Cui Yun's Courtyard was located on the East side of the Rong Residence's Rear Garden, the first courtyard behind the Kitchen.
There was a Side Door at the front of the courtyard, which people frequently used, making it extremely convenient.
The courtyard was very quiet, and the Three Main Rooms were exceptionally elegant.
The window shutters of the East Side Room were open, and inside sat a Beauty, not yet of age, whose profile was already very dignified; she wore a casual, bean-green patterned brocade jacket with an open front, holding a book, exuding a profound scholarly air as rich as the fragrance of osmanthus in the wind.
Below the courtyard wall opposite the window, a patch of cotton rose bloomed perfectly.
The cotton rose is different from osmanthus, but the drunken hibiscus is truly beautiful!
If one were to compare the drunken hibiscus to the Beauty inside the window, it would be the person outshining the flower.
Inside the window, Rong Cuiyun, the Third Miss of the Rong Residence, slightly raised her head and glanced outside.
She and the window formed a picture.
Her Black Hair was like clouds; for daily wear, she used only a silver-gilt, jade-inlaid, gem-studded butterfly chasing chrysanthemum hairpin, fully revealing her natural beauty.
Her square face was exceptionally striking, beneath her curved willow-leaf eyebrows were a pair of alluring Peach Blossom Eyes.
With just one glance from her, people would blush and their hearts would race, and the hibiscus flowers seemed to shyly droop in the autumn wind.
A Maidservant in red hurried into the courtyard; slender and graceful in her movements, she quickly entered the room, also appearing within the window's picture, her mouth faster than her feet: "Miss is still reading, not in a hurry at all."
Rong Cuiyun withdrew her gaze and looked at her, very composed, her voice gentle and steady: "What is there to rush for?"
The Maidservant settled down, deftly pouring fresh tea for the Young Lady, her mouth already moving quickly again: "It will be her coming-of-age ceremony in a few days, and the Yan Family's gifts should have arrived. But the Yan Family has had continuous misfortune in Jundu, which has implicated Miss."
Rong Cuiyun held the hot tea and slowly took a sip.
Her hands were exceptionally beautiful, complementing the green porcelain teacup—truly like a sprig of scallion.
This teacup was a gift from Empress Dowager Meng; to her, it was merely an object for drinking tea.
Another Maidservant in green rushed over.
This Maidservant was slightly plump, her footsteps heavy; she ran breathlessly, sweat on her brow, and her hair was a mess.
Rong Cuiyun's Peach Blossom Eyes swept over her, instantly conveying authority without anger.
The Maidservant paid no mind, leaning against the Main Gate while shouting toward the inner room: "It's bad news!"
The Maidservant in red came out to ask: "What is it?"
The Maidservant in green leaned for a moment longer, panting, drooling, and speaking unclearly: "Yan Erlang is gone!"
Yan Erlang was Rong Cuiyun's fiancé.
The Maidservant in red's expression changed: "Where did you get that news?"
The Maidservant in green glanced at her: "Wasn't the Old Madam preparing the coming-of-age ceremony? I heard and ran back."
The Maidservant in red questioned: "How did he die?"
The Maidservant in green recovered, saying irritably: "I don't know, it seems he just suddenly passed away, really."
The Maidservant in red ignored her and looked toward the Young Lady.
She saw the Young Lady sitting there motionless, like wood; her usually bright complexion looked withered, as if a flower had been battered by the wind.
She looked indescribably pitiful.
The Maidservant in red couldn't help but complain: "We were just saying he was implicating Miss; he could have waited a few more days to die."
The Maidservant in green agreed: "Exactly, how will the coming-of-age ceremony proceed?" She spun around anxiously, muttering quietly, "The Eldest Princess is coming, and the Empress Dowager will surely send gifts too. Such good fortune for Miss, all ruined by that Yan Erlang."
The Maidservant in red vented briefly, then quickly stopped the Maidservant in green: "Enough, stop talking."
What she said only made the Young Lady feel worse.
The Young Lady didn't move at all; she was too wronged!
The Maidservant didn't try to comfort her; the Young Lady disliked being consoled, as this was not something that could be fixed with words.
When darkness fell, she was still sitting there like a statue, appearing utterly lonely.
When the wind blew, the frost flowers shivered.
