Cheng Yujin sneered in her heart and gently shook off Princess Qingfu's hand. Under Princess Qingfu's surprised and Nguyễn Clan's pleasantly surprised gaze, she took a step back and gave a perfect greeting: "Mother, Second Aunt. I was sick before and stayed outside for a few days, so I couldn't come pay my respects to Mother. Please forgive me. "
Princess Qingfu was somewhat disappointed and somewhat proud. She quickly said: "Eldest Miss, what are you saying? We are mother and daughter. Why would I care about such things?"
"It's good that Mother doesn't blame me." Cheng Yujin said with a smile. Her etiquette and attitude were perfect and flawless, but she avoided Qingfu Junzhu's hand. She didn't even turn her head back as she bypassed this group of people. She went forward to salute Old Madame Cheng: "Granddaughter pays respect to grandmother."
Old Lady Cheng, who had been ignored for a long time, finally looked better. She leaned on her walking stick and personally helped Cheng Yujin up, saying: "It's good that you're back. You're still sick and can't stand the wind. Come in and talk."
Princess Qingfu and Nguyễn Clan were embarrassed when they heard this. It was obvious who Old Lady Cheng was secretly scolding.
Cheng Yujin smiled and agreed. The group of people walked towards the Longevity Hall in a grandiose manner. The servants of the Longevity Hall seemed to have already received the news. At this moment, they were all standing outside. As soon as they saw Cheng Yujin, they rushed to greet her.
The greetings came one after another, and for a moment, even Old Lady Cheng was overshadowed. Cheng Yujin thought about her previous visit and compared it to now. She was deeply moved.
After entering the room, the maidservants attentively opened the curtains for Cheng Yujin, moved a chair, and served tea. Cheng Yujin saw it clearly. A maidservant came in with hot tea with a smile on her face. When she was about to enter the door, she was stopped by an older maidservant who took away the job of serving tea.
Then, Cheng Yujin saw that the old maid smiled with wrinkles on her face and put the tea beside her hand flatteringly, "Miss, this is the freshest Maojian tea this year. Please have a taste."
As for the head maidservant whose credit had been stolen, she was so angry that she was pinching her handkerchief at the door.
Cheng Yujin didn't touch the teacup at hand. Instead, she looked at Old Lady Cheng and said, "Grandmother, your granddaughter hasn't been able to fulfill her filial duties in front of you during this period of time, and even caused you to worry. It's your granddaughter's fault."
Everyone around her responded with "Big Miss, you're too polite" and "Big Miss, what are you saying?". Even Old Lady Cheng shook her head and said, "It's fine. You're sick, so of course it's important to take care of your body. Are you feeling better now that you've returned? "
"Thank you for your concern, grandmother. I'm much better now."
"I knew that Big Miss would be blessed by Heaven. In order to save someone, Big Miss accidentally fell into the water. Right now, the news of Big Miss's righteous deed has already spread throughout the capital. " As the Nguyễn Clan spoke, she pushed Cheng Yuanhan and gave her two sons a meaningful look, "Your Big Sister's virtue is so good. Why don't you go and ask your Big Sister for advice?"
Cheng Enzi and Cheng Enbei had long been reminded of this. When they heard this, they went forward and bowed to Cheng Yujin, "Big Sister is well. Big Sister is both virtuous and talented. You're really our role model. "
Cheng Yujin smiled and said, "En." When they didn't hear the modesty that they expected, Cheng Enzi and Cheng Enbei were stunned for a moment. They didn't seem to know how to continue. At this time, Princess Qingfu was a step ahead. Princess Qingfu carried Cheng Enbao over. Taking advantage of her son's young age, she placed him on the ground and gently pushed him, "Your Big Sister is back. Haven't you been talking about missing your Big Sister for the past few days? Your Big Sister is right here. Why aren't you going over?"
Cheng Enbao remembered his mother's instructions last night. He sweetly called out "Big Sister" and then tried to climb onto Cheng Yujin's body.
