Chapter 21

Chapter 21: The Villain On the day of the autumn banquet, Song Shulan arrived at Qiushuang Zhai early in the morning, saying he had come to accompany Cui Lingrong for breakfast. Nanny Qiu was no longer as pleased to see the Marquis as she once had been. She instructed Caiyue and Caixia to prepare an extra portion of the meal and then went to help her mistress with her toilette. Cui Lingrong was still selecting hairpins. "Change this one—it's dignified but makes me look old." Nanny Qiu brought out a ruby-pink set, but Cui Lingrong still rejected it. "Too youthful." After much deliberation, she chose a set of emerald-green gemstone hair ornaments—the color was lively yet still befitting of proper decorum. Song Shulan couldn't wait and stepped into the inner chamber. Seeing Cui Lingrong freshly dressed, his Adam's apple bobbed. "My lady is beautiful today." He had always known Cui Lingrong was lovely, but in recent years she had dressed with increasing maturity. It had been a long time since she looked so radiant, so captivating that one couldn't look away. "There are still people present." Cui Lingrong pushed aside Song Shulan's hand, and the two went to have their meal together. In years past, she would have risen at dawn on this day, arranged everything in the household, and gone to report to the Old Madame to ensure her satisfaction. This year, she didn't have to make those arrangements. Although Song Shulan had wanted her to assist Princess Rongjia, she had declined, saying she wasn't feeling well. The couple sat down together, and Song Shulan kept stealing glances at Cui Lingrong from the corner of his eye. These past days, he truly had been remiss toward her. He proactively placed food on Cui Lingrong's plate before speaking. "Mother came to see you about managing the household, didn't she?" Cui Lingrong said yes. Seeing that Cui Lingrong had nothing more to say, Song Shulan felt a tightness in his chest. "Don't you have anything you want to ask me?" "Does the Marquis truly want me to ask?" "You and I are husband and wife—we should be honest with each other." "Very well, then I'll speak." Cui Lingrong set down her chopsticks and looked at the man who had been her companion for over a decade, a faint hope still lingering in her heart. "No matter how well I do, no matter how poorly the Princess performs, the Marquis and the Old Madame always place the Princess's dignity above mine. Do I have the right to say no? Do I have the right to refuse?" Song Shulan frowned slightly, displeased. Cui Lingrong lowered her lashes, her thin lips trembling. "I know the Marquis acts for the good of the household, so I swallow my unhappiness and put on a show of magnanimity. But Marquis, I am human too. I get hurt as well. I'm happy that you came to have breakfast with me today, but what about later? Will the Marquis stand by my side?" With so many people watching at the banquet, who Song Shulan stood beside mattered greatly—it reflected his stance and that of the household. Before Song Shulan could speak, Cui Lingrong placed her hand over his. "The Princess already has her dignity. Won't the Marquis consider me as well?" At that moment, Song Shulan couldn't bring himself to refuse. For Cui Lingrong to humble herself so much showed just how deeply she was hurting. His heart was filled only with guilt. Under Cui Lingrong's gaze, he nodded and said yes. Only then did Cui Lingrong smile and place food on Song Shulan's plate. The two first went to pay their respects to the Old Madame, and only after the other two branches of the family had arrived did they head to the courtyard. Though the Old Marquis had little talent, he had at least managed to preserve the ancestral estate. Within Bianjing, the Marquis's residence ranked among the top ten. Thus, many people still honored the household's autumn banquet with their presence. This year especially, with Princess Rongjia having married in, even more members of the imperial clan would be attending. When Cui Lingrong and Song Shulan appeared together, the Su family had already arrived, as had the Li family. The Su family was the Old Madame Song's natal family and lived nearby, so they came early. The Li family was the natal family of Third Madam Li. Master Li held no prominent official position, and since the third branch wasn't favored by the household, the Lis dared not be negligent—they feared that arriving late would displease the Old Madame Song. The remaining guests were mostly people of little importance, but Cui Lingrong still greeted each one personally. She had always been thorough, never giving anyone cause to find fault. As the crowd watched Song Shulan standing alongside Cui Lingrong, their thoughts differed, and all were curious how Marquis Song balanced his two wives. While Cui Lingrong was socializing, Song Yu was pulled into the crowd by a young woman. Looking closely, she saw it was Su Yunfei, the person she disliked most. "I sent you a formal invitation some days ago—why didn't you come?" Su Yunfei looked Song Yu up and down. Seeing that Song Yu wore a new-style hairpin and freshly made clothes, she didn't look at all like someone being mistreated. She had sent that invitation precisely to see Song Yu humiliated. Song Yu had no desire to speak with Su Yunfei and didn't bother with pleasantries. "Didn't I already say? When I first returned to Bianjing, I was dizzy and unwell." "Hmph, you were just too ashamed to show your face, weren't you?" Su Yunfei wore an expression that said "stop pretending, I understand everything." "Your father took an Equal Wife—and a noble Commandery Princess at that. Now that the Princess manages the household, how well can you and your mother possibly be faring?" It was just putting on a brave face to cover up the truth. Her mother had told her that when the household had married Cui Lingrong, it had been out of absolute necessity—otherwise, the Marquis household in earlier years would never have looked twice at someone like her. Now that Princess Rongjia had married into the household, the Old Madame Song and Marquis Song would surely value her far more. "Su Yunfei, why are you always staring at my life? Are you that