Accompaniment

"What!? Brother Chengyin is going to stay at our house!? Father asked me to accompany him!?"

Cui Zilu was originally lying on the soft couch by the window in her boudoir, bored out of her mind, pulling at the tassels of an embroidered soft pillow.

Her small mouth was pouting so high you could hang an oil bottle on it, still sulking over being violently dragged away by her second brother last night and verbally grounded by her father this morning.

That was until her personal maid, Xiaodie, hurried in and whispered a few words in her ear.

In an instant, Cui Zilu sprang up from the couch like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Her large eyes widened perfectly round, instantly bursting with an unbelievable gleam of pleasant surprise. Where was there even a trace of her previous listlessness?

"Really?! Did Father really say that?! Let me... let me accompany Brother Chengyin?!"

She was so excited that she became incoherent, her cheeks quickly dyed with two blushes of excitement.

The little bit of grievance and gloom from last night had long been thrown out of her mind.

"Absolutely true, Eldest Miss."

The maid Xiaodie pursed her lips and smiled, "It was Steward Fu who personally came to pass the message. He said it was decided after the Master and Marquis Gu finished talking at the Mid-Lake Bridge."

"The Master also said that the Eldest Miss must do her utmost and absolutely must not neglect the honored guest."

"Do my utmost! Do my utmost!"

Cui Zilu repeated this phrase, her eyes shining as if stars had fallen into them.

Her small head nodded like a chick pecking at rice, "Yes, yes, yes! I must do my utmost, be super considerate, and especially thoughtful!"

She suddenly jumped off the soft couch and pounced barefoot toward the dressing table on the other side of the room.

While running, she urgently urged Xiaodie and the other two maids who were stunned in place:

"Quick, quick, quick! What are you still standing there for! Hurry and help me wash up and dress up! The fastest and best kind!"

"Oh, which clothes should I wear? Will that goose-yellow one from yesterday look too childish?"

"What about the aqua blue one? Or the lotus-root-colored one embroidered with magnolias that Mother newly made for me?"

"What about jewelry? Would wearing that pearl dangling hairpin be too plain? Is the ruby one too flashy?"

Cui Zilu, like a happy little sparrow, sat down at the dressing table, but couldn't sit still.

Looking left and right at herself in the bronze mirror, she babbled non-stop, wishing she could empty out her entire wardrobe and jewelry box.

Seeing her like this, the maids couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle softly.

Their Eldest Miss was usually quirky and eccentric, fearing nothing in heaven or on earth.

When had they ever seen her so nervous, overjoyed, and meticulously dressing up for an outsider?

"Don't be anxious, Eldest Miss. Marquis Gu has just finished talking with the Master, and presumably still has to go arrange his living quarters and other trivial matters. He won't be coming over for a while."

Xiaodie, being the senior maid, was the most steady. She signaled the maid Xiaohong to prepare hot water and a towel.

While gently comforting her, "There is plenty of time. We will definitely dress the Eldest Miss up beautifully and make Marquis Gu's eyes light up."

"Really? Is there enough time?"

Cui Zilu was still a bit eager, but after hearing Xiaodie's words, she calmed down a little.

Touching her cheeks in front of the mirror, she suddenly became worried again, "Xiaodie, you know I was so reckless last night and even asked that kind of question."

"Will Brother Chengyin hate me? Think I have no sense of shame?"

Thinking of her earth-shattering words, the blush that had just faded from Cui Zilu's face flared up again, this time out of shyness.

At the time, she only felt curious and had a bit of a mischievous mind. Now, thinking back on it, she simply wished she could find a hole in the ground to hide in!

Too embarrassing! Brother Chengyin must think she is an unruly wild girl!

While skillfully helping her take down her hair bun, Xiaodie comforted her, "The Eldest Miss is overthinking. This servant heard that Marquis Gu even specifically pleaded for you in front of the Master."

"He said the Eldest Miss is innocent and romantic, which is rare and valuable, and asked the Master to lift your grounding. If he really hated you, why would he speak up for the Eldest Miss?"

"Really?!"

Cui Zilu abruptly turned her head, looking at Xiaodie with sparkling eyes, and confirmed, "Did Brother Chengyin really plead for me?"

"Steward Fu said it himself, how could it be false?" Xiaodie nodded affirmatively.

Cui Zilu was immediately overjoyed. That bit of worry vanished into thin air in an instant, replaced by full sweetness and joy.

