Le paysage est comme une peinture

Chapitre 16

You Tong just smiled bitterly, looked at herself in the mirror for a long time, and finally shook her head. "Forget it, I'd better change. I feel awkward even looking at myself. Come to think of it, wasn't I just pretending to be sick a few days ago? How can I suddenly appear in front of everyone so glamorous? Besides, Madam Xu should have already learned about her faked death from Xu Wei. Her thoughts were already set in stone. No matter how dignified she dressed, in Madam Xu's eyes, it was just an act for her."

The maids looked disappointed and tried to persuade her, but Youtong insisted on her own way and even took off all the hair ornaments from her hair. Helpless, the maids had no choice but to find her a primrose-colored pleated skirt embroidered with white magnolia flowers to change into. Her hair was also let down and simply tied into a double bun, with only the plum blossom ornament that Xu Wei had given her that day inserted in her hair.

Around noon, the number of guests gradually increased. Wenyan was extremely busy outside and sent servants to urge Youtong to help entertain the guests several times. Youtong couldn't refuse her, so she had no choice but to bite the bullet and go out to deal with the crowd.

Those who came were all relatives of powerful and wealthy families in the capital. The older women were accompanied by the Second Madam and Miss Cui, who had rushed over, while the younger girls were led by Wenyan to chat and laugh in the garden. There were many tables and chairs in the garden, and the young ladies gathered together to chat quietly, while the maids served them fruits and snacks.

Wen Yan was lively and outgoing, and she was very friendly with people. Although she had never met many of them before, she did not neglect them. She would chat with them from time to time, sometimes talking about which shop had the best jewelry, and sometimes about which family's flowers were blooming beautifully. She made quite a scene.

Seeing Youtong approach, Wenyan came forward from afar, took her hand and pulled her into the crowd, introducing her with a smile: "This is my ninth sister. She hasn't been feeling well these past few days, so she's a little late. Please forgive her."

Everyone said they dared not, and stood up to signal to You Tong. A few of the bolder ones stared at her from head to toe, looking her up and down with astonishment.

The previous uproar over the annulment of the engagement by the "Ninth Miss" of the Cui family had caused a great stir in the capital. While the people sympathized with her, they also couldn't help but wonder if she possessed some kind of divinely ordained wickedness. Otherwise, given the Cui family's status, the Shen family wouldn't have so easily broken off the engagement. However, it now seemed those rumors were baseless. While the Ninth Miss of the Cui family before them wasn't a stunning beauty, she was undeniably lovely. Among the dozen or so girls in the courtyard, there were truly no two who could compare to her.

Wen Yan introduced each of the wealthy young ladies to You Tong, mentioning which was the granddaughter of a Grand Tutor and which was the daughter of a Prime Minister. You Tong was overwhelmed by the introductions and couldn't remember any of their names. She could only manage a forced smile and nod to everyone. The more taciturn she was, the more deeply she seemed to be hurt by the Shen family, and some people even began to speak ill of the Shen family with resentment.

You Tong didn't interrupt, but when the situation became more intense, she covered her mouth and coughed twice, weakly saying, "It's all in the past, why bring it up again? It's just a slap in my face."

Everyone remained silent.

After a while, the second madam sent a maid over to invite the young ladies to take their seats.

You Tong's heart skipped a beat, and her palms, hidden beneath her sleeves, were damp with sweat. What was coming couldn't be avoided—You Tong took a long breath, clenched her fists, straightened her back, and followed the others slowly into the front yard.

There were six or seven noble ladies sitting in the room. You Tong secretly glanced up and immediately spotted Madam Xu sitting next to the Second Madam. Although it had been six years since they last met, time seemed to have left no trace on her face. She was more plump than the Second Madam, with a round face, almond eyes, and snow-white skin. What was rare was that her eyes were clean and clear, not at all like a woman who was nearly forty.

The girls, who had been laughing and joking just moments before, quieted down and respectfully bowed to their elders before finding seats at the lower end of the table. You Tong sat down next to Wen Yan, and as soon as she reached her seat, she heard Madam Xu, who was at the head of the table, greet her, saying, "This must be the Ninth Miss of the household. She's so adorable. Come here, let your aunt take a good look at her."

Everyone was slightly surprised and couldn't help but look at You Tong. The Second Madam smiled, as if everything was under control. Wen Yan was very happy and quickly pushed the stunned You Tong forward, saying with a smile, "Go over there quickly. Aunt Xu is very generous. You must coax her into giving you a big gift."

