Cheng Yujin's tone was full of annoyance. Although she was a mere decoration, she was nevertheless a beautiful and useful one. As long as old Madam Cheng still willing to support her and Qingfu Junzhu didn't lose her position, she would always be the most honorable eldest young miss of Yichun marquis manor. How many people dare to tell that she spoke nonsense?
When Cheng Yujin glared at him, although her round eyes were picturesque, he could see her real emotion hidden there. Cheng Yuanjing thought that the current her was more pleasing to his eyes. It turned out that he actually disliked this girl's perfect young lady act.
Cheng Yujin was furious, but the man in front of her didn't show even the slightest reaction, and still dare to ask, "Is that all?"
Cheng Yujin's eyes widened even more. Cheng Yuanjing took her expression as an answer, turned his body, and left, not taking her seriously. Wholly irritated, Cheng Yujin coldly shouted, "Ninth uncle!" from behind. No response. She couldn't stand it anymore and hurried up to chase, quickly blocking Cheng Yuanjing's path.
Cheng Yuanjing's retinues who followed closely all knew his real identity. A man with neat appearance who looked like a guard frowned. That girl, she dared to block the crown prince's path, her courage was too big.
The man quickly intervened with a loud voice, "Eldest miss Cheng..."
If Cheng Yujin paid more attention, she would notice that the guard called her 'eldest miss Cheng'. How could a servant address a member of the family he served with her surname?
At this moment, however, Cheng Yujin didn't notice this detail. She stood in front of Cheng Yuanjing and looked at him with apparent coldness in her eyes.
It seemed that since the situation had come to the worst, Cheng Yujin simply decided to tear off her 'obedient and virtuous young lady' skin. She directly confronted: "Just after you came back, ninth uncle saw that kind of scene. Presumably, your impression of me had fallen into rock bottom. But ninth uncle is an elder, and you are already a fourth rank official befitting of that red attire you wear. So why do ninth uncle still need to bother with a niece that hasn't been out of her boudoir? I am not afraid of ninth uncle making jokes out of me, but today my engagement had just been canceled, and my emotion is unstable. Thus my words and actions inevitably become more aggressive. However, though a man is allowed to remarry, a woman cannot. This cancellation won't have any impact on Huo Changyuan. But for me, even finding a future marriage prospect might be problematic. I have no choice other than make grandfather and grandmother pitying me."
Cheng Yuanjing's gaze on Cheng Yujin had no emotion in it. Naturally, he also didn't pity her. "So, what relation does it have with me?"
Cheng Yujin smiled and said, "Of course, it doesn't have anything to do with ninth uncle. It's enough if you keep silent."
Cheng Yuanjing wanted to laugh a little. In fact, he really laughed. How amusing. He already lived for 19 years, and it was the first time someone dared to control what he could say or not.
The two of them standing very close. Cheng Yuanjing was smiling at her. Although the smile was shallow and didn't reach his eyes, Cheng Yujin still almost got her soul stolen by him.
The Chengs had been a prestigious family for five to six generations. After so many years of high-class living, coupled with beautiful concubines who improved the next generations' look, none of the Cheng family's descendants were ugly. Moreover, thanks to their ancestors who persistently refused to strive higher, indulging themselves in beauties' charm, when it reached Cheng Yujin's generation, the whole family, regardless of gender, when placed among all young masters and young misses in the capital, would all receive the limelight due to their face value alone. However, the most handsome man in Cheng family, or even the most good-looking person Cheng Yujin ever saw, none of them surpassed Cheng Yuanjing.
He was tall, with distinct eyebrows, straight and tall nose bridge. His cheeks had a clearcut shape, each part improved his handsomeness. His skin was also white, with beautiful eyes, thick eyelashes, and thin, red lips.
Such attributes, when a man had them, he could be called beautiful. But Cheng Yuanjing's beauty wasn't a feminine one, it was the kind that was indifferent to others, eminent and unapproachable.
So he simply showed a little smile, and Cheng Yujin also could clearly feel his alienation, yet still couldn't help being in a trance.
Cheng Yujin hurriedly sobered herself. She couldn't let the man saw that his appearance almost made her lost her soul. Cheng Yujin was about to smooth things over, but after laughed a bit, Cheng Yuanjing brushed past her and quickly walked away.
Cheng Yujin frowned. What did he mean? Did he agree or not?
Cheng Yuanjing never needed to explain himself to others, let alone agreed to their request. From the beginning, he never had any intention to tell other people about Cheng Yujin's matter. Everyone had their own way of life. Although etiquette dictated women to be gentle and kind, on the contrary, Cheng Yuanjing felt that it was better for women to be more sly like Cheng Yujin.
So that they wouldn't end up like his mother.
Therefore, Cheng Yujin actually didn't need to chase him. When the girl said that her future marriage prospect would be problematic, Cheng Yuanjing even felt some thin, hidden emotion. Alright then, just let her go this time.
Cheng Yuanjing thought he was unusually amiable today. But didn't expect that only after a few steps, the girl suddenly called again, "Ninth uncle."
Cheng Yuanjing couldn't help but stop and looked at her: "What else?"
Cheng Yujin didn't answer, but suddenly hastened her pace and bypassed him, walking like a proud swan.
All his men were startled. A servant with neat face asked in a low voice, "Ninth master, this..."
Half annoyed and half-amused, Cheng Yuanjing pressed his forehead for a moment. When he raised his head again, his face returned its usual indifference: "She is just a little girl. Let's go."
"Yes."
Cheng Yujin was angry. She was the eldest young miss from a marquis family. Her whole life, it was always her who walked in front of others, never the opposite. Why should she accept Cheng Yuanjing's impoliteness? So she deliberately walked in front of him and purposely showed even more noble and high posture than usual.
