Cui Xiaoqiu lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes concealing the emotions in her eyes, and her pale face was particularly heartbreaking.
Before he could even open his mouth to defend himself, Old Madam Cui had already softened her heart.
"I was just asking casually," she said. "I trust you wouldn't joke about your future."
She noticed how much her grandson valued this exam.
Although he had used such methods before, Madam Cui had gone too far that time, actually trying to send him a concubine right before the exam.
What could a grandson possibly do wrong?
Cui Xiaoqiu slowly spoke, "Grandmother, I wish I had done it all."
Upon hearing this, and seeing his unfocused gaze, it was clear that he had been greatly affected by this matter, Old Madam Cui was deeply saddened.
"Ling'er... Grandma will definitely get you justice in this matter."
Old Madam Cui was furious and even considered sending Madam Cui to the family temple.
As long as this foolish woman is around, who knows how much this child's future will be affected.
Is the grandson unfilial?
If he were unfilial, he wouldn't have forced himself to defend his mother while suppressing his grief.
Clearly, the one who needs comfort the most is himself.
"Grandmother, that's my mother," Cui Xiaoqiu said. "A son shouldn't speak ill of his father... Let's just say this was because my mother was reluctant to let me get involved and was worried that I would be discouraged."
In their conversation, there was only barely concealed regret and exhaustion, but no grief or despair.
Seeing this, Old Madam Cui felt even more heartache. She sighed, reached out and touched Cui Xiaoqiu's forehead, saying, "Good child, rest well. Grandmother won't make things difficult for you."
After Old Madam Cui left, only Cui Xiaoqiu and Cui Run remained in the room.
Cui Run stood by the door but did not go forward.
He had already finished the entire exam and returned. Upon hearing that Cui Xiaoqiu had been carried away halfway through, he was thrown into a state of turmoil and came straight here without even going back to rest.
Cui Run looked rather disheveled, with a stubble beard, messy hair, and bloodshot eyes filled with barely concealed worry.
He dared not go forward, fearing that Cui Xiaoqiu would be upset.
But he didn't dare leave.
He has been with Cui Xiaoqiu for many years and is probably the person who understands him best.
Cui Xiaoqiu forced a smile and asked, "Brother Run, how did you do on the exam?"
He actually brought up the exam himself?
Cui Run hesitated for a moment, then mumbled, "I'm not sure either."
In reality, he felt he had answered extremely well this time.
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "I think it should be fine. You should start preparing for next year's imperial examination. This question is something you're very familiar with and can answer with ease."
Cui Run made a few modest remarks, then said, "I just don't understand how there could be a problem with the incense. The Cui Family hasn't offended anyone, so why would they go to such lengths to harm you? I think this matter should be thoroughly investigated so that you don't wrongly accuse Madam."
Cui Xiaoqiu said calmly, "My mother would never harm me."
In fact, if someone wanted to stab him, he firmly believed that his mother would stand in front of him without hesitation.
Hearing this, Cui Run breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Yes, this matter still needs to be thoroughly investigated to find out who started it and what their motives are."
"But," Cui Xiaoqiu continued, seemingly ignoring his words, "Her actions will slowly destroy me."
His mother would shield him from harm, but he could do the same to her; that's the bond between mother and son.
However, such a thing is something they are unlikely to encounter in their lifetime.
His mother wanted to control him and make him obey her forever, regardless of whether she was right or wrong.
These kinds of trivial matters will accompany my mother for the rest of her life.
It happens every single moment.
She is cruel without realizing it, and as long as she uses the guise of doing what's best for herself, she can do anything with a clear conscience.
Cui Xiaoqiu recalled Tang Zhuyun's disdainful look as she looked at Madam Cui with furrowed brows, and thought with a wry smile that the path he wanted to take was becoming even more difficult.
Cui Run was shocked. "You can't say that... Madam will be heartbroken if she hears this..."
"Brother Run, what were you feeling when you said you didn't want to marry anyone in your life?"
Cui Run's face instantly turned ashen.
"You know she's wrong, but you still indulge her, ruining your own life," Cui Xiaoqiu said. "And you say you won't marry her, but what will you do if she chooses a wife for you in the future?"
He was completely powerless to resist.
Even if the bullying comes from one's own mother, once it succeeds, it will happen again.
That's why Cui Xiaoqiu was unwilling to compromise.
Cui Run remained silent for a long time.
"Brother Run, maybe you can tolerate it, but I can't," Cui Xiaoqiu said. "When I was in school, I read in a book that some people are 'born with knowledge,' and I'm not that kind of person. But in some aspects, I do understand things earlier than others."
He started thinking about getting married when he was very young.
When he was very young, he wanted to marry Yanran, and this feeling did not fade as he grew up. Instead, it became more profound and enduring.
"Then..." Cui Run felt a lump in his throat and couldn't speak.
But Cui Xiaoqiu understood that he wanted to know what she planned to do, and said calmly, "What's done is done, and crying won't help. Let my mother remember not to interfere in my affairs in the future. Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise."
Such open-mindedness and clarity filled Cui Run with awe.
"Brother Run, you should go back and rest. I'm fine."
"Yes." Cui Run nodded, then turned and hurried out.
He is feeling very unwell right now.
I did very well on the exam and should be feeling great, but I just can't be happy at all.
Cui Xiaoqiu touched his sore spot.
Only Cui Xiaoqiu remained in the room. He looked up at the apricot-yellow curtains, and only then did a look of pain appear in his eyes.
The Prince of Jin didn't have much time left for him; this was probably his last chance.
However, it's gone.
Failing the imperial examination alone would be one thing, but now the Consort of the Prince of Jin —the person he most likely had the chance to win over—is probably already dissatisfied with the Cui Family family.
To be honest, they were even more dissatisfied.
Cui Xiaoqiu's head hurts a lot.
Soon, news spread Cui Family that the old lady was ill.
As a daughter-in-law, Madam Cui had an inescapable responsibility to care for her ailing husband.
It is said that Madam Cui served her mother-in-law with utmost respect, never leaving her side, never taking off her clothes...
Cui Xiaoqiu knew that this was the most dignified, yet also the most torturous, punishment her grandmother could give her mother.
In the dead of night, all was quiet.
There was a gentle knock on the window. Cui Xiaoqiu was delighted. "Come in, no one's here."
Yanran, carrying a food box, jumped in through the window.
She placed the food box on the table by the window, quickly closed the window, rubbed her hands together, and said, "I didn't expect it to be so chilly at night. Are you hungry? I brought some good food!"
I'm a little hungry.
"Get up! Let's eat together." Yanran skillfully found the kang table and placed it on the kang, then reached out to help Cui Xiaoqiu up, "Can you get up?"
"Able."