A set of footsteps broke the chilling silence.
The footsteps were hurried; quite a few people were arriving.
From inside the window, Rong Cuiyun could see the people entering outside, and the light from the lanterns dispelling the darkness in the courtyard.
The Old Madam walked at the very front.
She was over sixty but very spirited; she wore an autumn-yellow, pearl-inlaid Forehead Band, and the large pearls complemented her dark, lustrous hair, making everyone feel invigorated. She had a large face, much bigger than others.
The Old Madam ran quickly, like a gust of wind.
Rong Cuiyun quickly rose to go greet her, but having sat too long, her legs went numb when she stood.
From outside the window, it looked as if a slender figure in the pitch-black room was collapsing.
The Old Madam instantly ran faster, wishing she could sprout wings and fly inside.
The Main Hall had some lights on.
When the Old Madam entered, she saw the Maidservants already supporting Rong Cuiyun. She pointed at the Maidservant and scolded: "How did you serve her?"
The Old Madam reached out to personally support Rong Cuiyun, holding her and crying out: "My poor child!"
Rong Cuiyun collapsed into the Old Madam's embrace and wept.
A group of people followed behind, nearly filling the Main Hall. The bright lights warmed the space.
Maidservants and Wives helped the Old Madam and Rong Cuiyun sit down on the couch.
The Old Madam continued to hold Rong Cuiyun, seeing how a beautiful flower had withered; feeling her body was cold, she couldn't help but cry again.
The others followed suit, wiping tears, while a few offered comfort.
The Old Madam composed herself, then held Rong Cuiyun tightly, offering her support. Her eyes flashed fiercely in the lamplight, her benevolent face turning cold and hard, as if her restrained flesh had been unleashed: "Don't be afraid, just stay home safely. In three years, your Paternal Grandmother will surely choose a better one for you."
Rong Cuiyun stopped crying, still listless, and said to the Old Madam: "I will listen to whatever Paternal Grandmother decides."
The Old Madam held her beautiful hand, feeling heartache again: "My poor child! Such good fortune! My Rong Family raised you for fifteen years, only to be dragged down by the Yan Family for nothing."
A Wife came over and reported cautiously: "We heard that Yan Erlang's personal Maidservant committed suicide to follow him in death."
The Old Madam became furious: "What happened?"
Rong Cuiyun quickly persuaded the Old Madam, disregarding her own grief: "Paternal Grandmother, please calm your anger."
The Old Madam held her hand, growing even angrier.
Rong Cuiyun lowered her gaze, enduring the heartache: "That Cui Lian, I know her; she was clever, capable, loyal, and reliable. Since she has passed, it might be better to bury her with Yan Erlang so he won't be lonely."
The Old Madam gritted her teeth.
Rong Cuiyun persuaded her: "That Maidservant would have eventually been taken as a concubine; there were always those buried with the deceased before. Since Yan Erlang and she were devoted to each other, raise her status."
The Old Madam embraced Rong Cuiyun and exclaimed: "My granddaughter is still virtuous, well-read, and reasonable!"
Another Maidservant came to report: "The Marquis's Residence sent someone to inquire about the Third Miss's arrangements."
The Old Madam was enraged, wishing she could spit right at the Yan Family's Main Gate: "Inquire about what! I haven't settled accounts with them yet!"
Rong Cuiyun sat there blankly again, silently shedding tears that broke one's heart.
This was because a Fiancee whose fiancé died before marriage might stay at her Maternal family's home, but if the in-laws demanded it, she would have to go, not only serving her Parents-in-law but sometimes also raising her Little Brother-in-law or Uncle-in-law.
The Old Madam hugged Rong Cuiyun fiercely: "Don't be afraid! Whatever the Yan Family dares to do, I will go smash their place tomorrow!"
The Old Madam then repeatedly called out: "Go prepare the Third Miss's favorite foods: sliced perch, crystal pork knuckle, and mushroom egg dumplings! Look how thin she is! And bring a pound of imperial bird's nest!"
Stupid author, you actually don't understand, why should such a pale and green Fake Eldest Daughter become a lucky, pampered wife?
Perhaps every author is different? Cannot compare, cannot compare.
Who knows where our True Eldest Daughter is hiding in some forgotten corner, and what she is eating?