Marrying a treacherous official

With the imperial examinations approaching, ladies from prominent families would flock to temples to burn incense and pray for their children to succeed in the imperial examinations.

The Cui family was no exception.

Madam You invited Old Madam Cui to stay at the East Villa for ten days. Firstly, they could go to Lingshan Temple to pray for the Second Master's success in the imperial examination. Secondly, with the spring scenery in full bloom, they could go together to the flower-viewing banquet hosted by the official's wife, so that the young ladies could arrange their marriages as soon as possible after they come of age.

Madam Cui declined Madam You's offer and instructed her to bring the female members of the Cui family to the East Village.

In her previous life, Yunji obtained a very auspicious fortune slip at Lingshan Temple, which blessed Gu Jinyu with success in the imperial examinations, and he was able to pass the examinations with flying colors.

She will also be going to the temple to offer incense this time, as a way of fulfilling a vow she made for her past life.

Granny Kong led the maids to pack their luggage inside the room, while Yunji stood under the corridor, watching Xikui light up the long corridor with the palace lantern in her hand.

Aunt Du led Cui Shuhua in a hurry, passing through the corridor and stopping when they got close.

Yunji greeted the mother and daughter. Seeing Aunt Du's red, swollen eyes and Cui Shuhua's bowed head, she guessed they were facing some trouble and asked:

"Why did Auntie come over?"

"I dare not lie to you, Madam, Hua'er has caused a great disaster this time!"

As Aunt Du spoke, she took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears. As she cried, Cui Shuhua also hurriedly shed tears.

Yunji quickly invited them into the room, dismissed the maids and servants, and then asked them with concern:

"Aunt, what exactly happened to the Second Miss?"

Aunt Du was both anxious and angry. Wiping away her tears, she turned around and scolded Cui Shuhua behind her, "Tell the Madam the truth about the trouble you've caused. I'm too ashamed to even mention it for you."

Cui Shuhua's eyes were filled with tears, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. She bit her lip until it turned white and said:

"If Lady Hou dares to force me, I'll just die in front of her."

"What nonsense are you talking about! If anything were to happen to you, how would your mother live?"

Aunt Du threw herself at Cui Shuhua, raising her hand to slap her hard, desperately trying to wake her up.

Yunji stood up and stopped Aunt Du from hitting her, then pulled Cui Shuhua into her arms, letting her sob softly.

"Auntie, tell me, what exactly happened?"

Aunt Du gradually stopped crying and began to tell her her story in a gentle, detailed manner:

"Hua'er...she admires General Pei..."

Yunji's expression became particularly complicated. It wasn't that she was surprised that Cui Shuhua would fall in love with Pei Yun at first sight, but rather that she was surprised that Aunt Du had found out about this.

"How did my aunt know about this?"

"Hua'er drew a portrait of General Pei and secretly hid it at the bottom of the drawer."

Aunt Du wept uncontrollably, sobbing softly, "Who would have thought that my personal maid would steal it and then take it to the Lady of the Marquis to complain about."

Yunji quickly asked Cui Shuhua, "Is there any handwriting on that painting by the Second Miss?"

With tears streaming down her face, Cui Shuhua said, "I dare not stay."

"Where's the signature seal?"

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: ①⓪①ⓚⓚⓢ.ⓒⓞⓜ]

"I dare not stay."

"Has the Lady Hou questioned the Second Miss?"

"When I woke up from my nap, I found that someone had moved my bookshelf and couldn't find the portrait of General Pei. After I told my mother, I rushed over to my sister-in-law's place."

Cui Shuhua steadied her sobbing voice and said, "Madam Hou hasn't sent word for me to come over yet."

Yunji was glad they discovered it in time, and even more glad they came looking for her first when they were in a panic; otherwise, she would have been helpless.

"Madam Hou will soon summon the second young lady for questioning. Second young lady, remember this: never admit that you painted that picture, no matter what."

"But the brushstrokes used in the painting are clearly those of Hua'er."

Aunt Du said nervously, "As long as the Lady Hou summons the calligraphy and painting teacher from the family school, she will surely be able to recognize that it is Hua'er's painting."

Yunji gave her a suggestion: "As soon as you leave, Auntie, go and ask the Marquis to resolve this matter."

Aunt Du was always timid, and seeing that Cui Shuhua had made such an outrageous move, how could she dare to disturb the Marquis again?

"We can't ask the Marquis for help; we have to keep this from him and not let him know."

"We must ask the Marquis for help with this matter."

Yunji rebuked her without room for argument, saying, "The Lady of the Marquis will surely blame the Second Miss for this painting, but the Marquis will not. Family scandals should not be aired in public, especially since he is the Second Miss's father."

She repeatedly instructed Cui Shulan:

"As long as the second young lady insists that the painting has nothing to do with her, this matter has nothing to do with her. The words of a maid who would steal from the master's room and falsely accuse the master are absolutely unbelievable."

"The Marquis will only beat that traitorous maid to death, and he certainly won't allow the Marquis's wife to ask the family tutor to identify the painting, lest she ruin the Second Miss's reputation. Do you understand?"

A light knock sounded on the door, and Granny Kong's voice came from the corridor.

"Madam, the Lady of the Marquis has sent Granny Tong over, saying that she wants to invite the Second Miss to Minghe Hall for questioning immediately."

"The second young lady will be there right away."

As soon as Yunji finished speaking, Aunt Du stood up from her chair, stopped crying, and said, "I'll go and invite the Marquis right away."

Cui Shuhua stepped out of Yunji's embrace, stood up, and thanked Yunji, saying, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, I would rather die than admit that I painted that picture."

"The second young lady must be ruthless in order to protect the concubine behind her."

Yunji gave her a piece of advice and watched them leave.

Granny Kong sent someone to Minghe Hall to inquire about the situation, and the news only came after the First Madam had turned off the lights and gone to sleep.

She originally intended to keep this a secret and tell the First Madam the next day, but seeing that the candlelight had been dimly lit again in the room, she pushed open the door and went inside.

"Don't worry, Madam. The Marquis has had the maid who betrayed us beaten to death, and Consort Du and the Second Miss have already returned to Yijing Courtyard to rest."

"Where is Lady You, the wife of the Marquis?"

Yunji only wanted to know if the Marquis would be disappointed in Lady You after this incident.

Granny Kong said with some regret, "The Marquis only said a few words to the Marquis's wife, and did not blame her much."

Yunji couldn't help but envy such favoritism. "The Marquis doesn't distinguish between right and wrong, he only recognizes people. No wonder the Marquis's wife is always so fearless when she does something bad."

"In this respect, the old man is just like the Marquis."

Granny Kong said with a smile, "No matter how much the lady angers the master, he will still protect her in every way."

Yunji dared not become a second You Shi, nor did she dare to hope that Cui Zemin would favor her.

"This old servant has some questions I've always wanted to ask the First Madam."

Granny Kong bluntly stated, "The First Madam is far too concerned about Consort Du and the Second Miss's affairs. If this continues, it will inevitably incur the displeasure of the Marquis's wife sooner or later."

Yunji didn't care at all. "I wonder if Granny saw it. The way Auntie looked at me when she was begging for help for the Second Miss was just like my mother when she was sick."

Unfortunately, no one offered her mother a helping hand back then, which is why she later became so ruthless.

That's why she gave the second young lady that advice: she had to be ruthless in order to protect Aunt Du.