Chapter 117

Chapter 117: Dazzling County Princess Rongjia had arranged for You Shuyi to stay in a secluded courtyard, several streets away from the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. When they met again, You Shuyi adopted an attitude of someone who cared only about money. "The County Mistress should understand that Sister Cui and I grew up together. Were it not for our friendship, I shouldn't have agreed to take your pulse and treat you. It's simply that my family is short on money, and I also wish to ask a favor of the County Mistress." The more difficult the conditions she proposed, the more the County Princess Rongjia would trust her. Moreover, money was a tangible benefit, and she genuinely would treat the County Princess. Taking this money did not weigh on her conscience. "As long as you can regulate my body, you may ask anything of me." County Princess Rongjia remained wary of You Shuyi. "It's nothing difficult. I hope my son can have a good future—if the County Mistress could arrange for him to enter the Guozijian, that would suffice." You Shuyi took the County Princess's pulse. After a moment, her brows knitted tightly. "The County Mistress suffers from a congenital deficiency. Had you begun treatment in childhood, there would have been good hope of recovery." Hearing this, County Princess Rongjia frowned deeply. "It can't be done now?" "I imagine the County Mistress has consulted many renowned physicians, and none could cure you. How dare I make any guarantees?" You Shuyi took out her needles. "I can only say we'll try and see if there's any effect. The County Mistress would do best to keep an open mind—perhaps there will be unexpected results." The "try" was a lie. Had it been twenty years earlier, she might have had some small chance of regulating the County Princess's constitution. But now, the County Princess's body was not only weak internally, her menses were also in poor condition. There was no hope of recovery. To County Princess Rongjia, however, the chance to try meant there was hope, and she immediately grew expectant. You Shuyi performed acupuncture on the County Princess and prescribed a medicinal formula. "These medicines are all nourishing. The County Mistress must take them on time each day, be sure to rest early, and walk about frequently—don't sit or lie down the whole time." After the acupuncture, County Princess Rongjia did feel her neck much more relaxed, but she remained wary of You Shuyi. She took the prescription to other physicians to confirm it was indeed nourishing before having the medicines dispensed. As for the residence across from You Shuyi's dwelling, County Princess Rongjia also arranged for people to keep watch, lest You Shuyi secretly contact Cui Lingrong. In the end, she still didn't fully trust You Shuyi, but her heart's desperate desire for a child of her own drove her to grasp at any straw and seek You Shuyi's help. Meanwhile, Luo Feng had also arrived in Bianjing, though he had traveled separately. Upon reaching the capital, he found Cui Zeyu's cloth shop and, through the shop assistant, met with Nanny Qiu. "My mother said that County Princess Rongjia will certainly have people watching her, so for now we shouldn't go to her. When the time is right, she'll naturally send word to Aunt." Having grown considerably taller over the New Year, Luo Feng continued, "Mother also said she'll have the County Princess come for acupuncture regularly. Each time she goes out, it will inevitably raise suspicion—Aunt can use that as groundwork." Nanny Qiu nodded in agreement. "Mrs. Luo is indeed resourceful." "Mother said since she has nothing to do at home anyway, it's best if she can be of some help to Aunt." Luo Feng said. "If the young master needs anything, just come to the shop. Don't stand on ceremony." Nanny Qiu said gratefully. Luo Feng said he lacked nothing, then mentioned Yu-jie and her brother. "Last time I came, Yu-mei said she missed Suzhou. Has Xuan-ge gone to take the prefectural examination?" Nanny Qiu said he had already finished. "We're just waiting for the results to be posted. If he gets a good ranking, we'll certainly invite you all for a meal." After exchanging a few more words with Luo Feng, Nanny Qiu returned with the message. Cui Lingrong was not surprised after hearing Nanny Qiu's account. "Shuyi has always been full of ideas since childhood. We'll follow her arrangements. As for Feng-ge'er, send him some food and supplies in a few days. He's staying alone—it's really unfair to him." "The old servant noticed that Feng-ge'er has grown much taller, and he speaks and acts with such courtesy. Mrs. Luo has raised him very well." Nanny Qiu genuinely liked Feng-ge'er, but unfortunately the Luo family lived too far away. Otherwise, even if the Marquis disagreed, the Madam would have fought for the match. Cui Lingrong understood Nanny Qiu's meaning. "Actually, having Yu-jie marry into Suzhou