Chapter 195

Chapter 195: The Plea There were still some days before the Ye family's first-birthday banquet. When Cui Lingrong learned that County Princess Rongjia had returned, she sent Nanny Qiu to the Wutong Courtyard. "Zhuqing is crying and making a fuss, demanding to see you, County Princess. Since you've returned, would you like to go see her?" Nanny Qiu said upon arriving at Wutong Courtyard and meeting County Princess Rongjia. "She says she has something to tell you." County Princess Rongjia did not want to see Zhuqing, and now even seeing Nanny Qiu irritated her. "Go back and tell your mistress—there's no need for her to relay such matters. If I want to go, I'll go on my own." "The Eldest Young Madam manages the household affairs. She was worried you might still have feelings for Zhuqing, so she felt she ought to inform you." Nanny Qiu said deliberately. As she was leaving, she spotted Wang Hechun's Wife directing maidservants to move flowerpots, and paused. "The weather is getting colder by the day, and these wintersweets are about to bloom. Mama Wang, weren't you always serving in the County Princess's chambers before? Why haven't I seen you go inside lately?" Wang Hechun's Wife knew Nanny Qiu was deliberately sowing discord. She wasn't that foolish and responded, "Lately I've taken a liking to tending these flowers and plants. Thank you for your concern, Nanny Qiu. We'll take good care of the County Princess." "That's good then. I thought perhaps Mama Wang had fallen out of favor with the County Princess. If you enjoy flowers and plants, you could mention it to the Eldest Young Madam later—she might let you manage the garden's greenery." Nanny Qiu stopped there. The Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion was vast, and its garden was equally grand. In the past, Old Madame would host several banquets every year, and the garden was maintained with exceptional care. Those who managed it could reap considerable benefits. Nanny Qiu's words carried an implication, and they were also meant to shake Wang Hechun's Wife's resolve. But Wang Hechun's Wife understood Nanny Qiu's intentions. After Nanny Qiu left, she went inside and complained to the County Princess, "Does she take me for a servant of two households? I am your person, County Princess—how could I be swayed by her instigation!" She meant to curry favor with the County Princess. These past days, the County Princess had grown close to Chen De's Wife, to the point where she herself had been pushed aside, finding it increasingly difficult to get involved in matters by the County Princess's side. County Princess Rongjia was very pleased with Wang Hechun's Wife's attitude. "You are my person, so of course I'll arrange work for you. Cui Lingrong is a dog catching mice—meddling in others' business. Fortunately, you're clever enough not to be swayed by Nanny Qiu's provocations." "Rest assured, County Princess, this servant is absolutely loyal!" Wang Hechun's Wife had just finished speaking when Chen De's Wife brought up Princess Consort Rong, steering the conversation elsewhere. Wang Hechun's Wife hated Chen De's Wife to the bone. What kind of person was she? Would she not leave even a sliver of room for others to survive? After going outside, Wang Hechun's Wife found Chen De's Wife brewing tea and said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "Mama Chen, we both serve the County Princess. Do you truly refuse to leave any room for others?" "Mama Wang, have you lost your senses? Aren't you quite good at tending flowers and plants? Has your work been reduced?" Chen De's Wife had been keeping Wang Hechun's Wife under her thumb lately, and it made her feel much better. "I advise you not to overthink things. We both serve the County Princess. When the day comes that she has work to assign you, she'll naturally think of you." "Fine. I'll remember that." Wang Hechun's Wife left through gritted teeth, cursing inwardly, hoping that Chen De's Wife would one day fall into a ditch! As for County Princess Rongjia, she still went to see Zhuqing the next day, because Zhuqing had started saying reckless things, even threatening County Princess Rongjia. When County Princess Rongjia entered the room, her eyes were full of disgust. Seeing Zhuqing kneeling there, she wished she could poison Zhuqing's tongue mute. "You insisted on seeing me—what on earth is it?" "County Princess, I beg you to help me. My child really