Cui Xuan instinctively wanted to tease her, but held back when she saw the maid present. She asked, “How many people are going?”
The maidservant replied respectfully, “Young Master Zheng has invited the eldest and third young masters. The other young masters are unavailable tomorrow. As for the sixth and eighth young ladies, I will inquire later.”
Cui Xuan pursed her lips. There was no doubt that Eighth Sister wouldn’t go, and as for Sixth Sister.
She sneered. Even if that little brat wanted to go, she would beg her grandmother to keep her in the manor.
As her elder sister, Cui Xuan couldn’t just watch Cui Xiuxiu harbor inappropriate thoughts about Zheng Qingling.
Cui Xuan told the maid that both she and her ninth sister were free the next day, then waved her hand to dismiss her.
After the maid left, Cui Xuan said indignantly, “Cousin Qingling is really something, why did he have to invite Cui Xiuxiu of all people?”
Cui Yaoning wasn’t surprised. Since Zheng Qingling wanted to invite them to admire the flowers, it wouldn’t do to leave out any of the young ladies and gentlemen in the manor, so naturally he had to invite them all.
Cui Xuan understood the principle, but when it involved Cui Xiuxiu, she couldn’t help losing her composure.
Cui Yaoning gently reminded her, “You can speak to me about it privately, but don’t cause trouble during the outing tomorrow, or your cousin might think the young lady in our household has a questionable character.”
Cui Xuan remembered her grandmother’s warning and nodded.
She cared about her reputation, so naturally she wouldn’t cause trouble for Cui Xiuxiu in front of outsiders. She had plenty of ways to deal with her, but it would be better to prevent her from going altogether.
Cui Xuan made up her mind and got up early the next day to find her mother.
During this period, because her husband had been staying at Concubine Pei’s residence for dozens of days in a row, Madam Wei was in a foul mood. She slept late, rose early, and had a poor appetite. After eating a few bites of breakfast, she asked someone to remove it.
“Seventh Miss,” the maids and servants in the courtyard greeted her respectfully.
Hearing the commotion, Madam Wei looked up and saw her daughter lifting the curtain. A smile appeared on her face as she beckoned to her, “Come here.”
Madam Wei had one son and two daughters. Her eldest daughter had married far away and returned only once or twice a year at most. Her youngest daughter, resembled her in both appearance and temperament, and Madam Wei doted on her, giving her the best of everything.
Cui Xuan obediently sat down.
Madam Wei stroked her daughter’s head and asked, “Have you eaten?”
Cui Xuan nodded decisively. “I finished eating early this morning.”
Madam Wei found this unusual. Her daughter was usually lazy, except when competing with her Ninth Sister. Why was she up so early today?
“Zheng…” Cui Xuan began, but worried her mother would scold her for ignorance of proper etiquette, she quickly changed her words. “My cousin invited us to go admire the flowers today, and I got up early because I didn’t want to be late.”
Madam Wei’s eyes brightened. “Who did they invite?”
Cui Xuan listed the young people who would go to the countryside to enjoy the flowers.
When Madam Wei heard Cui Yaoning’s name, her smile vanished. Irritated, she said, “Why is she everywhere?”
Glancing at her daughter’s attire, Madam Wei poked her forehead angrily. “You’re not as beautiful as Jiuniang to begin with, and you’re dressed so plainly, are you afraid of being outshone?”
“Mother!” Cui Xuan snapped. “No matter what I wear, Ninth sister will always outshine me. Besides, I’ve already told you we’re on good terms now, so you’re not allowed to speak about her like that.”
Even if Cui Yaoning wore commoner’s linen clothes, her appearance and bearing would still captivate everyone. Others relied on clothing to enhance their looks, but for her, clothing only complemented her natural beauty.
Madam Wei was furious.
“These girls are all troublesome. My eldest daughter is gentle and gets along with third daughter. My son willingly follows the eldest brother. And then my youngest daughter has the same personality as me, yet is completely under the ninth daughter’s influence.”
Is she really that inferior to Wang?
Madam Wei began to doubt herself, rubbing her forehead silently.
“Mother,” Cui Xuan said, shaking her arm, “I don’t like Sixth Sister. Why don’t you go tell Grandmother that she can’t go?”
Madam Wei disliked Concubine Pei and naturally had no fondness for Cui Xiuxiu. Hearing this, she said irritably, “I know without you saying it. That little brat still wants to use her charms, let’s see how I deal with her.”
After that, Madam Wei called over her head maid, Cuiwei, and instructed, “Go and summon the Sixth Miss. Tell her I’ve had terrible headaches these past two days and ask her to copy a few scrolls of Buddhist scriptures to pray for me.”
Cui Xuan looked at her mother with admiration, then hesitated for a moment before asking, “Mother, should we talk to Grandmother?”
She worried that her grandmother might misunderstand and scold her mother.
Madam Wei touched her daughter’s face, slightly concerned.
Her silly daughter was impulsive and naive, she would have many headaches managing her future marriage.
Madam Wei explained, “I am the head mistress of the second branch of the family. It is my responsibility to discipline the concubine’s daughter. Even your father has no right to argue with me.”
Relieved, Cui Xuan hugged her mother’s arm and thanked her.
Madam Wei, both amused and annoyed, pinched her ear and instructed, “Dress nicely when you go to admire the flowers. In terms of closeness, Qingling is nearer to you than the other girls in the manor. Don’t let Jiuniang arrive first.”
Cui Xuan frowned, displeased. “He was chosen by Grandmother for ninth sister. I won’t take him away.”
Madam Wei snapped, “That’s because your grandmother is biased!”
The old lady was so biased that she didn’t even think of giving such a good man to her seventh daughter.
Cui Xuan pretended not to hear and snorted, “Anyway, Ninth Sister and I are on good terms now, so don’t try to sow discord between us.”
Seeing her leave immediately after speaking, Madam Wei was so furious she practically bounced in anger.
What a heartless brat! Who is she even doing this for?!
Cui Yaoning only woke up when Cui Xuan arrived at her courtyard.
The weather had improved over the past two days, but snow still lingered on the mountains. Cui Yaoning, afraid of the cold, had Baoqin layer her clothing more warmly inside.
Looking at her still slender waist, Cui Xuan wondered how thin her ninth sister waist must be to wear so many layers without appearing bulky.
After washing up, Cui Yaoning asked someone to bring her food. Seeing Cui Xuan there, she asked, “Has Seventh Sister eaten yet?”
Cui Xuan nodded, picked up a pastry, and ate it. “By the way, I asked Mother to keep Cui Xiuxiu at the manor. You can go enjoy yourself today without worrying about her ruining the fun.”
Although Cui Yaoning didn’t care whether Cui Xiuxiu was present, she appreciated that Cui Xuan had taken action and wouldn’t undermine her.
“Thank you very much, Seventh Sister.”
“Don’t be so formal with me. I just can’t stand how she tries to steal her sister’s man.”
After finishing their meal, Cui Yaoning and Cui Xuan paid their respects to Old Madam Cui and then went to the front hall.
Cui Zhan, Cui Hao, and Zheng Qingling were already waiting. Surprisingly, Eighth Sister, Cui Wan, was also sitting with them. Her attire today was more elaborate than usual, showing she had put considerable effort into dressing up.
Cui Xuan frowned. Could it be that eighth sister also had improper thoughts?
She recalled Cui Yaoning’s words but kept silent, suppressing her doubts and deciding to give her another nudge in the carriage later.
The tree sisters greeted each other.
The moment Zheng Qingling saw Cui Yaoning enter, his eyes lit up. He suppressed his emotions as he called out, “Cousin, Ninth Miss.”