The most dissolute couple in the capital

When Cui Lingyi returned to her residence, it was already nearly dusk.

The carriage passed through Zhuque Avenue, and the lights of Chang'an City were just coming on in the twilight. The sounds of string and wind instruments came from the restaurants and teahouses along the street, creating a lively atmosphere.

But Cui Lingyi leaned against the car wall, her smile not quite genuine.

When choosing a husband, a woman should consider his family background, character, and future prospects.

Wang Yu possessed all three qualities, so it was understandable that his mother favored him.

Cui Lingyi lifted the carriage curtain and saw a young couple walking side by side on the street. The man was gently waving a folding fan in his hand, and the woman was smiling radiantly.

Who was that woman again?

Cui Lingyi frowned, unable to recall for a moment.

After much deliberation, Cui Lingyi decided not to go directly to her mother.

My mother came from the Wang family of Taiyuan, and she naturally viewed her nephews with a special affection. If I were to speak to them rashly, I would probably be seen as a young girl being unreasonable.

The next day, she found an opportunity to speak with her own elder brother, Cui Lingchen, alone.

"Brother," Cui Lingyi placed a bowl of carefully stewed bird's nest soup on Cui Lingchen's desk, speaking casually, "I heard that Mother has been worrying about my marriage lately, and even mentioned my cousin from the Wang family?"

Cui Lingchen put down his book and laughed, "What's wrong? Has our Lingyi reached the age of shyness?"

Cui Lingyi glared at him, but her expression turned serious: "Brother, we are siblings from the same mother, so I won't beat around the bush with you. Marriage is a major life event, and I am truly uneasy about it. My cousin from the Wang family is renowned for his talent, which is certainly good, but the son of a general from the Xiao family doesn't seem to be without merit either. I just want... to know more clearly before making a decision."

She only said half of what she meant, but Cui Lingchen, being so intelligent, immediately understood what his sister meant. He put away his joking expression, pondered for a moment, and said, "What are you worried about?"

Cui Lingyi bit her lip and whispered, "What can a young lady worry about? Nothing more than marrying the wrong person and wasting the rest of her life in the sordid affairs of the inner quarters. Brother, you have wide connections, could you... could you privately inquire about the true character of these two young masters?"

Seeing the rare earnestness and vulnerability in his younger sister's eyes, Cui Lingchen felt a chill run down his spine and nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, leave this to me."

Cui Lingchen sat behind his desk and tapped his index finger lightly twice on the table.

He hadn't expected his sister to bring up Xiao Jue on her own initiative. His mother favored Wang Yu, and while she hadn't explicitly rejected the Xiao family, her attitude wasn't exactly warm. If his sister truly had feelings for the Xiao family, things would likely require some effort.

However, finding out who someone is not difficult for him at all.

He studied at the Imperial Academy, where his classmates were from all the prominent families of Chang'an, and he was very well-informed. Moreover, Wang Yu himself was a prominent figure at the Imperial Academy, so news about him was readily available to anyone who wanted to inquire.

Just three days later, he appeared in Cui Lingyi's room, dressed in twilight.

"Brother, did you find out?" Cui Lingyi put down her embroidery frame and looked up at him.

Cui Lingchen sat down opposite her, sighed, and then slowly began to speak.

"Wang Yu's surroundings are indeed not peaceful."

Cui Lingyi's fingers tightened slightly.

"Who is it?"

"A cousin of Wang Yu's, surnamed Shen, whose given name is Zhilan, lives with the Wang family. Her parents died early, and she has been raised by the Wang family since she was five years old. This Miss Shen is well-versed in poetry and literature and skilled in painting. She and Wang Yu grew up together since childhood, and the two of them once wrote a poem called 'Shuangyan Ci' together at the Autumn Poetry Festival last year, which made them somewhat famous in the literary world."

Cui Lingyi's face gradually darkened.

"The Song of Two Swallows? Two swallows in pairs."

"Hmm." Cui Lingchen nodded. "I also asked around in the inner courtyard. Miss Shen's studio is right next to Wang Yu's study, and the two of them have quite a lot of contact. The Wang family is used to it..."

He didn't say what he was going to say next, but the two of them understood each other perfectly.

The Wang family has no intention of resolving this issue before Wang Yucheng's marriage. It's even possible that the Wang family plans to keep this Miss Shen by Wang Yucheng's side in some capacity.

Cui Lingyi was born into the direct line of the Cui clan of Qinghe. Her father was the Minister of Personnel, and her mother was the eldest daughter of the Wang clan of Taiyuan. If she were to marry into that clan, she would be a proper and respectable wife of a high-ranking family.

As a result, upon entering the house, she was confronted with a "cousin" who had been her husband's childhood sweetheart since they were young, with whom he shared poetry and had a deep bond.

What's the difference between this and deliberately seeking suffering?

"Where's Xiao Jue?" Cui Lingyi's voice was tense. "How is he doing?"

Cui Lingchen's lips curled up slightly:

"As for Xiao Jue, I asked my friends in the military. He has been training in the northern military camp for many years and has an extremely upright character. Not to mention female confidantes, even the maids who serve him tea and water are all over fifty years old—it is said that Madam Xiao arranged them personally, for fear that her son would be corrupted outside."

Cui Lingyi: "..."

"In short," Cui Lingchen said seriously, his smile fading, "Wang Yu's side is indeed true; it's not just hearsay. As for matters close to home, Xiao Jue's side is much cleaner."

He stood up and patted off non-existent dust from the hem of his clothes.

"Don't tell Mother about this. It's not good for a daughter to pry into her future husband's private affairs. I have my own way of dealing with Mother."

Cui Lingyi breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and bowed to her elder brother: "Thank you, brother."

"What are you thanking me for?" Cui Lingchen waved his hand. "You're my sister. If I don't care about you, am I supposed to care about my future brother-in-law?"

Cui Lingyi's ears turned slightly red: "Brother!"

"No problem, no problem." Cui Lingchen smiled and went out the door with light steps.