Marrying a treacherous official

The carriage made its way through the North Gate just as the last rays of the setting sun faded.

Yunji took the pillow handed to her by Granny Kong and placed it behind her back to lean against, which relieved a lot of the soreness and fatigue in her back.

"Madam, you've had a long journey. You've rushed here and finally made it through the city gate before dark. This old servant will now tell the coachman to slow down so that you won't be jostled."

"The old woman must be exhausted from the bumpy journey."

Yunji pulled her hand and made her sit down closer. "From now on, you can just have Huachao and Chunxuan handle these errands."

Upon hearing this, Hua Chao stood up, lifted the carriage curtain, and instructed the driver outside to slowly drive the carriage forward.

Sitting in the carriage, Granny Kong felt a mix of emotions as she thought about returning to the Cui family mansion after many years.

"How are you doing these days, sir?"

"The old woman knows the young master's temperament. No one in the mansion dares to give him a hard time, not even the Lady of the Marquis."

Yun Ji said slowly, "Besides, the new emperor has been too fond of you, so even if some officials want to impeach you in court, they can't do so for the time being because of the new emperor's imperial power."

Upon hearing this, Granny Kong frowned and shook her head, muttering to herself, "Master shouldn't have done this."

Yunji looked at her, puzzled.

As Granny Kong recalled the past, she couldn't help but murmur to herself:

"When my late wife was alive, she raised my eldest son very well. He was upright, polite, gentle and humble. Even when he became a tutor to the Crown Prince at the Imperial Academy, he was still praised by the Junior Tutor for his extensive learning."

Yunji had never heard such absurd and nonsensical words before.

She simply couldn't reconcile that madman with the gentle and respectful demeanor; the uncomfortable disconnect was like a crack appearing on a Ru kiln vase, making it hard for her to accept.

"Granny, don't get stuck in the illusions of the past. It's time to look forward."

Just as Granny Kong was about to say something more, the carriage slowly pulled up in front of the Cui residence. The coachman stood outside the curtain and announced:

"Madam, we have arrived at the mansion."

Yunji led the three of them down from the carriage. As soon as they entered the main courtyard, they saw that the entire Marquis's mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the whole courtyard was bright and magnificent, a truly joyous and festive scene.

When the maids and servants passing by saw her, they all made way for her, bowed, and called out to her:

"Congratulations, Madam."

"Congratulations, Madam!"

Yunji maintained her composure and took a deep breath before returning to Qinghui Courtyard.

She vaguely guessed what had happened, and when she called Huo Xi over to ask him questions, she still couldn't help but feel her heart flutter.

"What good news has happened at the mansion?"

"Congratulations, Madam. Today in the court, the Emperor bestowed upon the Master the title of Privy Councilor and concurrently Chancellor, in charge of military and state affairs, defense, border defense, military administration, and participation in national decision-making."

Huo Xi reported back truthfully.

Yunji secretly thought that Cui Zemin's power was even greater than in his previous life. He had also served as the Chancellor of the Secretariat and the Chancellery, and his influence had reached its peak. He was almost all-powerful and had a plan to take advantage of the situation.

"Is the master at home?"

"The Marquis summoned the General to the main study for a meeting."

"Has the old man had dinner yet?"

"The general has already dined with the emperor in the palace."

After pondering for a moment, Yunji gave the order: "Huachao, go open the storeroom and distribute the rewards to the servants according to the rules of the manor. Chunxuan, take the nanny to the back room of the landlord's quarters for a while. Later, I will take the nanny to see the master."

The three of them accepted the order in unison.

After returning to the inner courtyard, Yunji summoned a maid to fetch water for a bath. After washing and grooming herself, she sat upright in front of her dressing table to apply makeup and draw her eyebrows.

After settling Granny Kong in, Chunxuan returned and saw the scene. She couldn't figure out what the lady was thinking. How did she suddenly understand?

"Is Madam dressed up so elaborately to welcome Master back to his home?"

"Um."

Yunji glanced through the bronze mirror at the mahogany box under the lattice window, "Take out that wide blue brocade dress with gold embroidery that I've been keeping at the bottom of my trunk."

Chunxuan diligently rummaged through the box and quickly found the dress, blurting out:

"Since Madam is going to consummate her marriage with Master, I've also prepared a white veil for her, so that the people from Minghe Hall won't come asking questions."

Yunji's hand trembled as she held the brush, and the delicate eyebrows she had drawn flew off.

The room suddenly fell into a deep, deathly silence.

Chunxuan sensed something was wrong, and her knees slammed to the ground. She said shamefully, "This servant is clumsy with words and misspoke. Please punish me, Madam."

Yunji wiped away the faint mark between her brows, then dipped her brush in the black ink and carefully drew the shape of her eyebrows.

"Even if I have feelings for you, sir, you will not reciprocate my feelings. Let's not bring this up again."

After the incident with the chokehold, she finally understood that Cui Zemin had no emotions or desires, and he would treat any woman who got close to him as an assassin.

Chunxuan timidly replied "yes," her almond-shaped eyes filled with confusion as she looked at the lady with bewilderment.

Yunji knowingly instructed her, "Go and bring out the organized account books. I want to show them to the master."

Chunxuan asked uneasily, "Does Madam really insist on sending it over tonight?"

"Otherwise what?"

Yunji put down the rat-whisker brush in his hand, looked at the reflection of Yingshan's eyebrows in the bronze mirror, and said:

"If we don't take advantage of his moment of triumph and make him investigate these falsified accounts, are we going to wait until he's angry before showing them to him?"

Chunxuan was naturally timid, and every time she saw the lady go and provoke the master, she couldn't help but feel terrified.

"Forgive my ignorance, I am not as clever and quick-witted as Hua Chao, who can always understand Madam's profound intentions. I am always hesitant and timid in these small matters, and I can only worry about Madam."

"You're perfect as you are."

Yunji saw through her unease. "Huachao is capable. The reason I value her is so that she can stand on her own when she is released in the future. But you are different. I want to keep you by my side and take care of you. What does it matter if you are a little slow-witted?"

Upon hearing that the lady intended to keep her by her side forever, Chunxuan felt an unprecedented sense of security. Her almond-shaped eyes crinkled into crescents as she smiled, her eyes practically disappearing into slits.

Cui Zemin returned to Qinghui Courtyard through the frost-covered ground. In the distance, he saw Yunji standing elegantly outside the outer study. Her vibrant beauty was like the spring colors in a traditional Chinese ink painting, strikingly eye-catching.

He walked to the door and stopped.

Yunji, accompanied by Granny Kong, greeted them, saying, "My husband, are you well?"

Cui Zemin glanced back at her, his gaze lingering on her alluring red lips, then stepped over the threshold and strode into the outer study.

Yunji picked up the blue brocade skirt and slowly moved into the room. Standing in the living room, she immediately saw the crimson court robe placed on the desk, which was truly exuding nobility.

"Your arrival is just in time, Madam. I don't need to go looking for you again."

Cui Zemin pushed a broken Duan inkstone off the desk and pressed her for an answer:

"What happened to this broken inkstone? I heard that Madam even called two porcelain craftsmen to come and repair my porcelain and screen. How come you've squandered all our wealth in just over a month of managing the household affairs?"