Cui Xiaoqiu seemed completely unsurprised by this outcome, and calmly agreed, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Granny."
Nanny Zhang said respectfully, "Sixth Young Master, you flatter me. This old servant doesn't deserve such praise. Please take care of yourself and get some rest. This old servant will take her leave now."
The next day, Cui Xiaoqiu and Cui Run were both very calm and went to the Imperial Academy as usual, as if nothing had happened.
However, on the carriage, Cui Xiaoqiu took the initiative to subtly mention this matter to Linlin.
Cui Run was a little surprised.
But upon further reflection, I quickly understood.
Rather than letting the truth be distorted by others, it's better to be honest and express your true feelings.
Aside from Yanran herself, almost everyone around her knows about Cui Xiaoqiu's feelings.
After listening, Linlin remained calm and said, "This is not something you should be explaining to me."
"Hmm," Cui Xiaoqiu said, "I know."
Telling Linlin means telling Linlin that it's time to mention it to Yanran, and he won't hide it from her.
So Yanran learned the news that evening.
At that moment, the two of them were sitting together on the wall, swinging their legs and eating peaches. A lantern was Yanran on a tree branch on the wall, and the evening breeze made the flickering light and shadows sway on the two of them.
"Ah?" Yanran exclaimed with great interest, "Cui Xiaoqiu, you've really made something of yourself! You even have a concubine now!"
Everything was new and exciting.
Jealous? Not at all.
Angry? Not at all.
It's so pleasant, very good.
Cui Xiaoqiu said calmly, "She was just a maid who took care of me, and only for one day before Grandmother took her back."
"They took it back?" Yanran was immediately devastated. "I was just thinking about what gifts to prepare for them."
Cui Xiaoqiu lowered his head, the darkness concealing the turbulent emotions in his eyes.
"Oh, wait a minute," Yanran said belatedly, "You're about to step in, now's not a good time. Even if it doesn't have much of an impact, what if something happens? So it's better to be safe. It's okay, we'll have another time."
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "I don't want a concubine."
"Why?"
"Why would you ask that?" Cui Xiaoqiu couldn't help but ask back.
Yanran was taken aback by his question.
"I mean," Cui Xiaoqiu said, "Does your older brother have concubines? And you're so happy about it?"
"You're not my older brother," Yanran said. "You're not part of my family."
Cui Xiaoqiu suffered damage equivalent to ten thousand tons.
"My family is different from others. We've never had the custom of taking concubines; if my brother ever had such thoughts, Mother would break his legs."
"And you? Will you be happy or unhappy?"
"Of course I'm unhappy. What if my sister-in-law minds in the future?"
"Then why am I different?" Cui Xiaoqiu looked up at her, her eyes filled with hurt.
Yanran suddenly realized that her words seemed to have hurt Cui Xiaoqiu.
--We don't treat him like family anymore.
Yanran quickly said, "Cui Xiaoqiu, it's not what you think. I consider you one of my own. But you and my brother are different! My brother is part of my family, and in the future, he'll definitely have to find someone he likes and someone he's compatible with..."
"Don't I want to find someone I like, someone with whom I share a deep connection?"
"You're different," Yanran said. "You're here to bring glory to the Cui Family. Your family's values are different too; you're here for a marriage alliance!"
What's wrong with Cui Xiaoqiu today?
How did things get so confusing?
Has he forgotten his mission?
Yanran has always known that everyone's expectations and hopes for the future are different.
For example, Cui Xiaoqiu is the future star of the Cui Family.
If it weren't for that, would he have enjoyed so many privileges?
The Cui Family also had requirements for his wife: proper, dignified, virtuous, capable... In short, Yanran could imagine what that kind of woman would look like.
Perhaps, like an aunt.
She was her aunt who hadn't met her uncle.
Yanran had always thought that Cui Xiaoqiu was incredibly clear-headed; even she, who was rather muddle-headed, understood these principles. So why was Cui Xiaoqiu being so stubborn about this?
"If I want a marriage alliance, do I need concubines?"
Yanran touched her nose. "It's not that it's absolutely necessary. But isn't this the prevailing custom in your family?"
"I have it, aren't you angry?"
"Don't be angry." Yanran quickly expressed her determination, "I'm a little different from my mother. When my mother sees someone with three wives and four concubines, even if she doesn't say it to their face, she'll always secretly curse them behind their backs. But I'm not like that. I don't think conforming to the crowd is an unforgivable sin, as long as you treat people well, are fair to them, and have a clear conscience."
"And what about your future husband?"
"My husband?"
Cui Xiaoqiu bluntly asked, "Since you're so open-minded, can you accept that he has concubines?"
Yanran: "I've never thought about that. It's just needless worry. I don't even want to get married, why would I think about such things?"
What business is it of hers if a man does whatever he wants?
What she actually envied most was Ren Yingying's previous life, having four or five like-minded and similar-minded sisters who lived together, enjoying food, drink, and fun.
"Cui Xiaoqiu, don't let my family lead you astray. Your path is different," Yanran said earnestly. "I think it's fine if you don't take concubines; whether you do or not, I won't dislike you. In short, whatever makes you happy."
This is her best friend since childhood.
She didn't ask much of him, she just hoped he would be happy.
To resist societal pressures, one shouldn't bear the burden simply because he's friends with her.
"I don't want the Cui Family," Cui Xiaoqiu said, her voice suppressed, a slight tremor at the end, "I also want to find someone who truly loves me."
"Okay, okay." Yanran thought he was about to cry, so she quickly said, "Then don't. If you keep yourself pure and chaste, you'll definitely find a woman who loves you in the future. All your current perseverance will be rewarded."
"Yanran..."
"Um?"
"It's nothing, I just wanted to thank you for listening to my nonsense."
"Hey!" Yanran patted his shoulder with so much force she almost knocked Cui Xiaoqiu off the wall. "Don't be so formal. If you like someone in the future, I'll help you, hehe."
"I'm just afraid she doesn't like me."
"If she doesn't like you, then she's blind," Yanran said. "Once you pass the imperial examination, the people coming to propose will wear your doorstep down!"
Cui Xiaoqiu was startled.
Why didn't he ever think about this?
He simply felt that after passing the imperial examination, he would have more leverage to pursue Yanran.
But those chips were far from enough; yet they managed to attract the interest of others...
Although his grandfather agreed, Cui Xiaoqiu didn't believe it until it was a done deal.
Cui Xiaoqiu wanted to ask Prince of Jin when he would make his move.
With the Prince of Jin's grand undertaking now settled, there's a better chance that things will get settled between me and Yanran soon.
Suddenly, I felt a little impatient.
He didn't go astray, and there was no one else around; he was waiting for the girl in his heart.