Chapter 128

Chapter 128: Agreement Song Shulan did want to follow, but in front of Cui Lingrong, he didn't want to reveal anything. Otherwise, given Cui Lingrong's resentment toward County Princess Rongjia, she would surely seize on the matter and investigate endlessly. Over the past few days, the question he had considered most was: if County Princess Rongjia truly had an affair, would he divorce her? No. After marrying County Princess Rongjia, having the Rong Prince Mansion as his backing brought him no small amount of convenience in officialdom. Song Shulan would only grip tightly onto County Princess Rongjia's leverage, making her obey him from now on. As for love and affection, there would absolutely never be any again. "No need. The County Mistress is too willful; she deserves to taste some hardship." After Song Shulan finished speaking, he noticed Caixia approaching and took the initiative to ask her opinion of Xu Shuanzi. Caixia glanced toward the Eldest Young Madam. Cui Lingrong helped her out of the situation. "A young lady must maintain her modesty. How could the Marquis inquire in front of so many people? When there's good news, I will inform the Marquis. Please also tell the County Mistress that this concerns Caixia's reputation and would also affect the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion's face. Before matters are settled, she should not speak carelessly. I believe the Marquis is not one to spread idle talk—if others come to know of this, it must have been the County Mistress who said it." She gave Caixia a signal, and Caixia came over to support her. Before Song Shulan could get a word in, Cui Lingrong had already left with her people. He felt a strange weariness—County Princess Rongjia's fussing, Cui Lingrong's indifference. Why did it feel like neither side was doing him any good? Song Shulan mulled over County Princess Rongjia's matter in his mind, and only after confirming that Cui Lingrong had left did he head in County Princess Rongjia's direction. By the time he arrived, County Princess Rongjia's carriage had already departed. Qingshan said the County Mistress had been inside for about half an hour. "I suspect the people across the street belong to the County Mistress. Every time she comes, they sit at their door working. I didn't dare get too close. Marquis, perhaps next time you should come yourself?" Qingshan had been crouching there for so many days that he felt afraid. What if County Princess Rongjia truly had an affair—how would that reflect on the Marquis's dignity? And if she hadn't, and the Marquis barged in rashly, wouldn't that damage the bond between the two? After much deliberation, Qingshan decided to let the Marquis make the call himself. Song Shulan was also afraid of what had happened today recurring. "Find someone skilled in martial arts to investigate whether a man or a woman lives inside. Be sure not to draw anyone's attention." After giving Qingshan his orders, it was already dark by the time Song Shulan returned to the mansion. Chen De's Wife was waiting for him at the gate, saying the County Mistress had cooked personally. "The County Mistress knows you're angry, but today truly wasn't a scheme on her part. It was a misunderstanding that led to your misunderstanding as well." "I know. Tell the County Mistress to rest easy—I'm tired today, so I won't go over." Song Shulan said he wasn't overthinking it, yet he still didn't go to Wutong Courtyard. He had originally intended to return to the study, but when he reached the study door, he felt stifled and turned instead toward Lanxin's room. Between Zhuqing and Lanxin, Song Shulan preferred Lanxin's looks and that certain spark about her. Though Lanxin wasn't as warm and enthusiastic, she resembled County Princess Rongjia in her youth. When he entered the room, he saw Lanxin visibly startled. Song Shulan asked, "What, surprised that I came?" "A little. Did the County Mistress arrange for you to come?" Lanxin put down her needlework, rose to pour tea, but was pulled into the Marquis's arms. She lowered her head nervously. "What, it's not like it's the first time. Are you still afraid of me?" Song Shulan asked. Lanxin shook her head. In truth, the Marquis treated her fairly well, but thinking of how Zhuqing had been reduced to a menial maid without the Marquis saying a single word, she felt afraid. She knew very well that she was a tool bought by County Princess Rongjia to win over the Marquis. As for status and position, the County Mistress could give or withhold them as she pleased. As for the matter of the child, she had heard Zhuqing and Huadie arguing that day, and she believed what Huadie said. When she was young, her mother had said that great households were full of troubles. Now that she herself had entered the Marquis's mansion, she understood even more deeply the meaning of "being unable to control one's own fate." So now, Lanxin didn't want the Marquis to come to her. She would rather be like air—unnoticed by anyone—and live out her life quietly like a weed. Song Shulan tilted Lanxin's chin up and looked at her face. He thought of many things from his youth. They say fate plays cruel tricks on people—wasn't it the same for him and County Princess Rongjia? Enough. Recalling the past was useless. Song Shulan kissed Lanxin and pressed her down onto the table. "Marquis!" Lanxin's coquettish cry was only further aphrodisiac to Song Shulan. After a night of release, Song Shulan went to Wutong Courtyard the next day, but he didn't enter. He merely exchanged a few words with Chen De's Wife before leaving for his duties. When County Princess Rongjia woke and learned that Song Shulan hadn't even stepped inside the room, her