After I died, the scumbag prince cried down the city wall

Cui Rongrong reached out and gently pinched her sister's cheek, her eyes full of doting, "Don't worry, no matter what the situation is, I have the ability to protect myself."

She had already made a foolproof plan in her mind. If the empress dowager really became shaken and looked for an opportunity to regain power at the upcoming birthday banquet, the situation in the former court and the harem would change suddenly. Song Yanyi would be caught off guard, and the chess game he had carefully arranged would face unprecedented challenges.

After all, in the memory of the previous life, when Song Yanyi usurped the throne, the empress dowager mostly just watched coldly and never really intervened.

Thinking of this, she lowered her eyes slightly, deeply hiding the plan in her heart.

Only when more people are involved in this game of power will Song Yanyi feel overwhelmed and exhausted.

As for the incident involving the Assistant Minister of Justice, Cui Rongrong learned from her father Cui Min that the emperor had severely punished his concubine and the matter came to an end.

Cui Min was still sighing with emotion about this, but Cui Rong's face remained calm.

Song Yanyi might quietly direct the blame towards Song Yanchen, but Song Yanchen is no longer the young man who easily fell into the trap back then. How could he repeat the same mistake and fall into the quagmire again?

In this game of power, with two strong powers competing against each other, no one is willing to be inferior to the other, and in the end it is often the innocent bystanders who suffer.

She raised her head and looked at her father Cui Min tenderly. She said in a soft but firm voice, "Although Daddy feels that this matter is a little strange, since the emperor has ordered a grand funeral for the Minister of Justice, Daddy does not need to worry too much."

"Compared to this, the Queen Mother's birthday is more important. Has Dad prepared a gift for her?"

Cui Min heard this and changed the subject, saying in a relaxed tone, "I have already discussed the gift with my uncles, so you don't need to worry about it."

"The Queen Mother's birthday is coming soon, and you and Yunhe should buy some new clothes. After all, the New Year is coming soon. We haven't celebrated the New Year in Kyoto for many years. This year we must have a lively celebration!"

When Cui Rongrong heard this, warm ripples appeared in her eyes.

She had fantasized about such a heartwarming scene countless times in the cold dungeon, and now it had finally come true.

She quickly adjusted her mood so as not to let her father notice that something was wrong with her.

After the father and daughter talked for a long time, Cui Rong slowly walked out of the study.

When I returned to the courtyard, I saw Cui Yunhe waiting quietly in the main house with expectant eyes.

"Sister, you're back! Xifeng just brought some hot tea and cakes. I was wondering when you could get away from Daddy."

Cui Rongrong smiled and responded, "Dad and I talked about the Queen Mother's birthday banquet and asked us to take some time to make two new clothes so that we don't have to wear old clothes when we go to the palace to celebrate the birthday."

"Dad is so thoughtful." Cui Yunhe said obediently, "The New Year is coming soon, and now that I have made new clothes, I can go shopping for some New Year goods."

"Sister hasn't celebrated the New Year in Kyoto for many years. We must make good preparations this year!"

Cui Rongrong sat down next to Cui Yunhe, her tone full of anticipation, "Daddy means the same thing, so let's go to the cloth shop to choose fabrics tomorrow."

"What a great idea!"

And on this quiet night, Zhao Lin listened to it all silently in the dark, silently recording every detail in his heart.

As the night deepened, when the candle in Cui Rongrong's room went out, Zhao Lin's figure quietly blended into the darkness.

In the dim light, Cui Rong whispered to Tian Lang, "Follow closely."

"Yes." Tianlang's voice was concise and firm, and then disappeared into the night.

Not long after, Zhao Lin appeared in Shen Yumian's courtyard.

Shen Yumian's maid was already accustomed to this and skillfully led him to see Shen Yumian.

Zhao Lin recounted to Shen Yumian everything he had heard. After listening, Shen Yumian's brows were tightly furrowed.

"Cui Rongrong obviously wants to show off in front of the Queen Mother!" She said indignantly, "She was rejected before asking for an audience, and now I don't know what means she used to get the Queen Mother to summon her!"

"How could she stay quiet at such an important birthday party?"

Zhao Lin echoed, "Miss, you are absolutely right. The eldest daughter of the Cui family is very scheming and always tries to suppress you. It's really abominable!"

"Miss, you must be fully prepared. You can't let her have any chance to steal the show!"

Shen Yumian snorted coldly, "I understand without you telling me. They will go to the cloth shop tomorrow, and I will go with them!"

"The clothes I made by myself will definitely be more dazzling! If she can please the Queen Mother, why can't I? I want both the Queen Mother and Brother Yan Yi to notice me!"

Seeing her high morale, Zhao Lin reminded her in a low voice, "Miss, you are much better than the eldest lady of the Cui family. With a little preparation, you will naturally stand out from the crowd."

"However, the Cui family's daughter is quite scheming, so Miss needs to be more careful."

Shen Yumian frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure revealed in her expression, "From childhood to adulthood, has she ever been able to match me? Even if she occasionally has the upper hand after returning to Beijing, the ultimate control is still in my hands."

"She is still the same as when she was little. No matter how cold the frontier wind is, it can't wake up her dull mind!"

Seeing his master's confidence, Zhao Lin hesitated to speak, and finally just responded with a low "yes" and quietly retreated.

The next morning, when Zhao Lin brought the news that Cui Rongrong and the others were about to go out, Shen Yumian hurriedly ordered the maid to prepare the carriage and get ready for action.

She followed closely behind and followed Cui Rong into the door of the same cloth shop.

The moment she stepped over the threshold, she took a deep breath, and then, with her chest out and stomach in, she walked into the store in a calm and unhurried manner.

As soon as you step into the cloth shop, the first thing you see is Cui Rongrong and Cui Yunhe. They are immersed in laughter and their fingers gently slide across the colorful cloths.

There was just the right amount of surprise on Shen Yumian's lips, and she approached them briskly, with a subtle calculation hidden in her smile.

"Oh, what a coincidence! Are Sister Cui and Sister Cui also buying new clothes for the changing seasons?" Shen Yumian's voice was filled with some unexpected joy, and her eyes jumped between the two of them.

Cui Rongrong turned around when she heard the voice, a smile broke out on her face, and her eyes flashed with sincere welcome for Shen Yumian's arrival.

"Yes, Sister Shen, I didn't expect to meet you here, it's really fate."

"It's a pleasant surprise to see you two."

Shen Yumian changed the subject and looked at Cui Yunhe tenderly, "Sister Cui, you look much better. I remember this time last year, you were always feeling unwell and rarely went out."

"Well, thanks to my sister's careful care."

Cui Yunhe responded softly, with a faint blush on her cheeks. Her eyes were full of gratitude towards Cui Rongrong, "Sister's medical skills are comparable to those of the imperial doctors in the palace.