I, who disguised myself as a woman, turned out to be a queen! ?

Chapter 1175 The Daughter in the Message, the Panicked Father

The courtyard was quiet, with a gentle breeze and a soft moon. Cui Yu, the current head of the Cui family, dressed in a light blue robe, sat in his own courtyard admiring the moon reflected in the water.

Is this courtyard separate from the Cui residence, or was it purchased separately and then connected to the Cui residence by opening a doorway in that wall?

The large courtyard contains a small two-story building, a small pharmacy, and flowerbeds and ponds everywhere else.

Only Cui Yu lives here. It looks quiet and elegant, but in reality, it's just Cui Yu being a 'self-admirer'.

Winter plum blossoms are three inches thick.

The medicine stove under the eaves boils day and night.

One person sweeps.

A photo of one person.

Regardless, the courtyard was orderly and filled with blooming flowers, each vying for attention.

The carp in the pond suddenly leaped out.

Ripples on the pond, wrinkles appear on the moon.

Cui Yu smiled lightly, stood up, and went back into the house. When he came out, he was carrying a white bowl filled with a juice made from some kind of medicinal herbs. In his other hand, he was holding a small wooden-handled brush. He dipped the brush into the juice in the bowl, brushed his teeth, took a sip, raised his head, made a gurgling sound in his throat, and then spat it out. He then repeated the same action.

As Cui Yu bent down to pour out the medicine in the bowl, he looked up and saw his niece standing in the doorway. He smiled slightly and said, "What are you doing standing there? Trying to scare me by pretending to be a ghost?"

Cui Yu'er grinned; she had actually been planning to do just that.

Her relationship with her second uncle has always been playful and teasing, even since she was a child. When she was little, her second uncle would always take her to play everywhere, and this continued even as she grew up.

However, right behind Cui Yu'er, Cui Zheng also walked in, but Cui Zheng was carrying a food box in one hand and a pot of wine in the other.

Of the three Cui brothers, Cui Zheng was the youngest, except for Cui Yu'er, whose father died early. Although he did not serve as an official in the court, he was recruited by Mu Xu to compile the history section of the monumental work that encompasses all of history.

Therefore, Cui Zheng is still in the capital and has not gone to Yan to see the traces left by that great battle, so as to record it truthfully.

Upon seeing the items in Cui Zheng's hands, Cui Yu laughed and scolded, "Yu'er, fine, but why did you come along too? Did someone approach you, trying to get through my connections to pass this year's Enke interview? These days, quite a few people have been trying to socialize with you."

Cui Zheng immediately shook his head: "What kind of person do you take me for, Cui Yu? You dare to joke with me like this? Although I didn't pass the imperial examination back then, I was still a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examinations). I know the hardships of studying hard for years. Over the years, I've seen more and know that it's even more difficult for those from poor families. I can also see that this reform and innovation of the special imperial examination, although it's an experiment, is because His Majesty, the Empress, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, and others want to give more students opportunities. Do you think I'd pay attention to those who want to use my connections to find you?"

Seeing Cui Yu casually pour the medicine from his hand into the flowerbed.

Cui Zheng asked curiously, "Can simply using the broth made from boiled dandelion really strengthen teeth?"

Cui Yu smiled and said, "Have you ever seen me have any problems with my teeth? I can eat both hot and cold food without any problems. Besides, this dandelion recipe was made for me by your sister-in-law back then, so it must be correct."

After saying that, Cui Yu looked at Cui Yu'er who ran into his study, "Moreover, this yellow chrysanthemum is a good thing. Although it can be found everywhere, it is an indispensable tonic in many prescriptions. Didn't you see that your father has far fewer white hairs than people of the same age?"

Cui Zheng has always been a scholar of history, but he actually knows very little about these things.

Looking at her second brother, she decided to get straight to the point: "My sister-in-law told me that Qingnu received the booklet and said that you were very happy, so I brought some wine over."

Cui Yu didn't speak immediately, but watched as Cui Yu'er secretly stuffed the two books into her sleeve. He immediately scolded, "Cui Yu'er! Put them back! You come here thinking of stealing books. Do you believe I'll go and talk to Lord Gao about this tomorrow?"

Upon hearing this, Cui Yu'er immediately became unhappy. As she put the two books back, she muttered, "You're so stingy! It's one thing to be stingy with me, but you're stingy with Qingnu too. We haven't seen each other for so long, and you didn't even prepare a gift. No wonder I dislike you."

The voice was very soft, but Cui Yu heard it clearly. Looking at his niece, he was at a loss for words.

However, Cui Yu waved his hand, too lazy to pay attention, and turned back to point to the tables and chairs on one side of the pond: "Today's banquet for noblewomen was so interesting, the historians must have recorded it all. Why don't you make a separate record? Why are you worrying about this?"

Cui Zheng said, "This year, Her Majesty has come up with a unique idea, bestowing upon all the ladies of the court, in addition to the usual items, a number of sachets. Although the embroidery on the sachets is clumsy, it is clear that Her Majesty the Empress herself sewed them without the help of palace maids. Moreover, some of them contain medicinal herbs to repel summer mosquitoes, while others contain various grains, melon seeds, and fruit seeds, which they are to give to their relatives, friends, and children in their respective families to pray for a bountiful harvest and a prosperous new year. This also symbolizes that wealthy and scholarly families have sufficient granaries and know proper etiquette."

