Chapter 248

Chapter 248: Moving Courtyards Wu Wenchao saw Song Yu again. She stood beside her mother, smiling especially brightly. "What are you looking at?" Wu Wenchao's older cousin came over and patted his shoulder. "Oh, it's the eldest Miss Song. She's a top-tier beauty. Usually you're so proper and upright—won't even go drinking at the pleasure houses—and now you're staring at a beauty. So it turns out your standards are just high. How about it? Want me to put in a word with Aunt for you?" Wu Wenchao shook off his cousin's hand. "Don't talk nonsense." He walked over to his mother and greeted her with proper etiquette. Dong Shi waved her son over. "Yu-jie likes lotus flowers. Take her to see them—we have a few vats of lotus in the house. If Yu-jie likes them, we'll send them over to the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion." She had arranged this deliberately, and Cui Lingrong didn't stop her. After the betrothal ceremony concluded, Cui Lingrong returned with her daughter, feeling much lighter at heart. "With your maternal uncle's marriage settled, I can put one worry to rest. Next will be you." "Didn't Mother say I'm still young and there's no rush?" Song Yu leaned back. She could feel how warm Lady Wu had been today. "That was just for outsiders to hear." Cui Lingrong smiled. "Today Lady Wu was very warm toward you, and she even had her son take you to move the lotus flowers. Her intentions are quite clear." She looked at her daughter and, seeing that she remained silent, continued, "I've sent people to make inquiries. Wu Wenchao's character is quite good. The Wu family is a large clan, and if you marry into it, I'm not worried you won't be able to handle it. But being the matriarch of a large family isn't easy. Dong Shi doesn't have many schemes in her heart, and she likes you so much—I imagine she'll be easy to get along with. But such a big household isn't just about the husband and mother-in-law; there are also the other branches of the family." "I don't like him," Song Yu said. "Why?" "He's quite polite and very proper. But that's not the kind of person I want." Song Yu hesitated for a moment, then spoke slowly. "Wu Wenchao is the eldest son of the Wu family. He's bound to inherit the family and take the prosperity of the Wu clan as his duty. Father spent his whole life trying to rise in office, all to revitalize the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. For the sake of his career, how did Mother fare? And how much scheming did Xuan-ge and I suffer at the hands of County Princess Rongjia?" The first time she had interacted with Wu Wenchao, Song Yu could sense his attention on her, but she had never entertained any thoughts about him. "Then what kind of person do you want? Someone who doesn't take the Imperial Examination and enter officialdom?" Cui Lingrong asked. "Not necessarily. If he doesn't hold office, how could life be comfortable?" Song Yu, young as she was, saw things very clearly. "I just want someone for whom I will always be the most important—no matter how he conducts himself as an official, or as a son and brother. He won't neglect me because of other matters." Song Yu had thought about this for a long time. When she learned that her maternal uncle was about to be betrothed, yet couldn't detect any joy in him, she finally understood what she wanted most. She had looks, she had family standing, and she had no shortage of suitors who had come to express interest. Right now was the best time in her life to choose a husband. "Mother, my words might bring up unhappy memories for you, but I truly don't want to find another man like Father—one who values his career more than his family." Song Yu lowered her head. Cui Lingrong took her daughter's hand. "It's best that you think this way. A man can go build his career, but he must have you in his heart. Your father was said to be childhood sweethearts with County Princess Rongjia, with feelings from a young age—but if it weren't for the power of the Rong Prince Mansion, would he really have had that much patience with her?" Song Yu nodded in agreement. "Since you've thought it through, then go find what you want. Wu Wenchao, as the eldest son of a great clan—marrying him would indeed mean bearing many responsibilities. You are my daughter. I've already prepared a lifetime's worth of money for you; your husband doesn't need to be wealthy. But Yu-jie, a man from too low a family won't do either—few men can keep their hearts balanced in that situation." Cui Lingrong chatted on and on with her daughter about choosing a husband. When they returned to the marquis mansion, the gatekeeper relayed a message that the aunt had come, and Old Madame had asked Cui Lingrong to go see her. When she arrived at Shouan Tang, Cui Lingrong learned that Song Zhizhi had quarreled with her husband and run back to her natal home. Old Madame Song asked Cui