Chapter 475: Chapter 475

The two stone lions standing outside the Marquis Yangling Mansion have witnessed the decline and prosperity of the Cui family, yet they remain as solemn and majestic as ever.

"Why do you remember to come pay respects to this old woman? Is it especially to thank the Cui family for their years of nurturing grace?" Dowager Cui paused in her fingering of the prayer beads.

"I’ve heard the official family intends to grant a Prince Mansion, and the Ministry of Industry has planned the blueprints and intends to start construction. When we meet again, I should rightly address you as ’Prince’."

Her face still bore a kind and benevolent expression, yet her words were all laced with thorns.

Cui Yunrong’s complexion turned pale, his demeanor respectful and constrained. Although he did not return, he was aware that Dowager Cui had fallen ill after hearing the news.

Cui Xuan’s eyebrows knitted slightly, softly calling: "Mother-in-law."

"Ah Yue, do you still care for him?"

"I am old indeed, but not so senile as to be confused."

Dowager Cui stared firmly at Cui Yun: "In the past, everyone praised your intelligence, saying you never made a mistake. You always managed to find solutions to problems with ease, except for this time you’ve hit a deadlock, having to be personally pleaded with by an elder before you’re willing to come back to see this old woman. What’s wrong, can’t this be mentioned?"

She knew that the outside world was endlessly discussing the matter.

Even several ladies came to visit and greet, saying polite pleasantries, but in silence, they conveyed a clear message.

——Your Cui family is without an heir.

She was so angry about this that she fainted.

But who could she blame for such an affair?

Upon reflection, nobody was at fault.

And nobody could have calculated that the Prince Huai’an Mansion could make a comeback. The thing that Old Master Cui had hidden for many years was eventually revealed, as no secret can be kept forever.

She spoke with a melancholic tone: "I remember when you were young and spirited, humble and yet arrogant. I remember even more clearly that after the Cui family’s crisis, you changed completely, sticking to the rules out of fear that someone would find fault in you, diligently attending to me beside my sickbed, considerately caring for your Mama, not to mention Rong, whom you expertly raised all by yourself. If not for your low-profile composure, your grandfather’s position would have collapsed long ago, as would have the entire Cui family."

She slowly stood up with the help of a cane, tapping it on the floor: "Blood relations are indeed important, yet for nineteen years, you have borne the surname Cui! What now, you refuse to acknowledge it? If this is the case today, it will certainly be the same for all future years. I’d like to see who dares to utter a word of gossip in front of me!"

Cui Yun felt an indescribable swirl of emotions until he heard Dowager Cui say.

"Last night, the official family came."

Ji Teng wasn’t wearing the Dragon Robe, dressed in the most ordinary casual clothes.

Cui Rongyan’s eyes were red, glaring unwelcomingly at him: "Are you here to steal my second uncle’s place?"

"Rong, do not be rude!"

Ji Teng kneeled down towards the Cui family elders: "With this additional identity, he will always be a descendant of the Cui family."

"Please stand, Your Highness. How could this be proper?" Old Master Cui hurriedly stepped forward to assist.

Ji Teng showed no trace of arrogance, only a smile: "Old Master, this younger one ought to kowtow in gratitude."

Dowager Cui looked at Cui Yun and spoke, her expression turning gentle: "The Cui family’s fortune is thin, unable to retain that child, but heaven is kind, having brought you to us."

Ji Teng personally took charge.

And those students who had been dismissed were summoned to the palace, the Grand Tutor along with the Hanlin Academy coordinating to set the exam topics, choosing talented individuals outside of standard procedures to fill vacant positions.

Although this move was bold, no one raised objections.

During these days, even if Cui Yun had the intention, he was too busy to find the opportunity to pick up Shen Hua. Not only him, but Xie Xun was also so busy he could hardly touch the ground. The matter had to be delayed again and again.

Unlike their busyness, Shen Hua was also busy.

She no longer taught lessons and would always lock herself in the room embroidering for half the day, shrouded in mystery. As the weather turned cooler, Shen Hua felt inclined to go out after lunch. Partly to avoid straining her eyes, and partly to visit various stores, occasionally stopping by Muchun Garden to enjoy a play, completely without the intention of returning to Shengjing.

"Zhou Zhizhi went into labor last night. She gave birth to a daughter."

Zheng Qianyu brought the news: "Her mother-in-law threw quite a fit. She scolded her for being a disappointment, drinking all those childbirth remedies from outside every day, only to give birth to a money-losing proposition."

Shen Hua narrowed her eyes: "Childbirth remedies?"

"Bunch of nonsense remedies. I asked about it long ago, it’s just some incense ash from the Daoist School. What use could that have? Utter foolishness. It’d be better to do more charity with sincerity, but even that can’t persuade the Daoist priests there. Not afraid of getting sick from it, creating such a fuss."

"These days the He Family’s situation is getting more and more difficult. I heard the money to pay the midwife was also given by Mrs. Zhou who rushed over afterwards. You’ve met Mrs. Zhou before, she and her daughter Zhou Zhizhi are like white lotuses. Naturally, she couldn’t out-scold Mrs. He. Still, it caused quite a scene. If Mrs. He hadn’t still considered Zhou Zhizhi’s parents, she might have even contemplated giving her granddaughter away."

The girl sneered coldly: "They really are generous."

This kind of thing, in fact, is quite common.

Clearly, if He Chu would just lower his ’proud backbone’ a bit and spend some time copying books every day, his Scholar status would be enough to provide for the whole family.

"When I was passing by, I even saw Mrs. He waiting at the porridge stand you set up, shamelessly hoping to scrape something off of you."

Shen Hua didn’t take this to heart.

"Can’t be bothered to deal with these people any longer."

Zheng Qianyu was surprised: "Oh, this doesn’t sound like Miss Shen’s usual style."

Shen Hua rested her hand on the table, her index finger bent, knocking on the table with style intermittently.

"Lady Mi, you might as well grow up a bit, to others, it’s charity, to the He Family, it’s just alms."

Just... not very convinced.

She looked at Shen Hua suspiciously, wondering if she was just trying to glorify herself. The source of thɪs content is novel_fіre.net

Under her scrutiny, Shen Hua was composed and dignified.

It wasn’t until two hours later that Wang Xu arrived.

"Do you have any idea what fantastic drama I stumbled upon? I saw an old woman wailing on the ground, had to take a few more glances."

Wang Xu looked at Shen Hua excitedly: "How great a blood feud does this person have with her foster mother? It’s just a bowl of porridge, yet Ningzhu told her to roll back where she came from. She proclaimed that even if the porridge were left for the dogs on the ground, she wouldn’t give her a single grain of rice."

"Then I saw that old woman shamelessly refuse to leave, but she did say something."

Zheng Qianyu: "What did she say?"

He Chu imitated the tone: "The mistress said, there’s no reason to beg without extending a hand. If your family can’t afford to eat, you are welcome to look for work at the embroidery workshop, we just happen to need someone to empty the night pots. Birds of a feather flock together, you’d be quite suitable,"

After he finished speaking, he asked, "How did she offend you?"

Zheng Qianyu found it hard to explain.

Yangyang, being called out: ...

"Is there a problem?"

She lifted her chin: "I don’t go looking for trouble with the He Family, that alone shows my nobility. She should be quietly grateful, yet she dares to jump around under my nose, that’s just asking for trouble."

"Furthermore, did I say anything wrong?"

"Telling her to earn money with her own hands rather than taking advantages everywhere. That’s teaching her how to live!"

Shen Hua: "Did she agree?"

He Chu: "After getting up and calling you shameless, she ran off."

"At such an old age, close to the grave, and still not heeding advice."