Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Catching Them in the Act County Princess Rongjia couldn't use "catching adultery" as her pretext. She was afraid now—if Cui Lingrong managed to slip away, she would only be shooting herself in the foot. So she used the excuse of praying for a child and sent someone to invite Song Shulan over. "I heard the Child-Giving Guanyin here is especially efficacious, so I came to offer incense. But the abbess said it's best if both husband and wife come to kneel and pray sincerely for it to work, which is why I sent someone to find you." County Princess Rongjia wrapped her arms around Song Shulan. "Let's hurry and offer incense—don't keep the Bodhisattva waiting too long." Song Shulan hadn't wanted to come in the first place; he'd only relented because he couldn't refuse her. He was pulled along by County Princess Rongjia to offer incense, his mood complicated. After all, he still hadn't investigated the matter of County Princess Rongjia leaving the residence. After offering incense, County Princess Rongjia said the temple grounds were lovely and wanted to take a stroll. Before Song Shulan could refuse, County Princess Rongjia had already ordered someone to lead the way, and he had no choice but to follow. "Why does Master Song look unhappy?" County Princess Rongjia finally noticed something was off. Song Shulan forced a smile. "It's nothing. I'm just a bit tired." "Official duties matter, but Master Song's health matters more." County Princess Rongjia said with concern. "I still hope to have a child with you, so you must take good care of yourself." The two walked and chatted as they went. Until Chen De's Wife suddenly let out an "Eh?"—"Isn't that Caixia?" County Princess Rongjia also looked over. "It is her. Who's that beside her?" None of those present recognized the man. Though Caixia and the man were several paces apart, it was clear the two knew each other. Song Shulan furrowed his brow. He valued his reputation, and if a maidservant from Cui Lingrong's household were rumored to be meeting in secret, it would tarnish the Marquis's household name as well. Just as Song Shulan was about to send someone to ask, County Princess Rongjia grabbed his hand. "My Lord Marquis, if we rush over rashly, we won't catch anything. Why not have a maidservant creep closer and quietly listen to what they're saying? And since Caixia is here, could Sister Cui also be around?" She deliberately mentioned Cui Lingrong, afraid Song Shulan wouldn't think of that connection. "Lady Cui?" Song Shulan indeed hadn't thought Cui Lingrong might be there. He turned to look. County Princess Rongjia suggested they check the meditation rooms. Compared to Caixia's matter, Song Shulan was more concerned about whether Cui Lingrong had come to meet someone else. He hurried toward the meditation rooms and indeed saw Er Shun at the door. When Er Shun seemed about to speak, a glare from Song Shulan silenced him. Standing alongside Er Shun was also Xie Yunting's attendant, whom Song Shulan recognized at a glance. The fury in his chest was about to explode. He had long suspected Xie Yunting of harboring improper intentions toward Cui Lingrong, and now—perfect—he was about to catch them red-handed. Without a second thought, he kicked the door open. Crack! The door to the meditation room crashed to the ground, and Cui Lingrong and Nanny Qiu inside instinctively stepped back. Song Shulan stormed in. "Where is he?" "Who?" Cui Lingrong said angrily. "What is the Marquis doing? You come charging in furiously and kick down the door—for what?" The meditation room was very small, with no cabinets. Song Shulan could tell at a glance whether anyone was there. Only after confirming the room was empty did Song Shulan realize how overly agitated he'd been. He took a deep breath. County Princess Rongjia frowned deeply and cut in, "Sister Cui, if you weren't meeting a lover in secret, why would you come to the temple?" "Listen to the County Princess's words—coming to a temple means meeting a lover? If the Bodhisattva heard you say that, she'd send you to the Tongue-Plucking Hell." Cui Lingrong laughed in spite of her anger. If Xie Yunting hadn't discovered early on that Song Shulan and County Princess Rongjia were coming, her brother really wouldn't have been able to get away. If they'd seen her brother, it wouldn't have harmed her reputation, but the matter of the assassin would have become much harder to investigate. Now hearing County Princess Rongjia speak of a secret tryst, it seemed the County Princess mistakenly believed she and Xie Yunting were having an affair and had deliberately