.
Without a doubt, Cui Xiaoqiu would get rid of these two maids.
From any perspective, these two people cannot be allowed to remain.
However, Cui Xiaoqiu said, "No need, let the two of them in."
A moment later, Cui Xiaoqiu sat behind the desk, while two maids knelt on the ground.
At the age of fourteen or fifteen, she was as beautiful as a flower, both bright and gentle, with a slender waist that Yingying by one hand. Kneeling there, she resembled two delicate flowers waiting to be picked.
--Madam Cui really put a lot of thought into choosing the people.
Cui Xiaoqiu asked calmly, "What are your names?"
"This servant Yanhong."
"This servant is Liuyi."
Cui Run has a bit of a toothache.
The name Yanhong... Doesn't Madam Cui know that it clashes with the name of the princess next door?
No, she knew.
But she remained unmoved; in fact, she might have even changed her name intentionally.
He had a vague feeling that Cui Xiaoqiu's patience had reached its limit.
However, he guessed wrong again.
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "Since Mother asked you to serve me, then stay and serve me. Brother Run, give each of them two taels of silver as a reward, and tomorrow have someone make two sets of clothes for each of them, no, four sets of clothes and a set of headdress."
Cui Run was taken aback.
Gradually, a bad feeling began to grow in his heart.
--It's almost like this is a "last meal before execution".
Cui Xiaoqiu is so good to the two of them; what's likely to follow is a storm.
But seeing the two of them completely unaware and even smug, Cui Run sighed silently.
These two are destined to be cannon fodder.
Sure enough, Cui Xiaoqiu added, "Brother Run, the autumn imperial examinations are approaching, you need to go back and study hard. You won't need to stand guard at night anymore, having these two to take care of me is enough."
Personal care?
Seeing the barely suppressed smiles in the two women's eyes, and pondering the word "intimate," Cui Run seemed to understand something.
He bowed his head respectfully and withdrew.
Yanhong and Liuyi vied to serve Cui Xiaoqiu with his writing materials, to make his bed, and even to sleep on the footstool.
--If the master suddenly decides to do something in the middle of the night, wouldn't it be advantageous to be so close to him?
"Knowing you're willing to serve, you may all stay."
And so, one of them slept on the tatami mat, and the other on the footstool.
Now things are balanced: one feels close to the master, while the other thinks, "I'm in the room too, let's see if you can succeed."
However, Cui Xiaoqiu forbade them from serving her closely.
He glanced at them, and although he wasn't angry, the two maids were terrified.
Two days passed peacefully and uneventfully.
On the third day, Cui Xiaoqiu had just returned from the academy when a servant left at the mansion rushed up to her, saying, "You're finally back! For some reason, the old master suddenly flew into a rage at Madam this afternoon, making her kneel in the courtyard all afternoon. You'd better go and see!"
In the Cui Residence, Cui Xiaoqiu was the darling of all the ladies.
Cui Run sighed inwardly; what was bound to happen had indeed come.
From the very first day, when Cui Xiaoqiu had those two people serve him closely, he vaguely guessed Cui Xiaoqiu's intentions.
The next day, Cui Xiaoqiu "inadvertently" revealed the matter to the driver...
The coachman's wife was a servant in the old lady's courtyard who was responsible for sweeping and cleaning.
She got this job entirely because she was from the same hometown as Nanny Zhang, the old lady's maid...
The news was leaked to the rightful recipients, just as Cui Xiaoqiu had planned, yet with perfect secrecy.
Old Madam Cui will not let Madam Cui off the hook.
Cui Xiaoqiu was the most favored grandson of his generation.
Because the Cui Family did not hold any noble titles, the reason they were able to stand strong for a century was that their descendants pursued the path of education.
Whoever has the best talent and studies the most is most likely to be promoted to a high position with the support of their ancestors and parents, enter the cabinet, and become the glory of the family.
Anyone who holds Cui Xiaoqiu back is undermining the Cui Family's legacy.
Old Madam Cui was not confused.
Therefore, all of this today was within Cui Xiaoqiu's expectations and calculations.
Cui Run couldn't bear it.
--After all, she is Cui Xiaoqiu's biological mother.
How could he be so heartless and callous?
But what he thinks is obviously not important.
When Cui Xiaoqiu arrived at Pine and Crane Courtyard, she indeed saw Madam Cui kneeling in the courtyard.
Old Madam Cui was furious; otherwise, she would never have dared to disrespect her own daughter-in-law, who was also her niece.
Hearing the sounds of everyone bowing to Cui Xiaoqiu, Madam Cui turned her head and glanced at him. Tears streamed down her face as if they were free, and she felt extremely wronged.
Cui Xiaoqiu walked over and knelt beside her, taking out a handkerchief to gently wipe away her tears, saying, "Mother, don't be afraid. This is my own choice. I'll go in and explain to Grandmother so she won't blame you."
"Good, good, good." Madam Cui was extremely pleased.
As expected, he's his own son; he's still on his side.
She was genuinely afraid of her mother-in-law, and hoped that her son could save face and prevent her from being punished.
In fact, she had no idea what she had done wrong.
At noon, her mother-in-law called her over, but she didn't show up. Instead, she had her servants tell her to kneel down in the yard.
She felt as if struck by lightning, deeply humiliated, yet had no choice but to kneel down.
Later, when she was about to suffer from heatstroke under the scorching sun, Nanny Zhang came out to bring her water and quietly gave her a few words of advice. Only then did she realize that her mother-in-law had been furious because of the two concubines.
Madam Cui felt very wronged.
Isn't this just standard procedure?
How come she's considered utterly wicked?
"Ling'er, come in!" Old Madam Cui's authoritative voice rang out.
Cui Xiaoqiu said softly, "Mother, please calm down. I'll go and apologize to Grandmother."
After saying that, he got up and went inside without waiting for Madam Cui to speak.
Madam Cui belatedly pondered these words.
Confess?
What crime has the son committed?