It is a pity that Cheng Yuanjing was tall and had long legs, so he walked faster than her. The two of them actually arrived at old Madam Cheng's Shou'an hall at the same time.
Old Madam Cheng had to handle her granddaughter engagement cancelation early in the morning and was now in a bad mood. A servant girl came to report, "Ninth master and eldest young miss are here."
When old Madam Cheng heard this, the corner of her mouth visibly drooped.
Cheng Yujin walked into the old Madam's room, full of tense. Women couldn't ask about the matters outside the house, nor could men intervene in the inner courtyard. Although old Master Cheng had the highest authority in Yichun marquis manor, for Cheng Yujin, he was far less influential than old Madam Cheng and Qingfu Junzhu.
Cheng Yuanjing noticed Cheng Yujin's change and gave her a slight glance. After entering the inner room, Cheng Yujin's nervousness became visible. She smiled, and one by one saluted the female elders in the room. "Granddaughter pays respect to grandmother, to mother, to the second aunt."
Cheng Yuanjing's greeting was much simpler. He just nodded and said, "Wish Marchioness to be in good health. Eldest and second sister-in-law too."
Cheng Yuanjing had an official post, and some servant boy even said that he had risen into the fourth rank. As the proverb said, official one rank superior crushed the inferiors. Considering Cheng Yuanjing's young age, he was even more terrifying. Therefore, when Cheng Yuanjing only greeted casually, old Madam Cheng's expression didn't change a bit. And because even their mother-in-law didn't dare to show any dissatisfaction, Qingfu Junzhu and Ruan-shi also couldn't say anything.
Although Qingfu Junzhu was the wife of the shizi, Cheng Yuanxian position was only a nominal fifth rank. His post held no real power, nor was it lucrative, and it would be hard for him to be promoted further. So Qingfu Junzhu really didn't dare to offend this young brother-in-law.
The fourth rank was the real threshold in officialdom. Sons of noble families like their own could, by relying on their forefathers' merits and some bribes, slowly climbed into the sixth or fifth rank. But for the fourth rank and above solely depended on one's real skill. The posts in that ranks weren't something that could be bought by money alone.
So when she heard Cheng Yuanjing was coming, Qingzhu Junzhu's face stiffened, and she stood up from her seat. Since Qingfu Junzhu was standing, Ruan-shi had to follow. In this room, only old Madam Cheng kept sitting.
After Cheng Yuanjing finished his greetings, Qingfu Junzhu and Ruan-shi smiled and returned with half salutation. "Ninth master has back. Why didn't you send a letter, if I knew, I would already dispatch someone to pick you up at the city's gate. No need for the ninth master to trouble yourself."
"Thank you for eldest sister-in-law's trouble." Cheng Yuanjing smiled faintly, "I'm used to wandering outside. These small things, no need to bother you."
Qingfu Junzhu offered him goodwill, but the other party completely paid no heed. For a while, she stood awkwardly. Touching her own hair, she forced herself to smile: "I see. As long ninth master is fine."
So this Qingfu Junzhu could also be deflated. Hiding her joy, Ruan-shi glanced at her sister-in-law.
Cheng Yujin and Cheng Yuanjing entered the room together. After the two gave a greeting one after another, Cheng Yujin smiled obediently, while Cheng Yuanjing exchange a small talk with the others. This scene somehow made old Madam Cheng feel an inexplicable strangeness before she suddenly came up with a ridiculous idea: how could these two people look like a couple?
Old Madam Cheng was taken aback by this thought. Right after, she afraid that her age had befogged her mind. Cheng Yuanjing and Cheng Yujin were uncle and niece, how could they be a couple. But, she had to admit that both of them had an excellent appearance and exceptional temperament. Standing side by side, they really matched each other.
Qingzhu Junzhu and Ruan-shi cautiously tried to converse with Cheng Yuanjing, but old Madam Cheng was much colder. She just lifted her eyelids and lightly said, "You are back."
Cheng Yuanjing's smile didn't change a bit: "Yes."
Old Madam Cheng really couldn't show a good face to Cheng Yuanjing. She simply asked him about his post outside these three years, and whether his career was smooth or not. After that, there was nothing else. Seeing the cold atmosphere, Cheng Yujin quickly smiled and said, "Grandmother, ninth uncle just came back from visiting grandfather. Today grandfather's condition seemed to be much better, and he was in a good mood. We just sat for a bit, and he already urged us to give you a visit."
Cheng Yujin's words were complete nonsense. The old Master and old Madam of the Cheng family had been a couple for decades. How could the old Madam didn't know what kind of temperament her husband had? The husband and wife's relationship had been completely frozen for so many years. How could now in his last years, he suddenly care about his wife?
Despite knowing all this, old Madam Cheng still couldn't help smiling when she heard her granddaughter's words. Everyone liked to listen to pleasant words. Old Madam Cheng took a look at Cheng Yujin. She was the granddaughter she was most proud of. The girl was attentive and knew how to use her words. Her each and every move was praiseworthy, bringing the pride for Yichun marquis manor.
For example, just now she saw that old Madam Cheng and her successful shu son fell into an awkward silence, Cheng Yujin quickly saved the scene. Just by smilingly said two or three sentences, she was not only flattered old Madam Cheng but also secretly mentioned Cheng Yuanjing's filiality, that soon after he came back, he immediately paid his respect to old Madam Cheng. Without batting an eyelid, Cheng Yuanjing was extricated.
Old Madam Cheng enjoyed her granddaughter's flattery, but the strangeness from before once again rose. This way, didn't these two even more looked like a couple?