As Cui Zheng took out food from the food box, he said, "Besides these, there are also interesting dolls. Even Father finds them fascinating. As for how Your Majesty does these things, the historians will naturally record it, but I will have to go to the other ladies and ask the palace officials I know to confirm. I will record it in much more detail. All of this will be written into the Empress's Biography and Your Majesty's Annals in the Grand Ceremony."

Cui Yu cursed, "The Empress is still alive, what annals are you talking about! Drink a cup yourself."

Cui Zheng immediately realized his slip of the tongue and quickly punished himself with a drink.

However, Cui Yu continued, "Your Majesty always comes up with these kinds of things. But it's just a banquet for noblewomen. In previous years, it was just a formality. After all, it's a trip to the palace, and the rules are so strict. Everyone is very careful and cautious. They dare not speak or eat too much. This time, my sister-in-law said she drank several cups."

Cui Yu'er's sleeves were bulging as she took a small stool and sat down: "Mother got drunk from drinking fruit juice, not alcohol. That stuff was so delicious, and it was made by Your Majesty. Compared to what we drink, it was sweet and sour. I'm thinking of asking Your Majesty for the recipe when I see you again."

Cui Yu saw the book peeking out from Cui Yu'er's sleeve and smiled helplessly, but didn't say anything more. However, looking at his younger brother, Cui Yu chuckled: "Actually, I'm quite grateful to the Empress. She never interfered with my affairs with Qing Nu. Although she didn't help me, she didn't help Qing Nu either. On the contrary, she respected Qing Nu's choices very much."

As he spoke, he picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. "If Your Majesty had truly helped either me or Qingnu, it would have put me in a difficult position. The current situation is just right. Moreover, Qingnu has seen the notes and learned some of the truth. She will eventually realize that her mother did not abandon her on purpose."

Cui Zheng looked at Cui Yu, then lowered his head and remained silent.

Back then, he was only in his early twenties and was studying in his hometown of Qinghe to prepare for the imperial examinations, so he didn't know much about what was happening in the capital.

All I remember is that my second brother was extremely excited at the time, insisting on dragging him out for drinks. After they got completely drunk, he looked at him and said, "From now on, you'll be more than just Yu'er as a nephew."

At that time, Cui Zheng didn't understand, but he thought that his second grandfather and third grandfather's children were pregnant.

But a few months later, when his second brother finished his business and returned to the capital, he went with him.

But when they arrived, the second brother suddenly went crazy and started arguing with his parents, even threatening to give up his official position.

He only learned the details of the matter later.

Seeing that the atmosphere had suddenly turned sour, Cui Yu'er immediately said, "I asked the embroiderer in my family to make a doll of Qingnu based on the one the Empress made. I'll bring it to you, Second Uncle, when it's finished."

Cui Yu looked at Cui Yu'er and smiled, "Which of my books have you taken a fancy to but are too embarrassed to take?"

Cui Yu'er gave an awkward smile.

Cui Zheng sighed and said, "When Mother passed away in our hometown of Qinghe, she kept saying she regretted it and apologized to you. Even Father has kept this in mind all these years, and he..."

At this point, Cui Zheng noticed that Cui Yu seemed to be completely uninterested in listening, and pointed at Cui Yu'er's sleeve while laughing.

It was always like this. Whenever Mother was mentioned, my second brother would react the same way. It wasn't so much that he didn't want to listen, but rather that he simply didn't want to talk about it.

Cui Zheng stood up, bowed to Cui Yu, and then drank the wine in one gulp.

Seeing this, Cui Yu smiled and said, "Why do you have to be like this? Just say what you want to say. She is still my mother. She carried me for ten months and suffered a lot. This is a debt of gratitude that I will never forget. So it's not wrong for you to mention your mother."

Cui Zheng looked at Cui Yu: "You never forgave her back then either."

Cui Yu picked up the wine pot and poured wine for Cui Zheng, speaking simply and bluntly: "Why forgive her! Just because she's our mother?"

Cui Zheng frowned: "It was my fault for asking."

Why forgive?

Yes. Why should we forgive?

Cui Zheng didn't understand before.

But as he grew older, he married and had children. From the first time he heard that his wife was pregnant to the sight of his son as an infant.

But I'm coming to understand my second brother more and more.

That emotional rollercoaster, from ecstasy to madness, and then to fury.

Even Cui Zheng, upon seeing his weak wife lying on the bed covered in sweat and his infant son in swaddling clothes, felt an inexplicable urge to fight to the death if anyone dared to harm them.

Moreover, his second brother, although a scholar, had a very unruly and eccentric personality.

