RPAGF Chapter 274 Why do I need to see her?
Chapter 274 Why do I need to see her?
Chapter 274, Why do I need to see her?
Cui Mingyi walked along the path in the academy, idly stepping on the dappled sunlight on the ground.
Not far away, Tian Jinghe was sitting on the steps of the study, chewing on a blade of grass, his head drooping dejectedly.
Cui Mingyi saw him, quickened his pace, and sat down next to him.
"Xiao Jinghe, what's wrong with you?" Cui Mingyi nudged him with his shoulder.
Tian Jinghe looked up and said sullenly, "Recently, my second sister went to the palace and told me to stay at the academy and not go back to the mansion."
Cui Ming also knew that Tian Tian was going to the palace to cultivate imperial rice, but...
"Why can't we go back to the manor?"
Tian Jinghe shook his head, he didn't know either, "Maybe it's because my mother is worried that it will be too tiring for her to take me every day."
He looked up at Cui Mingyi. "Hey, why do you look so dejected?"
"Did your grandfather punish you again?"
Cui Mingyi gave an awkward laugh, "Can't you wish me well for once?"
Tian Jinghe poked at the ground haphazardly with a blade of grass, looking sullen.
Cui Mingyi licked his lips and tentatively asked, "What about your third sister..."
"how are things?"
Tian Jinghe's eyes widened instantly as he stared at Cui Mingyi, asking with great interest, "You're asking about my third sister? Why are you asking about my third sister?"
Cui Mingyi chuckled, "I was just asking..."
Tian Jinghe clicked his tongue and smiled meaningfully, "Just asking? Doesn't seem like it."
Cui Mingyi touched his nose, looked at Tian Jinghe's little face, and wondered if he should say some things to this little brat.
He was going through a lot of inner turmoil.
"...Before, your third sister and I...but ever since she saw me and my cousin before the New Year...she hasn't wanted to see me at all..."
"I just went to the princess's residence, but the gatekeeper still said... she wouldn't see me."
Tian Jinghe stroked his chin and squinted, "Why do you want to see my third sister?"
Cui Mingyi was taken aback. Why?
Why do I need to see Youyou?
He wanted to see... he just wanted to see her.
But why do we think about it?
Cui Mingyi scratched his cheek with a worried look on his face, muttering, "Why?"
Tian Jinghe pouted helplessly, "Think about it carefully."
He stood up, patted his bottom, and said, "I'm going back to the dorm now."
Cui Mingyi looked up and glanced at it, then continued to ponder with his head down.
Why do I want to see Youyou so much?
why?
*
It was late at night, and Cui Ming lay down, staring at the wooden beam above his bed, his eyes filled with a sense of confusion.
He rolled over, pressed his arm to his forehead, and frowned deeply.
Ever since he talked about Qin Youyou with Tian Jinghe during the day, his heart has been restless.
He was thinking—
Why did he want to see Qin Youyou so much?
Was it because of her righteous and awe-inspiring appearance when we first met?
Or was it her naivety and cuteness that came about later in our relationship?
Was it her smile? Was it the fire in her eyes when she was unhappy? Was it the curve of her lips when she was shy? Was it the glint of light in his eyes when she inadvertently looked up?
He never imagined he would care so much about someone.
He wants to see her.
I want to hear her voice, I want to see her angry, I want to see her laugh.
"Tomorrow... I must see you."
He made up his mind.
*
The next morning, Cui Mingyi waited outside the Princess's mansion, pacing back and forth.
He even hid in a place where the gatekeeper couldn't see him, so as not to let the gatekeeper go in and report.
Will she go out today?
"Could she have gone out through another door?"
What should I do if she refuses to see me?
A series of thoughts swirled in his mind.
At first, he put on airs and stood idly by the wall.
After a while, he simply sat on the stone steps next to him, his eyes fixed on the gate of the mansion without stopping.
Around noon, the gates of the mansion finally opened.
Cui Mingyi suddenly stood up, his eyes fixed on the doorway.
The two who walked out one after the other were Qin Youyou, whom he had been thinking about day and night, and his eldest sister Tian Xiang.
The two walked side by side. Qin Youyou was wearing a light yellow dress with a white ribbon tied around her waist and only a pearl flower in her hair. She looked very elegant and simple.
Cui Mingyi was about to step forward when he suddenly stopped.
He didn't feel comfortable approaching the two sisters who were together.
He hesitated for a moment, then decided to follow them silently.
Qin Youyou and Tian Xiang chatted and laughed all the way, completely unaware of the "tail" behind them.
The two arrived at Tea Fragrance Pavilion.
Cui Mingyi immediately followed him inside.
"Commander, please come in."
Once Cui Mingyi went inside, he couldn't see Tian Xiang and Qin Youyou anymore.
Without a doubt, the two sisters went to help out in the kitchen.
