Chapter 224

Chapter 224: The Villain Before County Princess Rongjia came out, Du Cheng answered first, "To answer the Marquis, I am from the eldest branch of the Du family." At first, Song Shulan didn't immediately register what the eldest branch of the Du family meant. It was only when he saw County Princess Rongjia emerge that he remembered—the County Princess's former husband had been Elder Master Du. But hadn't County Princess Rongjia said that Elder Master Du had no children? "Master Song, you've come." County Princess Rongjia felt inexplicably guilty. She signaled Du Cheng with her eyes, and he, being perceptive, took his leave. In the courtyard, the night breeze rustled gently. Under the hazy moonlight, it was hard to make out the other's face. County Princess Rongjia called out "Master Song" again. Only then did Song Shulan speak, "Didn't the County Princess say that Elder Master Du had no children?" "I truly didn't have any while I was in the Du family. It was after I left that the Du family had a child adopted into the line for him. Master Song, think about it—how could I possibly have a child that old?" County Princess Rongjia stepped closer to Song Shulan, her tone soft, "The wind is strong outside. Why not come inside with me?" Song Shulan happened to have questions he wanted to ask, so he followed County Princess Rongjia inside. Back then, the two of them had merely a small quarrel, and County Princess Rongjia had agreed to the marriage arranged by her family, marrying Du Shibei. In those days, Song Shulan often wondered—what exactly made Du Shibei better than him? In terms of family background, Old Master Du did have some accomplishments, but Old Master Du was Old Master Du, and Du Shibei was Du Shibei. He considered himself no worse than Du Shibei. When they reunited later, Song Shulan had always harbored a grudge over this matter. Now that he learned the Du family had come, Song Shulan sat down without even touching his tea. "Did you write to the Du family, telling them to come to Bianjing and find you?" "No, truly not. Since I left the Du family, I've had no contact with them. They came on their own." Otherwise, County Princess Rongjia would never have let the Du family come to Bianjing—the last people she wanted to see were the Dus. "There must be some reason connected to you, or why else would they come to seek refuge?" Song Shulan snorted. "That young lad just now, and the second branch of the Du family—what did they come to you about?" County Princess Rongjia felt wronged but couldn't voice it, hating the Du family for disrupting her life, and hurried to explain, "The Du family wants to get the two boys into the Guozijian, but the family has fallen into decline now, so they thought to ask for my help. But I have no attachment to the Du family whatsoever. Even when Du Shibei was still alive, I had no feelings for him. Later, when his affections changed, we argued every other day. Master Song, you know that my heart has always been with you—only you." She looked at Song Shulan with sincerity, afraid he might misunderstand something. Song Shulan studied County Princess Rongjia. Some things couldn't be said openly, and if he pressed the matter, it would be hard to move past it. Song Shulan was well aware of his own use of County Princess Rongjia. There was love, yes, but now nothing could be allowed to affect his future prospects. "So what do you plan to do now?" "I originally wanted to send them to stay at an inn, but Lady Cui insisted on keeping them, saying that guests who come are guests. Master Song, tell me, how could she do this? I already said I don't like the Du family, yet she insisted on keeping them. Isn't that just embarrassing me?" County Princess Rongjia tattled. "I'm not helping the Du family, no matter what. They can find someone else for this matter." "And if they refuse to leave and insist on your help, what will you do then?" Song Shulan asked. "Then I'll..." She stopped mid-sentence, thinking of her past with the Du family, then changed her words, "Then I'll listen to you, Master Song. Whatever you say goes." Only then did Song Shulan show some satisfaction, telling County Princess Rongjia to rest well. "Master Song, won't you stay?" The night was long, and County Princess Rongjia had been sleeping alone for a long time now. Song Shulan was willing but unable, and staying would only add to his troubles. He rose and said "I'm leaving," unwilling to look at the disappointment in County Princess Rongjia's eyes. And in County Princess Rongjia's heart, it felt like a piece had gone hollow. She had remarried hoping for a warm shoulder to lean on, but now Song Shulan couldn't perform—how was this any different from being a widow in the Du family? "County Princess, it's getting late. Should you rest as well?" Wang Hechun's Wife reminded her softly. "Wang Hechun's Wife, tell me—are all men like this in the end, fickle and heartless?" County Princess Rongjia's heart felt empty. Wang Hechun's