Chapter 146

Chapter 146: Going to Mourn Before Qingming Festival, her cousin had sent a letter, mentioning matters of paying respects to his late mother. Cui Lingrong also wanted to return to offer incense at her aunt's grave, but Bianjing was too far from Suzhou. She could only wait until the one-year anniversary to see. Opening the letter, as she had expected, her cousin's wife had passed away. Tears fell like pearls from a broken string. Cui Lingrong didn't know why she was suddenly so grief-stricken; she couldn't control herself. Nanny Qiu was also wiping her tears. "Such a good person, how could her health fail her like that?" "Perhaps it's also a form of release. Cousin's wife was ill for so many years. Last time we went to Suzhou, she was bedridden and needed constant care." Cui Lingrong dabbed her tears with a handkerchief. "Nanny Qiu, have Er Shun make preparations tomorrow. I'll go inform Old Madame and have Xuan-ge make the trip to Suzhou on my behalf." Since she couldn't go herself, she would at least have her son make the journey for her. "Will Old Madame and the Marquis agree?" Nanny Qiu asked. "Xuan-ge needs to study, and the round trip would take at least a month." "Old Madame cares most about face. If she won't agree to Xuan-ge going, then I'll go myself—let her choose." Cui Lingrong was determined to send someone back. The next day, she went to Shouan Tang and raised the matter with Old Madame. As expected, Old Madame Song frowned immediately. "Although the provincial examination is next year, his studies are demanding. You want Xuan-ge to go to Suzhou—it's a long and arduous journey. Can you rest easy?" "Cousin's wife is an elder. If Old Madame thinks it's inappropriate for Xuan-ge to go, I can go instead." Cui Lingrong said. "Absolutely not!" Old Madame Song refused at once. "You are a wife of the Song family. A cousin's wife is not your own sister-in-law. Previously, when your aunt was gravely ill, we allowed you to go to Suzhou out of consideration for her kindness in raising you. You are the mistress of this household. If you were to leave again so casually, what would people in Bianjing think of the Marquis's household?" Old Madame Song adamantly refused to let Cui Lingrong go to Suzhou. Cui Lingrong sighed. "In that case, let Xuan-ge go. We can't have no one from the Marquis's household attending. Surely Old Madame wouldn't want to be accused of lacking propriety?" Old Madame Song's face darkened, but she truly couldn't think of a more suitable person. She glanced sidelong at Cui Lingrong, her stomach churning with anger. "Don't try to pressure me with propriety. Go talk to Shulan. If he agrees, then I'll go along with whatever you decide." Having obtained Old Madame's consent, Cui Lingrong went to find Song Shulan that afternoon. Song Shulan wasn't too keen on Xuan-ge going to Suzhou either, but he had heard something—that Cui Lingrong's cousin had distinguished himself in managing the canal and might well be promoted and transferred to Bianjing. So he didn't refuse. "I can see you value your cousin's family. Having Xuan-ge make the trip is only natural. But Xuan-ge is still young, so you should send several attendants to look after him." Cui Lingrong was surprised by how accommodating Song Shulan was being. "Rest assured, Marquis. Xuan-ge is my son; I will make sure everything is properly arranged." She immediately sent for Xuan-ge and his brothers to come home, and early the next morning, she personally saw Xuan-ge out of the city. "When you arrive at your cousin's house, kowtow properly on my behalf. Your older cousins are all excellent scholars—you should talk with them. They'll be coming to Bianjing for the Imperial Examination later as well." Cui Lingrong gave many instructions, though she still felt somewhat uneasy. But it was getting late, and she couldn't delay any longer. Just as Xuan-ge was stepping into the carriage, Cui Lingrong caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye. Xie Yunting, having learned that Xuan-ge was going to Suzhou to mourn, immediately selected a few soldiers. "They're skilled in martial arts. Have them go along." "Will that be all right?" Cui Lingrong asked. "If I say it's fine, it's fine. These brothers of mine—even a hundred bandits wouldn't be a match for them!" Xie Yunting insisted on arranging the escort, and Cui Lingrong felt deeply grateful. After watching the procession depart, Xie Yunting said, "Sister Cui, have you grown distant with me? Didn't I say to come find me when you need help? Xuan-ge is young and traveling far—if you'd sent word to me, I could have made arrangements earlier!" Cui Lingrong truly hadn't thought to trouble Xie Yunting. Now that he had helped her again, she was very thankful. "I remember every kindness you've shown me, General Xie. And thank you as well for the matter with Zeyu before." "Brother Cui... well, I should call him Brother Lu now. Brother Lu and I are sworn brothers—his matters are my matters. Sister Cui needn't stand on ceremony with me. I'm a rough man with no family or friends, which is why I regard you and Brother Lu as the most important people in my life. Sister, do remember to think of me next time, or I'll be cross." He stood in the sunlight, a carefree smile playing on his thin lips beneath his high-bridged nose—a single word like "sunny" couldn't quite capture it. When Cui Lingrong looked up, she happened to meet Xie Yunting's bright, sparkling gaze. Anyone else wouldn't have looked at her so directly. But recalling Xie Yunting's background, she assumed he didn't understand the distinctions between men and women in great households, so she didn't take offense. With a simple "very well," Cui Lingrong boarded her carriage, while Xie Yunting rode his horse alongside her into the city. In a place they didn't know about, Gao Jingzhi had been watching for a while. He had spotted Cui Lingrong and Xie Yunting at once—both of them were too striking in appearance. What was going on? When had Lady Cui become so close with Xie Yunting? He saw the two of them chatting and laughing together. That shouldn't be. Gao Jingzhi was caught in a dilemma, wondering whether he should bring this up with Song Shulan. At that moment, however, Song Shulan was watching County Princess Rongjia enter the small courtyard once again. Qingshan remarked from the side, "I sent someone to investigate, and they only... only spotted a scholar, quite young." The moment he heard the word "scholar," Song Shulan immediately furrowed his brow. He had been holding back for all these days, and every time he saw County Princess Rongjia, he couldn't help but want to ask what she was doing here. Today, he would go see for himself what was going on.