Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Overturning the Table Cui Lingrong and Madam Li both had children, and since Zhou-ge'er had begun his early education, Madam Li had many questions to ask. "Don't press him too hard—Zhou-ge'er is still a child," Cui Lingrong said softly. "Children need to grow their bodies at this age. He can study during the day, but he should also practice martial arts to build strength." She knew that Madam Li and Third Master hoped their child would distinguish himself—all parents were like that, everyone wanting their children to become their pride. Madam Li nodded. She noticed Wang Shanxi's Wife frowning as she returned and whispered, "Elder Sister-in-Law, has something happened?" Cui Lingrong turned to look. Wang Shanxi's Wife whispered a few words to Princess Rongjia, who rose and followed her away. "Don't worry, the Princess can handle it," Cui Lingrong said. But Madam Li wasn't so sure. She understood the recent affairs of the household well enough—the Princess didn't have Elder Sister-in-Law's ability to manage things. If something truly went wrong, she wouldn't be able to contain it. Not far away, Madame Jiang hadn't noticed what was happening. She was busy praising the Princess's household management. "The Princess is a true princess—coming from the Rong Prince Mansion, naturally she's more capable than the rest of us. Since the Princess married in, she's been perfectly balanced between leniency and strictness. Who in the entire household isn't convinced?" She said this deliberately for the Consort of the Heir to Prince Rong to hear. She'd long heard that the Heir of Prince Rong and the Princess had a good relationship, so she deliberately tried to curry favor with the Consort, hoping to build a connection that might let her own husband hitch a ride on the great ship of the Rong Prince Mansion. With the Consort of the Heir to Prince Rong present, everyone else was singing praises. Madame Jiang carried over lotus root powder osmanthus cakes to offer her favors. "I noticed Your Highness enjoys sweets—this is our head chef's signature pastry. Would you care to try one?" The Consort glanced at the lotus root powder osmanthus cakes—translucent and gleaming, they did look delicious—but she didn't touch them. "I'm not hungry at the moment. Just set them aside for now." Her lukewarm attitude left Madame Jiang baffled. Was her flattery not enough? Or was there another reason? While Madame Jiang was pondering how to continue, a maid came to summon her, saying the Princess wanted her in the kitchen. When she arrived at the kitchen, she learned that Mama Yu and Old Woman Hao had gotten into an argument. Madame Jiang walked over to Princess Rongjia's side. "Princess, what's going on here?" Princess Rongjia couldn't say that because premium autumn crabs were too expensive, she'd bought a batch of mid-grade ones—those in the main hall like Old Madame would get top-grade crabs, while everyone else got mid-grade. Nor could she admit that, not wanting to bear the loss herself, she'd arranged for the crabs to be delivered that morning, only for them to spill on the road, many with broken legs and claws, with no way to replace them. The crabs weren't good enough. Mama Yu felt that if she cooked and served them, she'd be blamed, so she refused to start cooking and insisted on having a master come over. Old Woman Hao was Princess Rongjia's person. She cursed Mama Yu for making trouble, and the two argued endlessly. Seeing the time growing later and later, Old Woman Hao had no choice but to send someone to fetch the Princess. But even Wang Shanxi's Wife's arrival didn't help. Mama Yu said Wang Shanxi's Wife was also just a servant—her words didn't count. Without a master's approval, she couldn't bear the responsibility. That was when Wang Shanxi's Wife had gone to fetch Princess Rongjia. The Princess had already scolded Mama Yu. She couldn't stay away from the banquet for too long, so she'd summoned Madame Jiang to hold things down. "I'll trouble Second Sister-in-Law to keep an eye on things here. Otherwise, some people will always be thinking of their old masters and ruin today's banquet—that wouldn't do." Madame Jiang was still completely confused, but since Princess Rongjia had instructed her, she could only agree. "Rest assured, Princess. With me here, I won't let them make any mistakes." Once Princess Rongjia left, Mama Yu snorted. "Second Young Mistress won't even ask what happened in the kitchen before being troubled to come hold things down?" Madame Jiang's heart skipped a beat. "Wh-what happened?" "Take a look at the autumn crabs in these baskets—half of them are missing legs and claws. There are some good ones, but how can they be enough for so many people?" Mama Yu said darkly. "In any case, this servant has informed the Princess. The Princess has asked you to hold things down. You'd best think carefully—if anyone eats a crab missing limbs and word reaches Old Madame, how do you think she'll treat you?" Only then did Madame Jiang understand—Princess Rongjia had dragged her in to be the scapegoat! What was she supposed to do? She panicked, unable to speak. Meanwhile, the first pot of crabs was already steamed. Time had already been delayed, and the maids and serving women dared not slack off, hurrying to carry them to the front courtyard. Old Madame Song's table naturally got served first, and they received the top-grade crabs. When everyone saw the plump, meaty autumn crabs, some were already swallowing their saliva. Su Yunfei loved autumn crabs most of all, and First Young Mistress Su had