brought Song Shulan to catch them. County Princess Rongjia's expression faltered. She had clearly seen Xie Yunting enter the meditation room—where had he gone? She searched herself, but there was indeed no one else in the room. "That's impossible," County Princess Rongjia murmured. "What's impossible?" Cui Lingrong seized on the County Princess's slip. "What is the County Princess thinking about?" County Princess Rongjia looked up. "If Sister Cui came to offer incense, why were Er Shun and General Xie's attendant guarding the door? Where is General Xie?" At the mention of Xie Yunting, Song Shulan's anger flared again. He too looked at Cui Lingrong. "Yes—you and Xie Yunting came to the temple. For what purpose?" "I understand now—the Marquis came to catch me in the act. Who told you that I and General Xie came to the temple for a secret rendezvous?" Cui Lingrong countered. "Who would come to a temple for a tryst while bringing so many people? Is it the Marquis's own suspicion, or are you being used and provoked by someone?" Song Shulan instinctively glanced at County Princess Rongjia. That very moment was caught by Cui Lingrong. "So it seems the County Princess was the one who provoked this. Why does the County Princess think I'm having a secret affair with General Xie?" Cui Lingrong remained perfectly composed, not a trace of panic. "If the County Princess is so confident, then where is General Xie? Where is he?" Only then did Song Shulan realize—County Princess Rongjia's talk of praying for a child was a pretext. What she actually wanted was for him to catch Cui Lingrong in the act. "Where is he? Shouldn't you be the one to say?" County Princess Rongjia was furious. "Xie Yunting's attendant is right outside. Surely Sister Cui isn't going to claim she didn't see Xie Yunting today? Do you dare swear before the Bodhisattva that if you utter a single falsehood, all three of your children will die young?" She knew that Cui Lingrong cared most about Yu-jie and the other two. But she forgot that Yu-jie and her siblings were also Song Shulan's children. "County Princess!" Song Shulan looked over in displeasure. Only then did County Princess Rongjia realize she had misspoken. She had put on a pretense before Song Shulan for so long, and now she had made Cui Lingrong swear on her children's early deaths—her heart suddenly pounded with alarm. Cui Lingrong was also furious. "How much must the County Princess hate Yu-jie and her siblings, to be so vicious as to make me swear on their lives? Marquis, you always say the County Princess treats Yu-jie and the others well—is this her version of kindness?" County Princess Rongjia said, "Master Song, I didn't mean it. It was just a slip of the tongue." But Song Shulan remained silent. Words spoken impulsively were sometimes the most truthful. "I swear, if I came here today to secretly meet with General Xie, may heaven strike me down with lightning and thunder, and may I die a miserable death!" Cui Lingrong swore on herself, then looked at County Princess Rongjia and Song Shulan. "There. I've sworn in the presence of the Bodhisattva. Now it's the County Princess's turn. You slandered my reputation and even cursed my children to die young—do you dare swear before the Bodhisattva that what you just said was merely a slip of the tongue?" County Princess Rongjia did not dare. She truly wished for Xuan-ge and the others to die. But now that things had escalated to this point, County Princess Rongjia could only cling to the matter of Xie Yunting. "Don't try to pressure me. Since you claim you and Xie Yunting are innocent, then why is Xie Yunting's servant at the door? Do you dare say you didn't come today to see Xie Yunting?" On this point, Song Shulan also wanted to know. Cui Lingrong glanced at Nanny Qiu, who walked over to Chen De's Wife. "Mama Chen, let's step outside first." Chen De's Wife did not move. "The Marquis is here too—is Mama Chen afraid I'll do something to the County Princess?" Cui Lingrong gave a cold smile. Seeing the others withdraw, she said, "I did meet with General Xie, but I had proper business. If it's proven that the County Princess has wronged me, how should she apologize to me?" County Princess Rongjia said, "It's just asking you to prove your innocence. Why should I apologize?" "That won't do. I've been too good-natured in the past, which is why I've been schemed against at every turn." Cui Lingrong refused to let it go so easily. "What do you think, Marquis? I can't be wronged for no reason. And if General Xie were to hear of this, since it concerns his reputation, he certainly wouldn't let it pass lightly either."