Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Charm That night, when Song Shulan went to Wutong Courtyard, he was turned away at the door for the first time. Looking at the tightly shut door, Song Shulan was puzzled and summoned a young maid, but the maid didn't understand either. "The Commandery Princess returned at dusk and locked herself in her room, keeping only Qingxue inside to attend to her." Song Shulan couldn't figure out who had angered the Princess at today's banquet. He went to knock on the door, and it was a long while before Qingxue finally opened it. Qingxue said the Princess had been crying heavily, and not daring to say it outright, she could only hint, "Today, when the Marquis was speaking with the First Madam, the Princess went looking for you. After she returned, she became like this." Song Shulan's brows jumped sharply. This was bad—could she have overheard his conversation with Cui Lingrong? He stepped lightly into the room and saw the Commandery Princess slumped over the table, her long black hair spilling loose around her, sobbing in fits and starts, a pitiful sight that stirred one's sympathy. "Your Highness." "Why does Master Song still come to see me? I'm nothing but someone the Emperor forced upon you. How can what we have compare to the ten-odd years of marriage between you and Sister Cui?" "Your Highness, you misunderstand." Song Shulan reached out to embrace the Princess, but she pushed him away. He simply pulled her into his arms by force. "Those words of mine were all to placate Lady Cui. I went to ask her about the dividend matter, and she suspected I wanted to use her private assets. If I hadn't said those things, how could I have steadied her?" The Commandery Princess's cheeks were flushed red as she gazed at Song Shulan with tender affection. "These words of yours now—are they not also meant to coax me?" "I can swear to heaven, if I speak a single false word to you, may I—" "Don't say such inauspicious things. I believe you." The Commandery Princess leaned against Song Shulan's chest. Hearing that he was willing to swear an oath for her sake, she immediately trusted him. She and her Master Song— Truly, no one else could compare. "Lady Cui is, after all, my first wife, and she has borne me three children. I must give her the face she's due." Seeing the smile at the corners of the Commandery Princess's lips, Song Shulan knew the crisis had passed. "Your Highness, rest assured. I don't wish to repeat the misunderstandings of the past and be separated from you again." Speaking of their youth, the Commandery Princess felt the same regret. They had missed fourteen years, during which too many things had happened. Just thinking about it made the Commandery Princess's heart ache. The two soon kissed, and amid their gasping breaths, Song Shulan's outer robe slipped away entirely. The Commandery Princess, knowing what was expected, eagerly set to work, letting herself go freely in this matter to bring Song Shulan pleasure. In all his years married to Cui Lingrong, what Song Shulan had been most dissatisfied with was Cui Lingrong in bed. She had an excellent figure, yet she always held back, even suppressing her cries—utterly lacking in abandon. As the Commandery Princess entwined herself around him, Song Shulan's mind conjured the image of Cui Lingrong angry earlier today. A piece of wood developing a temper was, ironically, more alluring. He lifted the Commandery Princess in his arms, but what he thought of was Cui Lingrong lowering her brows and glaring at him. Just as he was about to call out "Lingrong," the woman in his arms shuddered, and he spent himself in that instant. After a night of bliss, the next day the Commandery Princess brought up the matter of Huadie, saying the date had been set and asking whether Song Shulan would be present that day. "I won't be. The yamen has been busy lately. Many taxes haven't been collected by year's end, and the Ministry of Revenue is running around in circles. A few days ago, I even ran into your eldest brother—he's been quite prominent lately." Song Shulan deliberately brought up the people of the Rong Prince Mansion. "For Mother's autumn banquet, have you sent invitations to the Rong Prince Mansion?" "I sent the invitations long ago. Rest assured, Master Song, my mother and father will certainly come. When they do, I'll toast them several extra cups to make sure your wishes come true." The Commandery Princess attended to Song Shulan's dressing until he was neatly turned out, then saw him off before arranging matters for Huadie. Cui Lingrong was also the first wife of the main branch, so on the day Huadie served tea, the Commandery Princess duly informed Cui Lingrong as well. Accompanying Cui Lingrong was Concubine Zhang, while Concubine Zhao had gone first to Wutong Courtyard—from this, one could see where the two concubines' loyalties lay. Cui Lingrong and the Commandery Princess sat on either side. Huadie was especially delighted that day, and after serving tea to the two principal wives, she also paid her respects to the two concubines. Concubine Zhang kept to herself, rarely leaving her own courtyard except to pay respects on the first and fifteenth of each month. She nodded at Huadie without saying much. Concubine Zhao, however, looked Huadie up and down. Seeing that Huadie was young and beautiful, she felt somewhat displeased inside, though her face wore a smile. "Sister Huadie is truly lovely. From now on, you'll be one of the Marquis's women. You're the youngest, so when the Marquis dotes on you, don't forget to put in a good word for us older sisters." Huadie beamed with pleasure at the flattery, completely missing the undertone in Concubine Zhao's words. As Cui Lingrong was leaving, Concubine Zhang caught up to her. "It's been a while since I last went to the First Madam's for tea. You won't mind the intrusion, will you, First Madam?" "Not at all." Cui Lingrong walked ahead. "I've been away from the Marquis's residence for some time. You're someone who keeps out of trouble—have you been getting by alright these days?" Concubine Zhang was sensible and bore no petty grudges—a poor, honest soul. Cui Lingrong had no reason to make things difficult for her and would occasionally send her small gifts. Qiushuang Zhai was close by, just around a flagstone path, but on the way they encountered the Jiang sisters. However, Madame Jiang and He Pingping had their backs to them and had not yet noticed