"Tingyuan has come to pay respects to Elder Brother."
Cui Ji'an looked at the medicine bottle in his hand and sighed softly.
After the Prince woke up, Mother Cui had privately asked him who that woman was.
But the Prince only kept a cold expression, unwilling to say anything.
Mother Cui speculated that either the woman had a special identity, or the Prince himself did not remember.
Concerned for the Prince's health, Mother Cui had discussed with the Miaojiang doctor about finding another woman to help the Prince resolve the gu. Although the process would be troublesome, it was not impossible.
However, the several women Mother Cui later sent to the Prince's bed were all returned untouched by him.
The year before, Mother Cui had argued with the Prince over this matter. Later, seeing his firm stance, though anxious, she had no choice but to give up the idea.
Cui Ji'an put away the medicine bottle, silently praying in his heart that the woman would appear soon.
Li Tingyuan was settled in Qingning Yuan in the east.
It was located right next to Cui Yueyao's Chuntang Yuan, separated from Cui Zhuo's Songyue Ju only by a small garden.
Cui Yueyao accompanied Li Tingyuan as she arranged her belongings, staying to chat with her for a long while, reluctant to leave until late at night.
With the absence of her friend's lively chatter, the room suddenly felt cold and quiet.
Li Tingyuan took a deep breath, walked slowly to the bed, and sat down in a daze. The composure she had forced herself to maintain during the day completely crumbled, and tears silently rolled down her cheeks.
She quietly wiped away her tears and glanced around the room.
Every detail of the room's decor was exquisite and elegant, each aspect reflecting Mother Cui's thoughtful care.
Yet it all felt unfamiliar to her.
Unfamiliar with the new environment, unfamiliar with her new identity, and… filled with confusion and fear about the future.
If not for the humiliation Cui Zhuo had inflicted on her during the day, Li Tingyuan might have continued deceiving herself into thinking she could rely on something in the future.
But even the Li Family of three years ago, unless by sheer coincidence, would never have had the slightest chance to connect with Guogong Fu.
Let alone her, now at the end of her rope.
Li Tingyuan walked to the window and gently pushed it open.
A cool night breeze brushed against her face, and outside the courtyard, the sound of orderly, low footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Those were the private soldiers of Cuifu. In all of Dazhou, only the Cui Family could so openly raise troops right under the emperor's watchful eyes.
Li Tingyuan gazed in the direction of Songyue Ju, unable to help but recall the scene when she first met Cui Zhuo five years ago.
Back then, she had just rescued the injured Cui Yueyao from under a carriage and hurriedly sent her back to Cuifu.
Cui Yueyao was the cherished treasure of the Cui Family. As soon as she returned, the room was packed with people who had rushed over upon hearing the news.
It was only when a maidservant accompanying them reminded Mother Cui that she had saved Cui Yueyao that Mother Cui remembered there was an outsider in the room.
Mother Cui took her hand, slipped a bracelet from her own wrist onto Li Tingyuan's, briefly inquired about her family background, and then ordered Zhang Momo to take her to the storeroom to choose a gift of gratitude.
Knowing Mother Cui was preoccupied with her daughter, Li Tingyuan did not mind the neglect from Cuifu and politely declined the gift.
Her left wrist had been injured while saving Cui Yueyao, but she never considered asking Cuifu's physician to treat her or leveraging the favor for gain. She only wanted to leave quickly to seek medical treatment.
It was on her way out of the estate that Li Tingyuan first encountered Cui Zhuo.
At that time, Cui Zhuo was already renowned from a young age, exceptionally talented and brilliant.
He walked toward her with steady steps, dressed in a cold blue brocade robe, his posture as stern as pine and cypress, dazzling yet distant.
Li Tingyuan stopped and bowed to him. Zhang Momo reported to Cui Zhuo that she had saved his sister.
Upon hearing this, the man’s gaze settled on her, steady and calm, bright as the moon.
