Chapter 149

Chapter 149: Admiration "Lingrong told me that County Princess Rongjia once faked a pregnancy to harm Yu-jie. Does Marquis Song know why County Princess Rongjia would do such a thing?" You Shuyi had just asked when she saw Song Shulan frown. She smiled. "It seems Marquis Song still has great trust in County Princess Rongjia." Song Shulan: "What are you trying to say?" "County Princess Rongjia had a deficiency from birth, and it wasn't properly treated in her youth, so she cannot bear children." Seeing Song Shulan's shocked expression, You Shuyi laughed bitterly. "I truly feel sorry for Lingrong. She managed your household for over a decade, yet you hurt her again and again for a woman who remarried. It seems you have genuine feelings for County Princess Rongjia, since you never once suspected this matter." Song Shulan thought he had misheard. "Wait, say that again—what did you say?" "I said, County Princess Rongjia cannot bear children. Do you understand now? So all that talk about being framed with a fake pregnancy was her own scheme. She and Elder Master Du had no children, and she knew long ago that she couldn't conceive. Everyone around her knew as well. All those earlier claims were made up by the Rong Prince Mansion to exonerate County Princess Rongjia." After You Shuyi finished speaking, she saw Chen De's Wife arriving and turned to say, "Since things have come to this, I won't continue treating the County Mistress." You Shuyi had achieved her goal. Her luggage had barely been unpacked anyway, so she called Cuizhi to pack up. When Luo Feng arrived and exchanged a brief glance with Song Shulan, You Shuyi left with her son. "Come, Mother will take you out to eat at a restaurant!" You Shuyi cheerfully led her son out. She had earned quite a bit on this trip. Of course, she had earned that money rightfully. She had genuinely helped regulate County Princess Rongjia's body—at the very least, the County Mistress's menses were no longer as painful. As for how Song Shulan would quarrel with County Princess Rongjia next, that was none of her business. Inside the room, Song Shulan walked up to County Princess Rongjia. He looked at the woman before him—familiar yet strange. "Why did the County Mistress deceive me?" Song Shulan asked. He had genuine feelings for County Princess Rongjia, which was why this hurt. "Master Song, I..." "I advise the County Mistress to think carefully before speaking. The bond between us cannot withstand more deception." Song Shulan said. His words made County Princess Rongjia's heart pound again and again. How could this happen? County Princess Rongjia sat on the edge of the bed, sobbing in fits and starts. "Then what does Master Song wish to ask?" "Can you truly not bear children?" Song Shulan asked. County Princess Rongjia bit her lip and said nothing. The atmosphere in the room turned frozen. Silence was admission, and Song Shulan understood that You Shuyi had not lied. If that was the case, everything made sense now. Because she couldn't bear children, the earlier incident wasn't her being deceived but rather County Princess Rongjia deliberately framing Yu-jie. It was also because she couldn't bear children that County Princess Rongjia had raised Huadie's child—the "removing the mother to keep the child" was also true. And because she couldn't bear children, County Princess Rongjia had seen Madame Jiang pregnant and taken the desperate measure of seeking out You Shuyi to regulate her body. Everything, every single thing, could now be explained. Song Shulan looked at the woman before him with disappointment. "I'm not lacking children. Why didn't the County Mistress simply tell me directly? Did the bond between us need to be bound by children?" "I was afraid. Men in this world are mostly fickle. During the time I was away from Bianjing, you had a virtuous and beautiful woman by your side. I was terrified you no longer loved me. Master Song, do you know? On the day I received the marriage decree, I thought it was heaven's compensation to me, allowing us to reunite. I... I truly cannot live without you." County Princess Rongjia reached for Song Shulan's hand. He deliberately pulled away, so she simply stood up and embraced him. Song Shulan tried to push her away but finally let his hands fall. "Then why did you harm Yu-jie?" "I never meant to do anything to Yu-jie, truly. I just saw how outstanding Sister Cui was, and I wasn't that capable myself, so I thought if I made you and Old Madame a bit disappointed in her, you would pay more attention to me." County Princess Rongjia clung tightly to Song Shulan. "Master Song, I truly love you. When I was married into the Du family, I thought of you day and night. I regretted why I had to quarrel with you. You are the only man I have ever loved." These words struck a chord in Song Shulan's heart. When he was young, he had been so angry. He and County Princess Rongjia had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, so why couldn't she have lowered her pride just once for him, instead of agreeing to marry someone else? Now hearing County Princess Rongjia say with her own mouth that Elder Master Du was inferior to him, that she had always thought of him—he felt secretly pleased. But what he had learned today made him realize that County Princess Rongjia was not merely willful. Song Shulan's thick brows furrowed tightly. "But County Mistress, before you married me, you knew I had a wife and children. How could you, out of jealousy, harm them?" County Princess Rongjia sobbed quietly. She knew that no amount of explanation would help now. She had been exposed, and at this moment, she could only use a woman's tactics on a man. She wept pitifully in Song Shulan's arms, repeatedly saying she was wrong. Chen De's Wife and the others dared not enter, all of them on edge, terrified that the Marquis would lose his temper. But Song Shulan knew very well what benefits marrying County Princess Rongjia would bring. Today's incident warranted his anger, and this was the best leverage he had over County Princess Rongjia and the Rong Prince Mansion. "I can't accept this all at once. County Mistress, go back and think it over carefully." Song Shulan still broke free from County Princess Rongjia's grasp. "Master Song!" County Princess Rongjia chased after him, but Song Shulan refused to turn back and walked out of the alley. County Princess Rongjia was panicked and desperate. "What do I do? Could Master Song despise me and want to divorce me?" "No, the Marquis didn't say that. Don't overthink it," said Chen De's Wife. "No, I have to go back and see my mother, have her help me figure something out." County Princess Rongjia ordered the carriage to be prepared quickly—she needed to return to the Rong Prince Mansion. Meanwhile, Song Shulan returned to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion with a heavy heart. He had hoped to have a child with County Princess Rongjia, and now he learned she couldn't bear children. He sent Qingshan to the wine cellar to fetch liquor. This was something he couldn't discuss with anyone, so he could only drink alone in silence. When County Princess Rongjia returned, he refused to see her and had her blocked outside. The next morning, after Song Shulan sobered up, he had Qingshan open his private storehouse and sent many gifts to Yu-jie. Song Yu looked at the things her father had sent, utterly confused, and went to find her mother to ask why. "He's making amends to you. Just accept them without worry." Taking this opportunity, Cui Lingrong explained in detail the scheme she had devised with You Shuyi over this period. "A small impatience ruins great plans. I had enough patience to wait, and that's how I reached this day." Song Yu listened with admiration. "You're amazing. If it were me, the moment I learned the County Mistress had written to Aunt You, I would have had Aunt You send the letter to Father. I could never have planned for so long. Now Father has seen the County Mistress's true face, Aunt You has earned money, and we're completely uninvolved. It benefits us in every way!" Cui Lingrong agreed. "But the premise of all this is that I knew for certain County Princess Rongjia couldn't bear children, and no amount of treatment would help. If she had actually been cured, I would have shot myself in the foot." "That's true." Song Yu admired her mother even more. "But tell me, since Father already knows so much, will he cold-shoulder County Princess Rongjia?" At this, Cui Lingrong asked her daughter in return, "You're grown now. I want you to learn to think and analyze independently. What do you think?"