"Really, you absolutely shouldn't doubt it. I bet he's going to play the victim in front of Yanran!" Xiu'er said. "He's really good at it."
"Playing the victim is fine, the problem is, does he actually have the ability to resolve this matter?" Nanxing said. "Your Majesty must be very troubled because of his feelings for Yanran."
"But Cui Xiaoqiu is even more troubled," Xiu'er said knowingly. "The Empress won't give in until he completely gets rid of his mother, that huge burden. He knows this very well... Besides, does Yanran seem like she's finally figured things out?"
"Yanran's awakening is something that can be dealt with later," Nanxing said calmly. "If he doesn't resolve his own family matters, he probably won't have any more opportunities to get close to Yanran."
The Emperor and Empress have always been very tolerant of him, even turning a blind eye to things he has clearly hinted at excessively.
The reason is simple: Cui Xiaoqiu is good to Yanran.
However, if his mother's wickedness outweighs Cui Xiaoqiu's goodness, then the distance between the two will not be shortened.
If the Emperor wanted, he had countless ways to keep Yanran away from Cui Xiaoqiu without making a sound.
For example, transferring Cui Xiaoqiu out of Beijing; or, for example, assigning several skilled young people to surround Yanran...
So for Cui Xiaoqiu, now is probably a time of great anxiety and confusion.
Xiu'er said, "He can do it."
"Then I'll wait and see."
Among his peers, Cui Xiaoqiu is exceptionally capable; if he can also manage his family affairs well, virtually no one can compete with him.
There's no way around it; there's only one princess, but countless men want to marry her. Unless you're exceptionally talented, don't even dream about it.
Two days later, late at night, at the Cui Family's Buddhist shrine.
Madam Cui knelt before the Buddha, her appearance gaunt and her eyes red from crying. At this moment, she could only pour out her grievances to the Buddha.
Why does everyone say she went to assassinate the princess?
She had never even seen an assassin, let alone arranged one; she had seen very few men outside the family.
Even if others don't understand her, don't her mother-in-law and husband know her well?
Why is no one speaking up for her? Why is she locked up in the Buddhist hall and guarded?
For so many years, she served her mother-in-law respectfully, was a good wife and mother, and yet she ended up with such a tragic end.
Looking at the flickering candlelight, Madam Cui burst into tears.
However, she did not blame her son. In fact, when Cui Xiaoqiu tried to speak up for her, she desperately tried to stop him with her eyes, preventing him from speaking.
Cui Xiaoqiu hesitated for a moment, then swallowed her words.
That's good.
Madam Cui thought that she could be wronged, but she hoped that her outstanding son would not be disliked by his grandfather and father because of him.
He still has a bright future ahead of him.
Thinking of Cui Xiaoqiu, Madam Cui felt her heart wasn't so cold anymore.
No matter how others wrong her, her son's excellence is undeniable.
Thinking of this, Madam Cui even straightened her back a little.
"Sixth Young Master," the guard outside the door said respectfully.
Madam Cui's thoughts were interrupted, and her eyes widened instantly.
It's my son!
"Open the door," Cui Xiaoqiu said calmly, standing with his hands behind his back.
The guard said hesitantly, "Sixth Young Master, but the Old Master has given orders..."
"Ling'er!" Madam Cui rose and rushed to the door, but dared not push it open, her voice trembling with tears, "Good child, I know you are filial. Go back quickly and listen to your grandfather and father, do you hear me? I'm alright, you're alright, I'm alright. Go back and rest well, study hard, and you'll be able to pass the provincial examination in three years."
Cui Xiaoqiu took out a token from his sleeve.
The guard recognized the token as belonging to Old Master Cui and immediately said respectfully, "Sixth Young Master, please wait a moment."
The door lock was then opened, and the door was pushed open from the outside. The mother and son looked at each other, one calm, the other with tears streaming down her face.
"Ling'er." Madam Cui hugged Cui Xiaoqiu tightly and burst into tears.
Cui Xiaoqiu gently patted her mother's back and said to the servants following behind her, "Put the food down and leave."
"Yes."
After everyone had left, Madam Cui cried for a long time before calming down.
Her son's shoulders may not be broad enough yet, but they have become a haven she can rely on.
While feeling sorrowful, Madam Cui also felt gratified.
"Mother, let's eat first. I've had your favorite drunken crab made, and I've also served it with the finest Shaoxing wine."
"Okay, okay, okay."
Even if Madam Cui had no appetite, she couldn't refuse her son's filial piety.
The mother and son sat down at the table. Cui Xiaoqiu poured wine for Madam Cui and then personally helped her dismantle the crab.
As she ate, Madam Cui choked back tears, saying, "Ling'er, your mother is going to be wrongly accused and die this time. Don't even think about avenging your mother; take care of yourself first, and we'll talk about that when you're older, understand?"
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "Mother, your son will not let anyone wrong you."
Madam Cui said anxiously, "Why are you so disobedient, child? I don't need you to discipline me. Just don't quarrel with your grandfather, understand?"
Cui Xiaoqiu smiled, and the tense atmosphere instantly eased considerably.
He said, "Mother, don't worry, whether you did it or not, you'll be fine."
"I didn't, it wasn't me, I..."
Cui Xiaoqiu interrupted her, "Mother, Yanran pleaded for you. She said if it really was you, she wouldn't hold it against you. The Emperor and Empress were furious and refused to let you go, insisting on bringing you to trial. It was only because Yanran threatened to kill herself that you were allowed to stay at home. Don't blame Grandfather; he couldn't answer to the Emperor otherwise. Please bear with it for now. Yanran and I are still investigating the truth and will definitely help you clear your name."
Madam Cui was stunned, forgetting to put the half-spoonful of crab roe into her mouth.
She murmured, "Did the princess actually plead for me?"
She wasn't kind to the princess!
She always felt that her son was too humble in front of her, and that he was too good to her, so she was afraid that she would take her son away. Therefore, she did not like her and sometimes brought it up in her words.
The reason she felt utterly unable to defend herself after being falsely accused of assassinating the princess was also because she had indeed shown dislike for her in the past...
To everyone's surprise, Yanran would actually plead for her.
Did the victim plead for leniency on behalf of the suspect?
This is clearly... being blinded by love.
As for whom it was for, it was definitely for his own son.
So, the princess was deeply in love with her son... If she had known this, shouldn't she have opposed it so strongly in the first place?
If she hadn't objected, would none of this have happened?
Madam Cui burst into tears. "So, it's all my fault."
Cui Xiaoqiu wiped her hands, gently hugged her mother, and patted her back. "Mother, don't worry. Yanran and I will definitely find the real culprit and save you. Yanran specifically told me not to just focus on the case, but to come and see you..."
Madam Cui cried even louder.
Adversity reveals true character; the ancients were right!