Chapter 194

Chapter 194: First Birthday Because her mother disliked her aunt, County Princess Rongjia had also disliked her cousin Lou Wanxian since childhood. The two families rarely interacted, and later when County Princess Rongjia married far away for many years while Lou Wanxian was also absent from Bianjing, the county princess failed to recognize her. Their eyes met, and County Princess Rongjia raised her chin slightly, waiting for Lou Wanxian to greet her with proper etiquette. As she expected, Lou Wanxian bent her knees and said, "County Princess." Distant, yet polite. "Who are you? I don't recall seeing you before," County Princess Rongjia deliberately made things difficult. "Chen De's Wife, go ask the gatekeeper of Rong Prince Mansion how they can just let anyone inside. Surely our mansion isn't so low that any destitute household can wander in?" Chen De's Wife pursed her lips in a smile. "Very well, County Princess." "County Princess, I am your cousin from the Lou family." Lou Wanxian lived up to her name—her temperament was serene and refined. Despite being deliberately humiliated, she showed no sign of anger, instead smiling warmly at County Princess Rongjia. In Lou Wanxian, County Princess Rongjia sensed a familiar quality. When she realized it reminded her of Cui Lingrong, her disgust deepened. "So it's my cousin from the Lou family. I wondered who it might be. What are you doing here?" County Princess Rongjia asked. Lou Wanxian had come to pay respects to her aunt. Her husband was about to return to Bianjing, and as a relative, it was proper for her to visit. Of course, she also had her own motives. This aunt of hers harbored deep hatred for her mother. Upon learning Lou Wanxian's purpose, County Princess Rongjia said she would go inside to check. "Trouble my cousin to wait here. After I finish speaking with my mother, we'll see whether she wishes to receive you." County Princess Rongjia walked into the hall and, upon seeing her mother, gave a snort. "The gatekeeper is truly incompetent. Someone like that should be thrown out." "If we throw her out, others will only say Rong Prince Mansion shows no regard for family ties. Since she insists on coming, let her stand in the courtyard until her legs ache. She won't come again next time." Princess Consort Rong had no desire to be entangled with her concubine-born sister's family. "Enough, let's not talk about Lou Wanxian. No matter how shameless she is, with her husband's broken leg, he won't have much of a future." Princess Consort Rong then turned to the matter of her daughter at Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. "Is Song Shulan completely finished? Can he not perform, or can he not produce children?" Hearing her mother mention Song Shulan's private matters, County Princess Rongjia still felt somewhat embarrassed. She lowered her head. "The physician said he can't perform anymore, but I haven't looked myself. The moment I think about how it burst open down there, I... I feel repulsed." She had once loved Song Shulan, and she still admired him now, but since he was no longer capable in that regard, she couldn't help but feel disdain, unwilling to undress and touch him. "Ah, if this were an ordinary marriage, a mutual divorce would be the answer. But this marriage of yours was specially requested from the Emperor. You insisted on becoming an Equal Wife, and now if you seek a mutual divorce, the entire Bianjing will laugh at Rong Prince Mansion." Princess Consort Rong thought it over and knew her daughter could not divorce. County Princess Rongjia said dejectedly, "No one could have predicted it would come to this." "Who says otherwise." Princess Consort Rong narrowed her eyes. "It's fine. Heaven never seals off all paths. Fortunately, Song Shulan isn't lacking in children, or you'd be in for a hard time. The matter with Zhuqing was your carelessness, but it doesn't matter—Zhuqing was the foolish one. I've spoken with your father, and we'll promote Song Shulan again. That way, you'll have an easier time at Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion." "Your daughter has been unfilial, causing you and Father to worry." County Princess Rongjia nestled into her mother's arms, acting spoiled. "It's so good to have you." "Who says you're not our daughter? Even if the sky falls, we will protect you." Princess Consort Rong would never allow anyone to harm her daughter. As for Cui Lingrong, there would be plenty of opportunities to settle scores. Mother and daughter enjoyed their intimate time indoors, completely ignoring Lou Wanxian in the courtyard. It wasn't until two hours later that