Cheng Yujin placed down the pastries and smiled at Cheng Yuanjing, "Ninth Uncle has worked hard these past few days, so I specially prepared some pastries for Ninth Uncle. The craftsmanship is rough, so I hope Ninth Uncle doesn't dislike it."
Cheng Yuanjing narrowed his eyes and looked at her inquisitively. Cheng Yujin's smile didn't change. Her entire person was gentle and harmless.
She was simply the model of a filial niece.
Cheng Yujin maintained her smile. She actually had this feeling a long time ago. She always suspected that Cheng Yuanjing was prejudiced against her.
When she and Huo Changyuan broke off the engagement, Cheng Yuanjing happened to see it. His prejudice seemed to have started from there. After that, Xu Zhixian came to stay at the Marquis of Yichun. Cheng Yuanjing sent her to practice calligraphy every time he saw her. Even when she met Lin Qingyuan, every time she started talking to Lin Qingyuan, Cheng Yuanjing would change the topic.
If this wasn't prejudice, then what was it?
Cheng Yujin didn't dare to have any objections when she was targeted by the Crown Prince. However, her path to a wealthy husband couldn't be delayed, even if the stone blocking her path was the Crown Prince.
Cheng Yujin secretly worked hard. She planned to use this period of time when Cheng Yuanjing was observing filial piety in name and had to stay at home for a long time. She came up with all sorts of ways to please this ancestor. She didn't ask for him to change his opinion of her. She only asked for him to stop obstructing her and Lin Qingyuan from meeting.
Cheng Yujin thought about it from another perspective. She guessed that Cheng Yuanjing thought highly of Lin Qingyuan, this seedling. Naturally, he wouldn't sit and watch as Lin Qingyuan fell into the hands of a woman with ulterior motives. Unfortunately, Cheng Yujin was this woman with ulterior motives.
Unfortunately, Cheng Yujin was as self-centered as Cheng Yuanjing in this aspect. No matter what, she would not give up. Then, he could only make Cheng Yuanjing change his attitude.
Cheng Yujin's smile deepened. She said, "Ninth Uncle, you've worked hard these days. These are the pastries I prepared for you. Unfortunately, I don't know if it suits your taste. Why don't Ninth Uncle try one? "
Cheng Yuanjing lowered his head to look at the pastries she brought out. There was a plate of plum blossom cakes, a plate of osmanthus cakes, and the most ingenious among them was the tea cake. The small dessert was shaped like a leaf, and one could smell the faint fragrance of tea. It was an elegant green color, and one could even see the fine veins of the leaf on it. It looked like a piece of green jade, fresh and exquisite, almost unbearable to eat.
Cheng Yuanjing lowered his head to look at the pastries. Cheng Yujin looked at him with sparkling eyes, waiting for him to taste it. Cheng Yuanjing actually didn't like to eat pastries, but under her gaze, he could only pick up a piece of tea cake.
Cheng Yuanjing originally wanted to give Cheng Yujin some face, but he didn't expect that when the pastries entered his mouth, they unexpectedly suited his appetite. Cheng Yuanjing didn't like to eat sweet things, and his taste was on the bland side. These requirements were difficult to put on pastries, but Cheng Yujin was able to make them. For example, this plate of green leaf pastries was exquisite, and tasted of the fragrance of plants. The sweetness was very light, and vaguely there was the bitterness of tea leaves. It was not too sweet and sickening.
After Cheng Yuanjing tasted a piece, Cheng Yujin looked at him without blinking. She almost pounced on him and asked him how it was. Under such a gaze, it was hard to say no. Cheng Yuanjing originally wanted to say "It's okay," but under such an expectant gaze, he inexplicably changed it to "It's very good."
Cheng Yujin's eyes suddenly burst with light, and the corners of her eyes unconsciously curved. It was as if a sky full of stars fell into her eyes, so bright that it was dazzling. Cheng Yuanjing was momentarily absent-minded. He remembered that at the banquet last time, Cheng Yujin paid special attention to Xu Zhixian's food. Huo Changyuan and the others' food was bought in bulk. Only Xu Zhixian's food was obviously bought separately and carefully prepared. Although Cheng Yuanjing didn't have to use common goods at that time, he didn't have any preferential treatment. But now, he could feel that each of the pastries was personally prepared by Cheng Yujin.
Cheng Yuanjing couldn't tell what his mood was, but his expression was clearly much gentler. Even his eyes carried a slight smile. Cheng Yujin personally poured a cup of tea for Cheng Yuanjing and placed it next to Cheng Yuanjing's hand. She stood there with a smile: "Ninth Uncle, after mourning, many things have to be changed. Last time, I saw that the official seal pouch you carried with you was golden. Now that Grandfather has passed away, the pouch also has to be changed to a lighter color. I thought about how half of the matters regarding Grandfather's funeral had to be taken care of by Ninth Uncle. How could I let Ninth Uncle worry about such a small matter? In addition, we have to carry our belongings with us at all times, so we can't make do. So I made the bold to prepare a pouch with a seal for Ninth Uncle. "
As Cheng Yujin spoke, she placed a pouch on the table and said with a smile: "My needlework skills are limited. I hope that Ninth Uncle won't dislike it."