Cheng Yujin narrowed her eyes and called out with a smile, "Enbao."
These two words were simply magical. When Cheng Enbao heard this familiar voice and tone, his legs went soft. He grabbed onto Cheng Yujin's clothes and didn't dare to climb up anymore.
However, the adults didn't notice that Cheng Enbao was standing next to Cheng Yujin. He was obviously much closer than Cheng Enzi and Cheng Enbei. The Nguyễn Clan was angry and hateful. She was angry that her son was like a block of wood. They only knew how to say whatever she taught them. She hated that Princess Qingfu was shameless. She actually relied on her son's young age to stick to Cheng Yujin.
Old Lady Cheng deliberately didn't say anything. She left some space for her three Grandson. Although she didn't know why Cheng Yujin became the Crown Princess and how long she could be the Crown Princess, since the imperial edict had already been issued, it was only natural for Cheng Yujin to help her maternal brothers. A starving camel was still bigger than a horse. Even if the Crown Princess wasn't favored, she was still much better than the Cheng Family. Helping her three brothers was just a matter of moving her fingers.
Moreover, if her brothers received good official positions, Cheng Yujin's position as the Crown Princess would be more stable. Therefore, it wasn't that the Cheng Family was taking advantage of Cheng Yujin. It was that both sides were mutually beneficial.
Old Lady Cheng was very satisfied with the scene of Cheng Yujin and her Grandson getting along harmoniously. She coughed and said, "Alright, Eldest Miss has just returned. She still needs to take care of herself. If you have anything to say, you can talk about it later."
Everyone in the room stood properly and answered in unison, "Yes."
Old Lady Cheng saw that it was about time and sent the two families away. When Cheng Yujin saw that Old Lady Cheng had only asked her to stay, she basically knew what Old Lady Cheng wanted to ask. She wasn't in a hurry and took a sip of tea.
Sure enough, as soon as she closed the teacup, Old Lady Cheng asked, "Eldest Miss, there are no outsiders now. I won't pay attention to formalities and will say what I want to say. His Highness the Crown Prince was actually fostered by the Cheng Family for more than ten years. This is our Cheng Family's good fortune. And you are the most blessed. You were conferred the title of Crown Princess by the imperial court. Do you know why? "
Cheng Yujin knew that Old Lady Cheng would try to fish for information. She put down the teacup and shook her head gently and filially. "I don't know."
"The Crown Prince was brought back by Xiao Xue. Did your grandfather know something at that time?"
Cheng Yujin still shook her head. "Grandmother didn't know about my grandfather's matters. How could I know?"
Old Lady Cheng was a bit anxious. She couldn't help but lean forward. "The Cheng Family didn't know the Crown Prince's identity before and neglected him. Your Highness won't mind, right?"
Cheng Yujin still smiled. "It's a big crime to guess the intentions of the emperor. I don't know what the Crown Prince thinks."
Old Lady Cheng sighed. She didn't have any more hope. Old Lady Cheng frowned and thought for a while. When she saw Cheng Yujin quietly drinking tea in front of her, who was as beautiful as a painting, she suddenly remembered something.
Old Lady Cheng coughed and looked at Cheng Yujin thoughtfully. "Eldest Miss, there are no outsiders here. You and Grandmother can speak your mind. What's going on between you and the Crown Prince? "
Cheng Yujin's eyes turned cold, but the expression on her face didn't change. "Grandmother, what do you mean?"
"I'm not questioning." Old Lady Cheng said slowly. Then she changed her tone and said, "But before, you were the closest to the Nine Masters in the family."
Old Lady Cheng carefully looked at Cheng Yujin's expression. Old Lady Cheng really wanted to know why the Crown Prince wanted to marry Cheng Yujin.
Did he have some kind of agreement with Marquis Cheng? Did he have some kind of conspiracy against the Cheng Family? Or did he simply like Cheng Yujin?