someone came from the hall to relay the message that the princess consort was taking her afternoon nap and Lou Wanxian should return home. Lou Wanxian knew she was merely going through the motions. As she left Rong Prince Mansion, she rode back in a cramped rented sedan chair. She had just returned to the small rented courtyard when she learned her mother had arrived. Madam Bai was several months younger than Princess Consort Rong, but her hair was already completely white. A life of hardship had carved deep furrows at the corners of her eyes, and her eyesight was also failing. Upon hearing her daughter's single word "Mother," she slammed her walking stick hard against the ground. "Kneel! Didn't I tell you not to go to Rong Prince Mansion? Why did you go? Do you want that poisonous woman to see us as a laughingstock?" "No, Mother. My husband is about to return to the capital and has become an advisor to Prince Wu. If I don't make a visit to Aunt, my husband will be talked about behind his back in the future." Lou Wanxian held a stubborn resolve within her. Her mother always complained about being inferior to her aunt, but all she did was complain and beat and scold the children at home. Lou Wanxian was different. She saw reality clearly, and she too wanted to prove herself—which meant she had to be able to bend and stretch. So what if her aunt disliked her? She had done everything she should. Could her aunt really sever ties with her openly? "That crippled husband of yours—you want to rely on him for wealth and glory? Dream on! It's not that I look down on you, but this is your lot in life. When I married you off to Zeng Peng, I never expected you to live well!" Madam Bai relentlessly belittled her daughter and son-in-law. Lou Wanxian did not understand. "Mother, other parents all wish the best for their children. Why is it that in your case, knowing full well I would not live well, you still married me off here?" The Zeng family was poor—not just poor, but with a formidable mother-in-law, and a sister-in-law who was no pushover either. In the early days after Lou Wanxian married into the family, she had two consecutive miscarriages. It was only after her mother-in-law passed away and she gained control of the household that she was able to recover her health and bear children. But speaking of those early years, Lou Wanxian had plenty of complaints. From childhood onward, her mother either called her stupid or kept ordering her around. Her older brothers and sisters could all read and write, but only she was denied that. Lou Wanxian could not figure it out, could not understand it at all. "This is your fate!" Madam Bai glared at her daughter. "Anyway, I'm warning you—don't you dare go to the Rong Prince Mansion again. That venomous woman hates me to the bone. You think she'll help you? Dream on!" With that, Madam Bai rose, leaning on her cane. Drawing closer, she could see the fine lines beginning to form at the corners of her daughter's eyes. "Make it clear to your husband—if he has no ability, he shouldn't be dreaming of wealth and glory. Otherwise, one day he'll bring ruin upon himself without even knowing it!" After her mother left, Lou Wanxian wept quietly for a while, until a posting arrived from the Ye family. Only then did she wipe away her tears. When she and her husband had been posted to the provinces, they had befriended Ye Shiming and his wife. Now the Ye family was holding a first-birthday banquet for their child and had sent her an invitation—of course she would go. That Ye Shiming was a gifted scholar; he had passed the imperial examinations as Zhuangyuan (Top Scholar), and had not abandoned his first wife, bringing her along to Bianjing. To prepare a gift, Lou Wanxian had no choice but to pawn her last silver bracelet, then take her maidservant to buy a longevity lock. Meanwhile, Cui Lingrong had also received a posting from Madam Meng. Since their first meeting, Cui Lingrong had not seen Madam Meng again. Thinking of that woman, Cui Lingrong found her quite interesting. The calligraphy on the invitation was elegant and sharp as mountain peaks—clearly the work of a scholar. "Eldest Young Madam, will you go?" Nanny Qiu felt it might be best not to, since the eldest young madam had no prior dealings with the Ye family. "I'll go. Madam Meng is a good person, and Hanlin Ye is a rising star at court. People like that have no deep roots—they need connections most of all." Cui Lingrong said. "Send someone to let Zeyu know. On that day, have him come with me." She intended to give her younger brother the opportunity to meet more scholars from humble backgrounds.