Not only did Brother Chengyin not hate her, but he also spoke up for her! He really was different from those useless young masters from noble families!

"Then... then I need to dress a bit more dignified and well-behaved. I can't let him think I'm naughty anymore."

Cui Zilu immediately changed her mind, sitting upright in front of the mirror, trying hard to put on a gentle and demure expression.

Unfortunately, those big eyes darting around and the uncontrollably rising corners of her mouth completely betrayed her.

The maids held back their laughter and began to quickly and nimbly dress her up.

Cleansing her face with warm petal water, applying delicate fragrant balm, and combing her thick, soft, and shiny long hair...

Cui Zilu rarely quieted down, cooperating with the maids' movements, but her eyes remained sparkling.

She glanced toward the door from time to time, as if Gu Chengyin would appear there in the next second.

At the same time, on the other side of the Cui Manor, the Green Mountain Courtyard, specially used to entertain honored guests, also became busy.

Cui Shifan personally designated this courtyard as Gu Chengyin's temporary residence.

Steward Fu directed the servants to make arrangements quickly and orderly.

Replacing the brocade quilts and gauze bed curtains with brand new ones, burning light and elegant agarwood incense, and arranging dedicated cooks and maids...

Cui Ziting was also called over by Cui Shifan to assist with the arrangements.

He wore a complex expression on his face, holding both speculations about the deeper meaning behind Gu Chengyin's stay, and subtle emotions regarding his younger sister's upcoming companionship.

"Father, isn't arranging Zilu to go over a bit too obvious?" Cui Ziting asked in a low voice when no one was around.

Cui Shifan stood by the window of the study in the Green Mountain Courtyard, looking at the exquisite garden outside, and said lightly:

"So what? Zilu is lively and adorable, making her the most suitable. As for everything else, just let nature take its course."

Cui Shifan turned his head to look at Cui Ziting, his gaze profound: "Ziting, this is an unprecedented opportunity."

"Xiao Song has been the Chief Minister for so many years; it's high time it was our Cui clan's turn."

Cui Ziting hesitated, "But, Father, we and the Xiao clan are, after all, related by marriage for generations. Wouldn't stabbing them in the back like this be..."

Hearing these words, Cui Shifan sighed helplessly. If only Cui Ziting had half of Gu Chengyin's capability.

Then he wouldn't have to worry so much. But who asked him to be his biological son? No matter how foolish, he still had to teach him.

"Ziting, you still don't understand. Xiao Song is Xiao Song, and the Xiao clan is the Xiao clan. Do not lump the two together."

"This time, the Xiao clan might be severely weakened, but they will not be uprooted, because His Majesty will not allow it."

"Therefore, it is our Cui clan that received the news first. Only with the intervention of a third party can the situation be kept within limits."

"If I don't take it, His Majesty will let Hu Juzheng or Yuan Zhengqing handle it."

"As long as someone can control the situation."

"Whoever that is, will be the next Chief Minister."

Cui Ziting nodded thoughtfully: "Father, I understand."

Seeing that he had finally seen the light, a trace of gratification flashed across Cui Shifan's face.

Although his son was as dense as a block of dead wood, his core was solid enough; with careful carving, he could still be shaped into something useful.

"It is good that you understand."

Cui Shifan's tone was steady. "Use your head when dealing with matters. Do not just focus on what is right in front of you."

Cui Ziting hesitated for a moment before asking, "Then... what about the donations? Should we continue?"

"Of course we continue," Cui Shifan replied without a second thought. "However, some details need to be adjusted."

He mused for a moment, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "Find an opportunity later to speak with Gu Chengyin in private."

"We cannot control the other noble families, but as for the fifty percent from Luodu, our Cui clan will not take a single coin. Not only that, but the donations do not need to be repaid."

"Huh?" Cui Ziting looked up in astonishment. "Father, that is..."

"What do you know!"

Cui Shifan interrupted him, his voice suddenly turning severe. "Money can be earned back. As long as we can take another step up in the world, we will only earn more!"

"But if an opportunity is lost, it is gone forever."

Cui Shifan took a few paces, casting his gaze out the window. "Right now, the initiative still lies with the Crown Prince's Palace, but Her Highness the Eldest Princess has closed her doors to all guests."

"Only by staying on good terms with Gu Chengyin and preventing the table from being flipped will His Majesty be satisfied with our Cui clan."

"Go and fetch Zilu. I have some instructions for her."