her own portion sent to her daughter. Old Madame Song noticed and urged First Young Mistress Su to eat as well. "What, afraid I didn't prepare enough? Eat your fill—there's plenty to stuff yourself!" "Then this niece-in-law will gratefully accept." First Young Mistress Su knew her aunt would say that. She'd also deliberately added a bit of amusement by asking for another serving of autumn crabs. But the attending maid looked helplessly toward Princess Rongjia. Knowing there weren't many good crabs to go around, the Princess had no choice but to say, "Second Sister-in-Law doesn't seem to be anywhere. Cousin-in-law, have her portion first. Crabs must be eaten hot—we'll serve hers later." That did make sense, so First Young Mistress Su didn't decline. In the main hall, they were eating crabs, and a quarter of an hour later, the people in the outer flower hall also began eating—though their crabs were missing a few arms and legs. The guests found this strange. How could a household as respectable as the Song family serve crabs with missing legs to their guests? Immediately, quiet murmurs began to circulate. But the gossip didn't reach Old Madame Song or Song Shulan, because the Song estate was vast, with dozens of banquet tables laid out. Moreover, most people only whispered among themselves. Now that the Song family had attached themselves to the Rong Prince Mansion, who would dare provoke them or speak ill of them? However, there was an exception. Nanny Qiu had just finished shelling a crab for her mistress when she heard someone shouting loudly. As for what was being said, no one in the main hall could make it out clearly. Princess Rongjia rose to her feet. "Who is being so insolent? Wang Shanxi's Wife, go and see. If it's some ruffian or scoundrel, throw them out!" This was highly inappropriate. Everyone who could attend the autumn banquet had been invited by the marquis mansion's formal invitation. Who would call their own guests ruffians or scoundrels? Princess Rongjia had spoken in a fit of temper, and with her mind preoccupied with the autumn crab matter, she had lost her composure. Wang Shanxi's Wife quickly said, "Please don't be upset. It's probably someone who's had too much to drink. I'll send someone to check." Only after Wang Shanxi's Wife's gentle reminder did Princess Rongjia realize she had been impulsive. She quickly put on a smile and said, "I was too hasty. Take some people and go see. If someone is drunk, have them escorted to rest." Princess Rongjia sat back down, but by then, everyone else had fallen silent. They had all witnessed her outburst. Just then, someone suddenly laughed. Cui Lingrong followed the sound and saw that it was none other than the Consort of the Heir to Prince Rong. "Ha ha, my apologies, my apologies. I've never seen the Commandery Princess so flustered before. I found it... hmm... amusing." The Consort of the Heir to Prince Rong explained, then rose with the help of her nanny. "I've also had quite a bit of wine and am feeling tired. Old Madame, please don't take offense—I'll take my leave first." Ruffian? Scoundrel? Seeing that the Consort of the Heir to Prince Rong was about to leave, everyone was extremely awkward, not knowing whether to sit or stand. Old Madame Song's face turned ashen, but she couldn't vent her anger. She quickly rose to persuade her to stay. Only then did the Consort of the Heir to Prince Rong agree to remain, though she said she needed to rest and would return later. Old Madame Song breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, the sound of a table being overturned came from outside. Was that the doing of someone who'd had too much to drink? Old Madame Song sent her trusted Mama Xu to check. Before long, Mama Xu returned and whispered a few words into Old Madame Song's ear. The old lady's face went white instantly, and she couldn't catch her breath, nearly fainting. Cui Lingrong and Madam Li, as daughters-in-law, hurried over to attend to her. Old Madame Song grabbed Cui Lingrong's hand, clenching her teeth tightly. "Cui... Lady Cui, go handle it. Quickly... go quickly!" As for Princess Rongjia? She no longer trusted Princess Rongjia's abilities at all. Cui Lingrong led her people toward the flower hall. She hadn't expected anyone to have such a temper as to dare overturn tables and chairs in the marquis mansion. As soon as she entered the flower hall, she heard someone shouting loudly. "Don't touch me! I'm not drunk!" The speaker was a man in a blue robe, with deep-set eyes and brows, carrying an indescribable wildness about him. "If your Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion can't afford to treat guests to crab, then don't serve us ones missing arms and legs. Are you trying to fob us off like beggars?" Food and dishes were scattered all over the floor, and several servants lay toppled over. The man continued, "Since you look down on me, I won't eat. Who cares about your hypocritical banquet? I wouldn't give a damn about you lot anyway!" Seeing that the man was an unfamiliar face, Cui Lingrong didn't dare approach rashly. Just then, Song Shulan arrived in a hurry, and she went over to ask who the man was. "Cavalry General Xie Yunting—an illiterate ruffian who only became a general thanks to a stroke of dumb luck!" Song Shulan said through gritted teeth. To overturn a table in public like this, showing not a shred of respect—for someone like him to hold a high position was a disgrace to the nation! Cui Lingrong had never heard of Xie Yunting, but she was rather grateful that he had made such a scene—it hadn't wasted her scheming.