Chapter 177

Chapter 177: Heartless Cui Lingrong sent someone to fetch a physician and then looked at Madame Jiang. "You'd better not go over. I don't want you to risk the baby." Madame Jiang refused. "Sister-in-law, don't worry. Even if she gives birth to a son, I won't faint from anger. She's Second Master's concubine—if I don't go over and hold up appearances, won't people gossip about me?" Madame Jiang still thought He Pingping was faking it. Why else would she suddenly start bleeding out of nowhere? This time, Madam Li was also present, so they all went over together. By the time they arrived, He Pingping's agonized cries were coming from inside the room, and the midwife had only just arrived. Nanny Qiu went in to take a look and came out with a grave expression. "It seems Concubine He really is going into labor." "Why so early?" Cui Lingrong asked. Nanny Qiu had already asked around. "They say Second Master came by this morning, and they..." Nanny Qiu couldn't finish the sentence. She leaned in and whispered a few words into her mistress's ear. Cui Lingrong felt embarrassed just hearing it. In broad daylight, of all things. And with He Pingping so far along in her pregnancy, how could they even manage it? Madame Jiang hadn't heard, but she knew exactly what had happened. First she was angry, then she sneered, "Heaven really does have eyes, letting those adulterous sinners get their just punishment!" Just then, Old Madame Song arrived with her attendants and scolded, "What nonsense are you saying? What punishment do you want them to have?" Old Madame Song had barely slept all night because of Song Shulan's matter. Now, hearing Madame Jiang's words, she swept her eyes over Madame Jiang. If not for Madame Jiang's pregnancy, she would have already had Mama Xu take action. Madame Jiang's heart skipped a beat. She didn't dare talk back to the old lady, so she gave a foolish smile and quietly stepped back. With her retreat, Cui Lingrong was now at the front. Old Madame Song asked displeased what had happened. Cui Lingrong had no intention of covering for Song Shucheng. She said directly that the two of them had done that deed early in the morning, which had disturbed the pregnancy. Old Madame Song's face turned cold at once. "That rascal! It's not like there aren't women in his courtyard—why must he drag He Pingping into such shameless behavior? Where is he?" Nanny Qiu said Second Master had gone out drinking. "We've already sent people to find him. Concubine He is in labor now, and we don't know how long it will take. Why doesn't Old Madame go rest for a while?" Old Madame Song shot Nanny Qiu a glance. "How could I have the peace of mind to go back? Bring me a chair. I'll sit right here and wait." There was another reason she stayed: Old Madame Song was afraid Madame Jiang might do something malicious. This was her second son's first child—if anything went wrong, how could she face the ancestors? She told Madame Jiang to sit as well. "If you can't sit still, then go back and rest. Cui and I will handle things here. We don't need you, lest you start feeling unwell." Madame Jiang said she was still fine. "Since Old Madame has come all this way, how could I be lazy?" So Madame Jiang sat down. Cui Lingrong glanced back and had a chair brought for Madam Li as well. But He Pingping inside showed no progress for a long time, and Cui Lingrong had to go in to check. The moment she entered, the smell of blood hit her in the face. Nanny Qiu warned her to be careful—there was water on the floor too. "How is she?" Cui Lingrong asked as she went in. The midwife said anxiously, "Concubine He hasn't reached her full term, and the baby's position isn't right. I'm afraid this will be difficult for a while." Cui Lingrong frowned deeply. "You're a renowned midwife. I trust your skill. Deliver this baby well, and you'll be handsomely rewarded." The midwife couldn't make any promises, only saying she would do her best. Just then, He Pingping woke up. She called out to Cui Lingrong, "First Madam, I beg you, please help me. I beg you. I know you're the only good person in this marquis household. I've done some foolish things, but I... I had no choice!" It hurt. It hurt terribly. He Pingping had thought her pregnancy was stable, which was why she'd seduced Song Shucheng into doing that. Otherwise, with so many women in Song Shucheng's courtyard, she was afraid he would forget her if she didn't compete for his favor. In this moment, He Pingping was afraid. She had done things against morality to