Chapter 214

Chapter 214: Dissolved "Yes, what exactly is going on?" County Princess Rongjia could only follow Old Madame Song's lead. "Who summoned that Daoist priest? How could he get the birth chart calculations so wrong?" The Daoist priest had been brought in by Mama Xu. County Princess Rongjia mentioned Mama Xu to divert Old Madame Song's attention. Mama Xu was Old Madame Song's trusted confidante, and she would never betray her mistress. So when Old Madame Song looked her way, Mama Xu said she had heard about the priest through word of mouth, and Old Madame Song harbored no suspicion. "It's truly strange. I wonder when Jin-ge will recover?" Old Madame Song let out a long sigh, then began to admonish County Princess Rongjia. "They say harmony in the family brings prosperity. Many disasters start from within the household first." Previously, she hadn't minded County Princess Rongjia and Cui Lingrong's power struggles, because she felt their fight for authority wouldn't cause much of a stir. But now, that was no longer acceptable. The Marquis's household had been flourishing, but now County Princess Rongjia had been demoted from Commandery Princess to County Princess, the second son had been sentenced to exile, and the eldest son's official career was no longer running smoothly. Old Madame Song narrowed her eyes as she looked over. Yes, after County Princess Rongjia married into the family, the eldest son had received consecutive promotions—but the inner quarters of the Marquis's household had never known peace. If anything, it was County Princess Rongjia's own lack of ability that she couldn't suppress Cui Lingrong. And the eldest son's promotions all relied on the Rong Prince Mansion, not on any schemes or efforts from County Princess Rongjia herself. Since that was the case, County Princess Rongjia only needed to be a decorative vase. The Marquis's household would provide her with fine food and drink, as long as she stopped causing trouble for the family. "County Princess, do you understand what I'm saying?" Old Madame Song asked again when she saw County Princess Rongjia remain silent. County Princess Rongjia understood perfectly well. "Old Madame is right. Harmony in the family brings prosperity." "Since you understand that harmony brings prosperity, then from now on, worry less about the affairs of the Marquis's household. Just focus on serving your husband diligently." Old Madame Song finished speaking and waved her hand, signaling that County Princess Rongjia could leave. Mama Xu glanced outside the room, then whispered, "Old Madame... you no longer trust County Princess Rongjia?" "What is there about her worth trusting?" Old Madame Song snorted coldly. "You know very well the things she's done, don't you?" Ever since County Princess Rongjia married into the family, deed after deed, one after another—if not for the Rong Prince Mansion backing her, Old Madame Song would have divorced County Princess Rongjia long ago. How could she have allowed County Princess Rongjia to remain in the Marquis's household? "Old Madame is right. The County Princess has indeed done some outrageous things." Mama Xu said in a low voice. "But this old servant fears the County Princess won't let things rest. She's such a proud person—how could she be willing to remain suppressed by the Eldest Young Madam forever?" "Whether she's willing or not doesn't matter. When I see Princess Consort Rong, I'll speak with her about it. Shulan does rely on the Rong Prince Mansion for his promotions, but County Princess Rongjia isn't without her vulnerabilities either. If the Rong Prince Mansion insists on pushing things, they won't come out unscathed either." Old Madame Song took a deep breath. "I'm tired. You may go." Old Madame Song didn't wish to say more. As long as the Rong Prince Mansion's support was withdrawn, County Princess Rongjia wouldn't be able to stir up any waves. Mama Xu poured tea, then quietly retreated. Just as she stepped outside, a young maidservant came looking for her. Mama Xu circled around the wall and found County Princess Rongjia waiting behind the bamboo grove, her face dark with anger. County Princess Rongjia could no longer contain herself. Normally, she shouldn't have come to see Mama Xu—if someone saw them, there would be more gossip to spread. "So this is how Mama Xu handles things after taking the Rong Prince Mansion's money?" County Princess Rongjia sneered with mockery. "It's fine to want to earn money, but couldn't you have found a capable Daoist priest? You brought in some random person, and now Old Madame doesn't trust me anymore. Did Mama Xu not hear what she just said?" Mama Xu had indeed accepted benefits from the Rong Prince Mansion. She had thought that Old Madame didn't like the Eldest Young Madam, and the Rong Prince Mansion had said the medicine wouldn't harm Jin-ge—it would only make him weak for a few days. That was why she had put it on Jin-ge's clothes. "What is the County Princess saying?" Mama Xu refused to admit anything. "Everything was planned by Her Highness the Princess Consort. The man was brought in by your own brother. What does this old servant have to do with any of it?" "Fine, fine, fine. Now you're shifting the blame. If Old Madame found out that her most trusted old servant was scheming against her grandson behind