Chapter 186

Chapter 186 The Dead Woman Madam Qin was to be sent away, yet Cui Zeyu remained uneasy. He went to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion to find his elder sister. "I had thought to plant some people, but found there was no one I could use. In all these days at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, I've been busy with official duties and know nothing of the household's personnel." Cui Zeyu said. Cui Lingrong turned to glance around—today Caiyue had deliberately kept her distance—and sighed inwardly. "Your footing at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion is unstable, while Madam Qin has been there for over thirty years. The gap between you is indeed enormous. But those below all act according to where the advantage lies. Even if one or two side with Madam Qin, most people will still put their own interests first." "Sister means I should entice them with benefits?" Cui Zeyu asked. Cui Lingrong said it was both yes and no. "Before you use benefits, you must make them understand that Madam Qin is on the decline while you are on the rise. Let them see clearly that the Duke values you and that you will inherit the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. Gradually, without you needing to deliberately buy loyalty, those with sense will come to pledge themselves to you." Managing servants and subordinates was something Cui Lingrong handled with ease. "Once you hold some authority in your hands, you must also be clear in rewarding and punishing. Pick out two as examples to warn the rest—kill the chicken to scare the monkeys. As for the others, if there are no major problems, let bygones be bygones. Only then will people's hearts settle. If hearts are unsettled, nothing can be accomplished." Cui Zeyu understood. "So what I should do now is first highlight my position at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion?" "Yes. Madam Qin has taken Lu Weijie away, so the Duke only has you by his side. If you are constantly at his side, others are not blind—anyone can see the Duke's intention to groom you." After a pause, Cui Lingrong continued, "In this life, there are always things one must do against one's will. You bear resentment toward the Duke, but you must distinguish whether that resentment can outweigh the power and position you desire." Everything must be weighed, but one cannot have both. Too greedy, and in the end one might end up with nothing. Cui Zeyu fell silent. "As for Madam Qin, you can find some pretext to restrict her and gather information about her. She is still the Duke's wife, so send things once every two months and take the opportunity to confirm her condition. Once your people have gone many times, there will always be a chance to make a move." Cui Lingrong said. "I'll follow everything you say, Sister. This matter of Madam Qin is your achievement. If not for you, I wouldn't have been able to send her away so easily." "Women tend to be soft-hearted. I didn't expect Madam Qin to be so unguarded either." Cui Lingrong sighed with some emotion. But grievances and debts always come to an end—Madam Qin had been too ruthless back then, so it was no wonder her brother sought revenge. After finishing the matter of Madam Qin, Cui Lingrong brought up her younger brother's marriage. "Now you are the Duke of Dingguo's son and hold an official position—completely different from before. And with Madam Qin sent away, such a great mansion cannot be without a mistress. The Duke is already at that age, so it's best if you marry soon—only then can you take control of the situation more quickly." Marriage was indeed the best way. The Duke of Dingguo had also mentioned it to Cui Zeyu. But Cui Zeyu had not agreed. "Given my current situation, I'd rather not. Who knows if one day I might catch a knife from Madam Qin—I don't want to harm someone else." Cui Zeyu brushed it off and changed the subject to matters at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. "Did Song Shucheng really lose that much money?" Cui Lingrong said yes. "Old Madame has been unable to get out of bed for several days over this matter. County Princess Rongjia and Madam Li take turns attending to her, and I have no choice but to go pay my respects as well." Fortunately, Old Madame disliked her and wouldn't let her serve at close quarters—otherwise she wouldn't have been so comfortable. "That serves them right. Before, Song Shucheng loafed around and Old Madame Song never stepped in to discipline him. What use is getting angry now?" Cui Zeyu kept no secrets from his sister. "Actually, I've been investigating the gambling houses recently. If not for this matter, I wouldn't have been able to threaten Qin Shaoyuan. Behind all this, there must be many more great families involved." Cui Zeyu feared nothing. As long as he could earn merit, he didn't care how many people he offended. "You should make achievements, but you can't charge in too recklessly. Listen to me—marry early, and you won't be alone." Cui Lingrong had just finished speaking when her daughter's voice came from outside. Cui Zeyu, as if granted a reprieve, hurriedly