survive, but she didn't regret them. She only wanted to live now. Cui Lingrong told He Pingping to stop talking. "The midwife and physician are both here now. Save your strength for childbirth—don't waste it on crying and screaming." When she came out of the room, Song Shucheng had been brought back. But Song Shucheng was dead drunk. Old Madame Song pinched him in anger, but he only dodged with his arm, not even opening his eyes. Cui Lingrong directly told Nanny Qiu to fetch a bucket of well water and pour it over him from head to toe. Song Shucheng jolted awake and shouted angrily, "Who? Which bastard did that?" "Me." Cui Lingrong walked up to Song Shucheng. "Second Master, open your eyes and look. I ordered the well water poured on you. Are you still going to curse?" Song Shucheng rubbed his eyes. Seeing so many people around, he tried to stand, but his knees had no strength. Confirming it was Cui Lingrong speaking, Song Shucheng curled his lip and said, "What is Sister-in-law doing? I was just having a few drinks with friends. Was it necessary to douse me with well water?" "Pouring water on you is to wake you up. He Pingping had a scare this morning, and now the baby is in a breech position. Second Master is a grown man—listen to Concubine He's cries. You act without any sense of restraint. If you harm your own flesh and blood, how will you face yourself?" Knowing that Old Madame was reluctant to scold Song Shucheng, it was Cui Lingrong who spoke up. Seeing that Song Shucheng was still dazed, Cui Lingrong continued, "Second Master is no longer young. Neglecting your duties is one thing—the marquis household has enough property to support your life. But you spend your days in dissipation and ignore all household matters. Do you truly think the marquis household has mountains of gold and silver for you to squander?" Song Shucheng was already angry, and being publicly reprimanded only made him more resentful. "Old Madame is right here—since when does it fall to Sister-in-law to lecture me? Besides, what's wrong with me spending the household's money? These past days, you've withheld so much silver. Dare you swear you have no selfish motives?" "That money was mine to begin with!" Cui Lingrong said. "How ridiculous. Money spent is money gone—whoever heard of taking it back? Ask anyone in all of Bianjing—which family would do such a thing?" Song Shucheng's words struck a chord with some present, so Old Madame Song did not intervene. Cui Lingrong looked at Song Shucheng on the ground. She had hoped that as long as she covered the household's expenses, Song Shucheng would show her proper respect when they met. Now his true colors were revealed. Sure enough, she had been right to withhold the money. "Fine. Others wouldn't do it, but I would." Cui Lingrong admitted her selfishness. "If Second Master thinks the child in Concubine He's belly doesn't matter, then so be it. I won't stay to keep watch any longer." Cui Lingrong turned to leave. Old Madame Song gave Mama Xu a look, and Mama Xu came forward to block her path. "Eldest Young Madam, don't be angry. Second Master is clearly still drunk—everything he said was nonsense." Mama Xu said. "You are the mistress of the household. Concubine He is having a difficult labor, and Old Madame is advanced in years. We still need you here to hold things together." With Cui Lingrong present, no one could pull any tricks—on this point, Old Madame Song had great faith in Cui Lingrong's abilities. Old Madame Song hypocritically turned to her son. "Don't say such foolish things. Your sister-in-law has contributed much to this household over the years. Apologize to her at once—Concubine He is giving birth to your first child!" Song Shucheng was reluctantly helped to his feet. Soaked and dripping, he let out a snort. Instead of apologizing, he turned and went back inside to change his clothes. As for He Pingping's cries from within the room, they did not make him pause for even a moment. All of this was witnessed by Madame Jiang. A man's fickleness and heartlessness—Madame Jiang felt a jumble of emotions and unconsciously touched her own belly. When it came time for her to give birth, would Song Shucheng be the same? Just then, a matron rushed out of the room, sweating profusely, and announced, "Concubine He has given birth—she's finally given birth!" Accompanying the announcement was the faint cry of an infant, so weak that one would miss it without listening carefully. Old Madame Song leaned forward urgently and asked, "Is it a boy or a girl?"