Chapter 66 : I need to return home before the curfew.

Gu Yinghong didn’t have time to react before a handkerchief was stuffed into her mouth. In the next instant, a sharp pain shot through her neck, and she fainted.

Huo Tan didn’t even glance at her.

The weather was cold outside, and after a walk, the sweat on his body had nearly frozen, making him feel somewhat relieved. But the discomfort of being hot inside and cold outside was unbearable. He instructed Su Mingjin to wrap Gu Yinghong in a blanket and take her straight to the woodshed.

Su Mingjin silently picked Gu Yinghong up and carried her away.

Once their figures disappeared, Wang Huzi dragged a water cart toward the main room.

“Eighth Master, the water is too cold, it’ll make you sick.”

Huo Tan shook his head, saying, “Faster.”

Wang Huzi sighed and filled the bathtub in the water room with cold water before quickly retreating.

At that moment, Huo Tan felt dizzy. He leaned against the door, gazing at the familiar bedroom.

In a daze, he thought he saw Cui Yunzhao still at home.

Cui Yunzhao stood in front of him, turning back with a smile, graceful and gentle, her features familiar.

Huo Tan instinctively reached out, but touched nothing; it was just a painful illusion.

He let out a low laugh and turned to enter the bathing room.

Meanwhile, at the Yin residence.

Due to the rule of not speaking during meals, the dining hall was quiet at dinner. Yin Changfeng didn’t scold the children any further. It was unclear what Aunt Zhou had said to Yin Changfeng, but he unusually allowed the maid to serve the children more dishes, trying to be amicable.

The meal was quite calm.

After dinner, Aunt Zhou immediately said, “Let’s sit in the main room for a while, it’s been a long time since our family gathered, and we should have a good chat.”

Cui Yunting and Cui Yunlan exchanged glances and obediently followed Cui Yunzhao.

In the main room, there was naturally tea and snacks.

After a while of small talk, Aunt Zhou noticed that the children were quiet and frowned slightly.

Suppressing her displeasure, she said, “I’ve heard that Gu Jie is very fond of his niece’s husband, he has had several military achievements and is quite accomplished for his age.”

Aunt Zhou didn’t meander but got straight to the point.

Cui Yunzhao lowered her eyes with a faint smile and replied, “Aunt, you flatter him. My husband is devoted to the country, he doesn’t dare claim any military accomplishments.”

That was a well-delivered response.

Aunt Zhou paused before saying, “The reason I came this time was mainly for family business, but also to see how you siblings are doing. Now that I see you’re all well, I feel comforted.”

“It’s also a coincidence that I heard about how accomplished your husband is, and I discussed it with your uncle. I want to ask Jiao Jiao for a favor.”

Cui Yunzhao quickly stood up, her demeanor very respectful.

“I don’t dare presume, please feel free to say anything, and if it’s within my capability, I won’t refuse.”

Aunt Zhou was satisfied with her response.

With a smile, she said, “I mentioned before that your cousin has been unwell since childhood, especially in winter when he fears the cold. It was nothing serious, he could just stay indoors during the winter.”

“But unfortunately, with the autumn examinations postponed, winter is approaching. Your uncle and I are genuinely worried that he won’t hold up.”

“We originally thought of having him wait three years to take the exam, but your cousin insists on going this year, saying he has endured years of hard study and cannot back down now, nor can he escape due to his health. He must face the challenge head-on.”

Cui Yunzhao felt a deep admiration for this cousin of hers.

Yin Xingzhi always appeared gentle due to his health issues, his pale and refined features resembled those of an immortal, as if he could return to the Southern Heaven Gate at any moment.

He was always kind and polite to others, completely unlike his domineering and stubborn father, Yin Changfeng.

Moreover, Yin Xingzhi had indeed shown exceptional talent. In his past life, he had topped the autumn examinations, becoming the next brilliant star of the Yin family.

However, in this lifetime, Yin Changfeng and his wife hadn’t come to Boling at this time, nor had they asked for his assistance.

There might be something amiss.

Cui Yunzhao pondered and said, “Your cousin’s health indeed needs careful attention. However, this time the autumn exams are in Fulu, and even if my husband is a military envoy, he won’t be familiar with the officials at the Fulu examination hall and may not be able to speak up.”

Cui Yunzhao paused and asked, “Why not let the eldest cousin handle this? Isn’t her father the governor of Fulu?”