Li Tingyuan had initially thought he would, like Mother Cui, express gratitude for her life-saving act with material rewards.
Unexpectedly, Cui Zhuo looked at her wrist, frowned almost imperceptibly, and spoke:
“Does it hurt?”
Li Tingyuan was taken aback.
A gentle breeze brushed past, and the man’s deep voice, like intoxicating wine, swept over her ear along with the stray strands of hair at her temple.
For some reason, gazing at that cold, refined face bathed in the glow of the sunset, Li Tingyuan’s heartbeat suddenly skipped a beat uncontrollably.
Li Tingyuan clenched her palm and slowly nodded.
“…It hurts.”
The sunset that day burned like fire, consuming half the western sky, as fervent as the surging blood within her.
For many years afterward, Li Tingyuan never again witnessed a sunset like that one.
A few days later, Mother Cui seemed to realize her earlier neglect and sent someone to invite her to Cuifu for hospitality. Later, Cui Yueyao visited to express her gratitude, and through these exchanges, Li Tingyuan became a frequent guest at Cuifu.
Yet from that time onward, the man’s demeanor toward her returned to one of polite distance with every encounter.
As if it hadn’t been him who personally oversaw the imperial physician treating her that day.
Li Tingyuan had originally thought she would continue to admire him from afar, witnessing him marry someone else.
Until that night three years ago…
A cold wind blew in from outside the window, startling Li Tingyuan out of her reverie with a shiver.
She lowered her gaze slightly, her fingers tracing the slightly faded sachet at her waist, a bitter sorrow slowly welling up in her heart.
On her first night at Cuifu, Li Tingyuan barely slept at all.
Early the next morning, Cui Yueyao came to find her, and the two went together to Qingxin Tang to pay their respects to Mother Cui.
Cuifu had strict rules, and by the time Li Tingyuan and Yueyao arrived, several younger family members had already gathered in the room.
Aside from Liu Shi and a few cousins from the second branch whom she had met the day before, there were also two young women Li Tingyuan hadn’t seen before.
After everyone exchanged greetings, Cui Yueyao pulled Li Tingyuan aside to whisper:
“The one in pink over there is Liu Mengyuan, whom I mentioned to you yesterday—Second Sister-in-Law’s younger sister. The character ‘Yuan’ in her name is the same as yours.”
Li Tingyuan was slightly surprised and took the opportunity to steal a glance while speaking with Cui Yueyao.
The young woman wore a light pink ruqun embroidered with silver-threaded crabapple patterns, her complexion fair and her figure slender.
Unlike the others who were whispering among themselves, she stood quietly beside Liu Shi, appearing exceptionally well-behaved.
The day before, Cui Yueyao had told her that Liu Mengyuan had originally come to the capital to visit relatives and stopped by Cuifu to see her elder sister, Liu Shi. Somehow, she had caught Mother Cui’s favor, and Mother Cui insisted on having her stay.
Cui Yueyao leaned closer to Li Tingyuan’s ear and whispered softly:
“Liu Mengyuan looks delicate and pretty, but she’s not breathtakingly beautiful, and her family background isn’t prominent. I don’t know why Mother has recently been trying to match her with my brother. And I heard from Mother that my brother seems quite taken with her too…”
Li Tingyuan’s eyes widened in shock:
“Cui… hasn’t the Prince been married for a long time?”
Cui Yueyao frowned, looking at her strangely:
“Who told you my brother is married?”
After speaking, she seemed to suddenly remember something and let out an "oh." "Are you talking about that brat from yesterday? Him? He's not…"
Cui Yueyao's words were cut short when she noticed everyone had fallen silent. She quickly stopped talking, winking and making faces at Li Tingyuan to indicate she would tell her more later in private.
Li Tingyuan was unsettled by Cui Yueyao's earlier words, her mind in disarray as she mechanically followed the others in paying respects.
It wasn't until Mother Cui spoke to her that she snapped back to attention.
