The one who spoke up was Cui Xi, the eldest son of Cui Yuanling.
Influenced by his father’s criminal record, although he was well-versed in literature, he was barred from taking the imperial examinations. For a man of only twenty-seven, this was undoubtedly a crushing blow. In search of a way out, he conceived the idea of inheriting the Third Branch as long as he became the adopted son of Cui Yuan-shu, he would regain his eligibility to participate in the imperial examinations.
Cui Xi had harbored this thought ever since the news of Cui Yuan-shu’s death reached Dengzhou. However, his own biological father had passed away less than three years prior; if he had rashly proposed this, he would certainly have faced severe condemnation from the clan. Later, after the mourning period ended and Cui Yun’s mother passed away, he hinted to Cui Yuanfeng that he was willing to observe the mourning period for both Cui Yuan-shu and the Lady Dou.
Cui Yuanfeng understood his intent, but pointed out that as the eldest son born to the primary wife of Cui Yuanling, there was no precedent in history for such a son to be given away for adoption. This effectively cut off the possibility for Cui Xi.
However, while it was impossible for him, his younger brother, Cui Jun, still had hope. It turned out that Cui Jun was hatching the exact same plan. The brothers’ thoughts converged, but when they approached Cui Yuanfeng again, they were met with a stern rebuke: “Only the elders are qualified to discuss matters of lineage succession. You juniors proactively proposing to have yourselves adopted out is an act of filial impiety toward your biological parents.”
Since the brothers’ father had already passed away, if they did not take the initiative, no elders in the clan would be willing to propose their adoption to Cui Yuan-shu. After all, although the estate left behind by Cui Yuan-shu was not massive, the fields, houses, and servants were more than enough to cultivate a successful imperial scholar for their family.
In the process of maneuvering around Cui Yuanfeng, they gradually realized the truth: this eldest uncle was also coveting Cui Yuan-shu’s inheritance. He feared that if the brothers succeeded in inheriting the Third Branch and legally took over all the assets, his own efforts would be in vain. As for the opinion of Cui Yun, Cui Yuan-shu’s biological daughter? They did not care in the slightest.
Cui Yun watched them coldly, waiting to see what excuses they would come up with this time to persuade Cui Yuanfeng.
Cui Yuanfeng, however, cut them off. He informed everyone of Cui Yun’s intention to move her parents’ graves back to the ancestral cemetery and mentioned that he had selected several talented young men of similar social standing for her, asking his fellow elders and cousins to help vet them.
Once this was said, Cui Xi and Cui Jun could no longer bring up the matter of inheritance at this juncture and instead turned their attention to Cui Yun.
“Such a major event as moving graves, why didn’t you discuss it with the clan, Seventh Miss?” Cui Xi said, his face full of disapproval.
Cui Yun’s hands, hidden under her sleeves, tightened. She replied, “Every uncle and brother is busy with their own affairs; I did not wish to disturb everyone.”
“You are being too formal; we are a family.”
Cui Yun responded, “The burial sites for Father and Mother were determined during their lifetimes; being buried in Zhaoping Township was a necessity at the time. Now that they wish for their ‘fallen leaves to return to their roots’ and be buried in the ancestral graves, all the rituals have been planned according to protocol. Do you have objections to my parents’ relocation?”
Faced with their aggressiveness, she could not simply explain herself, nor could she harbor illusions of convincing them. She turned passive into active, questioning them: Even if she had told them in advance, what could they have done? What was there to discuss? They were merely looking for an excuse to challenge her; there was no need to pretend to be righteous gentlemen.
She turned to look at Cui Yuanfeng, who had deliberately pressured her through the clan members, and added, “Besides, I have already clarified the reasons for this to my eldest uncle in advance.”
The expressions of the Cui clan members shifted; they clearly had not expected Cui Yun’s attitude to be so firm.
“That may be so, but…” Cui Xi began to say something, but was stopped by a sharp look from Cui Yuanfeng.
Cui You, the eldest among them, saw the petty actions of the juniors and naturally understood the purpose of today’s display. Although he did not covet the assets left by Cui Yun’s father, he believed that Cui Yun would eventually marry, and it was only logical for assets belonging to the Cui clan to remain within the family. At most, he would allow the three qing of land left by her mother to be taken with her as her dowry. As her elders, they would certainly select a husband from a reputable family so she would never have to worry about food or clothing. As a daughter of the Cui family, she should understand that only by the Cui family growing stronger could they better support her.
These words were ones Cui Yun had heard repeatedly since her parents passed away and she returned to live in the Dengzhou ancestral home. Even her six elder cousins who had already married would instill these ideas into her every time they met. She struggled between insisting on her own path and going with the flow, and in the end, she did not even know what conviction was supporting her stubbornness.
This was destined to be a long, drawn-out war without smoke.
The gathering of the Cui clan was for the purpose of ancestral rites, and Cui Yun’s personal matters were soon pushed aside by the conversation, though this did not mean she was free to leave.
The following day, after the rites concluded, the married daughters of the Cui family who lived nearby returned to their natal home. Her aunts, sisters-in-law, and cousins took turns, all under the guise of “what’s best for her,” trying to persuade her to follow the elders’ arrangements and abandon her rebellious thoughts.
Cui Yun turned a deaf ear to it all. She even took the initiative to mention the concern her maternal uncles had shown for her, implicitly telling everyone that besides the Cui family, she also had the Dou family. Although cousins on the maternal side were not as close as paternal cousins, the Cui family still had to be wary of the Dou family, who had a relative serving as a Prime Minister at the imperial court.
Before the New Year celebrations had even concluded, having agonizingly dealt with them for three days, Cui Yun used the excuse of handling the relocation of the graves to return to Zhaoping Township.
Inside the carriage, Zhaoyan’s tone was relaxed: “Phew… it’s much more comfortable staying at Zhaoping Villa.”
These past few days, the days spent by her mistress’s side could only be described as “restless.” Even if Zhaoping Villa only had Mother Du, dealing with one person was still more comfortable than dealing with so many.
Cui Yun felt that her servant was relaxing a bit too early. Recalling the calm and leisurely attitude Cui Yuanfeng and Wei Yanniang displayed when she bid them farewell, as if they would truly no longer interfere in her affairs, she knew better. Based on her understanding of them, they had not relented for all these years; it was impossible for them to have a change of heart overnight.
As soon as this thought occurred, she heard the sound of horse hooves approaching from behind. The sound was infinitely amplified in the empty valley, as if it were right upon them.
Having already experienced one highway robbery, the servants and guards of the Cui household immediately entered a state of battle readiness.
Zhaoyan felt uneasy, but she still asked hopefully, “Is it Deputy General Zhang’s garrison?”
Cui Yun gripped the dagger hidden in her sleeve and shook her head: “The sound is coming from behind us.”
The direction of the approaching party was from the side of Dengzhou; no matter how far the patrol route of Zhang Zhaoge’s garrison was, they would not be coming from behind her.
“Perhaps they are just passing by,” Zhaoyan murmured, unsure if she was comforting Cui Yun or trying to reassure herself.
Cui Yun ordered the driver: “Hurry up!”
The faster the carriage moved, the more violently those inside were jolted, but Cui Yun no longer cared. It would be best if those people behind were just passing by, but if they were coming for her…
As the sound of hooves drew closer, a loud shout came through the wind: “They are in front, chase them down!”
Cui Yun’s heart instantly sank to the bottom.