Mentioning this, Yin Changfeng’s expression immediately soured.

“Don’t mention her.”

Yin Changfeng abruptly spoke, “She has grown up now and refuses to be disciplined. Whatever I say to your aunt, she doesn’t listen. I have no desire to ask her for anything.”

Cui Yunzhao was genuinely surprised.

She remembered that this cousin had always been strictly controlled by their uncle and aunt, meekly following their instructions. After her marriage, she still listened to her parents-in-law and never dared to resist.

As for how she lived after marriage, Cui Yunzhao wasn’t aware since they didn’t often interact. She had only vaguely heard some gossip but couldn’t recall the details.

What had happened? Did this cousin actually dare to defy their uncle and aunt?

Despite her surprise, Cui Yunzhao comforted, “Perhaps she has family matters to attend to and isn’t in a position to help.”

Aunt Zhou felt a flash of impatience at Yin Changfeng’s sudden interruption but quickly suppressed it, continuing to smile at Cui Yunzhao.

“Jiao Jiao, if it’s possible, please speak to your cousin’s husband and ask him to help with the arrangements. Even getting your cousin to bring an extra cotton coat into the examination hall would be good.”

This matter was actually not significant.

Cui Yunzhao agreed, thinking her cousin could be a future pillar of the country. “Alright, I’ll ask my husband about it later, but whether he can help, I’m not sure, as my husband’s position isn’t very high.”

Seeing her agreement, Aunt Zhou immediately beamed with joy.

“I’m telling you, Jiao Jiao is the most obedient. Thank you, Jiao Jiao,” Aunt Zhou said.

Cui Yunzhao smiled but remained silent.

Perhaps because Cui Yunzhao agreed so readily, things went relatively smoothly, and Yin Changfeng’s mood improved slightly. He listened to the conversation around him, his gaze involuntarily landing on Cui Yunting.

The boy was twelve this year. Compared to other boys his age, Cui Yunting was tall, and his features showed a bit more maturity and determination, which was commendable. Unfortunately, his studies were lacking, and his stubborn nature made him unsuitable for academic pursuits.

After observing Cui Yunting for a moment, he turned to look at Cui Yunlan. Seeing her timid demeanor annoyed him. He didn’t like his daughter. He always felt that daughters were weak and inept, especially his own, who acted so cautiously as if she couldn’t bear to meet anyone’s gaze. Now that she was married, she was even less obedient than before, which only made him angrier when he thought about it.

Just as Yin Changfeng was brooding over his frustration, he suddenly heard Cui Yunlan speak softly, “Recently, I’ve been learning to manage accounts from my cousin, and I can already read the ledger. Aunt also said she would teach me about medicine, so I can at least understand the principles of healing.”

He furrowed his brow and directly interrupted Aunt Zhou, saying, “What does a daughter from a prominent family need to learn such trivial skills for? Those are things for the lower classes.”

Until then, Yin Changfeng had remained silent, and Aunt Zhou had been trying to maintain a friendly atmosphere in the room. But with Yin Changfeng’s abrupt comment, everyone was taken aback, unable to speak.

Aunt Zhou’s expression stiffened, and she quickly signaled to Yin Changfeng, “Sir, what are you saying?”

Yin Changfeng let out a cold snort. He looked at Cui Yunlan with disdain and said, “As a daughter of a scholarly family, you only need to study hard, memorize the moral precepts for women, and learn domestic skills. Medicine and such are not things you should be learning.”

“Besides, do you even think you can learn it?”

His words were incredibly biased. Yin Changfeng’s prejudice was obvious, he looked down on women, physicians, and military generals. In his eyes, anyone who wasn’t a scholar was probably of a lower class.

Cui Yunlan’s face paled in response. If this had been before, she might have cried from feeling wronged, but after her older sister’s guidance, a sudden surge of courage rose within her.

Clenching her small fists, she looked up at Yin Changfeng. In her memories, he had always seemed very tall. When her mother passed away, he and Aunt Zhou had come to offer some comfort to the three orphaned children. Even though they hadn’t shown much care in the end, the fact that he had made that trip was appreciated by the three kids. If he hadn’t been there, who knew how they would have fared?

But now, Cui Yunlan realized her uncle wasn’t so towering anymore. It wasn’t that he had shrunk; it was that she had grown up. She had grown taller and no longer needed to look up at others like she did in her childhood.