You Tong was nervous. She lowered her head and slowly walked up to Madam Xu, bowing and greeting her.

Madam Xu took her hand and pulled her to sit down beside her. She smiled and said to the second madam, "You two are really good at hiding things. You won't even bring such a beautiful girl out for us to see. You're so stingy."

The second wife smiled and said, "Wenfeng is quiet by nature and doesn't like to go out. Otherwise, I would have taken her to visit your residence long ago."

Madam Xu scrutinized You Tong carefully, her face calm but her eyes full of smiles. You Tong, however, was filled with unease, wondering what Madam Xu was really up to.

"This is our first meeting, so I haven't prepared anything." Madam Xu took off a jade bracelet from her wrist and placed it in You Tong's hand, saying softly, "Consider this bracelet my gift for meeting you."

The bracelet was a vibrant, translucent green with excellent clarity; even a layman could tell it was quite valuable. The other young ladies, wondering what had made Youtong so favored by Madam Xu, couldn't help but feel envious upon seeing her receive such a fine item so soon after leaving. Youtong, however, was utterly astonished. She looked up abruptly, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Madam Xu. Madam Xu nodded to her, and Youtong bit her lip, lowered her eyes, and solemnly thanked Madam Xu.

Others only knew that the bracelet was valuable, but they did not know that it was one of the tokens given when the Xu and Yu families were discussing marriage. Now that Madam Xu was giving it to You Tong, it was clear that she had already acknowledged her intentions. How could You Tong not be shocked?

After everyone had been talking for a while, the servants came over to ask the Second Madam if she wanted to start the banquet. Just as the Second Madam was about to speak, someone else came in to announce: "The Third Miss of the Liu family, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, requests an audience."

"Miss Liu?" The second madam frowned slightly, a strange look flashing in her eyes, but she quickly ordered, "Please come in quickly."

When everyone heard that Miss Liu had only just arrived, they all started whispering among themselves, but no one knew what they were talking about.

As they spoke, two figures approached from afar, gradually reaching the doorway. One was dressed in pale yellow, the other in light blue; both looked very familiar.

You Tong stared intently, and upon recognizing the person who had arrived, her expression immediately changed.

33 The Mystery of Identity

The newcomer gracefully entered the hall, bowed her head to greet the Second Madam, and then slowly rose and looked up. It was the same girl in green whom You Tong had seen in the Sun family's back garden, along with Yu Wan. Perhaps because there were many people in the room, Yu Wan did not see her for a moment. She lowered her head and followed Miss Liu closely, finding a seat next to her.

You Tong looked at the two of them calmly, a smile playing on her lips, her expression composed.

As soon as the two sat down, servants brought out fragrant tea. Then, the second madam nodded to her maid, Hongrui, who quickly ordered, "Let the feast begin."

The maids who had been waiting outside immediately entered the hall one after another, carrying various dishes. The young ladies began to chat quietly, but Miss Liu did not chat with those around her. She opened her eyes wide and looked around the room. After looking around, she showed a look of disappointment.

Wen Yan just pursed her lips, rolled her eyes at her every now and then, gave You Tong a look, and gestured towards Miss Liu. You Tong didn't understand what she meant. The two of them were exchanging glances from a distance. Madam Xu couldn't stand it anymore and said with a smile, "Ninth girl, you should sit with the young people. We old folks can chat together."

She was fine when she didn't speak, but as soon as she spoke, everyone's eyes turned to look at her, including Yu Wan's.

With a loud crash, Yu Wan suddenly stood up, knocking over the teacup and tableware in front of her, which tumbled to the ground with a crisp sound. Everyone turned around in surprise, only to see Yu Wan with an expression as if she had seen a ghost, pointing one finger at You Tong who had just stood up, the other hand clutching her chest, her lips trembling, too agitated to speak.

"Yu... Yu Youtong!" Yu Wan suddenly let out a sharp scream, her face revealing a fierce light, her eyes wide open, looking like she was going crazy, "You... you're still alive!"

Everyone was bewildered by her words, staring blankly at You Tong, then at Yu Wan, completely unaware of what had happened. You Tong also looked surprised and innocent, her brows slightly furrowed, staring at her in confusion. After a while, she turned back to look at the Second Madam, stammering, "Second Aunt, what... what's going on?"

The second madam remained silent, her brows furrowed, a hint of anger on her face. She stared at Miss Liu and demanded, "Miss Liu, what's wrong with this young lady?"

