Chapter 23 Royal Etiquette
"Mother, they are..."

Cui Shuyun looked at the two fresh and refined maids standing silently behind her mother Cui.

There were two maids, one was elegant as the moon, the other was cold as the snow. Although their temperaments were different, they had one thing in common, that was their outstanding figures and refined looks.

This is an outstanding person that the family doesn't have, and she is even more talented than the eldest sister-in-law.

"They are maids sent by the Fu'an Marquis's Mansion to serve you. Don't worry about them!"

Cui's mother said indifferently.

maid?

This is a maid?
Cui Shuyun was stunned, and instantly understood the differences between people!
"Madam, I am polite! I am your maid Qiuyue!"

"The maidservant Dongxue!"

Qiuyue and Dongxue took advantage of the break between Cui Shuyun and Cui's mother's conversation to introduce themselves.

He is careful in his words and actions, and does not try to steal the limelight, yet he knows what to do and what to say at the right time.

It makes people feel like a spring breeze!

Cui Shuyun didn't ask and just stood aside in silence.

Cui Shuyun was curious and immediately introduced herself.

Cui Shuyun felt that she had learned these rules and abilities before.

Cui Shuyun remembered that it was the palace mother-in-law that the Cui family invited to raise her when she was a child!

The memory of the dead suddenly began to attack Cui Shuyun, causing Cui Shuyun to involuntarily use the methods that her mother-in-law taught her when she was raised.

"No need to formalize, everyone! Meet Shujun!"

Cui Shuyun raised her slender hand slightly and responded gracefully.

"Thank you, madam!"

Qiuyue and Dongxue stood up and exchanged glances with each other for a moment, as if they were surprised and satisfied with Cui Shuyun's courtesy.

"Hey, Yun'er, why are you acting so hypocritical again?

Haven’t you suffered enough of sin?
Let’s go! The clan leader and your father are waiting for you!”

Cui's mother was the one who could not stand this set of royal etiquette.

In her view, this set of royal etiquette is pure posturing and pretending to be noble.

So on the way here, Cui's mother never communicated much with Qiuyue Dongxue.

Even though I knew they were from the Hou Mansion.

I will have a lot of contact with my daughter in the future!

Cui's mother was annoyed by Qiuyue Dongxue's temperament and behavior.

Moreover, Cui's mother believed that her daughter would be the principal lady in the Hou Mansion, so why would she not give face to just two maids?

Can you still turn the tables?

When Cui Shuyun was young, Cui Zongyan was working in the local government.

There happened to be a local mother-in-law who was released from the palace and returned to her hometown because her term of service had expired.

Cui Zongyan took into consideration that not only was he the unpopular son who succeeded him, but his wife also came from a humble family and did not understand many rules.

For the sake of his future in officialdom, Cui Zongyan personally went to the house and invited the mother-in-law who raised him to come to the Cui family and teach the rules to the family members.

Because I don't want to offend the local county magistrate.

The foster mother-in-law reluctantly agreed to teach for half a year.

Cui Zongyan, Cui Ronghe and Cui Rongtian were men and did not learn much.

Cui Shuyun is young, has a strong ability to learn, and learns very quickly.

But Cui's mother is different, she is the focus of teaching.

Cui's mother was not young anymore, and by that time she had already formed some behavioral habits that were almost ingrained. It was really difficult for her to learn them, but she did not dare to go against Cui Zongyan and say she did not want to learn.

She had no choice but to force her daughter Cui Shuyun to catch up with her in her studies.

The mother-in-law who raised her had just returned from the palace and was used to the ways of the palace, so she was very strict in her teaching.

Caught between the strict teaching and the strong pulling, Cui Shuyun spent a hellish six months.

Cui's mother also felt that those six months were hell.

Although later, Cui's mother rarely behaved improperly when interacting with the women of officials' families.

But at home, especially when Cui Zongyan was not at home, Cui's mother would retaliate and do whatever was disrespectful!
This is also the reason why the ladylike eldest daughter-in-law can never be liked by Cui's mother.