rose to greet Yu-jie. Cui Lingrong had no choice but to drop the subject and turned to casual conversation instead. Time flew by, and a little over a month later, Madame Jiang successfully gave birth to a son. When Cui Lingrong went to visit, Madame Jiang's face was full of contentment. "This child of mine did not come easily." Madame Jiang said with a beaming smile. "I must thank Sister-in-law. If not for your introduction, I might never have had a child." When she learned it was a son, Madame Jiang let out a long breath of relief. From now on, she had a new hope—no longer needing to pin her expectations on Song Shucheng. "You're too kind, Second Sister-in-law. Children are a bond ordained by heaven. If it's in your fate, it will come; if it's not, no amount of forcing will bring it." Cui Lingrong exchanged pleasantries with Madame Jiang, and as she and Madam Li went out, they happened to run into County Princess Rongjia in the courtyard. "Greetings to the County Princess." Madam Li was the first to pay her respects. County Princess Rongjia had overheard what Cui Lingrong said, and now that they met, she put on a sour face. "Sister Cui is indeed magnanimous. But I remember quite well that Madame Jiang was not exactly respectful to you in the past." "County Mistress, I don't understand what you mean. We're all one family—conflicts are inevitable. Surely no one would be so petty as to hold a grudge over a small matter for a lifetime?" Cui Lingrong said with a faint smile. If not for the fact that Zhuqing was far along in her pregnancy and hadn't been sneaking around with Zheng Side lately, she would have already caught Zhuqing and Zheng Side in the act. "If you don't understand, then you don't understand. One day you will." County Princess Rongjia strode into the room, moving so brusquely that she knocked into a vase. The vase shattered with a crash across the floor, waking the newly sleeping Sixth Ger. Madame Jiang hurriedly signaled the wet nurse to soothe the child. Hearing this, County Princess Rongjia felt it was even more of a jab at her. "It seems I've come at a bad time. Is my second sister-in-law's room not welcoming to me?" Upon learning that Madame Jiang had also given birth to a son, County Princess Rongjia was seething inside—everyone could bear sons except her. "Can you not even manage this properly? If the wet nurse can't soothe the child, then find someone else?" Madame Jiang couldn't bear it any longer and blurted out, "The County Mistress has never raised such a small child, so surely you wouldn't understand that infants can't be startled. And soothing a child requires patience. If you find Sixth Ger's crying bothersome, let the wet nurse take him to the next room to calm him down." Madame Jiang, concerned for her son, spoke without thinking. By the time she realized County Princess Rongjia was displeased, she belatedly signaled her maid—but it was too late. "Fine, you! Even you dare to mock me now. I once thought you were a good person, but I never expected you to be one who fawns on the powerful!" County Princess Rongjia was stung by the words "never raised such a small child"—wasn't that just mocking her for being unable to bear children? Although the Marquis and Old Madame had not publicized her inability to conceive, Cui Lingrong knew about it. And with Cui Lingrong's mouth, there was no need to wonder—the rest of the marquis household knew too. County Princess Rongjia did not believe Cui Lingrong would help her keep the secret. So upon hearing Madame Jiang's words, she gritted her teeth and said, "You're proud now that you have a son, but don't be too arrogant. Raising him to adulthood is the real accomplishment!" With that, County Princess Rongjia left. After she was gone, Madame Jiang felt a surge of anger that left her breathless, frightening the servants so much that they rushed to fetch a physician. When Madame Jiang came to, she insisted on going to see Old Madame to seek justice. "What does she mean, 'raising him to adulthood is the real accomplishment'? Is the County Mistress cursing that Sixth Ger won't grow up?" Seeing Old Madame arrive, Madame Jiang immediately burst into loud sobs, forgetting she was still in her postpartum confinement. In truth, County Princess Rongjia was simply taking out her anger on Madame Jiang, and Madame Jiang had no idea about County Princess Rongjia's inability to bear children—that was how the two came to clash. After hearing Madame Jiang's account, Old Madame Song also felt County Princess Rongjia had gone too far. Just because County Princess Rongjia couldn't have children herself, she couldn't very well stop everyone else from having them, could she? She felt it necessary to admonish County Princess Rongjia, so after leaving the second branch's quarters, she made a point of heading toward Wutong Courtyard. But halfway there, she heard a startled cry. When Old Madame Song called for someone to investigate, Mama Xu saw a young maidservant sitting by the well, her face deathly pale. "What are you screaming about in broad daylight? You've startled Old Madame!" "Mama Xu, there's... there's a dead body in the well!"