Chapter 4

Chapter 4

On the fifteenth, according to custom, we had to go pay our respects to the Empress.

From a distance, I could already see Auntie Yuan waiting at the entrance to the Central Palace.

“Her Majesty has been waiting for His Highness and the Crown Princess since early this morning. Please come in with this old servant.”

Before we even reached the main hall, a voice like a chirping magpie drifted out.

Judging by the time, Wen Miaoyi must have arrived.

“Aunt, why isn’t Cousin here yet?”

“You heartless little thing. Just now you said you missed your aunt most of all, and not even half a quarter hour later, you’re already thinking of someone else.”

“Cousin isn’t someone else. He’s Aunt’s dearest, sweetest son.”

When I entered, I happened to see the Empress tap Wen Miaoyi lightly on the forehead and say indulgently, “You Mischievous Imp.”

“This must be Sister Wen. What a lovely face.”

After finishing my greeting, I took the initiative to step forward, take Wen Miaoyi’s hand, and make conversation.

“Sister Wen, the journey here must have been tiring. Have you settled in all right?”

Wen Miaoyi studied me in secret for a few moments, then smiled in a clear, bright voice. “You must be Sister-in-law. I’ve long heard that Sister-in-law is the finest beauty in the Capital. Now that I’ve seen you today, Miaomiao likes you already.”

Wen Miaoyi came up and linked her arm through mine, calling me “Sister-in-law” with intimate sweetness every other sentence.

“Sister-in-law, what is there to do for fun in the Capital? Aunt’s place is certainly grand, but everyone here is so dull.”

It was a bold thing to say, yet the Empress showed no sign of taking offense.

“If you find it dull here, have Chen’er and the Crown Princess take you around to relieve your boredom.”

I sneered inwardly.

The Crown Prince was Chen’er. I was merely the Crown Princess.

She truly gave me no face at all in front of outsiders, as if she feared people might not know how dissatisfied she was with me, her daughter-in-law.

Oh, no.

In the Empress’s eyes, I was the outsider who had seized a nest that did not belong to me.

Besides, men handled the outer world and women the inner household. For a noble girl from some provincial place, she still wanted the Crown Prince to accompany her personally.

Empress, you are far too arrogant, and you look down on me far too much.

Only then did Wen Miaoyi pretend to notice Deng Yuchen standing silently to one side.

“Ah, Crown Prince Cousin, it has been so long! Miaomiao hit it off with Sister-in-law so well that I forgot Cousin was still here.”

Deng Yuchen was reserved by nature.

But I did not miss the flash of amazement in his eyes when he saw Wen Miaoyi.

Deng Yuchen gave Wen Miaoyi plenty of face, carrying himself as a refined gentleman of high rank.

“It has been a long time. I trust Cousin Wen has been well.”

Wen Miaoyi skipped over to stand before Deng Yuchen, her admiration for him undisguised in her eyes.

“Cousin, do you have anything to do today? Take Miaomiao out to play, won’t you? Please?”

The Crown Prince smiled warmly. “I happen to be off duty today. Where would Cousin like to go?”

“Chang’an Street is the liveliest. Miaomiao wants to eat wontons at Old Ji’s, then go to Mengdie Pavilion to buy some jewelry.”

Once she had his approval, Wen Miaoyi tugged on Deng Yuchen’s sleeve and was about to head out.

Then, as if only just remembering that I was still standing in the hall, she stopped.

“Ah, Sister-in-law, I’m so sorry. Miaomiao forgot you were still here.”

As Wen Miaoyi spoke, she skipped back over and linked arms with me.

“Please don’t blame me, Sister-in-law. It’s just that in the past, Cousin was always the one who accompanied Miaomiao around. Now that there’s suddenly an extra Sister-in-law, Miaomiao still isn’t quite used to it.”

Wen Miaoyi pouted and stuck out her tongue, as though it had truly been an innocent mistake.

“No matter. Cousin has been away from the Capital for so long, so it is only right that you look around more.”

You mock me for taking the place that should have been yours.

Then I will mock you for coming from some small place and never having seen the world.

Behind me stands the centuries-old Qinghe Cui Clan. The Empress is one thing, but am I supposed to let some nameless noble girl climb over my head?

Do you really think I, Cui Fuyin, am someone you can push around?