Cui Lingrong and Concubine Zhang. "I've told you several times—don't keep yourself cooped up in the house all day. This talk of fate decreeing marriage matches is all empty nonsense. You need to believe that man can conquer heaven." Madame Jiang was furious at her lack of ambition, speaking through clenched teeth. "No need to think about the great noble houses—surely a minor official's family will do? Pick one with a decent family foundation and some standing. Then have your brother-in-law give him a leg up, and who knows, he might carve out a future for himself." She sighed and spoke with heartfelt sincerity, "On Mid-Autumn Festival, that venomous woman Cui Lingrong deliberately brought you up and got Old Madame talking. If you don't settle your marriage soon, I won't be able to answer to Old Madame." The Marquis's household couldn't very well support He Pingping for the rest of her life. Madame Jiang was in full swing and didn't notice the maid signaling her with glances. By the time she sensed something was wrong, Cui Lingrong had already walked up beside her. In that instant, Madame Jiang felt the air solidify around her, as if she couldn't breathe. Cui Lingrong had always known Madame Jiang disliked her, so she wasn't angry—instead, she smiled with pursed lips. "A venomous woman? It seems Second Sister-in-law holds particular resentment toward me." "Elder Sister-in-law, I... I didn't mean it." Madame Jiang lowered her head in guilt. He Pingping was also frightened by Cui Lingrong's presence. She glanced over and lowered her head, inwardly blaming her cousin for being so loose-tongued. "No need to explain—I heard it with my own ears. You are a mistress of the Marquis's household and should set an example. To slander your elder sister-in-law behind her back—sending you to kneel in the ancestral hall for three hours seems quite reasonable, doesn't it?" Cui Lingrong then looked at Nanny Qiu. "Keep an eye on Second Madam. If she refuses, go report to Old Madame and let her handle it." If the matter escalated to Old Madame, it would be more than just three hours of kneeling. Madame Jiang was full of regret and pleaded in a small voice, "Elder Sister-in-law, it truly was an unintentional remark. I promise it won't happen again." "Whether it was unintentional, you know in your heart." Cui Lingrong's tone grew heavier. "Madame Jiang, have I ever shorted the Second Branch a single tael of monthly allowance while managing the household? Or poisoned you? Yet you saw fit to call me a venomous woman. Just you wait—now that the Commandery Princess manages the household, do you think your days will be as comfortable as before?" With those parting words, Cui Lingrong left with her attendants. Back at Qiushuang Zhai, Cui Lingrong let out a long breath. Concubine Zhang quietly sipped her tea, not involving herself in the disputes between the young mistresses. When her cup was finished, her maid brought over two pairs of knee pads she had made for Xuan-ge and his brother. "The weather grows colder by the day. This concubine had nothing to do and made these little things—I hope the Eldest Young Madam won't think them beneath her notice." "Of course not—your hands have always been skilled. I'll have someone send them to the Guozijian right away." Cui Lingrong was tired. "If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to come find me. I've been in this household for many years—I can certainly look after you." Concubine Zhang was getting older and could no longer bear children. To live out her days peacefully in the household, she needed a great tree to lean on. Though the Commandery Princess had only recently married into the Marquis's household, Concubine Zhang could see clearly that the Princess lacked method in her actions and would likely not last long. The Eldest Young Madam was the safer bet. After Concubine Zhang returned to her quarters, over at Wutong Yuan, the Commandery Princess Rongjia and Huadie chatted for a while before the Princess, exhausted from the social niceties, dismissed them both. Qingxue entered carrying a brocade box. "Your Highness, Yu-jie refused to accept it. She said the jewelry you gave her was too precious, and she hasn't earned such a reward." "Hasn't earned such a reward? She's a stubborn one, isn't she. No matter—she's only a daughter anyway. Since she can't be of use to me, she'll have her share of hardship soon enough." Princess Rongjia hadn't slept well the night before. After yawning, she changed the subject. "Why hasn't this year's tax revenue from the estates been collected yet?" The Marquis's household owned farmland and shopfronts, and the family's annual expenses relied on the income from these properties. This quarter, the cloth shop's dividends had fallen short, and Princess Rongjia urgently needed new sources of income. Qingxue said the harvest had been mediocre this year. "The steward said there wasn't enough rain, which caused a poor rice yield. In past years at this time, the mistress of Qiushuang Zhai would waive thirty percent of the tenant rent. He wanted to ask your wishes—should we follow the usual practice, or handle it differently?" "Do they think I'm made of money? Waive thirty percent of the tenant rent—how would the Marquis's household get by? If they can't farm the land properly, we'll find new tenants. Go tell the steward that not a single coin less will be accepted. Don't think that just because I'm a new bride, I can be pushed around!" Princess Rongjia hadn't had bird's nest soup for three days now. Before marrying into the Song family, she'd thought their properties were substantial enough to support her lavish lifestyle. She hadn't expected that it was that wretch Cui Lingrong holding things together. She'd already dipped into much of her personal fortune—she couldn't keep subsidizing the household coffers. Qingxue felt this was unwise, but she wouldn't contradict her mistress. She acknowledged with a simple "Yes." "Wait!" Princess Rongjia clicked her tongue. In the old days when Wang Shanxi's Wife was around, she would have sent her to deliver the message, because Qingxue was too dull. "When you pass on the message, make it sound nicer. Say the Marquis's household is also struggling, and if they pay in full this year, next year will surely bring a bountiful harvest. Don't just repeat my words verbatim, understand?" "Understood, Your Highness." "Ah, when will Wang Shanxi's Wife ever get better?" Princess Rongjia missed her.