"Did you sleep well last night, Ting girl?"
Mother Cui smiled warmly and beckoned her over.
Li Tingyuan stepped forward, offering her hand. Her smile seemed somewhat distracted:
"Thank you for your concern, Madam. Tingyuan is doing well."
"Why still call me Madam…" Mother Cui chuckled. "An adopted daughter is still a daughter. From now on, you may call me Mother, and let Yao girl call you sister."
Li Tingyuan pressed her lips together, but before she could speak, Cui Yueyao had already leaned in, wrapping her arms around her and calling out brightly:
"My dear sister!"
Her exclamation drew laughter from everyone present.
Li Tingyuan lowered her head along with them.
As she bowed, her peripheral vision caught Liu Mengyuan, who wore only a faint smile on her lips, appearing utterly harmless.
Just as Li Tingyuan glanced over, Liu Mengyuan happened to look back at her, her gaze deep and unreadable.
"By the way…"
Mother Cui patted Li Tingyuan's hand. "Mingheng is off duty today. Later, you two should go to Songyue Ju to pay your respects to your elder brother."
Upon hearing they were to visit Cui Zhuo, Cui Yueyao immediately clung to Mother Cui, whining:
"I haven't spent enough time talking with you yet, Mother. Besides… Brother is busy with official matters. I'd rather not disturb him."
Mother Cui helplessly tapped her nose, then turned her gaze to Li Tingyuan.
Li Tingyuan was not one to overstep her bounds. While Cui Yueyao could act cute and refuse, she could not.
Moreover, she understood that Mother Cui had brought this up in front of everyone deliberately for her benefit, as she would now be living under Cui Zhuo's roof in Cuifu.
Li Tingyuan clenched her palm slightly, lowering her eyes meekly:
"Your reminder is well taken, Mother. Tingyuan will go pay her respects to the Prince shortly."
Mother Cui smiled:
"Still calling him Prince? You should address him as elder brother."
Songyue Ju was situated slightly higher than the surrounding areas.
By the time Li Tingyuan reached the courtyard gate, fine beads of sweat had already formed on her forehead.
She stood at the entrance for a moment, waiting for the perspiration to subside, then straightened her dress and hair before stepping around the screen wall.
The door to the main room was open, and Cui Ji'an's figure was faintly visible inside.
Li Tingyuan took a deep breath, her fingertips turning pale from the pressure. After a moment's hesitation, she walked to the doorway, bent her knees, and performed a respectful bow:
"Tingyuan has come to pay her respects to Elder Brother."
Her voice was clear and sweet, her tone obedient, sounding particularly refreshing on this dewy morning.
The sounds inside the room paused briefly, followed by quick, light footsteps approaching.
Cui Ji'an's smiling face appeared at the door:
"Young Miss has arrived? Please, come in."
Li Tingyuan thanked him and followed Cui Ji'an inside.
This was her first time entering this room. As soon as she stepped in, she caught the faint scent of ink and pinewood.
The layout was much as she had imagined—austere and simple, yet every detail exuded elegance and meticulous refinement.
Compared to the cheerful laughter of the many young women in Qingxin Tang, this place was excessively quiet, as if even the sunlight had lost some of its warmth.
Cui Zhuo was currently seated before the large huanghuali wood desk by the eastern window, a vermilion brush held in his cold, pale, and powerful hand, seemingly reviewing official documents.
Perhaps because he did not need to go to the government office, Cui Zhuo wore only a simple, elegant white everyday robe, the collar and cuffs meticulously arranged. His posture behind the desk was upright and proper.
The cold, pale sunlight streamed through the window, falling on his sharply defined profile, accentuating his refined and handsome features, yet also making him appear aloof and unapproachable.
Hearing her approach, he did not look up, continuing to annotate the document with his brush as he said indifferently:
"You’re here? Wait aside."
Li Tingyuan quickly averted her gaze and replied respectfully, "Yes."