Cui Yu said, “She gave me life and raised me; I know she is my mother. This is human nature, and I am grateful. It is also my duty as a son. She was seriously ill, and I stayed by her bedside to take care of her. This is filial piety, and it is what I should do. My elder brother is not here, so naturally I will shoulder the responsibility of being filial to my parents. But what does all this have to do with her, her clan, and Cui Du for driving away my pregnant wife, preventing me from recognizing my daughter for more than ten years, and causing my wife to die like that? As a mother, can you trample on your children's lives at will?”

Cui Zheng looked at Cui Yu's calm expression and remained silent.

Cui Yu'er, on the other hand, wanted to say something to liven up the atmosphere, but what could she say given the current situation?

When I arrived, I was afraid that my taciturn third uncle would say these things and upset my second uncle.

Sure enough!

but
Cui Yu'er actually knew a little about this matter; she learned about it unintentionally from her mother.

However, her mother didn't say much; she found out about it herself after doing some research.

The Yu family of Huinan was my grandmother's maternal family.

Although it could not compare to the Cui family of Qinghe, it was still a very powerful and prestigious family, but it vanished overnight.

In addition to her, her fifth aunt, whom she had never met before, was also investigated.

Although no one told her.

However, what Cui Yu'er discovered was that back then, after her second uncle seized the position of head of the Cui family from her grandfather, he took action against those people after her grandmother passed away.

He couldn't do anything to his grandmother because he was her son.

But apart from the grandmother, no one escaped being implicated; they were all dealt with by the second uncle.

Although Cui Yu'er still doesn't believe that her usually gentle and refined second uncle could do such a thing.

Cui Zheng picked up his glass: "Brother, I didn't understand before, but now you know, no matter what you say or do, I understand you and support you."

Upon hearing this, Cui Yu looked at Cui Zheng with a disgusted expression: "How can you be so mushy? No wonder Lin You doesn't like you."

Upon hearing this, Cui Zheng immediately curled his lip.

Cui Yu'er immediately chimed in, "That's right, that's right. Lin You smiles at everyone, but he cries nonstop when he sees Third Uncle."

At this point, Cui Yu'er looked at Cui Zheng and said, "You're really not liked by your own son."

Cui Zheng's eyebrows were shaped like the number eight. Looking at Cui Yu'er, he felt as if a knife had stabbed his heart.

Cui Yu smiled; he was all too familiar with this feeling.

But Cui Yu looked at his younger brother and chuckled, "What I just said wasn't meant to be a downer; it just happened in the course of our conversation. I know that Father is still in Qinghe, and he wanted me, the head of the family, to perform the ancestral rites this year. If I'm not there, and they bring this up, I'll tell them that my filial piety was fulfilled while she was alive, and I even carried her coffin after she died. As for paying respects to her, that's none of my business! Before she died, I made these things clear to her, and it's none of anyone else's place to gossip. If they insist on making a fuss about me, or trying to ruin my daughter's reputation and cause a huge uproar, let them remember that although I don't concern myself with the Cui family's affairs, I am still the head of the family, and I still call the shots in the Cui family."

Finally, Cui Yu picked up his wine and calmly took a sip.

Cui Zheng nodded.

Cui Yu'er nodded in agreement.

"Master! Master!"

However, just as Cui Yu was about to scold Cui Yu'er and the book was about to get crumpled, a voice came from outside the courtyard.

Just then, Cui Yu's steward rushed over in a great hurry.

Upon reaching the courtyard gate, panting heavily, he said, "Master, the palace is Lu...Lu Diao Temple."

Upon hearing the title "Lu Diao Si," Cui Yu and the other two immediately stood up.

The eunuch beside the Empress was a young man, but he was already dressed in light red clothes and served her closely in the Lingqi Pavilion.

He is also known as the "Blood Silkworm" in the martial arts world.

This is no secret in the capital.

"Take a breath and talk properly," Cui Yu said immediately, looking at him.

After taking a few deep breaths, the steward took out a piece of paper from his pocket: "Lu Diaosi, the Empress's attendant, just came and asked me to give this to you. He also said that the Empress will bring the Second Miss to the mansion tomorrow."

Is Qing Nu coming?

After a moment of hesitation, Cui Yu rushed to the courtyard gate and took the papers from the steward.

Upon opening it, I discovered that the characters were unique; only the Empress could have written them.

'Do your best tomorrow'

Cui Yu pursed his lips, then looked at the steward and said, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and prepare! Tell my sister-in-law, the old master, the empress, and Qing Nu that they're coming. And bring all the medicinal herbs I've stored in the storeroom."

Cui Yu panicked a little, looking down at her clothes, then turning to Cui Yu'er: "Is my outfit bad?"

Cui Zheng looked at Cui Yu: "Brother, you're not coming until tomorrow."

Cui Yu frowned: "Prepare early! That child likes medicinal herbs just like her mother. Take them all out, put the rare ones aside, and throw the ordinary ones back in the storeroom. Yes, let's go to the Su residence. I heard that You Li is from Raojiang?"

Cui Yu looked at Cui Yu'er.

Cui Yu'er nodded. The last time she saw her second uncle in such a panic was when her sister Qingnu was coming to the mansion.

……

PS: This might be the only update today. I want to take a break. I'll make up for the missed update with a big one tomorrow morning.

(End of this chapter)