Qiuyue and Dongxue were unhappy with Cui's mother's rude behavior, but they didn't say anything.

After all, after getting married, the lady’s contact with the Cui family will naturally become less.

Why do you have to be a bad person?

Cui Shuyun just took two steps.

"Miss!"

Behind me came the aggrieved cry of the maid Xiaowei.

Cui Shuyun turned around and saw that Qiuyue and Dongxue had taken Xiaowei's place!
Xiaowei can't keep up!
"Xiaowei, pack up and wait for me outside the house!" Cui Shuyun thought for a moment and ordered.

Although Xiaowei was Cui Shuyun's maid who came with her as a dowry, Cui Shuyun and Xiaowei did not have a master-servant relationship as close as sisters.

Although Xiaowei is quite diligent in her work, she listens more to Cui Shuyun's father and mother, and often ignores what they say to her.

What's more, in recent days, because of the previous incident of falling into the water, Cui Shuyun always felt a little estranged from Xiaowei!

"But…

Yes, miss! "

Xiaowei wanted to object, but after looking at Cui Shuyun, and then at Qiuyue and Dongxue who were following behind Cui Shuyun, she could only pout helplessly and agreed reluctantly.

……

Cui Shuyun, wearing her wedding dress, couldn't walk fast. Even with the help of Cui's mother, Qiuyue and Dongxue, it took her a while to reach the reception room.

When Cui Shuyun approached the reception room, she found that there were many Cui family members standing outside the reception room, most of whom were elites from each branch.

In addition to the elite children of the Cui family, Cui Shuyun also discovered some soldiers in armor and strangers in long gowns.

When they saw Cui Shuyun coming, they all greeted her and saluted.

Some call her Yun Jie Er, some call her Xiao Mei, and some call her Shisan Mei...

Cui Shuyun is the thirteenth among the Cui family's legitimate children of this generation.

In this era, the ranking of brothers and sisters in aristocratic families generally only counts legitimate sons and daughters, while illegitimate sons and daughters are generally not included in the ranking.

This is the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children in this era.

But there are more people who call Cui Shuyun "Madam"!
When Cui Shuyun heard this name, she knew who those people were!
People from Fu'an Marquis Mansion!

According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, after completing the three books and six ceremonies, you become a member of the man’s family!

At most it's just the difference between a fiancée and a fiancée.

Although Cui Shuyun was a little uncomfortable with the title of "Madam", she had just been called that by Qiuyue and Dongxue, so she was not shy. Maintaining her composure, Cui Shuyun kept walking, recalling the teachings of her mother-in-law, and responding appropriately to the Cui family members and the people in the Marquis' Mansion around her.

At this moment, Cui Shuyun thanked her mother-in-law for raising her for the first time in her life.

As she stepped over the threshold of the reception room, Cui Shuyun felt countless eyes scanning her.

Although there were not as many people in the reception room as outside just now, it put more pressure on Cui Shuyun.

Cui Shuyun raised her head slightly, and already knew what was going on with everyone in the hall.

There are 8 people in the room.

Among them, there are 6 people with the Cui family, and except for his father Cui Zongyan, all of them are elders known to Cui Shuyun.

They are the six people with the highest status in Cui family who can decide the direction of Cui family.

Sitting in the main seat was the head of the Cui family - Cui Zongji.

In a noble family, the patriarch is the eldest parent.

Many times, the clan leader needs to be respected more than the biological parents.

Sitting below in order were his father Cui Zongyan, the first elder, the head of the third house, the second elder, and the head of the fourth house.

Sitting in the first guest seat was a general in armor, and sitting in the second guest seat was an elegant man in a long gown.

Cui Shuyun understood that these two should be the ones in charge of the wedding reception at the Fu'an Marquis' Mansion.

"Sister Yun is here!"

This is the voice of clan leader Cui Zongji.

The tone was unusually gentle.

"Shujun has met the clan leader, father, first elder, clan uncle Zongji, second elder, clan uncle Zongchen..."

Cui Shuyun greeted everyone one by one.

There is no flaw in his words and deeds.

