Chapter 163

Chapter 163: Reprimand Old Madame Song brought her daughter back to Shouan Tang. Seeing the handprint on her daughter's cheek, her heart ached with distress. "You can't go back looking like this. I've already sent someone to the Sun family. Stay at the marquis's residence for two days before returning." "Mother, I—" "This matter cannot be known to the Sun family. As for Cui Lingrong, I'll have your elder brother handle it." Old Madame Song still didn't want the family's shame to be exposed. If word got out that her daughter and daughter-in-law were fighting, it wouldn't sound good. Song Zhizhi didn't understand. "The Sun family is my in-law's household. If they help apply pressure, wouldn't that be better for suppressing Cui Lingrong? Mother, why do you value reputation more than your own daughter?" "Have you lost your mind?" Old Madame Song gritted her teeth. "Telling the Sun family would be what harms you! If word of this spreads, it will only affect the marquis's reputation. And since you grew up in the marquis's household, wouldn't you be implicated as well? Use your head. Stop acting on every whim!" Old Madame Song was furious. "What I say goes! Stop crying!" She rarely spoke harshly to her daughter, and it left Song Zhizhi stunned. County Princess Rongjia also came over to persuade her. "Yes, Zhizhi, you have a simple nature and can't think of all the complicated twists and turns. But Old Madame has lived through these things. She's doing this for the marquis's household and for your own good." Old Madame Song nodded with satisfaction. She noticed that County Princess Rongjia was becoming increasingly proper and understood the importance of protecting the marquis's reputation. But then she thought of how County Princess Rongjia couldn't bear children and had done so many foolish things. She still couldn't feel at ease entrusting the marquis's household to her. She didn't like Cui Lingrong, but Yu-jie and her younger siblings were her own grandchildren. If County Princess Rongjia were to manage the household, she would certainly not treat Yu-jie and the others well. Old Madame Song knew this clearly in her heart, which was why she had endured until today, not wanting Cui Lingrong to manage the household. When Song Shulan arrived, Old Madame Song said sternly, "Look at your sister's cheek! Cui Lingrong is utterly arrogant—she doesn't regard me, her mother-in-law, in the slightest!" Song Shulan looked at the handprint on his sister's face and was quite shocked. "Did Zhizhi do something?" County Princess Rongjia said it was nothing. "Yesterday, Sister Cui had Old Madame send Qinqie away. Zhizhi felt Qinqie was being mistreated, so she came to reason with Sister Cui. Unexpectedly, Sister Cui resorted to violence." She glossed over what Song Zhizhi had done, focusing instead on Cui Lingrong's act of striking someone. Song Shulan's anger flared at first, but soon he realized this was Cui Lingrong striking someone again. As for his sister... Song Shulan said he understood. "I think we can't let her manage the household anymore. Otherwise, she won't even know who she is!" Old Madame Song said. Hearing this, County Princess Rongjia's heart leaped with joy. If Old Madame wouldn't let Cui Lingrong manage the household, and Madame Jiang was pregnant, then leaving aside Madam Li, it would certainly be her turn to manage the household. Unexpectedly, that fool Song Zhizhi had actually helped her. Having suffered losses several times before, County Princess Rongjia didn't speak immediately. Saying too much would seem deliberate—better to let Old Madame continue. Song Shulan asked, "What does Mother mean?" His peripheral vision glanced at County Princess Rongjia, and he could see the excitement in her eyes, but he didn't think County Princess Rongjia was very suitable either. Old Madame Song also glanced at County Princess Rongjia, then said, "Madam Jiang is pregnant and it's not easy for her. Let her rest and take care of herself. Have Madam Li manage the household." At these words, County Princess Rongjia's face stiffened. She was inferior to Madam Li? She had thought it was a done deal, yet Old Madame proposed letting Madam Li manage the household. County Princess Rongjia truly couldn't force a smile. Why? She couldn't understand. "Old Madame, can Third Sister-in-law really manage things well?" County Princess Rongjia couldn't help but say. But Old Madame Song was insistent. "Madam Li is usually low-key, but nothing has ever gone wrong in her younger brother's courtyard. Clearly she's meticulous. Even if she doesn't know how, she can learn." Old Madame also considered another point: Madam Li had a good temper and was easy to control—unlike Cui Lingrong, who, relying on Cui Zeyu's rise, had started showing her displeasure. As for County Princess Rongjia, she would absolutely never let her manage the household. County Princess Rongjia couldn't bear children. If she adopted Zhuqing's