The world seemed to have expanded for Cui Yunlan. Her sister was right; the world outside was even broader.

Taking a deep breath, she suddenly spoke up, “Uncle, even the court has abolished the restrictions on scholars, farmers, merchants, and laborers. This shows that everyone is equal. Whether a common laborer or a high official, we all have to eat and live off the land.”

“What’s wrong with being a physician? They can heal the sick and save lives. Without physicians, what would happen to my cousin’s illness?”

It was rare for Cui Yunlan to confront someone directly, especially a senior family member, and as she spoke, her face flushed red. She was still nervous, still haunted by old shadows, but after saying those words, she felt an incredible sense of relief.

Seeing Yin Changfeng’s expression darken further, she pressed on, “Aunt taught me that a woman should have a skill, so she won’t have to rely on others’ generosity and can live well on her own.”

Cui Yunzhao was surprised by her sister’s words. At this moment, she felt immensely grateful to Aunt Zhou. Without her careful guidance, Cui Yunlan would likely have been too frightened to speak up and would have been upset for several days after returning home.

Cui Yunzhao felt pleased, but Yin Changfeng was infuriated. He pointed directly at Cui Yunlan, his finger trembling with rage.

“You, good job,” Yin Changfeng suddenly turned to Cui Yunzhao, his eyes filled with fury. “Good job, Jiao Jiao. Is this how you teach your sister?”

“The most important thing for a woman is to support her husband and raise children, to follow the three obediences and four virtues. How will Lan’er find a husband if you teach her like this?”

Yin Changfeng’s dogmatism was terrifying.

“This isn’t acceptable,” he suddenly stood up, looking at Cui Yunzhao with a tone that was firm and authoritative. “If this continues, Tinglang will be spoiled by you.”

Yin Changfeng was almost beside himself with rage. “Jiao Jiao, it’s all your fault. Why did you have to send your sister to the Cui family? If she had stayed in the main residence, there wouldn’t have been so much trouble, and the child wouldn’t be raised wrongly.”

“What do you intend for your Sister?”

It was clear that Yin Changfeng was truly furious.

Yet Cui Yunzhao was not afraid of his anger at all. She remained seated, showing neither fear nor a desire to plead for mercy. She simply looked at Yin Changfeng calmly.

“Uncle, do you call this spoiling her?”

“How ridiculous.”

Indeed, it was utterly absurd.

Cui Yunzhao hadn’t wanted to argue with Yin Changfeng. As a guest, he and Aunt Zhou had come a long way, and as the host, she was supposed to welcome them. Since they would only stay a day or two and wouldn’t visit often, she thought it best to endure it.

But Yin Changfeng, used to being in charge in the Yin family, thought that coming to Boling meant he could maintain his authoritative stance with his nephews. That was a grave mistake.

Cui Yunzhao didn’t share the Yin surname.

Seeing Yin Changfeng’s face turn red with anger, she remained calm.

“When our father passed and our mother fell ill, the three of us were still young. We are all grateful that you and Aunt Zhou came to help with the funeral arrangements.”

” But what about after that? What kind of life have we lived all these years? I doubt you’ve ever cared,” Cui Yunzhao said.

“If you don’t hold us in your heart, then there’s no need to come here acting like a superior elder.”

Cui Yunzhao’s voice was soft and calm, yet each word struck deep into Yin Changfeng’s heart. Even Aunt Zhou, who had been trying to maintain a smile, let her expression fall.

Indeed, Cui Yunzhao was no longer the same as before. She was not as “obedient.”

But they were here today to ask for help, and it was unacceptable for Yin Changfeng to be so unpleasant. Aunt Zhou sighed internally, intending to smooth things over, but suddenly there was a loud bang.

Yin Changfeng slammed his palm on the side table, making the teacups rattle sharply. The room fell silent, save for his heavy breathing.

“Good, very good.”

“You’ve all grown up, and you no longer accept discipline.”

Yin Changfeng looked darkly at Cui Yunzhao. “Jiao Jiao, as the eldest sister, you should take on the responsibility of teaching your siblings. So let me ask you…”

“I ask you, is it your fault that Tinglang is slow with his studies and not excelling?”

“I ask you, is it your fault that Lan’er doesn’t understand the rules and is naive and timid?”

