It had been a month since Xie Yuchan and her brother arrived in the capital. Apart from Xie Yuchan declaring herself the future princess consort and ordering the servants around, nothing else was mentioned about the supposed engagement.
Chi Ying considered it inappropriate to delay further. Not only would it bother her, but if Cui Yi ultimately refused to marry Xie Yuchan, it would be hard to explain to the Xie family. After all, they had wasted their daughter's time.
Thus, during her monthly visit to pay respects to Consort Duan, Chi Ying tactfully brought up the matter.
"You didn't mention it, but yes, there was such a thing," Consort Duan held her hand and strolled through the imperial garden. "Back then, Yi was only nine. The Emperor accompanied my elder sister back to Xuanzhou for a visit. Coincidentally, Yuchan was celebrating her first birthday, and she picked up my sister's Phoenix-pointed jade hairpin during the ceremony. Everyone said she had a prosperous destiny, so my sister jokingly suggested pre-arranging the marriage."
Chi Ying nodded worriedly, and Consort Duan continued, "I wasn't there, but my sister mentioned it later. No one took it seriously, considering Yi was still the crown prince then. Marriage decisions couldn't be made so casually."
The Empress Dowager made a casual joke in front of her relatives, which the Xie family took seriously. With Cui Yi still unmarried, they believed he was waiting for their daughter, leading to the current situation.
Empress Dowager had joked, and Cui Yi was now just a prince. If the Emperor knew the Xie family's intentions, he might agree to the marriage.
Chi Ying felt uneasy, unsure why.
"How does Yi get along with Yuchan?" Consort Duan asked.
"Miss Xie is very clingy. His Highness finds it overwhelming, but he doesn't seem to dislike her," Chi Ying answered truthfully.
Consort Duan smiled warmly, "Yuchan is spoiled and has childish tantrums. Unlike you, she isn't as mature. Be more tolerant of her."
Chi Ying responded politely.
Consort Duan mused aloud, "Yi is getting older. He should marry soon. Rather than letting the Emperor or Empress arrange a marriage with a stranger, it's better to find someone reliable within our circle. Yuchan is practically his cousin, and the Xie family is well-off. The Emperor might agree."
Chi Ying instinctively blurted out, "But His Highness may not accept."
Consort Duan smiled, assuming she was concerned, "The Emperor indulges Yi because of his affection for my elder sister and because there hasn't been a suitable match. Although Yuchan isn't ideal, the Xie family's conditions are rare opportunities. With you by his side, even if the future princess consort can't manage household affairs, it won't be a problem."
"Imperial decree cannot be defied," Consort Duan added, "As long as the Emperor decrees, Yi must marry."
Chi Ying bit her lip but swallowed her words.
Indeed, parental orders and matchmakers' arrangements couldn't be denied. Although Consort Duan had raised Cui Yi, he wasn't her biological son. To secure her position, she needed to tie him to her niece, ensuring mutual reliance.
Chi Ying recalled that in the previous life, Consort Duan's son, Seventh Prince Cui Xiang, was implicated alongside the Changsun family due to the Crown Prince's machinations.
Allying with the Xie and Ye families might not be beneficial.
Chi Ying returned home, anxious. Before stepping inside, Cui Yi stormed out angrily, nearly colliding with her.
"Your Highness, where are you rushing to..." "Don't let her follow!"
Cao Qian led the horse Jin Wu over from the side door. Cui Yi leaped onto the horse and galloped away.
Chi Ying watched him disappear.
"Brother Yingrong, wait for me!" Xie Yuchan chased out, pouting when she saw Chi Ying. "It's you again! Where's Brother Yingrong? Hand him over!"
Chi Ying calmly replied, "His Highness rode Jin Wu to the western camp for training."
Xie Yuchan pouted, "Training, training, always training. Can't he spend time with me?"
She had fully immersed herself in her role, leaving Chi Ying speechless.
"Hey."
"Do you mean me?"
Xie Yuchan arrogantly crossed her arms, "Who else would I mean? You dare to hide him from me?"
Xiaoqiu, Chi Ying's maid, grew furious. Since Chi Ying's marriage to Cui Yi as a concubine, Xiaoqiu had always felt indignant. With Xie Yuchan's arrival, she constantly belittled Chi Ying, making Xiaoqiu seethe with anger.
"You think you're something special? Dare to insult my mistress!" Xiaoqiu grabbed Xie Yuchan's collar.
Xie Yuchan screamed, "What are you doing! Let go! Someone help!"
Chi Ying tried to intervene, "Xiaoqiu, stop! Let's talk this out."