Wife wouldn't dare speak ill of the Marquis, so she could only say it wasn't necessarily so, "Not everyone is like that. The Marquis treats you very well, it's just that..." "Just that he became a eunuch." County Princess Rongjia said with a mocking tone, then turned and went inside. The next morning, when County Princess Rongjia learned that Cui Lingrong had brought the Du family to Shouan Tang, she gnashed her teeth in hatred and hurried over. Old Madame Song, for her part, bore no malice toward the Du family, but no particular fondness either. She simply treated them as relatives who had come to seek refuge with County Princess Rongjia, receiving them in a normal manner. Mrs. He was talkative and chatted with Old Madame Song for a while, delighting her greatly, and Old Madame Song invited them to sit down. Only then did Cui Lingrong speak, "Yesterday, the County Princess said to send them to an inn, but I thought—how could the Marquis's household do such a thing? It would hurt relations between relatives and lose face." Old Madame Song said that was exactly right. Seeing her eldest son enter, she made a point of having him greet them. Song Shulan swept a glance over the people in the room. To preserve appearances, he did not turn against the Du family, but he did take a longer look at Cui Lingrong. At that moment, Cui Lingrong brought up the matter of Du Cheng and Du Qian entering the Guozijian. "Strictly speaking, I shouldn't meddle in others' affairs, but the County Mistress was Elder Master Du's first wife, and the Marquis knows this as well. Now that Elder Master Du has passed, leaving only Cheng-ge as his child, since they've come to seek help, shouldn't we lend a hand?" The mere mention of Elder Master Du made Song Shulan feel sick to his stomach, let alone the thought of offering assistance. He brushed it off, saying, "These matters are complicated—not something you or I can accomplish." "With the County Mistress stepping in, it should be easy enough," Cui Lingrong said. "Wasn't it the County Mistress who handled the matter for Xuan-ge and his brothers before? Speaking of which, Cheng-ge is also her child. If she refuses to help, how could she face others in the future?" Song Shulan could see it now—Cui Lingrong was doing this deliberately, deliberately trying to disgust County Princess Rongjia. Unfortunately, he couldn't very well say no in front of the Du family, and since Old Madame also said to let County Princess Rongjia give it a try, Song Shulan could only find an excuse to leave. Cui Lingrong continued to entertain the Du family, bringing up the Rong Prince Mansion. "Since you've come to Bianjing, when do you plan to visit the Rong Prince Mansion? I'll prepare a carriage for you then, so you won't have to rent one from outside." The Marquis's residence had a limited number of carriages, and if they were in use by others, one would have to rent from outside. Du Shinan and his wife had no intention of visiting the Rong Prince Mansion. To be honest, they dared to come find County Princess Rongjia, but they were somewhat afraid to face Prince Rong. Still, since Cui Lingrong brought it up, they could only vaguely respond that they would go in a few days. After chatting for a while, County Princess Rongjia arrived. Before County Princess Rongjia could speak, Cui Lingrong first mentioned that Song Shulan had agreed to the Guozijian matter. "Since the Marquis has given his nod, why don't you help look into it, County Mistress? What do you think?" County Princess Rongjia wished she could tear Cui Lingrong's face apart. In all the world, was there anyone so skilled at making others feel sick?! "The Guozijian isn't a place anyone can just enter. I don't have that kind of ability, so don't beg me. I imagine the Du family has some pride and won't cling to me, will they?" County Princess Rongjia said with no small amount of rudeness. Only then did Old Madame Song catch on—so County Princess Rongjia and the Du family had a bad relationship, yet Cui Lingrong had been egging it on the whole time. Clearly, one could see what kind of intentions Cui Lingrong had! Realizing she had been led along by Cui Lingrong, Old Madame Song finally said, "Since the County Mistress says it can't be done, then let it be. I'm tired—you all may go." She no longer wished to be involved. As for the Du family, since County Princess Rongjia despised them so much, she would likely drive them away. Old Madame Song left. Among those remaining in the room, County Princess Rongjia walked straight up to Cui Lingrong and said through gritted teeth in a low voice, "What exactly are you trying to do?" "Do you even need to ask? You harmed my child and schemed against the people around me—now I'm making you sick." Cui Lingrong felt she was very much like a villain from an opera right now, but her heart was thoroughly satisfied. "The County Mistress seems afraid to clash head-on with the Du family. Could it be you have some leverage in their hands?"