Miss Liu couldn't explain it clearly; she stammered and was so anxious she was almost in tears.

Yu Wan rushed out without a second thought, grabbed You Tong's arm, glared at her from head to toe through gritted teeth, and grinned menacingly, "You think I won't recognize you just because you changed your clothes? Yu You Tong, I'd recognize you even if you turned to ashes. What a fake, the Ninth Miss of the Cui family!"

Youtong burst into tears, her face filled with fear. The second madam stamped her feet in anger, shouting, "Where did this shrew come from? Get her out of here! Get her out of here right now!"

Wen Yan reacted quickly. Seeing that You Tong's face had turned pale, she stepped forward, grabbed Yu Wan's hair, and pushed her away forcefully. Then she hugged You Tong and comforted her, "Ninth Sister, don't cry. She's a madwoman. Just kick her out."

"You're the crazy one! You're all blind! This person isn't the ninth young lady of the Cui family at all. Her name is Yu Youtong, the eldest daughter of the Yu family in Qiantang. Last June, she faked her drowning and died. Everyone in Qiantang knows..." Yu Wan originally thought that as long as she revealed Youtong's identity, the Cui family would immediately become suspicious. But she never expected them to protect her so much. She stomped her feet in anger and kept shouting. A servant went to pull her away, but she broke free fiercely and almost rushed towards Youtong again.

The maids turned pale with fright, fearing they had truly offended the Ninth Miss, and that the Second Madam would certainly not let them off the hook. They rushed forward, some grabbing her arms, others covering her mouth, and finally managed to drag Yu Wan to the door. Just as they were about to forcibly remove her, they suddenly heard someone behind them whisper, "Wait!"

You Tong helped Wen Yan slowly straighten up. She first bowed to the Second Madam and then said, "Please, Second Aunt, understand. This matter cannot be left unresolved so easily. If word gets out, people will think our Cui family is guilty. Otherwise, why wouldn't we let her finish speaking? My niece already has little reputation, and if she causes such a scene, how can I face anyone in this world..."

At this point, she could no longer hold back her tears, which fell like pearls from a broken string, a pitiful sight indeed. Those who had initially harbored some skepticism, perhaps a hint of amusement, were now filled only with pity.

After a pause, You Tong wiped away the tears on her cheeks with her sleeve, choked back a few words, and continued, "Since this young lady says that I... says that I am not a young lady of the Cui family, let's have a confrontation today. Fortunately, there are so many people in the manor today, so everyone can be a witness. You say that I am some Yu Er Tong, what evidence do you have?"

Yu Wan forcefully shook off the maids' restraints, rushed up to You Tong, and sneered, "Yu You Tong, I didn't realize you were such a good actress. What proof do I need? I've grown up with you since I was a child, how could I not recognize you?"

Upon hearing this, everyone frowned, exchanged glances, and shook their heads. Even Miss Liu stomped her feet in anger, wishing she could kick her shameful cousin out immediately.

You Tong, however, was not angry. Instead, she looked helpless and said with a wry smile, "So, you're saying that with just a few words from you, I'm guilty of impersonating Miss Cui? What kind of logic is that?"

Yu Wan retorted angrily, "Stop trying to deny it! Of course everyone will believe you—" She glanced around and saw that everyone looked unconvinced. Furious, she stamped her foot and said, "Don't be fooled by this woman! She's a master actress. She was like this back in the manor, always using her status as the legitimate daughter to suppress me, pretending to be a refined lady all day, but secretly she's ruthless and vicious—"

"Born legitimate? So, Miss, you must be Yu Wan, the infamous second daughter of the Yu family of Qiantang, born out of wedlock." Madam Xu suddenly spoke up, her face frosty, making it impossible to look directly at her. "This—she is my cousin—" Miss Liu tried to speak up to smooth things over, but was immediately frightened back by a fierce glare from the second madam, and quickly returned to her seat, not daring to utter another word.

Yu Wan raised her head, not denying it, "That's right, I am Yu Wan, but..."

"What a heartless and vicious woman, Sister Shi!" Madam Xu slammed her hand on the table, startling everyone in the room into silence. "My poor daughter-in-law, so close to her wedding, was pushed into Qiantang Lake by this wicked woman, her body never found again. Everyone in Qiantang County knows this. That old man Yu even protected the murderer, secretly sending her out of town and telling everyone she died suddenly. Everyone come and see, it's this wicked woman, this wicked woman—" She shouted and cursed, trembling with rage, until she collapsed weakly into the armchair.

