Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Eldest Sister Huadie's cheek burned with pain. Fear made her drop to her knees with a thud, tears streaming down like broken strands of jade beads. "C-Commandery Princess... this servant..." She still couldn't figure out what she had done wrong. "Fool!" Princess Rongjia couldn't hold back her curse. "You're my person, so what's the meaning of running off to beg Cui Lingrong? I could have elevated you when I sent you to the Marquis, and there would have been a day of promotion for you. But you couldn't wait, could you? Are you deliberately trying to make me look foolish in front of Cui Lingrong?" "This servant didn't beg her," Huadie said, insisting she hadn't asked for anything. "She offered on her own. This servant truly didn't ask her for help." "Then are you mute? Couldn't you have refused her?" Princess Rongjia had chosen Huadie as her chambermaid concubine because she was pretty but brainless—she'd thought someone dim would be easier to control. But she never expected Huadie to be this stupid. "She said in front of everyone that she wanted to elevate you to concubine. Now look what's happened—your wish has been granted. If I don't elevate you, I'll look petty." She had to admit, Princess Rongjia was thoroughly disgusted. She had her own plans for Huadie, and now Cui Lingrong had disrupted them. On top of that, she had to thank Cui Lingrong—it was worse than swallowing a fly. Huadie covered her mouth, not daring to cry aloud, nor daring to explain further, afraid that saying more would only mean making more mistakes. "After the Mid-Autumn Festival, I'll have someone pick an auspicious date, and I'll have the Marquis give you a title. You don't need to attend to me these next few days—go back and rest." Princess Rongjia didn't want to look at Huadie anymore. Just as she finished speaking, she caught the flicker of delight in Huadie's eyes and regretted her choice even more. Huadie's thinking was that one slap was worth it—she'd gotten real benefits out of it. In the future, if she bore a son or daughter, she'd be able to establish herself in the Marquis's household. After dismissing Huadie, the anger in Princess Rongjia's chest refused to settle. If Wang Shanxi's Wife weren't still bedridden, she wouldn't be left without a single person to offer her advice. With that thought, she took her attendants to visit Wang Shanxi's Wife. Learning that her mistress had come, Wang Shanxi's Wife was deeply moved. She wept with tears and mucus streaming down her face, insisting on getting up to pay her respects. "Enough, look at the state you're in—no need for such formalities." Princess Rongjia pressed Wang Shanxi's Wife back down by the shoulders, making her stay lying on her stomach. "You need to rest and recover properly. I can't do without you by my side." She sighed and recounted the day's events. Wang Shanxi's Wife joined in with a curse of her own. "That one in Qiushuang Zhai is selling cloth and salt both—sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. Huadie belongs to Wutong Yuan. Since when is it her place to make arrangements?" Getting worked up, she instinctively tried to rise, only to pull at her wound and wince in pain. "Never mind. Huadie's indenture is in your hands, and she's a foolish, ignorant thing—she can't stir up any waves. You were planning to elevate her anyway; it's only happening a bit sooner." Princess Rongjia said her chest felt blocked up. "If you're going to elevate Huadie, you should still keep her happy—you don't want to alienate the people around you." She was referring to the slap the Princess had given Huadie. "I know. I'll send her a set of head ornaments later. I really can't do without you—without your reminders, I can't keep my temper in check." Princess Rongjia sighed as she spoke. "Master Song treats me well and gives me all the respect due to me. The only thing I lack in this Marquis's household is a child of my own." But... Princess Rongjia didn't finish the thought. Wang Shanxi's Wife knew better than to pry. "The Princess is still young. We have plenty of time ahead—you'll have your own child eventually. Besides, the two young masters of the main branch are quite fond of you. That one in Qiushuang Zhai may try to disgust us, but we can drive a wedge between her and her sons." Princess Rongjia's eyes lit up. "Do you have a plan?" Wang Shanxi's Wife lowered her voice. "Come closer, this old servant will tell you..." Meanwhile, at Qiushuang Zhai, Cui Lingrong had carefully examined her two sons twice over and asked about their food and lodging over the past few months. Only after learning that Princess Rongjia hadn't skimped on their clothing or meals did she breathe a sigh of relief. Song Mingjin was only eight, the youngest child of the main branch. Lively and adorable, he was doted on by Old Madame and Song Shulan alike, and he still spoke with a child's innocent naivety. "Actually, Mother the Princess is pretty nice! The outfits she had made for me and elder brother are the kind even the Su family brothers can't afford to wear. She knew I liked cuju, so she specially had a craftsman make me a ball. I even—ahh! Eldest Sister, why are you twisting my ear? It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!" Song Yu couldn't listen anymore. "You little ingrate who forgets loyalty at the sight of profit—is she your mother? How dare you call her that so casually?" "Father and Grandmother told us to call her that. I'm just obeying them—how is that wrong?" Song Mingjin felt wronged, covering his ear as he hid behind his elder brother, eyes reddening. Song Mingxuan was older, and having overheard the servants' gossip these past months, he understood quite a bit more. He shielded his younger brother from their sister. "When the Princess entered the household, Mother and Eldest Sister weren't at home, so no one taught us what to do. Jin-ge is young—if someone treats him well, it's only natural he'd feel fond of them." He paused