Zhao Xinghan looked at this scene and nodded silently in his heart.

He is a polite person.

"Come, Yun'er, let me introduce you. This is General Zhao Xinghan of the Marquis of Fu'an Mansion, and he is also the Marquis's cousin!"

After Cui Shuyun finished paying respects to all the elders of the Cui family, Cui Zongyan immediately stood up, led Cui Shuyun to Zhao Xinghan and introduced her.

"Shuyun, meet your cousin!"

Cui Shuyun bowed.

Zhao Xinghan came to Cui's house as the chief envoy to pick up the bride, partly because of his official position, but also because he was Zhu Chengwu's cousin.

Although they haven't married yet, there's nothing wrong with calling her Cui Shuyun.

The name "cousin" sounds more intimate.

"Ma'am, you are polite!"

Zhao Xinghan stood up and returned the salute.

Zhao Xinghan did not call Cui Shuyun "sister-in-law" as Cui Shuyun called her, but called Cui Shuyun "Madam".

In the Ming Dynasty, "Madam" was not a name for the wife but a respectful title.

When a husband addresses his wife, he usually calls her "niangzi".

"This is the head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Marquis of Fu'an Mansion, and also the president of the Xuzhou Chamber of Commerce—President Dai Fayan!"

Cui Zongyan then brought Cui Shuyun to Dai Fayan and introduced her.

"Shuyun, meet President Dai!"

Cui Shuyun also bowed.

"Madam, I am so embarrassed! I am Dai Fayan, your subordinate, to greet you, Madam!"

Compared with Zhao Xinghan, Dai Fayan is more respectful.

He stood up before Cui Shuyun walked up to him.

"Sister Yun will have a lot of time to meet General Zhao and Chief Steward Dai in the future, so let Sister Yun be mine first!"

After Cui Shuyun met the chief and deputy envoys from the Fu'an Marquis' Mansion who came to pick up the bride, Cui Zongji said with a smile.

Zhao Xinghan and Dai Fayan did not refute, and signaled Cui Zongji to do as he pleased.

"You go out first!"

Cui Zongyan signaled Cui's mother to go out.

It was a custom in the Ming Dynasty that men worked outside and women worked inside.

Cui Zongji is about to say something that does not suit the presence of Cui's mother.

This is the Cui family's rule and tacit understanding.

"No need, second brother, your sister-in-law is Yunjie'er's mother, so please stay!"

Cui Zongji spoke and asked Cui's mother to stay.

"it is good!"

Cui Zongyan glanced at the patriarch and said softly.

In this situation, Cui's mother was still sensible and quietly found a seat to sit down.

"Qiuyue and Dongxue, please stay as well! There must be a representative from the Internal Affairs Department!"

Dai Fayan spoke, and also left behind Qiuyue Dongxue.

The Cui family members looked at each other, and seeing that Zhao Xinghan had no objection, they all remained silent.

Mother Cui looked at Qiuyue Dongxue in shock. Only then did she understand that the two maids who came with the wedding procession had a very special status in the Hou Mansion.

"Except for the female relatives like Yunjie, I think everyone knows that Marquis Fu'an is marrying the daughter of the Cui family this time, and the rare treasure of the Cui family, the Fire Lotus, will be used as a dowry!"

Although it is called a dowry, the fire lotus will not be included in the dowry list.

In other words, the fire lotus was not Cui Shuyun's private property, but a gift from Cui to Marquis Fu'an.

Marquis Fu'an can be mobilized.

The reason why they call it a dowry is just to save face!

It can't be said that Cui couldn't bear the oppression of Fu'an Marquis's Mansion and thus offered tribute to Fu'an Marquis to pray for peace!

We are all decent people and we all want to save face!

Only then did Cui Shuyun, Cui's mother, Qiuyue and Dongxue understand the real purpose of the marriage between Fu'an Marquis' Mansion and Cui's family.

They have all heard of the rare treasures of heaven and earth, and they all know how precious they are.

"No wonder Sister Yun couldn't get out of the engagement no matter how hard she tried!"

Cui's mother finally understood everything.

(End of this chapter)