Chapter 110

Chapter 110: Fetal Disturbance "I happened to be passing by, so I came in for a look," said the Duke of Dingguo. "Is this cloth shop run by you?" Cui Lingrong shook her head. "No, it's mainly run by my younger brother. He's gone south to buy cloth, so I'm helping manage it during this time. If Your Grace wishes to buy cloth, feel free to tell the shop assistant. I still have matters to attend to, so I'll head upstairs now." Men and women had their distinctions. She had already greeted him, so it was no longer appropriate for her to continue hosting the Duke of Dingguo. Moreover, when her brother had been arrested before, she had heard from General Xie that the Duke of Dingguo had sided with Qian Jin. Add to that the matter of the concubine's hidden residence, and Cui Lingrong's impression of the Duke of Dingguo was not favorable. If he couldn't stand the Duchess of Dingguo, he could have sought a mutual divorce. But the Duke wanted to have it both ways—he couldn't give the Duchess respect, and he had brought ruin upon the concubine and her child, whose fate was unknown. In effect, he had harmed two women. Now that Sister Yuan had already left the Duke of Dingguo's residence, she would have no further dealings with that household. Greeting him when they met was simply a matter of her upbringing and courtesy. The Duke of Dingguo gave an "mm" in acknowledgment, then turned to have the shop assistant wrap up several bolts of cloth. Casually, he asked, "When will your manager return with new cloth?" "At least half a month," said the shop assistant. "The south has been rainy lately, and the roads are slippery and hard to travel. Transporting cloth requires extra care, so it could take a month. Is Your Grace looking for new cloth? If so, when it arrives, this humble one could come and inform you?" The Duke of Dingguo shook his head. He never concerned himself with matters of clothing and food. If the shop assistant ran to the Duke's residence and Madam Qin found out, it would only invite suspicion. "I was just asking casually." The Duke of Dingguo had his men carry the cloth away. Once they turned down the street, he told his attendants to take the cloth for their own use and not bring it back to the residence. "Don't mention today's events to anyone." "Understood, Your Grace. But regarding this Cui Zeyu—do you still remember the matter with Lord Qian?" an attendant reminded him. At this, the Duke of Dingguo's brow furrowed with worry. If it truly was the same person, then he... Never mind. He wouldn't think about it for now. There couldn't be such a coincidence in the world. He had come to the cloth shop only because the thought had been weighing on his mind. He came to confirm it, though he held no real hope in his heart. He had already searched for so long; half a month more made no difference. After the Duke of Dingguo left, Cui Lingrong finished organizing the account books. She went downstairs and chatted briefly with the shop assistant, learning that the Duke had bought several bolts of cloth. She didn't ask further questions and didn't think much of it. The cloth shop's business had been mediocre lately—not for lack of customers, but because the supply of goods couldn't keep up. Cui Lingrong calculated that she wouldn't receive a share of profits this quarter; it would have to wait until next quarter. Fortunately, she still had the money Old Madame Song had given her. The bulk had gone to her brother, but she still had some left in her hands. When she returned home, Caixia said that Mama Yu had come by. "She said the County Mistress is using her own money to separately increase the food allowance for Wutong Yuan and Shouan Tang. Mama Yu asked what you thought about it." "Since it's the County Mistress's money, let her spend it. This kind of thing can't be stopped once it starts. She can subsidize Shouan Tang for a month or three months, but as time goes on, she'll realize it's no small sum." This was something Cui Lingrong had experienced herself; she understood it deeply. Caixia nodded. "In the future, if the County Mistress wants to stop the supply, Old Madame will be dissatisfied with her, just as she would be with you." Cui Lingrong agreed. "Go tell Mama Yu that as long as the County Mistress is willing to spend money, help her buy whatever she wants. Old Madame has grown accustomed to comfortable days these past few years—she has no sense of limits when spending." Caixia acknowledged the instruction and went to the main kitchen to relay the message. Cui Lingrong was tired from going out, so she ate a quick bite and went to rest. During the Qingming season, rain fell in a steady drizzle. After a