Chapter 972: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 972: Fondness (1)
The news of Cui Ping’an staying at the Mo family was leaked to the Cui family by Yan Junyu.
As soon as that guy got home, he was severely scolded by Marquis Wu’an. On top of that, Princess Chang’an stormed out of the palace in the middle of the night with her long whip and gave him another fierce beating.
Yan Junyu was highly skilled in martial arts—not that he couldn’t beat Princess Chang’an—but with Marquis Wu’an holding him down and several imperial guards assisting on the side, he had no choice but to defend passively. Getting whipped was only to be expected.
Yan Junyu was miserable, but there was nothing he could do about his grandfather or Princess Chang’an. In a fit of frustration, when he found out that Cui Ping’an was still staying comfortably at the Mo household, jealousy flared up in him, and he revealed Cui Ping’an’s whereabouts to Old Master Cui.
The Cui family had never stopped searching for Cui Ping’an, even after receiving his safety letters. Old Master Cui, deeply worried about his nephew’s safety, was shocked to learn that his nephew was staying right under their noses in the capital. He immediately reported this to the old matriarch.
Naturally, the old madam was overjoyed. She had initially thought that if her grandson was living well, she would let him stay outside a little longer before bringing him home. But nearly a month had passed without any trace of him. If it weren’t for the letters arriving every five days, she would’ve thought something terrible had happened to her grandson.
After waiting so long, her longing had completely overtaken her earlier intentions. The moment she learned of his whereabouts, she ordered her eldest son to fetch him home.
However, when she heard that the family who had taken in her grandson was none other than the Mo family—the one with a titled junzhu—her feelings became complicated. There was gratitude, but also a tinge of regret, which all turned into a long sigh.
As a prestigious family with a legacy spanning centuries, the Cui family valued propriety. The Mo family had kindly taken in Cui Ping’an and was of respectable status; naturally, it wouldn’t do to just send a steward with a few words of thanks to bring him back.
But while there were many members in the Cui family, very few were suitable for the task. The eldest master had court duties and couldn’t leave; the second master was stationed elsewhere and even less available; the third master—Cui Ping’an’s biological father—had sunk into debauchery after the death of his wife and was practically useless.
There were a few illegitimate sons in the Cui family, but with the scheming Princess Fuyun around, the old madam didn’t trust them with this matter. In the end, the task fell to Cui Qingrou.
Since her divorce and return to the Cui family, Cui Qingrou rarely went out due to various concerns. But this time, she was more than willing to travel to Liuyang Village to bring her nephew home.
Before setting out, the old madam and Cui Qingrou inquired in detail about the Mo family’s household and preferences, preparing a carefully selected thank-you gift. Though all the gifts only filled a single chest, their value far exceeded that of a chest full of gold.
At the moment, the atmosphere in the Mo family’s main hall was rather awkward. The source of that awkwardness? None other than Cui Ping’an himself, who had just been spotted behind the kitchen with an axe, chopping wood—right in front of Cui Qingrou.
To make the work easier, Cui Ping’an had changed out of his long robe and into a laborer’s short tunic, the kind commonly worn by rural folk. After chopping firewood behind the kitchen for nearly a month, he’d gotten some sun, and the exposed parts of his skin had tanned. His hands, now covered with calluses, were a far cry from the pampered hands of a noble heir.
Seeing the obvious heartache in Cui Qingrou’s eyes, Mo Yan couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward. While she didn’t think there was anything wrong with letting Cui Ping’an do chores, having his family see this scene was undeniably embarrassing. If the Cui family thought she was mistreating him and got upset, things could get troublesome.
Sensing Mo Yan’s discomfort, Cui Qingrou stood up slowly and said with a grateful expression, “Thank you, Junzhu, for taking him in. If not for your kindness, who knows where Ping’an would be right now. Please allow this concubine to offer you a bow.”
With that, she gave Mo Yan a deep and respectful curtsey.
(End of Chapter)
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