Chapter 193

Chapter 193: Cousin Zhuqing could barely stand from the moment she saw her aunt. She had originally wanted to go find her aunt, but Caiyue suddenly appeared and blocked her path. Now, seeing the room full of people, Zhuqing couldn't even speak. She knew she was finished. Nanny Qiu carried a wooden tray with Zhuqing's dudou on it. "Concubine Zhuqing, take a look. Is this yours?" Nanny Qiu asked. "No..." "No what?" Cui Lingrong raised her eyes to look over. "It's not yours? How strange. Even the Marquis recognizes it—how can you not?" "It's not mine, First Madam!" Zhuqing knelt on the ground, grabbing at Song Shulan's pant leg. "Marquis, this concubine has been wronged. This dudou is indeed mine, but I have no idea how it ended up at Zheng Zhuangtou's place!" "Did I say it was found at Zheng Side's place?" Cui Lingrong had already caught her slip. "Zhuqing, you're somewhat clever. But you're too hasty—too eager to live a good life, too eager to escape your current situation. A thousand careful plans, one oversight. You have many oversights." From the moment Zhuqing entered, no one had mentioned Zheng Side. Zhuqing had said Zheng Side's name herself. The truth was already clear. "You bitch!" Song Shulan kicked Zhuqing's hand away, sending her tumbling backward. "And here I thought you were such a good person, but you've cuckolded me. The child in your belly isn't mine either, is it?" Song Shulan was so furious he was cursing. All the dignity he'd built in his lifetime was lost today in front of the second and third branches! "Marquis, actually, it's not certain. Counting the days, the child should..." County Princess Rongjia tried to make some remedies. But for a man, once suspicion took root, there was no way he would acknowledge the child as his. Besides, it wasn't as if Song Shulan didn't already have sons of his own! "It's not your turn to speak!" Song Shulan snapped instinctively, and County Princess Rongjia stood frozen in place. For the first time, County Princess Rongjia was publicly rebuked by Song Shulan. Her dignity, her face, and her son—all gone. County Princess Rongjia had still been thinking of substituting the cat for the prince, but there was no need for that now. Song Shulan had no intention of acknowledging this child. "Marquis, this concubine truly carries your child!" Zhuqing clutched her belly with one hand and braced herself against the ground with the other. "You can have a physician examine me. I truly never had illicit relations with Zheng Side! I beg you, give me one more chance to prove my innocence!" It was too late. Song Shulan couldn't bear to look at Zhuqing again. He wasn't stupid—how could he not tell truth from lies? Just then, the people sent to search also found a broken hairpin beneath the bricks under the chamber pot in Zhuqing's room—one that matched perfectly with the wound on the back of Zheng Side's hand. Old Madame Song was tired. After these past two days, she felt utterly exhausted. "Since the matter has been investigated clearly, you handle it as you see fit. Only one thing—we cannot acknowledge a child of dubious origin in this marquis household!" The Old Madame's words settled the matter. County Princess Rongjia had just taken a step forward when Mama Xu blocked her path. Old Madame Song had known from the start what County Princess Rongjia was plotting, but she had been happy to watch County Princess Rongjia and Cui Lingrong spar. However, when it came to the bloodline of the marquis household, Old Madame Song would not be ambiguous. "County Mistress, the Old Madame has made herself very clear. The child in Zhuqing's womb is no longer a child of this household. Since the case is closed, the Marquis will handle the rest. You must be tired as well—you should return to rest." After speaking, Mama Xu hurried to catch up with Old Madame Song. "Did you make it clear?" Old Madame Song asked. "Yes, Old Madame, it's all been made clear." Mama Xu was somewhat worried. "The County Mistress cannot bear children herself. Now that Zhuqing's child is gone, and the Marquis is... I fear the County Mistress will not let this go." "Then what can she do? Fight Cui Lingrong for her child? Does she have that ability?" Old Madame Song had seen it all clearly now. "I chose Cui Lingrong back then for her conduct and character. Even if her background wasn't prominent, I still let her marry into the family. I never expected Cui Lingrong to be so formidable. Now that Cui Zeyu has gained the Duke