heart sank heavily. "Chen De's Wife, do you think the Marquis has grown weary of me? Now he won't even enter my room?" In the bronze mirror, compared to her girlish charm, she now had a more mature allure. She was still beautiful, but the anxiety of recent days had added a few barely visible fine lines at the corners of her eyes. "Do you think it's because I've aged, and Master Song no longer likes me?" "The County Mistress remains as beautiful as ever—one can hardly see any sign of the years passing." Chen De's Wife consoled her. "The Marquis was afraid of disturbing your rest. Don't overthink it—it was barely dawn at the time." "Is that really so?" County Princess Rongjia stared at the bronze mirror with half-belief, half-doubt. "You Shuyi said I shouldn't rush, but how can I not be anxious?" She was anxious to death. Chen De's Wife also wished the County Princess could conceive soon, but such matters couldn't be rushed. All she could do was urge the County Princess to relax. After fretting over Song Shulan's matter, County Princess Rongjia then worried about having no money. "That wretch Cui Lingrong cut off the allowance for Wutong Yuan, and I still have to subsidize the Old Madame's expenses. That matter you mentioned—can it really earn money?" "To answer the County Princess, that's the fastest way to see money. My nephew said no one will know you invested the funds—just wait steadily for the profits to come in." Chen De's Wife didn't dare incite the County Princess to do anything illegal, or if she got caught, she herself would definitely be implicated in the end. "That's good then. If we don't earn some money soon, we'll all be eating the northwest wind," said County Princess Rongjia. Chen De's Wife agreed, then said, "Why not take this opportunity to reduce the subsidy to Shouan Tang and shift the blame onto the Eldest Young Madame, letting the Old Madame deal with her?" She felt the Old Madame's expenses were truly excessive—in a single month, she could spend several hundred to over a thousand taels of silver. County Princess Rongjia very much wanted to maintain face, but her empty purse wouldn't allow it. Since Cui Lingrong had cut her allowance, she had no choice but to do this. Chen De's Wife went to Shouan Tang to report, but never expected that the moment she finished speaking, the Old Madame's face turned black as coal. "Lady Cui already told me about the temple matter—it was the County Princess who was in the wrong. No matter what Lady Cui does, she wouldn't go so far as to do something improper." After hearing Chen De's Wife out, Old Madame Song thought to herself that it was exactly as Cui Lingrong had predicted—the County Princess, having her allowance cut, was shifting the blame onto Cui Lingrong. Old Madame Song saw through County Princess Rongjia's little scheme without even needing to think. If you asked her, it was only because County Princess Rongjia lacked ability. Without solid evidence, she'd taken her eldest son to catch them in the act. Was Cui Lingrong someone so easy to deal with? If Cui Lingrong truly had been meeting Xie Yunting in secret, how could she have let County Princess Rongjia see it? And now she wanted to cut her expenses too—Old Madame Song was deeply displeased. "Enough, no need for more explanations. Go back and tell the County Princess to reflect well on her mistakes, go out less in the future, and stop causing trouble." The words were rather harsh. Chen De's Wife had originally wanted the Old Madame to resent the Eldest Young Madame, but instead, she'd gotten the County Princess scolded by the Old Madame. On her way back, her heart pounded with fear. It happened exactly as she'd feared—she'd barely finished relaying the message when the tea cup in the County Princess's hand came flying at her. Meanwhile, at Qiushuang Zhai, Cui Lingrong learned that Chen De's Wife had gone to Shouan Tang and knew exactly what she would say. "Good thing the Eldest Young Madame was clever and went to the Old Madame beforehand to explain things. Otherwise, the Old Madame would definitely have blamed you," said Caixia. Cui Lingrong had only gone to the Old Madame as a precaution. "The County Princess didn't get what she wanted, so she's bound to stir up trouble. Let's not talk about that. Since you're willing to marry Xu Baihu, I'll start making the arrangements for you." Speaking of it, she felt a bit reluctant to let go. "I've long prepared the dowries for you and Caiyue. In the future, whatever happens, I'll be your family." Caixia's tears instantly streamed down. She'd been moved by Xu Baihu's words—"They all come from the same background." People should give themselves a chance; who knows, they might truly walk a broad and bright path. That was what the Eldest Young Madame had encouraged her to believe. "Eldest Young Madame, this servant doesn't want to marry so soon." "You may want to wait, but Xu Baihu can't wait any longer." Cui Lingrong smiled and wiped away Caixia's tears. "Don't cry. This is a good thing—it's your blessing." Just then, Nanny Qiu and Caiyue entered. Caiyue was about to tease her, but Caixia shyly slipped out. Caiyue chuckled and said, "Look at her, getting shy again." "Don't tease her—she's always been thin-skinned." The atmosphere at Cui Lingrong's side was warm and harmonious, but at the Xie residence at that moment, tensions were at a breaking point. The Duke of Dingguo had been trying to find Xie Yunting for days, but Xie Yunting kept avoiding him. Today, he finally managed to corner Xie Yunting as he was climbing over the wall. Looking up at Xie Yunting perched on the wall, the Duke of Dingguo said irritably, "Xie Yunting, get down here, or I swear I'll beat you to death!"