Chapter 135

Chapter 135: Dowry It wasn't that Cui Zeyu was vain and, upon learning he had a powerful father, eagerly rushed to acknowledge him. In his youth, watching his sister struggle to make ends meet, he thought money was the most important thing—that with money, he could give his sister a good life. But after experiencing so much, Cui Zeyu realized that power was more important than money. With power, money would inevitably follow. He waved his hand, signaling that the Duke of Dingguo could leave. "Peng'er, I—" "Remember this: don't call me Peng'er anymore. My name is now Cui Zeyu." Cui Zeyu turned his back. Seeing this man reminded him of his deceased mother. He couldn't accept this windfall with an easy conscience. Hearing the sound of departing footsteps, it was a while before Cui Zeyu turned around, only to see Xie Yunting leaning against the doorframe, yawning. "All done talking?" Xie Yunting looked over lazily. He had a pair of very handsome peach-blossom eyes, and when he smiled, it was always difficult to discern his true emotions. Cui Zeyu said it was about what he had expected. "Do you think my sister will fail to understand me?" "That I don't know. You'll have to ask her yourself." Xie Yunting's head ached from the previous night's drinking, and he leaned his head back against the frame. "Speaking of which, I have to thank your sister for yesterday. If she hadn't helped, I'd have been drugged unconscious, and who knows what scheme I'd have fallen into. Now that you've made things clear with the Duke of Dingguo, shouldn't you be heading back?" It wasn't that Xie Yunting was chasing him away; he just felt that Cui Zeyu had nothing to do staying here. Cui Zeyu said he'd wait a little longer. "Once Lu Zhong brings everyone before me, and once Madam Qin is frantic with rage, then I'll leave your place. After all, in all of Bianjing, only your residence is safe." Everywhere else, Madam Qin could arrange for people to get in. These past days, with the Duke of Dingguo coming by every few days, Madam Qin would only need to think a little to know that Cui Zeyu was staying at Xie Yunting's residence. But the servants of the Xie residence all knew martial arts, and Xie Yunting himself was someone she couldn't shake off, so Madam Qin didn't dare barge in recklessly. Especially since the Qin family now was not what it used to be. "Then suit yourself. Speaking of which, you owe me a thanks. That old man Qin Shaoyuan has been demoted and no longer has much power. From now on, if Madam Qin commits any offense, she'll have to bear the consequences herself." Xie Yunting shook his head. "Alright, I'm off to the military camp. If you need anything, arrange for Shuanzi to handle it." Xie Yunting changed into a set of brown casual clothes and rode out of the residence on horseback. But he didn't go to the military camp—he went to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion instead. He knew he couldn't speak of yesterday's events to anyone, so he used Shuanzi's marriage as an excuse to deliver the betrothal document with the eight characters. Upon seeing Cui Lingrong, Xie Yunting said cheerfully, "Sister Cui, I'm a rough man and don't know how to handle wedding arrangements. You have experience—help me prepare everything needed on Shuanzi's side as well. Put it all on my account." Cui Lingrong had no reason to refuse. She had already returned Caixia's indenture to her. "Caixia is my most capable maidservant. I'll make sure her wedding is done splendidly." "Good, then I'll leave it to you." Xie Yunting's eyes curved beautifully as he smiled. "Oh, right, there's something I should tell you. That old man from the Qin family drugged me yesterday, and I went crying to the Emperor about it. I've now called off the engagement with the Qin family. Thank you again, Sister Cui, for helping me vet it beforehand." He called her "Sister Cui" over and over, with particular familiarity, as if he were also her younger brother. Seeing Xie Yunting, Cui Lingrong couldn't help but think of yesterday's events. Her gaze kept darting away, not daring to look him in the eye. The two spoke for a while, and Xie Yunting, being perceptive, took his leave. Cui Lingrong returned to Qiushuang Zhai to arrange Caixia's wedding. Strictly speaking, since Caixia was her maidservant, it was enough for Cui Lingrong to handle the matter herself—no need