Old Lady Cheng certainly hoped that it was the last one. Because the first two were only good for a while. The last one could make a lot of money. If Cheng Yujin could give birth to a legitimate eldest son, the Cheng Family might be able to soar to the sky and become the Emperor's father-in-law.
Old Lady Cheng shuddered at the thought of the final result. Before this, she didn't even dare to imagine that this kind of thing would happen in the Cheng Family. On the day that Cheng Yuanjing came back, he and Cheng Yujin stood side by side in the hall full of beautiful silk. Old Lady Cheng felt that the two of them looked a bit like husband and wife. It wasn't that they looked the same. It was just that the two of them gave people the feeling that they were too similar.
They were beautiful, elegant, and polite, but also unapproachable.
Later, Old Lady Cheng thought that the two of them were uncle and nephew. She even thought that her idea was ridiculous. However, who knew that Old Lady Cheng's initial premonition really came true.
During the days that the Crown Prince was in the Cheng Family, Cheng Yujin was the closest to him. The two of them entered and left together. No matter the occasion, they would appear together and leave together. Even when eating, they would sit next to each other.
Old Lady Cheng also heard that Cheng Yujin often went to the Crown Prince's courtyard. The two of them would either read or write, and they would stay for the whole afternoon. Even if they were biological uncles, the interaction between the two of them was too intimate. It had already surpassed the interaction between a niece and an uncle. When it was later revealed that Cheng Yuanjing wasn't his biological Ninth Uncle, and that his surname wasn't even Cheng, Old Lady Cheng was surprised and felt that she had a sudden realization.
Yes, putting aside the layer of smoke of uncle and nephew, if the two of them were seen as a young man and woman, all the inconsistencies could be explained. The interaction between the two of them wasn't like that between an elder and a niece. It was more like they were lovers who secretly had feelings for each other!
It wasn't to the extent that they were secretly in cahoots. However, it was obvious that Cheng Yujin and the Crown Prince had developed feelings for each other over time.
Old Lady Cheng originally thought that Cheng Yuanjing was a concubine's son who had just returned and didn't have any foundation. There was no benefit in being close to him. Cheng Yujin could see the situation clearly. Why did she repeatedly run to Cheng Yuanjing's place? It was laughable that Old Lady Cheng originally thought that Cheng Yujin wasn't smart enough. Now, it seemed that Old Lady Cheng was the one who was stupid.
Cheng Yujin was the real smart person and the final winner.
After Old Lady Cheng found out that Cheng Yuanjing was the Crown Prince, Li Seung-kyung, she suspected that Cheng Yujin already knew something, so she approached Cheng Yuanjing in advance. Old Lady Cheng secretly probed. Cheng Yujin's eyes were firm when she answered. She didn't seem to be lying. Old Lady Cheng was a bit uncertain. She didn't know if Cheng Yujin's skills were too high or if Cheng Yujin really didn't know anything and everything was just a coincidence.
Cheng Yujin looked at Old Lady Cheng and suddenly smiled. "So, grandmother is suspecting that His Highness the Crown Prince and I are secretly in cahoots?"
Old Lady Cheng's expression changed slightly. Even if she really suspected this, she couldn't openly admit it. Being in cahoots wasn't a good reputation. Cheng Yujin was definitely going to be the Crown Princess. Was Old Lady Cheng crazy to splash dirty water on the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess?
Old Lady Cheng quickly said, "That's not it. The Crown Prince is a righteous person and the Crown Princess is both virtuous and talented. How could the two of you do this kind of thing? The Crown Princess misunderstood my meaning. "
"It's good that it's a misunderstanding." Cheng Yujin smiled and said, "When I found out that the Ninth Uncle is the Crown Prince, I was also very shocked. What virtue and ability do I have to be valued by the Emperor and be bestowed the title of Crown Princess? However, obeying the Emperor's orders is our duty. So even if I don't understand, I can't betray the Emperor's trust. If the palace says so, we just have to follow. If we ask too much, I'm afraid we will be suspected of being disloyal. Grandmother, don't you agree? "
Old Lady Cheng's expression gradually stiffened. She forced a smile and said, "The Crown Princess is right. This old one was negligent."