of Dingguo's favor, does she think she can deal with Cui Lingrong?" Old Madame Song said to forget it. It wasn't that she looked down on County Princess Rongjia—it was simply that every single time, County Princess Rongjia had lost. "But the County Mistress's temperament won't allow her to compromise," Mama Xu said. "Does she want to adopt a child too? Dream on. The Marquis has his own biological son and won't agree. If she has the ability, let her try to take Cui Lingrong's son. If she can manage that, I'll praise her skill!" Old Madame Song was truly exhausted. "Day after day, not one of them gives me peace. That Zhuqing—I had a bad feeling about her from the start. Now look, it's all ruined. If County Princess Rongjia wants to win, she'll have to bring in the Rong Prince Mansion." The Old Madame lamented inwardly. She had once wished Cui Lingrong would be more formidable, and now she felt Cui Lingrong was too formidable. Never mind. As long as she didn't make trouble for her, whatever happened in the main branch was up to them. On the other side, Zhuqing cried until her voice was hoarse, but she couldn't buy even a shred of Song Shulan's pity. "From today onward, Zhuqing is not to leave this house for even a single step. Once the child is born, she is to be beaten to death with clubs. As for the child..." Song Shulan looked at Zhuqing's swollen belly, his eyes filled with disgust. "Find a slave trader and sell the child far away." Out of sight, out of mind. Song Shulan would simply pretend this child had never existed, and he forbade anyone in the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion from ever mentioning it again. "My lord! This is our child! You cannot treat him this way!" All of Zhuqing's beautiful dreams shattered in that moment. She had fantasized about her son inheriting the marquisate, and then her son would elevate her to the position of rightful wife, providing for her in her old age and seeing to her funeral rites. By then, she would be the Old Madame of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, and everyone would have to listen to her. But before the child was even born, her dreams had already died. Song Shulan didn't want to hear another word and ordered Zhuqing to be dragged away. Zhuqing's legs scraped against the ground, and the pain drove her to cursing. "First Young Madam, you will die a horrible death. You set me up—I will curse you every single day!" As Zhuqing's voice faded into the distance, Song Shulan ordered that no one was to speak of this matter again, then turned and left. Cui Lingrong was about to leave as well when County Princess Rongjia called out to stop her. "Sister Cui, you are quite formidable." County Princess Rongjia looked at her with contempt. "I merely uncovered the truth. The County Mistress flatters me." Cui Lingrong didn't turn around. The light streaming in from the front fell upon her delicate features, lending her an added softness. "Layer upon layer of schemes—that's you through and through. You must be very pleased with yourself now, thinking you're about to win, aren't you?" County Princess Rongjia nearly ground her teeth to dust, but Cui Lingrong paid her words no heed and simply walked away. County Princess Rongjia stared at the now-empty courtyard, her belly full of rage with nowhere to vent it. She returned furiously to the Rong Prince Mansion and threw herself into her mother's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Princess Consort Rong was quite taken aback after hearing Chen De's Wife's account. Only after her daughter had sobbed herself into hiccups did she speak. "Stop crying. The harder you cry, the happier Lady Cui is. You, you—back then you wouldn't listen to us, as if you thought we were trying to harm you. Enough. We'll think of another way." "What other way can there be? Song Shulan has already... already gone that far!" "Heaven never seals off all paths. There will always be a way." Princess Consort Rong comforted her daughter for quite some time. That night, County Princess Rongjia stayed at the Rong Prince Mansion. The next morning, she woke with swollen, red-rimmed eyes. When she went to pay her respects to her mother, she noticed a woman outside the hall who looked somewhat familiar—so similar in appearance to her mother that one might have mistaken her for the princess's own sister. It was only when Chen De's Wife reminded her that she realized it was her aunt's daughter—her cousin—who had come to visit her mother.