CHAPTER 532: CHAPTER 521: THE BROTHERS’ SARCASTIC BANTER

The atmosphere within the room became stagnant.

Xuan Shuyu showed anger on her face. Seeing her like that, Cui Yang, who was accustomed to decisiveness on the battlefield, timidly touched his nose, about to speak, but in the end, remained silent.

He glanced at Xuan Shuyu several times but received not a bit of response.

With no other choice, he turned his gaze to Cui Yun.

"I haven’t returned for a long time. Come, join me in the yard and let’s see if you’ve made any progress," he said.

But Cui Yun didn’t give him the slightest face, clinging tenderly to his mother, Cui Xuan, to sit her down.

It was at this moment that Cui Bai came over from paying respects in the main courtyard. Apart from Qiao Si greeting Cui Yang, he seemed to also ignore his father just as much.

"Mama."

Cui Bai lifted his robe solemnly and knelt to the ground, knocking his head in a bow.

His voice hoarse, he said, "Your son has returned."

Indeed, returned alive.

Xuan Shuyu hurriedly helped him to his feet, the tears in her eyes glistening: "It’s good that you’re back, as long as you are back."

"Have you visited your grandparents yet?"

"That’s right, I saw them before coming here."

"Hmm, you’re always thorough."

Cui Bai then took something out of his sleeve: "Your son came across a flawless white jade in Chi City, warm and lustrous throughout. I had a craftsman make three bracelets from it."

One for each woman of the household.

Fancy and showy, used to dealing with these superfluous things. Cui Yang saw it but didn’t take it to heart.

After all, he brought a chest full of gold and silver jewelry last year and didn’t see her so pleased,

How could Xuan Shuyu be fond of such common goods?

Moreover, on Xuan Shuyu’s right wrist was a jade bracelet, a gift from him when they married, and also a symbol of Cui Family’s Matriarch; for many years, she had never taken it off.

Yet he saw Xuan Shuyu smile.

A shallow dimple suddenly appeared.

"You’ve taken great care."

The quality of this jade, one could tell at a glance it’s top-grade.

Looking again at Qiao Si, wasn’t there a similar white jade bracelet on her delicate wrist, making her all the more graceful and gentle?

The warm touch, Xuan Shuyu couldn’t let go.

"This is brother’s thoughtfulness, Mama must try it on," he insisted.

Cui Yun cast a sidelong glance, looking at the incompatible Cui Yang. Without waiting for Cui Xuan’s reaction, he ignored her empty left hand

and unhesitatingly removed the bracelet from Cui Xuan’s right wrist, casually tossing it on the coffee table. Then he put the white jade bracelet on her.

Cui Yun smiled contentedly: "Much more pleasing to the eye."

Cui Bai, helping the pregnant Qiao Si who was inconvenient to stand for long to sit, was still as mild and moist as jade: "It suits Mama."

Qiao Si glanced at her sullen father-in-law, then looked towards the brothers with their tacit understanding.

She remained silent.

Cui Yun, even finding the bracelet on the coffee table a nuisance, pushed it away again: "In the future, when you and sister-in-law go out, anyone with eyes can see it’s a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair."

Xuan Shuyu was coaxed into radiant joy.

In her storeroom were plenty of Dongyang Pearls, she thought of having someone craft them into jewelry to wear together—so fitting! She’d go to Yunxiang Pavilion with Ai tomorrow to buy some new clothes.

No matter if a daughter is young or old, who doesn’t love jewelry?

Especially when it’s a gift from her son.

Cui Yang’s eyes twitched: "Wait..."

But before he could finish a word, he was interrupted by Cui Yun.

"Father."

The words of the partially grown boy were perplexing.

"You didn’t come back empty-handed, did you?"

"That really wouldn’t be proper."

Cui Bai spoke as if to clarify: "Military affairs are complicated, it’s just that father is a man of importance and might have forgotten. How can we blame him?"

While speaking, he gave a bow to Cui Yang.