child, she would certainly mistreat Xuan-ge and Jin-ge. Her son's future was very important, so she didn't rebuke County Princess Rongjia for being unable to bear children. But the marquis's offspring were also important. Old Madame Song understood women's hearts well—she would never let County Princess Rongjia interfere with managing the household again. County Princess Rongjia could smile even less. With her right there available and unused, Old Madame would rather have Madam Li learn. Clearly, her inability to bear children had still caused Old Madame to be disappointed in her. A hatred clenched in her heart. Why? Everyone could bear children—why was she the only one who couldn't? Before County Princess Rongjia could collect herself, Song Shulan spoke up, saying it was inappropriate. "Elder Brother!" Song Zhizhi stared at her brother in shock. "I'm your own sister! When Cui Lingrong hit me, she didn't care about that at all. How can you still take her side?" "Even if Madam Cui shouldn't have raised her hand, why did she hit you?" Song Shulan looked at his sister, deeply disappointed. "In all these years, Madam Cui has never laid a hand on anyone. Today she struck only you. Have you considered what you might have done to cause it?" Then he went to see his mother-in-law. Song Shulan said earnestly, "The Duke of Dingguo places great importance on Cui Zeyu, and Cui Zeyu was raised by Lady Cui herself. Their sibling bond is deep. If I were to move against Lady Cui, wouldn't that sever our connection with the Duke of Dingguo's household?" Old Madame Song said she couldn't let it go. "I am an elder, yet she showed no regard for my dignity. I cannot swallow this indignity." "Mother, you can no longer indulge Zhizhi. Now that she has returned to Bianjing, do you know what the Sun family says about her? They say she has no bearing of an eldest daughter-in-law. Old Madame Sun may well bypass Zhizhi and let the younger daughter-in-law take charge of the household in the future." Seeing his sister about to speak, Song Shulan raised his voice. "Qin-jie was also spoiled by your teachings, with such shallow vision. Is the Sun family lacking in food or provisions for you?" Song Zhizhi looked at her elder brother in disbelief. He had never spoken to her like this before. What was going on? After venting at his sister, Song Shulan continued, "Enough. This matter ends here. Since Qin-jie and Yu-jie cannot get along, it's fine for her to return. And Mother, Lady Cui is the eldest daughter-in-law of the main branch. If she doesn't manage the household and instead Madam Li takes over, what would people think of me? No matter what, it shouldn't fall to Madam Li—there's still the County Mistress!" County Princess Rongjia, suddenly called upon, felt a spark of hope and called out, "Marquis." But Song Shulan didn't look her way. He had been applying pressure on County Princess Rongjia lately—only when she felt pressure would she plead with Prince Rong on his behalf, allowing him to advance further. In Song Shulan's eyes, County Princess Rongjia was no longer the romantic childhood sweetheart of years past. He simply wanted to cling tightly to the great tree that was the Rong Prince Mansion. After addressing everyone in the room, Song Shulan went to Qiushuang Zhai. The moment he saw Cui Lingrong, before he could even speak, he heard her say stubbornly, "I will not apologize to Zhizhi." "No need for you to apologize." Cui Lingrong was stunned, quite taken aback. "Did the Marquis misspeak?" "Lingrong, in your eyes, am I an unreasonable person?" Song Shulan seemed helpless. "You and I have been married for over a decade. Do I not know your temperament? If you resorted to violence, then it must have been Zhizhi's fault. Rest assured, I have already scolded her and told her to stop causing trouble in the future." He walked up to Cui Lingrong and placed his hand on her shoulder. It had been a long time since they shared such an intimate gesture. Song Shulan leaned in and said, "We are husband and wife. I naturally understand you better. Zhizhi is a married daughter who has returned home—she is willful and ill-tempered. Without even asking, I know it was her fault." Cui Lingrong listened in bewilderment. What had gotten into Song Shulan today, being so reasonable all of a sudden? It wasn't until Song Shulan mentioned sending festive gifts to the Duke of Dingguo's household for the Dragon Boat Festival that Cui Lingrong understood what was really going on. "You were also muddle-headed to have refused the matter of acknowledging a foster father. But it doesn't matter—as long as Zeyu is well treated at the Duke of Dingguo's household, that's the same thing. Now that Zeyu is at the Duke of Dingguo's residence, they are proper relatives of ours, and we should maintain regular contact." Song Shulan said, "When you go to deliver the festive gifts, let me know. I should go along to pay respects to the elders as well."