is the Marquis's!" Zhuqing kowtowed to County Princess Rongjia. These past two nights, she had dreamed of dying a miserable death. When she woke in fright in the middle of the night, she couldn't even tell whether it was a dream or reality. Zhuqing pleaded with County Princess Rongjia, "County Princess, whatever you want me to do, I'll cooperate with you." "Cooperate?" County Princess Rongjia laughed. "You are a fool of the highest order. From the very beginning, when Zheng Side came to find you, you should have come to me. Do you think I care whose child is in your belly?" She just needed a child—one that wouldn't arouse suspicion. Even if she had known Zhuqing was pregnant with another man's child, she would still have let Zhuqing give birth. And at that time, Song Shulan's health had been good—she wouldn't have had to send Lanxin away! The more County Princess Rongjia spoke, the angrier she became. Looking at Zhuqing's face, she wished she could crack open Zhuqing's skull to see what was inside. "But you didn't. Instead, you had an affair with someone like Zheng Side. You've been caught with evidence—witnesses and proof are all there. How do you expect me to help you?" County Princess Rongjia and her mother had thought it over again and again, confirming that Zhuqing's situation was beyond salvage, and had completely abandoned her. Seeing that Zhuqing still didn't know when to give up, County Princess Rongjia laughed in exasperation. "How did I ever pick someone like you back then?" "You are a County Princess. As long as you're willing, you must have a way to save me. For the sake of my service to you, please save me—even if it means letting me leave the Marquis Mansion!" Zhuqing wanted to live, desperately wanted to live. As long as she survived, there was still hope. "Why should I save you?" County Princess Rongjia asked in return. "Zhuqing, don't tell me you're trying to threaten me?" "No, no, no—this servant would never dare. I'm only begging you." Zhuqing crawled forward on her knees. Her knees were already red and swollen from kneeling, and every movement sent spasms of pain through her. "You can give up that hope—I have no way to save you." County Princess Rongjia refused outright. She had no intention of wasting time here and turned to leave. Zhuqing knew this was her last chance. She shouted "County Princess!" at the top of her lungs, her gaze shifting from pleading to resentment. "Why? You are all people of high standing. You used me—if it weren't for you, how could I have ended up like this?" No sooner had Zhuqing spoken than Chen De's Wife delivered a slap across her face. "Zhuqing, you have no one to blame for today but yourself—for not being able to bear loneliness, and for being stupid! If you dare say one bad word about the County Princess, we can send you straight to meet King Yama right now!" County Princess Rongjia left. The door was shut once more. Only faint light filtered through the paper window, and Zhuqing fell into despair. She sat on the ground the whole time, until the person delivering meals arrived, and only then did she call out that she wanted to see the Eldest Young Madam. The message was relayed to Cui Lingrong. Caiyue said they could meet her. "Zhuqing, in order to survive, will surely speak ill of County Princess Rongjia. We can go listen." "Whatever she has to say won't be of any use to us. County Princess Rongjia never trusted her much, so she couldn't have been brought into anything important." Cui Lingrong said to forget it. "Zhuqing is useless now—she'll only bring trouble." Nanny Qiu shared the same view. In her eyes, Zhuqing was already a dead woman. And so the days passed, until the beginning of the eleventh month, when the Ye family's young master held his first-birthday banquet. Cui Zeyu made a special trip to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion to pick up his elder sister. On that day, Song Shulan happened to be at home. When he learned that Cui Lingrong was going to the Ye household with Cui Zeyu, a surge of anger lodged in his chest. "Fine, fine—none of you take me seriously at all!" He was, after all, Cui Lingrong's husband—she should have brought him along—yet she was taking Cui Zeyu instead! Cui Lingrong didn't hear Song Shulan's resentment. She had just boarded the carriage when her younger brother told her something important. This time, she could ruin County Princess Rongjia's reputation completely!