Chapter 217

Chapter 217: A Rainy Night Mama Xu made a trip, and when Cui Lingrong learned that Song Shulan had punished Yu-jie, she hurried back with her. When they arrived at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion's ancestral hall, Cui Lingrong had just entered when she saw Yu-jie lying on the ground. Song Yu's face was pale. Having gone hungry for two days, she was already barely conscious, too dazed to know who had come. Cui Lingrong called her daughter's name, then took out a pastry and fed it to her bit by bit. Mother and daughter sat on the ground together. By the time County Princess Rongjia rushed over, Cui Lingrong had only managed to feed her half a finger's width of pastry—and County Princess Rongjia would not let her continue. "Sister Cui, the Marquis has said that Yu-jie cannot eat until she admits her mistake." No sooner had County Princess Rongjia spoken than Wang Hechun's Wife led people over to drag Cui Lingrong away. The moment Wang Hechun's Wife touched Cui Lingrong's sleeve, Cui Lingrong whipped her hand around and delivered a slap to her face. Smack. It was very loud. Cui Lingrong had someone support Yu-jie while she herself stood up. "County Mistress, I am still the one managing this household, am I not?" "But the Marquis ordered—" "Then go find the Marquis to stop me. But you alone?" Cui Lingrong's presence was overbearing. "Does the County Mistress still intend to stand here?" "You!" County Princess Rongjia's face flushed red—Cui Lingrong was issuing a blatant challenge. "Don't be so arrogant. This was the Marquis's order. If you have the nerve, go shout at the Marquis yourself!" Cui Lingrong said she would settle accounts with Song Shulan. "But as for you, County Mistress, I suggest you return obediently to Wutong Court. Don't speak of Yu-jie as if she were your child too. What I gave birth to is mine. If you have the ability, wait until the day I die before you come to fight me for the role of mother. Until then, you are meddling in matters that don't concern you!" There were quite a few people outside the ancestral hall, and Cui Lingrong's voice carried. Many heard the two mistresses quarreling but dared not enter to mediate—after all, they could not afford to offend either of them. Today's Cui Lingrong had unleashed her full presence. Even County Princess Rongjia could not stop mother and daughter. And so Cui Lingrong took Yu-jie away. Fortunately, Yu-jie had only been hungry; after the physician examined her, there was nothing seriously wrong. When Old Madame Song came over and learned that Yu-jie was not seriously harmed, she began to scold Cui Lingrong. "The Marquis is your husband. A woman follows her husband once married—do you not understand this principle?" Cui Lingrong sat at the edge of the bed. Considering that Old Madame had tipped her off, she refrained from talking back for the moment. "I'm speaking to you. Did you not hear me?" Old Madame Song was puzzled. "You used to be such a reasonable person. How have you become like this now?" "Old Madame, in the past I never had to worry that someone might scheme against me and my children. You are a woman of experience—surely you know that two tigers cannot share one mountain?" Cui Lingrong rose to face Old Madame Song. "You must understand County Princess Rongjia's intentions. But you never intervened before because you felt that no matter how I and County Princess Rongjia fought, it would never harm you or the Marquis Mansion's interests." "You... what kind of person do you take me for?" "We have been mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for over a decade. There's no need for you to put on airs with me." Cui Lingrong issued her dismissal. "It's raining outside. You should head back quickly. Yu-jie only needs me here." Old Madame Song left in a huff. "Good intentions get no reward! If Yu-jie weren't my granddaughter, I wouldn't bother with her daughter at all!" Cui Lingrong kept vigil by Yu-jie's side for half a day before Yu-jie finally woke. Seeing her mother, Song Yu's sense of grievance turned to choked sobs, and her nose quickly reddened. "Mother, I... I didn't do anything wrong!" "I know. You were speaking up for me." In front of the children, Cui Lingrong tried to say as little ill of Song Shulan as possible, but this time she had to say more. "In your father's eyes, there is only his own official rank and personal gain. As long as something benefits his future, he will stop at nothing to achieve it." Looking at her daughter's delicate, beautiful face, Cui Lingrong could not help but worry for her. "Before, I thought you were still young, so I could take my time looking for a suitable match. But now, I need to settle your marriage quickly. Otherwise, who knows which day he'll decide your marriage behind my back." Caiyue's indenture was in Cui Lingrong's hands, so Cui Lingrong could take Caiyue away freely. But Song Yu was different—she was a daughter of the Song family. Even if one were to appeal to the authorities, it should be Song Shulan who arranged Song Yu's marriage. "But..." But Song Yu didn't even have someone she liked, and now she was already talking about marriage—it felt so rushed. Yet her mother was right. If her father made the decision, he would surely marry her into a powerful family, caring nothing for whether she lived well or not. Seeing her daughter fall silent, Cui Lingrong had no choice but to sigh. "Rest well. Now that I'm back, you don't need to fear your father." After comforting her daughter, Cui Lingrong had words to say to Song Shulan, so she took her people to the study. At that very moment, County Princess Rongjia was in the study lodging her complaint with Song Shulan. "Sister Cui's malice runs deep. I was merely following your orders, Song Lang, and went over with good intentions to remind her. But before Mama Wang could even approach, she got slapped across the face. They say 'if you want to hit the dog, look at its master first.' This isn't dissatisfaction with me—it's resentment toward you, Song Lang!" Song Shulan looked at County Princess Rongjia in his arms, knowing that she might be exaggerating, but he had also heard that Cui Lingrong had indeed slapped Mama Wang. "This matter was handled improperly by Lady Cui. I'll speak to her about it later," Song Shulan said. "How exactly does the Marquis plan to speak to her?" County Princess Rongjia had come today demanding a proper explanation. "My people can't just be slapped for nothing. And shouldn't Sister Cui be held accountable for Yu-jie's behavior?" Song Yu's refusal to admit fault ultimately stemmed from Cui Lingrong's influence, and County Princess Rongjia had finally found an opportunity she would never let slip away. Song Shulan frowned in thought, but before he could come up with an answer, County Princess Rongjia snorted and pinched his chest. "Fine, I knew it. I can never compare to Sister Cui. She can do whatever she wants, but I can't. I get punished every time, while Sister Cui always escapes unscathed. Even when she corrupts Yu-jie, she gets away with it," County Princess Rongjia said, beginning to cry. "Today Sister Cui even said, 'What standing do you have to manage Yu-jie? What position do you hold?' Yes, I'm nothing to her, and I can't compare to the bond you two have shared for over a decade as husband and wife!" Seeing that County Princess Rongjia was truly crying, Song Shulan hurriedly soothed her. "What are you saying? Do I even need to speak of the bond between us?" He held County Princess Rongjia close, catching the faint scent of her perfume. "We grew up together. If not for the twists of fate, you would have been the one to marry me. As for Lady Cui, what bond could there be between us? It was merely arranged by our parents through a matchmaker." The rain continued to fall outside, and the sky had darkened. Cui Lingrong stood behind the door, having listened for quite some time. "You're not just trying to placate me, are you?" County Princess Rongjia looked at Song Shulan with coy shyness. "How could I ever placate you? With Lady Cui, it was simply that I needed someone to marry, and she happened to be virtuous, so Old Madame had me take her as my wife. As for my heart, I gave it to you long ago. Don't you already know that?" Song Shulan showered County Princess Rongjia with affection, not noticing that someone had been standing outside the door all along.