At the entrance of the Cui family estate.
The head of the Cui family, Cui Congyan, was still inside the estate, leaving the reception of fifth-grade family guests to the 2nd Elder, Cui Taichong.
This elder was a middle-aged man with a scholarly appearance and a graceful demeanor. His few words made Cheng Jinyang feel as if he were basking in a spring breeze, creating a favorable impression.
Following the guide into the Cui family estate, Cheng Jinyang suddenly realized:
Wait a minute! It really was just a few words! After barely half a minute of pleasantries, we were sent inside with just a few sentences?
Upon reflection, it was expected. The Shendu Cheng family no longer had any fifth-grade supernaturals, nor any outstanding elders. Cheng Huaiyan and he were only seventh-grade, and Cheng Yuexian was merely ninth-grade.
For Cui Taichong to speak kindly and patiently to three juniors was a testament to his own cultivation. The fault lay with the current lackluster status of their family.
Then his phone vibrated.
Without a change in expression, Cheng Jinyang took out his phone and saw a message from Cui Xiaoniang:
Pretend to go to the restroom and ask the guide where it is.
"Excuse me," Cheng Jinyang called to the guide in front, "Could you tell me where the restroom is?"
"I will arrange for someone to take you there." The guide quickly called a colleague over. "The other two guests, please continue with me."
Separated from his cousins, Cheng Jinyang followed another guide to the left. After a few minutes, Cui Xiaoniang and Teacher Li appeared like phantoms from the corridor corner ahead.
"Miss?" The guide was surprised, while Cui Jinqi smiled slightly and said:
"This is my guest, you may leave now."
"…Understood."
As the guide wisely left quickly, Cui Jinqi turned elegantly and questioned him discontentedly:
"Why did you take so long to come? I even had my father bring your appointment forward!"
Cheng Jinyang was speechless. Did this little girl know that the earlier they came, the more they lost face? Her father didn't even intend to say a few more words to him!
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Cui Xiaoniang circled him like a butterfly, examining his moonlight robe, then turned to Li Qingwan and said with a smile, "Qingwan, look at his attire, doesn't he have the refined and elegant air of a noble gentleman?"
"I almost didn't recognize him," Li Qingwan responded with a smile.
Cheng Jinyang smiled wryly at her words. In this era, noble sons favored pale complexions, and there was even a subtle trend of men wearing powder. Though he didn't care for it, he had to comply with his cousin's wishes and dress in the mainstream noble style as the "Jiang Zuo Cheng Lang," appearing rather effeminate.
[T/N: "Jiang Zuo Cheng Lang" (江左程郎) refers to a refined and cultured gentleman from the region of Jiangzuo.]
Hmm, I wonder if shouting "Sajia" robustly would get me beaten by Cui Xiaoniang.
[T/N: "Sajia" (洒家) is an archaic term used in Chinese, often seen in classical Chinese literature. It is a self-referential term that roughly translates to "I" or "me," but it carries a robust, somewhat rustic connotation. It was often used by warriors or individuals with a martial background, giving an impression of roughness and masculinity.]
"You both look beautiful today," Cheng Jinyang complimented them after a brief inspection.
Cui Jinqi blushed immediately, calling him a "flirt," while Li Qingwan accepted the compliment calmly with a smile.
Of course, he wasn't lying. Today, Cui Jinqi wore a colorful formal dress. Its design was overly flamboyant and garish, often seen as gaudy and vulgar, but it perfectly complemented her lively and charming personality, creating a unique "negative to positive" effect.
She had replaced her previous cosmos flower hair accessory with a splendid large-winged butterfly, embodying an extreme "exquisite and romantic" style. If Ah Zhi were here, she'd probably mock her for looking more like a seductive courtesan than a noble lady.
Li Qingwan's attire remained plain, swapping her sportswear for a moon-white robe with wide sleeves. This type of clothing was versatile in noble families, fitting any occasion as long as she wasn't presiding over a specific ceremony.
Her hair was still tied into a ponytail, falling elegantly between her graceful neck and the collar of her robe. Li Qingwan's skin wasn't as pale as Cui Xiaoniang's but had a healthy, faintly reddish hue.
Due to regular exercise, her figure was noticeably fuller and more robust than Cui Xiaoniang's, but not overly so—not even plump, just closer to the average build of common women, unlike the noble ladies who strictly controlled their diet and body to remain slim.
"Let's go." Cui Jinqi took Li Qingwan's hand and gestured for Cheng Jinyang to follow.
The three of them walked through corridors that twisted and turned, passing countless pavilions and towers. Strangely, they didn't encounter any servants or clan members along the way. It was unclear whether Cui Xiaoniang had given advance notice to keep people away, or if she had deliberately chosen a usually deserted path.
Soon, they arrived at a lake within the clan's grounds. From a distance, they could see flocks of white egrets walking around the shallows near an island in the middle of the lake.
Finding a small boat by the shore, Li Qingwan jumped on board first. Then, Cui Jinqi followed with Cheng Jinyang, and the three of them rowed for a while until they reached the island.
The island wasn't very large, with some trees planted on it and a pavilion in the center. Cui Xiaoniang led the way, jumping ashore and landing steadily on the stone pier. Cheng Jinyang followed, turning to help Li Qingwan off the boat.
However, Li Qingwan didn't disembark. Instead, she silently started rowing the boat away. A few strokes later, the boat was already some distance away.
Cheng Jinyang: ???
He turned to look at Cui Jinqi, whose expression remained unchanged. From a distance, Li Qingwan switched to rowing with one hand, using her right hand to make a "good luck" gesture towards Cui Jinqi.
Cheng Jinyang turned back again, only to see Li Qingwan already far away. Behind him, Cui Xiaoniang also made a "victory" gesture towards the distance.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his face completely bewildered.
"I have something to tell you," Cui Jinqi said seriously, taking his right hand. "Come with me."
He had expected this mischievous girl to wear her usual teasing smile and had even prepared himself to deal with her antics. But he hadn't anticipated her being so serious, which caught him off guard.
By the time he came back to his senses, Cui Xiaoniang had already pulled him to the center of the island.
In the pavilion, a portable alcohol stove was set up on the round stone table, and something was simmering on it.
This smell... is it alcohol?
"The wine is already warmed," Cui Xiaoniang said as she took two small green cups and filled them with the hot wine. Holding a cup with a gentle smile, she said, "It's cold and snowy. Would you drink this cup with me to ward off the chill?"
Cheng Jinyang was silent for a moment before cautiously asking:
"Is there poison in this wine?"
Suddenly being invited to drink for no apparent reason—what was Cui Xiaoniang up to? Had she spiked the wine to make a fool of him and then record it on her phone?
Cui Jinqi smiled faintly, a hint of sadness in her eyes as she nodded and said:
"Yes, this wine contains a lifelong poison with no antidote."
With that, she drank her cup in one gulp and then picked up Cheng Jinyang's cup, bringing it to her lips without hesitation.
Cheng Jinyang: ?????
"Wait!" He grabbed her hand, stopping her from drinking his cup.
"Didn't you suspect the wine was poisoned?" Cui Jinqi asked coldly. "I'm drinking it to show you. Why are you stopping me?"
"That's not what I meant." Cheng Jinyang asked softly, "Jinqi..."
"What?" Cui Jinqi held back her tears, feeling a pang of sorrow.
"According to the Jin Law, minors are prohibited from drinking alcohol. Violators will have their parents detained for three days." Cheng Jinyang cautiously asked, "So, are you eighteen yet?"