The most dissolute couple in the capital

The Cui family's residence is located in a deep alley in Yongningfang. It has blue bricks and gray tiles, and an old plaque with the words "Cui Mansion" hanging above the door has become somewhat mottled.

The location wasn't particularly good or bad in Chang'an. Three streets to the east lay the bustling East Market, and a half-hour walk to the west would take you to the foot of the imperial city. Compared to the grand mansions that occupied entire neighborhoods, the Cui family's three-courtyard house seemed rather shabby, but it was clean and tidy, with a few bamboo stalks planted along the courtyard wall, giving it a touch of refined elegance.

After all, they were a branch of the Cui family of Qinghe.

Although it's just a side branch.

Cui Qingyi sat on the low couch in her room, wearing a slightly worn lotus-colored cotton dress. She held a bowl of hot ginger soup in her hands, taking a sip and burning her tongue, then taking another sip and burning her tongue again.

While at the Princess's residence, her cousin Cui Lingyi was very thoughtful. She not only took her to a side room to change into a spare guest's robe provided by the residence, but also personally supervised the maid to dry her hair. Although the robe was made of ordinary silk and was even a bit too big and ill-fitting, it was still better than wearing that wet and cold "burden" back to the residence by carriage.

Now that she's back in her own little world, with the familiar, faint, cool fragrance lingering around her nose, she can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Miss, you scared me to death!"

Her personal maid, Su Xin, wiped the dampness from the ends of her hair with a dry handkerchief, her eyes red as she murmured, "What kind of place is that cold pool? You are a precious person; if something were to happen to you, how would I live?"

Su Xin was both shocked and frightened: "That's too scary, jumping into the water..."

"It's alright," Cui Qingyi squinted, feeling the warmth of the ginger soup sliding down her throat. "Not only is it alright, but our good days are probably just around the corner."

Su Xin was completely confused.

Before the two had finished talking or eating, a commotion came from outside.

First, there were faint sounds of voices coming from the main courtyard; it was the footsteps of stepmother Li.

Having lived a second life, Cui Qingyi has a different perspective on her stepmother.

Li Shi did not intentionally mistreat her; rather, as a stepmother, she always played it safe when facing the only legitimate daughter left behind by her stepmother.

Li was somewhat rigid in her manners and was determined to maintain the prestige of the Cui family, which inevitably made her actions a bit old-fashioned.

"You may all step back."

Li entered the room and coldly dismissed Suxin.

As soon as the door closed, Li's already tense face completely collapsed. She didn't sit down, but stood before the bed, her gaze complex as she stared at Cui Qingyi: "Now that you're at peace, you even have the mind to drink ginger soup? Do you know what you've done today?"

Cui Qingyi: I know, she earned herself the position of a first-rank princess.

But she simply lowered her eyes, her voice tinged with grievance: "My daughter just... saw someone was about to drown, and acted rashly..."

"In a moment of panic?" Madam Li's voice suddenly rose a fraction of an inch. "If anything were to happen to Prince Liang, and the Emperor were to take his anger out on us, our whole family would be executed! You jumped into the water in front of everyone, getting into an indecent encounter with a man—don't you care about your reputation?"

As she finished speaking, a hint of undisguised resentment crept into Li's voice. She had been humiliated in front of everyone that day, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt that Cui Qingyi was responsible for making her unable to hold her head high in the social circle of wealthy women.

Li said, enunciating each word clearly, "My body has already been seen by others, how can we talk about marriage now?"

Cui Qingyi continued to lower her head and play the role of an obedient student, but in her heart she was thinking: Yes, yes, I can't say it anymore, it's too tragic, then I can only marry the Prince of Liang, waaaaah, I'm so pitiful.

Li Shi obviously didn't see through her inner thoughts. Seeing that her eyes were red, she assumed that she was really scared and softened her tone slightly: "Don't go out for now. Let's discuss it when your father comes back."

After saying that, Li got up and left.

After Cui Qingyi had gone far away, she picked up the bowl of ginger soup again and drank as much as she could, because she wanted to live a long life.

---

Cui's father, Cui Zhiyuan, returned in the afternoon.

He was on duty in the Secretariat, a sixth-rank secretary, responsible for managing classics and books. The position was not high, the work was not much, and the salary was not high, but Cui Zhiyuan worked diligently because he felt that this job was most in line with the family tradition of the Cui clan of Qinghe: to be honest and upright, without vying for power or personal gain.

Cui Zhiyuan had a refined appearance. He was in his early forties, with a thin face and a beard of medium length. He wore a dark blue official robe that had been washed several times.

When he returned to the main room, Madam Li had already recounted the events of the flower-viewing banquet, highlighting the key points.

After listening, Cui Zhiyuan remained silent for a long time.

He sat behind his desk, his fingers unconsciously stroking an open volume of the Book of Rites, his brow furrowed in a frown.

"Qingyi, that child..." Cui Zhiyuan's voice was a little hoarse. The first thing he asked about was his daughter's condition. "Was she frightened? Is she alright? After all, it was early spring and the pond was still cold."

A hint of impatience flashed in Madam Li's eyes, but she maintained a polite and concerned expression: "We've already had a doctor examine her, and she's had ginger soup. She's fine. It's just..."

She sighed and steered the conversation toward what truly concerned her: "My lord, there were so many people and so much gossip at the flower-viewing banquet today. Qingyi... she jumped into the water in front of so many people and even had intimate relations with His Highness Prince Liang. I'm afraid this matter can no longer be kept secret."

Cui Zhiyuan closed his eyes briefly: "My Cui family has been a family of scholars for generations, with strict family traditions. We have never seen such...such a heretical act!" He was heartbroken. "I know her intention was to save someone, but how could an unmarried young woman act like this? How will she find a husband in the future? What will outsiders think of the Cui family's reputation?"

These words were exactly what Madam Li wanted to hear. Seeing that the time was right, she followed up on Cui Zhiyuan's words, saying, "What you say is true, sir. I know you love Qingyi, but the more you love her, the more you must consider her future. The flower viewing banquet is for matchmaking, and those families value etiquette. I'm afraid Qingyi's marriage... is in jeopardy."

Cui Zhiyuan swayed, his expression turning even more grim.

Madam Li continued her analysis unhurriedly: "Right now, the most troublesome issue isn't the Zheng family, but rather His Highness Prince Liang. We are his subjects, and he is his sovereign. If nothing happens to him, all is well, but if something truly does happen to him, and His Majesty punishes us, our entire family will be unable to bear the consequences."

"Even if His Highness is unharmed, if the palace looks at us with more respect because of this, outsiders will say that the Cui family is so scheming as to use our daughter's innocence to curry favor with the powerful. If this dirty water is poured on us, what will become of our century-old reputation as a family of upright officials?"

With each word she spoke, Cui Zhiyuan's expression darkened further.

She paused at the opportune moment, stepped forward to refill Cui Zhiyuan's cup of hot tea, and said with utmost humility, "My lord, I am also a woman, and I know how important reputation is to a young lady. Rumors are inevitable in the capital right now, so perhaps..."

"Let Qingyi stay at the villa outside the city for a while. Tell everyone that she was frightened and is feeling unwell, and needs to rest. This way, we can save face for her and also let us observe the situation and see what the rules are in the palace."

This sounded like a reasonable arrangement. Cui Zhiyuan's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and he pondered for a moment before saying, "...Alright."

Madam Li sighed, "But what if this storm doesn't pass? She'll eventually have to get married. With such a reputation, what good family will she find in the capital? I'm afraid this child will suffer..."

Cui Zhiyuan remained silent, a profound sense of powerlessness gripping him.