Chapter 207

Chapter 207: The Courtesan House The Zhuang residence was not large, and Song Mingjin and the others quickly toured the entire courtyard. Zhuang Qi sighed. "My father got promoted, yet we live in a smaller courtyard. I thought we'd be more well-off." Song Yu said, "Once Uncle has established himself in Bianjing, you'll have good days ahead." "How could it be that easy?" Zhuang Qi said. "Before we came, my father gave us endless instructions, saying that many people are watching his promotion. He told my brother and me to keep a low profile, avoid making enemies, and set strict rules for our behavior. You just saw how rigid my father is!" Having just arrived, she knew nothing about the people and affairs of Bianjing—only her aunt and cousin were familiar to her. Song Mingjin sat on the steps and nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Uncle's lectures are scarier than the academy's teachers. Hey, sister, why did you hit me on the head?" "Show some respect. Is Uncle someone you should be gossiping about?" Song Yu reminded her brother. "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll have you stay at Uncle's house permanently and study with him." Song Mingjin was frightened and quickly shook his head. "No way, I want to practice martial arts, not study! Eldest sister, Mother is getting more and more lenient with you. You weren't like this before." "Was I not?" Song Yu didn't think so. "How could you not notice?" Song Mingjin said it was very obvious. "Mother doesn't lecture about rules anymore. When you didn't want to embroider your wedding dress, she hired an embroideress. In the past, how could she have agreed?" Song Yu thought about it carefully and realized it was true—her mother really did seem to have changed a lot. Zhuang Qi asked curiously, "I heard that Aunt's husband married an Equal Wife, and she's a County Mistress. What is she like?" "Hmph, she's an old witch, truly wicked!" Song Mingjin said. "When you meet her in the future, you must stay far away from her. What kind of decent person refuses to be a proper wife and comes to steal someone else's husband?" Song Yu also said, "Jin-ge is right. If you ever encounter County Princess Rongjia in the future, keep your distance." The three children chatted for a while. Inside the house, the adults had drunk their fill. Cui Lingrong saw that Song Shulan was nearly drunk, so she rose to take her leave. After the Cui family departed, Zhuang Huaiming held his wine cup and sighed. "Your aunt has had a hard time of it." Though it was only the span of a meal, Zhuang Huaiming could see clearly that Song Shulan was a man devoted to his official career, and without any moral bottom line. How could life with such a man possibly be good? Zhuang Qi said indignantly, "Just now, Jin-ge and his sister told me that County Princess Rongjia is especially wicked. Right after marrying into the Marquis Mansion, she bullied Cousin Yu. Later, she even faked a pregnancy and kept opposing Aunt." Zhuang Huaiming frowned deeply as he listened. In his letters to his cousin, she never spoke of anything bad. Hearing this now, he realized his cousin had been suffering so much in the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. "So what if she's a County Princess? Does that give her the right to bully others?" The more Zhuang Huaiming thought about it, the angrier he became. The next day, Zhuang Huaiming went to meet the Emperor. After officially assuming his post, he made a point of inquiring about County Princess Rongjia's affairs. He learned about the gambling den case—how she had not only issued usurious loans but also driven people to their deaths. After gathering all the facts, Zhuang Huaiming directly proposed at court that those nobles and officials who knowingly broke the law should be severely punished. "The more noble one's status, the more one has enjoyed the glory bestowed by the court. To show no gratitude for that is a crime deserving of heavier punishment." These were Zhuang Huaiming's words in the court. When Song Shulan heard this at the time, his brows furrowed so tightly. These past few days, because of County Princess Rongjia and his second brother's affairs, he had run himself ragged to no avail. First Cui Zeyu, and now another Zhuang Huaiming. When Song Shulan left court, his face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. The only one who still bothered to talk to him was Gao Jingzhi. "What's going on? Isn't Zhuang Huaiming Lady Cui's cousin? Why isn't he helping you at all?" Gao Jingzhi sidled up to Song Shulan, having already forgotten their earlier conflict. "Who knows!" Song Shulan said, looking exasperated. "I advise you to stop running around. That second brother of yours is truly foolish—let the judgment fall as it may. As for County Princess Rongjia, you should think about the Rong Prince Mansion. When she returns, treat her as usual, and that will be the same." Gao Jingzhi said that as an observer, he could see things more clearly. Song Shulan had no mind to talk with Gao Jingzhi. By the time he reached home, the imperial decree had also arrived from the palace: Song Shucheng was sentenced to exile in Bashu. As for County Princess Rongjia, the Emperor ultimately preserved the dignity of the imperial clan. He declared that County Princess Rongjia had indeed been unaware of the crimes, but her mistakes were real. She was not stripped of her title, but some of her gifts were taken back, and she was placed under house arrest for half a year. Such a punishment was very light for County Princess Rongjia. On the day Song Shulan went to pick up County Princess Rongjia, both of them had complicated feelings, though Song Shulan was the more proactive one. "I know you were wronged. I believe you in this matter." The moment Song Shulan finished speaking, County Princess Rongjia burst into tears. During her time in the palace, County Princess Rongjia had constantly wondered what would happen to her, and what Song Shulan would think of her. Hearing Song Shulan say he believed her, County Princess Rongjia could no longer hold back once she got into the carriage. She threw her arms around Song Shulan. "I knew it—only Master Song believes me. Even my father the Prince and my mother don't believe me." "I know County Mistress's character well." Song Shulan had lost considerable weight these past days. "I'm sure you've heard about my second brother's matter. Once you return to the Marquis Mansion, we'll live our lives steadily. What's past is past." County Princess Rongjia nestled in Song Shulan's arms and nodded in agreement, but inwardly her resentment toward Cui Lingrong burned even hotter. Half her properties had been confiscated, and she'd lost her source of income—how was she supposed to maintain a dignified life like this? And the gambling den affair had become the talk of Bianjing. How could she show her face in public? County Princess Rongjia was at her wit's end. When she returned to Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, she went first to pay her respects to Old Madame, but was refused entry at the door. She had invested in the gambling den, and as a result, Song Shucheng had been exiled for gambling. This chain of cause and effect made Old Madame Song harbor a grudge against County Princess Rongjia. From that day until after the New Year, County Princess Rongjia never had a moment's peace. But some people were quite pleased. Chen De's entire family had been beheaded, and naturally, Wang Hechun's Wife became the most capable matron at County Princess Rongjia's side. For several days running, Wang Hechun's Wife carried herself with great authority in Wutong Courtyard. It continued until the Lantern Festival, when the Rong Prince Mansion sent a formal invitation—but by the Emperor's decree, County Princess Rongjia could not leave Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. And since Cui Lingrong wouldn't go either, Song Shulan had to attend alone. When Song Shulan arrived at the Rong Prince Mansion, he received nothing but cold looks. After the meal, he found himself caught between both sides, pleasing no one. His spirits low, he found a day to drink with Gao Jingzhi. Seeing how pent-up Song Shulan was, Gao Jingzhi took him to a courtesan house. Though the law forbade officials from frequenting such establishments, Gao Jingzhi had his own connections. He brought Song Shulan to a hidden brothel and paid the madam to summon two lovely young women. "Tonight, let's enjoy ourselves to the fullest!" Gao Jingzhi poured wine for Song Shulan. After a few cups of wine, the woman beside Song Shulan had already slipped her hand inside his robes. She teased him several times but sensed no reaction from him. Boldly, she reached lower—and found only a limp, soft mass. The woman had no idea what to do.