“I ask you again…”

Aunt Zhou could no longer bear to listen. Rarely did she interrupt Yin Changfeng in front of younger relatives, but now she spoke up, “Sir, don’t continue.”

Yin Changfeng was stunned into silence, unable to believe he had been interrupted. Aunt Zhou looked at Cui Yunzhao apologetically, then glanced at the children below.

“Jiao Jiao, you know what kind of person your uncle is. Don’t take it to heart; he’s doing this for your sake.”

Such conciliatory words would have made Cui Yunzhao agree in the past. But times had changed, and she was no longer the same person she used to be.

Suddenly, she smiled. Her expression remained calm, as if she hadn’t been upset or angered by her elder’s reprimands; she seemed entirely at ease.

That smile, almost as if she had heard something amusing, unnerved Aunt Zhou even more.

The more calm Cui Yunzhao was, the more Aunt Zhou felt a chill. She found it increasingly difficult to understand her niece.

Cui Yunzhao lifted her gaze, first glancing at Aunt Zhou, whose smile had stiffened, before focusing on Yin Changfeng.

“Uncle, your comments are quite biased.”

Cui Yunzhao spoke lightly, “Although our parents have passed away, we still have uncles and aunts, and many relatives nearby, not to mention you and Aunt Zhou.”

“I was only thirteen when our parents died, and I couldn’t bear the responsibility of teaching my siblings,” she continued. “If you think the three of us are unworthy of the task, perhaps you should reflect on yourself or reprimand the Cui clan.”

“You can’t place the blame on a child.”

At just eighteen, Cui Yunzhao was still young enough to be considered a child. Since Yin Changfeng wanted to criticize her for not managing her siblings, she turned the tables and pointed out that he had failed to guide them.

After all, it’s said that if a child is uneducated, it’s the parent’s fault. There’s no reason to blame a younger relative when elders are still present.

With this, it was clear that the two families were heading toward a confrontation. Yin Changfeng pointed a trembling finger at her.

“Good, Cui Yunzhao, you’re really something.”

“Are you blaming us for not taking you with us back then?”

In the end, what Yin Changfeng was truly concerned about was the events of the past. Perhaps he was aware of his own selfishness and coldness, and now that someone was pressing his buttons, he couldn’t hold it together.

Aunt Zhou’s expression changed dramatically. She knew this couldn’t continue. If it did, their trip would be in vain.

Internally cursing Yin Changfeng for being utterly foolish, she reached out and grasped his arm.

“Sir, don’t get angry, don’t get angry.”

As she helped Yin Changfeng calm down, she turned to Cui Yunzhao, forcing a smile.

“Jiao Jiao, don’t hold it against your uncle, he’s just stubborn at home and not intentionally targeting you.”

She was doing her best to smooth things over.

At this point, she couldn’t care less about what might happen when she got back; she just needed to maintain the situation as best she could.

Yin Changfeng wasn’t usually this undignified. He wouldn’t even glance at anyone he had no relation to, but now he was so angry, likely because he did care. However, what he cared about wasn’t what the younger generation wanted.

Suddenly, Yin Changfeng clutched his chest, bending slightly as he gasped for breath.

Aunt Zhou was startled. “Sir, what’s wrong?” She instinctively called out, “Someone, bring the master’s medicine!”

The room fell into chaos. Cui Yunlan was taken aback, and even Cui Yunting moved closer to his sister, afraid to speak further.

Cui Yunzhao sighed internally; her uncle’s stubbornness was really unappealing. But he was still an elder. She pulled her siblings close, comforting them for a moment, and then waited for Yin Changfeng to recover.

This was likely an old ailment of his. After taking the medicine, he felt much better in no time. But while his chest pain subsided, he appeared somewhat defeated, slumping in his chair, looking much older. At that moment, Cui Yunzhao finally felt the weight of his age; there were lines of time around his eyes.

Aunt Zhou didn’t seem overly worried. Once Yin Changfeng calmed down, she turned to Cui Yunzhao, saying, “You all must have been scared, right? It’s nothing, this is just your uncle’s old problem. He’ll be fine after taking his medicine and resting for a night.”

Seeing the two younger ones trembling, she felt it was rather pointless. Aunt Zhou sighed, “Really, it’s nothing. Lan’er, Tinglang, don’t be afraid.”

Perhaps due to the sudden onset of his condition, Yin Changfeng’s anger seemed dissipated, revealing a somewhat kinder demeanor.

