Chapter 162

Chapter 162: Sour and Stinking "Bullying you—how did they bully you?" Old Madame Song frowned deeply. "I merely thought their things looked interesting and asked a casual question, but every single one of them turned on me with fierce faces, saying I was trying to take their things." Sun Qinwan whined and wheedled, shaking her grandmother's arm. Old Madame Song grew angry upon hearing this. She had already been upset that Cui Lingrong hadn't summoned her granddaughter, and now that Yu-jie and the others had joined forces to bully Yu-jie, how could she tolerate it? Just then, Cui Lingrong walked in. She looked at Sun Qinwan, then at Old Madame Song, but before she could speak, the old lady began scolding her first. "How do you conduct yourself? Qin-jie is a guest, and you let Qin-jie suffer such grievances in our home—what will people say if this gets out?" Old Madame Song was already deeply dissatisfied with Cui Lingrong, and now she seized the opportunity to berate her. "Are you doing this on purpose?" "Forgive me, Old Madame, but the young ladies were receiving their lessons at Nanny Hu's place—I never once interfered. I suspect Qin-jie is the one crying wolf. Today, it was Nanny Hu who called me over, saying that Qin-jie was fighting with others over things." Cui Lingrong paused, and before the old lady could speak, she pressed on, "Don't blame your daughter-in-law for speaking bluntly, but Qin-jie's eyes are too shallow. She sees something belonging to others and wants it. If this continues over time, her reputation will stink." These words turned Old Madame Song's face black as ink. Sun Qinwan was even more stunned. "Aunt, if you don't like me, you don't have to slander me like this, do you?" "Do I? I'm only stating facts. Is it that your Sun family can't afford things, or that other people's belongings are somehow better, that you must snatch them from others? Do you want me to call Fang-jie and He-jie over to confront you face to face before you'll behave?" Cui Lingrong's voice turned sharp, and Sun Qinwan instinctively stepped back. But Old Madame Song still shielded Sun Qinwan. "Why must you speak so harshly to a child? Qin-jie is still young, and she's only just returned to Bianjing not long ago. She merely took an interest in something new—what's the harm in that?" "Since Old Madame sees no issue with it, and I am not an elder of the Sun family, then let Qin-jie do as she pleases. However, she can no longer attend Nanny Hu's lessons." Cui Lingrong stated directly. Seeing the old lady's face darken even further, she rose and made a bow. "The girl was invited here by you, Old Madame, so please arrange for someone to escort Qin-jie back." Watching Cui Lingrong leave just like that, Old Madame Song was so angry her head ached. Sun Qinwan was even angrier. "Grandmother, look at Eldest Aunt—she... how could she treat me like this?" "Alright, alright, don't cry. If we don't attend, we don't attend—who cares anyway!" Old Madame Song coaxed her for quite a while before reluctantly sending Qin-jie off. The next day, however, Song Zhizhi came storming in fury to find Cui Lingrong, charging straight into Qiushuang Zhai. "Cui Lingrong, get out here!" Nanny Qiu led the servants out first. "Auntie, what are you doing? Making such a scene—are you trying to give the servants a show?" "If Cui Lingrong can target my daughter, why should I fear a little gossip?" Song Zhizhi had been holding in her anger ever since returning to her husband's household. If not for Cui Lingrong's meddling, she wouldn't have been suppressed by her mother-in-law. These past days, she hadn't even been allowed to leave the house. If not for Qin-jie returning home in tears this time, her mother-in-law still wouldn't have let her out. "Auntie, you need to be reasonable. What Qin-jie did was wrong. Instead of thinking about how to correct her, you come storming into the marquis's residence to make a scene—aren't you being too unreasonable?" Nanny Qiu blocked the doorway, refusing to let the aunt inside. Song Zhizhi was already burning with rage, and being blocked by Nanny Qiu only fueled it. She lunged forward, raising her hand to strike, when Cui Lingrong descended the steps. "Song Zhizhi, who exactly are you planning to hit on my turf?" Cui Lingrong walked toward Song Zhizhi, her imposing presence making Song Zhizhi falter for a moment. After recovering her senses, Song Zhizhi charged straight at Cui Lingrong, but was held back by Nanny Qiu, Caiyue, and the others. In response, Song Zhizhi whipped her hand around and slapped Nanny Qiu across the face. "Smack!" It was very loud. As everyone stood frozen in shock— Cui Lingrong struck back with force. An equally resounding slap. Cui Lingrong's voice was fierce. "Song Zhizhi, for all that you were raised as a daughter of a distinguished family, this is the upbringing you show? Nanny Qiu is my trusted confidante—striking her is striking my face. Who do you think you are, to slap my dignity?" Cui Lingrong was truly furious. Nanny Qiu had been with her for over twenty years, the closest person by her side. Song Zhizhi striking Nanny Qiu had completely crossed her bottom line. As for Song Zhizhi, she stood frozen until her cheek began to burn with pain before she realized she had been slapped by Cui Lingrong. In all her life, Song Zhizhi had never been slapped in public. She lunged at Cui Lingrong like a madwoman. "How dare you hit me! I'll kill you! Cui Lingrong, you bitch—I'll make sure you die a miserable death!" A woman raised in a marquis's household, yet spewing such filth from her mouth. Cui Lingrong's face darkened. "Throw her out of the marquis's residence! Let everyone see what kind of person she really is!" Several rough-service maids hesitated for a moment before obeying the order—after all, the marquis's household was run by the eldest young mistress, not the old lady. How could Song Zhizhi match the strength of a rough servant woman? Dragged along as she was, she shouted, "Cui Lingrong, how dare you! I'm going to find my mother and have my eldest brother divorce you!" "Gag her!" Cui Lingrong ordered. The servants had no cloth at hand, so one of them used her own handkerchief, which reeked of sour sweat. The moment it was stuffed into Song Zhizhi's mouth, she gagged and rolled her eyes in disgust. Still, Song Zhizhi wasn't thrown out the front gate, because County Princess Rongjia arrived with Old Madame Song. Seeing her daughter dragged by several people, Old Madame Song glared at Cui Lingrong. "Cui Lingrong, what are you doing?" "Why doesn't Old Madame ask what Song Zhizhi did? She barged into my courtyard and struck my people. A madwoman like that—if I don't throw her out, what is she still doing in the Marquis's residence?" Cui Lingrong said. Song Zhizhi was rescued by Mama Xu and the others, crouching on the ground spitting out bitter water. The sour stench still lingered in her mouth, and with every breath, she felt she might faint. County Princess Rongjia fanned the flames. "Sister Cui, your temper is too fierce. Zhizhi is also a Song by name. If she misunderstood something in the heat of the moment, you could have just explained it to her. She's only a servant—if she was hit, so be it. If you... if you do this, how will you be relatives with the Sun family in the future? Have you no regard for Old Madame's face?" County Princess Rongjia now knew that Old Madame Song valued face above all, so whenever she spoke, she brought up matters of dignity. Old Madame Song was truly angry this time. She knew she couldn't out-argue Cui Lingrong, and that the current Cui Lingrong was no longer what she used to be. She said coldly, "You really have skill, daring to bully my daughter. Fine. You always have your reasons. I won't argue with you. When Shulan returns, let him make the decision!" Old Madame Song left with her daughter and County Princess Rongjia, determined to take back Cui Lingrong's authority over the household and show Cui Lingrong who the true mistress of the Marquis's residence was. Even if County Princess Rongjia wasn't suitable, Jiang was pregnant, and there was still Madam Li. Though she looked down on Madam Li, she was still better than the current Cui Lingrong!