her back, what do you think she would do?" County Princess Rongjia was furious. All that careful scheming, and it had come to nothing. Mama Xu dared to do it, so she wasn't afraid of being threatened by County Princess Rongjia. "And what if Old Madame and the Marquis found out that you drugged Jin-ge just to deal with the Eldest Young Madam? How would they see you then?" Their eyes met. Mama Xu smiled slightly. "County Princess, this old servant offers you a piece of advice. Since the Eldest Young Madam couldn't find any evidence, let this matter be buried. It's best if neither of us mentions it again. Otherwise, if the truth comes to light, this old servant won't fare well—but do you think the Marquis would allow you to harm his children again and again?" Last time it was Yu-jie. This time it was Jin-ge. If Yu-jie was just a girl, the Marquis could still tolerate it back then, and the matter was smoothed over. The Marquis didn't hold a grudge against County Princess Rongjia. But what about now? The Marquis was destined to have only two children in his lifetime—Xuan-ge and Jin-ge—and County Princess Rongjia had laid her hands on Jin-ge. The Marquis would certainly take a very different stance. Mama Xu was no ordinary person—she wasn't foolish enough to risk such a scheme without assurance. If she dared to earn this money, she was confident that the Rong Prince Mansion and County Princess Rongjia couldn't afford to turn against her. "County Princess, you heard what Old Madame said today. The fact that she spoke so plainly means she is truly angered. There's really no need for you to contend with the Eldest Young Madam at every turn right now." Even if she did contend, it wasn't certain that County Princess Rongjia would come out ahead of the Eldest Young Madam. County Princess Rongjia was nearly fuming with rage, but Mama Xu's words rang true—she indeed couldn't possibly expose Mama Xu. As County Princess Rongjia fell silent, Wang Hechun's Wife stepped forward and said, "Mama Xu, your words are far too alarming. The County Princess isn't seeking to settle accounts with you—she's simply frustrated and wants to ask if there are any other options." Mama Xu shook her head. She was Old Madame's person. Occasionally pocketing a sum of money was one thing, but if she truly became County Princess Rongjia's spy, she would be discovered sooner or later. "Since the County Princess is still under house arrest, perhaps it's best to lie low for a while—there will be plenty of time ahead. The Marquis Mansion is currently beset with matters, and if the Marquis's duties at court are delayed because of this, the County Princess wouldn't want to lose the Marquis's heart over it, would she?" With those words, Mama Xu took her leave, bowing to County Princess Rongjia. County Princess Rongjia gritted her teeth in fury, and Wang Hechun's Wife hurriedly urged her to return home before speaking further. Once back at Wutong Courtyard, County Princess Rongjia hurled two teapots to the ground in a fit of rage. Wang Hechun's Wife dared not make a sound. The teapots in Wutong Courtyard never lasted more than a month before being smashed by County Princess Rongjia. After a long while, seeing that the County Princess had tired herself out, Wang Hechun's Wife finally led the servants to clean up the mess. She carefully brought her mistress a cup of hot tea. "Don't be angry, County Princess. That medicine has already been dispersed—no matter how capable the Eldest Young Madam is, she won't be able to trace it." No one knew that this was medicine County Princess Rongjia had brought from the Du family—no one in all of Bianjing would have it. "How can I not be angry?" County Princess Rongjia vented her resentment toward her natal family. "Second Brother doesn't know how to pick people—utterly useless! Tell me, in what way am I inferior to Cui Lingrong?" "You surpass the Eldest Young Madam in every way," Wang Hechun's Wife said. "Then why do I lose to her every single time?" County Princess Rongjia was furious. She swore she would defeat Cui Lingrong at least once—and make it so that Cui Lingrong would never rise again! On the other side, Cui Lingrong truly could not identify what poison Jin-ge had been given. Even Cui Zeyu's exhaustive searches through the archives turned up no records of it. This matter could only be set aside for the time being. As soon as Jin-ge recovered, Cui Lingrong immediately sent him to the Duke of Dingguo's residence, claiming it was to spare Jin-ge the daily back-and-forth travel. Old Madame Song and Song Shulan both understood that Cui Lingrong was guarding against County Princess Rongjia, and they tacitly approved. As the fine spring rain began to fall in a gentle drizzle, the time for Caixia's delivery quickly approached. Cui Lingrong and Nanny Qiu went ahead to check on Caixia. On the way back, Nanny Qiu stayed behind with Caixia while Cui Lingrong returned alone by carriage. She had just arrived at Qiushuang Zhai when she saw Song Shulan sitting there drinking tea, and her heart tightened. Song Shulan never came without a purpose these days. For him to make the trip, there must be something on his mind. As Cui Lingrong stepped up onto the veranda, Song Shulan rose with a beaming smile. "Lingrong, you're finally back! I have good news to share with you!"