deliberately here, then looked toward his mother. "But Mother, Father marrying the Princess is already a done deal. Do you intend to fight the Princess, or do you plan to coexist peacefully?" Cui Lingrong looked at her eldest son. Among her three children, the eldest resembled her the most. Though young, he was far more composed than others his age—a child she had raised and taught by her own side since infancy. "What do you think?" Cui Lingrong asked her son in return. She no longer treated them as children. The Commandery Princess harbored deep schemes, and she could not possibly watch over them at every turn—they needed to develop their own awareness. Song Mingxuan pondered for a moment, though he dared not quite meet his mother's eyes. "Father is devoted to his official career. Marrying Princess Rongjia is a good thing for him. From that perspective, Father will inevitably favor Princess Rongjia, and we will receive less of his attention. Once Princess Rongjia bears a son, our branch... I fear... we will not measure up to the Princess's son." From the very beginning of Princess Rongjia's overtures, Song Mingxuan had felt uncomfortable. By all rights, Princess Rongjia should have rejected him and his younger brother, yet she treated them very well. He had been on guard the entire time, trying to find some flaw in Princess Rongjia, but had discovered no intention on her part to harm them. The more this was the case, the more uneasy he became. "A son? Is the Princess... is the Princess pregnant with a little brother?" Song Mingjin poked his head out from behind his elder brother, his round little face full of confusion. Song Mingxuan said no, "But it will happen sooner or later." As the eldest legitimate son of the Marquis's household, Song Mingxuan had been specially groomed by his father since childhood. He knew very well how much his father valued his prospects. Song Mingjin didn't understand. "Why will it happen sooner or later?" Song Yu couldn't listen any longer. She took a deep breath and said, "As long as Father continues to dote on Princess Rongjia, she will have a child sooner or later. Whom do you take after? How can you not understand even when you hear it plainly?" "Mother, Eldest Sister called me stupid!" Song Mingjin pointed at his elder sister to tattle. "I did not!" Song Yu refused to admit it. The siblings let out a simultaneous "Hmph!" and turned their heads away from each other. Nanny Qiu stepped in to smooth things over. "Jin-ge, don't misunderstand—Yu-jie didn't mean it that way. And Yu-jie, don't mind Jin-ge's many questions. He's still young; it's normal that he doesn't understand some things." "I feel wronged on Mother's behalf." Song Yu said, looking at her mother. "Even if we want to coexist peacefully with Princess Rongjia, that doesn't mean she thinks the same way." On this point, Song Mingxuan hesitated somewhat. "If it could be that way, it would actually be for the best." He was still young and held no official rank. Even if he wanted to do something, he could not prevail against Princess Rongjia. Song Yu's eyes went wide with anger as she scolded her brother for lacking ambition. "What do you mean 'for the best'? Mother's authority over the household has been snatched away, Father has to be shared with another woman, and we have to live in this house watching others' expressions. Is that what you call 'for the best'?" Song Mingxuan felt he couldn't reason with his elder sister, his small chest heaving. "Then what do you suggest? Do you have a way to gain the upper hand over Princess Rongjia? Or do you have the ability to win back Mother's household authority?" Seeing that the siblings were about to quarrel, Cui Lingrong told them to "be quiet." "Yu-jie, when you came home, didn't you say you missed your younger brothers? Why do you start quarreling the moment you meet?" She sighed softly. "Between the Princess and me, we have our own way of getting along. What I need to tell you now is this: guard against others' intentions. The situation in the Marquis's household will be different from now on. When you encounter anyone from Wutong Yuan, keep your wits about you. Understood?" "I understand. You need to make sure Xuan-ge and Jin-ge remember it." Song Yu was still angry, and immediately turned her back to her brothers after speaking. Song Mingxuan nodded. Even without his mother's instruction, he knew this well. Song Mingjin didn't quite understand. "Then in the future, if the Princess gives me things, I can't accept them anymore?" "You can ask me first." Cui Lingrong said. Just as she finished speaking, someone arrived from Shouan Tang, saying that the Old Madame had learned that Xuan-ge and his brothers had returned and had specially prepared an evening meal—tonight all three branches were to dine at Shouan Tang. Cui Lingrong saw that it was getting late and had the children taken back to wash up and change clothes before heading together to Shouan Tang. As the group reached the entrance of Shouan Tang, they happened to encounter Song Shulan arriving with Princess Rongjia. Song Mingxuan was the first to bow and greet, "Father, I trust you are well," then turned to Princess Rongjia, "Princess, I trust you are well." Song Yu did not wish to pay her respects to Princess Rongjia and only bowed to her father. Song Mingjin first looked up at his mother, and only after she nodded did he bow to his father and the others. Cui Lingrong smoothly addressed him as "Marquis," and without a trace, moved to Song Shulan's side, speaking of the children's daily affairs. "Xuan-ge received top marks in his studies. He said it was thanks to your teaching. You should also keep an eye on Jin-ge's calligraphy—only when you watch over him, Marquis, does he write properly." In the half-beat that Princess Rongjia was caught off guard, she had already fallen a step behind Cui Lingrong and Song Shulan. Listening to their familiar, easy conversation, a wave of bitterness surged in her heart—along with a surge of hatred.