Chapter 18

Chapter 18: A Fluttering Heart The manor was located on the outskirts of Bianjing, and the round trip would take quite a few hours. Manager Liu and the others would not be able to return today. After leaving Shouan Tang, Cui Lingrong brought her daughter back to Qiushuang Zhai. Song Yu was puzzled. "Mother, why didn't you send someone along as well? Perhaps we could have caught the Commandery Princess in a mistake. She manages the household poorly, disappointing Grandmother and Father time and again. If she fails to handle this properly this time, Father and the others surely can't keep favoring the Commandery Princess, can they?" Cui Lingrong smiled faintly. She had deliberately kept her daughter at Shouan Tang so that she could analyze the situation for her now. "Li Fugui only dared to cause such a commotion because I instructed him. If I sent Nanny Qiu to the manor, Li Fugui would inevitably try to seek her out. Once that thought crosses his mind, do you think your grandmother's people would sit idly by?" Old Madame had not involved herself in household affairs in recent years, but in her youth she had been a formidable woman, keeping the entire marquis household firmly under her control. The only concubine-born son, Third Master, had been born while the old marquis was serving in an outpost post. As for the household's concubines, none were permitted to bear children. The old marquis already had sons and daughters, so he did not mind and let Old Madame have her way. "What if Wang Shanxi's Wife truly settles this matter? Wouldn't all your efforts have been in vain?" Song Yu asked again. Cui Lingrong took a sip of tea to moisten her throat. "This matter must be settled, one way or another. Your grandmother would never tolerate people who keep stirring up trouble, and the tenant farmers don't truly wish to cause trouble either. All I'm doing is letting Old Madame see the Commandery Princess's management style and abilities—not actually letting Li Fugui and the others turn the manor upside down." If things truly reached an irredeemable point, and the marquis household stopped leasing land to Li Fugui and the others in the future, the tenant farmers would have no harvest the following year. Hearing this, Song Yu gradually began to understand. "Daughter understands now. Father and Grandmother favor the Commandery Princess, so if there's trouble only within the household, they wouldn't care. But now that other families have learned of the Commandery Princess's harsh ways, and it's affecting the marquis household's reputation, Grandmother has no choice but to seriously consider the matter of household management. Your goal has already been achieved, so there's no need to trouble Nanny Qiu to clean things up. You just need to wait for Father and Grandmother to make their decision." Cui Lingrong said that was exactly right. Nanny Qiu praised, "Yu-jie has truly grown up. She can see the mistress's good intentions." Song Yu smiled bitterly. Before, when there was no Princess Rongjia, her parents had been loving, and she hadn't needed to tread carefully in the marquis household. She hadn't needed so many schemes. She had been forced to grow up. These past days, the way people in the household treated her mother, the Commandery Princess's overtures of friendship, and her father and grandmother's favoritism—all of it had made her see clearly: her mother's position was difficult. "What I want to tell you today is this: in the future, when someone competes with you for something, you must be calmer than the other party. When making decisions, think it over three times, and only act when you're certain the other party cannot seize any leverage over you. Take Princess Rongjia, for example. If she were smarter, she could easily come and ask my opinion on household matters. If something went wrong, she could say she was new and didn't understand, and that she had simply followed my advice. But she can't lower herself, and she thinks my birth is far inferior to hers, so I wouldn't dare oppose her openly." Cui Lingrong had been home for some time now and had developed a certain understanding of Princess Rongjia. It was still the same saying: though she remained in Qiushuang Zhai, there was nothing that happened in the marquis household that she didn't know. Song Yu said she would remember. Mother and daughter ate together. On the other side, Old Madame Song summoned Song Shulan. "I originally thought that since the Commandery Princess came from the prince's household, her methods and upbringing would surely surpass Cui's. I never expected her to be inferior to Cui in every way. Look—since she took over household management, how many incidents have occurred?" Old Madame Song was hosting an autumn banquet in two days, and the invitations had already been sent out. With one thing after another going wrong now, how could she face her relatives and friends? Seeing her son remain silent, Old Madame Song gave a cold snort. "I know you've admired Princess Rongjia since you were young, and now that the lovers have finally come together, it's a fine thing. I won't stop you from doting on her—in fact, I hope you two are deeply in love. But Shulan, are you still eighteen or twenty, believing that love is the most important thing in the world?" Song Shulan opened his mouth, then fell silent again. "You've passed thirty now. You should bear the family's honor and disgrace as your responsibility, and you should also cultivate heirs to carry on. Go and tell the Commandery Princess: if she doesn't have the ability to manage this household, then let Cui take over. We'll still give her the respect she's due, and you may dote on her exclusively if you wish—I won't interfere." Old Madame Song had spoken at length and her mouth was dry. The maid beside her immediately brought warm tea. Song Shulan knew his mother was right. His third brother hadn't pursued an official career, and his second brother had spent these years busy trying to produce a son, paying