“I know, I haven’t done well enough.”

Yin Changfeng suddenly spoke up. Cui Yunzhao looked up at him. His gaze, however, was unfocused, staring into the distance as if he were seeing something far away, lost in thought.

“I didn’t fulfill my responsibility to care for you all after your sister passed, that was my fault.”

People are truly contradictory. Just moments ago, Yin Changfeng had been like an enraged tiger, ready to snap, but suddenly he transformed into a remorseful elder.

Cui Yunzhao continued to watch him quietly, her expression unchanging. In her past life, she had little contact with her uncle and aunt, and even when they moved to Bianjing, they rarely interacted.

Because of the divorce incident that angered Yin Changfeng, during the New Year’s greetings, he wouldn’t even speak a few words to her. In her memories, both Yin Changfeng and Aunt Zhou were merely vague figures; they had never been close.

However, after spending half a day together, their features became clearer. Yin Changfeng was not the stubborn old fossil she had thought; on the contrary, he was a shrewd businessman. When he realized that suppression and scolding wouldn’t make the younger generation submit, he immediately changed his approach, using his illness as a way to shift his attitude.

In this moment, Yin Changfeng appeared both compassionate and defeated, and others couldn’t help but feel sympathy for him. It was truly something unusual.

Meanwhile, Aunt Zhou was also beside him, wiping her tears. Their coordination as a couple was seamless.

Cui Yunzhao suddenly found it all rather uninteresting. Did Yin Changfeng have any true feelings for them? Perhaps he did, but that sincerity was not enough for him to forgo his interests. What he wanted, he would strive to attain no matter what.

It was no wonder that among the four great families, only the Yin family was thriving and had a promising future. Compared to him, Cui Xu felt like a minor figure, cast down into the dust.

“Jiao Jiao, don’t take your uncle’s words to heart. I was really worried,” Yin Changfeng sighed again. “Every time I see you all, I think of my sister, and the beautiful times of our youth.”

First, he swings a heavy stick, then offers a sweet date, and finally reminisces about the past. This tactic would likely persuade the inexperienced children.

Cui Yunzhao glanced at her siblings. Having been exposed to the Cui family and the He family for many years, they weren’t intimidated by Yin Changfeng’s tactics. However, with Yin Changfeng now softening, the animosity between them lessened.

Yin Changfeng suddenly choked up. “You’ll forgive your uncle, right?”

Forgiveness? Aunt Zhou was also shedding tears. “Jiao Jiao, Lan’er, Tinglang, we are all family, after all.”

Cui Yunzhao didn’t feel moved instead, she felt restless. She didn’t want to stay any longer. If they had argued fiercely just a moment ago, she wouldn’t have found it bothersome, but now, seeing them play their roles in this melodrama, she felt inexplicably agitated.

She didn’t want to continue watching.

“Uncle, Aunt,” Cui Yunzhao suddenly spoke, “I will discuss this matter with my husband, and if it’s possible, I will do my best.”

She got straight to the point. “But if it cannot be done, I hope you both can understand, as my abilities are limited.”

Cui Yunzhao didn’t give them a chance to respond, bowing slightly. “It’s getting late, and I need to hurry back to discuss this matter with my husband. If it’s too late, it might be difficult to manage.”

With one hand holding her brother and the other holding her sister, she stated firmly, “If there is any news, I will write to Uncle, but I won’t trouble you any further today.”

As she said this, she gently nudged Cui Yunlan.

Cui Yunting followed suit, saying, “Thank you, Uncle and Aunt for your hospitality. Nephew takes his leave.”

After the three siblings finished speaking, they turned to leave. Aunt Zhou was momentarily stunned, then snapped back to reality, calling out, “Wait.”

This “wait” came out sharp and unexpected. She truly hadn’t expected Cui Yunzhao to leave without giving them a chance to speak, but their visit wasn’t solely about Yin Xingzhi.

The matter wasn’t finished yet, how could they let Cui Yunzhao leave?

Having uttered those two words, Aunt Zhou realized that Cui Yunzhao wasn’t an ordinary person, so ignoring Yin Changfeng’s glare, she spoke straightforwardly.

“Jiao Jiao, we still have things to discuss.”

Cui Yunzhao paused slightly, turning her head with a faint smile. “Then Aunt, please hurry, I need to return home before the curfew.”