to inform anyone else in the household. However, when she went to Shouan Tang the next day to pay her respects, Old Madame Song deliberately brought up the matter. "I hear you've prepared a full eight-carriage dowry for Caixia. How extravagant! She's just a maidservant, and you're giving her such honor?" Old Madame Song felt unbalanced. "If you have that kind of spare money, you'd do better to save it for Yu-jie and Xuan-ge. Yu-jie will reach Ji-pin next year, and there's still no prospect of a marriage for her. For all that you're her mother, you don't seem to care at all." Madam Jiang and Madam Li and the others were all present, and Old Madame Song deliberately said this for them to hear. Ever since Cui Lingrong had tightened the household's expenditures, Old Madame Song had even reduced her outings to receive guests, because she had no new clothes. Let alone hosting banquets. Originally, when Xuan-ge had done well in the Imperial Examination, Old Madame Song had wanted to host a banquet and hire performers, but Cui Lingrong had refused. In the end, she said she'd only invite close relatives like the Su family, and Cui Lingrong still refused. Cui Lingrong didn't want to put too much pressure on Xuan-ge. He hadn't even reached the provincial examination and wasn't even a xiucai yet. Throwing a grand banquet now would only burden him psychologically. "Yu-jie is still young. She's my only daughter, and there's no rush for her marriage." Cui Lingrong smiled faintly. The old lady's words held no power to wound her. At that moment, Madam Jiang asked, "I heard that General Xie went to ask the Emperor to annul his engagement. Speaking of which, the General and Sister-in-law have a good relationship—does Yu-jie have a chance?" This wasn't Madam Jiang digging a trap for Cui Lingrong. Ever since she became pregnant, she had stopped targeting Cui Lingrong. Even if she wanted control of the household, she knew that the child in her belly existed only because Cui Lingrong had helped her. But before Cui Lingrong could speak, Old Madame Song sneered first, "Our marquis household is a family of scholars. That Xie Yunting is nothing but a mud-footed commoner. He may look wealthy now, but his foundation is unstable—who knows when he might come crashing down from his heights. He's not worthy of Yu-jie." Having watched her grandchildren grow up with her own eyes, Old Madame Song might not like Cui Lingrong, but she still wished for good matches for the younger generation. She looked down on military officers from the bottom of her heart, and she disliked Xie Yunting even more. Just then, County Princess Rongjia arrived. "I'm late today—I didn't expect everyone to already be here. What were you all discussing so animatedly just now?" "Nothing much." Old Madame Song wasn't particularly pleased to see County Princess Rongjia these days either, but considering the monthly allowance the county princess provided, she forced a smile. "Why are you late today, County Princess?" "To answer Old Madame, your daughter-in-law hasn't been feeling well. I was afraid of passing any illness on to you, so I had a physician look at me first before daring to come." County Princess Rongjia took the seat above Madame Jiang, which was directly across from Cui Lingrong. Old Madame Song asked instinctively, "Could it be that you're with child?" County Princess Rongjia's expression faltered. To be honest, she had gone to You Shuyi for acupuncture several times now—her monthly courses were somewhat more comfortable, but there was still no good news. Being asked this by Old Madame, and seeing everyone turn to look at her, County Princess Rongjia shook her head. Not wanting to continue that topic, she changed the subject. "I seem to have heard that Cui Zeyu's merchant caravan was robbed by mountain bandits. Sister Cui, is there still no word from Cui Zeyu?" When she had first heard this news, County Princess Rongjia had been absolutely delighted, feeling that heaven had eyes and had actually helped her out. Seeing that Cui Lingrong was about to speak, County Princess Rongjia rushed to say, "Oh dear, nothing's happened to him, has it? He was just unlucky to run into something like this. Well, well—he's only an outsider by surname anyway. Sister, don't be too upset now." Her tone could not hide her schadenfreude, and to mask her smile, she raised her teacup and took a sip.