Yanran remained stunned for a long time.
Cui Xiaoqiu remained silent, even though he was so nervous his heart was about to jump out of his chest.
--This matter had been brewing for so long that saying it now felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Because of his ulterior motives, he even felt guilty about everything that had happened before, as if he had been scheming against Yanran.
But now, it's no longer needed.
All love can be expressed openly and honestly.
As long as she accepts.
He could try to distract her and guide her to agree to his proposal while she was confused and disoriented.
But Cui Xiaoqiu didn't.
He wanted the answer in her heart.
Whatever the answer, he would accept it.
But he won't give up.
Life is a long journey, and no one can definitively say what will happen until the very end.
After a long silence, Yanran looked up at Cui Xiaoqiu and saw the same smile in his eyes as always, and also saw her own face reflected in those dark eyes.
"Cui Xiaoqiu," she bit her lip, "Could I... go back and think about it?"
Cui Xiaoqiu smiled and nodded, "Okay. Were you scared by me?"
"No way!" Yanran gradually regained her composure. "It's just that it feels a bit sudden, so I can't just say things carelessly."
The Empress Dowager said that one must be cautious when it comes to matters of the heart.
You need to protect yourself, but also consider the feelings of others.
Whether you accept or reject, your attitude is just as important as the outcome.
Moreover, Cui Xiaoqiu was her good friend, and she was afraid she might say something inappropriate.
"... I can't hurt you."
Cui Xiaoqiu: "..."
Although he was heartbroken, he still held onto a sliver of hope and forced a smile, "Go ahead and say it, it's okay."
Sometimes, their communication relied entirely on his own guesswork.
Hopefully, he guessed wrong again this time, and there's still a chance to salvage the situation.
Yanran said, "I haven't thought it through yet, so I can't just agree to anything, right?"
Haven't thought it through yet?!
Very good!
He knew it!
"Well, you can think about it slowly when you get back. I'm not in a hurry," Cui Xiaoqiu said. "But whether you agree or not, can we still be friends like before?"
After thinking for a moment, Yanran said, "Maybe, but I'm a bit confused. No, I need to go back to the palace first."
"I'll take you home."
"No, no," Yanran waved her hand, "Seeing you right now makes my mind a mess."
Cui Xiaoqiu: Can we use a different word?
Your reaction is making my mind a mess too.
He didn't insist and watched her leave.
Cui Xiaoqiu stood there for a long time, her mind in turmoil.
After confessing his feelings, while waiting for the "verdict," he lost the composure and self-control he had always been so proud of.
Outside, snowflakes began to fall again at some point, quickly covering the ground.
Cui Xiaoqiu put on his coat and walked slowly along the covered corridor. He turned through a door and came to the courtyard next door.
--This is Cui Run's courtyard.
He is now the son of the third wife, and his name has not been changed. However, his third uncle gave him a courtesy name, Ziyuan.
Cui Run was painting at a table by the window. The window was open, and the winter plum Yingxue in front of the corridor were reflected in the snow, creating a beautiful scene.
Cui Xiaoqiu strode in.
The maidservant in Cui Run's room Jianyue rush forward to take the clothes from his hands.
Cui Xiaoqiu avoided her, waving her hand to stop her from coming forward. She then hung her coat on her cloak and went to watch Cui Run paint.
On the large sheet of paper, there are large blank areas, with only a corner decorated with a snow scene and winter plum blossoms.
That blank space is probably meant to be used to add someone else.
However, it will never be shown to anyone, so I'll just leave it blank.
Cui Run put down his paintbrush, "Sixth... brother."
"Fourth Brother, keep drawing."
The petals were only half drawn, making one want to fill them in.
"No need." Cui Run hung up the pen, crumpled the drawing paper into a ball, put it in the brazier, and watched as the flames gradually extinguished the paper, his gaze solemn.
He won't leave any room for criticism.
Even if others can only guess.
He already regrets not being able to be with her; if he were to harm her further, even being shattered to pieces would not be enough to make up for it.
Jianyue served hot tea, then quietly withdrew, closing the door behind her.
Cui Xiaoqiu asked, "You changed it again?"
Cui Run's maids changed three or four times a month.
He had never seen this before.
"Yes, my aunt sent them."
Aunt, that's Lady Gao.
She used to be my mother, but now that I've been adopted, I can only call her my aunt.
The Lady Gao will not relinquish their control over Cui Run.
"Your aunt regrets it now." Cui Xiaoqiu's tone wasn't a question, but a statement.
"Unfortunately, there's no turning back now that the arrow has been released," Cui Run said. "I've already reassured her and told her to relax and enjoy her retirement."
I cannot give her a phoenix coronet and wedding gown in this life, but I can still ensure she has enough to eat and wear and live out her old age in comfort.
Knowing this topic was unpleasant, Cui Xiaoqiu changed the subject, saying, "Yanran and I have already made things clear."
Cui Run was taken aback. "You said that already?"
But that wasn't his original plan.
Cui Xiaoqiu said that Yanran is a late bloomer, especially when it comes to matters of the heart, and that they should protect her until she grows up.
Why did the plan suddenly change?
"I said so."
"And what was the result?"
"I don't know," Cui Xiaoqiu said. "I'm feeling anxious and don't want to study, so I can only bother you."
If Yanran knew that Cui Xiaoqiu didn't want to study, she would definitely think that the world was about to change.
How could Cui Xiaoqiu not want to study?
"It's snowing today, why don't we brew some tea?" Cui Run suggested.
He understands.
Because he had experienced it himself back then.
"Let's cook some wine." Cui Xiaoqiu had someone fetch some silver to prepare a feast and bought Jinhua wine.
If you get drunk and sleep it off, the tough time will probably be over.
Meanwhile, Yanran hurriedly returned to the palace.
As she dismounted, she felt a surge of energy beneath her, and couldn't help but curse. Then she wrapped her clothes tighter and ran into the house against the wind and snow.
Tang Zhuyun was telling stories to several children.
Previously, whether it was Linlin or Yanran, no matter what they talked about, the Zidu eager to learn and felt a great sense of accomplishment when they talked about it.
But that's not possible now.
Because she gave birth to Wuxian.
This is the epitome of a contrarian.
She talked about the Trojan Horse, and he started asking about its size; Tang Zhuyun casually mentioned a few numbers, and he said it couldn't hold that many people.
Tang Zhuyun said she had misremembered the number of people and cut it in half, Wuxian a waste of space and definitely couldn't be done.
It's simply...
If he weren't my biological son, I would have kicked him out long ago.
Fortunately, Yanran arrived.
Seeing Yanran was like seeing a savior for Tang Zhuyun.
"Big sister is here! Everyone get up and move around with her."
I'm exhausted.
The children swarmed over, some clinging to her legs, others holding her hands, but Wuxian remained, looking earnestly at Tang Zhuyun: "Mother, please think about it again..."
Tang Zhuyun: Okay, please let me go!
Yanran played with her younger siblings for a while, then said, "It's snowing outside. Let the wet nurse take you to play in the snow. Mother and I have something to discuss."