Cui Weijin stepped forward two paces and bowed. “Father.”
Duke Cui did not respond immediately. Instead, he waved his hand at the steward and the old maidservants. “Stop. Take the Third Young Lady away.”
“Have Physician Li come to examine her. Record the remaining punishment for later.”
“Yes.”
Cui Xueqin could barely stand; she was supported by the old maidservants as she was dragged out.
Once the servants withdrew, only father and son remained in the ancestral hall, along with the silent ancestral tablets.
Duke Cui walked to the Grand Tutor’s chair at the head seat and sat down.
“Yi Ze, I have already heard about what happened at the palace banquet today.”
Cui Weijin stood with his hands lowered. “Yes.”
“That girl Xueqin acted improperly, and her words lacked caution,” Duke Cui continued. “But at the end of the day, she is a daughter of the Cui family—your cousin.”
“Family matters should be handled behind closed doors. Punishing her so severely—ten strokes like that—her hand will likely be unusable for half a month. She won’t be able to hold a brush or do needlework.”
“If word spreads, people may say that you, Cui Weijin, are overly harsh even toward your own kin, cold and unfeeling.”
Cui Weijin’s expression did not change. “Father, only with strict family rules can a household stand firm.”
“Today, she dared to stir up rumors and falsely accuse the Princess within the palace grounds. If she is not severely punished, she may dare to commit even greater transgressions in the future.”
“What is damaged is not only her personal reputation, but the century-old honor of the Cui clan. A heavy punishment serves as a warning—for her sake, and for the family’s.”
Duke Cui leaned back in his chair, studied him for a moment, and then sighed.
“Very well. The household is now under your authority.”
“You have your own reasoning in how you act. I am old—I can no longer control you.”
He lifted the teacup beside him and took a sip. “You saw that Princess of Lin’an today. What do you think of her?”
Cui Weijin lowered his gaze slightly, recalling the Princess, and chose his words carefully. “The Princess is lively in temperament, unrestrained by convention, and possesses a certain childlike sincerity.”
He paused before adding, “However, her actions are overly impulsive and do not follow common norms. Within the deep palace and court, such a disposition may not lead to long-term stability.”
The conclusion was clear—she was not a suitable match, at least not someone who could steadily remain within the inner quarters of a noble household.
Duke Cui set down his teacup and said calmly, “It does not matter. Whether she is stable or not has little to do with our Cui family.”
Cui Weijin looked up at his father.
Duke Cui continued, “It is your cousin Huai. After seeing the Princess at the banquet today, he has been distracted ever since. Just now, he even came to me, stumbling over his words, begging—he says he likes her very much.”
“You know that Huai and Xueqin lost their father young and have grown up under our Cui family name. It has not been easy for them.”
His tone remained indifferent. “Since he likes her, there is no reason for us elders not to fulfill his wish.”
“In a few days, you should find an opportunity to propose this marriage to His Majesty on your brother’s behalf.”
Cui Weijin spoke instinctively, “Marriage is a major matter. Should it not be considered more carefully?”
“The Princess of Lin’an’s temperament and Huai’s nature may not be—”
“It is not you who is choosing a wife,” Duke Cui interrupted. “As long as Huai likes her, that is enough.”
“He is gentle and lacks initiative. Marrying someone lively and spirited might complement him and make him more animated.”
“You only need to handle the proposal. Do not concern yourself with the rest.”
Cui Weijin fell silent and did not argue further. “Yes, Father.”
The topic shifted again, returning to him. “What do you think of Yang Family’s legitimate daughter, Yang Jiao?”
Yang Jiao?
He seemed to have seen her from afar at some banquet before. Other than that, he had no impression.
“I will follow Father’s arrangements.”
He lowered his eyes.
Duke Cui nodded. “You are already twenty-two this year.”
“For young men of noble families your age, many already have children who have begun their studies.”
“The Yang family is of equal standing to ours. The young lady is virtuous, dignified, and well-regarded in both character and appearance. She would make an excellent principal wife. You should start paying attention—do not delay any longer.”
“I understand.”
It seemed Duke Cui had said all he intended. He stood to leave.
His gaze casually swept over the scroll on the offering table that Cui Weijin had just closed—Records of Curious Arts and Techniques. His steps halted.
Turning back, he frowned. “A gentleman does not speak of strange forces and spirits.”
“Why have you begun reading such texts involving witchcraft and heretical practices?”
“Yi Ze, you must always remember—what sustains the Cui clan is the teachings of the sages, practical governance, and the rites and rules!”
He added sternly, “Not these deceptive, mind-confusing side paths. Reading too much of them will only disturb your mind, bring no benefit, and damage your reputation.”
Cui Weijin’s expression remained calm as he cupped his hands. “Father’s teaching is correct.”
“I merely came across this book by chance and browsed it briefly. I will not indulge in such matters. Please be assured.”
Duke Cui looked at him deeply for a moment, said nothing further, and left the ancestral hall with his hands clasped behind his back.
Cui Weijin stood in place for a while, then slowly walked back to the offering table and picked up the scroll again.
He opened it, his gaze falling on the page he had been reading—
“Techniques of bewitching the mind are often recorded in strange tales, yet lack evidence and are largely false.”
“In the previous dynasty, a concubine used such methods to gain favor; when discovered, her entire clan was executed.”
Bewitching techniques.
Unbidden, another image surfaced before his eyes—the bold peach-blossom eyes from the banquet and that flirtatious wink.
Then in the courtyard, her unruly posture as she sat atop the pile of people, swinging her legs, along with those blunt, unrestrained thoughts that had unsettled him.
Lively? Impulsive?
As he turned over his own earlier evaluation of the Princess, another image appeared—Cui Huai’s face, always timid in front of him.
Could someone so meek and lacking in initiative truly be worthy of such a vivid, piercingly alive presence?
…
At the Zheng Residence, Hall of Longevity.
A sharp slap landed squarely across Zheng Yingying’s face.
Her whole body staggered to the side. She covered her cheek as tears welled up, yet she did not dare cry aloud.
Grandmother Zheng withdrew her hand, rolling her prayer beads. “Useless thing—accomplishing nothing, yet ruining everything.”
Zheng Yingying trembled even more.
“How have I taught you all this time?” Grandmother Zheng’s gaze fell on the hand covering her face. “Even if hatred fills your heart to the brim, your outward behavior must remain flawless!”
“If you act, you must leave no evidence. If you speak, no fault should be found. Yet you…”
The prayer beads struck heavily against the purple sandalwood table.
“You led people to block that Princess who just returned from Lingyang?”
“What exactly is in your head?”
Zheng Yingying kowtowed repeatedly, her forehead hitting the stone floor. “Grandmother, please calm your anger! Your granddaughter knows her mistake!”
“I truly know I was wrong!”
“You know?” Grandmother Zheng sneered. “The most foolish thing was that you dared to point at Cui Weijin’s nose and curse him!”
Zheng Yingying’s face turned deathly pale. Her lips trembled, unable to form words.
“Who gave you such courage?”
“What kind of person is Cui Weijin? The Chancellor! Even your father must yield to him in court!”
“You pointed at him and accused him of favoritism? Are you tired of your father’s stability in court, or do you think the Zheng family’s life has been too comfortable?”
“That’s not it—I was just blinded by anger at the time,” Zheng Yingying hurriedly tried to explain.
“Silence!” Grandmother Zheng snapped sharply, then turned to the still-silent Duke Zheng.
“This is the fine daughter you have raised!”