isn't a bad idea. My cousin's family is all in Suzhou—she'd have relatives to look after her, and with Shuyi as her mother-in-law, I'd be at ease. But children's marriages must have their own consent. Yu-jie is still like a child herself, not yet awakened to such matters." She paused, then asked about her cousin's wife. "How is she? Has she improved at all?" Nanny Qiu shook her head. "Not well, I'm afraid. The Madam's health has never been good. Feng-ge'er said he and Mrs. Luo went to see her—she's like an oil lamp burning to its end, with only a final breath left." Cui Lingrong sighed heavily, a tightness pressing against her chest. Her cousin's wife had been a woman of excellent temperament. Her aunt had good judgment in choosing such a fine daughter-in-law, but fate was cruel—after childbirth, the woman's health had steadily declined. When her aunt was on her deathbed, she had been able to return to pay her respects. But for her cousin's wife, she could not go back. "I hope she recovers." Cui Lingrong prayed softly. Nanny Qiu nodded. The Madam was a good person, and she too hoped she would recover. Days passed one after another, and County Princess Rongjia went out with increasing frequency. When Song Shulan came to see the children, Cui Lingrong casually mentioned, "The County Princess's affairs are not mine to meddle in. If the Marquis knows of this, there's no need to tell me, and I won't ask further." Song Shulan truly had no idea that County Princess Rongjia had been going out every few days. He went to court daily, leaving early and returning late, and when he visited Wutong Courtyard, the County Princess had never mentioned going out. Seeing Song Shulan's stunned expression, Cui Lingrong knew the County Princess hadn't brought it up. "I've told the Marquis about this. As for what the Marquis wishes to do, you'll have to ask the County Princess yourself. Otherwise, if I interfere, the Marquis might say I'm stirring up trouble." Song Shulan made excuses for County Princess Rongjia. "Perhaps it's about the shops. The County Princess must have matters to attend to when she goes out." Cui Lingrong hummed in acknowledgment, then turned to the matter of Xuan-ge's prefectural examination. "Does the Marquis know whether there will be a provincial examination this year?" The provincial examination was held twice every three years, and passing it conferred the status of xiucai. Cui Lingrong hoped the provincial examination would be scheduled for next year. Xuan-ge was still young, and going through the county and prefectural examinations in succession was already enough trial for him. If he passed the prefectural examination, another year or more of settling and consolidation would serve him better for the provincial examination. Song Shulan said he wasn't sure. "I know what you're thinking. I also want Xuan-ge to rank well in the provincial examination. But if there's one this year, he'll have to sit for it." Cui Lingrong nodded. Hearing Yu-jie and Jin-ge playing and laughing in the courtyard, she couldn't help but worry about Yu-jie. When it came to the children's marriages, her views and Song Shulan's were quite different. After Song Shulan left, Cui Lingrong was about to have a talk with Yu-jie when Er Shun rushed in with a letter. "Eldest Young Madam, Young Master Yu's merchant caravan was attacked by bandits, and Young Master Yu got separated from the caravan!" Er Shun was drenched in sweat from running. Cui Lingrong's brows jumped at the news. "How could this happen? Did they report it to the authorities? When did this occur?" "Eldest Young Madam, the letter says they reported it, but the mountain bandits are rampant and the local officials can do nothing about it. When the caravan wrote the letter, they had already been separated from Young Master Yu for three days." Er Shun's heart was in turmoil—if anything happened to Young Master Yu, the Eldest Young Madam would surely be devastated. Cui Lingrong immediately went to find Song Shulan. She had initially thought of sending someone to the Xie residence, but remembering that Xie Yunting had gone to suppress bandits, she had no choice but to ask Song Shulan for help in finding the man. Song Shulan saw Cui Lingrong approaching and assumed she had come to offer him warm regards. But the moment Cui Lingrong opened her mouth, it was about Cui Zeyu again, and his face immediately fell. "Since it's mountain bandits causing trouble, the local officials will certainly find ways to suppress them. Otherwise, is the salary the court pays them for nothing?" "But—" "Getting all worked up won't do you any good. I'm not a military officer, nor am I a first-rank minister. I don't have that kind of influence. As long as the man isn't dead, he's bound to be found." In his heart, Song Shulan wished Cui Zeyu were dead. Every time Cui Lingrong mentioned Cui Zeyu, the concern on her face struck him as particularly grating.