Chapter 249

Chapter 249: Weariness Cui Lingrong still didn't look up. "If you have something to say, say it. If you have something to let out, let it out." "Cui Lingrong, you've really changed a lot, saying such vulgar words?" Song Zhizhi snorted. She simply couldn't stand seeing Cui Lingrong do well. Every time she heard good news about Cui Lingrong, Song Zhizhi grew especially furious. She felt that Cui Lingrong didn't deserve a good life. Now that Cui Zeyu was betrothed to the Wu family, and with the promotion of Cui Lingrong's cousin, all of it made Song Zhizhi deeply resentful. Why should she get all this? "People always change. If others change while I keep suffering in place, would I be some kind of fool?" Cui Lingrong looked up at Song Zhizhi and said with a smile, "Song Zhizhi, you're living a stifled life, aren't you? Your mother-in-law doesn't like you, your children aren't promising, and your husband treats you well enough, but no matter what, he can't go against his family. People like you—when you can't live well yourself, you want everyone else to suffer too. That's truly vicious and despicable." Right there, in front of the entire courtyard full of people, she directly laid out Song Zhizhi's shortcomings. "Cui Lingrong, do you think you're living that well?" Song Zhizhi rushed over in a fury. "Do you think my eldest brother ever had feelings for you?" Her eyes were nearly bulging out of her head. But Cui Lingrong remained perfectly calm. This question—she had long stopped agonizing over it. "Cui Lingrong, you don't even know this yet, do you? My eldest brother and County Princess Rongjia grew up together as childhood sweethearts. They were already planning to marry. Did you know that?" Song Zhizhi said without any hesitation. "My eldest brother married you only out of responsibility to the family. He never had any feelings for you!" After saying all that, Song Zhizhi still wasn't satisfied. "Your background never qualified you to marry into the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. That's why my eldest brother married County Princess Rongjia as well—the two of them are true love. You're nothing but a tool!" "So what? What do you want to see from me? Grief? Or fury that your eldest brother doesn't love me?" Cui Lingrong handed the scissors to Nanny Qiu. "Song Zhizhi, do you think I care about any of this?" "You don't care?" Song Zhizhi shot back. Cui Lingrong laughed—laughing at Song Zhizhi's ignorance and shortsightedness. "Song Zhizhi, before you married, didn't Old Madame ever tell you that a man's love is the least important thing of all?" "What do you mean?" Song Zhizhi asked. "Exactly what it sounds like. Whether a man loves you or not doesn't matter in the slightest. What matters is that he respects you, that you have money and power in your hands. Now look at me—the reins of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion are in my hands, I have my own money, and my children are accomplished one after another. As for whether your eldest brother has me in his heart—does it matter?" Just as Cui Lingrong finished speaking, Song Shulan happened to walk into the courtyard. Cui Lingrong saw a figure, and after confirming it was Song Shulan, she was briefly startled but felt no regret over what she had said to Song Zhizhi. Song Zhizhi immediately ran over to tattle. "Eldest brother, did you hear that? Cui Lingrong doesn't value you at all! A wife follows her husband—she shows you absolutely no respect!" Song Zhizhi wished her eldest brother would discipline Cui Lingrong right then and there. Song Shulan had long known that Cui Lingrong was distant with him, but he hadn't expected that in her heart, she had completely given up hope in him. But this was a matter between him and Cui Lingrong. Even if it were his own sister, Song Shulan didn't want her to know. Song Shulan said irritably, "You just said a wife follows her husband. So why aren't you obeying your husband's family, insisting on running back to your natal home instead?" "Eldest brother, you're not taking my side?" Song Zhizhi stared in shock. "You heard everything Cui Lingrong said, and you're still defending her?" "I and Lady Cui are husband and wife—we're in the same boat. Even if there are small conflicts between us, that's our business. You mind your own affairs and stop meddling in your natal family's matters!" Song Shulan issued his dismissal. "If you want to stay here, then stay. But if you stir up more trouble, I'll send you back myself!" Song Zhizhi never expected her eldest brother to say such things. She ran off, deeply wronged. "Biting the hand that feeds you, not knowing a good heart when she sees one!" She thought to herself that her eldest brother would surely regret this one day. Cui Lingrong was so heartless and faithless—there would come a day when she abandoned him. In the courtyard of Qiushuang Zhai, Song Shulan wanted to say something, but when his eyes met Cui Lingrong's, he looked away. Cui Lingrong's gaze was too calm, like two gemstones. Song Shulan could see no ripple of affection in them. Though Song Shulan had many things he wanted to say, in the end, he swallowed them all back. It was Cui Lingrong who spoke first. "If the Marquis has nothing else, you should go back." "Lingrong, there's no need for us to be like this. We are husband and wife by marriage, we've raised three children together. No matter what, there's a bond between us that no one else can match." Song Shulan let out a sigh. But Cui Lingrong said, "Would you dare say those words in front of County Princess Rongjia?" One sentence shattered the mood. Cui Lingrong waited a moment, but no answer came from Song Shulan. She turned and went back inside. Song Shulan naturally would never say such things in front of County Princess Rongjia. He knew full well that if County Princess Rongjia ever heard them, she would not let the matter rest. Song Shulan left, feeling mentally exhausted. He was certain that someone had influenced Cui Lingrong—after all, she had accepted things before, so why was she now making an issue of County Princess Rongjia's existence? Who could it be? Song Shulan thought of You Shuyi and Little Yuan-shi. He had never cared much for either of them. Meanwhile, Cui Lingrong remained in her room. After learning that Song Shulan had left, she stared at the teacup on the table for a long while before speaking slowly, "Nanny Qiu, Yu-jie said she doesn't want to live a life like mine. As her mother, have I failed?" "You have done your best, Madam. To have reached this point is already quite commendable," Nanny Qiu said. "Yes, I have done my best, and yet I still haven't managed to live freely. Tell me, what more must I do to truly find happiness?" Cui Lingrong kept mulling over Yu-jie's words. It was true—she could accept that Song Shulan's heart might not hold her. But it was her own life she was living. Whether it was easy or exhausting, she knew it in her heart. "If only I could be as carefree as Sister Yuan. Nanny Qiu, it's not that I insist on keeping control of the household, nor do I care about the family estate of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. I just..." She paused. Nanny Qiu gently patted her mistress, comforting her, "This servant knows you did it all for your three children. What you've managed to accomplish is already remarkable. And if I may say something that goes against convention—even if you were to seek a Mutual Divorce, this servant would support you."