light shower, the flowers and leaves in the courtyard looked fresh and renewed. Cui Lingrong requested a bowl of brown sugar ginger tea in the morning and drank it warmly. Just then, a messenger came from the Second Branch, saying that Concubine He had suffered a fetal disturbance. "What happened?" Cui Lingrong asked. "They say Concubine He went to pay respects to Second Madam and was punished by being made to kneel in the courtyard. After only half an hour, Second Madam fainted," said Caiyue. "Did they send someone to fetch a doctor?" Cui Lingrong didn't involve herself in the Second Branch's infighting. Madam Jiang had endured He Pingping before because Madam Jiang herself had been childless for many years. If she had laid a hand on He Pingping, Old Madame truly would have had Second Master divorce his wife. Now that Madam Jiang was pregnant, she no longer had any scruples about He Pingping. Since He Pingping had delivered herself to her doorstep, Madam Jiang would certainly take out her anger on her. Caiyue said a doctor had been called. "Concubine He isn't very clever either. Second Madam harbors resentment toward her—there's no way she'd let her off easy. Yet she still insisted on going before Second Madam. Isn't that just handing Second Madam an opportunity?" Nanny Qiu said, "You're too young to understand." Caiyue didn't understand and asked in confusion, "How am I too young? Isn't Concubine He just stupid?" Nanny Qiu exchanged a glance with her mistress, and the two smiled in unison. Cui Lingrong explained to Caiyue, "Think about it—if Second Madam had no children, and He Pingping gave birth to a son, wouldn't he be the heir of the Second Branch?" Caiyue said that was very likely. "Now that they're both pregnant at the same time, compared to the Second Madam's wariness of He Pingping's child, He Pingping actually wants even less to see the Second Madam give birth. He Pingping's pregnancy is already secure, but the Second Madam's isn't. If she goes and lingers around, the Second Madam's pregnancy might just fail." Cui Lingrong was well-versed in the intrigues of the inner quarters. "Even if it doesn't miscarry this time, the Second Madam will be shaken, and it might even drive a wedge between the Second Madam and the Second Master." Nanny Qiu summarized, "One stone, two birds, so to speak. Concubine He is a clever one." Only then did Caiyue have a sudden realization. "So that's how it is. And here I thought she was stupid—turns out the one doing the most scheming is Concubine He." Nanny Qiu smiled and said, "Indeed. There's a great deal of learning in the inner quarters. You need to learn more from the Eldest Madam so you won't be taken advantage of." "Who would dare to take advantage of me?" Caiyue snorted. "I'm one of the Eldest Madam's people. Even if I can't make up my own mind, I can come ask you, Nanny Qiu, or the Eldest Madam." As long as she didn't act on her own initiative, no one could trick her. Caiyue had served at Qiushuang Zhai ever since she entered the marquis's household. The Eldest Madam was kind and generous. Although Young Master Yu didn't like her, she bore no resentment. Matters between men and women required mutual affection. Young Master Yu was so outstanding—it was only natural he wouldn't fancy her. Caiyue said she'd go inquire again at the second branch, but just as she reached the garden, she ran into Mama Wang from Wutong Yuan. "Miss Caiyue." Wang Hechun's Wife said with a beaming smile, "Where are you off to?" "The Eldest Madam learned that Concubine He had a disturbance with her pregnancy and sent me to check on her," Caiyue said. "I just went over there myself. Concubine He is fine—no need to rush." Wang Hechun's Wife had recently been locked in a power struggle with Chen De's Wife; both were head nannies of Wutong Yuan, but the County Mistress always seemed closer to Chen De's Wife. "I just got some fine tea. Would you like a cup?" Caiyue declined—she didn't want to get too close to anyone from Wutong Yuan. "That's true, you still have your duties." Wang Hechun's Wife said, "Come find me whenever you're free. A fine girl like you—Young Master Yu not taking a liking to you is his loss of fortune." Caiyue instinctively wanted to retort that Young Master Yu was wonderful, but on second thought, seeing the meaningful smile on Wang Hechun's Wife's face, she instead said, "Ah, I don't want to bring that up again. I'll go see Concubine He first. Mama Wang, take care." Seeing Caiyue like this, Wang Hechun's Wife concluded that Caiyue harbored resentment. If she could win over someone from Qiushuang Zhai for the County Mistress, the County Mistress would surely think more highly of her.