"Had I known this would be the situation, father only needed to give a word, and your son could have prepared. It wouldn’t have been empty-handed."

Cui Yang felt the two were being deliberately provocative.

But in front of Xuan Shuyu, he nodded politely.

"The military is indeed busy."

This was true!

As soon as he said this, no one paid any more attention to him.

Xuan Shuyu, holding onto Qiao Si, mentioned they should visit the Daoist School in a few days to pray for her safety and fortune.

Cui Bai was talking to Cui Yun.

Cui Yang, formidable yet isolated, couldn’t bring himself to leave. He took the teacup and gulped it down, tasting nothing.

Xuan Shuyu, apart from reading, was also fond of the tea: "A top-grade Tieguanyin, I only got one can of it. The Marquis is like an ox chewing peonies, what a waste."

Cui Yang remained silent.

"Sanqing Temple is bustling with worshippers. When Mama and I went there last time, you were feeding the fish in the release pool," Qiao Si hastily said in a gentle manner, seeing the situation.

Reminded of this, Cui Xuan nodded, "I loved raising fish even before I was married."

Cui Yang seemed to find a topic: "If so, why not dig a small pond in the courtyard?"

If you want to dig, just dig, why ask for permission?

It was just a casual mention.

The smile on Xuan Shuyu’s face faded slightly.

Cui Yun leaned back, looking lazy and carefree.

"If Mama wants to feed fish, doesn’t the Xuan Family have a pond ready for use?"

There was a flicker in Cui Bai’s eye.

"Mama, it’s been a long time since I saw uncle. Why don’t you accompany me for a short stay?"

Xuan Shuyu was tempted: "You’ve just returned and are not aware that Ai’s marriage is about to be fixed. Your uncle mentioned the young suitor is quite good."

She was somewhat unsatisfied.

After all, the disparity in their family backgrounds was too great. How could she marry her daughter off to live a hard life?

Cui Bai’s heart sank.

He remembered that Xuan Ai was not supposed to marry so early.

Indeed, at that time, his death was a great blow to the Xuan Family. Dowager Xuan was sick for several years, and Xuan Ai served her during that time.

Chong Bingwen waited without a single complaint; thus, uncle valued his character even more.

This marriage must not take place.

Cui Yun pulled at his lip: "That’s good too, to avoid staying in one’s own residence and encountering the despised people from the Wu Family. Neither light nor serious, improper hospitality could lead to reprimand."

Xuan Shuyu was thoroughly persuaded.

However, someone’s face darkened: "The Wu Family?"

Unlike the usual days, Cui Bai’s attitude was unusually staunch this time.

"I might offend my father, but I have to lay it out today. A junior should not meddle in the affairs of elders."

"You and the late Madam’s matters were just between you two, nothing more. In terms of propriety and rituals, Weizhen and I must respect the late Madam. But in terms of blood relations, the grace of birth, and the grace of upbringing, we only have Mama. Not to mention the Wu Family with their insincere intentions."

In the past, when Cui Yun was outraged, Cui Bai would always stop him, commanding him never to act impetuously.

Now, it was surprisingly beyond Cui Yun’s expectations. Holding the overly sweet pastry, he let out a muffled chuckle: "Every time the Wu Family visits, they come to mooch, and are hard to drive away, as if they can’t wait to settle down in the Cui family for good."

Hearing these words, Xuan Shuyu was raging with anger.

But after listening further to what Cui Bai said, she became completely restless.

"The Wu Family indeed harbors such intentions."

"The Miss Wu is just about your age, with your father making the decision, it would be simple to make her your principal wife with just a word."

Cui Yang: !!!

He thought of the two sentences Xuan Shuyu had said before.

——"I will never accept the Miss Wu as my daughter-in-law."

——"If the Marquis really thinks so highly of them, you might as well divorce me and marry someone from the Wu Family!"

Cui Yang’s hand was sweaty.

"Isn’t that right, father?"

"Compromising Weizhen’s happiness just to satisfy the Wu Family has always been your way of doing things."