idle, or are you jealous that I have a mother who dotes on me?" Song Yu looked at Su Yunfei's group of young lady friends. Since Su Yunfei wanted to see her make a fool of herself, she wouldn't bother saving face. "Look at how I'm dressed—do I seem like I'm doing poorly? As for you, I heard that First Young Mistress Su only dotes on her son and doesn't care much about you, her daughter." For the autumn banquet, her mother had specially taken her to the jewelry shop and had new clothes made for her, all paid for from her mother's private savings. Her mother cherished her and loved her, so she had to defend her mother in return. Song Yu's words struck Su Yunfei's sore spot, and Su Yunfei's eyes immediately reddened. "You... you're bullying me! I'm going to tell Great-Grandaunt!" "Only those without real ability go running to tattle. And you started this first. If you dare go to my grandmother, I'll go straight to your mother and see how First Young Mistress Su punishes you!" Song Yu snorted coldly and walked away without looking back. She wouldn't normally speak so harshly, but today Su Yunfei had gone too far. And besides, others might be thinking the same thing. She was her mother's daughter. Just as her mother had said, the more people whispered about her, the more she had to hold her ground and not give anyone a reason to laugh at her. Song Yu found her mother and sat obediently at her side, all traces of the fierceness from her quarrel with Su Yunfei completely gone. Those seated beside Cui Lingrong now were all her close friends. Everyone inwardly sighed for Cui Lingrong, but with so many people around, it wasn't the time to speak their true feelings. When the banquet began, Cui Lingrong sat down first. Song Shulan and the Heir of Prince Rong entered together. Under Cui Lingrong's gaze, Song Shulan went over to Princess Rongjia's side and exchanged a few pleasantries, their loving demeanor the envy of all who saw them. First Young Mistress Su, seated at the same table, praised them, "The Commandery Princess and the Marquis are truly as sweet as honey. Only newlyweds could be so affectionate." Princess Rongjia had organized today's banquet following the exact same procedures Cui Lingrong had used in previous years, so nothing had gone wrong, earning her much praise. She was in a good mood now and pretended to be shy. "Cousin-in-law, do stop teasing." She then cast Song Shulan a reproachful glance, signaling that there were too many people watching. The sweet exchange between the two was witnessed by everyone, and they all turned to look at Cui Lingrong at the same table. Seeing how calm and composed Cui Lingrong remained, everyone had to admit—Lady Cui had remarkable composure. It was only when Old Madame Song finally spoke up and told Song Shulan to go to the male guests' side that Song Shulan walked over to Cui Lingrong, briefly said, "You've worked hard too," and then headed off to the men's table. —Marquis, won't you spare a thought for me too? When that thought crossed Cui Lingrong's mind, disappointment enveloped her like a vast net. She had truly tried her best. She missed her aunt so much. She wished she could tell her aunt that this time, she had truly encountered something difficult to resolve. For the first time, she wanted to just throw it all aside, turn around, and walk away without another word. But she couldn't leave. If she left, she would truly have lost. She glanced back at Nanny Qiu, who immediately understood her meaning. If Old Madame and the Marquis were so determined to give Princess Rongjia face, then don't blame her for playing the villain this once. At the drinking table, First Young Mistress Su kept praising Princess Rongjia. "Truly worthy of a Commandery Princess—today's banquet was managed wonderfully. If the Marquis's autumn banquet dares to claim second place, no one would dare claim first." The others chimed in with flattery: "Yes indeed, the Commandery Princess is so approachable. With such dedication on your part, tomorrow the whole city of Bianjing will surely be singing your praises." "I'll be the first to sing your praises. From now on, when Old Madame and the Commandery Princess hold the autumn banquet, people will be fighting to attend." "We must agree now—don't forget me!" ... Old Madame Song, basking in the glory, smiled so wide she couldn't close her mouth. "Don't you worry—the Marquis's doors are always open to you all. As long as you don't mind, you're all welcome to come and visit." First Young Mistress Su immediately went over to toast her. "Those are Auntie's own words—you can't complain that I'm a bother, now can you?" "You silly girl, when have I ever found you a bother?" Old Madame Song said, making as if to swat at First Young Mistress Su, who immediately begged for mercy, and the atmosphere was positively cheerful. But in truth, they all knew that this year's autumn banquet at the Marquis's residence was no different from previous years—if anything, the dishes were even less extravagant than before. Princess Rongjia, afraid that any further mistakes would completely disappoint Old Madame and the Marquis, dared not innovate and only sought to get through it safely. Thus, most of the arrangements followed the exact same procedures Cui Lingrong had used in past years. After the banquet, guests at the Marquis's residence could either admire the chrysanthemums or go listen to opera. The residence had also ordered crabs—the highlight of the autumn banquet. This was the season when crabs were at their plumpest, their roe so fresh it could make one's eyebrows drop. After finishing lunch, everyone began to look forward to it. In previous years, the Marquis's residence spared no expense, buying the finest crabs on the market, which brought Old Madame Song great face—that was why she held the autumn banquet year after year. At two quarters past the hour of Wei, it was time to eat the crabs, yet none were served. Old Madame Song glanced at Princess Rongjia, who immediately sent Wang Shanxi's Wife to the kitchen to see what was going on. Cui Lingrong, meanwhile, sat upright as if she hadn't noticed anything amiss, continuing her conversation with Madam Li beside her.