The second wife, fearing that she would fall ill from anger, quickly summoned a doctor, but Madam Xu stopped her, saying, "It's alright, I'm just angry. My in-laws, well, let's not talk about them. The marriage between our two families was arranged entirely because of You Tong's mother. But You Tong's mother passed away early, leaving the child alone in the mansion, suffering all kinds of grievances. This vicious woman, born to a concubine, is utterly unfit for respect, yet she insists on acting like a young lady of the Yu family, relying on the concubine's favor to act arrogantly and domineeringly in the mansion, treating the legitimate daughter like a servant. After I received the news, all I wanted was to bring You Tong into the family as soon as possible, so she could leave that cannibalistic place. I never expected that this vicious woman would actually... actually be so jealous as to commit such a heinous act, actually killing the child." As she spoke, another mournful cry broke out.

"I didn't kill her, she jumped down herself," Yu Wan loudly argued. "She's not dead at all, she's still here!"

Wen Yan was both angry and furious. She rushed forward and slapped her across the face, scolding, "You shameless woman! Killing someone wasn't enough for you, you also have to frame my Ninth Sister!" As she spoke, she was about to rush forward and kick her a few more times, but was stopped by a maidservant standing nearby. There were still other people around, and if she went too far and word got out, her reputation would be ruined.

Listening to their cacophony of sobs, the crowd finally pieced together the gist of the matter. It turned out that the eldest daughter of the Yu family was General Xu's short-lived fiancée, and the madwoman before them was the woman who had pushed her into the water. The Yu family patriarch, to save his daughter, had publicly declared her sudden death, but in reality, he had sent her to the capital. Now, this woman, for reasons unknown, was pointing at the ninth daughter of the Cui family and insisting that she was the long-deceased eldest daughter of the Yu family…

This is utterly chaotic.

To be honest, Madam Xu's treatment of Miss Cui Jiu was indeed quite extraordinary. Some people recalled the bracelet that Madam Xu had given to You Tong earlier, and still harbored some doubts.

“I knew it,” Madam Xu stepped forward and took You Tong’s hand, her eyes brimming with tears. “I felt an instant connection with Miss Jiu as soon as she entered the door, and I didn’t think much of it. But thinking about it carefully, if she changed her clothes and was a little taller, she would look somewhat like my poor daughter-in-law.”

"I suppose my cousin has mistaken me for someone else. Ladies and young ladies, please forgive her." Miss Liu quickly interjected, "Ever since she came to the capital, she's been a bit slow on her feet and has made quite a few embarrassing mistakes. When we get back today, we'll definitely have a doctor take a good look at her."

"This can't be as simple as mistaking someone for someone else!" someone suddenly interjected from outside the door. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Cui Weiyuan and Xu Wei standing in the doorway with livid faces. The commotion inside was so great that not a single person noticed when they had arrived.

"What a fine second young lady of the Yu family!" Xu Wei said coldly. "When I went to Qiantang to offer condolences, Master Yu cried and swore that he had lost two daughters. I saw how pitiful he was crying, so I didn't hold it against him for You Tong falling into the water. I never expected that he would play this trick of feigning one thing while secretly doing another. And now, he's even made a scene at the Cui residence. Do you think that by finding someone who looks somewhat like You Tong, you can return to Qiantang as if nothing happened? There were so many people on the lake who saw it all, how can you deny it!"

"I...I..." Xu Wei's words hit the nail on the head, and Yu Wan couldn't come up with any excuses. Otherwise, she would have been forced to leave Qiantang back then.

"Send her out!" Cui Weiyuan glanced at Yu Wan indifferently, his eyes icy cold. "The Cui family does not welcome guests like this."

Everyone who needed to hear it has already heard it; there's no need to keep this woman in the mansion as an eyesore.

Someone immediately came and took Yu Wan away. Miss Liu stared longingly at Cui Weiyuan and refused to leave, but Cui Weiyuan kept a straight face and wouldn't even look at her. It wasn't until a maidservant rudely called out "Miss Liu" that she angrily stomped her foot and ran out crying.

34 Some are happy, some are sad

With the culprit gone, the room quieted down again. The second madam calmly summoned a servant to remove the teacups and tableware that Yu Wan had broken, and ordered the banquet to continue.