Lingrong to arrange a courtyard for her. Cui Lingrong said, "The Lotus Fragrance Courtyard beside Shouan Tang is still vacant, and it would be convenient for Sister to visit Old Madame. Why not stay there?" "I don't want it—the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard is too small to live in!" Song Zhizhi refused. "The Tingyu Pavilion I used to live in is now occupied by Yu-jie, isn't it? Have her move out for a few days and let me stay there first." Hearing this, Cui Lingrong looked at Old Madame Song. "What does Old Madame think?" Old Madame Song felt her daughter was being willful, but since her daughter rarely came home, she still chose to indulge her. "Zhizhi won't be staying long. Let Yu-jie move for a bit?" "Old Madame, Yu-jie has only just had her Ji-pin ceremony. If you make her move courtyards now, aren't you afraid of chilling her heart?" Cui Lingrong then looked at Song Zhizhi. "Quarrels between husband and wife are normal. If you want to stay at your natal home, then stay at the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard. If not, I'll send someone to your husband's family to have them come fetch you." "Cui Lingrong, how dare you!" Song Zhizhi shot to her feet. "Why wouldn't I dare?" Cui Lingrong laughed. "The Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion is under my management. You are a guest here, and wherever I arrange for you to stay, that's where you'll stay. Asking your niece to move out of her courtyard—what a thought! Take that idea to your husband's family and see what your mother-in-law thinks of it." Song Zhizhi had come back precisely because she was angry with her mother-in-law, and her husband hadn't supported her either, which was why she'd stormed off in a huff. She glared at Cui Lingrong, wishing she could bore two holes right through her. Old Madame Song was rather displeased. She was still here, after all—what kind of attitude was Cui Lingrong showing? "Cui-shi, what are you snapping about? I'm still here!" Old Madame Song said. "With all due respect, Old Madame, you are a mother, and I am a mother too. If any of my words have displeased you, I ask for your indulgence." Cui Lingrong bowed to the Old Madame, then shifted her tone. "But moving the courtyard is out of the question. I'll have someone prepare Lianxiang Yuan right away. If you need anything else, Old Madame, just send word to Qiushuang Zhai later." With that, she turned and left. Just as she reached the doorway, she heard Song Zhizhi cursing behind her, but Cui Lingrong paid it no mind, pretending not to hear. Song Zhizhi was furious. "Mother, did you hear what Cui Lingrong said? Does she even have you in her eyes as her mother-in-law?" "She is arrogant, but why on earth would you bring up switching courtyards out of nowhere? What did Yu-jie ever do to you?" Old Madame Song clicked her tongue. "How hasn't she done anything to me?" Song Zhizhi said that when Song Yu had her Ji-pin ceremony, she hadn't shown her any warmth at all. "Compared to those good-for-nothings like Little Yuan-shi, she was far too cold to me. With that attitude of hers, she'd better not expect any dowry gifts from me when she gets married." "You're spouting nonsense again. If you want to feud with Cui-shi, that's between you two—don't drag the children into it." Old Madame Song would still defend her grandchildren. "Let me tell you, when your husband's family comes to fetch you, no more tantrums. You should go back when it's time. Your mother-in-law already has complaints about you. If you keep this up, I'm afraid she'll really send a concubine to your husband's room, and then you'll be crying before you know it!" "She wouldn't dare! If she does, I'll demand a Mutual Divorce. I'll bring the children back to my natal family, and they'll all take the Song surname!" Song Zhizhi said she wasn't afraid at all. Hearing these words, Old Madame Song nearly fainted from anger. "Is 'Mutual Divorce' something you can just say casually? You'd better leave now, before looking at you gives me a headache." "Hmph, Mother doesn't love me anymore either. All I wanted was to move courtyards, and even you won't agree." Song Zhizhi stormed out in a huff. Lianxiang Yuan wasn't ready yet, so she wandered around the garden for a while, still angry. After thinking it over, she made her way to Qiushuang Zhai. Seeing Cui Lingrong leisurely tending to her potted plants, Song Zhizhi let out a cold snort. "Oh my, Sister-in-law certainly has refined tastes—still in the mood for flowers and plants?" Cui Lingrong didn't even lift her head. "Song Zhizhi, if you have nothing to do, you can go wash clothes or do some rough work. If you insist on coming here to pick a fight, don't blame me for being rude." "Sister-in-law, you really break my heart. Why would I come to pick a fight? I'm here to tell you something very important to you." Song Zhizhi smiled with ill intent.