When Cheng Yuanjing saw what Cheng Yujin took out, his eyes moved. Cheng Yuanjing reached out and picked it up to take a look. He saw that although the pouch was white, the edges were embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns using silver thread. Right in the middle of the pouch was embroidered with two light blue and purple colors. It couldn't be seen from afar, but when he got closer, he saw that there was a dark light flowing. Each flower was extremely exquisite. There were also white jade hanging from the ribbons on both sides. It was clear and elegant.
Cheng Yuanjing rubbed the other layer. As expected, everything was double-sided embroidered. Gold and silver decorations on the outside were extravagant, but all the patterns were made dark. Even the insides of the pouch that no one could see were double-sided embroidered with thousands of gold. This was true luxury.
Because he already had so much money that he didn't need others to see it. From afar, it looked like a very plain white pouch. Only when he looked closely could he see that there was another world inside. Although this pouch was small, the degree of exquisiteness was not inferior to the screen she gave to the Emperor last time. Cheng Yuanjing liked it almost as soon as he saw it.
He didn't pay much attention to external objects, but beautiful things naturally made people like it. Cheng Yuanjing was no exception. The double-sided screen that Cheng Yujin made last time, in fact, Cheng Yuanjing liked it very much. However, he later gave it to the Emperor as a birthday gift. Now, Cheng Yujin had actually given him another one. Moreover, the style was even more to Cheng Yuanjing's liking.
Cheng Yuanjing thought that Cheng Yujin was so young, but she was very familiar with pleasing people and the like. But as it happened, Cheng Yuanjing was really flattered.
Cheng Yuanjing put down the pouch and asked, "Giving things and giving a pouch, what do you want to do?"
Cheng Yujin smiled and said, "Ninth Uncle is working hard for Grandfather's funeral. As the eldest daughter of the Cheng Family, I can't share any of the burden. I really feel bad in my heart. I don't have any other skills. I only know how to make pastries and needlework. I can only use this to relieve Ninth Uncle's boredom. "
Cheng Yujin didn't say it clearly, but the two of them understood the meaning of these words. After Marquis Cheng passed away, Cheng Yuan-hsien and Cheng Yuanhan both had low official positions. They didn't understand human relations, so most of the matters were taken care of by Cheng Yuanjing. In fact, Cheng Yuanjing wasn't a member of the Cheng Family. Taking care of Marquis Cheng's funeral was really not his responsibility.
Cheng Yujin understood this point, but she couldn't say it. She could only continue to give things and express her gratitude in a roundabout way. Cheng Yuanjing didn't care. He said, "This is what I should do. Old Marquis is my benefactor. These years, he has done a lot for me. Taking care of his funeral is part of my responsibility. "
Cheng Yujin knew that these words should be said by His Highness the Crown Prince. If the Cheng Family took it seriously, then they didn't know what was good for them. Cheng Yujin nodded and said respectfully, "Ninth Uncle is kind-hearted, loyal, and righteous. This girl really admires you."
Cheng Yuanjing roughly understood what Cheng Yujin was thinking. He looked at Cheng Yujin and suddenly remembered Lin Qingyuan's words. Lin Qingyuan said that girls who were favored had nothing to fear. Cheng Yujin was so sensible that she obviously needed to stand up and bear the wind and rain from a very young age. Now, he also became a difficult problem that Cheng Yujin had to deal with?
Cheng Yuanjing should feel displeased to be seen as a difficult problem to solve. However, when he thought that this person was Cheng Yujin, he couldn't get angry.
She also didn't have it easy. Cheng Yuanjing sighed in his heart and said, "This is a matter between me and Old Marquis. It has nothing to do with a little girl like you. You just need to be at ease and live your own life. You really don't need to worry about the matters outside. "
Since Cheng Yuanjing promised Marquis Cheng, he wouldn't sit by and do nothing. As long as he was alive, the Cheng Family would have no problem enjoying wealth and prosperity. As for the slight disrespect of the other members of the Cheng Family, Cheng Yuanjing didn't take it to heart. As the Crown Prince, he still had this bit of breadth of mind.
Cheng Yujin was still a little girl, so she had nothing to do with the matters outside. Even if he took out his anger on the Cheng Family, it wouldn't involve her. Cheng Yujin didn't need to take the responsibility of her father and brother and come to speak for the Cheng Family in a roundabout way.
Cheng Yujin nodded in agreement. However, she thought in her heart that although it was like this, if she really didn't do anything and waited for Cheng Yuan-hsien and the others to offend the Crown Prince, wouldn't she also suffer? Besides, who said she was doing it for her father and brother's family?