Cheng Yujin's meaning was very clear. Regardless of whether or not the Crown Prince fostered the Cheng Family or Cheng Yujin bestowed a marriage, it wasn't something that Old Lady Cheng should ask about. Now that everything was settled and the official explanation given was very colorful, no matter how much doubt there was, the truth was as such. Old Lady Cheng and the others could only applaud.
Running to Cheng Yujin to fish for information was even more overboard.
Old Lady Cheng had always been followed by others all these years. No one had ever dared to be rude to her face. Who knew that she would be warned by a little girl two generations younger than her. Old Lady Cheng was angry in her heart, but she had no choice but to restrain herself and speak nicely to Cheng Yujin.
Cheng Yujin listened to Old Lady Cheng's words and smiled but didn't say anything. She raised her eyes and looked outside at the sky. Old Lady Cheng understood and said, "Look at me. I was so happy to see you that I forgot the time. The Crown Princess is still sick. She should rest more. I'll have the servants send the Crown Princess back. "
"Grandmother, please don't send me back." Cheng Yujin stood up and held Old Lady Cheng's arm, saying, "Grandmother is an elder. How could I dare to order an elder's people? I'll go back by myself. Recently, I've been sick, so I don't dare to run in front of Grandmother. When I'm better, I'll come to pay my respects to Grandmother. "
Old Lady Cheng smiled and nodded. She sat back on the soft couch and didn't insist on seeing her off. Cheng Yujin took the handwarmer from the maidservant and adjusted her skirt. She suddenly smiled at Old Lady Cheng and said, "That's right, Grandmother. I haven't been conferred the title yet, so I'm not the Crown Princess. When the Ministry of Rites sends the Crown Princess Golden Book, I can be called the Crown Princess. Grandmother, don't remember it wrong. "
Although it was a refusal, it was actually a reminder. Old Lady Cheng maintained a smile as she watched Cheng Yujin leave. She came with a great entourage and left with a great momentum. When everyone was completely out of sight, Old Lady Cheng's smile faded. She had been living like a princess these years and always acted like an old ancestor. No one dared to put on airs in front of her. Cheng Yujin was too arrogant.
However, Old Lady Cheng immediately thought that this was just the beginning. Cheng Yujin hadn't officially married yet, so everything should be simple. When Cheng Yujin was officially conferred the title, her honor guard could fill a street.
The real battle hadn't started yet.
Old Lady Cheng rubbed her forehead with a headache. If she had known this would happen, why did she give up on Cheng Yujin and completely annoy this person? This person was different from Cheng Yumo. Cheng Yumo was naive and ignorant. Although he looked sensitive, held grudges, and complained about Old Lady Cheng, Old Lady Cheng knew that such a person was best controlled by family kindness.
If today's incident happened to Cheng Yumo, Cheng Yumo would definitely put on a cold face and put on airs at night. She would use the prestige of the Crown Princess to question Old Lady Cheng about the injustice that she had been treated unfairly for many years. Cheng Yujin, on the other hand, had been smiling ever since she entered the house. Her voice was gentle and soft, and she was attentive and considerate. It was as if her biological and adoptive mother had neglected her like kicking a rubber ball, and the family had sacrificed her to support Cheng Yumo after her engagement was annulled.
She didn't look dispirited when she was in trouble, and she didn't look arrogant when she was in power. Would such a person care about family kindness? Old Lady Cheng felt a chill down her spine just thinking about it.
What made her even more heartbroken was that she and her two sons had offended Cheng Yuanjing and offended the Crown Prince. If she had known …
However, no one in the world had known earlier.
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