little attention to official matters. He wanted to be promoted, and he needed to rely on the Rong Prince Mansion—but reputation was the most important thing. Without a good reputation, if the censors submitted a memorial against him, promotion would be out of the question. Song Shulan went to Wutong Yuan in a less than happy mood. Princess Rongjia observed him carefully, served him tea, and proactively helped him change his clothes. Seeing that Song Shulan remained silent, Princess Rongjia felt a flutter of panic. "Did Mother summon you about the tenant farmers' matter?" Song Shulan hummed in acknowledgment. "You may not understand this, but Mother values her reputation above all. Especially with the Autumn Banquet approaching—if word gets out that the Marquis's household treats its tenants harshly, how could she face everyone at the banquet?" "It was my oversight. I never expected the tenant farmers to be so bold." Princess Rongjia lowered her head. "Even a cornered rabbit will bite. For the tenants to act this way, their harvest must have been truly poor. When people can't survive, they stop caring about consequences." Song Shulan let out a long sigh. "I know managing the household has been hard on you. These past days, you've grown quite haggard." Princess Rongjia said she wasn't tired. "Being able to share your burdens, Master Song, brings me great joy." When she saw Song Shulan begin to hem and haw, Princess Rongjia grew uneasy. Since marrying Song Shulan, Princess Rongjia had been cautious—more than cautious. She knew hearts could change, especially after they had been separated for fourteen years. So she observed Song Shulan's shifting preferences, exerted herself diligently in the bedchamber to please him, and even had Huadie taken into his service early on. All of this, Princess Rongjia did so that Song Shulan might fall in love with her anew. But now, she felt that Song Shulan was disappointed in her. That feeling was terrible. Unable to grasp it, unable to understand it, Princess Rongjia lost her footing. "I know your intentions, but you needn't force yourself." After a pause, Song Shulan spoke tactfully, "Lady Cui has always managed the household well. If you're truly exhausted, you can hand it over and let her worry about it. My feelings for you will never change because of such matters." Princess Rongjia's heart sank heavily. Without real authority, how could she feel secure? She was no naive young girl who believed a man's promises would last forever. After all, her previous husband had also sworn to love her for a lifetime—and then secretly kept a concubine in a hidden residence. "I can do it well. Even if I'm not perfect at first, given time, I'll only improve." Princess Rongjia refused to relent. Seeing how stubborn she was, Song Shulan couldn't bear to say anything harsher. He embraced her. "Get some rest. I'll help handle the matter with the tenant farmers." With that, Song Shulan left. He didn't stay the night at Wutong Court but went to Huadie's instead. The lingering warmth of his embrace slowly faded from Princess Rongjia's chest. Her heart tightened, and she said blankly, "Qingxue, why do I feel so unsettled? Tell me—how much of the Marquis's feelings for me are true, and how much are false?" Qingxue didn't know either. She soothed her, "Your Highness, don't overthink it. The Marquis still values you above all." "Is that so? Then why didn't he stay?" Princess Rongjia sat on the edge of the bed, hating that she had to feign magnanimity. When would Master Song finally belong to her alone? That night, Princess Rongjia barely slept. The next morning, she had Qingxue deliver a bowl of medicine to Huadie. Huadie stared at it, stunned. A moment later, her face turned pale and she stammered, "Mama Wang... Mama Wang told me... that Your Highness also hoped I could give the Marquis a child or two. I don't need to drink this. Did... did you get the wrong instructions?" Qingxue said there was no mistake. "Her Highness gave the order last night. There can be no error." Huadie burst into tears. "Why? The Marquis already has other children—legitimate ones at that. Why... why won't Your Highness let me bear one?" These past days, the Marquis had come to her frequently, even telling her that if she could bear him a child, he would gift her earrings made of Eastern Pearls. She knew the Marquis favored her—he clung to her several times every night. She had fantasized about becoming pregnant, about how the entire household would look at her with new respect. And before, whenever the Marquis came to her, Her Highness had never sent anyone with medicine. "I... I'll go see Her Highness. If I've done something wrong, she can punish me however she sees fit." With that, Huadie made to leave. Qingxue moved quickly to block her path. When Her Highness had originally chosen someone to serve the Marquis, she had asked Qingxue's opinion too, but Qingxue had made it clear that her mind wasn't quick enough and she certainly wouldn't win the Marquis's favor. She had no desire to become anyone's concubine. Even for the Marquis, she didn't want it. Now, seeing Huadie cry so pitifully, Qingxue couldn't help but say a few extra words. "Her Highness was in a very bad mood yesterday. This morning she even smashed a vase. I'd advise you to drink the medicine obediently today. When Mama Wang returns, she can persuade Her Highness. If you go crying to her now and she grows irritated—remember, she holds your indenture in her hands." In her joy at becoming a concubine, Huadie had forgotten all about the indenture. Now doused with cold water, she calmed down and realized Qingxue wasn't the type to meddle in others' affairs. For Qingxue to speak this way meant Her Highness was truly in a foul mood. She picked up the bowl. The medicine had already gone cold. Her entire body trembled. Tears fell into the dark, murky liquid, quickly swallowed without a ripple. Huadie closed her eyes and downed it in one gulp. It was bitter. So bitter her tongue went numb.