Chapter 221

Chapter 221: The Adopted Son Cui Lingrong asked, "Who has arrived? Did they say what for?" "They say it's the County Mistress's adopted child, along with the Du family's second branch," Dongyun said there were quite a few people. "They didn't say why—just that they want to see the County Mistress. The gatekeeper didn't know how to handle it, so he sent someone to ask you: should we turn them away, or let them go see County Princess Rongjia?" "Why turn them away? How interesting—County Princess Rongjia actually has an adopted son?" Cui Lingrong grew intrigued. "Go receive them properly, then send someone to find the County Mistress, and also inform the Marquis. These are people from County Princess Rongjia's former husband's family, and they're half-relations of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. Arriving at this hour, they must not have lodging. Have the Linglong Pavilion near Wutong Yuan prepared so they can stay the night." Song Yu was puzzled. "Mother, they're County Princess Rongjia's people. Why are you letting the wolf into the sheep's pen?" "How do you know they're on County Princess Rongjia's side?" Cui Lingrong countered. "Isn't it obvious? If County Princess Rongjia got along with them, why would they come seeking refuge?" Song Yu said matter-of-factly. Cui Lingrong analyzed, "If they had a good relationship with County Princess Rongjia, they would have written ahead, and then County Princess Rongjia would have sent people to receive them. But they arrived suddenly, which means County Princess Rongjia probably doesn't welcome them. Perhaps the Du family isn't good people, but right now, I'm more than happy to cause some trouble for County Princess Rongjia and your father." Song Yu asked cautiously, "Is it really like this between you and Father, then?" As a daughter, in some ways, she always thought that once County Princess Rongjia left their lives, everything would be fine. But day after day passed, and County Princess Rongjia remained in the Marquis Mansion, while her parents' relationship deteriorated further. She knew her father had gone too far, and she understood that her mother had endured many grievances. Song Yu also hated what her father had done, but deep down, she still wished their family could be more harmonious. "Do you blame me?" Cui Lingrong asked her daughter in return. "No." Song Yu took her mother's hand. "I know you have your difficulties. I don't blame you—I only feel you've been wronged. I just want to know what you're thinking now." "Now? As for your father, I don't even seem to have hatred left. Only disgust." Cui Lingrong let out a sigh of relief. She didn't care what Song Shulan thought, but she did care about how her children felt. "In how people treat each other, respect matters most. Since he hasn't valued me, I won't wait around hoping he'll turn back." Cui Lingrong patted her daughter's hand. "Eat quickly. After we finish, we'll go over together and see what kind of people have come." Over at Qiushuang Zhai they were having their meal, and so was Wutong Yuan. But when County Princess Rongjia learned that the Du family had arrived, she couldn't eat a single bite. Wang Hechun's Wife didn't know what had happened to the County Mistress in the Du family, but she had heard from her mother-in-law that when County Princess Rongjia left the Du family, it had ended very badly. At the time, she had been managing the estate and would often hear that County Princess Rongjia and Elder Master Du didn't get along. Later, when County Princess Rongjia left the Du family, she hadn't even taken those properties with her—that was also quite puzzling. "You say Cui Lingrong even arranged lodging for them?" County Princess Rongjia no longer bothered to put on airs, calling her by name directly. Dongyun frowned slightly. "The Eldest Young Madam said they're half-relations of the Marquis Mansion, and since they've come to see you, County Mistress, the specific arrangements are ultimately your call. But since they've already arrived, the Marquis Mansion must show face. For now, she's arranged for them to stay at Linglong Pavilion, close to you for convenient contact." County Princess Rongjia didn't believe Cui Lingrong was being so kind—she had most likely sensed something and was deliberately doing this. County Princess Rongjia dismissed Dongyun and looked at the table full of food, wishing she could flip it over. "Fine, just fine, Cui Lingrong. She actually dares to disgust me like this!" "County Mistress, what do we do now?" Wang Hechun's Wife asked carefully. "Let's go—you're coming with me to see them!" County Princess Rongjia hated the Du family the most, especially the child the Du family had adopted for her former husband. What was that supposed to be? She had already left the Du family when they adopted him—how could he possibly count as her child? On the other side, Dongyun met the Du family first. Following the Eldest Young Madam's instructions, she greeted them warmly, "This servant greets Second Master Du, Second Madam, and the young masters and misses. Our Eldest Young Madam said that since you've come to see the County Mistress, you are proper relatives. She has already arranged for Linglong Pavilion near the County Mistress to be prepared. Shall this servant first take you to have a meal?" Du Shinan glanced at his wife, Mrs. He, beside him. Neither had expected that the Eldest Young Madam of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion would treat them so warmly—this surely wasn't County Princess Rongjia's doing. The two nodded in agreement and, leading the children, followed Dongyun to the meal. The main kitchen had already received instructions and was serving dishes. Dongyun, as the Eldest Young Madam's representative, stood by attending to them. "It's mealtime right now. The Eldest Young Madam was worried you might be hungry, so she said to meet you after you've eaten. Please don't mind." Du Shinan looked at the table full of delicacies and heard someone's stomach growl. He said, "Eat," and only then did the children and Mrs. He pick up their chopsticks. The older ones remembered their manners, but the youngest boy grabbed a chicken leg directly with his hands—clearly ravenous. Dongyun busied herself with serving rice while not forgetting to inquire, "May I ask what brings Second Master Du and Second Mistress Du to Bianjing this time?" "Oh, Cheng-ger and Qian-ger both have their provincial examinations in the eighth month. My father thought that since Cheng-ger is, after all, the son of the County Mistress, he wanted the County Mistress to arrange for them to enter the Guozijian. That way, they'd have a better chance at passing the provincial examination." After Du Shinan finished speaking, he deliberately glanced at Dongyun. Seeing that this maidservant, though young, handled things steadily, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of person Lady Cui was. Back when the eldest brother had passed away, the Du family had hated County Princess Rongjia to the bone. They had held leverage over County Princess Rongjia, which was how they forced her to leave behind all her dowry. Later, fearing that the eldest brother would have no one to offer him sacrifices, the parents had arranged for Cheng-ger to be adopted into the family. The clan head had originally wanted to adopt a younger child, one easier to raise and bond with. But his father had said that since the eldest brother was gone and County Princess Rongjia was no longer with them, the old couple didn't know how much longer they'd live—so they might as well pick fifteen-year-old Cheng-ger, who could support the family estate from the start. Now Cheng-ger was seventeen, and the Du family had their own plans. Their family was growing stronger by the day, and Du Shinan himself had no real talents—which was why they'd thought of County Princess Rongjia. With County Princess Rongjia as their great tree of support, the Du family would never let her shake them off easily. "So it's for the provincial examinations—that's wonderful news." As Dongyun spoke, her peripheral vision swept over the two older boys, guessing they were the Cheng-ger and Qian-ger that Second Master Du had mentioned. Mrs. He boasted, "You have no idea—these two boys of ours are excellent students. Even if they went to the Guozijian, they'd be among the very best!" "You're still so shameless!" County Princess Rongjia had just arrived when she heard Mrs. He's words. She walked in without bothering to spare anyone's feelings. "The Guozijian is full of talented people—it's not a place where just any stray cat or dog can enter! Even if they did get in, they'd only be at the bottom, embarrassing themselves!" Seeing that County Princess Rongjia had arrived, Dongyun quietly stepped back to avoid drawing attention to herself. She only needed to listen to the conversation between County Princess Rongjia and the Du family.