He simply found a spot on the first floor where he could see the small door leading to the kitchen.
Taking advantage of the waiter's inattention, he went to the backyard.
Just as he was trying to figure out how to call out to Qin Youyou, he overheard their conversation...
"Youyou, why have you been avoiding seeing that young master Cui lately?" Tian Xiang asked tentatively.
Qin Youyou seemed quite uncomfortable. "Why would I want to see him?"
Tian Xiang asked in confusion, "Weren't we getting along very well before?"
Cui Mingyi's lips curled up slightly; they did get along quite well.
But his joy was short-lived, for he soon heard Qin Youyou whisper, "What's so good about it..."
"It's pretty good," Tian Xiang muttered.
Qin Youyou's voice was barely audible, "He... is very learned, he reads a lot... I don't know many characters, I can't write poetry, and I don't know how to speak properly..."
"A woman like me is too clumsy and awkward."
Cui Ming, who was listening from the shadows, frowned... What does this mean?
Does she feel she's not good enough for him?
Tian Xiang panicked, "Youyou, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"You're a county princess!!"
“He, Cui Mingyi, is nothing.”
"Besides, you have a good personality, are smart, kind, and brave!"
"I think it's Cui Mingyi who is not good enough for you."
Tian Xiang asked softly, "Youyou, have you heard something?"
Qin Youyou muttered, "I...I heard that Old Master Cui intends for him to take the imperial examination so he can marry a talented woman..."
"If that's the case... what's visible..."
Cui Mingyi leaned against the corner of the wall, listening to her words, feeling as if a huge stone was blocking his heart.
He never imagined that Qin Youyou's refusal to see him was because of this.
And... when did my grandfather ever say that he should take the imperial examination or marry a talented woman?
His grandfather's only requirement for him was... to not cause trouble, and it would be best if he could marry a shrew who could keep him in check.
Cui Ming stood there for a long time, then suddenly smiled.
He knows what to do!
*
As the tea house closed and Tian Xiang and Qin Youyou were leaving, they encountered Cui Mingyi, who had been waiting for them for a long time, outside the door.
Cui Mingyi?! Qin Youyou's eyes widened.
Cui Mingyi looked at her with a smile, then slowly turned to Tian Xiang, "Princess Qingping, I have something I want to say to Princess Anping."
Tian Xiang nodded and walked a few steps away.
Cui Mingyi told Qin Youyou directly, "I overheard your conversation with Princess Qingping just now."
Qin Youyou was stunned. Could it be that what she and her older sister had said was...?
She realized what had happened and was immediately filled with shame and anger. "You were eavesdropping on our conversation!"
Cui Mingyi took a step closer. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop."
Qin Youyou took a step back.
Cui Mingyi lowered his voice and looked at her seriously, "Qin Youyou, I...I think you are very good. You, you shouldn't underestimate yourself."
Qin Youyou was stunned. She blinked, her mouth slightly open, unable to utter a word.
Tian Xiang watched from the side, shaking her head with a helpless smile.
Feelings...
She was somewhat dazed...
Suddenly, I thought of the person who had always been by my side.
He said he hadn't been back to his sect for a long time and needed to go back...
But it didn't say whether they would come back or when they would return.
Tian Xiang shook her head and looked at Cui Mingyi and Qin Youyou again.
“I will have my father propose marriage,” Cui Mingyi said.
Qin Youyou blushed deeply, "What nonsense are you talking about?!"
She stomped her foot, turned around and walked away, saying, "Big sister, let's go."
"He's talking nonsense!"
Tian Xiang nodded to Cui Mingyi and followed Qin Youyou away.
Cui Mingyi watched Qin Youyou's retreating figure and chuckled helplessly.
*
Cui Mingyi returned from the Tea Fragrance Pavilion with light steps and a resolute expression on his face.
He walked down the street with a brisk pace, and even the roadside vendor selling candied hawthorns couldn't help but glance at him, wondering what kind of incredible luck this young master of the Cui family had struck, and he was smiling as if he had found a gold ingot.
Cui Mingyi went straight home and excitedly headed straight for Third Master Cui's study.
Master Cui was reviewing account books in his study when he saw him push open the door and enter. He glanced at him and said in a nonchalant tone, "What are you doing here?"
Cui Mingyi stepped forward and said without hesitation, "Father, I would like to ask you to go to the Princess's residence to propose marriage."
"Propose marriage?" Master Cui paused slightly, looked up at him, and frowned. "What kind of marriage proposal?"
Cui Mingyi stood ramrod straight, his voice firm, "I want to marry Princess Qin Youyou of Anping County."
"What?!" Master Cui's brush fell to the table with a "thud," and the ink splattered widely on the rice paper.
He jumped to his feet, staring at him in disbelief. "Are you crazy?"
