Chapter 237

Chapter 237: Falling into the Trap When the eldest legitimate daughter of the Marquis Mansion came of age, everyone who received an invitation would come. Even the Rong Prince Mansion sent the heir and his wife to offer congratulations. The Heir's wife, Lady Wu, had sent her congratulatory gift a few days prior—a pair of extremely precious Eastern Pearl earrings. The two pearls were as large as pigeon eggs, lustrous and full, clearly worth a fortune. Upon arriving at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, she first greeted Cui Lingrong, then leaned in and asked, "Are those the Du family over there?" Cui Lingrong said they were. Lady Wu had been curious for a long time. "Did the Du family really leave their adopted child here at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion? Why didn't they take him away?" Cui Lingrong said she didn't understand either. "I'd like to know that too. I can see that the County Mistress absolutely loathes the Du family, yet she's willing to keep Cheng-ge here. I'm afraid they might have some leverage that could shake Bianjing in their hands?" She looked at Lady Wu, a hint of scrutiny in her eyes. In truth, they both knew such leverage existed—it was just that Cui Lingrong didn't know the specifics. Lady Wu lowered her voice. "The Du family isn't in Bianjing. Their affairs are best known to themselves. The other day when Du Cheng got into that fight—do you know who spread those words about Rongjia?" Cui Lingrong asked if it was the Du family. "It was indeed, though it came out through Du Qian's mouth. Children don't understand things—he was trying to curry favor with others and let some words slip. But such rumors were quickly suppressed. Whether they're true or false, who can say?" Lady Wu gave a meaningful look. In Cui Lingrong's view, that meant it was true. Could it be that County Mistress Rongjia had truly been unfaithful while in the Du family? If so, the Du family holding that leverage could indeed control County Mistress Rongjia. Seeing other guests arriving, Cui Lingrong had someone escort Lady Wu to her seat, then she took Madam Li to greet the newcomers. On the other side, among the male guests, Du Cheng stood alone in the courtyard. Because of the County Mistress Rongjia matter, he'd had a big fight with Du Shinan, and now even the Du family members kept their distance from him. Cui Zeyu's gaze fell on Du Cheng. Hearing others mention him, Cui Zeyu only said, "Don't underestimate people. If you had that kind of endurance, you'd succeed at anything you tried." Cui Zeyu walked toward his brother-in-law, greeted Song Shulan, then took Xuan-ge and his brother around to meet people. After quite a while, Zhao Chengxu from the Rong Prince Mansion came over and nudged Du Cheng's arm. "Are you Du Cheng? I heard you really want to acknowledge my aunt as your mother, is that right?" "You are?" "Oh, I'm the eldest son of the second branch of the Rong Prince Mansion. You can call me Xu-ge." Zhao Chengxu sized up Du Cheng without any pretense. He was two heads shorter than Du Cheng, so he stood on his tiptoes and gestured for Du Cheng to lean down. "Let me tell you, those people are all terrible. It's rare that you're willing to speak up for my aunt. I'll put in a good word for you with her later, so she'll treat you better." He paused, then chuckled slyly. "But you have to do something for me first." "What is it?" Du Cheng asked. "Nothing major. That bookworm Song Mingxuan is insufferable. He's always outshining me, and because of him, my mother forces me to study." Zhao Chengxu crooked his finger at Du Cheng. "All you have to do is help me teach Song Mingxuan a lesson—make him look foolish—and I'll speak well of you to my aunt." Today was Song Yu's special day, and all the relatives and friends of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion had come. If Song Mingxuan were to be publicly humiliated, Zhao Chengxu would be overjoyed. Du Cheng looked troubled. "There are so many people coming and going. It might be hard to make a move." "What are you afraid of? If anything goes wrong, I'll take the blame. You just make Song Mingxuan look bad, and I'll handle the rest!" Zhao Chengxu puffed out his chest with great confidence. "Or are you too cowardly to do it? You're not on Lady Cui's side, are you?" Lady Cui and his aunt were irreconcilable enemies, which was why he instinctively tried to win Du Cheng over. Du Cheng said he needed to think about it, and Zhao Chengxu pulled him aside to a secluded spot. Meanwhile, Song Mingxuan had been called away by his father to meet guests, while Song Mingjin was crouching by the pavilion railing with his uncle, watching the fish. "What's got Jin-ge so glum?" Cui Zeyu looked at his nephew's troubled face. Song Mingjin was about to speak when he spotted the sneaky Zhao Chengxu and Du Cheng. He quickly pulled his uncle aside to hide. "Shh!" Both Song Mingjin and Cui Zeyu practiced martial arts, so they moved with great lightness. They hid in a concealed spot and eavesdropped on Du Cheng and Zhao Chengxu's conversation. Hearing that Zhao Chengxu wanted to scheme against his elder brother, Song Mingjin immediately wanted to charge out, but his uncle held him back. Cui Zeyu shook his head and whispered, "Zhao Chengxu is a guest. Right now he's only talking. If you go beat him up just like that, others will say you're in the wrong." "Then what do we do? They're plotting against my eldest brother!" Song Mingjin was furious. He'd even been kind enough to analyze things for Du Cheng, and now Du Cheng had teamed up with that pest Zhao Chengxu. Cui Zeyu thought for a moment. Zhao Chengxu was a fool on his own, but with Du Cheng involved, things weren't so simple. Still, since Zhao Chengxu dared to scheme against Xuan-ge, Cui Zeyu would make sure Zhao Chengxu swallowed a bitter pill in silence. The uncle and nephew eavesdropped for quite a while until Zhao Chengxu and Du Cheng left, then they returned to the reception hall. Song Mingjin saw someone going to fetch his eldest brother. He quietly followed behind, and when no one was watching, knocked the guide unconscious. "Jin-ge, what are you doing?" Song Mingxuan had just asked when Song Mingjin covered his mouth and gestured for him to have the servants carry the person inside. Song Mingxuan was utterly bewildered, but he complied nonetheless. "Big brother, don't say anything—you'll see in a moment." Song Mingjin crouched by the window, and when he spotted someone approaching in the distance, he ducked back down. Song Mingxuan kept his brow furrowed. His younger brother could be mischievous, but he never crossed the line of propriety, so he still trusted that his brother had something serious in mind. Hearing voices outside, Song Mingxuan pricked up his ears and recognized Zhao Chengxu's voice. "Are you sure you pulled up the planks?" Zhao Chengxu was asking his page. The page said yes, "But will this really work?" "What are you afraid of? This is Song Mingxuan's own home—if he falls into the latrine on his own property, how can he blame me? If anything, he can only blame his own shoddy latrine!" Zhao Chengxu chuckled to himself, delighted just imagining Song Mingxuan plunging into the cesspit. "Hurry up, stop dawdling, or we'll miss our chance." The two crept stealthily toward the latrine, but there was no sound from inside. Zhao Chengxu told his page to go in and check what was happening. No sooner had the page stepped inside than—ouch!—he tumbled in. Before Zhao Chengxu could react, someone shoved him hard from behind, and he too fell in. A wave of stench hit him full in the face. Zhao Chengxu opened his mouth to curse, but flies and filth rushed straight in. "Help! Someone come quick!" the page shouted frantically, using one hand to support his master. "Master Xu, wake up! Please don't let anything happen to you!"