Before the person even arrived, her voice could already be heard.
Just from the sound of it, Cui Yaoning knew it was her Seventh Sister, Cui Xuan.
Cui Xuan and she had never gotten along.
If she had to name a reason, it would probably be… simple incompatibility.
Whenever the two of them were in the same place, they would inevitably quarrel. Apart from their grandmother being able to restrain them, none of the elders from either side could control them at all.
A few years ago, their grandmother had picked a flower for her, one with more buds than the one given to Cui Xuan. Cui Xuan had tried to snatch it away, but their grandmother refused, and the two of them ended up fighting.
Now that she had been reborn, Cui Yaoning found such past incidents rather amusing.
After entering, Cui Xuan removed her cloak and handed it to a maid. Pouting, she said, “Grandmother, are you feeling guilty?”
The moment she heard that, Old Madam Cui felt a headache coming on.
This seventh daughter truly didn’t know how to choose her words.
If one said she was afraid of her grandmother, well, whenever Jiuniang was present, her mouth would turn sour as if she had swallowed dozens of jars of vinegar. Yet if one said she wasn’t afraid, the moment Jiuniang put on a stern expression, she would be too frightened to utter another word.
Old Madam Cui rolled her eyes impatiently. “What do I have to feel guilty about? What could I possibly be guilty about? Every time you come to pay your respects, I ask you to stay for a meal. When have you ever agreed?”
Cui Xuan was rendered speechless, choked by the rebuttal.
She wasn’t as shameless as Cui Yaoning, how could she keep coming over just to freeload meals?
Old Madam Cui thought her rather slow-witted and said sharply, “It’s almost noon. If you’re not staying to eat, what are you doing here?”
Cui Xuan immediately felt wronged. “And you still say you’re not biased? This is blatant favoritism! I’m already here, and you still want to drive me away?”
Old Madam Cui was unmoved. “Didn’t I ask you to stay when you came to pay your respects this morning?”
Cui Xuan stammered, unable to respond.
“Since you didn’t stay then, why are you here now?” Old Madam Cui’s face suddenly darkened. “Or is it that you simply can’t bear to see Jiuniang doing well?”
The old lady’s stern tone startled Cui Yaoning, let alone Cui Xuan.
Cui Xuan was so frightened that she burst into tears on the spot.
This time, Old Madam Cui was determined to correct this habit. Competing occasionally with Jiuniang for attention was one thing, but she feared that jealousy might fester into resentment, resentment that could harm her own sister and turn her into a laughingstock.
Old Madam Cui’s expression hardened. “Stop crying.”
Terrified, Cui Xuan sobbed quietly.
Although her beauty did not shine as brilliantly as Jiuniang’s, she was still extremely lovely. With tears clinging to her lashes, she looked especially pitiful.
Old Madam Cui felt both angry and heartbroken.
This foolish child had clearly been influenced by her mother. She had never struck her, so why was she so afraid?
Sighing inwardly, she said sternly, “Tell me, what exactly did Jiuniang do wrong? Speak clearly. If it truly is her fault, I will make her apologize to you.”
At the word apologize, Cui Xuan’s eyes lit up. She was about to speak, but then seemed to remember something. Lowering her head, she fell silent.
Old Madam Cui narrowed her eyes and, after a moment, asked coolly, “Qiniang, have you thought it through?”
Cui Xuan bit her lip and remained quiet.
Old Madam Cui slammed her hand on the table.
Before she could say another word, Cui Xuan burst into loud sobs. “I’ll talk, I’ll talk! Please don’t hit me… waaah!”
She shot a furtive glance at Cui Yaoning, then shut her eyes, lifted her chin, and through gritted teeth declared.
“I want ninth sister to play with me.”
Old Madam Cui had prepared herself for all kinds of jealousy between the seventh daughter and the ninth daughter. But when she suddenly heard this, she froze for a moment, almost thinking she had misheard.
“What did you say?”
Once the words were spoken, they became much easier to repeat.
Cui Xuan said it again, and the more she spoke, the more wronged she felt. “We’re both legitimate daughters, yet she always spends time with the illegitimate ones. That Cui Xiuxiu is clearly sticking to her with ulterior motives.”
Wiping her tears, Cui Xuan sobbed, “But she refuses to believe me. She keeps calling ‘Sixth Sister, Sixth Sister,’ as if I don’t exist. I’m her sister too!”
Hearing this, Cui Yaoning nearly choked on her snack.
“Cough, cough, cough…” Her face turned red.
Old Madam Cui was startled. Ignoring Cui Xuan for the moment, she quickly instructed a maid to pour some water. She fed Cui Yaoning a sip while patting her back and gently scolding, “Eat slowly. No one is going to snatch it from you.”
Tears welled in Cui Yaoning’s eyes as she coughed. “That’s not—”
She had been frightened by Cui Xuan. Every time they met, Cui Xuan would compare herself to her and speak sarcastically. In that situation, how could she possibly want to play together?
“No wonder we’re rivals,” Cui Xuan cut in before she could finish, already assuming what she meant. She shot her an angry glare. “Who told you to always hang around with Cui Xiuxiu? Neither of them is a good person.”
Cui Yaoning retorted unhappily, “Then do you still want me to play with you?”
Cui Xuan hesitated, choked on her words for a long time, and finally squeezed out a reluctant, “Yes.”
Cui Yaoning raised an eyebrow. “Then why don’t you come over here and apologize to me?”
Cui Xuan’s eyes widened. “In your dreams!”
The moment she finished speaking, she saw the teasing look on Cui Yaoning’s face.
Realizing she had been joking, Cui Xuan couldn’t help but laugh too.
Old Madam Cui never expected that her two granddaughters, who had quarreled every time they met since childhood, would one day reconcile like this.
She took a sip of hot tea and asked with a smile, “Will you two still make a fuss in the future?”
In unison, Cui Yaoning and Cui Xuan replied, “Of course we will!”
Old Madam Cui paused, then laughed. “You two… as long as you don’t truly fall out, a little bickering actually strengthens your bond.”
Her expression gradually grew softer, tinged with sadness. “Qiniang is already looking for a husband, and Jiuniang will soon begin after her coming-of-age ceremony. It unsettles me to think that in the blink of an eye, you’ve both reached marriageable age.”
Cui Yaoning nestled against her grandmother’s arm and said softly, “Then I won’t marry. I’ll stay home and keep you company.”
Old Madam Cui gently pinched her granddaughter’s jade-like cheek. “With Jiuniang’s beauty and grace, when she marries, she will surely be the most beautiful bride in all of Luoyang.”
Cui Xuan leaned closer. “What about me? What about me?”
Old Madam Cui glanced at her with a smile. “Second most beautiful.”
Cui Xuan knew she couldn’t compete with Cui Yaoning in looks, so she touched her face and grinned. “Fine. Then I’ll be the second most beautiful bride in Luoyang.”
Old Madam Cui raised a brow. “Eager to get married?”
Cui Xuan instantly blushed.
What young lady doesn’t look forward to her future husband?
No matter how hot-tempered or reckless she seemed, she was still a young girl at heart. Having read countless tales of talented scholars and beautiful maidens, how could she not dream of experiencing such a love story herself?
Old Madam Cui, having once been young herself, understood and found nothing improper in it. Smiling, she asked, “What kind of man do you like?”
Blushing, Cui Xuan replied, “I like the top scholar.”
Old Madam Cui nodded, then turned to her other granddaughter. “And what about Jiuniang? What kind of man does Jiuniang like?”
Caught off guard and unable to think of anything, Cui Yaoning deliberately chose the exact opposite of Pei Yu and said lightly, “I like a spirited young general.”