Cui Mingyi remained calm, but his tone was very serious. "Father, I'm not crazy. I'm serious. I want to marry her. Please, Father, make the decision for me."
"She is the Princess of Anping County!" Third Master Cui's voice suddenly rose several decibels, his face filled with shock and anger. "What right do you have?"
Cui Ming met his gaze without backing down, "I love her. Although the Cui family is not as noble as royalty, our family background is clean and our character is upright. Although I have no title, I will treat her with sincerity and protect her for the rest of her life."
"Nonsense!" Master Cui's face turned ashen with anger. "Do you know what you're saying? That's a county princess! She's a title bestowed by the emperor! How dare you go and marry her?"
Cui Mingyi's expression remained unchanged. "Father, please make this trip for your son."
"You!" Master Cui was so angry at his arrogant attitude that his chest heaved violently, and he pointed at him but couldn't speak.
“That is the Princess of Anping County.”
"She's Princess Fufeng's younger sister!"
"you!"
Master Cui's lips trembled, and he abruptly flung his sleeve, "I have no face to go to the Princess's mansion to propose marriage."
Cui Mingyi was very firm: "If Father is unwilling to propose marriage on my behalf, then I will go myself!"
Master Cui stood there, stunned, watching his resolute expression. The anger in his eyes was gradually replaced by shock and helplessness.
Cui Mingyi stared at him expectantly...
Helpless, Third Master Cui took a few deep breaths to compose himself and said, "Let me go and discuss this with your grandfather."
*
Helpless, Third Master Cui arrived at Old Master Cui's courtyard.
The courtyard is quiet and elegant, with a path paved with bluestone winding through the bamboo forest, artificial hills and flowing water, and lush flowers and trees, exuding a serene and elegant atmosphere.
Old Master Cui was sitting under the veranda, holding a celadon teacup in his hand, leisurely admiring the peonies in the courtyard.
"Father!" Third Master Cui strode in, stopped in front of Old Master Cui, his face ashen. "Something terrible has happened!"
Old Master Cui looked up at the sound, and seeing his posture, he raised an eyebrow and slowly said, "Oh? What important matter is it?"
Master Cui's chest heaved. "That brat Mingyi, he said he wants to marry the Princess of Anping County!"
"Oh?" Old Master Cui swirled his teacup, his expression calm. "It seems that after spending half a month together before the New Year... feelings have developed between them."
“Father, that’s a county princess, a county princess personally appointed by the Emperor.”
"Our Cui family is indeed a scholarly family, but we're not qualified to marry a county princess, are we?"
Old Master Cui looked at Third Master Cui and said, "When it comes to matters of the heart, what's the point of talking about qualifications?"
Master Cui was taken aback for a moment, "But..."
Upon hearing this, Old Master Cui chuckled and said meaningfully, "You've gone mad from reading too much!"
"Princess Anping was not yet of marriageable age last year, and had only recently arrived in the capital..."
"If Princess Fufeng didn't have that intention, would she have allowed Mingyi and Princess Anping to get so close?"
Master Cui opened his mouth, but couldn't find a word to say for a moment.
"Besides," Old Master Cui put down his teacup, squinting his eyes as he smiled, "there are so many academies in the capital, why did Princess Fufeng specifically send her younger brother to Qingya Academy?"
After a long pause, Master Cui finally spoke, "So... Princess Fufeng had long intended to get married?"
Old Master Cui smiled kindly and calmly, "The Cui family has been a family of scholars for generations, with a clean and upright family tradition. We are certainly qualified to propose marriage."
"Therefore, prepare generous gifts, choose an auspicious day, and go to propose marriage."
"But..." Third Master Cui looked at Old Master Cui in shock, "But...the Princess is currently in Yutian, shouldn't we wait for her to return to the manor...?"
Old Master Cui stroked his beard and smiled calmly, "It's alright."
"It would be the same to propose to both ladies first."
"Although the princess is in charge of the household, her marriage ultimately depends on her parents' wishes."
"Let's send the message first, and we'll wait and see whether the Princess's Mansion agrees or not."
Third Master Cui was still hesitant, "What if...they just refuse outright?"
Old Master Cui sighed helplessly, "It's not shameful to refuse."
Seeing his son's uncertainty, Old Master Cui comforted him, "Don't worry, even if he has to refuse, it will be when the princess returns to the manor. He won't refuse her in person."
"Go."
“I’ll go prepare.” Third Master Cui gritted his teeth. “I’ll pick out the best gifts, choose an auspicious day, and go to the Princess’s mansion to propose marriage.”
Proposing marriage is a formality, not a formal betrothal gift, so choosing some valuable gifts will suffice.
Grandpa Cui nodded in satisfaction, "That's right."
Master Cui turned and took two steps, then suddenly turned back, frowning, and said, "But... what if they really refuse?"
Old Master Cui waved his hand, "Then let's bring it up again."
Master Cui: "..."