The room quickly returned to normal, but everyone inevitably had their own thoughts, which were more or less reflected on their faces. Wen Yan was indignant, You Tong looked aggrieved, Cui Weiyuan had a livid face, and Xu Wei had a cold expression, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

The meal was unappetizing and ended hastily. Madam Xu chatted with the Second Madam for a while before bidding farewell to Xu Wei. Wen Yan, fearing You Tong would be upset, helped her back to Jiangxue Studio and insisted on sharing a bed with her that night, which You Tong reluctantly declined. Although the chances of Xu Wei coming tonight were slim, if he did, they might bump into each other, and then things would become very complicated.

Cui Weiyuan was kept behind by the second madam, who then sent someone to the yamen to invite the second master back to the mansion. After dismissing the servants, the three of them discussed important matters in the study.

"You mean that girl is the daughter of the eldest daughter of the Cui family in Qinghe back then?" The second master's face showed a hint of excitement, and he couldn't help but ask again.

The second madam glanced at him indifferently and nodded slightly: "That should be right. The eldest daughter of the Cui family and Li Lingyi are very close friends. Otherwise, why would Li Lingyi abandon so many daughters of officials in the capital and insist on marrying a wealthy family from Qiantang? When the eldest daughter of the Cui family got married, didn't she say that she was going to Qiantang?"

"If that's really the case, then it's truly heaven's help!" the second master said happily. "That young Xu has a bright future. If he really becomes our Cui family's son-in-law, it will be a great help to the Cui family and to Weiyuan in the future."

The second wife, however, was not as open-minded as him. After thinking for a long time, she hesitated and said with a bitter smile, "Master, that girl is probably not easy to control. You didn't see her performance in the room today. She was truly excellent in both singing and acting. Thinking back on how well-behaved she was in the mansion this past year, I feel a chill in my heart."

The second master shook his head dismissively, "What's there to be afraid of? She's just a woman; she can't cause any trouble. Even if she really is the Xu family's betrothed, so what? Without the identity of Miss Cui, she won't be able to enter the Xu family's gate. If she's truly smart, she won't go against us. Otherwise, without the Cui family backing her up, she won't be able to stand up straight in the Xu mansion in the future."

The second wife sneered, "Master, have you forgotten about Prince Zhuang?"

"What business is this with Prince Zhuang?" The Second Master didn't react for a moment. Prince Zhuang had once been the most prestigious commander in the army, but he had neglected state affairs for many years. If it weren't for the sudden death of the late emperor and the Grand Princess's request for him to take charge, everyone would have almost forgotten about him.

The second wife was both angry and anxious, reminding her, "Have you forgotten who was engaged to Prince Zhuang? Wasn't it the eldest daughter of the Cui family in Qinghe? If it weren't for the false news of Prince Zhuang's death in battle on the frontier, would that eldest daughter of the Cui family have married into Qiantang in such despair? Oh dear—" She suddenly thought of something, slapped her thigh hard, and said, "You think Yu Youtong might be Prince Zhuang's daughter? Otherwise, would the Yu family patriarch treat her so cruelly?"

The second master chuckled twice and muttered, "It shouldn't be that bad. Otherwise, Prince Zhuang would have chased after him to Qiantang long ago. How can the royal offspring be left to wander outside?"

The second wife was just saying it casually and naturally didn't take it seriously. She said awkwardly, "That's true. The Cui family of Qinghe has always had strict family rules, and the eldest daughter of the Cui family is known for being well-educated and polite. Naturally, such a thing wouldn't happen."

The couple talked for a while before suddenly realizing that Cui Weiyuan had been standing silently to the side, which surprised them slightly. The second wife couldn't help but ask, "Weiyuan, why aren't you saying anything? Do you disagree with your father's opinion?"

Cui Weiyuan, however, seemed not to hear and remained rooted to the spot. The Second Madam frowned, a sudden sense of unease creeping into her heart. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but her mind was in turmoil. She reached out and pulled him, and Cui Weiyuan snapped out of his daze. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly lowered his head, avoiding the Second Madam's gaze, and whispered, "Just do as Father wishes."

Unlike his wife, the second master was not as perceptive. He did not pursue the matter of Cui Weiyuan's momentary lapse in attention, but continued to discuss court affairs with him with great interest. The second wife could not get a word in edgewise, and focused intently on Cui Weiyuan, trying to discern any clues from his expression.

