Chapter 215

Chapter 215: Leaving Home Cui Lingrong did not believe that Song Shulan's so-called good news would actually be good. She sat down calmly and said, "Marquis, if you have something to say, just say it directly." "It's like this—remember when Princess Consort Rong and the second branch of the Rong Prince Mansion came by last time?" Song Shulan kept smiling. Cui Lingrong nodded. "I remember." "The County Mistress's second brother has taken a liking to Caiyue and wants her to enter the prince's mansion." Song Shulan said this with particular delight. These past few days, Song Shulan had received no favor from Prince Rong. Ever since County Princess Rongjia had been placed under house arrest, the people of the Rong Prince Mansion had only been superficially polite to Song Shulan. Song Shulan could feel their obvious distance. He knew that his bond with the Rong Prince Mansion was County Princess Rongjia, but unfortunately, the County Princess's house arrest was ordered by the Emperor himself, and there was no way he could get the County Princess to leave her residence. However, Zhao Zhongzhi had found him this morning, saying he had taken a liking to a young maidservant in his household. As soon as Song Shulan heard this, he immediately agreed. It was only a maidservant—Song Shulan could certainly make that decision. Upon learning it was Caiyue, Song Shulan didn't hesitate either, saying he would send Caiyue to the Rong Prince Mansion in three days. Cui Lingrong was stunned. "The Marquis agreed?" "Of course!" Song Shulan said this was Caiyue's fortune. "Caiyue is just a maidservant, yet she's been noticed by a master of the prince's mansion—isn't that a tremendous blessing? If she can bear a son or daughter, the rest of her life will be wealth and honor. Isn't that better than being matched with some random servant boy?" In Song Shulan's view, sending Caiyue to the prince's mansion was good in every way. Caiyue would find happiness, and he could curry favor with Zhao Zhongzhi. Seeing Cui Lingrong's face darken, Song Shulan asked in confusion, "You're not going to disagree, are you?" "Why does the Marquis think I should agree?" Cui Lingrong frowned deeply. "That Zhao Zhongzhi is old enough to be Caiyue's father. And given my relationship with County Princess Rongjia, how would the people of the Rong Prince Mansion treat Caiyue well? Tell me, Marquis—what exactly is good about this?" Cui Lingrong stood up. "Besides, Caiyue is my person. She wasn't sold to your Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. What right do you have to agree?" "Lingrong, why are you being so unreasonable?" Song Shulan scolded loudly. "This kind of good fortune—anyone who encounters it would only be delighted. I've already promised to send Caiyue to the prince's mansion in three days. You can't possibly make me lose face, can you?" "Lose it then! I don't agree, no matter what!" "Then summon Caiyue here!" No sooner had Song Shulan spoken than he realized Caiyue was already standing at the doorway, having arrived at some point unnoticed. Caiyue was still holding a plate of pastries, staring at the Marquis in disbelief. Her expression then turned to fury. "I would rather die than agree to become someone's concubine!" Song Shulan hadn't expected both mistress and maid to refuse. "You are a servant of my marquis mansion. You have no right to say no!" "Fine, then I'll go hang myself right now, so the Eldest Madam won't be put in a difficult position!" Caiyue threw down the wooden tray in her hands, turned, and ran. Fearing Caiyue might actually hang herself, Cui Lingrong hurriedly chased after her. By the time she caught up to Caiyue's room, Caiyue had already found a rope. Cui Lingrong quickly grabbed hold of her. "Silly girl, what are you doing? I know you don't want this—I never intended to give in to the Marquis!" Caiyue's tears fell one after another. "I would rather die than go to the Rong Prince Mansion!" "I know. I won't let you go!" Cui Lingrong had just finished speaking when Song Shulan came chasing after them. Song Shulan stood at the doorway with a dark face. "What a temper you have! If you won't go to the Rong Prince Mansion, then don't stay in the marquis mansion either. Our household has no use for a maidservant with such a fiery disposition!" "Marquis!" Cui Lingrong couldn't help but raise her voice. "Can you just act like a decent human being?" "I'm not being decent? You're my wife—why aren't you thinking about my position?" Song Shulan was only concerned with his own face now. "I've already agreed to this, and instead of helping to persuade her, you're here fanning the flames. Cui Lingrong, let me tell you—if you have the ability, go ahead and hide the girl. Otherwise, I'll find a way to get her to the Rong Prince Mansion one way or another!" A mere maidservant meant nothing in Song Shulan's eyes. If she could please Zhao Zhongzhi, then at least Caiyue would be of some use. Watching Song Shulan walk away like that, Cui Lingrong was absolutely furious. Nanny Qiu wasn't by her side at the moment, but she knew Song Shulan cared most about saving face. For a moment, she had the thought of leaving the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion altogether—and the farther away, the better. "Good Caiyue, don't be afraid." Cui Lingrong told Caiyue to pack her things. "Go to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion right now. From now on, you'll serve Jin-ge. I don't believe the Marquis would dare go to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion to snatch you back!" "But Eldest Madam, if I leave, what will happen to you?" "What can the Marquis do to me?" Cui Lingrong laughed bitterly. "It's not like he can send me to the Rong Prince Mansion, can he?" Even as she said those words, Cui Lingrong felt she must be mad to have such a thought cross her mind. To prevent any further complications, Cui Lingrong told Caiyue to leave immediately. But when Caiyue reached the gate, she was stopped by guards who said Song Shulan had ordered that Caiyue was not allowed to leave the marquis mansion. Cui Lingrong had no choice but to go to the gate herself. "The Marquis's orders? Well, I'm going out too. Anyone who dares to stop me, I'll sell you off to the bitter brick kiln this very instant." Cui Lingrong had never spoken like this before. The servants dared not move a muscle. It was Qingshan who ran over, saying, "Eldest Young Madam, please don't make things difficult for us. If there's something, won't you discuss it with the Marquis?" "That won't be necessary." Cui Lingrong said she would not be returning today either. "Go and tell the Marquis—if he's a real man, he shouldn't be doing such a cowardly thing!" Cui Lingrong took Caiyue's hand, and the two of them stepped across the threshold together. With every step she took forward, the household guards took a step back. None of them had the nerve to lay a hand on her. It was not until Cui Lingrong and Caiyue had boarded the carriage that the young servants still blocked its path. Cui Lingrong simply ordered, "Drive the horses straight through them. If anyone gets run over and killed, I'll pay the compensation." Er Shun raised the horsewhip, and those blocking the way scattered in fright. By the time Song Shulan chased after them, the carriage had already vanished from sight, leaving only the drizzling curtain of rain. "Fine, just you wait, Lady Cui!" Song Shulan's teeth chattered with rage. "If you've got the nerve, then don't you dare come back either!"