But Xiaoqiu ignored her and slapped Xie Yuchan twice, leaving her face swollen and crying.
Servants eventually separated them. Xie Yong rushed over, holding his sobbing sister, glaring suspiciously at Xiaoqiu. "What happened?"
Xie Yuchan clung to her brother, crying, "They insulted me and hit me!"
Xie Yong looked shocked, "What? Lady, is this true?"
Caught between Xiaoqiu's rage and Xie Yong's indignation, Chi Ying found herself in a dilemma. Weighing her options, she finally decided to apologize.
"I failed to discipline my maid. I apologize for her actions," Chi Ying knelt.
Xie Yuchan, feeling vindicated, demanded, "Apologies aren't enough. She must kneel and beg forgiveness."
Xiaoqiu, still enraged, shouted, "Dream on!"
"Xiaoqiu!" Chi Ying pulled her back, "Kneel."
"No!"
Chi Ying sternly ordered, "Will you disobey me now? Kneel!"
Xiaoqiu reluctantly knelt, tears streaming down her face.
Chi Ying followed suit, "My maid offended Miss Xie. As her master, I take responsibility. Please forgive her."
Xie Yuchan, now satisfied, smirked triumphantly.
"This..." Xie Yong was also troubled. "Lady, please rise. Xiaoqiu, please rise. My sister also behaved improperly. Let's end this here."
Chi Ying remained expressionless, "Thank you, sir."
After Xie Yong calmed his sister, Xiaoqiu burst into tears, hugging Chi Ying, "Mistress, I'm sorry! I caused you trouble."
The other servants comforted them, wiping Xiaoqiu's tears.
"Don't cry, Xiaoqiu," Chi Ying hugged her, "I'm sorry. You were defending me. His Highness needs Consort Duan's support, so we can't offend the Xie family. You had to apologize. You've suffered for me."
Maintaining me, yet I did something so excessive. I am the one who wronged you."
Xiaoqiu hugged her and cried sadly, "Madam, please don't say that. It's my fault. I will never disobey you again!"
Chi Ying held back her tears, wiped away the tears at the corner of her eye, and said, "Don't worry, you won't suffer in vain. I will definitely repay this debt twofold."
Xie Yuchan, you want to be the Princess of Wu so much? Then I'll make sure your wish won't come true!
The slap incident ended with Chi Ying and Xiaoqiu kneeling down. No one went to report it to Cui Yi. Xie Yong didn't want to complicate things further, while the other servants in the mansion were all eagerly waiting to see how Chi Ying would retaliate against the arrogant Miss Xie.
A few days later, on a rest day, Cui Yi woke up later than usual. In his daze, he kept hearing some rustling sounds in the room but couldn't make out what they were. Annoyed, he opened his eyes and sat up, only to see Chi Ying sitting in front of the dressing table in plain white underclothes, burying her face in her hands, her shoulders trembling slightly.
The muffled sobs came in waves, exactly the noise that disturbed his sleep.
"What's wrong?" Cui Yi realized something was wrong and instantly lost all his sleepiness. He got out of bed and walked towards her.
Chi Ying immediately stopped crying and hurriedly wiped the tears from her face, "No-nothing, nothing!"
Cui Yi lifted her lowered head and saw her swollen red eyes, frowning, "You're crying like this and still say it's nothing? What happened? Are you feeling unwell?"
Chi Ying shook her head again. Cui Yi thought for a moment and asked, "Is it that Xie girl bullying you again?"
"No..."
"If she didn't bully you, why are you crying?"
Chi Ying sobbed as she spoke, "Your Highness and Miss Xie had an engagement since the time Empress Dowager Xiaoling was alive. She will eventually become the Lady of Wu Mansion. I'm just a concubine, a servant. Being scolded by the lady of the house or even kowtowing and apologizing is normal. It doesn't count as bullying, it's just... it's just that I feel..."
Before she could finish, Cui Yi exploded, "What engagement! Where is there an engagement! How come I don't know about it? Did she insult you? And made you kneel and kowtow? Unbelievable! Come here!"
Chi Ying quickly held him back, "Your Highness, forget it. Such things will happen more often in the future. You get used to it. I'm fine, really."
"Forget it? Get used to it?" Cui Yi roared like a lion, "I'm not dead yet. When did it become her turn to run the household?"
His roar drew all the servants in the courtyard, who gathered outside the door, wondering what was going on.
Chi Ying's handkerchief was soaked with tears. Cui Yi cupped her face and said seriously, "Remember, there is only one Princess of Wu in this world, and that's you."