At Jiangxuezhai, although Wenyan had agreed to sleep upstairs that night, she still lingered in Youtong's room until dark, complaining indignantly about the banquet that day and about Cui Weiyuan's marriage. As she spoke, she grew increasingly angry, saying, "What kind of Tom, Dick, and Harry dares to make a move on my fifth brother? Don't they know their place and their worth? Do they even deserve him? And that Liu... she's shameless! A few days ago she was spreading rumors that my fifth brother was interested in her, and today she barged into the manor without an invitation. If Mother hadn't wanted to avoid any unpleasantness on my birthday, she would have kicked her out long ago. You can see how much everyone dislikes her."

She recalled what she had seen in the Sun family garden that day and wondered if Miss Liu's sudden urgency was instigated by Yu Wan. Miss Liu had been sarcastic towards Yu Wan in every way, and given Yu Wan's personality, how could she tolerate it? Instigating someone to do such a shameful thing to ruin their reputation was not a first for her.

"And it's not just Miss Liu!" Wen Yan said unhappily, "Did you notice that maid in the crimson brocade palace dress with its flowing patterns? She was brought here by my second sister. She's said to be the seventh young lady of the Shi family, but I've never even seen her before. She brought her to the manor just to try and get close to my fifth brother. Doesn't she even look at the Shi family's young lady? Small eyes, big mouth, skin as dark as charcoal—she could scare a person to death. Luckily, the Shi family had something to do and called my second sister back, otherwise, my fifth brother would have suffered."

You Tong thought back carefully and realized that there was indeed a woman in the crowd wearing a brocade palace dress. She was not particularly beautiful, but she was not as frightening as Wen Yan had described. Her skin was just a bit dark, and she did not look as delicate and spirited as the other young ladies.

Seeing Wen Yan's indignant expression, You Tong couldn't help but find it amusing. She smiled and said, "Yes, our Fifth Brother is the most handsome and dashing. No one in the capital is worthy of him. My Tenth Miss, do you think only the current princess is good enough for him?"

"What nonsense are you talking about, Ninth Sister?" Wen Yan asked in surprise. "My Fifth Brother is talented in both literature and martial arts, with a bright future ahead of him. Why would he marry a princess and ruin his future?"

You Tong was dumbfounded, completely not understanding what she meant. How could marrying a princess be considered ruining one's future? A few days ago, when they entered the palace, Consort Sun specially invited the Second Madam. Wasn't that to discuss the marriage between Cui Weiyuan and the Fourth Princess?

Seeing You Tong's blank expression, Wen Yan realized that she was completely unaware of the inside story, so she shook her head and said, "Ninth Sister, you spent many years in the temple, so you don't know these royal rules. Everyone says that marrying a princess is so glamorous, but if you look closely at the capital, which noble family's son is willing to marry a princess? It's not for any other reason than the rule established by the Emperor Gaozu that the prince consort cannot participate in politics. Once he marries a princess, he can only get the empty title of prince consort for the rest of his life. Isn't that cutting off his own future?"

This was the first time You Tong had ever heard of this rule. While she was surprised, a thought also vaguely flashed through her mind.

"That Consort Sun—"

"The Dowager Consort Sun is a smart woman; why would she bring up such an unreliable matter?" Wen Yan shook her head and smiled. "However, Ninth Sister, you guessed correctly. The Dowager Consort Sun specially invited Mother over, also for the sake of the Fourth Princess's marriage. As you know, there are only two unmarried princesses in the palace. The Third Princess is not favored by the Empress Dowager, so her marriage will likely be somewhat difficult. Although the Fourth Princess is slightly younger, she is of marriageable age, but it has been delayed because of the late Emperor's recent death. By the time the mourning period ends, the Fourth Princess will be too old to find a husband. It's better to find someone suitable in advance and arrange a private engagement to avoid embarrassment later when all the eligible men are married. It wouldn't be good for her to marry someone younger than herself. As for why Mother was invited, you know that in our Cui family, besides Fifth Brother, there are several other unmarried brothers."

You Tong found this quite reasonable. The Cui family was indeed a prominent clan, and most of the young men in the household were refined and learned. However, children of noble families traditionally did not participate in the imperial examinations. Unless recommended by their families or benefiting from their connections, they had no chance of advancement. Rather than remaining unknown, it was better to marry a princess and rise through the ranks, even if it was just a nominal title, it was still better than being an ordinary young man in the household. But she wondered which of the Cui family's eligible brothers would ultimately win the heart of the beauty.

The two chattered for a while longer until 9 PM, when Wenyan finally yawned and went upstairs with her two maids. Youtong, meanwhile, sat alone by the window, lost in thought.