Cheng Yujin did her best to tactfully raise this point. "A woman obeys her father at home, her husband when married, and her son when her husband dies. This is naturally the teachings of the saints. However, one moment she has to listen to her father, and the next moment she has to listen to her husband. Sometimes it's really hard to distinguish who to listen to."
Cheng Yuanjing raised his eyebrows and looked deeply at Cheng Yujin. She really dared to say it. Cheng Yuanjing's eyes revealed a smile. His fingers slowly tapped the table, and he calmly asked, "Then what do you think should be done?"
"Of course this little girl doesn't dare to violate the Three Obedience and Four Virtues. I just feel that sometimes the line is a bit messy. In a woman's life, these three men will always overlap at times. Moreover, the father may not only have one daughter, and the husband may not only have one wife. A woman's meritorious service should be given to her family. However, if the father, husband, and son all exist at the same time, who should it be given to? The feelings between people haven't been tested recently. No matter who the woman chooses, it will inevitably make the other people bitterly disappointed. Therefore, it's better for it to fall on the person herself, so as to prevent the husband's family from being dirty. "
Cheng Yuanjing listened to her with a smile. When he heard the last part, he softly laughed. Cheng Yuanjing casually turned the folding fan into his palm and tapped Cheng Yujin's forehead. "Extremely daring."
Cheng Yuanjing's tap wasn't light. Cheng Yujin endured and didn't dodge. Of course, she also knew that her words were extremely daring. Since ancient times, when a woman made a meritorious service, it was all recorded on the man. Before marriage, it was contributed to the father, and after marriage, it was contributed to the husband. Even if there was a reward from the palace, it was given in the name of the entire family. How could it be directly given to a woman and let her freely distribute it?
Cheng Yujin was afraid of this point. She worked so hard to do so much, so she didn't want Cheng Yuanjing to directly record the benefits under the name of the Cheng Family. Whether it was promoting Cheng Yuan-hsien or promoting her future husband, frankly speaking, it had nothing to do with her. Cheng Yuan-hsien loved her son more, and her husband also had to be filial to his parents. What was she?
Therefore, why should she give the credit to someone else? No matter what benefits there were, they should be directly given to her. If her family and husband's family wanted it, then they should come and beg her.
Cheng Yujin knew that her idea was extremely daring. It was simply a blatant violation of the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. If it was any other man, they wouldn't be able to tolerate this kind of thing.
Similarly, if it was another person, Cheng Yujin wouldn't say these words no matter what. But she didn't know why, in front of Cheng Yuanjing, Cheng Yujin always had an inexplicable confidence. If other men heard these words, they would fly into a rage, but Cheng Yuanjing wouldn't. Cheng Yuanjing's status was clearly higher.
Cheng Yujin also didn't know why. It was as if Cheng Yuanjing was another her. The two of them grew up in a way similar. Even Cheng Yujin felt that their temperaments were very similar. They were both extremely selfish, rational, and heartless. It was just that Cheng Yujin showed it, while Cheng Yuanjing didn't.
Many times, Cheng Yujin felt that she could understand Cheng Yuanjing's choice. Similarly, Cheng Yuanjing could also understand her. For example, right now, Cheng Yujin was hit with a fan. Her forehead was extremely painful, but she knew that Cheng Yuanjing appreciated her idea.
Cheng Yujin gambled correctly, so she simply became even more shameless. She said, "Ninth Uncle, since you've directly stuffed so many things to me, then if you're in a good mood in the future and want to reward someone to play with, you must write it clearly for me. Although I'm not engaged yet, my future husband and I are one as husband and wife. We've never cared about you or me. If there's any reward, just write my name directly. "
Cheng Yuanjing glanced at her coldly. "You're a girl. How can you say these things all day long?"
Cheng Yujin didn't mind. "Isn't this a matter of time? I'll get married eventually. I'll take this opportunity to make things clear to you so that it'll save me a lot of trouble in the future."
Cheng Yujin kept saying "future husband", which Cheng Yuanjing felt was grating. Especially when he heard her say that she and her future husband were one as husband and wife and didn't care about you or me.
Cheng Yuanjing thought that women should be reserved. She wasn't even engaged yet, but she was already saying these things. No wonder he felt uncomfortable listening to her. Cheng Yuanjing's tone sank. He glanced at her and said, "You still dare to say it?"
Cheng Yujin immediately shut her mouth. She found that this crown prince was really unpredictable. He was fine just now, but he suddenly became angry. She had said so many things that went against the three obedience and four virtues, but Cheng Yuanjing didn't care. But when she said a few words about their future marriage, his face turned cold.
The crown prince was actually such an old-fashioned person?
Cheng Yujin couldn't understand. She secretly sighed. Nobles were really different. The crown prince's heart was hard to fathom. He truly lived up to his reputation.
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